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GDC 07: fl0w was almost on Wii
Jenova Chen, Kellee Santiago and the rest of the thatgamecompany team discussed their latest motion-controlled PS3 title fl0w. The game certainly would have been an incredible addition to the Wii library, considering its use of motion controls, relatively subdued graphics, and non-gamer-friendly gameplay. Santiago revealed that fl0w was pitched to two companies: Nintendo and Sony. Well, Sony won. Sony's aggressive approach to supporting new developers was what gave PS3 the edge. "They [Nintendo] weren't right for us at the time. Sony kind of came to us with the process of incubation ... They helped us get our studio started." Sony has proven at GDC that they care about developers through the announcement of Edge and extending their Network offerings to independent developers. This kind of approach has allowed Sony to earn the respect of valuable talent. For example, LittleBigPlanet comes from the developer of Rag Doll Kung-Fu, who was originally interested in making titles for Nintendo. Sony's attractive development options will continue to make the system gain new, interesting and truly innovative, exclusive software for the platform. See also: Joystiq interview: Jenova Chen
FlOw almost was a Wii title
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/flOw_could_have_been_on_Wii'; Speaking about the history of upstart developer That Game Company at GDC, President Kellee Santiago revealed an extremely interesting tidbit as to where flOw was heading on consoles. Two companies were interested in the title: Sony, as we all are now aware of, and Nintendo. "That was the hardest decision we ever had to make, choosing between Sony and Nintendo," admitted Santiago. Speaking during the Q & A, Santiago clarified that "they weren't right for us at the time. Sony kind of came to us with the process of incubation ... They helped us get our studio started." Nintendo did not approach them; the team actually cornered them about Cloud at a prior Game Developers Conference. FlOw creator Jenova Chen chimed in, saying "in the end, we are game makers and not console makers," expressing his satisfaction working with Nintendo on other projects. That Game Company did not rule out working on the Wii in the future. From our current impressions, we think Nintendo missed a golden opportunity here. We'll have more on That Game Company's presentation later in the day.
PS3 launches in Singapore -- congratulations!
This is just a nod towards another place that finally gets its hands on the PlayStation 3. Singapore has been waiting for the console for a while now, almost as long as Europe. Singapore will put back about S$799 for the 60GB model of the system and that's apparently the cheapest price for the system outside of Hong Kong and Japan.Tetsuhiko Yasuda of SCE-Asia said this after the launch at a hip club called The Clinic: "I was involved in the development of PlayStation, and we successfully launched PlayStation 1 with 100 million units sold worldwide, and for PlayStation 2 we sold 120 million units. With PlayStation 3 we are targeting approximately 150 to 200 million units sold worldwide." Lofty goals! Well, we're about 1/150th or 1/200th away from that goal. Let's step it up, Sony! Don't stop until you find your way to HOME!Enjoy the PS3, Singapore!
Resistance updates detailed, modes & maps mentioned
SCEA and Insomniac have detailed a pair of forthcoming Resistance updates in a press release today. On March 23, coinciding with PlayStation 3's European launch, the first update will introduce two new multiplayer modes, Team Conversion (Conversion with teams) and Assault (destroy the defending team's base). In addition, a 'spectator camera' will be added, allowing voyeurs to peep the action from players' perspectives or pan back and discover their own angles. Insomniac has also tweaked matchmaking optimization for the update and will re-introduce the old radar as a custom option.In May, a second update will enable global competition and offer two new multiplayer maps for purchase. The maps are apparently an extension of the game's backstory; a full explanation is scheduled to appear on the official website closer to the update's release. Anyone paying attention to Phil Harrison last week, will recall that the Sony exec blabbed that Insomniac would be "extending the story"; we speculated that this might entail episodic content. While that remains a distant possibility, it appears that the referenced 'extension' will simply be a lame presentation on the Resistance website. Cheers for keeping Resistance fresh, but let's not disguise this update as anything other than what it is: a standard dose of premium multiplayer maps.[Via press release]
Metareview + Our take: flOw
Hey guys, it's about time we pulled out another one of these review thingies. This one will be significantly shorter because, well, the game is significantly shorter/smaller/whatever. First up, here's what the critics say about flOw: IGN: 7.6 Gamespot: 7.1 1UP: 7 So, that's about as above average and below great as you can get. Here's why the game apparently failed to swoon the critic's higher numbers: No challenge (you can't actually die) Not a whole lot to do (eat stuff, get bigger, rinse and repeat in a linear fashion) Co-op play is neat, but really doesn't add anything to the mix What did the game do right? Well, they say this: Atmosphere is spot on soothing, presentation is excellent Getting to see what's next in your evolutionary chain is a huge draw The SIXAXIS controls feel pretty finely tuned, not tacked on The sound and graphics are "barely there" in that "good, artsy-fartsy" way ...It's cheap? (that was me) I don't really have much to add to their reviews. I feel the same way. It's fun as hell, but once you've seen it, the experience doesn't change. It's an absolute blast to watch your friends try to get a hold of the SIXAXIS controls, but then you get mesmerized by what they're doing. It's definitely a chill-out game to play before you take a nap. Or if you're of legal age, after a few brews the game practically becomes a college football game -- people yelling at the TV, saying to go eat that thing, etc. It's got lasting value, but not if you're all by yourself. It's worth the price, though. PS3Fanboy: 7 crescent-moon tapeworms out of 10 What are your thoughts?
Over 1,000 PS2 games to be compatible with Euro PS3
In an "exclusive interview" with "semiofficial" Playstation blog, Threespeech, Sony's Phil Harrison provides some clarity regarding the PAL PS3's range of backwards compatibility, not to mention the opportunity to place even more quotation marks into this paragraph. "The situation is changing every day, but on March 23, we expect the list to include over 1,000 PS2 titles." Sony's head of worldwide studios is referring to the list of PS2 games that are expected to be supported by the software emulation found in European PS3s.This announcement certainly defuses some of the controversy that resulted from Sony announcing the removal of PS2 hardware from European PS3 systems. After promising software support for a "limited" number of titles, many European gamers were feeling rightly cheated for having to pay a higher price for a PS3 with fewer features. Though the specific titles that comprise the list have yet to be announced (Harrison notes that Sony's policy is to focus on popular titles), it seems Sony is already far better equipped than Microsoft when it comes to fighting the inevitable onslaught of gamers complaining about their favorite title not being supported. Mr. Harrison also promises that an online list of backwards compatible games will be available on March 23, and that it will grow with every PS3 firmware update.
Sony unveils launch lineup for Euro PlayStation Network
The PS3's launch day in Europe is set to be filled with wanton punching, devastating explosions and utterly callous driving -- and when new PS3 owners finally get home, they can experience even more of that. Sony has announced a trio of downloads that will greet European PlayStation Network users on March 23, namely Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (costing £6.99), Blast Factor (£3.49) and the Gran Turismo HD trial (£0). Other games slated for the online network are: 30 March: Super Rub-A-Dub, a touching study of the social intricacies found in a group of inanimate ducks! 6 April: flOw, a relaxing aquatic adventure with many a mingling microorganism! 13 April: Go! Sudoku, a game stunningly devoid of ritualistic suicide! 20 April: Go! Puzzle, a gripping crime thriller following a fugitive jigsaw piece! If all that isn't worth registering on PSN, perhaps James Bond will talk some sense into you. He has a gun, you know.
Sony's Phil Harrison: no pressure to drop PS3 price
Hop on the merry-go-round and hold on for dear life -- here's a Phil Harrison interview. In speaking to GameDaily BIZ, the Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president touches on several interesting topics, including "so called negativity" in the press, potential PS3 price drops and the omission of rumble technology in the Sixaxis controller. On negative press: Mr. Harrison isn't fazed at all, pointing out that those who have purchased a PS3 have been naught but satisfied thus far. He goes on to say that negativity originates from "a fairly narrow section of the media" (Time Magazine and New York Times BURN) and that if there "were genuine criticisms, then of course we'll address them, but there's nothing that bothers me." Nothing at all? On PS3 price drops: Sony feels under no pressure to drop the price of the PS3 this year, expressing comfort with their current strategy and the level of software currently available. On the lack of rumble: Phil Harrison says motion controls offer far more opportunities to innovate than rumble ever did, adding that rumble is like, totally last-gen. "Now, rumble I think was the last generation feature; it's not the next-generation feature. I think motion sensitivity is." Analog stick, your days are numbered, my friend. What say you, Joystiq readers?
FlOw, Q-Bert and a Ridge Racer demo coming this Thursday
Playstation 3 owners will have something other than Virtua Fighter 5 to choose from this week as Sony will be releasing two new titles for their online service and a relic from the past in demo form. The long awaited aquatic enigma FlOw will be making its way to the Playstation Network with a price tag of $7.99. Joining it will be the perpetually-hopping, foul mouthed, not to mention terrible roommate known as Q-Bert. We may not have anything nice to say about the guy, but his game is a classic and will be available for $4.99. And in case you passed it up at launch, a free demo of Ridge Racer 7 will be made available and capable of that magical resolution of 1080p.
flOw priced, gamers ready
This is probably going to be the last time we talk about flOw before we toss up a meta-review or whatever. Two days ago we spoke about how it's coming out on the 22nd of February, the features it sports and more. This time we've got a little more pertinent information for you. Yeah, the price of the game. Surprisingly, it's nice and cheap -- on par with the other downloadable titles, if memory serves. The final price is $7.99 for the US PlayStation Store. Not bad! Reviews have started to crop up around the internet and initial reactions seem very positive. A few key words are found in more than one place: "addictive", "creative", and some form of the phrase "pretty music". We'll give it our time on Thursday and post a review over the weekend, along with a meta-review slash personal review of Virtua Fighter 5.
Can't wait to get our flOw on this week!
This isn't news so much as it is a reminder -- the hotly anticipated flOw is due out this week. Hitting the PlayStation store on February 22nd at an as-of-yet undetermined price point (since it's pretty high-profile, we wouldn't be surprised if it was around $10), this musical and biological adventure is bound to be endless fun. For a while. Here's what Sony's official site has to say about the features of the game: "Full HD at 1080p – Vibrant environments. Dynamically Adjusting Experience – Customize your game experience. Multiplayer mode – 1-4 players; same screen SIXAXIS™ wireless controller – Gamers can use the analog thumb stick or take advantage of the SIXAXIS™ wireless controller motion sensors to glide, flit, and flOw through the abyss." We weren't aware there was an abyss involved! There are five different creatures for you to choose from and a difficulty that changes depending on your skill level. It's going to be great and, in certain cases, a great musical backdrop for that "chill" party you've been planning.
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 6
PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com. Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to MP_ROOT/101ANV01/. Requires firmware 2.00 or above. Do NOT place in "VIDEO" folder. Firmware 2.80 or above do not need to download thumbnails. Ocean's 13 Download MP4 (6.51MB) | Download THM The following videos are featured after the break: Flow (PS3), The Warriors (PSP), Tales of Destiny 2 (PSP), Sid Meier's Pirates! (PSP)
Hands-on: Ratchet & Clank's online multiplayer
I competed against various members of SCEA, High Impact Games, and other members of the press today in Rachet & Clank: Size Matters' Infrastructure multiplayer mode. Having become comfortable with the controls in single-player certainly helped the experience quite a bit, as I was raking up the kills, quickly becoming number one in the leaderboard (that position was unfortunately lost over time). The online interface is easy enough, and seems unchanged from the multiplayer beta that I participated in months ago. However, there were a few glitches in the process: some games were simply impossible to join, unless it was through the game's Quick Game option. Also, typing messages in the chat room is quite a troublesome burden, simply because of the game's reliance on the PSP's default on-screen keyboard. I found it quite easy to accidentally disconnect from a room while chatting, so I opted out altogether.The actual online gameplay was smooth, and surprisingly responsive. There wasn't any noticeable lag, and the graphics were on par with the impressive single-player graphics. The weapons are varied, as they are in the story mode, and can be upgraded through secret power-ups scattered throughout the level. However, the variety in weapons reveals that the game might not be too well-balanced, as certain weapons easily outclass others. One game ended in quite a bit of frustration, due to a camping sniper. While these kind of problems are common with online multiplayer games, it was surprising, and somewhat distressing to see.Also, each game is limited to four players. After an hour of play time, I have to admit that this simply isn't enough to enjoy the multiplayer potential. Levels seem slightly too large for only four players, especially in objective-based modes, where you will only have one partner. Personally, I found the objectives of Iron Lombax mode to be unclear. It would've been helpful to have more guidance to the next objective, a la Unreal Tournament.Ratchet & Clank's online multiplayer is not going to redefine online gaming. However, it is still an impressive effort, especially for a portable system. It's nice to see the developers include such a solid, but imperfect, experience ... and have it playable worldwide via Infrastructure. You'll be able to log-in and fight when the game ships next week. Expect a complete PSP Fanboy review soon. And don't forget to read past the cut to see all the multiplayer modes available in the game.
Let's talk about flOw's music
A recent interview was composed (get it? Like composing music...) with Austin Wintory, creative mind behind the music of flOw. Points of discussion include the design process of flOw, music's integration and atmospheric effect in the title and Austin's deep, dark musical fantasies... er, we'll just give you a list. What was your design process in creating the music for flOw? "We sought something atmospheric and electronic, but not in the stark, soundscape sort of way. Something warm and organic, as if a symphony of instruments never before played on Earth." He goes on to say, "What resulted was a combination of literally hundreds of small audio files being triggered by the player interactions, and a steady background track." So... it's got the same user-created musical score akin to Rez? Any emotional or aesthetic goals while creating the music? "Relaxing was paramount, but each campaign of the game has a very different take on it. Some are more oriented towards being fun and light, others darker, some mysterious, etc." Did you approach the Flash and PS3 versions of the game differently? "Well, the Flash version is essentially at this point a playable demo of the PS3 version, giving you a snippet of the first part of the game. So I approached the first campaign almost identically, looking to be faithful to my own work, but make it better and cleaner." Austin also mentions how each campaign of the PS3 version will have a different musical influence -- one jazz oriented, etc. Whew. Well, you can check out the whole interview if you'd like -- learn more about Austin, his inspirations, his goals and dreams, etc. We just covered the aspects of flOw and you know what? It sounds like a lot of fun. Both literally and... otherwise. [thanks, John B.!]
Swim. Eat. flOw.
flOw's migration onto PlayStation 3 has been a slow evolutionary process. But as promised, Sony has delivered the game trailer (above) to PlayStation Store on time, suggesting that flOw itself is also on course; now set to arrive near the end of the month. Is it time to start considering Sony's service as a viable player in the downloadable (casual) games space? Or do we wait for Calling All Cars?
PS Store updates starting to roll in like a square wheel
The idea behind the subject is that we're getting annoyed at the small-scale of updates for the PlayStation Store -- while welcome, we'd like to see something bigger and better. Like, say, demos of upcoming titles. Giving us ports of classic titles is okay, but getting a demo for Lair or Assassin's Creed would give our friends a reason to gather 'round the TV and screw around. So, what did we get? Available now is the all-terrain racing title Jet Moto. It's a classic, indeed. Also available for your download pleasure is the multiplayer expansion pack for the fun-filled Blast Factor. The pack allows 4 players to join in cooperative or grudge match multiplayer modes. You can also speed the game up to 150%. The expansion costs three bucks while Jet Moto will set you back six. Enjoy!
Sony explains UK's PS3 price, lack of 20GB model
No doubt spurred on by the constant noise of grumbling gamers marching past his office, The Guardian's Steve Boxer decides to shed some light on the European PS3 launch in an article entitled, "PS3 Launch Price is No Fun for UK Gamers." Speaking to Sony Computer Entertainment's UK managing director, Ray Maguire, he enquires about the region's comparatively high price (£425) and the absence of the cheaper, 20GB PS3. Maguire points out that merely converting the PS3's US retail price to British currency results in a misleading figure, as it fails to take VAT into account. "There's a compulsion within the media to look at everything as a snapshot, and do a calculation, normally based on just the RRP in somewhere like the US and just the RRP in the UK," he says. "What you should do with the RRP from the US is add sales tax." However, adding a VAT of 17.5% to the US price still leaves you with £352. Maguire blames the £73 difference on potential exchange rate fluctuations, along with the higher cost of living and running a business in the UK. Apparently, if anyone's to blame for the 20GB model's failure to arrive in Europe, it's those darn consumers. "They want to put their own media on it from day one. So a big preference has been shown towards the 60GB model. And when we look at the sales figures from both Japan and the US, that's reflected at retail." Of course, despite lacking the multiple media slots, the 20GB version can store media with USB transfer, but Maguire insists that Sony would rather have enough 60GB units available as opposed to fewer quantities of both SKUs. Our UK readers will undoubtedly let us know whether they agree or not.
God of War II nears completion
Sleep deprived and rambling a bit, God of War II director Cory Barlog updates us on the status of Sony's sequel. Yesterday, Barlog blogged, "it is safe to say that all of the primary work for God of War 2 has been completed." What's left is the final QA testing, suggesting that Kratos is on schedule for his projected March return -- what's being billed as PlayStation 2's swan song.Barlog also spends a few words defending God of War II's quick weapon-switch, which has apparently been targeted by Devil May Cry faithful. "Some call it stealing; I call it realizing when something works," argues Barlog. Hey, if it ain't patented, trademarked, or copyrighted, it's fair game.
Analyst predicts Euro PS3 price cut within the year
The occasionally apologetic Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities has used his arcane analytical powers to conjure up the following prediction: the Playstation 3 will see a price cut in Europe within the first year of its launch. "The PS3 can command GBP 425 from the hardcore and I think you'll see price cuts a year from now, probably to GBP 300." Pachter believes the costs of a PS3 and a 1080p television to be "worth every penny" and expects the system to sell out very quickly after its European launch on March 23rd.This prediction comes in stark contrast to the words of SCEA chief, Jack Tretton, who told Game Informer that the PS3 would be "difficult to cost reduce" and would not see a price reduction as quickly as the PS2 did. It took 565 days from launch for the PS2's North American price to drop. Even working from the PS3's US release date, the idea of a UK and Europe price drop by March 2008 smells a bit of unfettered optimism.
No PS2-like price cuts for the PS3, sez Sony
While it's no surprise that Sony's not exactly jonesing to knock a few bills off the PlayStation 3's premium price tag, it's still somewhat notable that a top exec at the company would go out on a limb and explain exactly why you won't be getting a break on one anytime soon. When asked by Game Informer whether the PlayStation 3's price cuts would be "as soon or as drastic as they were for the PlayStation 2," recently-promoted SCEA head Jack Tretton said flatly "no," adding that all the increased investment in R & D and hardware make the system "a lot more difficult to cost reduce" than the PS2. Tretton further clarified things by saying that "there's a heck of a lot more under the hood and it costs us more money to make it." Our pals at Joystiq did the math, and if that statement holds true, it looks like we won't be seeing a price reduction on the PS3 until June 4th, 2008 at the absolute earliest and, in all likelihood, not one on the level of the $299 to $199 drop the PS2 saw.
