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Sucker Punch explains why it remains PS3 exclusive
Developer Sucker Punch started life nearly a decade ago with its first release on the Nintendo 64. Since that time, however, the studio has created titles exclusively for Sony platforms, including the Sly Cooper franchise and recent electro-shocky superhero game, inFamous. Co-founder Brian Fleming recently spoke out on his company's love-in with Sony, explaining that Sucker Punch's platform exclusivity has less to do with money and more to do with simply enjoying what they do. According to Fleming, while going cross-platform puts a game in front of more potential eyeballs, "it also introduces a whole bunch of problems and compromises and difficulty that doesn't make making games a lot more fun. In fact, I think it subtracts from that." While the exec notes without reservation that the studio is in this business to make money, he adds that you "have to be careful about being greedy." He adds that the pursuit of dollars has to be weighed against other things, like enjoying what you do for a living, publisher relations and game quality. We'd be hard pressed to argue, especially since our obsession with inFamous has only grown since the game first shocked our hearts.
Interview: Sucker Punch's Nate Fox on inFamous and inSpiration
If you've been spending a lot of time enjoying the electro-shockery featured in inFamous, you've got the guy pictured above -- and the other 50-odd members of Sucker Punch Productions -- to thank. His name is Nate Fox, game director for inFamous and a writer/designer who has a decade of tenure with the studio. We had a chance to sit down with Nate at E3 to get a post-mortem look at the high voltage superhero sim, and to finally inquire what lies within protagonist Cole's mysterious backpack. So, Nate Fox, how long have you been at Sucker Punch? Nate Fox: I've been at Sucker Punch for over 10 years. When I started, I had a full head of hair. That is not a lie.
Metareview: inFamous (PS3)
We're not going to say inFamous' quality is a big surprise (this is Sucker Punch after all) but it's nice to see someone getting the superhero genre so right. Everyone (including us) has been piling the love on it, and we've taken the liberty of providing with just a slice of the love fest below: 1UP (A-): "It's how InFamous blends all of this -- the platforming, the combat, the powers, the missions, and the Karma -- that makes it an eminently playable and enjoyable experience for me. It's why I've been staying up so late for the past few days." D+PAD (4.5/5): "Yet remarkably, inFamous - as a whole - feels entirely unique. It's perhaps largely due to Sucker Punch's ability in creating an outstanding animation system that subtly adapts to the environment, but also because of the game's suitably atmospheric setting." GamePro (90/100): "Great game, minor faults, a lot of fun to be had, terrible story but the gameplay holds up despite it. Maybe this "sleeping on it" thing has some merit, after all." NZGamer (9.5/10): "Any other games vying for the crown of Game of the Year 2009 pay attention - there's a new kid in town and he means business."
2 Player Productions' inside look at Sucker Punch raises dev diary bar
Here's a fun, recently discovered fact -- people who make video games are ... people! We know, we know. Stop the presses! This fact came to our attention in the form of 2 Player Productions' recent three-part developer diary for inFamous -- though, really, inFamous isn't the centerpiece of their work. It's about the minds behind the game: The charismatic, hard-working folks from Sucker Punch Productions. It's a great piece of work -- the diary and the game are, that is -- and we've posted it after the break for your perusal and enjoyment. So ... peruse! Enjoy!
inFamous commercial lights up your TV
Shock! It looks as if Sony is actually going through with inFamous' promised multi-million dollar marketing campaign. This TV spot was found by a tipster, haran_elessar. The 30 second promo highlights Cole's electrifying powers, and hints at the morality system central to the game's plot. You'll be able to play the game for yourself this week, but if you want another tease, check out GameTrailers' exclusive release trailer after the break.
Amazon UK reveals inFamous PS3 bundle
Images of a supposed 80GB PS3 + inFamous bundle have been circulating the video game blogosphere for the past few weeks. Sony has been hesitant to comment on the package, but a recent online retail listing cleared up the confusion -- the bundle is real, and coming to Amazon UK on May 29. Those interested in simultaneously acquiring the shockingly good superhero title and the system on which it runs can grab both for £279.99. We've contacted SCEA to find out if this deal is coming stateside. Consider our fingers crossed.
Play the inFamous Flash game to electrify your work day
Bored at work right now? Don't worry! The long weekend is almost here. You can pass the time by playing this brand new inFamous Flash game. The 2D side-scroller has you jumping and using electric powers -- just like in the PS3 game -- choosing between acts of good or evil. We're guessing this'll tend to evil if you're still at work. It may not be the deepest of games, but it'll certainly pass the time before the full game comes out. To give the inFamous Flash game a whirl, you can check out Agame.com.
More inFamous comic pages available to read now
The inFamous comic continues today with another seven pages, which we've added to our gallery below. You can either start reading the comic from the beginning or start directly from the new pages. We've put them in the correct order in our gallery, so just click through and enjoy. If the comic's story and gorgeous art style -- which mirrors inFamous' in-game cutscenes -- hasn't persuaded you to grab this game when it comes out next week, be sure to check out our review. There's also a behind-the-scenes video to watch after the break. %Gallery-63066%
Joystiq Review: inFamous
Okay, right at the top, let's get this out of the way -- electricity control is a terrible superpower. Sure, it's flashy, and makes for a great video game mechanic, but any crime fighter who could easily be bested by Dry Rubber Shoes Man simply shouldn't be tasked with the vigilant protection of a city and its inhabitants. Despite this obvious weakness, Sucker Punch's open-world action opus, inFamous, has a lot going for it. Rather than tumbling into the pitfalls often visited by sandbox action games (too repetitive, poorly balanced difficulty, no sense of direction, non-existent story), it takes the road less traveled, exhibiting an extraordinary amount of polish and attention to detail. As a result, Sucker Punch has crafted a game that I feel comfortable labeling "the greatest superhero game I've ever played." %Gallery-51349%
InFamous commercial to debut alongside Terminator Salvation screenings
SCEA's post-apocalyptic, super-hero sandbox title, inFamous, is only a week away from release. Leading up to launch day next Tuesday, Sony has announced that it will premiere a new 30-second commercial to run in theaters alongside another post-apocalyptic thriller, Terminator Salvation (the movie, not the game) starting Friday. Also, don't forget, you can catch more of inFamous this week when the official demo hits PSN on Thursday. Stay tuned tomorrow as well; we'll have our inFamous review ready for your reading pleasure!
Loose Cannon Studios assembled, shooting to announce titles at E3
Loose Cannon Studios is a new independent development team set up by two Sucker Punch veterans, Dev Madan and Matthew Scott, along with Ricci Rukavina, who previously worked at Universal Interactive Studios and Vivendi. According to the company's website it was founded in 2005 and its employees have worked on such franchises as Sly Cooper, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, Jak And Daxter and Uncharted. That's quite a pedigree.Loose Cannon will reveal its first title at E3, which will be based on a new home-grown IP and aim for release on the PS3, 360 and Wii in late summer or early fall. That's really soon, considering they're just now announcing their existence to the world. We're definitely intrigued to see what the company has to show at E3, though the website also promises more announcements in the weeks leading up to the show itself.
Issue one of inFamous comic available to read right now
Click to begin reading inFamous issue 1. It'll come as no surprise to most of you that inFamous has its own comic series. The first issue can be be read right here, right now thanks to the power of the computer internets. This first issue contains seven pages and begins to tell the story of the events that happen prior to the game, drawn in the same awesome art that make up inFamous' in-game cutscenes. %Gallery-63066%
Sly Cooper 4 spotted in inFamous demo
Those who have access to the early inFamous demo will want to go Empire City's cinema. At the top of the list of fictional titles on display is Sly Cooper 4. This where you scream "OMG!" and run around like a man on fire. We'll wait. Done? Good. Of course, this tease may be a simple Easter egg, placed to simply stir up fanboy passions. Or, it could be a hint at what's to come ... We'll let you decide in the comments. [Thanks, Noshino! Via TAWKN]
European inFamous special edition unearthed
Electronic Theatre is reporting that Europe will be receiving a special limited edition of inFamous, courtesy of various independent retailers such as ShopTo. At the moment, the big retailers such as Play and GAME are offering only the normal edition, with Play advertising entry into the Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta as an exclusive extra. The speciai edition will contain "a set of limited edition postcards, as well as a comic book based on the game." There will also be a redemption code for a special in-game power. We suspect it's probably those Gigawatt Blades that are available as a pre-order bonus in the US. Judging from the image above, the cover art seems to be a new, more comic-bookish design. A tempting package, considering it's available at the same price as the normal version. But is it worth missing out on the Uncharted 2 beta for? Tough call ...
Trophies: inFamous
1 Platinum 1 Gold 11 Silver 37 Bronze Difficulty: Moderate Online Trophies? No Time to Completion: 40 hours DLC Trophies? No View Trophy List Read More About the Game %Gallery-12672%
inFamous demo arrives May 21
You're probably as anxious as we are to get your hands on inFamous at the end of this month. For those who are actually interested in the game itself -- as opposed to the accompanying Uncharted 2 multiplayer beta -- you don't have too long to wait before getting in some playtime, thanks to a demo that will be released on the PSN Store. The demo will be available to everyone on May 21, not long before the game's worldwide launch on May 26 in the US and May 29 in Europe. Can't wait until then? Pre-ordering the game will get you early access to the demo next week, on May 7. Either way, you'll be able to check out Cole's powers for yourself before the game's fast approaching release. Update: We've removed this post from the front page, as we reported the demo date in a prior update about the game's retail release.
Sony Gamers' Day 2009: inFamous gameplay videos
Rounding out our inFamous coverage from Sony's Gamers' Day event, here are two, thorough gameplay videos (above and after the break), which shed light on the rather dark world featured in Sucker Punch's sandbox action title. The videos put into motion the mechanics that power not-so-pedestrian bike messenger, Cole McGrath, up, over and through these urban environments and their precarious vertical obstacles and junk yard-spawned, mechanical overseers. Typical, infamous carjacking/hooker-beating this is not. inFamous is scheduled for release on May 26, exclusively on PS3. %Gallery-51349%
Darkness reigns in new inFamous screenshots
Click for bigger destruction. These are some remarkable screenshots and renders for the upcoming inFamous. Sucker Punch has been concealing the game's darker tone -- but no more. In this new set of screens from Sony's Gamers Day, we see a ravaged Empire City, and a Cole consumed by power. This gallery is a must-see for anyone even remotely interested in this upcoming adventure. %Gallery-51349%
Empire City gets ripped apart in new inFamous trailer
Sony pretty much has a guaranteed hit on its hands with inFamous, what with bundling Uncharted 2's multiplayer beta with the game. But wouldn't it be great if inFamous were also, y'know, a good game? Looks like that's exactly what we may be getting. This new trailer highlights the explosive damage you'll be dealing in Empire City, allowing us to gain not only a better feel for Cole's acrobatic abilities, but a chance to appreciate how large Empire City might be. With less than a month to go before the release of inFamous, we're going to be seeing a lot more of Cole's stomping grounds in the coming weeks. %Gallery-12672% [Thanks, Arsh!]
inFamous shocks UK audience on May 29th
Looks like Brits won't have to wait long to get their hands on Sucker Punch's first PS3 adventure. The superhero-'em-up is arriving in the UK just three days after the US release, on May 29th. Hopefully, this means that the rest of Europe will also be able to enjoy the upcoming PS3 exclusive in May. [Thanks, Will H.!]
