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Twisted Metal now arriving on Valentine's Day, massacre your loved ones
Following the "let's turn an ice cream truck into a murderous death wagon" school of marketing, the recently delayed Twisted Metal reboot has been given a new date and it's ... Valentine's Day. While the greeting card industry has turned the day into a maudlin (and expensive) show of love, let's not forget what it ostensibly celebrates: The death of a guy named Valentine. "It's so exciting because, with this extra time we've been just pouring, and tuning and tweaking and polishing the game and it's totally paying off," Eat Sleep Play's David Jaffe said. "Thank you for your understanding about our extension. We so hated that we had to do it but we're grateful for your understanding." And we're grateful that we have Valentine's Day plans that don't (exclusively) involve crying.
Twisted Metal pushed to 'early 2012' worldwide
Once pinned to an October launch date, the reboot of Twisted Metal apparently won't arrive until "early 2012." Eat Sleep Play head David Jaffe took to the PlayStation Blog (in all territories) to announce the delay, citing "extra time needed to polish our demented baby" for the delay. If you, like us, are wondering what exactly that means, he goes on to channel Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto: "A late game is only late until it ships. A bad game is bad until the end of time." He also assured fans, "If we shipped Twisted Metal tomorrow -- going off the response from folks who have played it -- I assure you, it would never be a bad game." Jaffe promises a big showing at both of this summer's game industry shows, Gamescom and PAX Prime, so we'll be sure to find out specifically what's being done with the extra development time.
Sony unveils San Diego Comic Con lineup, panels, crazy arcade cabinet
Sony's presence at this year's San Diego Comic Con is, like Qwark's chest, large and complex. Beyond bringing major retail releases like Resistance 3 and Twisted Metal for attendees to play, the publisher is showcasing a variety of wares from PSN indies like thatgamecompany's Journey and Minority Games' Papo & Yo. The company is hosting several presentations on a handful of its games -- everything from Starhawk to Uncharted 3 -- along with with the chance to play a variety of unreleased PlayStation titles. If that weren't enough, the construction of a full Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One arcade cabinet specifically for SDCC 2011 should help to get you on board. Take an early peek at the cabinet in working order just below the break.
Twisted Metal trailer is more than meets the eye
We always thought that Twisted Metal was about cars stuffed with missiles and machine guns, along with other various and sundry implements of death. Nope, turns out it's about robots. Giant robots stuffed with jet packs, gatling guns, exploding clown heads and ... pigtails. Go figure.
Twisted Metal pre-order to include Axel 'early access'
If you just can't wait to cram your Twisted Metal guy between two gigantic tires and send him barreling into the streets like it was 1996, well, you've probably already pre-ordered the upcoming sequel. Good news, then, as producer Chad Cox has announced on PlayStation Blog that pre-orders for the new Twisted Metal -- from "any participating retailer" -- will include "early access" to the iconic Axel character and, more specifically, his two-wheeled contraption, which are ordinarily locked at the start of the game. During a recent preview event for the game, we learned that characters and vehicles will be interchangeable (as seen in the screenshot above, featuring Sweet Tooth in place of Axel). It's a brave new Twisted Metal, people! Don't be shy, now -- check it out in the extended cut of the new trailer after the break.
Twisted Metal preview: Something old, something new
Playing the new Twisted Metal for my first time (I didn't personally cover last year's E3 build), I was surprised by just how powerful the feelings of nostalgia were that swept over me. The old characters and vehicles, the old environments, and the old power-ups and weapons -- though updated by the current technology and featuring new elements -- bring back fond memories of many long nights playing split-screen with friends on the original PlayStation. "The essence or the fantasy of it that inspires me and Scott [Campbell] -- that hasn't changed since the very first one," game director David Jaffe said at a preview event this week, but it's not just about taking players back to the mid-90s. "We've added stuff -- we wanted to build a deeper more relevant game in multiplayer, online, things like that." Still, the "fantasy" that inspired the original game -- an over-the-top demolition derby set loose in the streets -- "is still just as relevant today," Jaffe suggested, "and we can bring it to next-gen gamers using next-gen artwork."
Twisted Metal to darken the holiday season with Oct. 4 launch
Buried deep within the latest world exclusive trailer of Twisted Metal that aired during this week's GameTrailers TV episode was a launch date for the Eat Sleep Play-developed title: October 4. Unsurprisingly, the game will be tearing into retail outlets ahead of Halloween. Additionally, the trailer is rife with the usual cast of vehicular homicidal maniacs. Marvel as Sweet Tooth corrupts a rural farm house simply by driving past it! Stare in disbelief as Axel pilots his physics-defying two-wheel death trap! And, ya know, there are some explosions too. Head past the break and see for yourself.
Fan-made Twisted Metal trailer makes a slasher out of Sweet Tooth
Back in June, Twisted Metal designer David Jaffe shared the idea of a movie based partially on his game's automotive carnage, but focused on one of its most iconic characters, Sweet Tooth (real name: Needles Kane). "I want us to make an honest to goodness, low-budget slasher movie and sell it on PSN exclusive," he told his Twitter followers and fans. While it's unknown whether the concept has gotten the green light since then, a handful of fans have created a free trailer based on Jaffe's initial pitch. "Twisted Metal: Home Sweet Home" sees the psychotic clown offing obligatory, oblivious young people one by one and driving his decidedly unsavory ice cream truck. If the violence makes you feel uncomfortable, just remind yourself that Sweet Tooth's victims are probably those people who think it's still cute and quirky to tell everyone how scared they are of clowns. They deserve it.
Jaffe's got a filmmaking Sweet Tooth for PSN
We've been fooled before by Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe and his Twitter account, so we'll treat his recent statements expressing interest in making a Sweet Tooth-based, "low-budget slasher movie," with with the same trepidation we reserve for buying ice cream from an evil clown. That said, his phrasing is pretty straightforward: "I want us to make an honest to goodness, low-budget slasher movie and sell it on PSN exclusive. Peeps saying we are making a PSN Sweet Tooth GAME got it wrong." He later clarified that the "Sweet Tooth PSN thing" he wants to do "is a MOVIE on PSN, like THE TESTER in terms of exclusive PSN programming ... not a game." Perhaps his brief involvement with ... The Tester gave him a taste of almost-television stardom that he just can't let go? Or maybe it's just his love for low-budget slash flicks. We're not totally sure, but you can bet we've reached out for comment from the man himself.
Interview: David Jaffe on Twisted Metal, E3 and ... lying to us
Just before E3 2010, we asked Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe to confirm that he wasn't working on a new entry in the long-dormant car combat franchise, per a series of messages he released via Twitter. And confirm that he did. Unfortunately for us -- though perhaps not for gamers -- it turns out that his words to us were actually part of a larger plan of "misdirection," as he told us in an interview one day after last week's big reveal. Aside from our initial harassment about what he told us in the past, we spoke with him about what he wants out of E3, what he's most excited about in his forthcoming game, the current trend of series reboots in the game industry, and what else is going on at Eat Sleep Play (the studio he co-heads with Scott Campbell) -- among many other things. And though we were initially hurt by his "misdirection," the fact that he was a perfect gentleman during the interview helped to mend those wounds. Continue after the break for our conversation. %Gallery-95377%
Preview: Twisted Metal
David Jaffe is a big fat liar. He's a liarface. But at E3, he was finally able to tell the truth: Twisted Metal for PS3. The return of this beloved demolition murder derby series isn't so much a surprise as it is a relief for dedicated fans, fingers sore from begging for an original console sequel on any forum that will listen. Still in pre-alpha (and in the garage until 2011), Twisted Metal is up and running at Sony's E3 booth. A 15-player demo (the game does support up to 16 players) staged in the "Slaughterdale" map showcased what Santa Monica Studios producer Chad Cox called the key feature of the new Twisted Metal: "online factions." While there will be free-for-all gametypes, the team-based matches appear to be the feature modes. You pick a side: in the demo, Clowns or Dolls (though more factions are to be revealed), and then you're free to choose and change your vehicle throughout a match; much like you might change up your character class or loadout in an online shooter before you respawn. %Gallery-95377%
Twisted Metal crashes onto PS3 in 2011
David Jaffe just emerged onstage at the PlayStation keynote in a surprise reveal: Twisted Metal. The series is returning to PlayStation consoles in an all new iteration on PS3, complete with flight. Yes, you read that correctly: you'll be able to fly helicopters in Twisted Metal. You'll be able to get your vehicular slaughter on in 2011 or, if you're an E3 attendee, you can check it out on the show floor now.
David Jaffe not working on new Twisted Metal [update: yes he is]
Aside from answering questions about the current state of documentary film and divulging his current love affair with Black Rock Studios' Split/Second, Eat Sleep Play head David Jaffe is busy bustin' through speculation about his current game project. "By the way, I WISH we were making a new Twisted Metal. Making [a] game you've already worked on is tons easier cuz your core blueprint is already there. This new game design stuff tho? Man, that is hard ... reason I'm so stressed these days!" Jaffe recently tweeted. Jaffe also suggested that his studio's current project is unlikely to be revealed during E3. "Sony has not asked us and given it's 3 weeks away, my guess is u r correct: no Eat Sleep Play game at E3," he tweeted, busting through his own expectations from last year. So, he's presumably working on a car-based game, but it's not Twisted Metal ... uh, the Indiana Jones (mine) kart racer we've all been waiting for, perhaps? Update: David Jaffe told Joystiq via email this morning, "As for my Twitter, I stand by what I said: we are not making a new Twisted Metal altho [sic] I think doing one WOULD be fun...but we simply are not. Also a game by Eat Sleep Play will NOT be at E3 2010. I can't speak to what we ARE working on because it's not my place to." Update from E3 2010: What David Jaffe meant to say was, "We are making a new Twisted Metal. A game by Eat Sleep Play WILL be at E3 2010." [Via CVG]
Jaffe 'not showing anything' at E3, definitely next year
David Jaffe will be roaming the halls at next week's E3. His mysterious new project, however, "absolutely" won't make an appearance. In fact, the Twisted Metal creator noted on his latest video blog that he's "not showing anything" at the big show. Commented Jaffe, "Part of me would love to announce at E3, and so you walk into the Sony booth and bam -- there's our game." Next year, however, is another story. The Eat Sleep Play co-founder says that he "fully expects" the presumably car-heavy game to be on the show floor in 2010. Certainly no later than that.
Rumor: David Jaffe's next game will feature cars
Oh, Jaffe. You really shouldn't be posting images of secret internal emails on your blog, even if you have applied heavy blurring to some of the more pertinent sections. Now we know your dark secret: your next game will involve cars. That's right, some photoshop whizz managed to see through the image's blurred section -- which probably explains why Jaffe has replaced the blurring with solid chunks of red, but the damage has already been done. The super secret information does indeed reveal that the game involves cars, as evident from the lines "dragging him behind your car" and "when he is launched out of a car." The email also states that character animation for the "human characters" needs improvement because "right now it's so dry, it needs to feel like an action movie." Cars and humans? This game is going to be awesome. All joking aside, this could indicate that Jaffe is currently working on a Twisted Metal sequel. Or it could not. It could be another car game entirely. With human characters. The blog post mentions a big milestone at the end of the month, which may mean we'll be seeing whatever game this is at E3 in early June. [Thanks, Brad]
Jaffe's next game 'certainly not later' than 2010
Remember David Jaffe? Y'know, that guy that made Twisted Metal and God of War? He made his own studio after the tiring effort put into the PS2 God of War games. Since then, we've seen small hints at his next game (which is supposedly a new Twisted Metal for PS3). According to a recent post made on his personal blog, he's "going to visit Sony" to talk about his new game. "My gut/guess tells me we're looking sometime in 2010. Certainly not later than that. Perhaps sooner." Sooner would certainly be nicer. However, with no concrete details about his next game available yet, it does seem like 2010 is a guess as good as any. [Via GamePro]
Jaffe previews next Eat Sleep Play game
If you're not making sense of the mess that's leaked out of Jaffe's little red pen, don't worry, you're not alone. There's a reason why most developers choose to keep the uglier side of game design in house. But then, David Jaffe isn't most developers. If we squint hard enough, we can just barely see the outline of a Twisted Metal level (at least, that's the going theory) -- oh, and a Spider-Man head. Wow dude, if this Eat Sleep Play thing doesn't work out, you should totally try out for Marvel! (And yes, we actually dialed that 1-800 number...) Anyway, glad to hear Jaffe's getting his "core" computer back up to speed. We can't imagine what's it's been like to be stuck with Windows and Internet Explorer. Gross.
Twisted Metal PS3 revealed in hidden code
Sure enough, "buried deep" (well, not that deep) within Twisted Metal: Head On - Extra Twisted Edition is the answer to every Metal head's burning headache, er, desire: METAL IS COMING ON PSTHREE. The code, embedded in the game's "Dark Past" documentary as a series of numbers, ensures the franchise will take at least one more victory lap before puttering into uncertainty. Just how Jaffe and company plan to overhaul the oh-so-90s motif, remains the one, true secret. May we suggest going hybrid? [Via PS3 Fanboy]
