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Sony Playstation: First Party Studios & their Current Projects

Chobel

Chobel

Member
Nightengale said:
A few reasons, some with more grain of salt than others.

- GG, ND, SSM and MM were highlighted in old Shu interviews as teams that were expanding to be two-project teams. We know SSM failed at it, reverting back to 1-team, but for all intents and purpose, it doesn't seem like there was any changes in the other studios to hint that ex-devs on project #2 are now working on project #1.

- Steven der Heide is still listed as "Game Director' at GG, and he's not part of the Horizon team. That implies there is a team within GG that's presumably working on something not!Horizon.

- Rex Crowle, obviously just finished Tearaway : Unfolded, so we don't know if he's going to fold into the dreams team. It's just a guess on my part that he'll be working on a new project instead of dreams.
Click to expand...

That makes sense.
 
V

viHuGi

Banned
ElectricMonk said:
Well, "still" sort of, they jumped to two but team two--whatever they were working on, rumoured Destiny-ish game--got cancelled alas. the helping other developers part would be going strong regardless if team two had failed or not.

Which is too bad, I'm curious as to what they were working on and how it possibly could have come off worse than launch Destiny. Plus I super don't care about GoW, so I was all excited to buy a SSM game for once, lol.
Click to expand...

Only the future will tell...
 
L

LiquidSolid

Member
Nightengale said:
A few reasons, some with more grain of salt than others.

- GG, ND, SSM and MM were highlighted in old Shu interviews as teams that were expanding to be two-project teams. We know SSM failed at it, reverting back to 1-team, but for all intents and purpose, it doesn't seem like there was any changes in the other studios to hint that ex-devs on project #2 are now working on project #1.

- Steven der Heide is still listed as "Game Director' at GG, and he's not part of the Horizon team. That implies there is a team within GG that's presumably working on something not!Horizon.

- Rex Crowle, obviously just finished Tearaway : Unfolded, so we don't know if he's going to fold into the dreams team. It's just a guess on my part that he'll be working on a new project instead of dreams.
Click to expand...

I don't think we know that, Night. A lot of people assumed Naughty Dog had reverted back to a 1-team studio after the Uncharted 4 shake up happened but that turned out to be false, there's no reason why something similar couldn't have happened at SSM.

Chobel said:
I think a new Crash will 100% happen this gen.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
As a shitty, low budget Activision published game, a la THPS5.
 
Z

ZarKryn7

Member
I'm surprised no one here played Puppeteer. That's a Studio Japan game that came out in 2013. I guess people forgot about it since it was the year of the PS4 hype train.


Also, I hope Sierra will handle the funding and publishing for a Crash game. I mean, how is that new King's Quest game?
 
M

Mass_Pincup

Banned
LiquidSolid said:
I don't think we know that, Night. A lot of people assumed Naughty Dog had reverted back to a 1-team studio after the Uncharted 4 shake up happened but that turned out to be false, there's no reason why something similar couldn't have happened at SSM.



Agreed.
As a shitty, low budget Activision published game, a la THPS5.
Click to expand...

ND still has 2 teams?
 
Z

zsynqx

Member
LiquidSolid said:
I don't think we know that, Night. A lot of people assumed Naughty Dog had reverted back to a 1-team studio after the Uncharted 4 shake up happened but that turned out to be false, there's no reason why something similar couldn't have happened at SSM.



Agreed.
As a shitty, low budget Activision published game, a la THPS5.
Click to expand...

Eric Monacelli ‏@ermonacelli Sep 23
@RobinGaming yes, it was always the all hands on deck approach when needed. Uncharted 4 is all that everyone is working on.
 
F

FelipeMGM

Member
Acquiescence said:
Tarsier owns the rights to that game by all accounts, not Sony. I don't think Sony has anything to do with the funding of it at all, but I could be wrong there. Plus the game is going to be on PC.

It does look utterly incredible based on that trailer though.
Click to expand...

Are you sure Hunger is coming to PC? I dont think that Tarsier confirmed platforms yet, not even PS4.

And yes, game looks awesome, and I still hope that City Of Metronome gets out one day, that sounded so interesting.
 
L

LiquidSolid

Member
Mass_Pincup said:
ND still has 2 teams?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Evan Wells made it clear they hadn't given that structure up shortly after the Uncharted 4 debacle.

FelipeMGM said:
Are you sure Hunger is coming to PC? I dont think that Tarsier confirmed platforms yet, not even PS4.

And yes, game looks awesome, and I still hope that City Of Metronome gets out one day, that sounded so interesting.
Click to expand...

It was originally named as a PS4 exclusive but they changed that to "consoles and PC" later on.
 
F

FelipeMGM

Member
ZarKryn7 said:
I'm surprised no one here played Puppeteer. That's a Studio Japan game that came out in 2013. I guess people forgot about it since it was the year of the PS4 hype train.


Also, I hope Sierra will handle the funding and publishing for a Crash game. I mean, how is that new King's Quest game?
Click to expand...

Yo, I did and I think its an amazing game. In the TGS thread I even asked if it was the time to see the nem project by Gavin Moore team, maybe it will be at PGW just like Pupeteer was at Gamescom.

LiquidSolid said:
It was originally named as a PS4 exclusive but they changed that to "consoles and PC" later on.
Click to expand...

Sorry to ask, but do you have a link for that? Because when the latest trailer droped in February they didnt have the platforms listed

viHuGi said:
So Santa Monica is still one team studio?? Makes sense since they help in so many projects anyway...

Would love a new IP from them along God of War but im fine with that.
Click to expand...

They have two creative directors, Barlog is doing GoW and Nathan Gary might be up to something new
 
F

FelipeMGM

Member
LiquidSolid said:
PS4 was named in May 2014 when they first announced it:
http://tarsier.se/fullblog/blog/tarsier-secures-funding-for-hunger-concept

Consoles and PC in February:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...ebigplanet-vitas-latest-sure-looks-impressive
Click to expand...

Hmmm I see, it seems like its PS4 and PC at least then. But its weird because some websites list PC and Consoles but I couldnt find any Tarsier official statement about platforms, even if you go on their twitter and check the mentions a lot of people ask if its coming to PC and their answers it that they cant talk about it.

This is the best one I could find
https://twitter.com/TarsierStudios/status/608517996395569152
 
L

LiquidSolid

Member
FelipeMGM said:
Hmmm I see, it seems like its PS4 and PC at least then. But its weird because some websites list PC and Consoles but I couldnt find any Tarsier official statement about platforms, even if you go on their twitter and check the mentions a lot of people ask if its coming to PC and their answers it that they cant talk about it.

This is the best one I could find
https://twitter.com/TarsierStudios/status/608517996395569152
Click to expand...

I take this to mean the press have a direct line to Tarsier, so the vague "consoles and PC" line is the official line, but Tarsier won't publicly confirm exact systems until they're ready.
 
P

Pachimari

Member
ZarKryn7 said:
I'm surprised no one here played Puppeteer. That's a Studio Japan game that came out in 2013. I guess people forgot about it since it was the year of the PS4 hype train.
Click to expand...

I bought it, but haven't played anything but the demo yet. And it was very good.
 
V

viHuGi

Banned
FelipeMGM said:
Yo, I did and I think its an amazing game. In the TGS thread I even asked if it was the time to see the nem project by Gavin Moore team, maybe it will be at PGW just like Pupeteer was at Gamescom.



Sorry to ask, but do you have a link for that? Because when the latest trailer droped in February they didnt have the platforms listed



They have two creative directors, Barlog is doing GoW and Nathan Gary might be up to something new
Click to expand...

Damn didn't know it...
 
Chobel

Chobel

Member
So I found Bruceleeroy post where he hinted a new Crash is coming. Do we have any other hints from other insiders?
 
J

jackissocool

Member
horizon-zero-dawn-screen-01-us-15jun15

Yo let's all just take a minute to get hype for Horizon like is just
 
E

Evilisk

Member
ZarKryn7 said:
I'm surprised no one here played Puppeteer. That's a Studio Japan game that came out in 2013. I guess people forgot about it since it was the year of the PS4 hype train.
Click to expand...

Uh I did. And a few others here on GAF too (though because of a certain pre release Puppeteer thread, threads on the game tend to attract the wrong kind of people). Don't know where you got that impression that no one's played it

Played through it twice even. Absolutely loved the game especially co op (which was great to have because I have a lot of young relatives). I want a re release on PS4, but with toned down co op (co op was OP in the game) or maybe even true co op with new levels, and also a less annoying head system (I've put off 100%ing it because it's really annoying to get all of the extra levels/bonuses with the heads)
 
M

Machinehead

Member
ZarKryn7 said:
I'm surprised no one here played Puppeteer. That's a Studio Japan game that came out in 2013. I guess people forgot about it since it was the year of the PS4 hype train.


Also, I hope Sierra will handle the funding and publishing for a Crash game. I mean, how is that new King's Quest game?
Click to expand...

I didn't like Puppeteer. I'm sure it must be more fun in co-op, but my significant other refuses to play PS3 after she got addicted to Diablo 3 on PS4.
I used to love Sierra. I hope their new games are as incredible as the old ones.
 
M

MegaSackman

Member
zsynqx said:
My hype levels would be a lot higher if this wasn't guerrilla games who imo have yet to make a good game :/ Would love to be proven wrong as the e3 demo was hot
Click to expand...

"good game" is a little unfair, they make good to ocasionally great games they just don't make amazing games. This could be the turning point though, they hired some real talent for this one.
 
D

DKHF

Member
Shu was just asked about Bend's game on the EGX stream (on behalf of the Kinda Funny community lol) but he couldn't say anything about it...
 
Shin-Ra

Shin-Ra

Junior Member
And Firesprite's still providing artwork for The PlayRoom (VR).

Someone should have asked about North West Studio instead of Bend, for Shu's facial reaction as I don't think they've been formally announced and probably won't until their first game's ready to show.
 
L

LegendofDragoonLives

Member
Nightengale said:
A few reasons, some with more grain of salt than others.

- GG, ND, SSM and MM were highlighted in old Shu interviews as teams that were expanding to be two-project teams. We know SSM failed at it, reverting back to 1-team, but for all intents and purpose, it doesn't seem like there was any changes in the other studios to hint that ex-devs on project #2 are now working on project #1.

- Steven der Heide is still listed as "Game Director' at GG, and he's not part of the Horizon team. That implies there is a team within GG that's presumably working on something not!Horizon.

- Rex Crowle, obviously just finished Tearaway : Unfolded, so we don't know if he's going to fold into the dreams team. It's just a guess on my part that he'll be working on a new project instead of dreams.
Click to expand...
There's 0 confirmation that they axed the SSM team after that project failed. I don't remember a mass firing afterwards. They could very well be trying a new IP once again, but this time with a different director.
 
N

Nightengale

Member
LegendofDragoonLives said:
There's 0 confirmation that they axed the SSM team after that project failed. I don't remember a mass firing afterwards. They could very well be trying a new IP once again, but this time with a different director.
Click to expand...

There was a mass firing + departures. No official numbers were given, but news outlets said inside sources were reporting somewhere around 50?
 
L

LegendofDragoonLives

Member
Nightengale said:
There was a mass firing + departures. No official numbers were given, but news outlets said inside sources were reporting somewhere around 50?
Click to expand...
They have roughly 50 people less than GG based on the information we know, and GG is working on a massive WRPG right now and still has two teams. They have at least 220 people working and I would have expected at least 20-30 people to get fired since well.. millions were lost on a failed AAA game. They still have the size to work on a prototype for now and then go on a massive hiring spree. It would be weird if they kept the exact same team after such a colossus fuck up, though I thought there were less people fired than 50.
 
B

benny_a

extra source of jiggaflops
Based on comments by Scott Rohde I don't think the number 50 is accurate. 20-30 sound more realistic, as they were at max capacity with ~220 employees in their old studio and after the firing a few months later were at over 200.

I think it's more reasonable to assume that they got rid of senior positions because the new IP didn't work out.
 
V

viHuGi

Banned
benny_a said:
Based on comments by Scott Rohde I don't think the number 50 is accurate. 20-30 sound more realistic, as they were at max capacity with ~220 employees in their old studio and after the firing a few months later were at over 200.

I think it's more reasonable to assume that they got rid of senior positions because the new IP didn't work out.
Click to expand...

200? Doesnt Sucker Punch work with 80 or so?

Seems like they could be making 2 games per team if they were as efficient as Sucker Punch no?
 
L

LiquidSolid

Member
viHuGi said:
200? Doesnt Sucker Punch work with 80 or so?

Seems like they could be making 2 games per team if they were as efficient as Sucker Punch no?
Click to expand...

What? No. Different studios have different structures and do different things. Sucker Punch works on one game at a time. SSM works on one game, has a second in pre-production and then assists numerous external teams. Naughty Dog has >200 employees too but that consists of the same two team structure as SSM and ICE Team.
 
Futurematic

Futurematic

Member
viHuGi said:
200? Doesnt Sucker Punch work with 80 or so?

Seems like they could be making 2 games per team if they were as efficient as Sucker Punch no?
Click to expand...
110-120 developed Infamous: SS though no idea on current size since Sony fired longtime staff post-launch and they started hiring again late last year.

No. Note the size and depth of Infamous: SS and ~3 year development cycle. They can make gorgeous games, but team size limits the scope and ambition of their games (openworld sure, but not much to do).

Naughty Dog/SSM second pre-production team are small, and work on the main game if needed. So nearly twice the developers on the main game then Suckerpunch's entire studio because they make bigger games.
 
M

Mass_Pincup

Banned
LegendofDragoonLives said:
They have roughly 50 people less than GG based on the information we know, and GG is working on a massive WRPG right now and still has two teams. They have at least 220 people working and I would have expected at least 20-30 people to get fired since well.. millions were lost on a failed AAA game. They still have the size to work on a prototype for now and then go on a massive hiring spree. It would be weird if they kept the exact same team after such a colossus fuck up, though I thought there were less people fired than 50.
Click to expand...

SSM is also working with external developers which can explain the big amount of employee.

ElectricMonk said:
110-120 developed Infamous: SS though no idea on current size since Sony fired longtime staff post-launch and they started hiring again late last year.

No. Note the size and depth of Infamous: SS and ~3 year development cycle. They can make gorgeous games, but team size limits the scope and ambition of their games (openworld sure, but not much to do).

Naughty Dog/SSM second pre-production team are small, and work on the main game if needed. So nearly twice the developers on the main game then Suckerpunch's entire studio because they make bigger games.
Click to expand...

I also remember reading that it was a choice from them to not get any bigger.
 
J

JuanLatino

Member
does anyone have a link or source for the estimated employees at Santa Monica? i would add them to the infobox of the studio

over 200 sounds a bit much...
 
V

viHuGi

Banned
LiquidSolid said:
What? No. Different studios have different structures and do different things. Sucker Punch works on one game at a time. SSM works on one game, has a second in pre-production and then assists numerous external teams. Naughty Dog has >200 employees too but that consists of the same two team structure as SSM and ICE Team.
Click to expand...

Interesting...
 
W

Walpurgis

Banned
JuanLatino said:
does anyone have a link or source for the estimated employees at Santa Monica? i would add them to the infobox of the studio

over 200 sounds a bit much...
Click to expand...
This is the source used on their Wikipedia page.
There are so many great memories over the course of the last decade as we've grown to occupy this entire building, from a team that started with 16 people, to a bustling studio family over 220 strong.
Click to expand...
http://sms.playstation.com/news/time-to-move/
It's in the second paragraph and from 02.06.2014, so I guess that's February before the layoffs.

edit:
Rohde later noted that “There’s not a single business on the planet where every single project that is started is a success. And that’s just what happened here. So sometimes, high profile projects or studios need a reboot, and that’s what’s happening here. Santa Monica will always be a hugely important part of our global family of studios. It’s still a huge studio that’s right up there around 200 people, even after the recent layoffs.”
Click to expand...
http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/03/...-layoffs-asometimes-a-project-needs-a-reboota
7 MAR 2014
 
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