First off, thanks for planning on buying the game! Much, much appreciated!
As for reviews and flopping hard and all that, let me just say a few things:
1- We are going to do everything in our power to make sure that does not occur. From making a great game to creative and strong marketing to building/cultivating and maintaining a strong Twisted Metal community, we're going to push as hard as we can to get a hit. Sometimes that is MORE than enough. Other times, not so much. We're hoping for the former
2- I don't see us getting 9's and 10's from a lot of reviewers, to be totally frank. And NOT because the game is not worth 9's and 10's. I think TM fans and journalists who review the game who like this genre will- if we get everything done that we want done- give the game the coveted 9 and 10 scores. And I think we will deserve those scores. I am very, very confident we are making the best TM ever made by a long shot and I feel the game will be worthy of those scores. If you like TM, you will LOVE this game and it will keep you playing for a long, long time. But 9's and 10's? I mean, TMB got 9's and 10's but I have to assume a lot of that was visual and story and vibe. Because TM2 got 8's and 8.5's (the scores I think (and HOPE!) we will get from a lot of sites and mags) and most folks will tell you TM2 is by far the best, deepest game in the series.
But the reality is, at its heart it IS a TM game and there are some reviewers/critics for whom that is simply not the sort of game they give 9's and 10's to. I don't want to fall back on that annoying cliche of 'they just don't get it' implying that those who don't care for the nuts and bolts TM play are simply not 'in the know'. I think they do get it, they just don't want it. And that's totally fair. But the fans who DO get it and who WANT it and LOVE it, well I think are going to go ape shit over this. I mean, I think they are going to go 'Holy Fuck! Look what they did to Twisted Metal!!!'...and in a great way!
3- Flop or mega hit or somewhere in between, TM PS3 is a quality product and if we sell 50,000 or 5 million, players who like/love this sort of game will feel taken care of and supremely entertained. Do I want us to sell a mega crap ton? Oh HELLS YES! I want Eat Sleep Play to make bank so our company has a nice stash in the bank and so we can reward the creators of the game with kick ass bonuses. I want SCE and Sony Santa Monica to do crazy well so they are rewarded for their amazing work and unending support over the years. And fuck it, I want TM to make bank so I can afford some cool ass stuff I've had my eye on for a long ass time!
BUT end of the day, the real reward is that we got to make the game. We're super proud of it and I gotta say: I just LOVE this game! So if we hit, sweet! God, I so want this to hit! BUT if we only find a small group of loyal peeps who love it, that's ok too. Not the goal, but at least we got to make the damn thing and entertain those folks who dig the genre!
I think there's just too much worry and talk about games that hit or fail or get released at the right/wrong time. To the point that the only way to 'win' in the eyes of a lot of people is to basically paint by numbers and follow the already mapped out plan for 'these are the elements you put into the pot to get a hit' and then just tweak it a little bit so it's unique enough...and what fun is that? For us game makers or you game players?
Again, these are not excuses. We're gonna work up until the time the game is pulled from our hands to get 10/10's from EVERYONE from the most non-discriminating TM fansite to a magazine like EDGE (which- I have to assume ((since I'm a big fan of that mag and THINK I know what kind of games they dig))- is probably not the first mag I would guess would fall in love with this game). I'm just saying that we know- at it's core- there are some people who will never feel the core idea itself is worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with today's 9 and 10 rated games.
But if you are a fan of games like TM2 and TMB and Mortal Kombat and Unreal Tournament and Quake Arena and you LOVE competitive gaming (both local split screen and online) then prepare to go to the next level with TMPS3. But if TM never really set your socks on fire to begin with, I doubt we're going to convert you with this title.
David