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[Rhyvven]

Have been trying very selectively to read posts for a couple of weeks. Some "parts" were being given away in the post. My question is, since it seems the game has "real"people in it and there were comments on some people spamming certain actions, how 'dependent' on the game play/enjoyment are these encounters? I would hate to purchase, only to have the experience ruined by dolts.

I think I saw something about easily exiting out and 'starting' again? Doesn't seem practical of course if one was nearing completion. So is there a way to 'avoid' these encounters (the bad encounters once they happen) so to speak?

 

[Eppy Thatcher]

How could you have possibly thought that they were AI? Didn't their complex behavior clue you in?

2012 - TGC - Best AI programming of all time Award
2013 - PS4 Released
2014 - TGC release SkyNet for PS4N ...
end of recorded history ....

 

[Foxtastical]

Had some extra time between thesis chapters, downloaded Journey, played and beat it in a day.

Brilliant experience.

 

[PooBone]

I loved this game, didn't like Limbo. Art house projects like this are a thing of objective opinion. I would put this in the same vein as Ico, which I adored. i think I may actually prefer this game. If Ico was 2 hours long, I'd like it more.

 

[Donos]

Have been trying very selectively to read posts for a couple of weeks. Some "parts" were being given away in the post. My question is, since it seems the game has "real"people in it and there were comments on some people spamming certain actions, how 'dependent' on the game play/enjoyment are these encounters? I would hate to purchase, only to have the experience ruined by dolts.

I think I saw something about easily exiting out and 'starting' again? Doesn't seem practical of course if one was nearing completion. So is there a way to 'avoid' these encounters (the bad encounters once they happen) so to speak?

some people played it alone and love it. I think it's best experienced with someone else, even when he's already played it (and isn't a douche or on his "speed/trophy" run).

I would buy it now because the chance to meet unexperienced players is high now. And although i played it one time i just stuck on the back of my mate and didn't explore much so even on my second playthrough i will be rather unexperienced.

And don't overhype it. It's a special game but some people will expect to much based on this thread (not downplaying Journey).

 

[Foxtastical]

I loved this game, didn't like Limbo. Art house projects like this are a thing of objective opinion. I would put this in the same vein as Ico, which I adored. i think I may actually prefer this game. If Ico was 2 hours long, I'd like it more.

What?

Subjective = Relating to personal opinion, experience, perspective
Objective = Truth, confirmed by multiple sources, universal

Also, all criticism and reception of video games is subjective.

 

[Corto]

Real talk now. Let's have a poll. Who broke a tear or had teary eyes on a playthrough through this game?

Myself, I'm not ashamed to say that on my first playthrough at the very end was smiling with wonder and with teary eyes.

 

[ced]

I loved this game, didn't like Limbo. Art house projects like this are a thing of objective opinion. I would put this in the same vein as Ico, which I adored. i think I may actually prefer this game. If Ico was 2 hours long, I'd like it more.

Reminded me of Ico as well.

 

[PooBone]

What?

Subjective = Relating to personal opinion, experience, perspective
Objective = Truth, confirmed by multiple sources, universal

Also, all criticism and reception of video games is subjective.

Forgive my hungover ignorance. You are correct sir.

 

[Sera O]

For people who were hoping for soundtrack fix and are on Austin Wintory's mailing list, he has put up a "journey bundle" of unreleased tracks and sent the link out. There are a bunch of different variations on the official songs (like a version of the ending theme with ocarina instead of singing, which I actually kind of prefer). So if you had signed up for the list, check your mail!

From the email:

Here is a track-by-track breakdown of what's in here:

"Threshold - Soloists Only" - During the creation of this score I had the great honor of working with some first-rate instrumental soloists. This piece in particular (which was already sent out to subscribers but is available here in case you didn't get it: 05 Threshold.mp3), really showed off their brilliant musicianship. So I created this alternate mix which eliminates all of the additional electronics, percussion, etc and features only the soloists (Amy Tatum: bass flute/flute; Charissa Barger: harp; Rodney Wirtz: viola; Tina Guo: cello; Noah Gladstone: serpent).

"Journey/Tina Alloy" - The extraordinarily gifted cellist Tina Guo, who can be heard playing all the cello solos in Journey, happens to also be a kick ass electric cello metal/rock musician. She performed/arranged this completely re-imagined take on the Journey theme while on tour with Cirque Du Soleil's IMMORTAL (Michael Jackson) tour!

"Journey via flOw" - This is about as pure an expression of my musical nerdyness as anything I could imagine. This is the Journey theme done entirely with my original flOw sounds and aesthetic!

"Reflections" - This version of the Journey theme features an extraordinary musician named Jie Ma who plays the Chinese Pipa.

"flOw Etudes" - This version of the flOw theme features the truly superhuman talents of Grammy-winning classical guitarist Scott Tennant, founding member of the famed LA Guitar Quartet and widely considered one of the best guitarists alive on planet Earth.

"flOw Meditations" - This version of the flOw theme was created by Grammy-winning singer and all-around brilliant talent Ayana Haviv.

"Viaje" - A second guitar solo! This one features Flamenco guitarist Lucas Bakker del Castillo performing his take on the Journey theme.

"I was Born For This (Ocarina Cover)" - This ocarina-driven interpretation of the end credits aria was created by my newest musical compatriot, Cris Gale aka 'The Ocarina Diva.' Cris did this immediately following the release of Journey and for those who've not seen her video yet, watch it here.

"A Musical Journey - Dev Diary Version" - This is the exact piece of music I edited together for the music trailer that Sony prepared earlier this year. A lot of people asked about it, and in fact the particular rendition of the theme at the end can't be found anywhere else so it seemed worth including in this bundle.

"Woven Variations" / "World of flOw" - I imagine many of you have already seen the videos on YouTube of my live performances conducting these two pieces (here and here if not). Here are the mp3's for each piece, performed beautifully by the Golden State Pops Orchestra.


WAIT! There's actually more!! As a little surprise, I have included an original piece of Journey concept art by thatgamecompany's brilliant artist Matt Nava. Matt's work on this game is easily some of the most inspiring material I've ever worked with as a composer, so it's a joy to share some of his work with you all.

ALSO, there is a folder of additional freebies I decided to include as one last thank you. These are excerpts from albums already available on iTunes, Amazon, etc. If you like what you hear and would consider buying the full albums, it would be immensely appreciated and helpful in allowing me to continue to create music for you.

The one track in there not from an available album is "Death and Transcendence." That piece was for a project that I ended up never releasing, and so I included it because it features some typically-brilliant playing by cellist Tina Guo, and singing by Lisbeth Scott (the wonderful singer of the Journey end titles aria).

Ok one last surprise! I still can't announce any details on the Journey soundtrack, though I promise to soon. BUT, I am beyond thrilled to reveal that we are planning a physical CD release, and so by signing up for this list you have been automatically entered into a drawing to receive a copy for free, autographed by thatgamecompany, me, and any of the musicians I can track down in time. I plan to send out 10, and you'll be contacted via email when the time comes (and be patient because it'll be soon, but a few weeks at least)

 

[Chaos]

Just got that email, nice little bundle!

 

[Tomodachi]

Physical CD release! Yay!

Spoiler

Maybe vinyl was hoping for too much

 

[Hawkian]

Stop posting until you're done with the game. Don't take a break for the whole two hours, just get into the game and experience it!

That "Wow, incredible" was me completing the game. One of the most immersive and memorable experiences I've had in gaming.

Spoiler

The robo-snake-thing massacred me to the point where I only had one scarf fragment for the latter part of the game. I was basically carried by a fully-scarfed companion all the way to the incredibly satisfying "you can fly now" segment.

Thank you, whoever you were.

 

[Number45]

https://twitter.com/#!/awintory/status/185130163955171328/photo/1/large

For anyone wanting cover art for the #JourneyPS3 bundle, @ThePopeKYA has done you the courtesy of making one!! http://pic.twitter.com/wXYMixre

 

[BolognaSoup]

Just played through the game in one sitting with my AD700 headphones through my Yamaha Silent Cinema surround receiver. Totally immersed the whole time. Truly stunning work of art.

Before today I held A Link to the Past as the only perfect game I'd ever played. Journey is the 2nd.

I just wish there was a screenshot feature in the game.

 

[paperheart]

Checked my e-mail, and downloaded the Journey Bonus Bundle. I actually can't wait for the Journey soundtrack to release, because I really enjoyed what was in the game. Besides that, I got the final trophy today. I also played with the white robe for the first time, and man it's so awesome. While playing I encountered another player with a white robe, and we played through the whole game together. I can safely say that I'm still loving Journey.

 

[dreamfall]

Just downloaded the Journey Bundle! So ready to put on these headphones and drift completely.

 

[XOMTOR]

https://twitter.com/#!/awintory/status/185130163955171328/photo/1/large

Awesome, thanks for posting that Number45. That's perfect.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

While walking normally at full speed, quickly press forward and back repeatedly. It takes only a few to get it.

It's fun when you're with another who knows it, but I felt bad for pulling it on a first-timer since it seems to have freaked them out.

Amazing. Thnx.

Will do.

 

[Shadow780]

Awesome, put on my phone right away, it's amazing.

 

[Garcia el Gringo]

I didn't care for Flow when it was the hot new Flash game in 2006. My feelings didn't change when it came to PSN.

I thought Flower was one of the most overrated games ever.

Journey moved me. It's the most elegant game I ever played. thatgamecompany just won me over. The moments where I had a cooperative partner were outstanding. Beautiful. I can't wait to return to it at a later point. And I hope I can get some of my friends to experience the game as well.

 

[Vomiaouaf]

How could you have possibly thought that they were AI? Didn't their complex behavior clue you in?

No :-( The folks I played with looked like they were guiding me through the levels as they knew the game already. Enjoyed it very much haha.

Played the game yesterday night being aware of it though. I wish I knew who I was playing with, he/she was absolutely amazing to travel with. Shame that he/she disappeared due to what looked like a disconnection. I felt so alone after that :-|

 

[Cyberia]

Soundtrack is coming very soon!

Lastly, a lot of you have seemed to really enjoy the music in the game, which was composed by Austin Wintory. And we’ve received a lot of requests to release the soundtrack of the game. Well, I’m happy to announce that the soundtrack will be hitting the PS Store and iTunes on April 10, and there will be a limited CD release in the near future as well.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012...-fastest-selling-game-soundtrack-coming-soon/

 

[Emitan]

Soundtrack coming out on PSN and iTunes April 11

 

[Imm0rt4l]

What an experience.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Bad news: Kellee Santiago is leaving thatgamecompany :O

http://gamasutra.com/view/news/1634...ompany_Santiago_departs_new_game_underway.php

Good news: tcg is working on their new game.

 

[darkwing]

Soundtrack coming out on PSN and iTunes April 11

so bought, what an incredible journey

 

[Drencrom]

One of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, everything was so beautiful..

I was a little resistant to buy this even though I loved Flower, but after reading all the impressions I was convinced. Definitively don't regret it.

It's kinda weird that you get so attached to your companion by the end of the game (at least I did), it kinda reminds me of co-op in Demon's Souls/Dark Souls.

 

[Amish_Gramish]

Bad news: Kellee Santiago is leaving thatgamecompany :O

http://gamasutra.com/view/news/1634...ompany_Santiago_departs_new_game_underway.php

Good news: tcg is working on their new game.

Also, Robin Hunicke is gone, and is working with Keita Takahashi (Katamari Damacy) on Glitch:
http://www.glitch.com/blog/2012/03/29/bigger-better-brighter/

Little known fact:
Robin, a huuuuuge Katamari fan, introduced Keita to Tiny Speck, so it wasn't much of a surprise to me at all when I found out she was going to work for them.

Now hopefully this year I can meet Keita at E3!

 

[Drencrom]

Also, Robin Hunicke is gone, and is working with Keita Takahashi (Katamari Damacy) on Glitch:
http://www.glitch.com/blog/2012/03/29/bigger-better-brighter/

Ugh, a facebook game... why based god why?

 

[alr1ght]

Journey is PSN’s Fastest-Selling Game, Soundtrack Coming Soon

Hello, PlayStation.Blog readers. It has been an exciting two weeks for us since we launched Journey on PlayStation Store. We see the personal connection between our work and the players, which is the most real and priceless reward for us. For that, we thank you so much for your support, for spending time and money to play our game and for spreading the word about Journey to your dear friends and family. Thanks to you, Journey has officially broken PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store sales records, surpassing all first and third-party games to become the fastest-selling game ever released in the SCEA region on the PlayStation Network.

After we released Flower in 2009, players sent hundreds of emails about their experience with the game. They varied from a nine-year-old girl to a 65-year-old man, from a marine serving duty overseas, to a soldier returning from Iraq. There were even stories about a mother’s memory of her two children in the wheat fields, a surreal butterfly fantasy from someone’s grandmother who passed away, and a young man who spoke about his brother who has Down syndrome. Those kinds of letters are what drive us at TGC to keep working.

And now, the reaction to Journey has been even more overwhelming. We have received more letters from fans in the two weeks since Journey’s launch than we did for Flower over the past three years!

We owe a lot to our fans. In fact, idea of forming the thatgamecompany team to create games with Sony Santa Monica originated from several dozen emails that players sent in after playing our first student game, Cloud, from our time at USC. It was the players who told us how moving the game was and how it is important that we keep making these types of games so that more people in the world will realize what video games can be, and can grow to love games through our work. To me, that was a life-changing moment. I knew making games was my life calling.

This art piece expresses our gratitude.

Lastly, a lot of you have seemed to really enjoy the music in the game, which was composed by Austin Wintory. And we’ve received a lot of requests to release the soundtrack of the game. Well, I’m happy to announce that the soundtrack will be hitting the PS Store and iTunes on April 10, and there will be a limited CD release in the near future as well.

Thanks, again, for all your support. We’ll see you online!

 

[Roto13]

I posted this in the Journey sales news thread, but I might as well post it here too because my previous thoughts on the game are in this thread.

Succinctly, I gave it another go and wasn't impressed with it the second time either.

That is all.

 

[darkwing]

One of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, everything was so beautiful..

I was a little resistant to buy this even though I loved Flower, but after reading all the impressions I was convinced. Definitively don't regret it.

It's kinda weird that you get so attached to your companion by the end of the game (at least I did), it kinda reminds me of co-op in Demon's Souls/Dark Souls.

yup, this should be an online required game

 

[Chaos]

Anyone going to make one ?

http://minesweeperaddict.tumblr.com/post/19865284792/brogineer-an-adorable-journey-papercraft-by

http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=26087021

 

[DEO3]

Also, Robin Hunicke is gone, and is working with Keita Takahashi (Katamari Damacy) on Glitch:
http://www.glitch.com/blog/2012/03/29/bigger-better-brighter/

Little known fact:
Robin, a huuuuuge Katamari fan, introduced Keita to Tiny Speck, so it wasn't much of a surprise to me at all when I found out she was going to work for them.

Now hopefully this year I can meet Keita at E3!

I was looking at Jenova's wiki the other day and noticed Katamari Damacy is listed as one of his greatest influences as well, along with Ico/SotC. I also had no idea he was a competitive gamer, that really surprised me.

 

[mickcenary]

Reading through this thread is making me want to play this game. I will admit, though, that I'm a tad apprehensive about the inherent "wank/fluff" potential. Also, all I know is that

Spoiler

you end up in the snow and walk into some light

- spoilers much, or am I okay?

 

[SecretMoblin]

Reading through this thread is making me want to play this game. I will admit, though, that I'm a tad apprehensive about the inherent "wank/fluff" potential. Also, all I know is that

Spoiler

you end up in the snow and walk into some light

- spoilers much, or am I okay?

Those are definitely spoilers, but knowing about elements of the game and actually experiencing them are two very different beasts.

Get it, play it, share impressions. It's not above some healthy criticism, but there's little else like it on the market.

 

[Darkkn]

Man, this game is such an amazing experience. I found myself smiling a lot during my play-trough.. there is something absolutely joyous in playing this game, similar wonder that watching Studio Ghibli movies induces.
There were many brilliant moments of joy from simple things like

Spoiler

cloth squid lifting you on top of the steep dune for a first time

and

Spoiler

sand surfing

. Such a simple things are somehow elevated into pure wonder.

I do wish tho that the game was like a hour longer than what it was. I don't think i was robbed from my money, the game was fantastic, but a little bit more of a optional exploration and other a little less directed gameplay could have really elevated the game and made the journey feel more personal and not completely... pre-polished experience if that makes any sense?

Spoiler

I did not feel the last climb to the mountain top as strongly as i should because it all went so quickly that... there was no enough time for me to feel the struggle completely.

A couple of other nitpicks:
Game does not seamlessly transition from one area to another, maybe an engine limitation, but regardless.. I also fell through the geometry at one time, but was fortunately able to get back into the game world. A bit of a boner killer for sure.

 

[dreamfall]

I'm so sad about the departures. Santiago & Hunicke are so integral to these games, I'm really happy for them. But I feel so torn. I can not express my gratitude to thatgamecompany for their games enough; my inability to play anything since Journey is ridiculous. I hope they go on to do even more incredible games, and I hope Jenova continues with the team to be incredible. Sad, but hopeful!

 

[Drencrom]

Damn, looking forward to replay this again tomorrow. Gotta get all those

Spoiler

glyphs

!

I'm so sad about the departures. Santiago & Hunicke are so integral to these games, I'm really happy for them. But I feel so torn. I can not express my gratitude to thatgamecompany for their games enough; my inability to play anything since Journey is ridiculous. I hope they go on do even more incredible games, and hope Jenova continues with the team to be incredible. Sad, but hopeful!

At least we got three great games from them and Jenova have already started on a new project. I believe that TGC can make another mind blowing game.

 

[brandonh83]

GAF

this game has just impressed me more, visually, than something like Uncharted 3 ever has.

HOLY SHIIITTTTTTTTTT

 

[ScOULaris]

Man, Woven Variations in the Journey Bundle is such an awesome song. I've been listening to the bundle every day at work, since I usually have Journey on the brain anyway.

 

[ChackanKun]

Just got the game! What a wonderful experience =]

 

[Kinyou]

GAF

this game has just impressed me more, visually, than something like Uncharted 3 ever has.

HOLY SHIIITTTTTTTTTT

Whenever there's a best graphic thread I'll make sure to post Journey.

 

[Endo Punk]

Flying in sync and chirping to maintain flight for each other is one of the most rewarding experiences this gen.

 

[ChackanKun]

To whoever is currently playing with me, thanks a bunch lolol

Edit: ok, just reached the end with that unknown fellow player! This was beautiful!

 

[Kade]

Just finished playing and it was such a wonderful experience. The feeling of losing your companion is what survival horror designers should try to emulate from now on.

Thought it was polite to send them a message afterwards telling them that I had fun but it turns out the person I played with is Japanese. They did send me a reply in English though saying "thank you from japan". Would someone be willing to translate the first message they sent me?

 

[mujun]

Just finished playing and it was such a wonderful experience. The feeling of losing your companion is what survival horror designers should try to emulate from now on.

Thought it was polite to send them a message afterwards telling them that I had fun but it turns out the person I played with is Japanese. They did send me a reply in English though saying "thank you from japan". Would someone be willing to translate the first message they sent me?

Thanks for the fantastic trip.

 

[mujun]

What do you do when stuck under sand going round in circles for minutes on end?

 

[paperheart]

Anyone going to make one ?

http://minesweeperaddict.tumblr.com/post/19865284792/brogineer-an-adorable-journey-papercraft-by

http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=26087021

That's awesome! I'm going to print them out and make them. I hope they come out good for me.