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[Drek]

Because if the game they're making isn't guaranteed to be a mega hit, Sony won't market your game well, if at all.

How the hell do you get to that conclusion?

All-Stars got some ok marketing push. Infamous started out slow and Sony kept marketing muscle behind it to build the series. Uncharted had a strong first entry but not a "mega hit", Sony's marketing was a big part of the second and third games selling so much better. Twisted Metal had a lot of marketing for it, the game just didn't click with consumers. Same with Starhawk, which came on the heels of Warhawk's lackluster sales.

In a generation where games like Brutal Legend are marketed as something other than what they really are, strong titles like Darksiders 1 and 2 go with basically zero marketing behind them, etc., I'd say it's pretty hard to depict Sony as a publisher who doesn't do a better than average job at trying to market new titles.

Their marketing approach isn't always great, that I could understand a complaint with, but it's not due to a lack of effort. Hell, All-Stars had a holiday season clear of other major first party titles and still couldn't move units. It's just a genre/type of game that doesn't fit Sony's core audience.

 

[Skyzard]

It's a shame, extremely fun game. Been playing it more than any of the other 20 or so vita games I have. Only real issue with it was some balancing. Glad we are getting more characters though. Hopefully more than just the two announced already.

 

[Sipowicz]

this a surprisingly good move from sony


fair enough they've closed a few studios lately but i still have faith

 

[rdrr gnr]

As much as I love All Stars, I wonder if things would have worked out better if they went Power Stone style.

Unfortunately, the games' stars just can't compare to Nintendo.

Nothing wrong with budgeting a game within expectations, but I wonder if expectations were too high, or if there was too much money wasted in development. Is 3 years too long for the end result? I'd think so

GoW: A is rather good.

 

[Mileena]

Well, nice to know they aren't shutting down I guess. But here's hoping they don't end up like Lightbox.



This still makes me mad. People had been complaining about Kratos since the beta, and they didn't do a thing. But they instantly go and destroy Sackboy when all they needed to do is tweak his Level 3.

People would have stopped playing if they nerfed the biggest brainless babby character in Kratos. They have no choice!

 

[Pachterballs]

The only one that is different is Nintendo and that's only because they have a huge following and they don't release shitty games.

People actually believe Nintendo don't release shitty games.

Well

 

[BigBadShamoo]

For what SuperBot had to work with. It was quite an amazing job. Hell I KNOW it made some heavenly sword purchases even if they were used copies.

 

[Samurai-Don]

So when can I expect PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale 2?

Honestly I am not surprised since PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was doom from the start, maybe it would have done well during the PS1 or PS2 era but not in this generation.

 

[KageMaru]

He's obviously being sarcastic, he linked a website with a thread full of Smash bros. clones. I'm pretty sure there are crossover/mascot brawlers that predated Smash Bros. anyway, it was SSB that really popularized it as a type of fighter. I'm saddened that this IP could easily be gone, when SSB really needs some competition to help move the genre forward. I love the genre, I wish there was more games in it.

I honestly have no idea how I missed the link. My bad! Lol

 

[Pachterballs]

DAT yellow metascore.

I don't see how meta critic allowed some 20/100 review for this. That be like broken code or something.

 

[Ridley327]

So when can I expect PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale 2?

Honestly I am not surprised since PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was doom from the start, maybe it would have done well during the PS1 or PS2 era but not in this generation.

I think it could have done well if it was released earlier in the gen; I think that Sony would have had a much easier time getting Crash and Lara Croft, as well as the original incarnations of Dante and whatever MGS character they would have decided upon, and it would have been an interesting counter to SSBB. Releasing it four years after the fact is kinda really stupid in retrospect.

 

[EmperorLawlight]

The game failing has nothing to do with the characters. Contrary to popular belief, putting a popular character in a game won't make it magically sell well. The game had a host of problems that stopped from being a success.

 

[LiquidSolid]

Idol Minds *NEARLY* closed, they had to lay almost everyone off when Ruin (Warrior's Lair) got pulled. They started doing ios games and were able to rehire some of the folks they let go.

And where does the R&C HD Collection fit into that? Aren't they still working on R&C Deadlocked?

 

[DrPirate]

Don't blame marketing. They demoed the game all over the place (mlg) had a beta. The problem is people played it, and didnt like it. Game was sterile, everything about it felt basic.

Couple that with a less than exciting combat system...recipe for disaster.

Exactly.

And I was one of those people who REALLY wanted a sony smash brawler. I played the demo and the beta, didn't dig the fight system, so I didn't buy the game. Simple as that.

Though, I do want them to try again. Another brawler, but properly done, with a fight system that (to me) is more satisfying.

 

[RSLAEV]

The game failing has nothing to do with the characters. Contrary to popular belief, putting a popular character in a game won't make it magically sell well. The game had a host of problems that stopped from being a success.

Well without an appealing lineup I wasn't even interested in trying it to see if it had problems or not. Didn't have much of a chance really.

 

[stufte]

And where does the R&C HD Collection fit into that? Aren't they still working on R&C Deadlocked?

Yah I dunno about that. All I know was what happened shortly after I stopped working there.

 

[angelfly]

Sucks for Superbot but it wasn't unexpected considering how the game bombed hard even with Sony betting big on it. I wonder if the IP is completely dead now or whether they're just going to go back to the drawing board for the sequel.

 

[Omnistalgic]

anyone know how much Allstars bombed though? I've seen it in number 1 & 2 slots on the PSN store, which numbers aren't tracked IIRC...

The game couldn't have been that costly to make either....

Cool sit down on the couch game though...I like it

 

[Metallix87]

The game failing has nothing to do with the characters. Contrary to popular belief, putting a popular character in a game won't make it magically sell well. The game had a host of problems that stopped from being a success.

An appealing lineup is still important in a game based around appealing to fans of Sony's history in the game industry. The fact that Crash Bandicoot, Cloud Strife, Lara Croft, and Spyro the Dragon weren't secured for the game is ridiculous.

 

[I-hate-u]

Should have made it Marvel like

 

[CrazyTank940]

Should have made it Marvel like

Yo when's marvel anyways

 

[Seventy_X_Seven]

Expected, but it still sucks. The game is actually really good on the mechanics and the UI is acceptable. Only real downside to the game in my opinion is the horrible balance between characters.

 

[DrPirate]

I just wish they would bring back Syphon Filter. Syphon Filter on the PS4 would be insane!

I think you may be pleasantly surprised! I'm hoping for the same

 

[EmperorLawlight]

Well without an appealing lineup I wasn't even interested in trying it to see if it had problems or not. Didn't have much of a chance really.

Well, you're in the minority considering that most PS fans like at least 3 or 4 of the characters in PSASBR. Do you think SSBB sold so well because of the characters?

 

[Codeblue]

I can count the number of Sony exclusive properties I care about on the back of my hand.

But not the front?

 

[EmperorLawlight]

An appealing lineup is still important in a game based around appealing to fans of Sony's history in the game industry. The fact that Crash Bandicoot, Cloud Strife, Lara Croft, and Spyro the Dragon weren't secured for the game is ridiculous.

If Crash was still relevant, why aren't his games selling? Same thing for Lara Croft.

 

[rouken]

superbot had it coming, sony should've given the project to someone who has more experience at least. but their focus on it really hints that its a half assed effort anyway.

Well, you're in the minority considering that most PS fans like at least 3 or 4 of the characters in PSASBR. Do you think SSBB sold so well because of the characters?

i want to answer: YES.

you look at this boxart and you see all these familiar characters from other games and figure wow, they made a game where all of them are in it. that's the hook of it.

 

[smr00]

Sad but not unexpected.

Yeah.

Most people saw this coming when the game was announced, we knew it wasn't going to do any kind of amazing numbers and result in layoffs and/or the studio closing.

 

[EmperorLawlight]

i want to answer: YES.



you look at this boxart and you see all these familiar characters from other games and figure wow, they made a game where all of them are in it. that's the hook of it.

Does that mean that you buy Mario Party as well? And Link's Crossbow Training? And the Pokemon TV series?

And you're forgetting that Sony has multiple characters from multi-million selling franchises as well.

 

[daripad]

Does that mean that you buy Mario Party as well? And Link's Crossbow Training? And the Pokemon TV series?

And you're forgetting that Sony has multiple characters from multi-million selling franchises as well.

They are bad games so no one buys them. The same happened with PSASBR

 

[kvn]

Expected, but it still sucks. The game is actually really good on the mechanics and the UI is acceptable. Only real downside to the game in my opinion is the horrible balance between characters.

I bought it when it went on sale for 22 € and I kind of regret it. The basic mechanics are good, I agree, but they are not satisfying enough. It's not really satisfying to beat up enemies, if all you do is staring at that stupid AP / Super-meter. Also the UI is fucking amateurish and looks like something a five year old would do in paint (sorry for the hyperbole).

Everything in this game feels like lacking polish.

 

[Sipowicz]

what was the studio called that made the mario kart knockoff on ps3? are they still around?

 

[Setsuna]

That's probably the most frustrating thing. Who knows what the tens of millions of dollars wasted on the last guardian could have funded in Japan.

team ico is like 30 people

only way they spent 10s of millions of dollars is if each of them were getting paid hundreds of thousands a year plus development

 

[Pachterballs]

what was the studio called that made the mario kart knockoff on ps3? are they still around?

mod racers or LBP karting?

both unappealing as f***. I really dislike LBP.

/eurrrghh

 

[Aquamarine]

what was the studio called that made the mario kart knockoff on ps3? are they still around?

You're referring to LittleBigPlanet Karting and United Front Games.

They made a little something called SLEEPING DOGS, so yeah, they're doing all right.

 

[Sandfox]

They are bad games so no one buys them. The same happened with PSASBR

People buy those games I think its just a matter of the Sony fans not being interested in the games whereas Nintendo fans are more attracted to the idea. I also thing the timing in which Nintendo created both the Smash Bros and Mario Party ips helped as well.

 

[Pikawil]

what was the studio called that made the mario kart knockoff on ps3? are they still around?

United Front Games made both ModNation and LBP Karting, and they're beyond still being around: outside of Sony, they're responsible for a certain game called Sleeping Dogs...

Edit: Ninja'd.

 

[daripad]

I bought it when it went on sale for 22 € and I kind of regret it. The basic mechanics are good, I agree, but they are not satisfying enough. It's not really satisfying to beat up enemies, if all you do is staring at that stupid AP / Super-meter. Also the UI is fucking amateurish and looks like something a five year old would do in paint (sorry for the hyperbole).

Everything in this game feels like lacking polish.

And the game lacked content, like rewards,music, etc

 

[rdrr gnr]

what was the studio called that made the mario kart knockoff on ps3? are they still around?

Yes. And they make good games.

 

[Card Boy]

what was the studio called that made the mario kart knockoff on ps3? are they still around?

ModNation Racers or LBP Kartking?

Modnation was a soulless shitty game. Region locked online games deserve to fail, plus game had some of the worst loading on the PS3.

 

[DarҖaoZ]

A huge difference between Smash and PSASBR is that all, if not most of those characters are recognized by KIDS. Something that Sony doesn't have. Sony needs to rely on the older audience to sell this game. People who will recognize most of the cast, which in several cases are characters from M rated games.

The problem is that the older audience is the one that is more strict on what they want, so stuff like photoshop like UI will not pass by.

PSASBR was in a really awkward position and with a limited audience IMO.

 

[Oersted]

Does that mean that you buy Mario Party as well? And Link's Crossbow Training? And the Pokemon TV series?

And you're forgetting that Sony has multiple characters from multi-million selling franchises as well.

Pokemon TV series was huge, Pokemon still is on a lesser extent. Mario Party is selling really well, and Mario on his own, well...

Yes, Crossbow wasn´t really big, but it was a defined niche to begin with.

So there you have it.

 

[Anticitizen One]

They should have made an actual fighting game you know like street fighter or Mortal Kombat. That would have been more appealing to the base instead of a literal smash bros clone

 

[EmperorLawlight]

They are bad games so no one buys them. The same happened with PSASBR

Exactly my point - a game has to be good to sell.

 

[Matt]

Yes, Crossbow wasn´t really big, but it was a defined niche to begin with.

Link's Crossbow Training sold a ton of copies.

 

[EmperorLawlight]

Pokemon TV series was huge, Pokemon still is on a lesser extent. Mario Party is selling really well, and Mario on his own, well...

Yes, Crossbow wasn´t really big, but it was a defined niche to begin with.

So there you have it.

But did you buy them (or are watching the Pokemon series)?

 

[kvn]

And the game lacked content, like rewards,music, etc

Also this. I would have liked 1-2 or two unlockable characters, too.

 

[moe6142]

whats wrong, thought all those sony exclusives could save the world|?

 

[EmperorLawlight]

They should have made an actual fighting game you know like street fighter or Mortal Kombat. That would have been more appealing to the base instead of a literal smash bros clone

It would have sold even less. They should have made an RPG or something along the lines or Saint Seiya Sanctuary Battle or One Piece Pirate Warriors - in other words, a game for fans (with more refined gameplay, of course).

 

[KojiKnight]

Wow... seeing a lot of people saying marketing was to blame... Honestly, it was one of the more marketed titles I've seen recently. I saw commercials several times a night, every night for a couple weeks across several channels.

Marketing wasn't the problem, it was simply the fact that the game wasn't up to spec. There are very few mascot brawlers out there, and any of them that aren't SSB are low budget (and usually Namco-bandai related). Sony tried making their own high budget smash bros thinking that their title characters would be enough to put it on par with Nintendo's... Just not happening.

That's not to say that Sony's characters are somehow less popular (though they are) but rather it's the demographics... All-stars was a comedic brawler featuring characters that mostly weren't. It's an "all age" friendly combat game with characters that simply aren't. The styles clash, the demographics clashed and there was NOTHING they could have done to fix that.

For Sony to compete, they'd be MUCH better off trying to go the Mortal Kombat route. I know for a fact I'd get a lot more enjoyment out of a deep and bloody 1 on 1 fighting game from Sony's characters than what we got in All-stars.


TLDR: Sony should make Mortal Kombat with it's characters, not a comedic brawler.