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Sony officially cuts ties with Superbot; All-Stars DLC now handled by Santa Monica

Recognizable with kids? I don't know. I see the people who buy Kirby game as long time fans, I don't know how familiar kids are with him now. He did have the anime a couple of years ago and Nintendo did push those Kirby shorts on Nintendo Video last year.

You do realize franchises can be popular with out mechanisms outside of games, right? Kirby is popular, there's a reason he consistently shows up on handheld systems.
 

StuBurns

Banned
It's not just that Nintendo's characters are better known, although they are, a lot so. It's that they work within the same game. Nintendo whore out their characters all the time, they're happy to reinvent them visually for any artistic direction a product takes. They're not distinct personalities either. You can make them visually play together well because they're not a fixed image in the players head. You see two wildly different depictions of Mario, and they're both Mario, the way two wildly different shades of green are still green, you see Nathan Drake look anything other than like Nathan Drake as rendered in Uncharted, and it's really stupid.

If this if for good or for ill, I don't know. I'm not saying Nintendo's properties are better, or worse, or they handle them more favorably or not, just that I think the fact they're considerably more flexible, or are at least constantly flexed, it's easier to accept in a mash up game.

There are lots of other good reasons, such as the games most associated with PlayStation aren't owned by Sony, etc.
 

The Crimson Kid

what are you waiting for
It's too bad that it seems that Superbot won't get a chance to follow up on PSASBR.

The core gameplay was perfectly fine and was pretty good at being chaotic while still strategic, all while not being a carbon copy of Smash Bros. The CrossPlay feature worked great and the Vita version was actually perfectly faithful to the PS3 version, which is really impressive. Also, the online net code was fantastic. If only every MP chaotic brawler could have as good net code as this game did... *cough* Anarchy Reigns *cough*

However, when compared to Smash Bros as a whole, it fell short in many ways. The single player was lackluster and there was little in the way of extra modes of features that Smash Bros has been riddled with. The presentation and overall polish of everything outside the gameplay was poor. The dynamic mash-up stages were neat a few times, but I would've preferred to have versions of the stages that weren't mash ups. It just seemed gimmicky in a game that couldn't afford to appear gimmicky. And we all know that the roster of characters (and the level of fan service) was not where it needed to be for a game that directly positioned itself against Smash Bros.

Also, the rollout and marketing of the game was poor from the beginning to after release. During preview events and trade shows, pretty much all they showed off was the 4-player FFA, which made the game appear like it was just chaos that required zero strategy. The slow character reveal rollout failed miserably. And when it came time to market the game upon release, the ads made for it we universally horrible and showed nothing about the game. The art on the poster ads was ugly and the live-action commercials were embarrassing. The only decent bit of advertising was the Robot Chicken thing.

The atrocious previews and advertising don't entirely explain away the games poor performance, but it certainly was a factor. Superbot did a pretty decent job with PSASBR, but it could never compare favorably when put against Smash Bros to most customers. Given enough time and resources, a sequel could have given Smash Bros a good competitor.
 
They made a good game, but this game should have never even been greenlit. They did the best anybody could have done with a no win situation.
 

Figboy79

Aftershock LA
Such a shame to see Superbot go, they created a genuinely fun game, and the few of them I got to meet (Clock, Omar, Seth; you guys were awesome!), were great dudes and a joy to talk to at the LA Beatdown!

I'm hoping this won't be the last we see of the Superbot guys, and that they find a home somewhere kickass.

I've been playing the hell out of PlayStation All Stars daily, even if it's not online! Lol.
 

Riposte

Member
I feel like with how many games Sony put out last year and how many were left to die, they should just make a PS++ service where you get all Sony games day one for a slightly higher fee. Would have been a godsend for multiplayer games... which would Twisted Metal, All-Stars, and Starhawk (and probably something else). So, yeah, a bunch of games that could have done better and under better conditions would have done better.

EDIT: If not all, then all but one or two flagship titles (e.g. Naughty Dog games)

Am I stupid?
 

Boss Man

Member
I'm a little late here, but I have to agree with this.

At first I thought it was just so blatantly copied, and then I heard the systems were dfferent, and how it feels like a whole new game. I watched a few videos, but was pretty much media silent.

And then I watched it being played on Game Grumps.

Yeahhhhhh... I'm sorry guys. The menus are terrible, but the roster, it's just... It's not... Using supers to kill... It's just...

Who was sitting around thinking, "Man, there's nothing I want more than to watch Dude from Killzone duke it out with Big Daddy on a LocoRoco stage that suddenly turns into Metal Gear Solid."

In any case, I hope the developers land on their feet someplace else, but I just don't think the game was very good.
To be fair, watching the game second-hand doesn't really do the game justice. They did do a fantastic job with the core fighting mechanics and making each character feel correct and unique.

I agree with most of your gripes. The menus were shit and even though that sounds superficial it makes the entire game feel B-Tier. The roster was weak. They don't have the roster of the Mario franchise and they don't have Link, but they still could have done a lot better. The seemingly random, hosh-posh 3rd party additions are pretty unforgivable in a game whose sole existence it contradicts. The Supers thing I'm unsure about. I think in the end it was too bold. There was also seemingly a conscious decision to suppress hazards and stuff to the effect that the game could exist on more of a "pro" level, which I think was pretty self-centered on the developers' part. A lot of them are part of that crowd (which showed itself well in the fighting mechanics) but I think they lost sight of the fact that that is not the type of crowd that this game was supposed to be targeted towards.

So yeah, trying to make it a "real" fighting game and forgetting that the roster and dumb fun were absolutely the only things to shoot for is what doomed the game IMO.
 
Being articulate can't completely mask some of the things he's stated. That, and his history on GF like others have pointed out.

I will never forget the quote from him, "In the real world, which Americans do not live in, Lara Croft is a far more recognizable character than Mario."

Anyways, what type of DLC has been released for All-Stars so far? Any new modes or levels? I'm not really interested in the characters. I just want more variety in the gameplay.
 

NBtoaster

Member
SCEA :\

Wonder how United Front Games are doing (LBPK). SCEA saw fit to release their game on election day, which also was Halo 4 release day...whoever makes these decisions has to go.
 
SCEA :\

Wonder how United Front Games are doing (LBPK). SCEA saw fit to release their game on election day, which also was Halo 4 release day...whoever makes these decisions has to go.

LBPK bombed, but Sleeping Dogs did okay. So maybe they're not doomed? Who knows with them.
 

daripad

Member
SCEA :

Wonder how United Front Games are doing (LBPK). SCEA saw fit to release their game on election day, which also was Halo 4 release day...whoever makes these decisions has to go.
As some pointed out they made sleeping dogs so I think they will be here for a while
 

sappyday

Member
Not deserved. The game is fun but it has its flaws. Given a second chance I'm sure they could of done a much better job.
 
You do realize franchises can be popular with out mechanisms outside of games, right? Kirby is popular, there's a reason he consistently shows up on handheld systems.
I know Kirby is popular, Im not saying he isnt. We were talking about being recognizable with kids and I dont think he is.
 
To be fair, watching the game second-hand doesn't really do the game justice. They did do a fantastic job with the core fighting mechanics and making each character feel correct and unique.

I agree with most of your gripes. The menus were shit and even though that sounds superficial it makes the entire game feel B-Tier. The roster was weak. They don't have the roster of the Mario franchise and they don't have Link, but they still could have done a lot better. The seemingly random, hosh-posh 3rd party additions are pretty unforgivable in a game whose sole existence it contradicts. The Supers thing I'm unsure about. I think in the end it was too bold. There was also seemingly a conscious decision to suppress hazards and stuff to the effect that the game could exist on more of a "pro" level, which I think was pretty self-centered on the developers' part. A lot of them are part of that crowd (which showed itself well in the fighting mechanics) but I think they lost sight of the fact that that is not the type of crowd that this game was supposed to be targeted towards.

So yeah, trying to make it a "real" fighting game and forgetting that the roster and dumb fun were absolutely the only things to shoot for is what doomed the game IMO.

I mean, that roster. I think that's seriously my biggest issue with the game outside of the supers. Fat Princess? DmC Dante, whom everyone hates? Good and Evil Cole?

I was considering giving the game a really hard look once they added what's her face from Gravity Rush, because that game looks really cool. But then I saw the Grumps playing it, and I made a :| face because it does seem b-tier, just like you said. There's just no oomph to it. With Smash, there's just this level of grandiose about it. It has this feel to it that just sets it apart. I don't know if it's Nintendo magic or what, but this game didn't hit any of the right buttons with me. I'm not going to say it's a horrible game, but I just don't think it's a good one, and nobody really wanted it.

And yeah, trying to make this game with a "real" fighter focus was a horrible idea. The millions who are buying Melee and Brawl aren't fighting game purists.
 

Noi

Member
The only good thing about All-Stars is the core gameplay. Everything else, from roster to UI to Story/Arcade mode, ranges from average to truly mediocre.

Anyways, what type of DLC has been released for All-Stars so far? Any new modes or levels? I'm not really interested in the characters. I just want more variety in the gameplay.

There's been patches for character balance, but the character/stage DLC for Kat and Emmett will be the first DLC pack. Nothing else has been announced.
 
I know Kirby is popular, Im not saying he isnt. We were talking about being recognizable with kids and I dont think he is.

Kirby is pretty damn recognizable. He had a really popular cartoon show and his games are pretty popular. He's not Mario or even Donkey Kong level of recognizable, but he sure as hell is more recognizable than a vast majority of video game characters.
 
I know Kirby is popular, Im not saying he isnt. We were talking about being recognizable with kids and I dont think he is.
Kirby is huge with kids In Latin america and Japan (or so I've heard) Plus he had a popular TV show so even if his games don't sell all that well he is still a recognizable character
 

mujun

Member
I feel like with how many games Sony put out last year and how many were left to die, they should just make a PS++ service where you get all Sony games day one for a slightly higher fee. Would have been a godsend for multiplayer games... which would Twisted Metal, All-Stars, and Starhawk (and probably something else). So, yeah, a bunch of games that could have done better and under better conditions would have done better.

EDIT: If not all, then all but one or two flagship titles (e.g. Naughty Dog games)

Am I stupid?

I don't think they need a separate sub. Just put the games you named up on the current PS+ service after 6 months or something and plan from the start to have the games make a lot of money off of a steady DLC stream.
 

Riposte

Member
I don't think they need a separate sub. Just put the games you named up on the current PS+ service after 6 months or something and plan from the start to have the games make a lot of money off of a steady DLC stream.

I would have to be convinced PS+ is making a lot of money already for that to be worth it and I'm sort of making an unsure assumption that it makes any money at this point.
 

Duffyside

Banned
I remember the PSASBR hype thread, where people were betting on how many millions this thing would sell (I was definitely NOT one of those people).

This thing has been a sad affair from the word go. I look forward to not hearing about it anymore.
 

Skyzard

Banned
This thing has been a sad affair from the word go. I look forward to not hearing about it anymore.

PSASBR really does bring out the worst in some people. Could have picked many others' posts as well tbh.

As with Smash Bros for me, the gameplay was so fun that it made you enjoy the characters more as you played it even if I wasn't entirely familiar with them - they designed the moves and characters well. Combos add replayability and overall the gameplay feels really fresh and pretty too, just hope they tweak and add to it a bit more if we aren't getting a sequel soon.
 
Right, they were imagining a game with Cloud, Crash, and Solid Snake.

We got a game with 2 Coles, new Dante, etc. This just wasn't the game anyone asked for. More ads wouldn't have changed a damn thing.

Yeah, I've been saying the same thing since they showed off the initial roster, and when it subsequently got worse. They really needed to nail the roster from the get go and they failed, whether it was due to budgeting or developers not wanting to let their stuff being used.
 
Yes, but he was respectful, I wonder why he was banned

The fact that he's banned didn't come so much as a surprise. I know a few of us wouldn't make it to Member status considering his overall posting history on here, GameFAQs, and the NGG irc chat. And we knew what would cause his downfall.

He could've waited till he was a member though.
 

mujun

Member
I would have to be convinced PS+ is making a lot of money already for that to be worth it and I'm sort of making an unsure assumption that it makes any money at this point.

No harm in trying if a game bombs at retail, surely.
 

VICI0US

Member
Oh well I definitely agree that the roster plays a huge role in sales. That's the reason that the game exists. I feel like Superbot lost track of that to their detriment.

unfortunately superbot had basically no say as far as acquiring the likes of snake, cloud, sephiroth, crash, spyro, and other true playstation all stars. that was entirely on sony.

they were just left making the most out of the poor hand they were dealt.

sony really should have ensured they could actually acquire said characters before they greenlit this project if they wanted it to have any chance at real success.
 

Riposte

Member
No harm in trying if a game bombs at retail, surely.

I guess we are talking about two different things. I'm talking about Sony revamping their digital content strategy (along the lines of what they've already done) and you are talking about reacting to bombs by aiming for a second wind.

Thinking about what I'm saying, this is the perfect strategy to fight against used game sales.


Also something really funny about Twisted Metal: It was originally going to be a downloadable title (you can still see how this would be the case, in terms of its simplified campaign and limited number of characters), but Sony told them to make it a full retail game and gave them a bigger budget. Then they sent it out to die and gave it virtually no post release support. I liked the game too.
 
It has not been a good year for developers who made Sony 1st party games. I imagine Sanzorou games will probably be the next on the chopping block. Speaking of which, I remember Sports Champions 2 being announced. Did that ever come out?
 
nk9NE.jpg


edit: real talk, I would main the fuck out of the Wipeout cars, just for the sheer novelty. Like the Daytona car in Fighters Megamix!

tumblr_ly9kqxTBEf1r8iaemo1_500.png
 

~ZIO~

Neo Member
Was this wise of Sony to do? I think they could have made use of Superbot and have them produce a unique, low budget title that would be set for launch with their new console. That would have been neat and also help draw consumers to their new consoles.

But I suppose they know what they have in mind for the future with this decision.

What's to become of SuperBot, now?
 
There is no reason why Emperor should have been banned; i've seen lesser relevant remarks made slide by. Looks like someone had an agenda against him

What did he say?

Was this wise of Sony to do? I think they could have made use of Superbot and have them produce a unique, low budget title that would be set for launch with their new console. That would have been neat and also help draw consumers to their new consoles.

But I suppose they know what they have in mind for the future with this decision.

What's to become of SuperBot, now?

Probably death.
 

?oe?oe

Member
The game had a lot of ads on TV here in Australia (more than usual I'd say, since I don't watch much). Game isn't compelling for Sony fans.
 

Darknight

Member
they were a team that split off from Sony Santa Monica. who, i dunno, sort of like made all of these masterpieces? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCE_Santa_Monica_Studio

seriously it takes just a few seconds to google them dude.

SuperBot is not SSM. If Sony really cared, SSM would of handled the game. I hope PSAS2 doesnt come out because its bound to bomb again if it doesnt included the full PS classic rosters that we all know are missing and is handled by a dev like SSM.

Such a wasted potential. This franchise deserves better but maybe in 5-10 years, Sony might give it another chance.
 
They haven't put Vic Viper in fighter yet have they? Still waiting on that.

I want all the shmup/rail shooters to duke it out. Vic Viper vs the Arwing. DoDonPanchi Type-C vs Panzer Dragoon. The Raiden vs the Ikaruga

OMEGA-bomba, but it would please me greatly
 
I guess that was the problem. Sony called it All Stars but didnt put an All Star developer on the project. You have to wonder if Square and Activision might have been more responsive if Naughty Dog or SSM were on the task

Maybe we will be icky enough to see SSM continue the franchise
 

Riposte

Member
I want all the shmup/rail shooters to duke it out. Vic Viper vs the Arwing. DoDonPanchi Type-C vs Panzer Dragoon. The Raiden vs the Ikaruga

OMEGA-bomba, but it would please me greatly

God, if they were obsessive with capturing the feel of each game that would be the most absurdly complex fighting(?) game ever.
 
I want all the shmup/rail shooters to duke it out. Vic Viper vs the Arwing. DoDonPanchi Type-C vs Panzer Dragoon. The Raiden vs the Ikaruga

OMEGA-bomba, but it would please me greatly

There actually WAS a "fighter" with nothing but shmup characters. I can't remember the name of it for the life of me though.
 
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