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[FirewalkR]

psn title.

Indeed, wha?

 

[Sin]

I preordered God of War 3 back in March and it isn't out for another year. Same thing with Resistance 2, Motorstorm 2, Killzone 2 and Little Big Planet. They were available to preorder very early.

Well, I know for a fact that there is a video of GoW3 making the rounds internally and I know people who have seen it, and if the rumors I've been hearing (which I am VERY sceptical about, mind you) that Sony are pushing for GoW3 to release this fall, we might see it at E3.

Anyway, take this with a pinch of salt, I am. Then again, stranger things have happened.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Does this count?

EB Infamous preorder

They put generic dates on games like that on their website all of the time. I'm talking in store

See, they have a generic for Alan Wake here as well. http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=39065

However, it is not present in their store.

Here is one for Afrika, but it isn't in their store

http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=60438

Like many poor souls here, I worked at EB bck in the day, and they routinely made "guesses" at game releases and had SKUs well before the games were ever shown (like your God of War 3 preorder), and sometimes before games were officially announced, so I wouldn't use that as your primary measuring stick for any game's viability.

Basically, they just want your $5-10 for the preorder.

Preorders are still done at the request of the manufacturer. Online, it is Gamestop's domain. However, preorders being submitted to the system in the stores is left up to the manufacturer. Sony gives them the ok.

 

[Firewire]

Well, I know for a fact that there is a video of GoW3 making the rounds internally and I know people who have seen it, and if the rumors I've been hearing (which I am VERY sceptical about, mind you) that Sony are pushing for GoW3 to release this fall, we might see it at E3.

Anyway, take this with a pinch of salt, I am. Then again, stranger things have happened.

I'd guess that GOW3 coming out this fall is almost impossible, unless SCEA started working on it well before they finished GOW2.

 

[dammitmattt]

Preorders are still done at the request of the manufacturer. Online, it is Gamestop's domain. However, preorders being submitted to the system in the stores is left up to the manufacturer. Sony gives them the ok.

Good info. I guess things changed since my EB days.

 

[nelsonroyale]

hope they dont have a new fps...as the market is glutted with that genre...plus I have enough to look forward to in Crysis Warhead, Resistance 2, farcry 2 and Killzone 2 (ridiculous amount of 2s)...I doubt I will have any interest in this

 

[FirewalkR]

Assuming this fps is real, I'd love to see it at E3 but given they've already got two high profile titles coming out in the same genre, I doubt we'll hear about it until at least one of them is released. :/

C'mon Sony, show us mooooaar.

 

[Busty]

I can confirm its an FPS. Probably the same one Xun is talking about.

Nice one. The only thing I would ask is are Sony London developing this FPS as Xun said or are Sony Liverpool?

Or are the rumoured Sony London FPS and Sony Liverpool action-adventure title the one and the same?

 

[jjasper]

Preorders are still done at the request of the manufacturer. Online, it is Gamestop's domain. However, preorders being submitted to the system in the stores is left up to the manufacturer. Sony gives them the ok.

Interesting I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

 

[deejay8595]

Eight Days canned due to lack of online mode

In our exclusive interview with Shuhei Yoshida, the new head of Sony Worldwide Studios has admitted that Sony's increasing move towards online-supported games lead to the cancellation of its London Studios' Eight Days.

Two weeks ago it emerged that two London Studios big-budget PS3 games, The Getaway and Eight Days, had been cancelled.

Yoshida was appointed as Phil Harrison's replacement as head of Sony Worldwide Studios earlier this year.

When asked what his overall strategy going forward for PS3 titles, he said: "There are many areas but one focus that has been and will be key is how we use the online technology and PlaySation Network to involve more consumers in participating. LittleBigPlanet is a major, major step forward in that this year. Prior to that we released SingStar, and I’ve been checking out people’s videos – it’s been very interesting to see that people enjoy publishing their performances.

And the Buzz channel – I can’t wait to see the strange questions people come up with for that! So that’s the major common theme that we are trying to enforce with all our projects.

He adds: "I think that we have more projects that we want to do than we do have resources. So, the cancellation of Eight Days was not necessarily because that project was failing, but because we looked at how it fit in the portfolio and where it fit as a production."

Eight Days' lacking online content "was part of the consideration" he added.

"As I say, there are many projects we want to do and we look at many different angles for them, such as profitability, how long it may take, and where it fits in the portfolio – along with other strategic aspects that we are trying to delivery for the platform."

http://www.developmag.com/interviews/216/Meet-the-new-Boss

 

[Yoshichan]

That must be bullcrap, I mean, seriously?

 

[pswii60]

Eight Days canned due to lack of online mode


http://www.developmag.com/interviews/216/Meet-the-new-Boss

This makes me cry.

Sure, online is good in the right context. But often we just want to play a good quality single player game. Think Bioshock. Or Uncharted. No multiplayer there.

What's the point in cancelling it just because it doesn't have online? Is Square going to cancel FFXIII? And Nintendo cancel Brain Training 3? And it's not like MGS4 is selling so well on the back of MGO. It's all about the single player.

Fucking retarded, although we don't have the whole story I'm sure ("part" of the consideration). I just hope God of War and Team ICO's next title stick to the single player focus.

All this aside, cancelling a project like this is often the easiest way to completely piss off your development/creative talent.

 

[op_ivy]

but but but... :lol

 

[PistolGrip]

This makes me cry.

Sure, online is good in the right context. But often we just want to play a good quality single player game. Think Bioshock. Or Uncharted. No multiplayer there.

What's the point in cancelling it just because it doesn't have online? Is Square going to cancel FFXIII? And Nintendo cancel Brain Training 3? And it's not like MGS4 is selling so well on the back of MGO. It's all about the single player.

Fucking retarded, although we don't have the whole story I'm sure ("part" of the consideration). I just hope God of War and Team ICO's next title stick to the single player focus.

All this aside, cancelling a project like this is often the easiest way to completely piss off your development/creative talent.

Dont take the sensationalist title of the article for face value. Sony is saying lack of an online component was part of their consideration. I am sure the game just didnt work and SONY decided it wasnt worth it to keep throwing money at it.

I am sure a lot of the devs are now working towards helping evolution studios get motorstorm released this fall.

 

[McBradders]

Eight Days canned due to lack of online mode


http://www.developmag.com/interviews/216/Meet-the-new-Boss

Wow, um, wow. No comment here.

 

[gofreak]

When you read the full quote, you see it was suggested by the interviewer, and he said it was just one issue.. of many ..

As I say, there are many projects we want to do and we look at many different angles for them, such as profitability, how long it may take, and where it fits in the portfolio – along with other strategic aspects that we are trying to delivery for the platform. So it was just one of the issues.

Saying the game was canned because of a lack of online, fullstop, is quite misleading.

I would wager that it was not an issue that led initially to the consideration of cancellation, but just one that made the decision a bit easier in the end.

 

[BoilersFan23]

Dont take the sensationalist title of the article for face value. Sony is saying lack of an online component was part of their consideration. I am sure the game just didnt work and SONY decided it wasnt worth it to keep throwing money at it.

I am sure a lot of the devs are now working towards helping evolution studios get motorstorm released this fall.

Since the game comes from SCEE London, my guess is their resources are now working on getting Home out by the end of the year (along with some assisting SingStar, Buzz, MotorStorm Pacific Rift, etc.). IMO, I think SCEE London previously took on too many projects, which possibly explains slow development time.

When you read the full quote, you see it was suggested by the interviewer, and he said it was just one issue.. of many ..



Saying the game was canned because of a lack of online, fullstop, is quite misleading.

I would wager that it was not an issue that led initially to the consideration of cancellation, but just one that made the decision a bit easier in the end.

There are other first party games that lack online, so I know very well that wasn't the main issue. The probably felt with being online, if it had issues, they could at least make some money expanding its online over and over again (like with Warhawk), but wouldn't be able to.

 

[Vinci]

I just hope God of War and Team ICO's next title stick to the single player focus.

Considering the original premise of Shadow of the Colossus included the ability to hunt down the colossi with a group, I'd love to see some sort of multiplayer component in Ueda's next game. I mean, it won't suffer without one - but I'm fine with there being one.

 

[Issun23]

Considering the original premise of Shadow of the Colossus included the ability to hunt down the colossi with a group, I'd love to see some sort of multiplayer component in Ueda's next game. I mean, it won't suffer without one - but I'm fine with there being one.

The European and Japanese versions of ICO had a two-player mode on the second playthrough as well...

 

[pswii60]

Considering the original premise of Shadow of the Colossus included the ability to hunt down the colossi with a group, I'd love to see some sort of multiplayer component in Ueda's next game. I mean, it won't suffer without one - but I'm fine with there being one.

Which is fine, as long as it isn't the focus.

 

[pswii60]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/shuhei-yoshida-part-one

Q: Explain the reasoning behind the cancellation of Eight Days and The Getaway.

Shuhei Yoshida: As you might know, starting and cancelling projects is just a normal part of our business. What's unusual about this case is that we usually don't announce titles until we have a really good feel, until they're getting ready and we have an idea of launch day.

The situation was that because we started talking about the PS3 in 2005-6, the idea concepts that became the Eight Days and The Getaway projects had something very representative of things that we think will define this generation of game development - the particles, the fantastic explosions, and so on.

So company management decided to show it as an example, as a demo, not necessarily meaning that they were titles to come. It could have been a little bit confusing because there were lots of announcements of actual titles, but because of timing we made the unusual decision to announce those two at a very early stage of development.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Da fuck? ............ lucky Insomniac and Naughty Dog got Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank out i guess or they would have got cancelled................................

 

[nelsonroyale]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/shuhei-yoshida-part-one

hahahah, yeah, thats one way to spin...

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

not happy

 

[hteng]

sony is losing it

 

[pswii60]

sony is losing it

SCE needs a new visionary. Kutaragi may have been a bit mental but he had some wonderful ideas in that head of his. And if Kutaragi was still there I have this gut feeling that Phil might still be too.

 

[Router]

So company management decided to show it as an example, as a demo, not necessarily meaning that they were titles to come. It could have been a little bit confusing because there were lots of announcements of actual titles, but because of timing we made the unusual decision to announce those two at a very early stage of development.

WAT?

 

[2real4tv]

Its amazing how confused SONY is this gen, they need to keep their orignal plan and stop switching up each time the wind blows a certain way

 

[painful fart]

SCE needs a new visionary. Kutaragi may have been a bit mental but he had some wonderful ideas in that head of his. And if Kutaragi was still there I have this gut feeling that Phil might still be too.

Yeah, I hope Mr Yoshida will not just give priority to casual shovelware over big productions with original content. If he also cancels Heavy Rain then he´s on the wrong track IMO.

 

[2real4tv]

Social gaming has its place in a consoles library but should not be the focus its not like they need a huge production to make Buzz

 

[Visualante]

Social gaming has its place in a consoles library but should not be the focus its not like they need a huge production to make Buzz

Not true, a lot of work goes into those games.

 

[2real4tv]

Not true, a lot of work goes into those games.

Alot of work goes into all games but were not talking the time and manpower it takes to create a more dynamic game, look how long it took GH or Rock Band

 

[Kafel]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/shuhei-yoshida-part-one

I think I'll love this guy.

 

[SamBishop]

I think I've talked to Shu all of two times, and both times he struck me as the kind of person that, while not having the same presence that Phil had, absolutely 100% sold me on the stuff he was talking about. Granted, these were things that more or less could have been company lines, but it never came off that way -- which is something Phil was also exceptional at.

This is in stark contrast the usual SCE mastheads like Tretton or even Hirai. They were so on message that it felt like even casual conversations were horribly scripted. I never got that impression from either of the (now) SCEWWS head honchos (nor Andy House for that matter, who has always been exceptionally welcoming). I honestly do believe that Yoshida will pick up where Phil left off. No, it won't be the same direction, which, honestly, makes me a little sad, but dude's got tenure. He knows how to rock shit properly, and I actually have wanted him to be a really big role for a while now.

I also think it's important to note that EVERY. SINGLE. PROJECT that is created as part of the World Wide Studios initiative is basically pooling info about how to make games into the Sony collective. The games may be canned but the dev effort that went into them hasn't been brushed aside; a studio that close to the core tech houses like Cambridge means the advances they made into development will echo throughout future projects.

Honestly, there isn't a single development studio as powerful as Sony's is right now, but it sucks that we'll pretty much have to wait half a generation to see the bulk of that experience bearing fruit, and as much as I love the PS3, I can't help but think that nearly all of those "wow" moments will probably come from internally-developed games at this point.

 

[FirewalkR]

Honestly, there isn't a single development studio as powerful as Sony's is right now, but it sucks that we'll pretty much have to wait half a generation to see the bulk of that experience bearing fruit, and as much as I love the PS3, I can't help but think that nearly all of those "wow" moments will probably come from internally-developed games at this point.

Well, perhaps these "wow" moments will serve to attract other devs to the platform... I haven't been expecting anything truly revolutionary from a multiplatform experience for some time anyway. Let's see what they got with Infamous and hopefully Heavy Rain (which is not 1st party but should be as "almost 1st party" as it gets) this E3.

 

[SamBishop]

Well, perhaps these "wow" moments will serve to attract other devs to the platform... I haven't been expecting anything truly revolutionary from a multiplatform experience for some time anyway. Let's see what they got with Infamous and hopefully Heavy Rain (which is not 1st party but should be as "almost 1st party" as it gets) this E3.

That's a really good point. In a weird way, Sony basically fucking themselves out of first place with the PS3 was a humbling experience. They've already shown themselves to being open to working with third parties, and I think, if they bridge that gap, it may pay off.

I do honestly believe that Kutaragi's design architecture means the PS3 can (and hopefully will) end up being as flexible and "oh my god, that shouldn't be possible" brilliant as the PS2 was. Seeing stuff like Burnout 3 running on the PS2 was more or less a one-stroke justification of the difficult hardware, but the PS2 was the lead platform for nearly everything because of its install base.

It doesn't really make financial sense to pour a ton of time and money into cracking the hardware if that game, technically amazing as it may be, isn't going to sell well. I think that's the development conundrum right now: do we take the time to actually plumb the depths of what Kutaragi created with this new hardware like he did with the last two generations, or do we just crank out a cross-platform game that we hope is 1:1 because learning how to actually do that is a pain in the ass enough to learn in the first place?

Sony's blunders in introducing the PS3 are legion at this point. They're well-documented and almost masochistically executed, but the World Wide Studios linchpin is sort of their ace in the hole. The momentum that's been building this year is a solid start, but with HD games needing a good two or three years to really hit (and be actually great), the window is definitely closing -- if not already closed.

It's a shame, because I know that PS3 games could enjoy the same sense of "holy hell, this is a PS3 game?!" a good year or three after the PS4 launched that the PS2 had, but it really does need to be the lead platform almost across the board for that to happen. If the whole WWS initiative means that Sony is willing to share their advances with third/second parties in the future, then maybe we'll get to that point. But that's a big maybe.