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SCEA Santa Monica: "We're Trying To Outdo Ourselves"

We told you before that SCEA Santa Monica had no problem with EA taking a few cues from God of War for their action title, Dante's Inferno.

Well, God of War III senior producer Steve Caterson has reinforced that claim once again and adds that they really only focus on themselves. This isn't a selfish thing; it's about pushing themselves to go higher and farther rather than looking at what's out there and going, "damn, we should put that in our game!" According to what Caterson told Industry Gamers, it's "always been about the previous games we've worked on," and they simply wanted to outdo themselves over and over again. He provides us with the example of the Hydra - a memorable early boss battle from the original GoW - and the ensuing comparison to the Colossus battle in GoWIII. In regards to topping themselves, he said, "I'd like to think we succeeded." As far as Dante's Inferno is concerned:

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but from our standpoint, we're running our own race. We're trying to outdo ourselves and we're our own worst critics and we often beat ourselves up. We take a lot of pride in what we do and we want to do the best we can on the games we make and we don't want to leave anything on the table. We want everyone to have the same experience, one that we all agree on, and when you put the game down we want to be able to look you in the eye and say, 'We gave it our all.'"

There's little doubt in our minds that SCEA held anything back or fell short in any way with God of War III. When it hits store shelves in a little over a week, most will find it to be one of the most engaging, highly polished video games they've ever seen and played. As for the question we keep getting - "do you guys have GoWIII yet?" - all I can say is that the embargo ends on Monday...and we'll be ready. Very, very ready.

Related Game(s): God of War III

3/6/2010 10:55:42 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (65 posts)

SnipeySnake
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 11:13:05 AM
Reply

I think they have GOW3, cause ign does o.o

Oh, and when do you think you'll get the FFXIII review done?
Last edited by SnipeySnake on 3/6/2010 11:13:41 AM

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 12:38:34 PM

ASAP. Towards the end of the week.

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Wage SLAVES
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 9:44:39 PM

I wanna know how/why the metacritic score is identical when the Ps3 version is superior. Hope you guys can add your take on that as well...

*EDIT*

Actually, it might be the difference in standards...lol!
Last edited by Wage SLAVES on 3/6/2010 9:46:45 PM

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to_far_apart
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 11:17:20 AM
Reply

I really like to see developers like this. Like it was said, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." It's true, Dante's Inferno did do a lot of imitation, but what does that say about Santa Monica Studios? That it's one hell of a developer, it's not everyday you imitate so much from on franchise. I do really like how the say the focus on themselves and nothing else, it shows how much pride and confidence they have in their game, and overall even shows their classiness, if you will. I played Dante's Inferno, and i must say, it was a good game, i found it pretty engaging. With that said, the game I've been looking forward to is GOWIII. I just really enjoy how Sony's exclusive developers have been classy. Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Santa Monica, etc. As a gamer, it's great to see that and how well they work and push each other.

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migabyte
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:38:45 PM

I rented and beat DI. It was OK. The problem was before you get to hell it's fun, but the rest of the game is just OK....and it gets boring. I think DI only made the hype for GOW bigger, and it certainly won't take any sales away from it.

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Sir Shak
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 11:18:12 AM
Reply

Who's reviewing it ?

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 12:38:42 PM

Arnold.

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Wage SLAVES
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 9:48:36 PM

Damn, Arnold did we say something wrong? You don't even talk to us anymore...Is...is there someone else?

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Mouse_101
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 11:27:20 AM
Reply

Santa Monica and any other studio striving to be the best like this can only be good for us gamers. cant wait for this game!
Last edited by Mouse_101 on 3/6/2010 11:27:39 AM

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geovanwitdakick
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 11:36:09 AM
Reply

"we don't want to leave anything on the table".

The reason why I'll be getting this, instead of FF13. With all that content cut out. If Santa Monica can put all their ideas into their game, & have it work (judging by Evan Wells, Geoff Keighley's reactions), why couldn't Square Enix?

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:52:59 PM

Because of DVDs?

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kraygen
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:00:25 PM

C'mon world why would it be due to dvds?
Don't you want to put in a new disc every hour?
Don't you want your ffxiii to take up an entire shelf all its own. Discs, ha! ;)

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shadowscorpio
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 4:29:35 PM

DvD's huh? Well didn't Lost Odyssey have 4 disc. FF 13 for 360 has 3. That might be part of it. Square enix could've put everything that they had planned on putting into the game and have it fit on 1 blueray disk and just convert it to as many DVD's as needed but I remember hearing through the grapevine that MS wanting no more than 3 DVD's.

Kind of like a begger and a chooser, this microsoft.

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Taha1
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 12:00:44 PM
Reply

will it be a dual review?
because that would be great!:P

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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 8:54:47 PM

Kraygen,
FYI, The 360's "Blue Dragon" is a 3 disc game. And all 3 dics actually sit in their same regular 1 game box.
They just sat all 3 discs on top of each other on that same center spindle.

But I must say that I have developed a brand new phobia about the 360's whole 3-disc situation.....
...not to mention those discs could also scratch each others backs over time, those same 3 discs might actually be the start of a very sexual Ménage à trois once they've been rubbing up against each other.

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kraygen
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 4:15:10 AM

@Bikersaint

Um I'm not sure if you got the joke, it was discussing the use of more than 3 dvd's. I realize that 3 won't take up a lot of space but geovanwitdakick asked why square enix couldn't put all their ideas into game, world said dvds, I was trying to say it would have take like a bunch of discs, say 15-20 discs.

Sorry sometimes when I try to be funny I fail miserably, it happens, I forgive me.

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Silent_J
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 12:01:07 PM
Reply

Its dedication and mentality like this other developers should adapt.Alot of respect to Santa Monica Team.

Can't wait for the review .

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Radiohead
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 12:54:45 PM
Reply

GOW 3 is gonna be way better than ff13!!!

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Taha1
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 12:58:22 PM

we don't know that yet;)

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Silent_J
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:04:30 PM

Its two different type of games so both are gonna be great in there genres.

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SnipeySnake
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:06:32 PM

Thats just your opinion :P

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SympoziumPawa
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:17:26 PM

controversy rising!!

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Banky A
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:26:04 PM

Power rising!

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:53:29 PM

Limit Break reached.

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Doosharm
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:13:53 PM

OMNISLASH!

Agree with this comment 4 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Shams
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 5:27:09 PM

IN THE END, THERE WILL ONLY BE CHAOS!...and maybe chocobos.

Agree with this comment 7 up, 1 down Disagree with this comment

Mouse_101
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 5:39:37 PM

Penis Rising!

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SnipeySnake
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 1:55:56 AM

@Mouse_101
Please tell me thats not off of kratos xD

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Alienange
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:33:18 PM
Reply

As fantastic as GoWIII is going to be, I'm actually very excited to see what they're going to do next. I mean really, where does Sony find these brilliant people?

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:54:02 PM

Their Parent's basements :)

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Alienange
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 9:26:11 PM

Ha!

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geovanwitdakick
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:38:33 PM
Reply

Your right. We need a Peace Walker to settle this.

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Banky A
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:27:08 PM

Yes. In the mean time, GOW just has an imitation.

:D

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TEG3SH
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:40:46 PM

i hate that word , had way too much of it in uni .lol

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Banky A
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 5:19:49 AM

Haha, I actually LOLed.

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TEG3SH
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 1:57:41 PM
Reply

MARK MY WORD Y'ALL , next game they are gonna develop and it will be announced in GDC is HEAVENLY SWORD 2 . I'll bet you on it

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:54:36 PM

I'll take that bet.

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ace_boon_coon
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 6:45:15 PM

i don't think heavenly sword should have a sequel. it doesn't need one. the game is epic. the story didn't leave room for a sequel

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Banky A
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:28:35 PM
Reply

Steve & Stig make me proud to be buying God of War III <3.

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FullmetalX10
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:35:01 PM
Reply

That's what I luv about these people, they WILL take quality over quantity(easy game for cash). I really hope God of War tops some sales charts and sells a record number of PS3s in NA and EU.

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ace_boon_coon
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 6:46:58 PM

don't worry my friend this game will move major units.

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TEG3SH
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:39:57 PM
Reply

who is the stupid no-life MoFo who is his mission in life is downvoting me ???? seriously what the hell have i said wrong???

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ace_boon_coon
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 7:00:30 PM

sometime it's done just to get to you. don't sweat it

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 2:52:30 PM
Reply

I'm gonna check out the new levels for DI today, the one thing GOW won't have is the multiplayer so I'm looking forward to that too. And I suppose we won't see Kratos in a Saturday Night Fever outfit ;)

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TEG3SH
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:02:35 PM

$ 100 to $ 100

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inkme101
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:08:54 PM

i dunno about that! remember COD of war?
lolol

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:37:15 PM

I remember God of Car :)

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kraygen
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:04:29 PM
Reply

I just want to know one thing Ben.

What time monday should I look for the review?

I will madly start hitting the refresh button 5 minutes before that time anxiously waiting for it.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 3:38:34 PM

Could it possibly get the all coveted 10? Which from Arnold is like a 15? We shall see my friend, we shall see.

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Sir Shak
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 5:00:40 PM

MGS4 got a 10 from Arnold , maybe GoWIII can too .

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ace_boon_coon
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 6:45:52 PM

i think it will get a perfect score

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Alienange
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 9:40:40 PM

MGS4 deserved that 10 by a landslide as I'm sure you know. I still can't get over how amazing that game was ... Really disappointed that they never supported it with trophies.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 10:49:37 PM

No trophies in MGS4 was a big fail.

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kraygen
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 4:17:10 AM

Allowing people to cheat to get all the unlockables was a little annoying too. Tell people you unlocked something difficult and they automatically assume that you just used a cheat code. sheesh, easy freaks ruin everything.

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Snaaaake
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 7:50:50 PM
Reply

Santa Monica : We will outdo ourselves!!

Activision : We will 'out-rich' ourselves!!

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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 9:57:52 PM

Snaaaake,
Or....

"Santa Monica)
We "LOVE" to outdo our games!!

(Lil rantin' bobby) I "ORDERED" my minions to outdo all of our games too...

(Lil Rantin" bobby, again)
Oh wait, you meant video games?????

(Lil rantin' bobby, again) Good Hades....
I thought you meant our games of intimidation.

(Lil rantin' bobby again:
Well then......."Nevvvvvver mind"!!!!!

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Qubex
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 8:27:32 PM
Reply

You simply can't think of these games, as just "game products".

Yes, they are game products in that you buy it to play it and enjoy it... but I think developers like Naughty Dog and SCEA Santa Monica are making moving ART and sculpting a unique experience...

These products are not merely games... far from it... they move their respective industry forward... it is a whole other ball game :)

Q!

"speak to the droid"

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fluffer nutter
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 8:54:25 PM
Reply

Nice. I need to order this game, quick!. Amazon has the best deal, so far.

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BikerSaint
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 9:17:18 PM
Reply

I believe there is always 2 very distinct differences between a great developer and the one who's only motivation to do anything is money.

The BEST DEVELOPERS will always try to up the ante for both, themselves,..and all of their competition!!!!

But the MONEY-HUNGRY DEVELOPER is more afraid of how much their band-aids will cost after their hairy-knuckle dragging has also caused their game to hemorrhage out from gangrene too.

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Qubex
Saturday, March 06, 2010 @ 10:00:15 PM

One of them lacks all sorts of "vision" right?

Q!

"speak to the droid"

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___________
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 12:45:12 AM
Reply

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but from our standpoint, we're running our own race. We're trying to outdo ourselves and we're our own worst critics and we often beat ourselves up. We take a lot of pride in what we do and we want to do the best we can on the games we make and we don't want to leave anything on the table. We want everyone to have the same experience, one that we all agree on, and when you put the game down we want to be able to look you in the eye and say, 'We gave it our all.'"

that is why they are and always will be the best studio in the industry.
only if $E, bethesda and all the other developers could take a few notes.

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B-RadGfromOV
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 1:30:08 AM
Reply

"There's little doubt in our minds that SCEA held anything back or fell short in any way with God of War III."

This didn't make sense. You're saying there's no doubt they fell short with GoW III? What?

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Qubex
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 6:11:15 AM

It makes perfect sense to me... the words, "There's little doubt...", meaning there are no doubts in the minds of the PSXeXtreme staff that nothing was held back when developing GoWIII.

In other words the efforts SCEA Santa Monica put into the game did not fall short in any shape, way or form.

Not surprisingly I am expecting, from the majority of reviewers across the industry that is, to give this game near perfect scores... Metacritic could be peaking at an average score of 90 or above come March 16th...

Q!

"speak to the droid"

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Mista
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 10:51:41 AM
Reply

I saw Arnold playing GoW 3 last night! Lol I'd put money on a review by Monday.

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Taha1
Sunday, March 07, 2010 @ 4:22:41 PM

STALKER??? kidding lol

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