Ninja Theory: Early PS3 Titles Tainted By Negative Press
Heavenly SwordNinja Theory produced one of the first great PlayStation 3 exclusives back in 2007 and although not everyone agreed with that description, everyone did appreciate the technical accomplishment.
Unbelievable acting and choreography combined with voice-to-mouth syncing that, in our opinion, is yet to be matched, made that game a must-see. As we now know, the developer has gone multiplatform with their new project, Enslaved, but it doesn't have anything to do with a lack of PS3 capability, obviously. In speaking to NowGamer, Ninja Theory chief designer Tameem Antoniades said they entered their latest project with a firmer understanding of what they wanted to do and in short, the PS3 "didn't scare them anymore." Therefore, the process has been much smoother. One might assume that's a good reason to stay exclusive, especially after selling 1.5 million copies on a platform that had barely sold a few million to begin with, and after producing such a technical marvel early on. But maybe the negative press surrounding Sony at the time left an indelible mark on the developer...
"I think a lot of the games that were announced back then were tainted by that negativity about the price of the console and the things people were saying about it."
There's no doubt that's true, but it almost sounds as if he'd be scared of releasing another PS3 exclusive for fear of similar repercussions. That can't be right, though, as we're sure he understands the console's new and much loftier position in the industry. Well, multiplatform certainly is a better business option, provided everything goes smoothly, so we're not about to second-guess the decision.
4/27/2010 10:35:20 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (60 posts)
maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:31:21 AM
13 up, 2 down
Nynja
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 1:24:17 PM
I would love to see a sequel to Heavenly Sword. I loved that game.
3 up, 1 down
Dustinwp
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 1:42:17 PM
@Nynja The Heavenly Sword brand and IP is owned by Sony.
Last edited by Dustinwp on 4/27/2010 1:48:17 PM
3 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 1:43:29 PM
1 up, 0 down
Karosso
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 4:31:27 PM
NT made a big mistake by going multiplat, they could have been next in line to get all the accolades ND got for UC2 if they had come up with HS2 for the PS3. They where good enough to pull it off IMHO...
2 up, 0 down
fluffer nutter
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:07:13 AM
Reply
7 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:24:26 AM
Reply
As for it being better for business to go multiplat? I guess, but for how long? how long before your games start to suck and the consumer realizes this and stops buying your games? I don't believes is a coincidence that just about every Sony 3rd party exclusive in hte PS2 days has gotten worse after going multiplat. FFXIII and Tekken 6 just to name a few. You can argue it's good for business but not so good for the consumer.
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/27/2010 11:26:18 AM
11 up, 1 down
kraygen
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:35:19 AM
I say lower quality because, while some multiplats are good games, most multiplats get forgotten and left collecting dust.
5 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:31:33 PM
btw, Heavenly Sword is no more similar to GOW than Prince of Persia or other similar games. Not only does Nariko not fight with two blades like Kratos does, but the gameplay focuses on three types of attacks, normal (which only work on some enemies), strong (which work on the strong enemies), and aerial (which take you away from the action and lets you deal a heavy air combo on the enemy).
If anything, the similarities helped the game. And to be honest, the demo doesn't do the game justice, it's barely 5 minutes of the game (and with your limited knowledge of the gameplay based on a demo you can't really experience what the game's truly like. Same deal with the Infamous demo)
4 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:42:56 PM
ITS NOTHING LIKE GOW.
@ jaw by now I think u should have learned your lesson, never judge a game by its demo
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:56:40 PM
@Scarecrow, the controls just felt like a stiff version of God of War. I think with some refinements it could have been better. I still keep an eye out for this game and pick it up on the cheap, but so far im not really seeing whats so great about Heavenly Sword. Also the Infamous Demo actually made me want the game. I know some said it didn't do the game justice, which might be true but i was better then expected.
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/27/2010 12:59:20 PM
1 up, 3 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:59:18 PM
1 up, 0 down
sawao_yamanaka
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 1:26:49 PM
2 up, 0 down
johnld
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 2:17:40 PM
I agree that a game shouldnt be judged by a demo. I seriously hated valkyria chronicles demo but for some reason, i picked the game up. yeah, i get those stupid moments but i'm actually glad i got it though. I loved the game, mainly because of its story and gameplay but you dont get the complete package/experience when you actually sit down and play the game itself.
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 3:34:37 PM
0 up, 1 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:30:03 AM
Reply
The PS3 still doesn't get it's fair assessments from the media, which often translates to the gamers.
If it did, people would realize that the PS3 is the best value in gaming right now.
Serious question for anyone to answer!
What makes XBOX Live worth $50.00 USD a year?
12 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:34:47 AM
10 up, 6 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:47:52 AM
I can't tell you how many people I talk to (well argue with) when it comes to the PS3 and their flawed belief system towards it.
It's the same old argument from 2006..
Last edited by maxpontiac on 4/27/2010 11:48:52 AM
7 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:16:20 PM
8 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:25:42 PM
4 up, 4 down
godsman
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:43:30 PM
"Is Xbox Live worth the price of a brand new game? Is it worth buying one less game every year just to use Xbox Live?!"
If Sony's premium means I can download all those PSone Classics that I missed, now THAT's something worth paying for, up to $100/year for me. Those classics doesn't require development cost like new games. Subscription is just breathing new life to old games and extra money to Sony's pocket. So I don't think this is too farfetched.
2 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 2:09:05 PM
- No free video service like the PSN.
- Netflix requires Live subscription.
- No Internet Browser.
- A cartoon character I was forced to make, and it seems Live is centered around.
- You can't play online without Live.
+ There is private Chat
+ A party system is in place.
That's a rip-off.
10 up, 0 down
johnld
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 2:20:07 PM
3 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 6:11:51 PM
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:37:56 AM
Reply
However I think if they had stayed true to the ps3 their next game could have been epic, now it will most likely fall along the side with most other multiplats that fail to shine.
4 up, 0 down
rell
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:38:07 AM
Reply
6 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:14:02 PM
Reply
Then again, Patcher and his comments on third party exclusives are very true. There is very little business sense ignoring the possibility of doubling the potential market by going multi-platform.
5 up, 0 down
godsman
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 1:01:37 PM
Back then, there weren't much selections of games to play on the PS3 in 2007. I'm sure many people just bought Heavenly Sword just to play something, then realizes it's awesome. My point is that there weren't any choice of good games, but now... we get a huge title almost every 2-3 months.
The original Resistance is good, but Resistance 2 was better but sold less because there were Killzone 2 coming out. Heavenly Sword 2 might suffer from the large selection of PS3 games.
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:34:37 PM
Reply
I mean, if it releases near any big exclusives it's likely to be overshadowed....easily.
4 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 1:12:00 PM
1 up, 1 down
JDC80
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:50:06 PM
Reply
Now we see what happens when both consoles are equal footing i.e price stand point, the PS3 has narrow the gap or either caught up depending how you define console sells. As for the games argument anytime a new console launch the line-up isn't exactly filled with GOTY contenders look at the 360 line up Madden 06 for the PS2 was still prefer over the one with the better graphics on the 360. Heavenly Sword and the first Uncharted started the great line of PS3 exclusives that we currently playing today.
@ Jawknee I know discussing politics on a video game site is like asking for a pickle, sardine peanut butter sandwich at Subway but I have to address your comment about media fawning and President Obama.. Since President Obama was the first black man ever to win the nomination for POTUS from one of the two major parties I consider that a worthwhile story.
Now if you want a example of media fawning I present the media following a movement of people that whine about taxes yet 95% of country got a tax cut and on top of that taxes have been lower. Or how the media insist on following a woman who quit her job as governor in the middle of her term for two reasons one she could be facing legal issues and two she wanted to make money(12 million since quitting) and she says nothing insightful.
8 up, 2 down
Bigtuna1
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 2:02:40 PM
6 up, 1 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 5:40:46 PM
No, I DISAGREE,
The most "worthy" story would have been about how he managed to fudge his birth records, and just how all the media sheep followed this false prophet's words, as if it were gospel.
Every since he stole the office by way of his quick spin-doctoring 2-pronged tongue, our grandchildren's lives will now be forever damned by the weight of the tax burden he's oh, so, graciously been bestowing on us all.
And another thing, until he's willing to show all of America his REAL birth certificate, he is not my President & never will be my President!
And at least, until the next election, I have NO President!!!
BTW, where was my great tax cut as one of the lower-middle class citizens?
Oh, I see....changing a few numbers on my income tax return got me exactly.....nothing more in my wallet.
HMMMM, it must be another part that new & improved "Creative Fuzzy Logic math" he keeps swearing by.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 4/27/2010 5:48:51 PM
3 up, 4 down
mohrcowbell
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 7:04:33 PM
In any case I don't really care about it and it does not affect me since I am Canadian- however I felt I had to comment.
3 up, 2 down
Hitch
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:26:20 PM
@Bikersaint: If you live in this country, he's your president. If you don't like it, GET THE F*CK OUT!
Last edited by Hitch on 4/27/2010 11:30:52 PM
3 up, 2 down
godsman
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 12:51:26 PM
Reply
7 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 6:50:47 AM
No, I think maybe you might've mis-understood me. I never said he wasn't now, an American citizen.
I just want him to show us his real birth certificate that shows he is actually a "American BORN Citizen".
Here are the criteria for the presidency, from Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution:
No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.
If he would show us the REAL proof of that, I'd be more than happy to let it go & I'd also acknowledge that he deserves to be there.
But it's apparent to me that since he continue refuses to show that 1 REAL birth document, he's hiding what country he was actually born in.
And till he does so, then NO, he's not my President.
BTW, I'm a freedom fighter, so I don't blindly follow everything my government tells me either, and never will.
And do you actually think any government can't/won't/or hasn't already. pulled a shady thing or thee against it's own people, as long as they think they can get away with it???
I know you said you're not from here, so just research the behind-the-scenes illegal sh!t our 37th President, "Richard M. Nixon" did. Just type in "Watergate Scandal" and you'll find out everything illegal shady thing our ex-President did which was the cause to both, his disgrace, & his own downfall spiral from office.
1 up, 2 down
FullmetalX10
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 4:02:41 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Hitch
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 5:14:53 PM
0 up, 0 down
tes37
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 4:13:53 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 4:21:58 PM
1 up, 0 down
tes37
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 4:48:55 PM
2 up, 0 down
Naga
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 4:14:45 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Lex Luthor
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 5:38:29 PM
Reply
Are they developing the new DMC or not??
Becasuse their comments of going multiplat hints so...
0 up, 0 down
Ergi
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 5:40:15 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 6:24:11 PM
1 up, 0 down
Bugzbunny109
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 6:45:58 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 8:15:34 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 9:47:47 PM
Reply
But I really wish the frame-rate held up better. It feels anywhere between 15-30fps. I don't understand why the devs chose to sacrifice so much performance for some of the visual effects used. I know they used a higher-quality HDR implementation (higher than the norm) and also 4xMSAA(rarely implemented on console games). Which, by themselves, are rarely used because of the significant performance penalty for doing so. And more-over, it seems nearly insane to use them both in tandem on the same application.. Maybe I just need to remember it was first-gen.
Anyway, some junk food for the tech-heads thought.
0 up, 1 down
JDC80
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:31:50 PM
Reply
But to the whole birth certificate thing, two things one are you telling me that President Obama's mother had enough foresight to call her parents in Hawaii and told them to place a birth announcement in a Hawaii paper because she knew someday her baby boy is going to run for president? And two I'm going to borrow a line from Bill Maher I'll ask to see President Obama birth certificate only I get to see Sarah Palin's high school diploma.
Last political thing I swear Ben and company after what this country experience for the last eight years no one on the other side of the political fence should talk. They crashed the car and they're complaining that the towing crew isn't working fast enough.
4 up, 2 down
Highlander
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:34:02 PM
4 up, 0 down
Bigtuna1
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 3:11:02 PM
Last edited by Bigtuna1 on 4/28/2010 3:12:43 PM
0 up, 3 down
___________
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 2:50:59 AM
Reply
just seems a little coincidental to me that the 2 3rd party exclusives the ps3 had has had the developers complaining about sonys support.
maybe its time sony opened up their arms and embraced developers like M$ are and stop keeping the lollies exclusive to first party developers.
you hear 3rd party developers praising M$ support all the time, almost every time a company is asked why there exclusive to M$ they mention the incredible support M$ has given them ex splinter cell conviction.
the last thing we need is another haze debacle......................
0 up, 0 down
RebelJD
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 3:19:02 AM
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Word a mouth has such a strong effect, good and bad. I see bad here for Ninja Theory. Those 1.5 million people who purchased Heavenly Sword could have easily made Ninja Theory look like Naughty Dog or Insomniac right about now. Oh well, lol.
2 up, 0 down
THE NTMIDTR
Saturday, May 01, 2010 @ 5:13:36 PM
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0 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Reply
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 10:57:06 AM