PS3 News: Journey: "De-empowering" The Player And Emotional Chords - PS3 News

Members Login: Register | Why sign up? | Forgot Password?

Journey: "De-empowering" The Player And Emotional Chords

It's one of our most anticipated downloadable games of the generation, mostly because thatgamecompany is at the helm.

The developers of flOw and Flower are working on an innovative new adventure called Journey, and we've received the fact sheet before Sony's E3 press conference. For the record, fact sheets are pretty standard fare amongst journalists; we use 'em all the time. And for your reference, you can view a copy of it here.

They're talking about "simple gameplay and accessible controls in a rich environment" but beyond the basic stuff, it's the philosophical content that piques our curiosity. For instance, that bit about exploring and experiencing "emotional chords" that aren't typically found in video games. Players will walk, glide, and fly across a barren yet "awe-inspiring landscape" on a search to uncover the history of an ancient civilization. We're encouraged to find our own path but we can also travel with other players.

Personally, one of my favorite listed features is this:

"Players can explore without standard game conventions of 'violence.' Unlike most games, Journey also features the concept of 'de-empowering' the player to make feel helpless and tiny in vast world, experience awe and wonder."

See, that's the kind of thing that makes us love teams like thatgamecompany (and Quantic Dream, for that matter). We can't wait to see and hear more about Journey today.

Related Game(s): Journey

Tags: journey, e3 2011, thatgamecompany, journey psn

6/6/2011 10:11:35 AM Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Google Share on MySpace Share on Delicious Share on Digg Share on Google Buzz Share via E-Mail Share via Tumblr Share via Posterous

Comments (35 posts)

OxyFenix
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:27:56 AM
Reply

It sort of remind me of Shadow of the Colossus. When traveling on that horse I saw lots of pretty environments. That's just another reason I love that game, the exploring portion. Plus trying to get in the secret garden. I'm very interested in this game now.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

maxpontiac
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:29:09 AM
Reply

"Players can explore without standard game conventions of 'violence.' "

My wife would love this game.

I am keeping my eye on this title because of the premise and the feeling of helplessness that this game will bring.

Agree with this comment 6 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

jimmyhandsome
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:30:16 AM
Reply

Looking forward to this game. Joystiq recently did a really good preview on it. I'm very excited. Hopefully we get a date at E3. I have flOw and Flower and they're my 2 favorite PSN titles. Well that and Fat Princess (game doesn't get enough love!)

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Fane1024
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 @ 1:09:37 AM

FP has too many teamkillers and no way to punish them...wrecks an otherwise fun game.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Kiryu
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:37:24 AM
Reply

Those pillars look like a broken bridge from shadow of the colossus.
Journey will be a new,never been done before coop experience.
Last edited by Kiryu on 6/6/2011 10:38:00 AM

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Highlander
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:44:09 AM
Reply

A game that does not rely on violence!? Impossible! Call Dr. B., there must be some mistake, a game without violence. Why, whatever will happen to the children!?

;)
Last edited by Highlander on 6/6/2011 10:44:27 AM

Agree with this comment 8 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

jimmyhandsome
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:50:14 AM

Haha.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

vicious54
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:28:06 AM

Hilarious

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Clamedeus
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 10:56:15 AM
Reply

I want to try this game out, it looks very interesting and unique.


Update: I'm getting a PS3 today!! Now I can give my brothers PS3 back to him.

Agree with this comment 7 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Highlander
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:01:08 AM

Congrats...PS3 day!

Happy time.
Last edited by Highlander on 6/6/2011 11:01:20 AM

Agree with this comment 3 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Clamedeus
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:14:50 AM

Thanks Highlander! :D

Agree with this comment 2 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

BikerSaint
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:56:31 AM

Clamedeus,

Congrats, as I certainly know what you went through too.

BTW, just got a letter from the USPS, asking for a copy of my smashed Phat Princess's receipt....for which I had ALREADY enclosed the 1st time when I had sent them the whole information package. But I will resend it.

So....the USPS stonewalling & stalling begins...

Agree with this comment 2 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Clamedeus
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 12:42:35 PM

You serious Biker?! That sucks man, I can understand what you are going through as well. Man, that's just pathetic that they would do that to anyone..

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Clamedeus
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 1:29:04 PM

Gaming Update: I bought Mass Effect 2, I got a redemption code from the game and I'm now downloading it, it's the Cerberus pack.

I can't wait to try it out, I didn't have enough money to get the game until they looked at my credits and I had enough for a free 50 dollar gift card! Lucky huh? I was freakin' stoked, I thought I would be leaving the store a sad panda. :D

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

bebestorm
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:00:17 AM
Reply

I didnt like Flow but Flower is one of my favs. Journey looks like a game I will truly enjoy.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Beamboom
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:16:54 AM
Reply

Both Flow and Flower are *the* psn-favorites of mine so far. Only thing about Flow is that it was waaaay too short.

"The Last Guy" was also a lot of fun, I guess the same could be said about Pixeljunk Eden. But then my list of truly great psn games is getting depressingly short...

Last edited by Beamboom on 6/6/2011 11:21:03 AM

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

556pineapple
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:20:31 AM
Reply

Count me in!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Arvis
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:25:06 AM
Reply

Man, I am actually getting excited for this game. I don't get excited for too many games anymore these days.

-Arvis

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

vicious54
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:31:34 AM
Reply

This game just absolutely looks beautiful. I can't wait to pick this one up. I think they should have offered Flower as one of the Welcome Back games.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

LunaticFringe
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:48:16 AM
Reply

Games that let you explore terrain/worlds at your own pace are the best. Reminds me of Ocarina of Time. Can't wait for this one.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

tes37
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:49:19 AM
Reply

The description of the gameplay sounds pretty good. I liked their previous titles, so it's likely I'll feel the same way about Journey.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

LimitedVertigo
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:53:32 AM
Reply

Currently watching MS's conference...total snoozefest. First MW3 than TombRaider and now MassEffect3 using Kinect.

Agree with this comment 4 up, 2 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 11:56:54 AM

All I'd care about from their conference is Gears 3 and the new Alan Wake.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

LimitedVertigo
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 12:03:30 PM

Yeah, I'm still pissed about Alan Wake being scrapped for PC. Never been a fan of Gears but I don't hate on it. This kinect crap annoys me. I don't want to talk to my console.

Agree with this comment 4 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

jimmyhandsome
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 1:03:27 PM

I think I just watched a Kinect conference. Pretty disappointing.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

tes37
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 1:28:52 PM

I fell asleep a couple of times watching their conference. Boring as hell.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

LimitedVertigo
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 2:17:43 PM

Really boring. Even my Xbox friends hated the show except for a few moments. I don't understand why they spent so much time on the Kinect showing either games for children or on rails borefests (Fable the Journey).

Seems like MS is going further away from wanting to the 360 to be a gaming console and more into taking over the home media box.

Agree with this comment 4 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

BikerSaint
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 2:53:58 PM

Yeah, watched it too & for me, the biggest lackadaisical surprise was Tim Schaffer's DoubleFine weak-fish game.


I've only got to say about M$'s E3 gig...

I should've slept a few hours longer.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 6/6/2011 2:54:44 PM

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Fane1024
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 @ 1:13:49 AM

Simple explanation: M$ doesn't actually make games, so they have nothing to show.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

duomaxwell007
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 12:21:23 PM
Reply

all i wanna hear is a release date.. and this is E3 the time when i expect to hear release dates.. now give us one already!! lol... i literally have 15 bucks on my ps store wallet collecting dust specifically for this game... id love to know when ill finally be able to get rid of it.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Lotusflow3r
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 1:40:20 PM
Reply

Journey will be one of them games you remember for the rest of your life.

Agree with this comment 3 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Oyashiro
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 5:12:37 PM
Reply

Just watched a video of it being played... Its so beautiful!

Agree with this comment 2 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Scarecrow
Monday, June 06, 2011 @ 9:04:41 PM
Reply

I don't know why it reminds me of Demon's Souls...but it does.
And that's always a great thing.

I think it's because of the complexity in simplicity.

This game looks beautiful and will probably be the best digital game this year.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

___________
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 @ 7:01:58 AM
Reply

still on the fence with this, never really got into flower or flow so maybe if it gets a good discount from plus.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Banky A
Thursday, June 09, 2011 @ 6:32:49 AM
Reply

Really can't wait to see this baby :)

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Leave a Comment

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Sponsor

Our Poll

Do you plan to buy a PlayStation Vita this year?
Yes, I'll definitely get one in 2013.
No, but I'll get one eventually.
No, I have no intention of buying the Vita.
No, I've already got one.

Previous Poll Results