Haze maximises potential of PS3, says Free Radical
- Posted April 3rd, 2008 at 06:03 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 6,344 views
- 53 Comments
Free Radical Design has said that its decision to make Haze a PlayStation 3 exclusive has allowed the company to maximise the potential of Sony’s latest home console.
Project Lead Derek Littlewood told website videogamer.com that the company is "enjoying working with the PS3", adding, "it's always nice to be able to focus on making one thing great rather than spreading your efforts".
“At Free Radical we've always had a good history with PlayStation hardware. If you look all the way back to the European launch of the PS2, we had TimeSplitters coming out as a PS2 exclusive then. Ever since then we've always worked well with PlayStation hardware,” added Littlewood.
“And so when it came to Haze it was an obvious decision to make. Our coders were enjoying working with the PS3 and it seemed a good decision. As a developer it's always nice to be able to focus on making one thing great rather than spreading your efforts. So we were pleased to have the opportunity to focus purely on PS3."
When questioned whether or not the title may have fared worse on the Xbox 360, Littlewood commented, "I think that's something of a leading question. There's things the 360 does well and there's things the PS3 does well. In Haze, because we were only working on PS3 we were able to fully maximise the things that the PS3 does well."
"There's some things, like the permanent presence of the hard disc, which is a useful thing. I don't want to dive into some sort of platform war thing. At the end of the day the 360 and the PS3 are both very capable pieces of hardware. Going with the PS3 enabled us to maximise the potential of that particular platform."
Concluding, Littlewood refused to comment on recent speculation that Haze will eventually be ported to Microsoft’s console, stating, I can literally say nothing on that at all!”
Comments
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 6:19am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 2
@ richaos
Then you are pretty gullable because they are lying. Before you get all mad, consider this:
1- They kept flip-flopping on whether or not it's exclusive. Why? Just hedging their bets because they know that their Halo clone game isn't that good. Last they said was that it was a timed exclusive. In other words, "If we can't get money from PS3 owners...".
2- The word is out about PS3 owners. If you SAY that you are working hard on PS3 hardware (*ahem* UBISOFT RB6:V2 *ahem*), PS3 owners are so desperate, they will believe you...and you can screw them anyway.
3- Forget development delays, NOW there just trying to find a release window for it where it doesn't get trampled by some game that's actually good. You think Konami cared when MGS4 is released? How about Polyphony and Gran Turismo? They KNOW their game is mediocre, and the newer delays are about sales, not development time. So they made this nice press release to grant confidence in people like you who don't realize you're about to lose $60 for PS3 Halo. I know you don't believe me, so good luck on your purchase.
The ONLY good thing I can say about this company is I thought the original Timesplitters was underrated for how smooth that thing ran on PS2...it was an early game, too. Very impressive.
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 6:30am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 4
@ IONIXX
Exactly. Like I said in my #2 point above, developers have caught on to what PS3 owners want to hear, so expect everyone to release statements about how much their utilizing the PS3's gifts (and take it with a grain of salt).
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hesmanes |
hesmanes- 6:32am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 5
ACHOOOOOO!!!! god im allergic to Bul*hit
i agree with you there O_G_H, the reason for no demo in my opinion is we will prob be let down after all the hype.
and by the sounds of it, it will be ported over to the 360 give it 3 -5 months after (if it get released) the release. -
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Staticneuron |
Staticneuron- 7:16am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 9
Odium,
1 -they didn't flip flop, there were just a bunch of rumors taken as gospel, its not their fault you believed the rumors
2-Yes the game is published by ubisoft but unlike the other ubisoft MP's we seen of the past these are not ubisoft devs. We are talking about free radical here. The made their bread and butter on the PS2.
But I fully agree that they can be talking nonesense because we have heard this before and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to hear this againits amazing the launch window they chose to put this game in.
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djrussell |
djrussell89- 7:29am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 10
I swear, Sony better do everything in their absolute power to make sure that this game doesnt get on the 360.. cause i tell ya, if it does - then Sony have officially gone down the toilet. First letting Assassins Creed slip, GTA IV DLC, etc - the list keeps growing. But Haze... its essential that it remains a PS3 exclusive.. maybe they should cut Ubisoft a $20 mil check lol
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solid79 |
solid79- 7:29am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 11
Not expecting anything grand but I am going to get the game. Seems like it has some good stuff to experience. I could care less why the game is delayed or any of that bull. I'm a gamer!! I never feel like I waste money on games becuase I can find something that I like in most games. I'll save all the political mumbo jumbo for some other time.
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Zippie151 |
Sanguineous- 7:34am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 13
what everyone needs to see here is that ubisoft are technically NOT making this game, free radical are and to be fair i havnt played a bad game from them. Secondly who gives a toss whether they are undecided on all this exclusive business, they gotta make money somehow. The only thing that is of importance is that it is made specifically for the ps3 by very good developers. Whether this is gonna be some "halo killer" will remain to be seen (although its not that hard to be in my book ).
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bluesuedeshoes
- 7:35am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 14
Firstly I used to work with Mr Doak at his previous employers, and if he says the game was held back to make improvements, then the game was held back to make improvements. This is the company that has consistently worked hard and pushed Sony's hard ware since their inception with Timesplitters games. Free Radical may have a pup on their hands with Haze, I don't know, I haven't played it. However it won't be for want of trying and working hard on the game. I'll give Dave and his coders the benefit of the doubt on this one. I'll also judge the game on its merits when its launched.
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 7:54am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 15
@djrussel
Please. Sony's not going anywhere near a toilet, Haze exclusive or not. If last year's "Anti-PS3" media onslaught didn't kill the PS3, "losing" Haze certainly will not. It's just another FPS, period. I don't know how you can place such importance on this game. Not only that, but last year (by a hair) Sony's 1st party houses THEMSELVES were the number 1 software developers (and probably will be again)...THAT INCLUDED NINTENDO. The PS3 doesn't have the exclusivity issues people like to say it does, AND with its growing user base, developers are starting to see where the money's at.
Another thing is even though I called out UBISOFT specifically in my earlier post, I wasn't just accusing them alone. As far as I'm concerned, ALL DEVELOPMENT HOUSES (except Sony's and Infinity Ward, of course) are suspect until the final product is seen. I'm hoping in say...2010, 2008 may be seen as the "last year devs got away with lackluster PS3 coding", and we won't even HAVE to have articles like this anymore.
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akiraburn |
akiraburn- 8:05am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 17
Fricken christ! All any of you are doing is complaining and focusing on the FEW overtly obvious negatives. Is what they said an overstatement? Who knows? Have ANY of you played Haze yet? No.
Judging a hame solely on graphical prowess is pretty closed minded, let alone the fact none of you have actually ever played the game (except for a few PSU staffers), and all you are going off of is a few videos (most of which are from older builds of the game), and a few updated pics. Now stop complaining, and just wait for the title to be released before you judge it. If it sucks when it's released, fine. But until then none of have any basis to go on besides the fact there's been some overly upsetting delays, and that FRD's publisher doesn't like the idea that the game isn't coming to 360 and made some silly statments that got everyone's pantys all bunched up. And those things don't determine the quality of the game.
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xtago
- 8:08am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 18
@Odium_Generis_Humani
The PS3 doesn't have any piracy on it's platform to own something you have to pay for it, even with people share accounts to get free downloads, they still had to buy something in the first place.
Some people will whinge on about that 1 point but for a Dev at least they'll be making money... maybe more so than the 360 what with people able to pirate games on it.
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ReppinDaNorth89
- 9:24am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 20
PSN id..ReppinDaNort21...At..Odium..honestly you can't judge a game before it gets released. You are pretty much saying this game will be crappy and that its a waste of 60 bucks. Maybe they are working hard and getting what needs to be done. I am not reserving this game, but I havent ruled out the chance of buying it either. I need to see reviews or play the game first before I can buy it. I did it with all the games I have and thats the best way to go. A game can look great by pictures and videos but plays a totally different way. You cant tell how the game flow is by a picture or video and you cant tell the story of the game by looking at a picture, but kind of in a video. I dont judge a game until I play it or see a lot of reviews on it. Looking at pictures and videos of the game does influence my curiousty of a game, but I still dont just straight out judge it by saying it will suck and its a Halo rip for the PS3.
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regissreg |
Zapp- 10:03am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 22
Thats why I have an account with GAMEFLY. I rent the game, if I like it enough I buy the game. Just Like ReppinDaNorth89 said, I dont go by the pictures or the Videos because it might be early version of a still developing game. If the game ends of the 360 also down the road, thats ok, as long as the game is still available on PS3 and looks & plays well.
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BlueRevolvuR |
BlueRevolvuR- 10:35am BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 23
You guys are being too harsh on the devs. I'll wait till the game comes out before I judge it.
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D3v1lwqer23 |
gingo- 12:46pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 27
Ported or not, I dont care, I just am glad to be out of that gaming drought, believe whatever you guys want, im getting another game.
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damnwrx
- 12:52pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 28
Aight, I just checked out the new vid and i'm totally impressed......It made me change my mind to go ahead and purchase the game, I was upset at one point but, after seeing the new clip, it's on.....Don't care what anyone says but, im buying it...........Nice day to y'all.
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AclayPS3
- 1:02pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 29
I can't believe that Littlewood couldn't comment on whether or not it would be ported to the 360. I think that Free Radical is just going to sit and wait to see how good HAZE does before making a decision to port the game or not. I thought that a Xbox 360 version wasn't going to be made regardless because 360 development was cancelled.
But, getting back to the article, I like the enthuisiasm that Free Radical showed towards PS3 development, I want to see more developers feeling that way about the PS3. And the thing I like the most about PS3 exclusives is that they showcase what the PS3 is truly capable of. So far, 3rd party multiplatforms just touch the surface of what the PS3 can truly do. I just hope the game can finally come in May.
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 1:15pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 30
@ReppinDaNorth89
You are correct, of course. No game should be judged before release. I should re-write my statement to simply say that I think the clues surrounding Haze POINT to disappointment rather than triumph and just wait and see.
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DarkJ3JB |
DarkJ3JB- 1:44pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 32
Time Splitters was an exclusice but Time Splitters 2 was not either way they are great games! I can't wait to play it. Not sure how great it will look or handle but honestly graphics don't matter when it comes down to the dot I want great playability good handeling good control.
PSN: DarkJ3JB
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blacksharinganx
- 2:21pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 33
i believe that they doing because then they would of released it in january or february, so i hope the game looks awesome as the same way as it plays
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InfernoReaper |
GrimDarkling- 2:41pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 34
@ O_G_H: Wow, you took all my thoughts and put them together. People see Ubisoft and claim it's bad. Ubisoft is only putting it out on the market. I hold no sway until I see this game, or any game for that matter. Every developer claims to push the hardware and you just can't do that right now. Sony prepared itself for the long haul with twice the "CPU"s, 5x the disc space, and everyone has a hard drive.
On a quick tangent, I love the arguments about GTA IV's DLC for the 360. I laugh hysterically thinking "1/3 of the install base has no hard drive so if they want some more GTA IV, they're buying a $200 proprietary hard drive."
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thegame97338 |
G_PIG79- 2:47pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 35
if its good its good, if its bad its bad, we got Resistance 2, and Killzone 2 coming this year..
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zombieking36
- 3:04pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 36
This is going to be a good game, they have an excess of time to make it.
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Demobot
- 3:43pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 39
I was actually worried that the minless PS3 zealots would cling to this and scream "See the PS3 is vastly superior to the 360.". Well the jokes on me and Ubisost/Free Radical. Its true that no one wants to ship an unfinished product but come on. There is nothing about haze that suggests it would need to be delayed so many times.
I wish I could fast forward time to see how this year ends gaming wise. sigh.
And on a quick tangent. You don't need the over priced hard drive to to get DLC. The memory card works just the same.
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playstnlvr |
playstnlvr- 5:28pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 43
Haze looks fine and all.....I guess...kinda...in a two-years-ago-fine kind of way, but seriously, it "maximizes the potential" of the PS3? No. Maybe the PS3 maximized the potential of Free Radical's development team. Considering the potential of the PS3's Cell and RSX, there is absolutely nothing impressive about Haze in that respect. The much less powerful 360 could pull off Haze. If you're seriously making an effort to "maximize the potential" of a 2 teraflop machine, I think you can do a little better than Haze, IMVHO. This reminds me of one of the development videos for Resistance. One of the developers said, with respect to the sapper, something to the effect of "on previous machines, we could do maybe 4 or 5 bubbles, but with the power of the Cell's SPU's we can do more like 32 bubbles." I've been noticing a trend lately of developers trying to make us feel like we should appreciate what they're willing to give us, and I'm not buying it.
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Acid-Hippie2007 |
Acid-Hippie2007- 6:54pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 45
Well duh ! I read an article a while back on the Ps2's potential took 8 years to utilise 80% of the system. This is only the second or third year for the Ps3's evolution.
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killzone-stealth |
killzone-stealth- 6:59pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 46
Well i have to agree with all of u here im not pre ordering it because i am waiting for the reveiws of this game first if good then ill defiently buys it if not im not going to buy it and Fu** ubisoft.Yeah u cant judge by the look of it though until u c with your own eyes to believe it,it will someday be ported to the xbox 360 anyways because they cant even make up there own mind whether or not it will be ps3 exclusives and yeah i like the delay though because it will be worth it by waiting for it.I cant wait for killzone 2,resisitance fall of man 2 or mgs 4!!!!!! just cant wait
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CameronU2fan
- 11:41pm BST - April 3rd, 2008
- 50
Just because a game isn't a commercial success doesn't make it a bad game. Can anyone here think of a game that was brilliant yet f*#%wits didn't go out and buy it? ICO, Beyond good and evil, Psychonauts anyone? Free Radical needs to maximize profits, that's what they're in the game for, or else they wouldn't be in business. If they port this thing, who cares? PS3 owners will get it first. Besides, Bluray games never fit on dvd discs anyway, so if the 360 gets this, enjoy your 7 disc experience, loser.
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