Jaffe abandons PSP, releasing quick-turnaround PS3 title

by James Ransom-Wiley { Sep 27th 2006 at 11:55AM }

David Jaffe didn't have to make a game to "make you cry," he just had to cancel it. After boisterous claims that he was working on a game that would bring tears to our eyes, Jaffe blogs -- yep, back from his hiatus -- that this mysterious Project HL is now "on the shelf." For you optimists, the foul-mouthed designer adds, "fuck it. We'll do HL later ... maybe."

As it turns out, Jaffe has focused his spastic energy on an unannounced PlayStation 3 project, which apparently shares characteristics with Twisted Metal and Bomberman and, well, Jaffe's not ready to say much else ... Interestingly, the game has only been in development for 6–7 months, but being on the verge of goin' Alpha, Jaffe expects the final version to hit retail between November and January. A surprise launch title? Perhaps.

In typical Jaffe fashion, the post explodes, in ALL CAPS, into an excited ramble, envisioning the future of games as "SHORTER, LESS EXPENSIVE" projects, akin to the churn'em-out-style of old Warner Bros. cartoons. "...just knocking them out," blogs Jaffe, "and some are -- worst case -- just average, while some are amazing ... but it adds up to a hell of a batting average over time and lots of fun games." You have our attention. Now please deliver.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Tags: Bomberman, callingallcars, David Jaffe, DavidJaffe, HL, Project HL, ProjectHl, PS3, Twisted Metal, TwistedMetal

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

aceregan @ Sep 27th 2006 11:59AM

Who the hell is David Jaffe and why should I care?

crono141 @ Sep 27th 2006 12:00PM

ditto aceregan

MosquitoControl @ Sep 27th 2006 12:01PM

He gets called out about this often, but his swearing just comes across as awkward.

He sounds less like a video game developer and more like a guy desperately trying to prove to the world that he's cool and not some nerd.

Desperate, not natural. Like he's uncomfortable with who he is. But he's got no reason to be, his resume is fairly impressive.

omg @ Sep 27th 2006 12:01PM

He was one of the leads on God of War.

I wonder if this is the secret 5 word game Sony has been hiding?

Pedro Van Faulk @ Sep 27th 2006 7:42PM

Good for him. Now if only we can get him to abandon the PS3 as well, then we'd have something to celebrate.

Pac Man @ Sep 27th 2006 12:35PM

David Jaffe is the awesome guy that lead Twisted Metal as well.

james f. @ Sep 27th 2006 7:43PM

ditto mosquito his swearing IS awkward.

after watching him next to and serious out classed by cliffyB and will wright on that mtv roundtable I seriously wonder what hes good for aside from god of war.

Matt @ Sep 27th 2006 12:43PM

Don't cry, my pretty baby! ;)

Steve @ Sep 27th 2006 12:43PM

"envisioning the future of games as "SHORTER, LESS EXPENSIVE""

Hmm... sounds like a certain other company's system philosiphy.

Wild Homes @ Sep 27th 2006 12:58PM

I'm trying to think of five letter words that are insulting. 'shits' comes to mind, as does 'asses' and 'boobs'. I hate when companies allude to 'secret titles' because they always end up being disappointing, sometimes life-threateningly so. for instance, do you remember what EA's uber-hyped Project Grey Company ended up being? that's right, a supersequel to the flat-out awful LotR: Third Age.

seriously, though, I'm not surprised Jaffe's PSP title got shelved. the way he talked about it, the game was going to be this industry's Citizen Kane. and I, for one, believe that because of the interactive nature of playing games, we're never going to see games develop a really compelling narrative structure in the way great movies and books have them. things that are just piles upon piles of cutscenes can try (here's looking at you, Final Fantasy VII) and great games can even pack a good surprise punch at certain moments (take a bow, KOTOR #1) but they're really a pale imitation of being engaged by a great piece of art.

plus, Jaffe just talks too much shit for my tastes.

Aux @ Sep 27th 2006 1:13PM

I wonder if these "SHORTER, LESS EXPENSIVE" games mean shorter development and less expensive for the developer in terms of production, or the cost and playtime for the consumer.

niels @ Sep 27th 2006 1:17PM

wild homes, what about games like ico and shadow of the colossus? these games do something movies have a hard time with, which is experience the world of the character without much explicit narrative. in fact these games turn modern games and movies on its head because they seem to leave most of the narrative up to the imagination of the player. i bet movies like that have been made, but they must be incredibly boring. but with the interactive element of games, it works. its hard to explain but you should give it a try if you havent...

Jeff @ Sep 27th 2006 1:38PM

"in fact these games turn modern games and movies on its head because they seem to leave most of the narrative up to the imagination of the player."

That's not turning the movie medium "on its head", that's just doing a completely different thing. Movies didn't turn the book medium "on its head" by actually showing visuals that could previously only be imagined; books continued doing what they always did and are still going strong.

Games are a different medium and they do a different thing than movies. That's the point. They shouldn't try to be movies; they should try to be games. Games are good at immersing you in an experience; they are not especially good at telling coherent narratives. (Though honestly, I'm gonna say that Square actually does as good a job as probably can be done trying to make games "cinematic".)

SuicideNinja @ Sep 27th 2006 7:13PM

Why Jaffe even gets attention to is beyond me. Yes, God of War was...swell. Twisted Metal 2 was downright sweet. But they don't give merit to constructing a story every time he says the word "game".

Besides, doesn't him working for Sony make him automatically "a devil"? LOL

niels @ Sep 27th 2006 3:34PM

jeff, sure i didnt mean to say that games will change how movies work. i hope not!

although i dont think movies and games are two completely independent media. i agree right now that games try to be movies and this does not work very well. ico and the likes are somehow different and work well. i havent been able to put my finger on exactly why they work...is it because they tell a minimal story? but how is it minimal? it is not clear to me...

Ryan LN @ Sep 27th 2006 5:43PM

"...akin to the churn'em-out-style of old Warner Bros. cartoons."

I think the writer is thinking of old Hanna-Barbera cartoons- Warner never really totally threw in the towel on production values like HB did. Totally beside the actual point of the article, but Bugs and Daffy deserve respect that Quick Draw McGraw and Josie and the Pussycat will never earn. Yes, I'm slightly retarded.