Sony's Geometry Wars (and other e-Distributed titles) leaked [update 1]
by Christopher Grant 
{ Oct 17th 2006 at 5:35PM }
While Sony is poised to break their media silence this Thursday at their "Gamer's Day" event in San Francisco (we'll be on hand, eagerly awaiting something), that didn't stop some of their secrets from sneaking their ways onto the web.
A tipster clued us into a survey to gauge future interest in downloadable games on a certain unnamed gaming console featuring motion sensitive controllers (hrmmm) as well as "HD and surround sound" (well, that narrows it down). They describe Blast Factor (pictured above) as "an up-to-date version of Asteroids or Geometry Wars." We'll gloss over that Geometry Wars not up-to-date jab, and concentrate on what it offers: 1080p, motion control support, online rankings, and a potential $5 price point (one of their surveyed price points, and the equivalent of GW's 400 MS points). A quick look at the screens will reinforce the title's close relationship to Xbox Live Arcade's super-hit, Geometry Wars.
But that wasn't it. In addition to our tipster's images, a PS3 Forums member posted an extensive list of screenshots and images of several upcoming e-Distribution titles including: Blast Factor, flOw, Go Sudoku, Lemmings 2, and Swizzleblocks. Games without images or info include: Gripshift, Crash Carnage Ciaos, and Wheel of Fortune. Our tipster also managed to get an image of one additional game, titled Criminal Crackdown, with a tentative price of $14.99. We'll probably know a whole lot more about these titles come Thursday. That wasn't so hard, was it Sony?
Additional images and text from our tipster after the break. Note, PS3 Forums is getting hammered, so check out a (not quite up-to-date) mirror at NeoGAF.
[Thanks, Cabrill and Meh]
This small, fully playable game is a fast-paced arcade game in which you control a nano-machine destroying microbiological viruses. It is like an up-to-date version of "Asteroids" or "Geometry Wars."
Features:
- HD and surround sound
- 100 levels
- "Motion sensing" controller technology (tilt the controller side to side to interact with the game)
The listed prices are:
- Blast Factor - $4.99
- Criminal Crackdown - $14.99
- Classic Game (Street Fighter II pictured?!) - $3.99
- Bundle of 3 Puzzle Games - $15.99
- Puzzle Game - Free
A pair of Criminal Crackdown screenshots
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Robert Jung @ Oct 17th 2006 5:44PM
Insert obligatory "Pay $600 for a console to play Criminal Crackdown!" jokes. ;-)
--R.J.
Agent MOO @ Oct 17th 2006 5:44PM
What will they call it? I say Geometry Negotiations, there's too much violence in games these days.
Iteresting @ Oct 17th 2006 6:01PM
It's called "Trigonometry Skirmishes"...
J.Goodwin @ Oct 17th 2006 5:47PM
It's a good thing that Mutant Storm Empires is coming out soon. Otherwise, I'd begin to suspect that PomPom was bought by Sony.
Captain Obvious @ Oct 17th 2006 5:48PM
I took the same survey. The price points are not accurate. They basically gave you about two dozen different scenarios and asked which ONE game you would purchase. For example, if Blast Factor was $1.99, Criminal Crackdown was $7.99, a "classic" title was $12.99, and a puzzle game was free, which ONE would you purchase/download. Then they shuffled the prices around where Criminal Crackdown was free, Blast Factor was $4.99, etc., and asked which one you would purchase/download in that scenario. This went on for about two dozen different examples. The screen capture you have is just of the instruction screen.
They had a few interesting options, including a subscription service to a "library of classic games," which sounded very appealing.
Dingo @ Oct 17th 2006 5:50PM
1080p Geometry Wars...now we are talking...
Sony and Microsoft back in the school yard...
Microsoft: I can do this, I can do that, I have this, I have that...
Sony: Anything you do, I can do better.
So far, it looks good for Sony.
Does Microsoft want to talk about the HD Era a little more?
Tim @ Oct 17th 2006 5:56PM
I don't think of Blast Factor being much of a Geometry Wars rival. They look rather different (Geometry Wars is... well, duh, geometric shapes, and Blast Factor looks like it has UFOs and Aliens and blood cell looking things). They look to have similar gameplay, but not exactly the same.
James @ Oct 17th 2006 7:11PM
Dingo,
I'm sure you can impress everyone with your 1080p HD display you have for your brand spanking new PS3 when you get it in November.
Oh wait, you don't have a 1080p HD display nor could you afford one.
Talk HD when you have something to support your PS3. In the meantime, you're in the same boat as 90% of the people in the SD world.
a Master Ninja @ Oct 17th 2006 6:08PM
Blast Factor is NOT a rip off of XBLA's Geometry Wars.
Blast Factor IS a rip off of XBLA's Mutant Storm Reloaded.
C. Grant @ Oct 17th 2006 5:59PM
Tim: they're close enough for the survey company to compare the two.
Sonic @ Oct 17th 2006 7:45PM
Grid Wars was the best, and it was free. Sony is shameless again trying to put out the same content at Microsoft, will they ever even try to be a little original.
Ethan @ Oct 17th 2006 6:03PM
I dont think blast factor really looks much like geometry wars. Blast Factor looks like it has better graphics, a better control scheme (motion sensor) and a higher resolution. But after all, you cant really compare these games to each other, since they both originated from asteroids.
SonyBlowsGoats @ Oct 17th 2006 6:16PM
@ 5
It looks good for Sony? Why, because they have a Geo Wars clone?
Holy shit, the fanboys have gone delusional!
a Master Ninja @ Oct 17th 2006 6:12PM
Joystiq is wrong, PS3's Blast Factor is NOT a blatant rip off of XBLA's Geometry Wars. Blast Factor IS a blantant rip off of XBLA's Mutant Storm Reloaded. In Geometry wars, you fight shapes using Robotron game mechanics. In Blast Factor and Mutant Storm, you fight cellular lifeforms using Robotron game mechanics. Big difference.
Robotron am cry.
Raynre @ Oct 17th 2006 6:15PM
MasterCharged:
I hope to God Nintendo doesnt follow Sony's example. Lord knows we dont need another gaming company with faulty hardware while losing billions through dirty buisness practices and poor managment decisions...
dan s. @ Oct 17th 2006 6:24PM
Too bad it's after 3 and all the middle schools have been let out...
MetaHuman @ Oct 17th 2006 6:24PM
IT'S NOT A GEOMETRY WARS RIP-OFF.
It's the long-awaited sequel to the highly-praised Fantavision.
Jerks.
Einhanderkiller @ Oct 17th 2006 6:31PM
FlOw's graphics = Drool
So simple, yet so beautiful.
zer06ame @ Oct 17th 2006 6:31PM
Can Sony really be any more unoriginal? All PS3 looks like now is a copy of the 360 and partially of the wii. It might do everything but nothing particularly well.
Jeremy @ Oct 17th 2006 6:32PM
$ony copying someone? Again? I dont no wait i do belive it and seen it coming. Nothing original about them anymore. Never was really.
Sony is the biggest joke of the year. Sure stick some last minute features on your controller that everyone has been doing for years and planning on for years and then sell some games that are renamed and redigitized versions of ones I already have. Sure ill spend tons of cash on that system. Suck it $ony.
LordMinogue @ Oct 17th 2006 6:49PM
Oyay Ethan!
How can you assume that Geometry War's UI will be outmodeled by Blast Factor's UI? Looks to me like there both two-dimensional space shooters...how much utility can 3 dimentional motion sensing have in 2 dimensions? The joystick IS 2 dimensional motion sensing. And in a twich game, it'll proly do more harm then good.
Also, Graphics is pretty much a draw. Both put hundreds of little shapes on a screen that are worth points...if you ever fought gnats in a high scoring Geometry Wars game, you know how many hundreds I mean.
If you give me some "OMG there's like, 10% more sparks on PS3" crap, then your the fool who follows.
SymetriX @ Oct 17th 2006 6:54PM
Does it offer real-time weapon change?
Mike @ Oct 17th 2006 7:25PM
to #6 MasterCharged
ah i think your wrong with that and also you sir and your mama can go fuck yourselfs
aZn_1080p @ Oct 17th 2006 7:30PM
LOLOL Wheres all the xbots who said sony would never have the downloadable content and network like live? Sounds like they managed just fine, on their first try, with a FREE network.
Now what will M$ do, 360 has and will continue to be be a *COLLOSAL* failure, selling worse than both Dreamcast and Xbox1 did in their first years, WITH NO COMPETITON!. This console generation is turning out to be a *NIGHTMARE* for M$, not only have they failed to capitalize on Sony's gaffes, they have failed to increase their market penetration from last gen, and now face being steamrolled by the seemingly unstoppable PS3 juggernaut, with Wii brining up the rear to mop up the scraps.
To M$'s credit though, I'm sure they will stay in the fight, theoretically at least (like they are right now in Japan), and just wait until next gen, when they'll try to throw enough money around to monopolize the video game market again.
lolersticks @ Oct 17th 2006 7:28PM
But wait: can I hit the weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE?!
And don't too many Geometry Wars clones clog the tubes?
DBX00 @ Oct 17th 2006 7:31PM
What's sad is that so many people are complaining that Sony copied a game concept that has essentially been around since Atari. Give it a break. They've got several games that are being released through e-distribution and already look like they'll get greater third party support than Microsoft. The combination of this and being able to purchase and download PS1 games for the PS3 and PSP is making their online service very competitive. Nobody screamed at Nintendo when they announced Virtual Console a YEAR after Sony announced that PS1 emulation for the PSP and PS3. Just get over it, the Sony train is starting to move and you don't have to get on board but for us that don't have a XBOX360 the rest of the year is going to be a very good.
In conclusion, people's blatant hatred for anything Sony is getting old and the arguments are just getting childish.
Ironhide Delta @ Oct 17th 2006 10:47PM
So far both Sony and MS have pulled down thier pants to reveal they both have enormous gentialia!
So far to my eyes, Sony and Microsoft are on even ground. There is nothing on ps3 that 360 can't do, and vice versa.
Lefty @ Oct 17th 2006 7:42PM
azn_1080p
they still donlt have anything close to live. no cross game voice chat and i have to stop playing my game and go to the dashboard just to look at a text message or reply.
they can have their free service the ability to have onlne aware and see what friends are doing and send invites and messages as well as voice chat while playing my game and simply hitting a button makes it more than worth its price. till they can mathc lives connectivity they have nothing
thats just my 2 cents on their online plans.
VampireHunter Z @ Oct 17th 2006 7:42PM
@aZn_1080p
LOL that site in your sig is really funny. Especially the picture of the PS3 raping the 360. Got a good laugh but then I stopped and realized you guys are a bunch of geeks.
Usedtabe @ Oct 17th 2006 7:42PM
Wow Azn,
Other than the 1st paragraph, thats exactly word for word what you said on another topic. And still all fanboy bullshit.
Usedtabe @ Oct 17th 2006 7:51PM
I will give the "Sony Defense Force" one shred of credit for the hilarious "Xbots Am Cry". Even theough Microsoft is my favorite of the 3(and I have all of the precious systems), that's still freakin' hilarious. I don't care what system you like, that's just funny, IMO. Even better than the "SUXASSES"
The Rev @ Oct 17th 2006 7:54PM
Now what will M$ do, 360 has and will continue to be be a *COLLOSAL* failure, selling worse than both Dreamcast and Xbox1
lol your a funny person, even if thats true who cares ms can afford the loss.....on the other hand sony depends on ps3
DeadPlasmaCell @ Oct 17th 2006 7:56PM
Come now.. using 1080p as a selling point is still a joke...
Neil @ Oct 17th 2006 8:26PM
Flow sounds so admirable, alluring, angelic, appealing, beauteous, bewitching, charming, classy, comely, cute, dazzling, delicate, delightful, divine, elegant, enticing, excellent, exquisite, fair, fascinating, fine, foxy*, good-looking, gorgeous, graceful, grand, handsome, ideal, lovely, magnificent, marvelous, nice, pleasing, pretty, pulchritudinous, radiant, ravishing, refined, resplendent, shapely, sightly, splendid, statuesque, stunning, sublime, superb, symmetrical, taking, well-formed, wonderful and fucking cool!
ps I love the Cloud game.
DBX00 @ Oct 17th 2006 8:03PM
Lefty
If you took the time to read the interview with Phil Harrison, you would notice that he stated they would impliment that feature in the future if customers wanted. Otherwise, you can leave a voicemail equivalent to not disturb the person's game.
Sonic
Sony hasn't released anything in regards to pricing. For all we know, they could be offering all these games for free with some advertisements attached to the game or something.
My point still remains. The little tidbits of the Sony online service have already shown they've developed a platform that is comparable to Xbox live. What happens when we start including the fact that you'll be able to download old PS1/PS2 titles, music and movies, something Microsoft will not be offering for the XBOX. I'm sure you guys will ignore the important points and go right to screaming fanboyism. If Sony simply implemented features like web video streaming from YouTube in a simple interface that allowed for easy scrolling with the controller or internet radio; they would blow Microsoft out the water. The fact of the matter is that nobody gives Sony create for including a full featured web browser that opens up viewing emails, videos, etc. to the console world. I have nothing against Microsoft and their system, but Sony does have a lot of features that are unique to the PS3 and you can concentrate on calling them a copycat, but they've got several other games on that e-distribution list that XBOX fans seem to quickly ignore. I look forward to playing some Wheel of Fortune (hopefully it'll be multiplayer).
ilmmad @ Oct 17th 2006 8:05PM
Ehh, Sony really looks like it will fail. Besides losing exclusivity to GTA and Assassin's Creed, they have banned the selling of used PS3 games, and basically copied the ideas of other companies recently, right down to the silver lining around the DVD drive on the premium comsole. As a gimmick, they decided to add tilt-control, which will most likely be a secondary addtion that no one will really use. Rumble, which is a frienly and know almost mandatory addition to game consoles has been torn out after Sony's attempt to ride the Wii bandwagon.
Sony's PS3 is not building up to be an unstoppable juggernaut-besides graphics and Blu-Ray (I'll talk about that later) Sony has nothing. The online service is sub-par to Xbox live, with individual companies requiring yearly fees instead of an overall yearly fee. For example, it is about $60 for a year of Live. That is all you need to play any Live game. With Sony's plan, I would need to pay about $7 a year for one game, maybe $10 bucks for another, and so on. With as little as 8 games, you could be paying more for whatever they're calling their silly little online service as you would for unlimited Xbox Live games.
Let's not leave out games. With Microsoft having the ability to release three major titles-Halo 3, GTA 4, and Assassin's Creed-on the same days as Sony, there is no reason to buy the system simply for the games. And Halo 3-most likely one of the biggest selling points for Xbox 360-exclusive to the system, SOny won't e seeing the money and love reaped from the title. The Blu-Ray drive is really a gamble as well. If it loses the HD DVD war against Toshiba, the expensive format will be pointless on the PS3. The disks raise prices up even further from $60, which is already thought to be high. While Blu-Ray has the potential to hold over 40 gigabytes of memory, the sheer cost and time required to develop epic games that would utilize the space is enormous, and almost unreachable. Oblivion, which is a MASSIVE game, fit on 4 gigs, less than half of the Xbox's space. Add in the fact that Blu-Ray has a incredibly slow Read Rate, and the format seems like a needless expense.
Didn't anyone tell Sony that graphics don't matter? Sure, they make gaming experiences great, but only when attached to a great game. With Sony's blatent lack of what seems to be great games, and the PS3's delays and cost, many gamers have abandoned the system . While Sony's gaming machine will be big, fat, and powerful, it seriously seems to lack actual fun. 1080i looks good, but I'd take a great game like Halo or Assassin's Creed over it any day.
aZn_1080p @ Oct 17th 2006 8:07PM
lefty, if chatting across games and not having to wait a few minutes to check your inbox are worth 50 bucks a year, (or $250 over the life of the console) to you, then by all means, enjoy.
Me on the other hand, I will use the $250 to get a premium PS3, which will also get me a larger harddrive, better graphics, Wifi, a next generation Blu-Ray drive for ultra-detailed game worlds + Blu-Ray movies(!), FullHD 1080p video output, TrueHD lossless 7.1 surround sound, whisper quiet operation, and a full featured Linux distro with firefox, media players, emulators, bittorrent clients, etc. etc. etc. All that without even mentioning that I will gain access to a vastly superior and more diverse game library.
Not hard to see who's getting the better deal in this scenario (hint: Its not the guy who can't wait 5 minutes to check his inbox!)
Usedtabe @ Oct 17th 2006 8:18PM
Wow, DBX00, that was a good post. No sarcasm. Unless I have bad memory, you usually come across as a flaming Sony fanboy (again, if I have the wrong person, my bad). But those were some good points without a hint of fanboism.
chimp o death @ Oct 17th 2006 8:22PM
"LOLOL Wheres all the xbots who said sony would never have the downloadable content and network like live? Sounds like they managed just fine, on their first try, with a FREE network."
We'll see who'll be LOLing on thursday, when Sony (maybe) announces their full online, plan which should be just as underwhelming as these leaked details.
Being able to pay for downloadable games is something you can do with the 360 out of the box. You don't need to get a Gold membership for that. So if that's proof of a free network, god help the SDF.
Maybe they'll finally tell Bethesda how they'll be able to deliver their extra 360 content for Oblivion over PNP. The latest issue of Official Playstation Mag said they still knew jack crap about how Sony was going to let them do it.
Or maybe they'll tell you how you can play Afrika online in 2009, by which time maybe they'll figure out if it's really a game or just a virtual slide show of an imaginary vacation Kutugari thought he had once.
Or maybe the sheer design brilliance of "Puzzle Game " (it's free, you know!) will silence the naysayers once and for all.
And just so you know: I own a 360, and I've owned console from all the major manufacturers throughout the years And maybe I'd eventualy get a PS3 to play those exclusives like MSG4. But nothing I've seen or heard about PNP indicates that the first year will be anything but a load of poached ass, with occasional glimmers of fun. Hell, most of the SDF won't even be able to use it until well into 2007 when Sony increases their hardware shipments.
But we'll talk again in a month.
dolemite @ Oct 17th 2006 9:21PM
This is actually good news. After reading the comments here, I decided to ask my non-gaming wife whether or not she would play Wheel of Fortune. She happily replied yes, and does the Xbox 360 have that game. Told her no, but it does have the poker game I downloaded. She tehn proceded to play it, and asked me when the Singstar game for the PS3 is coming out. I think Sony is doing the right thing by releasing these type of games. Sony does not make the best hardware we all know, but one thing they do well is marketing. Having games all can enjoy, from Wheeel of Fortune to Singstar to Resistance to Madden is what they do well. Microsoft has gotten better here as well, but has work to do. As for Sony copying, if they did not have these features fanboys would moan and groan about what Sony doesn't have, and if they do they are copying. An online component with some real teeth to it is a great thing. Prices for stuff need to be seen, but I'll have to see them to comment on it. At least they are using real world money values, and hey, everyone else is using a points system, so that's original right?
Neil @ Oct 17th 2006 8:28PM
I agree, DBX00 that was a great post. And what's more is the fact that PS3 opens up cross communication through sites like Myspace, xbox.com, and yes even Joystiq :D
Arachneya @ Oct 17th 2006 8:33PM
@#5 Dingo
You do know Geometry Wars Retro Evolved runs @ 1080i natively, right? The Fall dashboard update that will support 1080p on the 360 will make this game and a lot of Live arcade titles run natively at 1080p.
What's gonna be your excuse then? It's not "up to date" enough?
TwilightKnight @ Oct 17th 2006 8:27PM
aZn is a riot. Seriously, he is so adorable I could hug him. What keeps his wild rants from the rest of the ignorant masses is his good grammar. That is what makes him so cute to read.
Such a good boy...
Back on topic. There is nothing wrong about copying a good gaming design. If people were so anal about it then we wouldn't have the most important gaming functions of today: Being able to save, non linear gameplay, menu system, overworld system, online, etc. This is just natural progression of the industry.
number40one @ Oct 17th 2006 8:39PM
So forget about resolution, scaling, textures, HDMI, 1080p...
The next-gen war will be fought and won over $5 downloadable distractions.(?)
C'mon boys... triangles in hi-def?
There are more important things y'all can piss on each other about; Like which system's version of DOA will have more realistic nip-rocks.
DBX00 @ Oct 17th 2006 8:44PM
ilmmad
1) The games mentioned in the article utilize the motion sensing control as well as several launch window titles like NBA 07, Warhawk, Fight Night and etc. If they've got the support this early in the game, I think developers will continue to implement it in the future.
2) Each developer will not charge for online gaming, unless you're playing a MMORPG and this still will remain a mystery until Thursday's news conference. I don't know where you've gotten your info from, but as far as I know you are just simply misinformed.
3) What makes Sony successful is constantly creating NEW franchises through their continued support with third party developers. I don't disagree that Microsoft is going to have some of the big name games the same time as Sony. However, Sony has historically proven that they will take chances on new franchises such as God of War or possibly Heavenly Sword and Liar that become the next big GTA. Microsoft still hasn't proven they can create another big franchise since Halo. In summary, it isn't just about keeping the sequels coming, but offering something new and exciting from hard work and risk taking.
4) The storage capacity argument has been officially put to rest until developers get a chance to explore the possibilities. I personally agree with Phil that they will take advantage of the space to make better games, even if they don't in the first year after launch. The fact of the matter is that even if some developers become lazy with compression, one developer will push the envelope and the rest will follow suit to keep up with the market like they always do.
In conclusion, we only have to wait 2 more days to get the FACTS. Let's just hold the arguments and rambling to respond to some real news straight from Sony's marketing machine.
Lost_Watcher @ Oct 17th 2006 8:51PM
Wow... I've never heard so much bickering over a service.
Microsoft has it.
Nintendo has it.
Sony has it.
Competition is a good thing.
LordMinogue @ Oct 17th 2006 9:24PM
Want another franchise that XBOX brought to life?
Splinter Cell
It started on XBOX, and was only on XBOX only for a long time.
And BioWare churns out insane new RPGs for MS every 18 months
Jade Empire (needs a sequil BAD)
KOTOR (unreal plot twists origionally, meh sequil)
XBox need a Super Smash Bros bad.
Master Chief
Cortana
Nathan Zackery
Sam Fisher (heck, MS could buy rights for 1 game)
HK-47
the Black Wirlwind
Kang the Mad
Lt. Foster
Blinx
...and many more if MS starts paying (like Pika)
yazzer @ Oct 17th 2006 9:44PM
Why am I so into casual games. I play more Live Arcade than $60 games on the 360. Now I'm more excited about Sony mini-games (don't know what to call them), than any of their launch titles.
I guess I'm nostalgic for the classic game play.
Flow is free!
http://intihuatani.usc.edu/cloud/flowing/
NoThanks @ Oct 17th 2006 10:03PM
Is there going to be a Sony dildo talking about 1080p in every post on this site. Dude, if you really think 1080p is going to make a difference with this game vs Geometry Wars you are high on crack! Everyone who's looked at any of Sony and their stupid 1080p games says they look NO DIFFERENT than anything done in 720p. So please keep grasping at whatever you people can to try and justify the PS3 in your head. So is Sony's version called Sony Arcade or something?? It was sad enough when they ripped off the Live Arcade concept now they are going to release basically the same games and try and feed us this BS line that they are somehow magically better because their in 1080p. Damn, I'm glad I don't own a Sony because I can't imagine what there imaginary online gaming service is going to be like.. I mean can you actually put this many idiots together in one place and not have the whole thing explode?
Lost_Watcher @ Oct 17th 2006 10:32PM
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/17/sonys-geometry-wars-and-other-e-distributed-titles-leaked/#c2455802
lefty, if chatting across games and not having to wait a few minutes to check your inbox are worth 50 bucks a year, (or $250 over the life of the console) to you, then by all means, enjoy.
Messaging/Video service comes with XBL Silver just so ya know.
So if your playing a game with a silver account... sure check your messages. :D
Not hard to see who's getting the better deal in this scenario (hint: Its not the guy who can't wait 5 minutes to check his inbox!)
Could you please quit ranting;
Each system has their ups and downs.
Personally, I can't wait to see what Nintendo is doing for games that you can download. ;)