WipEout sequels on PS3, PSP inspiring PlayStation Network growth
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 2nd 2007 at 1:59PM }
Speaking with SCE Liverpool, Develop magazine has seemingly uncovered news of a pair of WipEout installments bound for PlayStation 3 and PSP. The unsurprising revelation has been tied to Sony's downloadable content strategy. Liverpool's WipEout Pure showed promise, registering more than 800,000 downloads of add-on content, but subsequent Sony efforts have failed to follow suit.Liverpool plans to pick up the slack with upcoming versions of WipEout. "Downloadable content helped keep [WipEout Pure] on the shelf and encouraged people to not trade the game in," explained development director Clemens Wangerin, adding, "Being able to cater to a much finer resolution of gamers' tastes and maybe create more byte-sized or customizable gaming is a massive advantage." Sounds like Sony's starting to understand the importance of PlayStation Network.
[Via CVG]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sheppy @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:05PM
I know the additional tracks and packs for Wipeout Pure keep me playing to this day.
zero2dash @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:11PM
I was thinking to myself earlier "I wonder if Psygnosis will work on another WipeOut title on either the Ps2 or even Ps3". *ding* This is great news; I've always loved the WipeOut series (especially XL which IMO was the best one). I can't wait to see what the new one looks like...I might have to buy a Ps3 after all.
silkylove @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:13PM
"The unsurprisingly revelation has been tied to Sony's downloadable content strategy."
All your grammar are belong to us.
Pcenginefx @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:22PM
YES! Wipeout Pure is my #1 game on the PSP and I actually just downloaded the rest of the tracks this last week. Can't wait for the sequel on the PSP and the PS3 version should look amazing...
MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:19PM
So the PSP gets another Wipeout game, that will do poorly in sales like most other PSP titles (including wipeout pure)?
Matt @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:24PM
Wipeout is a very uninspired generic boring racer. There are actually fans of this 'series' of shitty games?
Matt @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:39PM
IMO Wipeout is still one of the best games on the PSP. Also, a PS3 version seems like the perfect fit for the Sixaxis.
Note: please don't confuse me with jaded #6 Matt
MeatVaugon @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:42PM
@4
Guess thats why they continue to make sequels...because its not selling well huh. Wipeout is probably the best scifi racing game that has ever been made so put your head back to your wow screen and clickon...n00blet.
Khash @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:40PM
BUT IT'S MADE BY SONY! IT CAN'T BE GOOD! LAWL!
Khash @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:41PM
Also #6 Matt is a moron.
Agent MOO @ Feb 2nd 2007 2:58PM
Now we can finally see who's more hardcore, acid burn or zero cool!
Hiro @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:13PM
All right! I have been a WipeOut fan since the original, and Pure is one of my favorites. WipOut PS3 should be awesome-- Fatal Inertia looks great too.
The downloadable content on Pure is excellent and WipeOut PS3 multiplayer would be incredible--something I've been wishing for since the series' inception. (Rockets from other racers will finally be dangerous...lol)
~Hiro
~hiro
MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:14PM
"Guess thats why they continue to make sequels...because its not selling well huh. "
Never did I say they weren't making money on the games. I said they are doing shitty, when you take a look at how well DS software are selling. Don't put words in my mouth.
The Jeremy @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:22PM
...remembers the day when Psygnosis was the 800 lbs. gorilla of gaming on the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga platforms.
There's plenty of other classic Psygnosis games that should get an update and release on the PSP/PS3 platforms...
sheppy @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:22PM
MoonfirePewPewPew... have you tried removing software sales on DS versus PSP to exclude Nintendo software? After all, while we hear about all the great sales on Nintendo DS, who is it making that headline, exactly? It certainly isn't Konami or Capcom.
PSP has proven itself economically viable enough for companies to continue to receive software. And since Wipeout is a Sony property, where exactly do you think this game would go, if not PSP and PS3? It sure as fuck wouldn't be your champion DS. Between having new Wipeout games which may or may not receive good sales (wasn't Wipeout Pure a GH title? Yes it was) and having no new Wipeout Games or a wipeout game 2+ years out of date (Wipeout Fusion), I'd gladly take the game that may or may not sell.
The options aren't exactly Brain Training here.
Vidikron @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:23PM
@13
That doesn't even make sense. What software on the DS are you comparing it to? Games like New Super Mario Bros make 95% of the rest of the DS software look shitty too using your reasoning. Also, good/bad sales don't necessarily mean a game is good/bad. DS is doing great, we all know that, but that doesn't mean all PSP software is "shitty".
NotMatt @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:27PM
Sony doesn't make this steamy pile. It would be worse if they did. I'm glad this game isn't multiplatform, we already have enough crappy games to go around.
Silent K @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:47PM
Wipeout Pure is the reason that I purchased a PSP. This is great news. Other than the MGS4 and possibilities of a Silent Hill title, I had no reason to even consider a PS3 - I hate to admit it, but if Wipeout PS3 is any good, I will need to pick up that system [as long as it's NOTHING like the blasphemous Wipeout Fusion - yack.]
Sure downloadable race tracks, music, skins and the like is a great selling point and a fantastic way to keep the title alive - But what's relaly needed is Online vs action.
GoonieGooGoo @ Feb 2nd 2007 3:59PM
Things SONY needs to do to make this a AAA System buying title (like the original):
1) Fully functional online Multiplayer with real time voice chat
2) Improve the soundtrack with the real top electronica artists (like Wipeout and Wipeout XL.....some of the best videogame soundtracks of all time)
3) 1080p.....finally use it for something...and none of the messed up no 1080 ala Resistance
4) Exceed the graphics level of the footage used in HACKERS
5) Improve the hovercraft models and detail with realtime damage....they've been using the same ones forever....i think they can use more than 75 polygons now with the CELL Processor.
Sonicandtails @ Feb 2nd 2007 5:21PM
WipeOut Pure being the best game for PSP doesn't say much when the other games are all crap anyways.
Joe @ Feb 2nd 2007 4:44PM
One of the reasons Wipeout Pure was pretty popular because it was the first way to browse the web on the PSP. I know at least a couple people that bought it solely for that purpose.
Screwed @ Feb 2nd 2007 4:54PM
ATTACK!!!!! Hit Sony when they're down.
TrevorNYC @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:15PM
Wipe out is the one title that will make me run to the store and pick up a PS3. If it supports online multiplayer then I think I'll be taking a week off from work.
Vidikron @ Feb 2nd 2007 5:37PM
@22
That's just blatantly false. I'm getting tired of hearing how all the PSP games suck. Try this, go over to gamerankings.com and bring up a list of games for the DS and the PSP sorted by the average rating from the major review sites and tell me what you see. For example, see how many PSP games are rated 8 or highers and how many DS games are rated 8 or higher and report back.
sheppy @ Feb 2nd 2007 5:38PM
"1) Fully functional online Multiplayer with real time voice chat
2) Improve the soundtrack with the real top electronica artists (like Wipeout and Wipeout XL.....some of the best videogame soundtracks of all time)
3) 1080p.....finally use it for something...and none of the messed up no 1080 ala Resistance
4) Exceed the graphics level of the footage used in HACKERS
5) Improve the hovercraft models and detail with realtime damage....they've been using the same ones forever....i think they can use more than 75 polygons now with the CELL Processor."
1. 100% possible.
2. Kinda hard to do. You see, here is the problem. While I would personally love to race to Oakenfold's Faster Kill Pussycat (which I do... often.. in Saint's Row), the problem with creating a truly ambient soundtrack, rather than an overpowering one, is in being very selective of the songs you include. And while this pushes BT out of the lineup, it creates a soundtrack that, while licensed, actually fits the game and it's flow. Confusing, but still a game design decision they stand behind and I agree. After all, I thought the Burnout soundtracks went to shit once EA started chucking cash, willy nilly.
3. Completely possible given the fact that Dark Kingdom achieved it. However, it would require a tradeoff in the raw polys... and I'll get to that later.
4. Hackers footage featured NURBs, a ton of particles, and high res textures. Guess which two of the three would be possible? BURBs is possible as well but the benefits don't outweight the consequences to the engine.
5. This is where you and I will disagree. The engine can utilize much more polys in the craft, but you have to ask the ultimate question, why? If they bump up the polycount by dramatic amounts, it will naturally take a hit on the poly intensive environments. But if they just do 500 polys max, use normal maps, and make use of extensive particles, there is no reason why people wouldn't be able to tell the difference given the way Wipeout is played. As the old game engine rule states "Put your power where it's presentable." I would much rather see higher detailed maps than crafts and considering the design of the crafts anyway, high poly meshes used for anything aside from normal mapping would be a waste.
Vidikron @ Feb 2nd 2007 6:07PM
@24
I have to disagree with your assessment of point #5. Other racing games don't seem to have any major problems putting lots of polys into their vehicles and still having good looking environments. Granted, with the Wipeout vehicles often being composed of mostly of flat surfaces and straight lines they don't need massive amounts of polys, but givens today's systems they could certainly be given a rather large bump without any ill effects on the rest of the game. Plus, maybe they need to change up the designs a bit anyway. A few rounded surfaces might be in order,
Sonicandtails @ Feb 2nd 2007 7:09PM
@ #23
I just went through and counted the differences on Gamerankings. The DS has more 8+'s. Thank you and have a nice day.
But by the way, who said I was comparing the PSP to the DS?! Oh ho ho! The PSP is a complete failure along with the PS3, I never said the DS was anything better, even though I believe it is. (I owned a PSP before a DS, I can talk all I want.)
Feanor @ Feb 2nd 2007 7:20PM
How did you get hold of a computer in a mental institution?
apoc06 @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:12PM
great news!
wipeout was the first ps1 title i owned and wipeout pure was the first psp title i bought.
anyone looking to get into the series, wipeout xl and wipeout pure are easily the best titles in the series.
required @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:44PM
WipeOut Pure is a great game as are most PSP games.
Strangler @ Feb 3rd 2007 1:48AM
"Sony doesn't make this steamy pile. It would be worse if they did. I'm glad this game isn't multiplatform, we already have enough crappy games to go around."
how is this series crappy when it receives awesome review sby virtually every single news review site? the only people who think its crappy is you apperently, population 3 of queerland. WIpeout on the psp according to gamerankings outscored lamost every single ds game.
Strangler @ Feb 3rd 2007 1:51AM
"26. @ #23
I just went through and counted the differences on Gamerankings. The DS has more 8+'s. Thank you and have a nice day.
But by the way, who said I was comparing the PSP to the DS?! Oh ho ho! The PSP is a complete failure along with the PS3, I never said the DS was anything better, even though I believe it is. (I owned a PSP before a DS, I can talk all I want.)"
you are a complete dipsh-t sonic, did your mom drop you as a baby or were you born retarded? maybe your sister psised in your milk or something. According to gamernakings the psp has alot higher rated software.