FlOw almost was a Wii title

58 Comments by Ross Miller Mar 9th 2007 3:45PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Simulations, GDC

Speaking about the history of upstart developer That Game Company at GDC, President Kellee Santiago revealed an extremely interesting tidbit as to where flOw was heading on consoles. Two companies were interested in the title: Sony, as we all are now aware of, and Nintendo.

"That was the hardest decision we ever had to make, choosing between Sony and Nintendo," admitted Santiago. Speaking during the Q & A, Santiago clarified that "they weren't right for us at the time. Sony kind of came to us with the process of incubation ... They helped us get our studio started." Nintendo did not approach them; the team actually cornered them about Cloud at a prior Game Developers Conference. FlOw creator Jenova Chen chimed in, saying "in the end, we are game makers and not console makers," expressing his satisfaction working with Nintendo on other projects. That Game Company did not rule out working on the Wii in the future.

From our current impressions, we think Nintendo missed a golden opportunity here. We'll have more on That Game Company's presentation later in the day.

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, flow, gdc, gdc 07, Gdc07, that game company, ThatGameCompany

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Flit: Mar 9th 2007; 3:51PM

Too bad sony had to pay millions of dollars to keep it exclusive for now.

Vidikron: Mar 9th 2007; 3:53PM

Wow... didn't take long for someone to try and spin this as a negative for Sony.

Ken: Mar 9th 2007; 3:53PM

Hey, at least they're trying. The 3rd party thing has always plagued Nintendo in the past.

Good sign that they gave it a shot.

JodyAnthony: Mar 9th 2007; 3:55PM

while it would be cool to have it as a wii game, the thing is people can buy it for PS3 for $5 or however much it is while on wii it probably would of been a $50 full release.

3cubedminus3squared: Mar 9th 2007; 4:00PM

I found it boring on the internet, If I played the PS3 version I would probably be bored again, and if it had came out for the Wii I would be bored and probably get an arm cramp.

steve17: Mar 9th 2007; 4:00PM

@1 is that right??

thats crazy. i dont see how flow would be worth much at all. its not exactly blockbuster of the year. right now every ps3 owner would have to buy flOw to recoup the purchase.

alienclay: Mar 9th 2007; 4:01PM

to me, the style and flow of this game fits better on PS3 and the PSN and is more inline with the type of downloads i would expect there.
and in my personal opinion, feels like a better showcase for the SIXAXIS than it would have been for the Wiimote.

Jake: Mar 9th 2007; 4:04PM

The Wii probably couldn't handle the game from a technical standpoint.

I lack self control.

Flit: Mar 9th 2007; 4:06PM

"8. The Wii probably couldn't handle the game from a technical standpoint.

I lack self control."

That. Was awesome.

REUYL: Mar 9th 2007; 4:06PM

FlOw fits better on the PS3/PSN, IMO.

Todd: Mar 9th 2007; 4:10PM

I'm with #5. I would pay money for this game. Rather dull and boring to me.

alienclay: Mar 9th 2007; 4:10PM

to 18 (3cubedminus3squared)

i played the internet flash version first as well but gave it a "what the hell" try and ths PSN version is much more mature, a bit more in depth, and good to look at than the flash. it's like the flash was just to prove a theroy, but the download was the full realization of the dream.

nick: Mar 9th 2007; 4:10PM

I'm not sure Flow is a good fit for PS3. I think the only reason it has managed to gain attention is because of the lack of titles for the PS3 to date.

Flow feels as if it would be more at home on a portable, perhaps the PSP or DS.

BPM: Mar 9th 2007; 4:11PM

You can always play the browser version with Internet Channel. :P

silkylove: Mar 9th 2007; 4:12PM

Meh. Been there. Done that. Back when it was a free pc game. Flow didn't exactly blow my skirt up then.

Dolla Dolla: Mar 9th 2007; 4:12PM

Although fl0w is nice, I don't think it's some great 'feat that Sony got it. I'd like to see what else comes from the team who created fl0w before I decide if it was a mistake for Nintendo.

From what I understand, the team who did Ragdoll Kung Fu wanted to go Nintendo, but chose Sony instead, and are making LittleBigPlanet for them. I would consider THAT a mistake on Nintendo's part, cause LittleBigPlanet looks like a lot of fun.

3cubedminus3squared: Mar 9th 2007; 4:20PM

@alienclay
Well maybe I'll try it out one day. Not anytime soon though as the only person Iknow with a PS3 bought it for Madden and Baseball games.

Myke: Mar 9th 2007; 4:23PM

Hmmm, well I have this game for my laptop for free and while it's a fun game and a decent time-waster certain days, I honestly couldn't see paying for it and at no point in time have I ever thought it would be better on a console. Just my opinion. This falls under the same line as the talk of porting that "N" game to a system and charging for it. I've been playing N for free for nearly a year and I love it to death, but I wouldn't pay to play it on my TV, perhaps personal preference.

Mr Khan: Mar 9th 2007; 4:25PM

@ BPM

I never thought of that

I might just try it

If Sony hadn't been so aggressive, it would've been a Wii game (not that its a bad thing that it wasn't, just saying that its not Nintendo's fault they passed)

But they seem to be eager to work with Wii, might be a sign of good things to come

sheppy: Mar 9th 2007; 4:30PM

Sony was willing to establish the studio. Nintendo wasn't. I don't think it's a major deal of Sony outbidding Nintendo for the game but rather an unknown group of students went with the deal that could start them, rather than destroy them in case something goes wrong.

samfish: Mar 9th 2007; 4:35PM

'eh, no big deal to me. The flash version of flOw was rather dull to me.
Besides, I'm not every sure how they'd have distributed this on the Wii. I don't think it'd have been worth it to get the game pressed on disc and sold in stores.

mrfong: Mar 9th 2007; 4:42PM

meh, I probably would have bought it if it had come to the VC, but playing it online was enough for me at the moment. I would like to see it on a PS3, but I don't know anyone that has one, or has the ability to purchase one!

Jake: Mar 9th 2007; 4:43PM

I hope people here do realize that the PSN version of flOw is quite a bit better than the flash version.

Jake: Mar 9th 2007; 4:43PM

I hope people here do realize that the PSN version of flOw is quite a bit better than the flash version.

Jake: Mar 9th 2007; 4:44PM

Joystiq really needs to put something into their comment posting software that prevents two identical posts from the same person to be posted. Sometimes it happens to me and I don't even know why. wtf?

Cutriss: Mar 9th 2007; 4:56PM

"Wow... didn't take long for someone to try and spin this as a negative for Sony."

Wow, didn't take long for someone to get defensive and read too much out of a comment in an attempt to defend their system of choice.

alienclay: Mar 9th 2007; 5:02PM

that's a good point samfish,
with out a hard drive, idon't know if i would want to download this game on a wii. sure it probably would have been a bit smaller of a download given the weeker power of the wii, but not that much smaller in this form given the game dosent use a lot of complex textures. and flOw is not in any way a game worthy of retail on its own.

sheppy: Mar 9th 2007; 5:06PM

"Wow, didn't take long for someone to get defensive and read too much out of a comment in an attempt to defend their system of choice."

Why does he have to be a single console user? And while we're at it, Sony hardly paid millions. They provided a dev kit and milestone payments, effectively starting this company. It's amazing to me that Sony hasn't absorbed them. Normally when companies do something like this, you might as well slap their logos on your paychecks. Instead, this company was started by Sony and maintains their independance. What swell guys.

Shagittarius: Mar 9th 2007; 5:13PM

Who cares! All Wii need is Mario!!!!

H880: Mar 9th 2007; 5:20PM

This is just my opinion, but I'm not seeing anything yet that if I were Sony would make me say 'We gotta acquire this company!'

Flow and Cloud are both kinda the same, but with different graphics.

I'm not sure I could easily classify them as games. They're more cerebral, and I hate to say this, closer to technical demonstrations.

Is it a good fit for the PS3? I dunno. But I'd like to see something else from the company, and since they have another project under development for the PS3, I guess we'll find out someday.

Rubang B: Mar 9th 2007; 5:33PM

Oh snap, Nintendo missed out on FlOw!

Oh snap, Sony missed out on LineRider!

There, they each got a crappy exclusive of a deluxe edition of a free Flash game.

Rubang B: Mar 9th 2007; 5:34PM

Oh snap, Nintendo missed out on FlOw!

Oh snap, Sony missed out on LineRider!

There, they each got a crappy exclusive of a deluxe edition of a free Flash game.

Vidikron: Mar 9th 2007; 5:34PM

@26

[Wow, didn't take long for someone to get defensive and read too much out of a comment in an attempt to defend their system of choice.]

For the record, I own all the major gaming systems and can provide a picture of them if you wish.

Anyway, your comment is nonsense anyway. I wasn't being defensive in any way. It's just annoying that some people have to spin any news item negative if Sony ismentioned anywhere. This news item just mentions that 'That Game Company' approached Nintedno about making a game for the Wii, but Nintendo wasn't apparently interested at the time. Then Sony approaches them and offers to help them out and have them publish for the PS3. How is this in any way a negative for Sony? Yet, in the very first post, someone attempts to spin it that way. Pathetic. Then you come along with your nonsensical attempt at being clever. Too bad it fails because, one, I read it as exactly what is was (i.e. I didn't read too much out of it) and, two, I own all the consoles and wasn't attempting to defend my 'console of choice' at all.

Jackson Pritt: Mar 9th 2007; 6:01PM

With all the negative press among gamers that this "game" has gotten, I'm glad it went to the PS3 and not the Wii. The Wii really doesn't need any more games-that-aren't-games to add to the Wii's increasing reputation as a video game system that isn't made for playing video games.

AJB: Mar 9th 2007; 6:19PM

tooooo bad.

Cutriss: Mar 9th 2007; 6:29PM

"Then you come along with your nonsensical attempt at being clever. Too bad it fails because, one, I read it as exactly what is was"

This assumes that you're right. I don't think you are.

I read it this way - "It's too bad Sony had to pay all that money to get the developer to stay exclusive, but at least they do have the game. I wish they didn't have to spend the money and that the developer would have come over to the PS3 naturally."

It reads to me as fairly neutral. Even if you read it that way, I think it's fairly premature of you to immediately lash out at the guy and insinuate that he's bandwagoning Sony hate. To me, it sounds sympathetic. And anyway, if that's a comment intended to troll on Sony hate...the poster is doing a *very* mild job here, and not nearly enough of one to warrant you calling him out.

Optimus Prime: Mar 9th 2007; 6:31PM

The LAST thing Wii needs is another non-game/mini-game, there are already enough of those in the form of warioware, mario party, rabbids, wiisports, monkey ball.. did i miss any?

Rubang B: Mar 9th 2007; 6:56PM

@Optimus, Sonic and the Secret Rings has a 4 player party mode that's totally a Mario Party ripoff. And Bomberman Land Wii (out in Japan only so far) has a bunch of minigames as well. And you forgot Wii Play.

@Jackson Pritt, I don't think Wii is suffering from a reputation of a gaming system that doesn't play games. I mean, hell, it comes with Wii Sports, which to many non-gamers (should we call them new-gamers?) counts as 5 games in one. The PS3 however, is getting the reputation of being a Blu-Ray player, a music and photo organizer, and all-around multimedia powerhouse. Not only does the PS3 have the least amount of exclusives, it has the least amount of games, both disc-based and downloadable.

CJC: Mar 9th 2007; 6:57PM

"Oh snap, Nintendo missed out on FlOw!

Oh snap, Sony missed out on LineRider!

There, they each got a crappy exclusive of a deluxe edition of a free Flash game."

Bingo! Give this man a medal, he's hit it on the head!

OTAM: Mar 9th 2007; 7:55PM

Apparently the part where the flash game was just basically the bare game and the PSN version is the full experience still isnt registering in people's heads.

Rubang B: Mar 9th 2007; 8:11PM

@OTAM,

For the record, I think FlOw is a really cool idea, but it's free because it's just a demo kinda non-gamey thing, like LineRider. They can flesh both of these games out all they want and I won't buy either. I've already gotten bored with the free bare-bones demos and don't want to pay for updates.

If anybody here wants a REAL evolution game, play E.V.O.: The Search for Eden for SNES. It's a solid RPG/platformer. You eat smaller fish to get evolution points and then decide what kind of new fins or scales or teeth you want to upgrade/evolve, and can even become an angler with the light and such. And then you go through new worlds as a reptile and a mammal and can become a dinosaur or a human or whatever you want. If that comes to the VC, they will have my 8 bucks.

Rubang B: Mar 9th 2007; 8:15PM

"FlOw almost was a Wii title."

You know what else almost happened?

The PS1 was ALMOST compatible with SNES cartridges until Nintendo and Sony broke up.

Perfect Dark ALMOST let you photograph your face with the Game Boy Camera and then map it to your character's face in the game so you could shoot your friends, but they scrapped it when Columbine happened.

GoldenEye was ALMOST an on-rails shooter until they made it a full FPS way later in development.

Daniel Johnston ALMOST got hit by a truck.

David: Mar 9th 2007; 8:34PM

Can someone explain to me why I should care?

What is so amazing with this game? I played it online, it's nothing, it's not like this game is the next Tetris.

James Kochalka: Mar 9th 2007; 8:49PM

This makes me so sad. I could be playing flOw right now on my Wii. Instead, I have the choice of paying $600 extra bucks to play it. Because it is literally the ONLY game currently available on the PS3 that I'm interested in playing.

Elmer: Mar 9th 2007; 9:17PM

We got it in my dorm room on a pretty big LCD screen. More than a few times, someone asked about LSD.

Quite a trip.

Rubang B: Mar 9th 2007; 9:30PM

If you have any LSD, I suggest Elektroplankton with the DS hooked up to a nice sound system.

steve17: Mar 9th 2007; 10:19PM

@46

indeed. anything with lots of colors and trippy sounds is a very enjoyable experience. i like visualizers like in itunes myself.

AKBlade13: Mar 10th 2007; 3:03AM

Oh snap, Nintendo missed out on FlOw and N game!

Oh snap, Sony missed out on LineRider and N game!

Oh snap, Microsoft missed out on Flow and LineRider

There, they each got a crappy exclusive of a deluxe edition of a free Flash game.

Fixed for truth.

:D

AKBlade13

Biphster: Mar 10th 2007; 3:53AM

I think the point of this story is that Sony HELPED That Game Company get off the ground and in return they made a nice little game for the PSN. In the process they keep their independance, which is even better!

Along with the LittleBigPlanet guys, it seems that Sony are doing what they said they would. Help potentially amazing fledgeling companies, that would normally not be able to get into the lime light, get off the ground and into the public eye.