Calling All Cars is done, due out May 3

by Ross Miller { Apr 27th 2007 at 3:33PM }

David Jaffe has announced on his design blog today that Calling All Cars (formerly Criminal Crackdown) has gone gold and is expected to hit the PlayStation Network on May 3. The game had been previously delayed for focus testing and other minor tweaking, but it now seems that Jaffe is happy enough with the product to let it go.

Has it been worth the wait? Reviews are slowly coming in, but IGN is calling it "Sony's first truly original, must-have title on the PlayStation Network" and claiming it bests just about everything on Xbox Live Arcade. Strong words; we'll see for ourselves next week.

[Thanks, Pete]

Tags: calling all cars, CallingAllCars, david jaffe, DavidJaffe, jaffe, playstation network, PlaystationNetwork, ps network, psn, PsNetwork

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Phranctoast @ Apr 27th 2007 3:43PM

im pretty phyched for this game. Looks like a lot of fun.

Watership @ Apr 27th 2007 3:47PM

"claiming it bests just about everything on Xbox Live Arcade."

That's a good way to screw your game, setting expecations so high.

dirge @ Apr 27th 2007 3:49PM

The videos I've seen make it look like an average mini-game. Not sure what the hubbub is about.

Chris @ Apr 27th 2007 3:55PM

@ 3

Because it's a game actually coming out for PS3.
Kidding ;-)

Marty @ Apr 27th 2007 3:55PM

Better than anything on Xbox Live Arcade seems a little much... IGN needs to get of Jaffe's jock.

Mr Khan @ Apr 27th 2007 3:58PM

Well, Jaffe is very popular with the game media

This game does look pretty cool, probably worth the 2 delays we went through, also...

konajinx @ Apr 27th 2007 4:00PM

Should be as anticlimactic as all those other super-duper games that the PS3 fans waited around for.

Vidikron @ Apr 27th 2007 4:00PM

Keep in mind that IGN has played the game, none of you have. That said, there are some damn good games on XBLA, so that's a tall order. Even that Pinball FX game released this week is a blast. The pinball machines look and play great. I'm not sure why everyone made a big over Eets and seemed to write off the pinball game... the pinball game is better. But I digress...

Jaffe is a great dev and I've been looking forward to this game for a while. I'm glad to see the delays have finally stopped.

Shagittarius @ Apr 27th 2007 4:01PM

GTA to GTA III and back to 2d again as CAC?

Kizzle @ Apr 27th 2007 4:06PM

If Pinball FX were 400 points, it would be easily the best original XBL game. 800 points for only 3 tables kind of sours the deal, though.

Vidikron @ Apr 27th 2007 4:08PM

@10

Well, the price is somewhat steep. It seems like 800 points is starting to become standard for the original games. Still, being that it's better than nearly everything else out there, I bought it. But I'm a sucker for good pinball games. I spent many hours with Metroid Pinball on the DS. And those Pinball FX tables look spectacular in HD. I couldn't resist. I just hope that that when they add tables they aren't too pricey.

Hoffer @ Apr 27th 2007 4:12PM

I can think of a couple Xbox Live Arcade games that are cheaper and I bet I would get more play time out of. Geometry Wars and UNO were both only $5 and I spent countless hours on both.

I'm still undecided on Calling All Cars. I've watched the stuff on Gamespot and IGN. I don't see it being a very fun single player game. It looks like it would be fun to play against friends over the internet. Problem is that at $600, I don't have any friends with a PS3. I could see having fun with this game on my Xbox 360 with all the friends I have on it. Maybe a year from now I'll have more friends with a PS3 and we'll buy the game then.

Cee @ Apr 27th 2007 4:25PM

"Problem is that at $600, I don't have any friends with a PS3. I could see having fun with this game on my Xbox 360 with all the friends I have on it."--Hoffer

Are people getting there 360s from a magic fountain for free? When did $600 become official, "THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS" price. A 360 cost about $550 out the door, and a PS3 around $750. If you spent $550 on a 360, an extra controller and a game, how can you complain about another $200. I can see if you bought a Wii then $750 is steep. But if you bought a 360 then you can afford a PS3. Please stop whining about the price. If you want to cry about something cry about the lack of games. There hasn't been a MUST HAVE PS3 release yet. And Lair, doesn't look like a MUST HAVE so please don't talk about the "super September line up."

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Apr 27th 2007 4:34PM

I have to agree. This game is going to have a tough time beating out Geometry Wars, on either straight out awesomeness, or on bang for buck. Perhaps that's why it says "just about everything" on XBLA and not "everything" on XBLA.

If it is as good as these reviews are saying, I'll be glad to have it. There's always room in my house for another great game.

#2: You realize it was IGN saying this, not Sony, right? Your "screw your game" comment doesn't make sense.

samfish @ Apr 27th 2007 4:49PM

"Are people getting there 360s from a magic fountain for free? When did $600 become official, "THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS" price."

That would be at E3 last year.
"$599 US Dollars!"
(*audience audibly gasps*)

"If you spent $550 on a 360, an extra controller and a game, how can you complain about another $200. I can see if you bought a Wii then $750 is steep. But if you bought a 360 then you can afford a PS3. Please stop whining about the price."

Whatever you say, Mr. Moneybags...
It must be nice to have over $1000 dollars in disposable income at any given moment.

Oh, wait – the PS3 is only $600 dollars, you say? Shit, I've got that on me!

And what does he mean that it's gone gold already? Isn't that a sales point? Are people pre-ordering this game or something? Or am I missing something?

Zsavior @ Apr 27th 2007 5:00PM

Anytime I see people talking about picking up something like a 600 Dollar console for a mini game on their online network; I smile at the massive media hypocrites.

If a game like this came out for the WII or even the Xbox 360 and was used as an excuse to buy the systems or a reason why the system is up and coming there would be an awesome BACKLASH! The wii is a "Gimmick" the xbox 360 doesn't really have the "goods". Yet David (GOd of war) Jaffe spends his precious gods gift to gaming hours making a simple mini game that would usually be called kiddie on any other system, and it is a GEM TO BE HAD.
I just love the media spin in gaming, always refreshing to know you can't trust anybody but yourself. Now I am not saying Calling ALL cars is not a good game it can be great. But is it really deserving of all the attention it is getting as if it is some sort of PS3 savior?

Rich @ Apr 27th 2007 5:05PM

Interesting how IGN made that bold claim yet Castlevania, Alien Hominid and Assault Heroes all outscored Calling All Cars on IGN.

wackychan @ Apr 27th 2007 5:15PM

@zsavior

"But is it really deserving of all the attention it is getting as if it is some sort of PS3 savior?"

Well if you look at what the ps3 has currently, it probly does deserve some attention considering there isn't much out right now besides oblivion and resistance:fall of sony

losttoys @ Apr 27th 2007 5:15PM

Zsavior -

It's about appreciating a good game no matter what the platform is. A lot of people were giving MS shit because Geometry Wars was the best game on the console for a while. We are seeing the same effect with this title and the PSN. People want a game they can look at and go "this was all worth it).

Rich -

Different reviewers. Each reviewer has their own opinion on what is fun/good/bad so forth. If this same reviewer did the other scores, maybe they would be much lower?

Also, this game gets knocked down on scores for things like graphics, which lowers the final score.

Josh @ Apr 27th 2007 5:30PM

Cee wrote:
"Are people getting there 360s from a magic fountain for free?"

Not for free, but I did get my 360 Premium for $200. A lot closer to free than $600 is. ;)

ill trooper @ Apr 27th 2007 6:18PM

"16. Anytime I see people talking about picking up something like a 600 Dollar console for a mini game on their online network.... - Zsavior"

My eyes glazed over when you brought up that tired line about someone "buying a $600 console for one game..."

Zsavior, I look over the comments, the article, and Joystiq's post and I see no one saying that anyway. So where are you seeing 'people talking about picking up something like a 600 Dollar console for a mini game' here?

That's not what people do. People buy a console with hopes that more and more fun games will come out. And that seems to be the direction this is going.

dontlikeitmodit @ Apr 27th 2007 6:23PM

Going gold 'means' its out of the developer's hands and into the publishers. Any delays from this point on aren't directly the developers fault. Thats all that going gold means.

As far as CAC, and I don't mean cac like in cacsuggers. I look forward to a game I can play with 2-4 friends on the same screen. Multi-player same system games have taken a beating in the recent years. I want more of them. If I want to game online I'll fire up some CS:S, Q4, or Q3. I want games I can play with groups of friends on my PS3, something that is just about the fun.

Alex @ Apr 27th 2007 6:38PM

The game seems fun thanks to its artwork, who's the lead artist behind it? Jaffe himself?

NeverSage @ Apr 27th 2007 7:26PM

"Are people getting there 360s from a magic fountain for free? When did $600 become official, "THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS" price. A 360 cost about $550 out the door, and a PS3 around $750. If you spent $550 on a 360, an extra controller and a game, how can you complain about another $200."

I'm sick of people denying that the extra $200 for a PS3 is not a lot of money. And the "if you spent $550 on a 360, an extra controller and a game, how can you complain about another $200" argument is a poor one. You have to buy all those things for the PS3 as well. What you should be saying is "with the money I saved buying a 360 I could afford an extra controller, a game, and still had money left over!" The PS3 is expensive. The 360 is expensive too, but less so. Deal with it. If you want to defend Sony, promote their good qualities. Stop bringing up these old, tired arguments. I'm fucking sick of them.

rfom @ Apr 27th 2007 8:25PM

Well put..if you want to save money buy and 200 dollars is too much - then dump the 360, go buy the wii and save another 200 dollars!

If you buy JUST ONE of these for 360:
a hard drive
Or HD
drive
Or multiplayer for 4 years
Or wifi
The 200 dollar advantage
between 360 and PS3 VANISHES

Or put it another way - its like your
buddy MS offering you a USD200 bundle with the 360 with:
- 4 year subsciption to Live Gold
- HD player
- wifi
- 60GB hard disc
- subscription to second Life (equivalent to Home)
- guaranteed no-defect unit
- free emulator to play 2000 PS1 and PS2 games

Well thats the PS3 deal 200 dollars for what MS would charge 800 - and as I said, if 200 dollars is too much money for you for all those goodies, buy the wii!!!

konajinx @ Apr 27th 2007 9:21PM

Who cares about the price difference? The PS3 is a waste of cash, no matter how much. $600 to play old games, Boringstorm, and Calling all Cars. Yeah!

orAngeMicro @ Apr 27th 2007 10:47PM

rfom ur comment is confusing me r u trying to sell the ps3 or the 360? it doesnt make any sense

AssemblyLineHuman @ Apr 27th 2007 11:50PM

rfom: Most people who buy an Xbox 360 don't want an HD player, Wi-Fi, a 60GB hard disc, a "subscription to second Life" (it's free, BTW), or a "free emulator to play 2000 PS1 and PS2 games" (they probably have a PS2 anyway).

Yes, the PS3 is a better value than the Xbox 360 if you are looking for everything it offers. Most people aren't. What it really boils down to is the games. For me, LittleBigPlanet and Home look interesting enough to warrant a PS3 purchase, and the Xbox 360 doesn't have anything that interests me that I can't get for the PC. Other people feel differently. Fantastic, isn't it?

NeverSage @ Apr 28th 2007 1:36AM

"If you buy JUST ONE of these for 360:
a hard drive
Or HD
drive
Or multiplayer for 4 years
Or wifi
The 200 dollar advantage
between 360 and PS3 VANISHES"

The argument "if you buy more shit for the 360, there's no price difference" is... quite poor. All I want to do is play games. I'll use the $200 for that.

Zsavior @ Apr 28th 2007 12:55PM

"That's not what people do. People buy a console with hopes that more and more fun games will come out. And that seems to be the direction this is going"

ILL trooper.

In trying to discredit my comment you proved my point. People buy a console with the hope fun will come from it. And calling all cars is the hopeful direction PS3 is going in? Your going to sit there and tell me nobody is trying to use this game as PS3 redeemer after that comment? Since article after article went after Geometry wars when if first came out, and games like this are called Kiddie fun on the Wii, and not made for a sophisticated crowd, but when it gets to the PS3 it is a "GOOD DIRECTION" for the system.

Your are right the article doesn't say pick one up, but it sure doesn't tear it apart like past articles for past systems. And enough with the crap about it is lame to point out a systems weakness. What is lame is bring out a system, built on superior graphics, speed and technology, watching that crap go out the window and then watching media outlets embrace it with out any hesitation.

I commented how this game might be great, but seems you didn't want to focus on that. So now I will comment on people who picked up a PS3 shouldn't be waiting for a game like Calling all Cars to bolster their system. If you put "talent" like David Jaffe on a Game which had delays for a system like the PS3 it better be damn good. Not a turn in the right direction, I really don't think somebody who dropped 600 dollars on a PS3 wants to hear that they are JUST NOW turning in the right direction, and this is their SHINNING hope for things to come. Yeah that says value right there, that has value written all over it.

KongRudi @ Apr 29th 2007 4:40AM

Zsaviour;

Ill Trooper didn't try to discredit your statements, he were simply pointing out that nobody said the things that you claimed to see people talking about.

I payed more than 600$ for PS3, and I don't mind that people think PS3 just turned things in the right direction. :-/
I didn't buy it for the PSN-games offcourse, but each of them is a reat addition to the game-library.
But I'm very satisfied with the quality games wich have been put on that service for that value.

Tekken: DR forinstance is awesome, best Tekken I've ever played, and best of all 0 loadtimes. :)
I'd categorize that as _THE_ must-have title on PSN, it's better than basically all of the full-price fighting games on all systems to date, with the exception of the latest Virtua Figther on 360/PS3 perhaps, so the 8$ is definately worth it. :)

Super-Rub-a-duck got slaugthered by IGN (3,5), but I've played it close to 5-6 hours and liked it alot, my friend wich played it first at my place, and then went to his home and bought it have played it close to 30 hours, I assume that means he liked it..
(He got into top 5 in one pond)..

My older brother bought it too, but hes not played it much, but he bought it after trying the full version at my place. :-/
So out of the two other people I know with PS3 (including me), 2 have decided it were good enough to buy after trying the full version..
- Both my brother and my friend are very casual gamers btw.. :-/
- Lemmings are Lemmings... :)

Sure nobody buys PS3, just to play PSN-games, but it's a nice addition to the full product..
Nobody buys a car-stereo just to sit in the car to listen to music, but ut's a nice addition to the full product..

So if Calling all Cars turns out to be a great game it's just pure greatness, even tough we have payed 600$ for the console.