Haze coming 2007 for PS3, may only be timed exclusive
by Ross Miller 
{ May 23rd 2007 at 3:26PM }
The sci-fi first-person shooter was initially announced for PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC. According to a Q&A with developer Free Radical's director Steve Ellis, Haze is being made with all platforms in mind, Pro-G reports. "The challenge for us has been in designing a solution that will work well across the platforms," he said.
Ubisoft is calling PS3 the "lead platform" for the shooter. All signs point to a timed exclusive; don't be surprised if PC and Xbox 360 owners are "hazing out" in 2008.
[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Triforceowner @ May 23rd 2007 3:31PM
I would have expected the PC to take the timed-exclusive because a) it is easier to program for than either of the consoles and b) it is the system for FPS's. This works out well for me, though, because I will have Halo 3 and BioShock for 2007. Sony fans should be happy it was their console that got this, because 2007 is giving much in terms of FPS's on the PS3 and 360 and PC already have theirs lined up, so this is really the "fair" way to do it.
Nicholas @ May 23rd 2007 3:37PM
It makes a lot of sense since its a lot harder to port to the PS3 than the other way around (even though the PS3 is a hell of a bitch to program for). And having the game on a system that has next to nothing to play with, compare to the 360 which is gonna have the busiest fall ever, makes a lot of sense too. So you make money on the PS3, wait a bit and then make money on the other two. Plus you can concentrate on the PS3 and put the other two on hold for the moment.
Rob Accomando @ May 23rd 2007 3:40PM
Yay, an fps! Been a while since I played one of those.
Moe @ May 23rd 2007 3:41PM
This sounds like a exclusive based on Peter Moore's theory of exclusivity: "Having it first".
John @ May 23rd 2007 3:43PM
How did "Haze is leading on the PS3, but no exclusivity for any platform has been officially announced." end up being a confirmation of a timed exclusive? Jeez guys!
Phranctoast @ May 23rd 2007 3:42PM
The "Nectar" brings something different. Timeshift looks like the next fps I will be getting this year. The latest in game trailer with the rain slowing up rocked.
sheppy @ May 23rd 2007 3:42PM
I'm just happy it's a new Free Radical game...
Taylor B @ May 23rd 2007 3:43PM
No matter how it goes, it will play out well for Sony. A timed exclusive starting Fall, will play out very well during the Christmas period. I feel like Sony is building their hand, and getting ready to play their cards for the holiday season. Plus, it's nice to know that the game was developed for the PS3, and the developer's kind words for the system bode well for the PS3.
JodyAnthony @ May 23rd 2007 3:46PM
rental for me. FPS games are ok, but 99% of them are not worth full price IMO.
BPM @ May 23rd 2007 3:48PM
What's this? An FPS on PS3? But I thought Sony fans hated FPSes, and only Xbox players liked them?
zwarrior @ May 23rd 2007 3:52PM
How much was paid for that time exclusive? And will this be PS3's answer to 360's Halo 3 and Wii's SSBB?
Trio @ May 23rd 2007 3:54PM
!Yeahhh a shooter for us Wooopiieeeee..............
aegies @ May 23rd 2007 3:57PM
This is smart. Releasing a first person shooter anywhere within the vicinity of Halo 3 on the 360 is tantamount to suicide. On the other hand, shooter-envy for PS3 owners could lead to them picking up Haze so they don't have to listen to 360 owners harp about their exclusive. There's no competition in the genre on the PS3 during that time period either, so Ubisoft has a more or less assured audience.
http://eat-sleep-game.com
Justin U @ May 23rd 2007 3:58PM
Well, I'm guessing that they aren't releasing it for the 360 because of, well, Halo, and the all-star cast we have coming up for the fall/winter months. PC has this too, probably, I just don't follow the PC much.
Either way, it can only end well in the video game sections at our favorite stores.
sheppy @ May 23rd 2007 3:58PM
This is by the same people who did Timesplitters and Second Life (one of the few games to get Telekinesis right). So while, to you, it's "Just another shooter," to me it's a blessing from the house of Cortez.
Beck @ May 23rd 2007 3:58PM
I think this is a good idea. I'm not sure if Sony dished out some cash for this, It may be Ubisoft's decision. Like Nick and Triforce said, the 360 has a hell of a lot of FPS' coming out and lots of other games this Fall, so people's wallets will be limited. So if they were to release the 360 and or PC game in early 2008 when there isn't that many games, nor FPS' and when people's wallets begin to fatten up, they're looking at more $$.
Not to say the PS3 has lots of games coming out this Fall, but barely any FPS' to compete against Haze
sirpilf @ May 23rd 2007 4:04PM
more and more supposedly 360 only games are goin to PS3 (like kane and lynch) and now a game that was suppose to be ps3 and 360 is only announced for PS3 for now. im suprised all the fanboys are goin nuts because every single time this happens the other way around to 360, xbox fans are saying SONY IS DOOMED.
DancingJesus @ May 23rd 2007 4:04PM
Did you guys even read the gamespot article. All it is, is speculation from a ps3 hopefull at gamespot. He's printing out this text that it is a Ps3 exclusive when its purely speculation he even admits to it in the text
"In fact, the fact sheet provided by Ubisoft no longer lists the PC or Xbox 360 versions of the game, prompting some speculation that it may become PS3-exclusive. The UK Haze site for the game also only bears the PS3 logo, although the American Haze site still sports the Xbox 360 and PC-DVD logos at its bottom."
This guy is just making up crap and secondly comparing it to halo 3? Some desperate ps3 fanboy wishing it to be true...
Victus @ May 23rd 2007 4:06PM
http://www.gameswank.com/content/view/108/2/
It will be multiplatform.
JodyAnthony @ May 23rd 2007 4:07PM
"This is by the same people who did Timesplitters"
maybe I will buy it then. Timesplitters is in the 1% of fps games that I think ARE worth paying full price for.
zwarrior @ May 23rd 2007 4:11PM
What's with the trend of making PS3-X360 multiplatform games but the Wii gets sided with PS2 and GC?
And for the console that's suppose to be groundbreaking for FPSs, why is Metroid the only promising FPS-Adventure announced exclusively for it?
rfom @ May 23rd 2007 4:16PM
Well makes sense because the 360, despite its 1 year lead, is losing out to the PS3 in terms of exclusives in 2007 (despite all the hype about its Fall 07 games - unless you are one of the Halobots for whom only Halo 3 matters)
and it gets worse in 2008 - the 360 gets battered. 360 needs to show some games (even delayed exclusives) in 2008 or really beg for MGS4 / FF13.
2007:
PS3 10-12 good exclusives - Motorstorm, Lair, Heavenly, Ratchet, Warhawk, Haze, Folksoul, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Uncharted, Singstar (GodofWar 2 as well)
360: 7-8 good exclusives - Crackdown, Forza 2, PGR3, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Too Human, Blue Dragon (Bioshock is as much of an exclusive for 360 as Half Life 2 was on xbox 1)
2008:
PS3 - About 15 good exlusives MGS4, FF13, Killzone 2, Getaway PS3, GT5, Little Big Planet, Socom, Jak and D, White knight, Monster Hunter 3, maybe 2 Cellius games, Wipeout 6, R:FOM 2, Afrika / 8 days (if these are not vaporware)
360: Just 5-6 exclusives Banjo Kajooie, Splinter Cell 5, Fable 2, the next Mistwalker RPG, and maybe 1-2 more I missed
perfectchaos @ May 23rd 2007 4:48PM
why release it this year on xbox 360 when everyone will more than likely be playing halo? put it out on ps3 first, take in all the criticism, and release a superior xbox 360 and pc version next year. that's what i'd do.
BPM @ May 23rd 2007 4:24PM
@Sheppy:
FreeRadical worked with Linden Labs on Second Life? I think you meant Second SIGHT. :P
(But, they sound alike, and SL is in the news a lot, so it's understandable you mixed the two)
sheppy @ May 23rd 2007 4:24PM
rfom, this coming from a Sony fan... shut up.
Yes, PS3 is starting to show up with some good games but no, this holiday season isn't theirs.
perfectchaos @ May 23rd 2007 4:48PM
@rfom
you're assuming that a) those games will be good and b) they'll come out when you think they will and c)from what i know not all of those games have been announced either. if anything the ps3 is losing out in exclusives considering just about most of the third party exclusives it had are going to be on the 360...at this rate we'll probably see mgs4 on both platforms.
VampireHunter Z @ May 23rd 2007 4:35PM
Hello! We are talking about Ubisoft here. They always support Xbox this game is no exception.
John @ May 23rd 2007 4:44PM
Reeks of Assassin's Creed, why would Ubisoft make an FPS a timed exclusive on a thrid-place console? It's not like MS couldn't put up a larger moneyhat than Sony.
serotoninzero @ May 23rd 2007 5:24PM
Makes sense. At this point, with a little advertising, Haze will sell like crazy on the PS3 because well.. it'll be one of the only good games out. 2nd half of 2007 is too full of other games anyway for me to have enough time to give it a shot on my 360. *nods*
konajinx @ May 23rd 2007 4:51PM
Love all the PS3 fans saying this is good news, when they usually bash Ubisoft, claim they never make any good games, and that the 360 can have whatever they make.
Dale @ May 23rd 2007 4:51PM
Couldn't care either way, really... but it's interesting to see something swing in the PS3's direction after all the former exclusives were announced for Xbox 360.
AoE @ May 23rd 2007 5:03PM
I've gotta agree with Sheppy... the fact that it's Free Radical developing means that likelier than not, it will be an EXCELLENT game. Hell I'll be honest, I don't have a PS3 just the other two, and for the first time I'm a little jealous (not too much of course, since it sounds like I'll be enjoying it on the 360 soon enough anyway).
@konajinx, in fairness to the UBI-bashing SDF, they're just publishing and Free Radical, who has had games published by Codemasters, EA, and Eidos is developing it...
Triforceowner @ May 23rd 2007 5:07PM
*hugs sheppy for 26*
OK, sorry, got that out of my system.
Anyway, zwarrior was wondering why Metroid was the only FPS coming to the Wii in the next year, and the reason is simple: Nintendo has to show developers how to do it. With the DS, Nintendo showed developers how to create good, non-hard core videogames, and they will do the same for the Wii.
Digi Smalls @ May 23rd 2007 5:32PM
Haze/Halo the two definitely would conflict on the shelves. but thats a good problem to have, having too many games.
should be an awesome game by an awesome studio. more enticing to me than Halo personally, but think i'd still wait for the 360 version with rumble and Live..
.
WillTheSecond @ May 23rd 2007 6:10PM
@34 Rumble and Live will definitely make it better. I'm willing to bet this is a timed exclusive, Free Radical's only other exclusive was the first Timesplitters (or did that go multiplatform?).
I seriously doubt it will be a permanent PS3 exclusive.
royce @ May 23rd 2007 6:17PM
Every multi-platform game has a "lead platform". Unless there is any information other than that this is not a conformation of anything at all.
Jon @ May 23rd 2007 7:41PM
How about parallelism? Does the engine support multiple processors?
[SE] Yes, it has to. The architectures of PS3, X360 and high-end PC’s are fairly different, but they all have one thing in common – parallel processing. The challenge for us has been in designing a solution that will work well across the platforms.
http://www.gameswank.com/content/view/108/2/
Jake @ May 23rd 2007 8:25PM
It makes sense. The PC and 360 are getting plenty of shooters in that time slot. The PS3 is not. This game will really stand out on PS3, then perhaps sell a few bonus copies after the holidays on 360 and PC when there isn't so much stuff coming out.
It could wind up being a PS3 exclusive, too. But, I'd think they would know that by now.
Either way, the right people are making it. Could be a sweet game.
Geo @ May 25th 2007 8:44AM
OH this is nice you ask me way:
Xbox 360:Halo 3
PC:Crysis
PS3:Haze
good games for each platform.........