No, no, no. We're not talking about the god awful Jerry Zucker film, so stop thinking about Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg right now. The Rat Race we're talking about involves Super-Ego Studios, PlayStation Network, and episodic content. Just announced over at the PlayStation.Blog by Greg Easley, co-founder of Super-Ego Studios, the game "is a PS3-exclusive comedy/adventure game ... that will be available as individual episodes on PSN beginning this winter."
According to the post, the premise reads as if someone thought turning an amalgamation of The Office (British, American, French, or German – take your pick), Dilbert, Office Space, and [insert name of satirical parody of cubical chicanery here] would make for a knee slappin' gaming experience. Easley doesn't deny this, almost confirming its spoofing on the aforementioned works by stating the goal with Rat Race "is to give you the feeling of 'playing' inside an episode of your favorite TV show."
While this definitely diversifies Sony's content, trying to launch comedic gaming via an episodic format in a country where Two and a Half Men is what passes for television's highest rated "comedy" seems rather ... misguided. However, the video on Super-Ego's main page clues us into what the appeal will be: LCD (lowest common denominator). Breast reduction! An extramarital affair with a co-worker's wife! Please, no more, our sides are done "banana'd split."
Reader Comments (46)
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:02AM Fernando Rocker said
Rat Race? What the fuck...?
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:04AM (Unverified) said
rat race was funny
this game just sounds so-so though
this game just sounds so-so though
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:21AM (Unverified) said
I LIKED the movie Rat Race.
It was all worth it for the scene where the car is falling down the valley and the signs
YOU
SHOULD
HAVE
BOUGHT
A
SQUIRREL!
Followed by the plunge into a pile of previous non-squirrel buyers.
Also the gambling British guys were funny.
Also the whole Nazi convention thing was funny.
Okay most of the movie was pretty funny.
Reply
It was all worth it for the scene where the car is falling down the valley and the signs
YOU
SHOULD
HAVE
BOUGHT
A
SQUIRREL!
Followed by the plunge into a pile of previous non-squirrel buyers.
Also the gambling British guys were funny.
Also the whole Nazi convention thing was funny.
Okay most of the movie was pretty funny.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:08AM (Unverified) said
Sounds wonderful! Sign me up! IS the PS3 really this bad?
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:23AM Ludwig Kietzmann said
Funny, I distinctly recall giving you and some others a warning about trolling, Fernando... Bye for now.
Reply
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:45AM (Unverified) said
Im suprised Fernando lasted this long after the warning. Congrats for delaying the inevitable Fernando...(+)
I liked rat race the movie. It had its good/funny parts.
Reply
I liked rat race the movie. It had its good/funny parts.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:49AM (Unverified) said
Seriously, that wasn't trolling..
The guy asked a sarcastic, rhetorical question; Fernando gave a sarcastic, humorous answer.
Isn't that kind of what we DO here on Joystiq?
Trolling implies a comment completely unrelated to the conversation being thrown in just to bash another system or pump the one you're into.. that's not what he did at all.
Reply
The guy asked a sarcastic, rhetorical question; Fernando gave a sarcastic, humorous answer.
Isn't that kind of what we DO here on Joystiq?
Trolling implies a comment completely unrelated to the conversation being thrown in just to bash another system or pump the one you're into.. that's not what he did at all.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:54AM (Unverified) said
It was trolling. Just not as bad as he usually is.
Reply
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:02AM (Unverified) said
I am extremely pleased how much the Joystiq crew has stepped up in enforcing the rules. It's pleasant be able to peruse the comments and not run smack into, say, a certain levitating wad of pasta.
Reply
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:09AM Shmil said
it's a mad mad mad mad mad world out there
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:20AM (Unverified) said
Yet another "hardcore" game...
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:23AM Hydralisk456 said
Another winner for the PS3!!
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:33AM (Unverified) said
I think her slacks should be to her knees for that copier to be "effective", don't you agree?
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:42AM (Unverified) said
Amy Smart was in Rat Race...
So thats an instant hit with me!
So thats an instant hit with me!
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 10:48AM (Unverified) said
flying over her boyfriends house in a helicopter and catching him cheating. funny shit.
Reply
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:04AM (Unverified) said
wtf, there are people who DIDN'T like Rat Race?
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:01PM (Unverified) said
that's what i thought when i read the post. seems like there are tons tho from the comments...
Reply
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:05AM (Unverified) said
"this definitely diversifies Sony's content.... PS3-exclusive comedy/adventure game"
This sounds so lame, Does anyone in Sony's game division understand video games anymore? How does something that might fit a theme for a television show translate into a fun video game. That's like trying to translate contents of a video game into a movie script. (think super mario brothers, double dragon, doom, resident evil, blood rayne, etc. etc.) What works for one medium doesn't mean it fits something interactive. I would be very interested to see how one pulls this off. But then you have games like leisure suit larry that do really well. (sarcasm)
This sounds so lame, Does anyone in Sony's game division understand video games anymore? How does something that might fit a theme for a television show translate into a fun video game. That's like trying to translate contents of a video game into a movie script. (think super mario brothers, double dragon, doom, resident evil, blood rayne, etc. etc.) What works for one medium doesn't mean it fits something interactive. I would be very interested to see how one pulls this off. But then you have games like leisure suit larry that do really well. (sarcasm)
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:17AM (Unverified) said
your right. Diversity sucks. All games should be the same. Expecially games like Echocrome which mix MCE like work into gaming. please give us more fps's Sony! (/Sarcasm)
Reply
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:20AM (Unverified) said
Oh please, if this was for the Wii you'd be cheering the return of Sam and Max style adventure games and you'd be spooning out the praise for a company that's finally doing something different...
But because it's for a Sony platform, it merely signals that the entire company is out of touch with video games...
I'm getting so fucking sick of the hypocrisy.
Reply
But because it's for a Sony platform, it merely signals that the entire company is out of touch with video games...
I'm getting so fucking sick of the hypocrisy.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:43AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
@deviation
ummm no.
1. Even if it was on Nintendo I'd still bash it. It just reeks of trashy mature humor and sex jokes(kinda like every sitcom on t.v. these days). And it has nothing to do with it being on a sony console. If sony actually tried to make a great and involving story like Sam & Max, I'd be interested.
Reply
ummm no.
1. Even if it was on Nintendo I'd still bash it. It just reeks of trashy mature humor and sex jokes(kinda like every sitcom on t.v. these days). And it has nothing to do with it being on a sony console. If sony actually tried to make a great and involving story like Sam & Max, I'd be interested.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:55AM (Unverified) said
Phranctoast
Yep, that's what I said. Diversity is a bad thing?!? I suppose you would like to play games like Little Timmy Goes to Kindergarden or How to cook with Ronald McDonald. I was simply curious to see how a comedy at an office translates to a FUN experience in a video game. Hmmm, I'd rather play a game in an office setting than a platformer, rpg, racing, sports, or shooter title. Yeah. And don't be stupid. 360 has hundreds of titles. Nice overused shooter comment. Never heard that before. Next!!!
Reply
Yep, that's what I said. Diversity is a bad thing?!? I suppose you would like to play games like Little Timmy Goes to Kindergarden or How to cook with Ronald McDonald. I was simply curious to see how a comedy at an office translates to a FUN experience in a video game. Hmmm, I'd rather play a game in an office setting than a platformer, rpg, racing, sports, or shooter title. Yeah. And don't be stupid. 360 has hundreds of titles. Nice overused shooter comment. Never heard that before. Next!!!
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:13AM proxifuel said
I thought it was pretty hilarious tbh
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:13AM proxifuel said
I thought it was pretty hilarious tbh
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:17AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
Since Sony is "totally" hardcore, expect "mature" jokes(sex jokes and pee jokes) and expect a moving and deep story (main character trying to fuck female coworker).
sigh, makes me glad that the 360 is getting Sam & Max.
sigh, makes me glad that the 360 is getting Sam & Max.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:17AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
OH and yes Rat Race(the movie) was fucking awesome.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 11:34AM spin cycle said
If you thought the movie Rat Race was awful, you don't know what good is.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 3:51PM spin cycle said
It's not a remake of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". It is rather similar though.
Both are good movies, with "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" being better (especially the ending).
Bollywood just did a more closer copy of "MMMMW", called Dhamaal. It even has the treasure under a big "W".
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0845448/
Reply
Both are good movies, with "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" being better (especially the ending).
Bollywood just did a more closer copy of "MMMMW", called Dhamaal. It even has the treasure under a big "W".
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0845448/
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 12:03PM (Unverified) said
Deviation
What are you babbling about? Who's talking about a Wii and when did I even say I liked games on the Wii? Hypocrisy?!? Great comeback. Your "holier than thou" Sony is the poster child for great decisions of late. Sorry if I offended your heroes in questioning their decision making. But hey, if making coffee and talking around a fax machine is your idea of a good time, have fun.
What are you babbling about? Who's talking about a Wii and when did I even say I liked games on the Wii? Hypocrisy?!? Great comeback. Your "holier than thou" Sony is the poster child for great decisions of late. Sorry if I offended your heroes in questioning their decision making. But hey, if making coffee and talking around a fax machine is your idea of a good time, have fun.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 12:41PM SheppyReturns said
The make or break of this game will be 100% in the writing. Period. Adventure games are like that. If the writing rocks, it's good times. If the writing sucks, it's bad times. Since you have not played this game nor even seen a script, you're basing your entire arguement against this game on something you couldn't possible know.
Yes, it will have trashy jokes but so do Kevin Smith films and I laugh my ass off everytime. And episodic content means instead of making this a HUGE game for $60 on something you may or may not like, it's gonna be cheap for an episode. Damn near the cost of a DLC rental in HD off Xbox's Live marketplace. If it sucks, you're out practically zilch. If it's good, future episodes will be cheap. Regardless, it's hard to complain at episodic content.
And frankly, I didn't think Sam & Max could make a comeback. But I threw down the money for Ep1 and enjoyed it.
I don't consider this a sign of Sony being out of touch with what gamers want but rather trying to bring MORE gamers into the fold and delivering on a niche that remains in life support.
Reply
Yes, it will have trashy jokes but so do Kevin Smith films and I laugh my ass off everytime. And episodic content means instead of making this a HUGE game for $60 on something you may or may not like, it's gonna be cheap for an episode. Damn near the cost of a DLC rental in HD off Xbox's Live marketplace. If it sucks, you're out practically zilch. If it's good, future episodes will be cheap. Regardless, it's hard to complain at episodic content.
And frankly, I didn't think Sam & Max could make a comeback. But I threw down the money for Ep1 and enjoyed it.
I don't consider this a sign of Sony being out of touch with what gamers want but rather trying to bring MORE gamers into the fold and delivering on a niche that remains in life support.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 1:47PM (Unverified) said
FidliousWong
You have not played the game either, so your arguement would seem just as irrelvent as mine.
Reply
You have not played the game either, so your arguement would seem just as irrelvent as mine.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 12:25PM (Unverified) said
She's doing it wrong.
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 1:08PM (Unverified) said
I think she is copying a picture of her Volvo...oh wait, THAT'S not a VolvOOOO!
Posted: Oct 17th 2007 4:27PM mietha said
Bite my ass, Rat Race ruled, even though the best scenes, those with DDP and Cuba, were cut from the final film.
Posted: Oct 18th 2007 1:28PM bspence11 said
The game has only been announced, there's just a few screenshots shown, and now we see that Joystiq is already bashing its humor content. Damn, nothing good on the PS3 gets respect here. There are some brilliant writers signed on to this thing, and yet you've already declared it lame with your "banana'd split" comment. Way to go.
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