Haze on track for December release

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 13th 2007 at 5:25PM }

Free Radical's first-person romp through cutting-edge war, crippling drug addiction and nebulous PlayStation 3 exclusivity agreements is on track for a December arrival, reports Gamasutra. Publisher Ubisoft has confirmed a European release for December 14th, noting that America can expect to receive Haze within the same merry month (online retailers currently list it for December 4th).

Haze looks to be the last major FPS of the year, and had best hope its vaunted script and gameplay guarantees a spot at the illustrious table already seating BioShock, Call of Duty 4, Metroid Prime 3, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Halo 3 and ~~TimeShift~~ Crysis.

Gallery: Haze

Tags: FPS, Free-Radical, FreeRadical, Haze, Ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

FidliousWong @ Nov 13th 2007 5:35PM

I read an article on gamasutra a short time back where the lead writer for this game was talking about how they want to humanize the enemies you face and make the kills more of a hard moral judgement rather than just pressing on to the next level. Considering the scene with the wife in Second Sight, I have high hopes. Regardless, it's another Free Radical game so it's already a sure bet.

Brello @ Nov 13th 2007 9:40PM

Yeah, Free Radical is the reason I would like to give this game a shot. Granted, I care more about TimeSplitters 4 (see avatar), but at any rate, I don't have a PS3! Although that's a problem I can easily fix.

Ford Tang @ Nov 13th 2007 5:41PM

Am I the only one that feels like this game looks completely boring? Even the name is boring.

Marty @ Nov 13th 2007 5:48PM

No, you're not the only one.

jomi294 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:49PM

Probably.

Marc Federico @ Nov 13th 2007 10:54PM

yea i saw videos of this game and it looks really gimmicky and lame. its definitely not the "last major fps of the year". ut3 is, and this game is garbage.

lawlersauce @ Nov 13th 2007 11:00PM

"ut3 is, and this game is garbage because I can't buy them on the 360, otherwise I'd be raving about how great these games are gonna be! Oh yeah, and I

lawlersauce @ Nov 13th 2007 11:01PM

[continued due to lame joystiq]

Trev @ Nov 13th 2007 5:42PM

I like what I've heard of the plot, I like the graphics, I like drug gimmick, but I really need a demo of this.

It looks good, but the base mechanic will make or break a FPS.

gonk @ Nov 13th 2007 5:43PM

did they finally get paid enough to make it a ps3 exclusive, or is it still just timed?

FidliousWong @ Nov 13th 2007 5:48PM

Free Radical prefers the PS3. They haven't ruled out a port yet but they are one of the many developers that like the unique aspects of PS3. Of course, all this relates to "they were paid off" in your diseased skull so nothing I just said matters one iota. But there it is.

XanthouS @ Nov 13th 2007 5:48PM

You act as though M$ doesn't shovel out the dought for exclusive content.

Forget about the $50 million they dumped in Rockstar's lap for exclusive rights to DLC expansion content (even though a large number of the 360's install base won't even be able to play the DLC)?

Ed @ Nov 13th 2007 5:51PM

Sony isn't bribing game companies, thats MS's filthy little game. As for exclusive, I don't know, one week I read droppings that it is a Sony game only, the next week I read hints that its Multiplat. Either way I don't think Haze will be the kind of game to blow the doors off anything.

FidliousWong @ Nov 13th 2007 6:00PM

Actually, Sony pays for exclusives as well. Except their normal tactic is financing the project for exclusive publishing rights. If the project goes well enough, they sometimes buy those companies. Also, Sony does things like pay for advertising and distribution on some games just to keep exclusives. Sony does it in a way that they can say "We are not paying for an exclusive" or "This is our game."

Ed @ Nov 13th 2007 6:09PM

@FidliousWong
Hmm, that explaines why I've already seen over a couple dozen adds for Assasins Creed?PS3 add, yet nothing on AC on 360. However AC is still Multipat. I'm not sure how well this stratagy is working for Sony LOL.

gonk @ Nov 13th 2007 6:17PM

i've seen a couple of 360 AC ads, but no 360 simpsons game ads. it's weird

but yeah, the makers of haze have to be gettin some love from sony to not make their game multiplat, considering how well the 360 does in the US, which is also the land of fps's

Ed @ Nov 13th 2007 6:31PM

@gonk
I just know I hate this payoff game, on either side. A game publersher, in my oppinion, should make the best possible game for any given system, not because someone dropped a few million in their lap. True we're the land of FPS, but its more of a phase right now. Before FPS were RPG's, and before that were fighting games( I'm sure you can think of several more). FPS just like the phases before it will get overflooded with too many games that are clones of one another, and too many games that are just bad. The FPS's that are good will stay the rest will die away. And we'll al be into a new phase

sheppy2.0 @ Nov 13th 2007 6:34PM

Ed, that strategy worked well for Sony because it was a cornerstone in their third party campaign when Playstation was first coming around. That and Sony had engineers who knew the system going around to third party studios and helping them learn the hardware. This is a policy that is still in place actually. Mainly it has several benefits.

1. Because it's Sony engineers (you know, the ones CRANKING that incredible shit on PS3), it becomes communal knowledge. Take, for example, the huge lecture Guerilla Games gave on how they use the SPU's to render an image in Killzone in realtime. That game looks better than a realtime image should and that's for a reason, it IS actually rendering layers of graphical effect to apply to the overall image. A "clean shot" of Killzone isn't honestly all that impressive. But I digress. basically, what Sony learns, Sony shares. Which is a HUGE difference, at the time, from Nintendo's strict policy of "fuck you, we're working on Yoshi's Island over here!" This helped third parties out tremendously and lead to the HUGE growth in the game industry.

2. Demos and Betas sell games, period. So if Sony foots the bill to publish and distribute the demos, see Jampacks, companies want in on that action. Likewise, Sony loves hyping Playstation as a platform and not just as a game. So doing as bunch of clips from different games was how Sony really started hyping games that were not their own. They also pay advertising on several games in exchange either to get timed exclusive or to to even get the game at all.

PS3 is just having a slow start but this tactic has worked well for Playstation in general quite well.

Ed @ Dec 10th 2007 8:25PM

Yout a hateful homophobic BIGGOT. All I hear from your mouth is one Filthy, Disgusting, Grotesque word after another. Everything you have said is in no means about gameplay or games. Its about your need to overpower and abuse the person you are talking to. If you do not cease with your degenrated attack on me I WILL REPORT YOU.

Jake @ Nov 13th 2007 10:49PM

Free Radical would practically have to be paid to keep their game off of the console that fps's sell best on. If it ends up being just a timed exclusive, then it could be Sony giving them some cash or just plain strategy.

I think that Epic has focused dev to get PS3 UT3 out the door before 360 so that they can build a name on that platform and also to wait for people to stop playing Halo 3 so much. Perhaps Free Radical has a strategy here.

Or maybe the PS3 just allows them to do things that the 360 won't. But from games that have come out I don't see any real evidence of a significant advantage for either system when it comes to game design.

XanthouS @ Nov 13th 2007 5:47PM

For the love of God.

Why do people try to compare Halo 3's "script" to those of the Half-Life series, or even a game like Bioshock?

Yes, Halo 3 is immensely popular. No, it's not because of the lame-ass story.

Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 13th 2007 5:51PM

Honestly, I'm not that impressed with HL's story either. It's rather convoluted. And it's not like the idea of opening a portal to bad things is a new concept (e.g. Doom).

Your Ad here 555-1923 @ Nov 13th 2007 6:14PM

Actually as Half-Life fan I find Halo story quite good, while Half-life has all these twist and turns Halo follows a simple but yet satisfactory story, I think people started to hate Halo story thanks to Halo 2 which ended in a forced cliffhanger but if you play though Halo 3 is actually a good story I also believe people complaining about Halo story are PC elitist which nothing impressed them unless is a Pc game or the smell of their own farts.

Also Half life story isn’t perfect, whatever happened to the guy of opposition force? Huh huh.

But now seriously about half life I would like to know if the story is going anywhere or if there is going to be a Half-life 3 for that matter I know Episode 3 is in the works but I don’t think is in episode 3 when we” finish the fight”.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 13th 2007 7:17PM

@your ad

Same here. I actually like the Halo story line, and am one of the view that actually enjoyed Halo 2's story line mostly because it didn't only focus on Master Chief.

Marty @ Nov 13th 2007 5:47PM

This game looks like a generic shooter... why would it be anything next to Half-Life 2 or BioShock?

FidliousWong @ Nov 13th 2007 5:52PM

Do you really want an answer?

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2003/spinning_the_moral_compass_.php

From what I've played of Half-Life 2, you're never faced with moral questions. Haven't done ep 1 or 2. Bioshocks moral question wasn't really one. The ethics system in that game was basically do you want to eat little girls or save them? Read that article to find out the differences.

Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 13th 2007 5:56PM

I hope this game turns out to be good it has 4-player co-op. I always enjoy a good co-op game.

Hyams @ Nov 13th 2007 6:35PM

As a PS3 fanboi, I'll have to give this a rent (assuming reviews are good). If it comes anywhere near to Timesplitters 2 or 3 I may buy it, although my hopes aren't really high.

Four player splitscreen sounds appealing though. Shame I can't afford to buy any more controllers. :(

Edge @ Nov 13th 2007 8:40PM

See, from a 360 fanboy to a PS3 fanboy, that sounds like a pretty rational approach to it. As long as they shake this "Halo Killer" image, then they will have a pretty good shot on their own merits.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 13th 2007 9:50PM

sadly that's not impossible. If your game is an fps and your character has a gun, it is automatically given the title of a potential Halo killer.

FOXHOUND @ Nov 14th 2007 8:25AM

I personally don't see a point to buying any extra PS3 controllers at current until the dual shock SIXAXIS makes its way to domestic shores.

As for HAZE... I'll probably rent it. I'm too attached to THE ORANGE BOX right now to care about any other FPS.

Jeff @ Nov 13th 2007 6:36PM

Honestly, this game looks-- and has always looked-- fantastic. I'll definitely be buying a ps3 in a couple years when they're even cheaper, and these awesome games just getting out are $15.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Nov 13th 2007 7:26PM

I think this is the first FPS to have a deep story that ties into deep gameplay. Really interesting, and it's definitely my must-but for this season.

Edge @ Nov 13th 2007 8:33PM

This game already failed. Why? It got labeled a "Halo Killer". I bet it would have been a good game, but they had to pick a fight with the 600-lb gorilla.

Seriously, if I ever get a PS3, I'll give it a shot. I hope, for Free Redical's sake, they put together a good game. Those guys are legendary after Goldeneye.

Brent @ Nov 13th 2007 8:55PM

I never understood why Halo was so revered by gamers. I've played 2 and 3, and I never really found it all that enjoyable. I much prefer Bioshock, Gears of War, Half-Life 2, and Resistance:FOM. I'm not trying to start a fight here...but what is the main draw? Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed playing them, but they just never felt as good as they were hyped to be. Haze, on the other hand, really looks interesting, and I'll definitely be picking it up.

Edge @ Nov 13th 2007 9:15PM

The appeal of Halo is hard to explain to someone who just doesn't get it. It was one of the first games to leverage the recharging health/shield to keep the action moving. You were superhuman, but you weren't invincible.

But if you just don't get Halo, I'm not going to fault you for it. I really didn't get Bioshock. Most people claim their opinion is the final word, and you didn't do that. So, thank you.

Brello @ Nov 13th 2007 9:55PM

@Brent
I wouldn't think too hard about it, because there's definitely no clear cut answer. Just a matter of taste, I would assume. I liked Halo back in the day because we could hook up and play over the LAN network at college. I myself preferred TimeSplittrs 2 (4 player Virus on the snow station+alcohol = fun). All comes down to personal preference. You have to admit though, vehicles were handled in a very fun way in Halo multiplayer.
That said, if Haze does rock I will probably have to pick up a PS3 to get in on it. Mostly because I love the games Free Radical develops.

Kazi @ Nov 13th 2007 10:20PM

Virus on Snow Station is moot since ANYTHING + booze = fun.

Fish @ Nov 13th 2007 8:53PM

No to incite a flamewar, but does anyone else find it ironic that it's a headline if a PS3 game actually makes any sort of a deadline? Are we to just add at least 6 months onto the release date of any game for this system? That would actually be easier, and save the Joystiq staff the trouble of typing up each incident.

Night Elve @ Nov 13th 2007 9:18PM

Anyway back to the post. Where is my dinner? I'm hungry!

lawlersauce @ Nov 13th 2007 11:02PM

[wtf?!?!] love 2girls1cup"

fixed

lawlersauce @ Nov 13th 2007 11:03PM

i give up, this is fucking ridiculous

gonk @ Nov 14th 2007 12:01AM

speaking of timeshift, the multiplayer demo is now on xlive

anantha92 @ Nov 14th 2007 5:26AM

Games like this are the ones which persuaded me into buying a PS3. This on my 52" along with all my other fps's is gonna look sweet. And no one called this game a halo killer. Besides whats wrong with another game over taking that overated piece of shit you call a game? Half-Life 2 sure did, alien shooters are getting so cliched nowadays it's not even funny.