The name chosen for developer Free Radical's oft-delayed FPS Haze has become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. While we were almost ready to get excited for the game to make its retail debut sometime before April, publisher Ubisoft broke news (and gamers' hearts) today by once more pushing the game out until an unspecified time during the coming 2008-09 fiscal year (read: after April).
The game's release date has become something of a running gag in certain circles, with Haze originally expected for the holidays before being brushed aside for what we were told was a final bit of spit polish. It would seem, however, from this latest news that Haze was in fact more sullied than previously believed. If there is one ray of sunshine to cast on this gloom it's that the delay has caused Ubisoft to raise its guidance for coming fiscal year to €1 billion (or nearly $1.5 billion in Earth currency) up from the €975 million previously forecast – though we're doubtful that Ubi's financial wherewithal will comfort those of you who have been told once again to wait your turn.
Reader Comments (62)
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 5:13PM LaughingTarget said
Yes, the PS3 can be blamed. Sony decided to go with a radically new and complicated design with their new system. Since no one has particularly been chosen as the best current gen HD system, the only real option to properly canvas the market is to cross platform everything. Since it is fairly clear, even among those who try brushing it off as lazy (lazy and costing more are two different creatures), is the PS3 is not as developer friendly as the 360. Since timed releases are usually bad for the one released last, 360 gets the delay while the PS3 version gets finished up.
Had Sony not been so high on Kutaragi's hot gas coming out his ears, they'd realize that building a monster that causes development headaches is a bad idea and would not have to deal with these delays.
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Had Sony not been so high on Kutaragi's hot gas coming out his ears, they'd realize that building a monster that causes development headaches is a bad idea and would not have to deal with these delays.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:34PM (Unverified) said
My, how original. Did you come up with that one all by yourself?
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:35PM (Unverified) said
Umm, it was delayed for 360 too since it won't come out on the 360 until it's been out on the ps3 for a while.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:40PM (Unverified) said
It's a Ubi title moron. Sony is not the maker of this game. Again we blame the scapegoat aka PS3 for something it did not do.
MY CAR WAS STOLEN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S ALL THE PS3'S FAULT! SH*T!!!
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MY CAR WAS STOLEN EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. IT'S ALL THE PS3'S FAULT! SH*T!!!
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:45PM rsmith4321 said
It's hard to make a PS3 game that comes out on time. The rumor is that's why GTA was delayed so long, to get it running properly on the PS3. To get a PS3 game to look as good or slightly better than a 360 game, such as with Burnout, it takes some real time and commitment on the part of the developer.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:58PM Kodros said
@Boostjunkie - So the fact that when GTA4 was previewed (running on the Xbox360), most reviewers said that it felt empty and incomplete is the fault of the PS3? Using that logic I guess it's also in the best interest of Take-Two (who I believe was having financial troubles) to delay the game due to PS3 issues instead of releasing it on just the 360 for the holidays.
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Posted: Jan 24th 2008 5:06AM dishwasher said
maybe if the PS3 wasnt unpossible to develope for the games wouldnt get delayed.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:31PM BananaBoat said
It's times like this that make me want to get a refund on my PS3. Seriously.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:36PM (Unverified) said
One thing i like about having both a 360 and a ps3. The good multi platform games are always sold out on 360 the first week or so, im always guaranteed a copy for ps3.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:35PM (Unverified) said
Man, this is really bad for everyone (not just PS3 owners). This delay will not add more hype or increase the demand for this game. It will definitely stifle it. With other great shooters coming out this year I'm afraid that this will get lost in the shuffle (just like UT3 did last year). With graphics outshined by Killzone and co-op functionality doubled in Resistance 2, I can't see this selling big if its released anywhere near those 2 titles. That means bad news for X360 gamers too in regards to Ubi not meeting expectations financially. If they stop taking risks, we'll be stuck with Assassins Creed 2 in '09 and Rabbids 3,4,5,6,7,8 in the meantime :(
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:11PM SheppyReturns said
First, it's Free Radical. While it may not be the prettiest girl at the ball, she's the most fun.
Second, Resistance's coop is 2 player split, 8 player online. Haze is four player split, big difference.
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Second, Resistance's coop is 2 player split, 8 player online. Haze is four player split, big difference.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:35PM (Unverified) said
Since 2006 I keep hearing: "just wait until Lair... just wait until Ratchet, just wait until Heavenly... just wait until Haze..."
Well... keep waiting until blah blah blah....
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Well... keep waiting until blah blah blah....
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:52PM (Unverified) said
One month hardly compares to a full year, or in this case, TBA.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:14PM SheppyReturns said
Guys, leave Fernando alone. Maybe these few phrases he keeps repeating is the extent of the english he knows.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:29PM Chibi Chaingun said
What Fernando said was true, whether you like it or not. People were constantly saying "Wait till _____!" The games have come and gone and some have been good, and some were stinkers. His point remains that PS3 has yet to really bust out with an undeniable in-your-face title. I'm confident one will come though.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:29PM (Unverified) said
Fernando is the Britney Spears of the internet. Learn to be quiet you attention whore.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:31PM SheppyReturns said
Prince, evidence of the hatred can be found here...
http://www.blogsmith.com/profile/1466682/
Less than half the time, he adds something relevant or witty. The rest of the time, he's either calling people newbies to gaming or bashing Sony. He knows what behavior gets him jumped, so he knows how he can change. Don't defend someone who willingly jumps into the deep end with a fear of drowning.
Personally, he's annoying but so are many others. So I just laugh at the really dumb comments like above.
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http://www.blogsmith.com/profile/1466682/
Less than half the time, he adds something relevant or witty. The rest of the time, he's either calling people newbies to gaming or bashing Sony. He knows what behavior gets him jumped, so he knows how he can change. Don't defend someone who willingly jumps into the deep end with a fear of drowning.
Personally, he's annoying but so are many others. So I just laugh at the really dumb comments like above.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 3:37PM leobebes said
He has a point. I have nothing against the PS3 but all this anti PS3 hate is just reactionary revenge by those who were ridiculed for being early adopters on the 360 and saying they purchased an xbox 1.5. They were saying things like wait and see for the PS3 it will blow the 360 out of the water, well here we are almost two years later and instead of the PS3 blowing the shit out of the 360 there is argument in some circles as to which version looks better...
How is that possible? They keep telling us to wait...wait...wait to see the potential of the PS3 be unleashed unto the hungry public, but alas nothing has been released that says it can only be done on the PS3. Let's face it the PS3 is the same machine under the hood as the xbox 360 it just has an overhyped processor and Blue Ray. Thanks for lying to the general public and making those early adopting xbox 360 owners feel like crap.
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How is that possible? They keep telling us to wait...wait...wait to see the potential of the PS3 be unleashed unto the hungry public, but alas nothing has been released that says it can only be done on the PS3. Let's face it the PS3 is the same machine under the hood as the xbox 360 it just has an overhyped processor and Blue Ray. Thanks for lying to the general public and making those early adopting xbox 360 owners feel like crap.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:44PM (Unverified) said
I wonder if its a technical reason or if Ubi just wanted to bump it to the next fiscal year. Since it was scheduled for March, it seems unlikely that it was technical, considering they have at least a month to work on it.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 4:05PM (Unverified) said
That comment about his comment is dripping with lose ooze.
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:47PM (Unverified) said
Now I know who's behind the mask... DUKE NUKEM!!!!
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 7:03PM (Unverified) said
duke nukem forever will come out the same day as the second coming of jesus christ as foretold in the book of revelation.
so, you'd better go ahead and get that preorder in.
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so, you'd better go ahead and get that preorder in.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:49PM (Unverified) said
as long as the final game is good, i can wait. i got so many games in my backlog....
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:56PM (Unverified) said
Seriously though, they shouldn't even bother mentioning release dates anymore until something is nearly complete .
I rather not know, and not think about it, then have false hope.
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I rather not know, and not think about it, then have false hope.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:54PM (Unverified) said
such a huge loss..... this game was going to be so unique. haze... nectar...dudes in black and yellow bee-like costumes... what ever shall I do?
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 1:58PM RPGJock said
Notice I am taking shots at the gentlemen who is crying Delaystation, or shots at games being pushed back. Ok, how many game have been pushed back on ALL platforms now. Lets see...
Too Human = January 2006, 2007, 2008,????
Metal Gear Solid 4 = November, March, Q2 2008
SSBB = Nov 2007, Dec 2007, Feb. 2008, March 2008, ??
GTA4 = Oct 2007, March 2008, Q2 2008
Spore = 2006, 2007, 2008, ????
This isn't new to any platform. Games get pushed for one reason or another. The topic here is why was it delayed. To strength est profits for 08-09, Assassins Creed incredible success, true development problems/bug removal or something that we haven't heard of. Maybe they want to wait for GTA4/MGS4 to come out for the hopes that more systems will be there to sell it on.
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Too Human = January 2006, 2007, 2008,????
Metal Gear Solid 4 = November, March, Q2 2008
SSBB = Nov 2007, Dec 2007, Feb. 2008, March 2008, ??
GTA4 = Oct 2007, March 2008, Q2 2008
Spore = 2006, 2007, 2008, ????
This isn't new to any platform. Games get pushed for one reason or another. The topic here is why was it delayed. To strength est profits for 08-09, Assassins Creed incredible success, true development problems/bug removal or something that we haven't heard of. Maybe they want to wait for GTA4/MGS4 to come out for the hopes that more systems will be there to sell it on.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:13PM SheppyReturns said
Yay! I get to correct a Too Human point....
Too Human = Q4 1999, Q2 2000, Q4 2000, January 2006, 2007, 2008,????
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Too Human = Q4 1999, Q2 2000, Q4 2000, January 2006, 2007, 2008,????
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:05PM (Unverified) said
So wait. Since it's not going to come out BEFORE April, it automatically means AFTER April? How does that work? Is April a month no games are allowed to be released in? Last time I checked several are coming out in April...
Great way to ANALyze.
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Great way to ANALyze.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:14PM (Unverified) said
Man I was just looking at this game today on gametrailers and I was impressed with the visuals in the jungle. Well this really is suxville because I was seriously thinking of picking it up =( Hope we dont have another generic shooter like that Timeshift crap on our hands. Maybe they are reworking the story??
Wait, I know! They want to release it the same day as Gears of War 2....yeah that would be a grrreat idea!!
lolz!!
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Wait, I know! They want to release it the same day as Gears of War 2....yeah that would be a grrreat idea!!
lolz!!
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 4:01PM Vidikron said
Blacksite and Timeshift are actually quite far apart in quality. Blacksite just outright sucks in almost every way. Timeshift is a great looking game that wound up being somewhat generic. I've played both and couldn't even be bother to continue Blacksite after about 30 minutes. I finished TimeShift and actually enjoyed it. Just saying....
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Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 4:30PM Vidikron said
@BIGGEN
Nah... I only played through single player campaign. I tend to focus on just 1 or 2 MP games at a time. Wasn't interested in TimeShift's MP. Like I said though, I enjoyed single player. It's no BioSkock by any means, but it's a LOT better than Blacksite.
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Nah... I only played through single player campaign. I tend to focus on just 1 or 2 MP games at a time. Wasn't interested in TimeShift's MP. Like I said though, I enjoyed single player. It's no BioSkock by any means, but it's a LOT better than Blacksite.
Posted: Jan 23rd 2008 2:22PM (Unverified) said
another first person J/k J/K.
its a joke.
i was actually looking forward to this one.
oh well. ill just get it when it's out. no big deal.
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its a joke.
i was actually looking forward to this one.
oh well. ill just get it when it's out. no big deal.
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