Ubisoft reps: Haze is staying on PS3

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 17th 2008 at 2:15PM }

Ubisoft reps confirmed at the Play.com Live event to Ripten in a "resolute fashion," and with an "as far as [we] know" to our own man on the scene, that Haze will remain a PS3 exclusive and won't come out for Xbox 360. Publisher Ubisoft and developer Free Radical must have gotten something nice out of the exclusivity deal other than money, because we all know that Sony doesn't buy exclusives.

Haze, which was originally announced for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, was later hinted as a timed exclusive for the PS3. The game is now expected to release in May on PS3 and ... well, never for anything else.

Tags: exclusive, haze

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 17th 2008 2:19PM

Look, since the game was announced I keep saying that It looks extremely generic.

The only reason why PS3 Fanboys are excited about this game, is because the 360 version was cancelled.

I can see the hype in Resistance 2, or MGS4 or any other hyped PS3 game...

But Haze? C'mon... it looks very meh...

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 17th 2008 2:21PM

That's a large assumption you make. I was hyped once I saw it was a Free Radical project, before it had a name.

ViagraFiend @ Mar 17th 2008 2:23PM

It doesn't have to look radically different to be a good game. I bet the same people that find Resistance, Ghost Recon, Call of Duty and other first person shooter games fun to play will be looking froward to this. Just because it doesn't reinvent the genre doesn't mean it will not be worth checking out.

If this were about a 360 exclusive, you wouldn't be saying anything negative about it.

Neon Jebus @ Mar 17th 2008 2:24PM

I have to say I agree Fernando. For the most part the only way I would be upset with Ubisoft keeping a title off the 360 would be if it contained 'Tom Clancy's' in the title.

Kodros @ Mar 17th 2008 2:24PM

Maybe, just maybe, the people that are excited about it enjoyed the other games that this company has made.

If you want to play the fanboy card...Brawl and Mario Kart look generic too.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 17th 2008 2:25PM

Well... just a few month from the release... I'm bookmarking this page, really.

It's going to be an average game... average score of 8/10.

ViagraFiend @ Mar 17th 2008 2:33PM

Whats wrong with 8/10?

Thats a pretty damn good score in my opinion.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Mar 17th 2008 2:33PM

I love everything Free Radical has touched, but this game looks like it will end that streak. It looks very generic and the people that have actually played it say it isn't anything great. I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

Kodros @ Mar 17th 2008 2:33PM

@Fernando Rocker - It's actually kinda sad that you are going to bookmark a page so that in a few months, if the game fails, you can use it as some kind of attack against people that actually like the game.

Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 2:37PM

Why would you bookmark this thread. I haven't read a post yet that sings the tune of "HAZE IS SOO GOOD THAT IT KILLZ UR HALO AND IT KILLZ UR BRAWLS!"

Most PS3 owners (myself included) agree that this game looks like a fun diversion, if even. It might actually be good! I don't know, it's not out yet.

XLM @ Mar 17th 2008 2:40PM

Hey Fernando,

I believe 8/10 = above average.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 17th 2008 2:42PM

XLM

Every time a PS3 fanboy make their usual list of upcoming games (you know, the "just wait until" list), they include Haze...

This game is hyped like if it would be the biggest FPS ever...

Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 17th 2008 2:45PM

Fernando, it's PS3 fanboy writers job to do that. The people over there get paid to do that.

XLM @ Mar 17th 2008 2:46PM

And that relates to calling 8/10 average how?

Kodros @ Mar 17th 2008 2:51PM

When did an "Upcoming Games" list change so that it's no longer just a list of upcoming games?

The last time that PS3 Fanboy made an upcoming games list was at the end of last year to show what games were coming out next year. The game has potential and it's made from a good studio...why wouldn't they list it?

ViagraFiend @ Mar 17th 2008 2:54PM

I hope he does bring this up and link to it again in the future. That way even more people can see what an idiot he is by saying 8/10 is average.

NATO_Duke @ Mar 17th 2008 3:03PM

HAZE IS SOO GOOD THAT IT KILLZ UR HALO AND IT KILLZ UR BRAWLS! ITZ AN 8.1 BABY!!!!

:p

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 17th 2008 3:16PM

I don't this game is getting that much hype. In fact, it seems to be quite the opposite. Every time the game gets mentioned it seems like most of the people are fairly negative toward the game. Fernando claims PS3 owners are only excited because the game is PS3 exclusive, I'm going to claim that the only reason Fernando and others are negative toward the game is because of the exact same reason. The game is coming from a reputable developer, yet so many people have already written it off. If this was multi-platform or 360 exclusive I'd bet that a lot more people would be positive or at least be taking a wait and see attitude.

Marty @ Mar 17th 2008 3:21PM

This game has got 'generic FPS' written all over it. It might be good fun, and it might turn out lousy - but if history is to be utilized at all in predicting the outcome of games like Haze, I think we shouldn't expect too much at this point.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 17th 2008 3:25PM

@Marty

How do you figure that? If going by history, I'd say that the game has a pretty good chance of being good given the backgrounds of the developers. I guess it depends on what history you choose to use.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Mar 17th 2008 3:43PM

"It looks extremely generic."

What FPS doesn't? That genre has picked up graphical polish and a little more story, but the medium still has you picking up an assortment of weapons and mowing down bad guys. The only requirement for a good FPS is that the slight differences make you forget it's the same game as Doom.

Jacksons @ Mar 17th 2008 3:58PM

The very first comment is blind hatred? Come on, now. I've enjoyed all of FRD's offerings so far, and am looking forward to giving Haze a try as well.

upz @ Mar 17th 2008 4:12PM

Mr. Rocker has an unparalleled ability to get an entire room riled up. How the hell does he do it? Is it the fact that he tends to steer every topic toward something Nintendo-related (see Patapon 300 thread)? Nah. What about when he derails a topic to talk about himself (Will you guys read my blog? If you hate me, I will leave. So...do you hate me?) Possibly. Is it because he still sounds like a broken record, even after we've all told him to get some new material? Probably. More than anything else, though, I've deduced that it's his tendency to put words into everyone else's mouths that gets under everyone's skin.

"The only reason why PS3 Fanboys are excited about this game, is because the 360 version was cancelled."

So by that logic, I should've started getting excited right about...now? And not a minute before?

"Every time a PS3 fanboy make their usual list of upcoming games (you know, the "just wait until" list), they include Haze..."

I read Joystiq probably as often as you do (though I'm much better at holding my tongue) and I haven't come across one of those lists in ages. The last time I read one was when you made a PS3 list to accompany your repeated "You PS fanboys always make lists" posts. What do you call someone who claims everyone is just repeating themselves when no one is repeating a damn thing but you?

Look, no one is stepping on your toes for expressing your opinion. If you're not excited about Haze, say so, but realize that you are speaking for yourself. Hell, even I agree with the objective part of your post (that Haze has done little to differentiate itself from other FPSs), it's the subjective inferences you make about everyone who disagrees with you ("all you fanboys are like this, all us non-fanboys are like this!") that get everyone to rally against you.

Seriously man, for a guy who likes to talk so much, you really need to learn how to communicate.

Geist @ Mar 17th 2008 5:19PM

I agree with the generic remark. I played it at some press event a while ago, and while the 'nectar' gimmick is decent, it's not enough to carry a game with otherwise generic play.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 17th 2008 7:15PM

Damn you Fernando, thought you had changed. D:

Whatever negative comments you make, it's going to multiply tenfold compared to what an average commenter would get.

dsub @ Mar 17th 2008 11:12PM

The game looks good, but in all honesty, I have to agree with Fernando here, despite his rampant fanboyism. When Timesplitters: Future Perfect came out on PS2 and XBOX, no one hardly gave a shit and the game really didn't sell very well. Timesplitters was great, don't get me wrong, but when I think of the greatest games of all time, it's hardly on the list. I own a PS3, and I really am not all that excited about it being an exclusive, or for it's release for that matter. Will I play it? Yeah. I'll probably rent it and give it a whirl sometime in late May after I beat GTAIV and before NG2 comes out.

If this game were a multiplatform title, it'd be getting just as much hype as games like Timeshift, but because it's a "PS3 Exclusive" (which I still don't believe) all the PS fanboys are running rampant, giving it the Killzone 2 treatment. The problem with anything Free Radical makes is that their games will always be compared to Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, and those days are long gone. If the magic still existed at Free Radical then games like Halo and Call of Duty wouldn't be the fore-runners of the FPS genre, and we'd all be eagerly awaiting Timesplitters 4.

My point can be summarized into a few sentences. Free Radical wouldn't worth a damn if the guys that started it hadn't been a part of Goldeneye/Perfect Dark. Goldneye/Perfect Dark hold a 96/97 on Metacritic and are regarded as revolutionary games that will be remembered forever. Timesplitters 1-3 garnered an average review of 85 and are among many of the most easily forgotten games of the past decade.

Haze will be another mediocre FPS, just like the rest of em', and it will see shit for sales because it...

A) Comes out immediately after GTAIV
B) Will only be on the PS3

Ranus Studios @ Mar 17th 2008 2:22PM

Well, now it just remains to see whether it's any good. I may rent it.

Demaar @ Mar 17th 2008 2:24PM

Call me crazy if you want, but I reckon this game is staying exclusive is to boost sales. Though I was initially excited for the game, it sounds like it's shaping up to be rather mediocre. So how do you drum up hype for a mediocre game? Say it's exclusive to a platform.

Hell, Ubisoft's done it before with Assassin's Creed already.

Todd H. @ Mar 17th 2008 2:32PM

I wonder why they are keeping it exclusive? Exclusive deals just don't make sense anymore, with the large user base that the 360 has I can't see how it makes sense from a financial perspective unless Sony paid big bucks. If it were me, I'd be releasing titles on both consoles, thus maximizing my opportunity for profit. Or just come up with a clever idea and make a game for the Wii that would sell millions in the Asian market.

Matt B @ Mar 17th 2008 2:32PM

I predict 2-3 pages of "I didn't want the game anyway and looks generic."
I'm looking forward to 4 player co-op myself.

zelderman @ Mar 17th 2008 3:54PM

No pic or funny little movie. That makes me sad.

Leobebes @ Mar 17th 2008 2:32PM

Ah yes the whole Sony doesn't buy exclusivity even though their install base is inferior and even though their fan base tends to hate the FPS genre. Case in point "durrr the 360 is an FPS machine me no like durrr".

So why did Ubisoft decide to keep Haze on the more economically challenged platform? Back room HJ's? That is all I can think of. Anyone want to help out little old ignorant me and fill me in as to how PS3 got another exclusive here?

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 17th 2008 3:29PM

I'd say it has to do with the extra work required to port the project, the relatively small fanbase it's generated (since idiots like yourself take every chance to piss on the game), and the fact that Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty 4 have both broke 2 million in sales on a system that supposedly generates no sales.

That, and PS3 is "teh hotness" in Europe where majority of Free Radicals fanbase resides.

Leobebes @ Mar 17th 2008 3:39PM

I am an idiot to piss on the game? Your reading comprehension must be in the duldrums to suggest I pissed on this game with my post. I must've been hard to repeat the 4th grade huh?

The reason Assasin's Creed and COD4 did well on the PS3 is because it rode on the Xbox's humongous advertisement push for these games. These games appealed specifically to the minority that exists within the PS3's install base that buys you know games. They did not want to be left out in the cold and wanted to experience what their xbox 360 counterparts play.

I doubt Haze will receive the advert funding Assasin's Creed received, so Ubisoft made some bizarre back room deal with Sony that you nor anyone else on this board will not know about to keep its fanboys at bay with the whole "Sony" doesn't buy exclusives Bullshit.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 17th 2008 4:10PM

"The reason Assasin's Creed and COD4 did well on the PS3 is because it rode on the Xbox's humongous advertisement push for these games."

Wow... so giving the 360 credit for PS3 sales now? Fanboyism gets taken to new levels every day.

"I doubt Haze will receive the advert funding Assasin's Creed received, so Ubisoft made some bizarre back room deal with Sony that you nor anyone else on this board will not know about to keep its fanboys at bay with the whole "Sony" doesn't buy exclusives Bullshit. "

Sony not buying exclusives may indeed be BS, but don't you kind of contradict yourself here? You claim Ubisoft made some deal with Sony, but then say that no one one this forum knows about it. If that's the case, then how can you claim the deal was made? You don't know either, right? Perhaps that what you are speculating happened, but you didn't state it that way.

Anticrawl @ Mar 17th 2008 2:39PM

Pretty sure everyone will be so busy with Vegas 2, Bad Company and so on to even notice this little blip on the radar pass by. This goes for PS3 and 360 owners alike as the titles I listed are multiplatform. Now I'm off to dream of my evening with Vegas.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 17th 2008 2:55PM

Nighty night =P

SoulBlade @ Mar 17th 2008 2:40PM

That's because the other consoles can't handle the mediocrity... err technology that is Haze!

The game still has promise, but those Joystiq impressions sure are a bit of a downer.

that guy @ Mar 17th 2008 2:41PM

Fernando - not to attack you or anything, but you are an idiot.

If you're COMPLAINING about a game that you think will have an average score of 8/10, then there's something very wrong with you.

That's the problem with gamers these days. They don't understand that games can get scores of lower than 6/10.

Me? I'm a huge fan of Free Radical's TimeSplitters series (Future Perfect was completely underrated), and they know how to do first person shooters. I'm looking forward to this, and I couldn't care less what it was released on. If it's only on PS3, then so be it.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 17th 2008 2:47PM

I like TimeSplitters, a lot.

That doesnt mean that all Free Radical games are going to be good.

Suaqe Enix for example... excellent games, excellent developer... look Musashi.

Or a lot of good companies... not all their games are going to be good.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 17th 2008 2:53PM

So, if I DIDN'T like Timesplitters does that mean I wont like this game either?

Good point Fernando!

Noshino @ Mar 17th 2008 3:25PM

Fernando,

Thing is, that thus far, Free Radical hasn't really had a mediocre game...They have ALL been good....

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 17th 2008 2:44PM

Im gonna rent thi smother to see what this hype is about. Although there really isnt much hype, dont know why anybody would say that.

horngreen @ Mar 17th 2008 2:45PM

I guess they don't feel like bothering with having to make a version with an acceptable frame rate. Sorry that was low. I know nothing about this game and maybe I'll care later that it is not on the 360 but for now it doesn't matter to me.

that guy @ Mar 17th 2008 2:52PM

You're right Fernando - and I'm not saying Haze is going to be amazing. I'm simply saying I'm looking forward to it. It could be awesome, but it could suck. Just like Metal Gear Solid IV, just like Gears of War 2, and every game ever not-yet-released.

Oh, and apologies for calling you an idiot. I still stand by what I said to you re: average review scores, but the name-calling was uncalled for.

Vcize @ Mar 17th 2008 2:55PM

I would've rather played it with the 360 controller, but DS3's will be out by then so that will help a little.

At this point, I just hope it ends up living up to the hype and hope that I misinterperating them deciding not to spend the time/money to port this over doesn't mean that they realize things are looking bad.

Virtuous @ Mar 17th 2008 3:00PM

Sony's arrogance has resulted in the PS/3 being mired in 3rd place. The PS/3 needs exclusives that a lot of gamers actually care about.

SG @ Mar 17th 2008 3:00PM

I'm a PS3 owner, and I have to say that this game doesn't seem terribly appealing. One of the only things it has to offer to differentiate itself is the Nectar thing, which seems like a weak gimmick at best. I'll definitely give the game a rent, but I don't expect I'll be buying. I think Sony made the wrong move in buying this game's exclusivity.

John McPoop @ Mar 18th 2008 12:24AM

Is that factual that Sony bought this exclusive?

I keep hearing that but I have not seen anything to back it up.

If the 360 gets an exclusive its because they are super bad ass but if the PS3 got it its because they purchased said rights to the exclusive.

Idiot.