It's a mystery, but mysteries give us headaches, so we tracked down Ready At Dawn's president, Didier Malenfant, to find out why exactly the studio has turned up its nose at developing for Sony's sexed-up portable. "We feel like we've done everything we wanted to do with the PSP," admitted the exec. "We have new projects on other platforms and we like to focus on one thing at a time."
Even so, Didier championed the state of PSP development, stating matter-of-factly "Good games sell. Who would have thought?"
Following news of Ready at Dawn's PSP plans, or rather lack thereof, some suggested that piracy might have been a contributing factor in driving the developer away from the platform. We asked Didier if he considered piracy on the PSP to be a real problem.
"We sold over 2.3 millions copies of Daxter and are on track to beat that with Chains of Olympus so we're pretty happy with our sales," he responded. "Could we sell more games if piracy was non-existent? Maybe. But we don't target the market that could be, we target the market that is."
Didier wasn't ready to offer specifics concerning the company's upcoming projects, though he told us that Ready at Dawn is now working on original IP, a first for the now five year old studio. "We have two original IPs in development and some neat ideas with an existing IP. Most of that stuff is next-gen, but we'll see as we move forward what turns into games and/or what goes in different directions."
Wrapping up, we'd be remiss if we didn't question Didier on the off chance Ready at Dawn might want to revisit PSP development in the future, though the exec was noticeably coy. "You can never say never so we're not going to say you won't see any ports of our future games on PSP," he commented, adding that "as far as targeting the PSP specifically like we did in our first two games, we currently don't have any plans for that."
(Page 1) Reader Comments
Thanks for Daxter guys - it was awesome.
(I haven't picked up GOW:COO yet but I will!)
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Even so I think they would go multiplatform.
Really, it's the only smart thing for a third party developer/publisher to do these days. Especially if they have an engine in place that makes cross-platform developing easier.
PS3 software sales have been great since the introduction of the 40 gig. If ur talking about the attach ratios that ms shouts out, its becuz the ps3 started off rocky, and software sales are dismall, but they have improved alot. GTA 4 is selling at similar attach rates as the 360 version.
It depends...
Exclusive (Instant money in the bank) = More focus on mastering one console -> more chances of making a high quality game -> most chances of your title being successful
But yah, I do agree that for that, you need to be famous, for small companies such as RaD, it wouldn't work out, but for something as SE or Rockstar, it does....
:P
Thing is, it was projected, EVEN WITH THE LOWER ATTACH RATE, that the PS3 version was going to OUTSELL the 360 one. Also this is only one example, we can look at other multiplatform titles to see that the 360 has a higher attach rate even within the last 6-8 months. Using GTA4 as an example is just stupid, seeing as it is still considered a Playstation title by most casual gamers.
Is it so hard to accept the fact PS3 users just aren't buying software for the system as much as 360 users?
Actually, most of my behavior is what is seen on this thread right here. Someone who's a troll makes a trollish comment and I call them out on it.
And no, you're not right. COD4 and Assassin's Creed BOTH sold over 3 million on PS3. Where is the over 3 million third party seller on Wii? Sony fans ARE buying games on their respective systems as recent GTA sales confirm this again. Even the game Fernando decided to tell me bombed (two weeks before launch) in Japan (Sega's Valkyrie's of the Battlefield) managed to have three weeks of solid 150,000+ sales.
But this is all shit you'll ignore and proceed to go "Well, but... ummm, LOOK AT HOW POORLY ORANGE BOX DID ON PS3" and most of the Joystiqers will continue to laugh at you and I proceed to talk you back into a corner, yet again.
Consider: I don't give a whit about blu-ray. Don't want it, don't need it, I'll just wait until the studios stop overcharging for blu-ray discs and then consider getting a player. So I got a 360--its cheaper, smaller, and plays all the games I want. Someone else wants blu-ray (or mandatory game installs--I kid, I kid). They get a ps3, pay a little extra, and they can also play the same games I can. Everyone wins.
Everything else out there is marketing fluff that is meaningless unless you own stock in Sony or MS.
Stop acting so damn butthurt about it, I even held back what I wanted to say about the PSP as I didn't want to see you guys cry, but it looks like you all will do it anyway so why hold it in anymore...
The PSP is a piece of shit excuse of a "hand held" gaming device. It's library is lackluster, and the couple of decent gems are hardly worth buying the system for. It has alienated developers as this article showed, and Sony doesn't give a fuck because they are making money, who the hell cares about the developers?
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I would guess RaD's decision has to do with the incredible sales figures of GTA IV and the potential for full-blown-console titles. Shareholders don't give a crap about platforms all they care for is economical performance and so they'll probably focus on something that promises more revenue.
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Here comes a hoard of fanboys to remind themselves that their world isn't crumbling around them.
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Really!? Voted down that much?
You know it's true! Damned PSP fanboys.
I hope this news burns you deep!
Go to hel...
*gets dragged off by large men in white suits*
I don't think anyone is *happy* that RaD are stopping game production on the PSP. I also don't think anyone believes this is the start of a mass exodus or anthing of the kind.
If you prefer a different console/handheld/multinational conglomerate and this news makes you happy (for some reason) then that's cool and you have a right to voice your glee. But you're going to get single-starred if you also make bombastic claims that a PSP armageddon is on the horizon when one developer decides to move away from the platform. Deal with it.
"Here comes a hoard of fanboys to remind themselves that their world isn't crumbling around them."
Now I ask you, how is that not a deliberate attempt to illicite a negative response? And besides, as a Nintendo fantard, this news should effect you too. Why? GBA was, well, not exactly their priority. Fucks sake, every Mario game on it was a port. When the PSP came in and actually offered competition, Nintendo had to actually put effort into their handheld endeavors. Anything from the online gameplay to the increasing of the gamers market is a direct result of Nintendo not being allowed to phone in their latest handheld.
You OWE PSP for the level of quality on Nintendo DS because looking at the system at launch, Nintendo sure as hell expected a free ride which Sony didn't give them. Competition drives both consoles to do better. Lack of competition only serves laziness as Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance all prove.
But yeah, I voted you down too, Kye.
Anyway yep this is bad but they only developed like 2 games.Chains was great but I never felt like getting Daxter back at the time there was this little game called Pursuuit Force that was mind blowing and mark my words: "Effing hard" but man it was great.
Screw Crackdown and Saints Row 2 give me a Pursuit Force Sandbox game.
Oh my goodness, someone with an ounce of sense!
If only certain PC games companies were lead by this man.
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It was a deliberate attempt to illicit negative responses. I do not deny that.
I like Nintendo products but I won't defend them to the hilt. In fact I often lead the charge to point out their short-falls. And I do agree that competition increases quality.
While I may instigate, do not think my comments actually reflect my own thoughts on the matter. I sometimes try to rub fanboys (Sony ones especially) the wrong way. Why? It's fun for a short time.
One can engage in semi-intelligent debate, but sometimes it's so much more interesting to go "UR system suxxors!!!lol!!11!"
Ok childishness over now.
My real feelings on the matter - meh. Never been interested in the PSP.
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STFU
For example, it's only a good thing to bash Sony in any Pro-Sony threads. Right now, this is sort of anti Sony. And so the adamant Sony defenders watch these threads (I just wanted to read the aricle) and vote up or down accordingly. Whereas in the proSony threads, it's usually so overrun by the console bashers that most reasonable conversation is lost and so I know I just let the fantards run rampant there. No point, really.
Also, if you develop a reputation as a defender of a console certain trolls troll, they will automatically downvote anything you say even if it's something as simple as "I like _____."
It's funny, the regulars on these threads are often the most reasonable whereas the trolls we get a pretty steady rotation of idiots. And by the way, in case you don't know, this is the poster formally known as Sheppy.
It's "formerly known as," not "formally known as." Trust me on this one.
You may now return to what you were doing.
"And by the way, in case you don't know, this is the poster formally known as Sheppy."
OMG the big reveal! *GASP* DUM DUM DUMMMMMMMM!
Just trying to make your post sound dramatic.
Anyway, the only reason why I mention it is because he wasn't hanging around for the "big reveal" when I got a brush with fame on the podcast and Justin pretty much ousted me. Then I started ousting myself and on occassion, someone will mention all the names I've had on the site as an insult to my credibility (which I only had two). Just telling Kye so he at least understands "who's this judgemental prick acting like he's been here forever?!?"
*gasp*
My old nemesis.
How are ya?
I do read the Stiq almost as often as I used to. I just comment less now.
Also, from what I remember of the often caustic troll posts that you used make, claiming to be Sheppy isn't really something to be proud of.
They have good taste in licenses, at least. I'm curious to see where they go from here.
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Plus PAtapon and hotshots are so better than daxter, in fact I'll give you my free copy of daxter.
Though I'd bet that ports of their games will be awesome as well. I certainly wouldnt mind have GoW 1 and 2 on the system as well ;)
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