Ready at Dawn talks abandoning the PSP, piracy and being original

by Jason Dobson { Jun 11th 2008 at 5:00AM }

When it comes to developer Ready at Dawn, creating games for the PSP is just so last week. But while the company has closed the book on any PSP aspirations, going so far as to mail its entire stock of dev kits back to Sony, the developer of both Daxter and God of War: Chains of Olympus has played the reason for abandoning PSP development close to its chest.

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."

Tags: chains-of-olympus, chainsofolympus, daxter, joystiqfeatures, psp, ready-at-dawn, readyatdawn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Brodie-san @ Jun 11th 2008 5:13AM

Sad to see them stop PSP development but it's not like they're getting out of the gaming industry. Looking forward to seeing some excellent Ready at Dawn games on the next-gens.

Thanks for Daxter guys - it was awesome.
(I haven't picked up GOW:COO yet but I will!)

velocitySTRIKE @ Jun 11th 2008 5:15AM

Why do I feel like they aren't going to the PS3 next?

4MyFriends @ Jun 11th 2008 5:39AM

Because if they are unhappy with the PSP, why would they be happy with the PS3 in its current state of software sales?

Neptune @ Jun 11th 2008 5:47AM

Even so, Didier championed the state of PSP development, stating matter-of-factly "Good games sell."

Even so I think they would go multiplatform.

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ Jun 11th 2008 7:04AM

Multiplatform = wider audience = more sales.

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.

browntown @ Jun 11th 2008 8:55AM

I read on gametrailers they were going to the wii. ALso @4myfriends:
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.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 9:29AM

browntown, don't try it. 4myfriends is a known Sony troll. Logic is harmful to his miniscule brain... don't cause the trolls pain.

Noshino @ Jun 11th 2008 9:43AM

BPM

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....

Cyro @ Jun 11th 2008 10:00AM

@ Browntown: He said Next-Gen, so that automatically disqualifies the Wii. So its the PS3 and 360 only.

:P

4MyFriends @ Jun 11th 2008 10:45AM

Oh please shut up Wong, you have no fucking right to label others as trolls/haters/fanboys. I'm right, games just aren't selling on Sony systems this gen(PSP/PS3).

4MyFriends @ Jun 11th 2008 10:50AM

"GTA 4 is selling at similar attach rates as the 360 version."

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?

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 10:54AM

"Oh please shut up Wong, you have no fucking right to label others as trolls/haters/fanboys. I'm right, games just aren't selling on Sony systems this gen(PSP/PS3)."

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.

JCD @ Jun 11th 2008 11:31AM

Wong, I continue to be baffled why seemingly intelligent people like yourself continue to give a hoot about this 'my console is better than yours' bull. Games are going increasingly cross-platform. This may be bad for Sony and Microsoft (forget nintendo, they're off in 'happy print money with low poly big head people' land), but it's good for consumers because we don't have to waste money on multiple consoles.

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.

velocitySTRIKE @ Jun 11th 2008 6:51PM

Thanks for filling my inbox, guys.

4MyFriends @ Jun 11th 2008 9:00PM

Wong, honestly just shut up, you're no fucking better than Fernando, but when I see Fernando post you're one of the first ones to jump on the hate bandwagon. No one has yet proved me wrong, which shows just how immature you guys are for [-] my comments.

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?

4MyFriends @ Jun 12th 2008 2:26PM

Oh look, you guys have nothing else to say. May I suggest you keep your fucking mouths shut in the future?

Chase @ Jun 11th 2008 5:22AM

Well, it's nice to see them expand their horizon.

$koehler83\\\'s dad$

koehler83\\\'s dad @ Jun 11th 2008 5:27AM

It's about time they left the PSP.

koehler83 @ Jun 11th 2008 7:52AM

Dad?! Nooooooooo!

Phi Nguyen @ Jun 11th 2008 9:35AM

WTF?!?!?! LOL.

meist3r @ Jun 11th 2008 5:37AM

Wow, that statement about the "could-be" market was the most sense filled thing I've heard about piracy from someone in the entertainment business for a looooooooooooong time. When will the other idiots (e.g. Crytek, MPAA, RIAA) realize this? There's no need to fight piracy when you can outperform the pirates. But they're not even trying most of the time ... just sitting there complaining.

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.

Kye - M-Kart Wii 0817-4620-2062 @ Jun 11th 2008 5:53AM

Look!

Here comes a hoard of fanboys to remind themselves that their world isn't crumbling around them.

Kye - M-Kart Wii 0817-4620-2062 @ Jun 11th 2008 8:19AM

Oh come on.
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*

Brodie-san @ Jun 11th 2008 8:42AM

Perhaps you were voted down due to your specious claim that their world is burning down around them? One developer ceasing production on a platform does not equal the death knell of said platform.

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.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 9:26AM

I didn't vote you down, but I knew you would be. That's a blatant trolling comment...

"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.

baby sea tuna @ Jun 11th 2008 9:56AM

To be fair, this does pretty much kill one of my final remaining reasons to actually pick up a PSP (I heard Daxter was good and I loved GoW.) Considering there's about dick-else I want to play on that platform. Guess I'll be sticking to my DS...or Peggle on my iPod, for my handheld needs.

But yeah, I voted you down too, Kye.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 10:02AM

I wish I could agree with you, Baby Sea but I recently killed of Astonisha Story, working on Brave Story currently, and have Monster Hunter 2 waiting in the wings. I still have a HUGE backlog of RPGs on the console as FF Tactics Lion War remains sealed right alongside Jeanne D'Arc and Disgaea and the Legend of Heroes series. Of course both versions of DJ Max Portable remain my "goto" PSP game as each have over 100 hours logged in...

NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 10:08AM

Kye, Fid pretty much nailed why you are being voted down. Though I dind't vote, I can see why people would. You wanted to get a rise from folks - and you did.

Mr.ESC @ Jun 11th 2008 11:56AM

Kye I hope those white men that took you away are gay rapists ¬_¬

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.

JonFitt @ Jun 11th 2008 10:35AM

"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."

Oh my goodness, someone with an ounce of sense!
If only certain PC games companies were lead by this man.

Kye - M-Kart Wii 0817-4620-2062 @ Jun 11th 2008 10:56AM

Sir Wong,

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.

Zoesch @ Jun 11th 2008 11:18AM

Since you ignored (Sir) Fidlious well written comment I will give you a reply more focussed to your "understanding level".

STFU

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 11:19AM

Well, I can sympathize because I do love watching the fantards go ballistic (see: this thread). But you rarely stop by Joystiq anymore so some of the major attitudes have changed.

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.

dark_inchworm @ Jun 11th 2008 11:40AM

TERMINOLOGY POLICE

It's "formerly known as," not "formally known as." Trust me on this one.

You may now return to what you were doing.

Levi @ Jun 11th 2008 12:50PM

@ Filly

"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.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 2:20PM

Damn, the grammar police have found me again....

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?!?"

Kye - M-Kart Wii 0817-4620-2062 @ Jun 11th 2008 5:42PM

Sheppy!?

*gasp*

My old nemesis.
How are ya?

I do read the Stiq almost as often as I used to. I just comment less now.

Levi @ Jun 11th 2008 5:46PM

As I recall, back when you started with the Fidlious name, a couple of guys outed you in a thread because you were making "sheppy like" comments, and you revealed that you were in fact the legendary Sheppy. I didn't know that you were outed in a podcast also. I just think it's funny how every once in a while you casually mention how you are Sheppy, like you are Tony Stark or something.

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.

dark_inchworm @ Jun 11th 2008 11:15AM

Well damn. Daxter and GoW are probably the two titles I would want most if I picked up a PSP. Not to say nothing else worth picking up will ever be released for the PSP, but it's a shame, really, that they've quit it.

They have good taste in licenses, at least. I'm curious to see where they go from here.

John @ Jun 12th 2008 1:48AM

Pick up the PSP. It's capabilities are pretty sweet.

Plus PAtapon and hotshots are so better than daxter, in fact I'll give you my free copy of daxter.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jun 11th 2008 12:34PM

I have a PSP and a DS. I'm sad to see these guys go, but there are plenty of other games to hold my interest. And to be honest, my PSP gets a lot more play time than my DS. It's just a preference.

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 ;)