Realtime Worlds speaks up on Crackdown sequel

by Randy Nelson { Aug 7th 2008 at 7:45PM }

Many 360 owners would really love a sequel to the superpower-infused crime fighting favorite, Crackdown. From the sound of things, developer Realtime Worlds would really love to return to the game's open-world universe – and is actually mighty upset that it didn't immediately upon finishing the original.

VG247 spoke to Realtime Worlds studio head Colin Macdonald at the recent UK Develop event, where he said that not starting work on Crackdown 2 straight away "Was a horrible, horrible decision that we still dwell on." Why not just do it, then? Macdonald explained that it was all about sales. "The numbers just didn't add up," he admitted. "We're not in the business of doing things because we'd like to, if we can't guarantee that it makes sense for the company." Instead it moved on to something new, and RTW has been happily cranking away on its crime-themed MMO, ~~GTA Online~~ APB, since.

Still, Macdonald related that the dev could revisit Crackdown once APB wraps. "I don't think the door's closed," he revealed, adding, "Hopefully in the future we'll have the resource and something can be worked out with Microsoft." The house Bill Gates built might have already worked something out, though – with another developer.

Tags: crackdown, realtime-worlds

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

VaultICEE @ Aug 7th 2008 7:50PM

I know a lot of people may not agree with me, but I loved Crackdown to death, and I bought it after the Halo 3 beta. The DLC was great too.

If they spiced up the graphics a bit and made the people walking around way less annoying, I'd pick up a Crackdown 2.

Mr.ESC @ Aug 7th 2008 8:08PM

First I hated it but after a while it was pretty good my only complain is that there isn't local co-op like in Gears of war or Halo.

The beta was the selling point I guess but even so it was an okay game with a lot of potential.

The problem with the DLC is that everything was already in the disc.Keys to the city was fun to play and the 800p DLC at least gave you some neat achievements but street races without other player were boring.

LordChimp @ Aug 7th 2008 8:40PM

You are not alone. I loved the game to death and would gladly welcome a sequel. I bought the game for Crackdown, not the Halo 3 beta but that was at least a nice incentive lol.

Tiptup300 @ Aug 7th 2008 10:09PM

Also side missions would help!

Make the city a bigger more intricate metropolis.

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 7th 2008 7:53PM

"Cries" finally a sequel, the ending has been bugging me... Also Realtime Worlds, after you finish APB, and release this sequel, YOU BETTER MAKE THE HARPOON GUN FREE ON XBL!!!!!

JCA @ Aug 8th 2008 1:43AM

Did anyone else Harpoon bad guys to the hood of a car and then just....drive around? :)

How bout Harpooning guys to a brick wall and then fire a rocket at it to watch all the guys burst in flames and start spinning around because of the blast force?

I HEART CRACKDOWN :D

rv @ Aug 8th 2008 10:43AM

I fucking love crackdown. Seriously, in gta, I was disappinted that I couldnt climb the tall buildings and do crazy stuff up there :(

Tom18230 @ Aug 7th 2008 7:54PM

If they added a bit more depth to the bosses, some different missions, bigger city, moar superpowers and multiplayer I would definately buy Crackdown 2! I loved the original (and not JUST for the halo 3 beta :P )!

ice~ @ Aug 7th 2008 8:02PM

yes this would be a dream come true....I personally believe crackdown was the best 360 game, most fun I ever had!!! Pleaseake a sequal I beg of thee. This game deserves more crdit thanit actually gets, you sit me down in front of crackdown and I can take you to any part of the city anywhere.....it was so awesome

Shogan @ Aug 7th 2008 8:11PM

I bought this last November and have had a GREAT time with the game. They could tweak a few things, add a few things, but keep the gameplay and have a truly awesome game. The original Crackdown is easily one of my favorite 360 titles. Crazy fun to play...

Che @ Aug 7th 2008 8:12PM

This reminded me to finally make this:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=30066582574&ref=mf

(It might seem like spam but it is relevant).

I have only just completed the story of Crackdown myself, but it is the first game to keep me going on it until 5 am (GMT) so that give a good idea. It was easily one of the best games the 360 has ever had, and it deserves a sequel.

bwryan75 @ Aug 7th 2008 8:33PM

Loved this game -- I would be disappointed if Microsoft handed this IP over to another developer.

I thought Crackdown sold reasonably well, though -- is a Crackdown 2 less of a sure thing than a brand new IP, APB?

I have a feeling that used game sales have killed the long tail of Crackdown's financial success -- I always see 15-20 used copies at Gamespot for about $20. For shame, people -- why trade the best co-op experience on the 360 away?

Jon2309 @ Aug 7th 2008 8:39PM

Loved the game, it's like GTA's exploration taken to the extreme, and it blows a lot of shit up in the process. Sequel would definitely be a day-one purchase.

And if "the numbers don't add up", slap a logo of something Halo related on it, and they will.
Even if I had 10x more fun on Crackdown than I had with Halo 3 beta.

ill trooper @ Aug 7th 2008 8:50PM

Amazing game. One of the games I've enjoyed most on the 360. Sequel? I will buy it day 1.

ice~ @ Aug 7th 2008 8:59PM

Lol I played the halo beta once when I bought crackdown cause crackdown was too addicting.... anyone remember Cluckin Good Chicken?? or the amazing feeling of collecting all agility orbs and jumping insanely fucking high while shooting rockets down at innocent cars and shai gen gangbangers?? OR how about scaling the "Big Wang" Tower with a suped up SUV?? Or jumping off the agency building for an achievement?? MY GOD that game was so memorable....someone must agree with me :D

LordChimp @ Aug 7th 2008 9:13PM

I am with you. The instant I played the game, I knew this was a game I will remember for along time. I sold a lot of my old 360 games but this game I kept because I love it too much. I still love the satisfaction of finding all of those orbs.

ice~ @ Aug 7th 2008 10:05PM

lol I will never trade it in. it's a classic for me

Tom18230 @ Aug 7th 2008 10:14PM

This was the first 360 game I ever played and the moment I jumped from 1 skyscraper to the other, landed in a street sending cards flying all whilst firing rockets at gang members I pretty much went "OMGWTFLOLBBQ!!!!!!" and played it for hours. I want a sequel!

Linkman2004 @ Aug 7th 2008 9:13PM

I played the first game to death. But if they make a sequal it needs to come to the PC, as well, since I don't have access to a 360 anymore.

Tom18230 @ Aug 7th 2008 10:14PM

I'd love a pc version! Imagine the mods people could make... wow.

kojo87 @ Aug 7th 2008 10:39PM

yes yes yes put it on PC! even if it is a port i would pick up a copy

better yet put it on Steam!

Hoffer @ Aug 7th 2008 10:28PM

On my list of top games this generation, Crackdown is up there. I spent countless hours with that game. So much fun. If they don't come out with a sequel, I'll be very disappointed.

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 8th 2008 12:07AM

Co-Op was great, making your guy uber was fun, reason why people didn't like it was either

A) They just wanted Halo 3 Beta

or B) They hate being cops, rather be someone Running from the Police.

aka they never gave it a chance.

I remember on Crackdown me and my friend on live would chase down a car through the highway, yell get at of the car, blow his tires, and yank the guy out... then we assaulted him with a rubber ducky and punted him off the highway into the water, after that we blew up the rubber ducky on the highway cause we stuck it with C4s of course..

Good times...Good times.

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 8th 2008 12:10AM

Instead of at the car, I meant to say out of the car.

nick @ Aug 8th 2008 12:12AM

I loved the game, and would simply be estatic if another was ever made. Btw, didn't the first sell almost 1.5 million copies? What about those numbers didn't add up? What were they expecting to sell?

Bearxor @ Aug 8th 2008 12:26AM

Sequel?

Yes, please!

Vcize @ Aug 8th 2008 12:27AM

I would pay $500 for this game.

Vcize @ Aug 8th 2008 1:06AM

AKA, if this comes out on the next round of consoles I'll buy whichever one has this.

ScottG13 @ Aug 8th 2008 8:46AM

There is no reason to not be working on Crackdown 2 right now. It sold great and is one of the console defining titles for the 360. Great co-op and great action and an awesome art style. GET ANOTHER DEV TEAM!

Neuromancer @ Aug 8th 2008 8:55AM

I loved this game, honestly I have no complaints about it. People who complain about lack of mission diversity or story should stick to something like GTAIV. Crackdown you just have to realize is all about fun, combat and exploring, not fetch quests and escort missions.

I would love a sequel to this game, more of the same in a different city would be ideal. I'd be leery if another developer made it though.

Vcize @ Aug 8th 2008 10:28AM

The number of incredibly fun things that these guys thought up for this game for the first iteration of a new IP is insane. There are so many things, both big and small, where you think "wouldn't it be cool if I could....." and you CAN do it.

These are things that usually get added to the 3rd or 4th sequel of a game, and these guys thought of it all the first go-round.

And it still does co-op better than 99.9% of the games out there, even more than a year later.

I can't imagine what they would come up with if they were to work on another one and use the lessons learned from the first game, which was already a masterpiece.

Even as a game that sold well over a million copies, this game was wildly underrated. This thing deserved to sell in Halo/CoD4 numbers.

Maybe Halo 4 will give us the beta for Crackdown 2.

Tom18230 @ Aug 8th 2008 11:09AM

I loved co-op, but I would also like to see proper multiplayer. Super Agents vs Gangs. Hide and Seek. Territories. Road Races. Climbing Races. Rooftop Races. Deathmatch. Team Deathmatch. There's just so many possibilities for online play!

Tom18230 @ Aug 8th 2008 11:05AM

Anyone else going to play crackdown straight after reading this :P !?

Professor Lario @ Aug 8th 2008 11:12AM

A buddy of mine convinced me to pick this up a few months ago for co-op play - got it for around $10. Wasn't too impressed initially, but two months down the road I might have more time in that game on the 360 than any other. Crackdown doesn't do any one thing amazingly well, but the fun factor is through the roof.

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 8th 2008 5:16PM

Playing as a super agent I think Through the roof can actually be literaly, yay uber jumps

tiremfej @ Aug 8th 2008 4:25PM

If they can make a Fusion Frenzy 2, they can make a Crackdown sequel. Crackdown, is one of the most underated games I've ever played, excellent fun.

Knoxximus @ Aug 9th 2008 12:58AM

Personally, I like this game a lot better than GTA4.

Dustin @ Aug 11th 2008 12:38AM

Original was incredible, and given that the H3beta was included, I can't fathom the statement "number didn't add up"

It would certainly make it onto the list of games desparately in need of sequels (ahem, Beyond Good & Evil, Jade Empire, Portal, Dreamfall)