God of War Collection porting 'lasted 15 weeks'

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 2nd 2009 at 11:58AM }

"At E3, we got a lot of positive buzz for God of War III. We read the blog posts, forums and editorials, and it was clear that fans really wanted to see God of War 1 & 2 on PlayStation 3," Santa Monica Studios director John Hight recently told Game Hunters. We're not entirely sure why this would come as a surprise to anyone at Sony, considering the franchise is arguably the most beloved first-party property for the PlayStation brand. But apparently, it was only after the fan response to God of War's E3 showing that someone at Sony thought, "Hey, that's a really good idea."

"Bluepoint used our PlayStation 2 game code and data and their own rendering pipeline," Hight explained of the porting process, which only "lasted 15 weeks" and "went into manufacturing two days ahead of schedule with no issues." With a scheduled November 17 release, that means porting for the God of War Collection started in late July or early August, verifying Hight's claims that the project began only after the conclusion of this year's E3.

While the God of War Collection's financial success is pretty much guaranteed, it'll probably take a while before a certain Sony executive realizes, "Hey, we should do more of these." Sure, there are a lot of PS2 games worthy of an HD remix, but it should be very clear what the next collection should be.

Gallery: God of War Collection

Tags: bluepoint, god-of-war, god-of-war-collection, port, porting

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:02PM

"but it should be very clear what the next collection should be."

Yes, Dark Cloud 1 and 2 for when Level-5 finally decides to get off their asses and make 3.

Rob S. @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:13PM

I second, third and fourth this.

TheTjalian @ Nov 3rd 2009 3:12AM

paging dr. right to the truth ward!

Number_Zero @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:02PM

The next collection should be what you said but the Jak and Sly Cooper games should follow right after it.

Probably will pick this collection up eventually, maybe when it goes cheaper.

tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:20PM

I'd love a jak or sly one, but let's face it...Naughty Dog's done with Jak now.

I'd pretty much like anything except a team ico collection, they're too busy trying to make emotional artsy games than fun games.

Viking @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:31PM

tmacairjordan87:
It's not to late! They can still continue with the Jak series!
It looked so fantastic on PS2, wonder how it would look on PS3, and they left the series with a cliffhanger.

Bring it, Naughty Dog!

Sly @ Nov 2nd 2009 5:30PM

agreed with sly.

Draco @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:08PM

Final Fantasy X and XII?

LokeSTL @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:41PM

Damn straight! Go ahead and throw X-2 in there to make it complete. Wasn't a big fan of X-2 and XII myself, but I'd give them another go for a graphical update and a set of trophies.

Evildude @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:50PM

You can't be serious!?

We don't need that on the PS3, nuff said

Bluebrake @ Nov 2nd 2009 1:30PM

Ooh, and make it the version of XII with the job system that was never released outside of Japan. I could definitely get behind that.

This is Square, though. They only port things they've ported a billion times in the past, and then they just get TOSE to do it as half-assed as possible.

Draco @ Nov 2nd 2009 1:32PM

Yeah the international version is much better.

Have you played FFX international? it's considerable better due to the new sphere grid. I will be importing FFXIII internation when it comes out.

Fullmetal Salchemist @ Nov 2nd 2009 1:32PM

But... FFX was really bad.

SpaceFox @ Nov 2nd 2009 4:03PM

FFX is my favorite game ever..... ever. I just beat it again a few months ago but I've never played XII nor did I get a chance to finish X-2, so I would definitely buy that!

Heck, If they ported FFX to PS3 with HD and trophies, I'd buy that alone for 20-30 dollars! It'd be worth it, FFX with trophies for me is like a nerd's dream come true.

Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) Brigade] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 2nd 2009 5:37PM

I highly suggest picking up FF XII. An extremely underapreciated gem. The story is actually mature (Without teenage angst), the gameplay is fine tuned to the max, and there is HOURS of content. I'm playing through it right now for a second time.

DamonTheMoney @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:09PM

The next Collection should obviously be Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus in anticipation for when The Last Gaurdian.

There are no other games (not even GoW1&2) that I'd like to see more on the PS3. Masterpieces.

Babel @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:42PM

Agreed. I really need to play Ico, but I have one of the new/lamer PS3s, so this would be a great opportunity to enjoy a classic.

Demerge @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:51PM

although i dont condone emulation, the PCSX2 emulator works wonders for playing ico and sotc. i never owned a ps2 last generation, and i wanted nothing more than to play those games. so i bought them and ran them off disc on my pc. and yeah, there were a few graphical glitches, but it didnt taint the experience. id give anything to have a GOW-style collection for these on my ps3.
ANYTHING.
i mean, the closest i have at present are the LBP costumes...

LokeSTL @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:53PM

That pretty much echos what 90% of the Playstation community wants. Day one purchase for me, that's a given.

Duke @ Nov 2nd 2009 1:43PM

Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus were my first thoughts when I was reading "Hey, we should do more of these." Definitely would be a must have for many.

Chromekreeper @ Nov 2nd 2009 1:44PM

honestly , to see a colossus in HD would give orgasmic responses

Chris @ Nov 2nd 2009 5:35PM

Just as with the God of War Collection, I already own both ICO and SOC and can play them on my PS3... so updated ports would be a tough buy for me.

Nah, I'd still pay for an HD Shadow of the Colossus. Agro!!!

dan @ Nov 2nd 2009 7:30PM

I also already own ICO and SOTC and have played both in the last few months, but I would buy it instantly if it was released on the PS3 with upgraded graphics. I also have GOW and GOW2 and have the PS3 version preordered. I don't think I'd do that for many other games, but the GOW series and the Team ICO series are 100% definite buys.

dave @ Nov 2nd 2009 8:51PM

Did you realise that there were a few colossi left out of "Shadow of the Colossus"? They cut them because the PS2 couldn't cope with their complexity.

Now, wouldn't it be a wonderful extra if they could include the missing colossi? Instant purchase for me. Sony, please oh please do this!

Prof. Von Manifest (aka Dallas McCoy of the Cocaine Imperium) [PSN: Manifest37] @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:10PM

MGS 2 & 3!!

Cody @ Nov 2nd 2009 5:36PM

After all the time i just spent beating Twin Snakes and working on Sons of Liberty so far, so i could start MGS4, i certainly hope they wouldn't go and release HD, trophy-supported versions now... at least wait a year or two.

skyzbig @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:11PM

BMX XXX?

martyfarty389 @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:44PM

The guy game hands down

Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:12PM

GTA 3/VC/San Andreas!

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:13PM

dear lord no....not first party for one thing.....and I don't want to have to go thru feed CJ and the working out shit again....that was just too much

Ashkental @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:16PM

I would prolly go trought it... I did not finish ANY GTA except for GTA IV, GTA SA i got almost to the end but it was so damn long that i gave it up (and i had PS3 games to play too)

Oh, and remove the working out shit and put hot coffe instead.

I'll leave you guys with those words.

den-69 @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:14PM

I just want FFX to be honest.
As good as the rest of the PS2 games were, this was my first game I played and my favourite of them.
Imagine the trophies for it...

Viking @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:32PM

It's a very good trophy-game indeed, but I imagine they would be a pain in the ass too. Defeat Penance - 1 gold trophy. The Platinum would be crazy.

LokeSTL @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:52PM

FFX is my most wanted PS2 game to be upgraded. If anything, it'd be the minigame trophies that I would dread. Effing butterflies, chocobo races, and lightning strikes!!!

den-69 @ Nov 2nd 2009 1:06PM

Yeah, but imagine actually getting the platinum for a PS2 game you loved to bits lol.
It would be entirely worth the trouble :-D

But I agree, stupid butterflies...

SpaceFox @ Nov 2nd 2009 4:08PM

I agree completely den-69. I actually just posted that above before reading your comment. FFX is my favorite game ever, and also the first game I really played and enjoyed the story. Ending made me tear up...

But yeah, if they make a port there better not be a trophy for all the Celestial Weapons, that damn chocobo race was so hard.

PuBeLeSs @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:15PM

i have never played GOW 1 or 2, hell ive never owned a playstation till my ps3 anyways, i cant wait to get my hand on these, so i can love gow 3 as much as hopefully everyone else will. this will only make uncharted 2, mw2 last much longer.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Nov 2nd 2009 12:15PM

15 weeks?? to port a game?? that all...and I would imagine that as they did more of them they would get faster....after doing a number of games it could possibly take only a month or less to do a port like that....I'm all for a Team Ico collection

useedems @ Nov 2nd 2009 10:40PM

Yeah but the emos that worked on SotC and Ico already said they were doing strange things with the PS2 code to get the game to (barely) work well on the PS2. They said it would be difficult if not impossible to port.

However, that being said, I'm sure GoW 1 and 2 also pushed the PS2 in ways the hardware designers never imagined, so I think they should at least look over the code first and give it a shot. I never beat SotC due to the PS3 release timing and I still regret selling it.