Square Enix snags rights to True Crime: Hong Kong from Activision
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"The finished product was not going to be at the top of that genre," Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg told Joystiq following the sudden cancellation of the publisher's True Crime: Hong Kong reboot in February. That blunt assessment hasn't stopped Square Enix from picking up the rights to the United Front Games-developed title from Activision and placing it under the management of Square Enix London Studios and its general manager, Lee Singleton.
"When we first saw and got our hands on the game we fell in love with it," Singleton tells Gamasutra, further describing the game as a "great big bucket of fun." Square Enix London Studios knows a thing or two about "fun." The organization is tasked to provide a "fresh approach to third party game development" and, in that pursuit, it's managed games like Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham Asylum and Avalanche Studios' open-world Just Cause 2.
Since Square Enix didn't purchase the (somewhat worthless) True Crime IP, it appears it will be renaming the game; the "branding team is already working on concepts," Gama reports. And while the-game-formerly-known-as-True-Crime-Hong-Kong was destined for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC this November, Square's not ready to even address those specifics. After the game's cancellation, the development team had to "scale back" but now that Square Enix has picked up the title, "we're ready to turn up the heat and get the team up to capacity," Singleton says.
For his part, Activision's Hirshberg tells Gama, "Our team has worked very hard to find a solution where everybody wins. Square Enix gets the benefit of the tremendous investment we've made in the game thus far. UFG gets to stay together and complete their vision. And gamers get to play a great game. We couldn't be more thrilled." And while most gamers will no doubt look forward to the title's release, if only to play "Would I Have Cancelled It," Singleton reminds us that the game still needs work. "We are committed to working with the team at United Front Games and giving them the time needed to realize the full potential of the game's standout features and create a truly unique open world adventure." Now we wait to see if Square's able to release something "at the top of that genre."
"When we first saw and got our hands on the game we fell in love with it," Singleton tells Gamasutra, further describing the game as a "great big bucket of fun." Square Enix London Studios knows a thing or two about "fun." The organization is tasked to provide a "fresh approach to third party game development" and, in that pursuit, it's managed games like Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham Asylum and Avalanche Studios' open-world Just Cause 2.
Since Square Enix didn't purchase the (somewhat worthless) True Crime IP, it appears it will be renaming the game; the "branding team is already working on concepts," Gama reports. And while the-game-formerly-known-as-True-Crime-Hong-Kong was destined for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC this November, Square's not ready to even address those specifics. After the game's cancellation, the development team had to "scale back" but now that Square Enix has picked up the title, "we're ready to turn up the heat and get the team up to capacity," Singleton says.
For his part, Activision's Hirshberg tells Gama, "Our team has worked very hard to find a solution where everybody wins. Square Enix gets the benefit of the tremendous investment we've made in the game thus far. UFG gets to stay together and complete their vision. And gamers get to play a great game. We couldn't be more thrilled." And while most gamers will no doubt look forward to the title's release, if only to play "Would I Have Cancelled It," Singleton reminds us that the game still needs work. "We are committed to working with the team at United Front Games and giving them the time needed to realize the full potential of the game's standout features and create a truly unique open world adventure." Now we wait to see if Square's able to release something "at the top of that genre."
Reader Comments (73)
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:05PM CaptainProtonX said
Awesome, I guess. I don't remember this series.
Wasn't John Woo in this?
Wasn't John Woo in this?
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:10PM Hunter141072 said
@CaptainProtonX
That's Stranglehold, the first one was true Crime LA and it was garbage, the second one was worst. I never understood how such a good concept could not be exploited the way it should, a kick-ass cool cop living in a Michael Bay´s world, how could that not be awesome??? well, activision showed us it can be garbage......
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That's Stranglehold, the first one was true Crime LA and it was garbage, the second one was worst. I never understood how such a good concept could not be exploited the way it should, a kick-ass cool cop living in a Michael Bay´s world, how could that not be awesome??? well, activision showed us it can be garbage......
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:43PM ItsameMatt03 said
@Hunter141072
You just put Michael Bay in the same sentence as "awesome." Fail.
True Crime isn't garbage; it's not great, just mediocre, but "garbage" is reserved for a game far beyond that. I actually think New York City was better than Streets of L.A.
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You just put Michael Bay in the same sentence as "awesome." Fail.
True Crime isn't garbage; it's not great, just mediocre, but "garbage" is reserved for a game far beyond that. I actually think New York City was better than Streets of L.A.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 5:15PM Hunter141072 said
@ItsameMatt03
No, YOU thought i put it there for awesome YOUR FAIL....i put it there for the amount of explosions and destruction that all his movies have, you can say anything about him. Hell, i think he is one of worst directors ever whhne it comes to a story, but he knows how to do action sequences, now imagine something like that on a game??? something like bad boys, with lot of awesome chases and explosions, that would be a great game, something that True Crime has always promised but never delivered.......
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No, YOU thought i put it there for awesome YOUR FAIL....i put it there for the amount of explosions and destruction that all his movies have, you can say anything about him. Hell, i think he is one of worst directors ever whhne it comes to a story, but he knows how to do action sequences, now imagine something like that on a game??? something like bad boys, with lot of awesome chases and explosions, that would be a great game, something that True Crime has always promised but never delivered.......
Posted: Aug 2nd 2011 10:48AM CamelCamelCamel said
@CaptainProtonX Also, I think you mean Chow Yun-fat. He's the actor. The legend. The BAMF.
John Woo is the director/producer.
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John Woo is the director/producer.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:06PM Hunter141072 said
I just hope it turns out to be a great successful game, just to enjoy the big slap on the face of activision.......
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 9:14PM Fire Walk With Me said
@Hunter141072 if Eidos makes it, and they will, it has a good chance of being a great sandbox game.
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:08PM Dubiousity said
I wonder how long it will be before Kotick tries to get the game back.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:50PM philmcfail said
@Dubiousity
Didn't they do the same thing with Brutal Legends a long while back? I don't think they tried to get it back in any way after it got into EA's hands.
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Didn't they do the same thing with Brutal Legends a long while back? I don't think they tried to get it back in any way after it got into EA's hands.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:08PM andrewpoe said
To use a cop movie cliche: Shit just got real.
Posted: Aug 2nd 2011 10:45AM CamelCamelCamel said
@andrewpoe This court finds that, under normal circumstances, a line of dialogue must be used in more than Bad Boys 2 to be technically classified as a cliche. However taking into consideration the involvement of Messrs Bay and Smith, notorious and repeat offenders against the innovation of fictional narrative and dialogue, I will allow it.
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:10PM MLC said
Good for UFG. I'm happy for them.
On another note, I hope Sony resurrects Eight Days and The Getaway before this gen is over with. I mean, at least put 1 of them on the PSV!
Please, Sony!
On another note, I hope Sony resurrects Eight Days and The Getaway before this gen is over with. I mean, at least put 1 of them on the PSV!
Please, Sony!
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:11PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@MLC
I second this. I love The Getaway franchise. Eight Days looked amazing; loved that animation.
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I second this. I love The Getaway franchise. Eight Days looked amazing; loved that animation.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:10PM DokiDokiBawanga said
i can tell even now this is BAD idea, Square Enix , bad!
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:11PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@DokiDokiBawanga
Considering Japanese role-playing games have proven to be a financial failure for Square this generation, I'd say this was actually a wise move. It's time to move away from games like FFXIII and SO4.
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Considering Japanese role-playing games have proven to be a financial failure for Square this generation, I'd say this was actually a wise move. It's time to move away from games like FFXIII and SO4.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:20PM DokiDokiBawanga said
@KungFuChaosNinja get your facts straight, FFXIII was not a failure for SE. Final Fantasy XIII had shipped 5.5 million copies worldwide and have good score on metacentric of above 80. SO4 was ok game it have 72 on meta and sold decently.
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 9:20PM Fire Walk With Me said
@DokiDokiBawanga so whats the bad idea? Eidos will lead this game if it's made.
Just cause 2 with a American City skin. And thats fine JC2 was 10 times the game GTA was.
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Just cause 2 with a American City skin. And thats fine JC2 was 10 times the game GTA was.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 10:37PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@DokiDokiBawanga
Awful games with awful story and voice acting. Everyone thinks FFXIII was a gigantic disappointment. And SO4 was just an all around mess. How can they pretend to care about story, yet they cling so closely to anime stereotypes. Make me care about a character, not cringe when it opens its mouth.
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Awful games with awful story and voice acting. Everyone thinks FFXIII was a gigantic disappointment. And SO4 was just an all around mess. How can they pretend to care about story, yet they cling so closely to anime stereotypes. Make me care about a character, not cringe when it opens its mouth.
Posted: Aug 2nd 2011 7:19AM DokiDokiBawanga said
@KungFuChaosNinja it's just your opinion and not everyone, i think FFXIII was good game as well as most of the professional reviewers .
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:10PM making11s said
True Crime: Streets of LA started out fun then took a weird super natural turn. It felt unfinished, so I never bought the sequel(s?). Although, I did enjoy the big fight in the rain set to "Minerva" by the Deftones, but I guess that's proof of a bad game if all I can remember about it is a rainy fight scene set to a song I already knew.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:11PM Yisrael said
Yes this made me happy, despite what people say, I actually really enjoyed the other two a thought they was great fun and a change from playing a gangster. I hope they keep the bit where you respond to random crimes that was a very strong point for me in the other games.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:12PM ItsameMatt03 said
Meh. True Crime was always a mediocre sandbox game. The premise of being the cop was interesting, but the games just were polished enough. I really doubt this will be in any better hands at Sqeenix.
Posted: Aug 2nd 2011 10:56AM CamelCamelCamel said
@ItsameMatt03 One day you're going to be really embarrassed that you ever said "meh." And rightly so.
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Posted: Aug 2nd 2011 5:16PM ItsameMatt03 said
@CamelCamelCamel
Didn't know there was this much love for the True Crime franchise. I've always thought it to be average.
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Didn't know there was this much love for the True Crime franchise. I've always thought it to be average.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:14PM Shadowbender said
Schuweet.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:15PM FriedConsole said
Kane and Lynch 3
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:17PM aussieCanuck said
haha everyone with a PS3 and Xbox 360 should buy this game just as an FU to Acti haha
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:31PM DustbinK said
This turned out great when Rockstar did this with Red Dead Revolver... I don't think SE is going to have the same success.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:31PM (Unverified) said
What have you become Square-Enix?
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:07PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@(Unverified)
They've come to their senses. Japanese role-playing games have become awful.
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They've come to their senses. Japanese role-playing games have become awful.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:09PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@ecco6t9
Yeah, buying up Eidos and getting Human Revolution was a bad move...
Wait, are you serious? Human Revolution has more hype than any of their more recent titles.
Buying Eidos was a godsend for them and gamers.
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Yeah, buying up Eidos and getting Human Revolution was a bad move...
Wait, are you serious? Human Revolution has more hype than any of their more recent titles.
Buying Eidos was a godsend for them and gamers.
Posted: Aug 2nd 2011 10:57AM CamelCamelCamel said
@KungFuChaosNinja Oh, that's not true. They were always awful.
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:31PM Xero Theory said
O_O
Really Square?
Really Square?
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:06PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@Xero Theory
Yes, really. It's a better alternative than FFXIII, SO4, etc. Those games are just bad.
Give me Deus Ex, Thief, this, and I'll be a happy boy.
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Yes, really. It's a better alternative than FFXIII, SO4, etc. Those games are just bad.
Give me Deus Ex, Thief, this, and I'll be a happy boy.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:58PM DokiDokiBawanga said
@KungFuChaosNinja it's your opinion. 80 (FFXIII) and 70(SO4) on metacritic is not bad. True Crime seem to be long dead franchise with questionable resurrecting benefits.
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 7:33PM Xero Theory said
@DokiDokiBawanga Not to mention it just doesn't seem like a Square game imo. If anything it seems like they just bought the rights to the name and it'll be a different style game.
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Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:45PM MyAbsolution said
If Activision can't sell 3 million plus copies, then they don't want it.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:45PM Fuzunga said
Good for them. I"ll probably pick it up just to stick it to activision.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:50PM Roflrex said
I detect a future lawsuit...
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 4:52PM Killerlampshade said
You know what? Losing the True Crime name is probably a good thing. If anything that title would draw people away.
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 5:09PM whylekat said
How is this franchise not dead already?
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:05PM KungFuChaosNinja said
@whylekat
Since it won't be carrying the True Crime name, I'm guessing it is "dead."
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Since it won't be carrying the True Crime name, I'm guessing it is "dead."
Posted: Aug 1st 2011 6:09PM solidsnake8282 said
@whylekat it was dead....but now it's the zombie fever catching up to video games
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