Journey floating to PSN in Spring 2012

by Ben Gilbert on Sep 27th 2011 9:12AM

After teasing us with gorgeous footage, press demos, and a beta, Flower dev thatgamecompany today announced intentions to launch its next game, Journey, in Spring 2012. As with previous TGC games, Journey will arrive exclusively on the PlayStation 3's digital store.

"While there is still a ton of care and polish needed, we can't wait to finally deliver Journey, TGC's take on an online adventure game," creative director Jenova Chen writes on the PlayStation blog. "Like all our games, Journey is an experiment. In the end, it's what you think that matters."

Tags: journey, playstation, playstation-network, ps3, psn, q1-2012, release-date, that-game-company, thatgamecompany

Reader Comments (50)

This looks so gorgeous. I just want to try it out before I buy it just based on looks.

@MontEdZuma

Its fantastic. Imagine ICO but more relaxed and without the Shadow People! Its great. I spent hours on it with the BETA.

I will be buying it.

If it's more than $5 it's too much. There, I said it.

@eat it

-.-

A fantastic, beautiful, and original downloadable game for $10-15: 'Too much!'

A drab, cinematic, me-too retail online military shooter for $50-60: 'Bought all sixteen of 'em last year!!!!!'

@eat it
I feel the same way about EL SHADDAI and CHILD OF EDEN. :\

well, considering I just bought Deus Ex for $35 on sale at amazon and then traded it back to amazon for $31

I just bought El Shaddai for $37 and I plan on selling that used for over $30 as well

two full beautiful games for around $5 each.

You can keep playing the shooters, but there is plenty of other competition out there for my five dollars.

@eat it
Don't know exactly why you were downvoted, cheaper is always better.

I have Flow, Flower, and had the Journey beta. They're all neat little PSN games, but they're not exactly "games" in the conventional sense. $5 - $7 seems more reasonable.

@eat it

Nothing wrong with being a cheapskate, I love a good gaming deal as much as the next guy, but you tend to equate price and "worth" in a way that is gross and weird to me.

@baby sea tuna
maybe you should grow the hell up. if you really feel that this game is worth 10-20 because its "different" you should really consider what 20 bucks can really get you.

@sydweis I love how ironic your post is, you attack Baby Sea Tuna's maturity in a very childish way.

I don't see what's wrong with what Baby Sea Tuna wrote. He likes a deal as much as the next person but is smart enough to see that price is not neccesarily equivalent to worth.

The example I would present is going to a high end restaurant and paying 200 pounds for a meal for two, and sure, you're paying for the experience; but you end up still being hungry after (Just like with a lot of AAA games), or going to a pub and paying 20 quid for your dinner and getting something not quite so "professionally" made, but you feel nice and satisfied with it.

I didn't feel satisfied with Flow or flower and they cost me just as much as a few AAA games I've bought, played, and sold.

Quick! Someone change the calendar at TGC!

@eat it
Most non multiplayer games run about 10 bucks. anything over that without a platinum trophy can be considered over priced, Most multiplayer enabled games run about 15, which usually pays for the servers required. Above that and those games are expensive. these are the prices folks get used to them because Journey, barring a miracle, will probably be between 12 and 15 bucks.

The beta was amazing. But hey, what else to you expect from thatgamecompany?

Couldn't come out any sooner, may have to go back to Flower to get my TGC fix.

Why have the Beta so early? dammit....now I have to wait for that masterpiece at least another 6 months....oh well...as long as its done right It's cool with me

This is how betas should be handled. They can use that data and feedback, and truly implement changes before release unlike a lot of the glorified multiplayer demos we see anymore.

@Epoque

Agreed. As hard as the wait was for Gears 3, many of the adjustments made post-beta really helped the finished product. I hope I can say the same thing for Uncharted 3 as well, since I was really unhappy with the multiplayer beta.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
When we had the beta, we didn't know for sure when the game would be ready to ship, as plenty of things can happen.

All of the info received about bugs, experiences, etc. have really helped us a lot, and showed us that we were on the right track for multiplayer. We go through a lot of prototypes (Flower had 13!), so it was held in July to make sure that we had the online just right just in case we had to remake the online aspect.

Now we are working mostly on polishing, squashing bugs, and finishing the various levels, so the game is as mesmerizing as Flower was on Day One!

DAMMNNNN! Looks like one of my most anticipated games of 2011 just became one of my most anticipated games of 2012. Flower was one of my favorite games of 2009, and with how slammed the end of 2011 is looking, I'm glad I'll have some time in the spring to give this game the attention it deserves.

"In the end, it's what you think that matters."

I think it's taking too long to release. ;)

THAT'S NOT TOMORROW!

Seriously though, I cannot wait to play this game. One of the very few (and do I mean very few!) games I will purchase day one.

This game would do so much better on the 360...

@StarcasM

Unless it was part of a "Summer of Arcade" type promotion, Sony will probably give it a lot more marketing than MS would have, seeing as Flow and Flower were both given sizable pushes on PSN.

That, and thatgamecompany's entire loving and loyal fanbase is on PS3.

@StarcasM

That seems to be a popular myth.

@StarcasM

Interestingly enough, the userbase of the PS3 is more "experienced" than that of the 360. I say "experienced" in that they are looking for more "mature" games, and not just ones that are rated Mature.

Games like flOw, Flower, and Heavy Rain have flourished on the PS3 because the Sony brand attracts more people who are more interested in those types of games than the Xbox brand. Sony is also doing more to cultivate these kinds of experiences than the other large game companies.

There is an ever increasing market on all consoles, and Mac & PC, for these types of games, and with games like Limbo doing very well on the 360, PS3, and PC. This shows that in the near future there will be more multiplatform/more available games that are released.

As always, this is speculation, and TGC's games could have done a lot better on the PS3, but it doesn't seem very likely.

Looks like 2012 is going to be another BRILLIANT PS3 year :P (the beta was AMAZING) :P

Anyone knows if it's possible to play this offline co-op?

@Design by Adrian
The entire point of the multiplayer is the mystery of your occasional partners. the isolation of single player mixed with the discovery of another individual in a vast waste land, so no, offline co-op is unlikely.

@PN04

Yes, I understood the main idea. I'm just looking for more games you can play at home with your mate.

Don't Stop... Believing!

(sorry)

@My Prerogative
Hold on to that feeling.

Played the game last weekend in Austin and loved it. Will buy it the second it comes out.

@mrantimatter Dammit, I actually thought this was news about the band. I leave very, very disappointed.

Softly you whisper...you're so sincere...

What is going on with this game? Was the beta a major crash fest or what?

@Godmars
Like a lot of artsy developers (like Team Ico) they take more of a leisurely "it's done when we feel it's done" approach to getting their game out. When they do the game will be polished like a diamond.

"...there is still a ton of care and polish needed..." That's what I like to hear from developers, who actually want to iron things out pre-release.

Dang I was expecting it this year. Oh well, I'll just put this money in a super secret place.

This better be the Free PSN game of the month for plus users when it releases. Other wise i will be pissed. So far its looking pretty cool i just hope it would have more replay value than Flower.

I'm anxious to play it, but it's nice to know the beta actually meant something.

2012? Really? Sheesh, I thought this would be out by Christmas for sure.

While I feel there wasn't much to Flow, Flower blew me away. It wasn't just because I hadn't experienced anything like it, it was because it was a beautiful and moving experience. The value of a game like Flower isn't measured by it's linear length, but by the way it sticks with you. In that way, it far exceeds most other games I have played in the past decade.

I will buy Journey day 1 without question or hesitation.

Now if only they'd release this, Flower, and Flow all together on a disc. I have crappy internet - yes, too crappy to even download these. :(

@eimajtl
The sad things is that even if this game were to be released on disc, your internet would probably be too weak to use the online functionality... BTW if your internet is so bad you cant download Flow that is REALLY sad. My condolences.

@PN04

Ah, can Journey not be played offline? I know there's the whole bit with randomly finding other players, but does that mean it can only be online? Demon's Souls has a pretty unique multiplayer that adds to the single player, but it isn't required to enjoy it.

You know, I haven't actually tried to download Flow. I really ought to though. I'm just on crappy satellite internet so I don't try much downloading on my consoles. Hell, I have a 200mb daily download limit. Is Flow bigger than that? >_<

@eimajtl
Journey's multiplayer basically treats the user as if they are offline but always looking for a new player online. So, you can play the game without anyone else.

As the Community Manager for thatgamecompany, I can tell you playing it online and offline give two very different experiences, but both are simply amazing!

And as for a disc-based collection, we've been getting a LOT of requests from fans all over the world!

@Amish Gramish

That's great to hear. I've always been more inclined to play single player games, not only because of my internet situation, but also because that's just who I am. It's wonderful to hear that a game like this wouldn't exclude players like me.

Oh, please make it happen! I played Flow on a friend's PS3 and loved it. I would like to play that again plus Flower and Journey.

I don't have a PS3, but honestly, this game looks the most interesting to me out of all the games I've seen

ok, its official.. I hate finding out about games MONTHS before it comes out. I am seriously still waiting for this game.... and its an entire SEASON AWAY!!! WWHHAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Journey

Journey floating to PSN in Spring 2012

Reader Comments (50)

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:18AM MontEdZuma said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:38AM DigitalEmporer said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:18AM eat it said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:23AM DashingLarry said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:27AM Epoque said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:30AM foxhound said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:33AM eat it said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:34AM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:10AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 1:00PM sydweis said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 1:52PM Bobrek said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 2:03PM eat it said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 2:55PM Octoplus said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 6:04PM PN04 said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:20AM JakeAuditore said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:22AM DashingLarry said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:39AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:46AM Epoque said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:14AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Sep 28th 2011 1:28AM Amish Gramish said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 9:46AM Brett from Atlanta said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:00AM Altairio said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:04AM Dao Jones said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:09AM StarcasM said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:18AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:28AM Epoque said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 12:28PM civilciv said

Posted: Sep 28th 2011 1:36AM Amish Gramish said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:13AM RealityCheck2011 said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:19AM Design by Adrian said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 6:09PM PN04 said

Posted: Sep 28th 2011 4:02AM Design by Adrian said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 10:59AM My Prerogative said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 11:38AM mrantimatter said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 1:15PM berzirk said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 11:22AM Godmars said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 6:11PM PN04 said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 12:11PM captplut9465 said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 12:35PM SteveoftheGods said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 1:08PM gofish1985 said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 1:54PM Electrium said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 2:15PM 343 Guilty Fart said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 3:12PM wrongThinker said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 5:57PM eimajtl said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 6:15PM PN04 said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 6:48PM eimajtl said

Posted: Sep 28th 2011 1:23AM Amish Gramish said

Posted: Sep 28th 2011 12:41PM eimajtl said

Posted: Sep 27th 2011 7:16PM Vuvuzelas said

Posted: Nov 8th 2011 12:28AM ecliptic said

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