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Trophies: flOw

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 31st 2009 at 12:27PM }

	0 Platinum 1 Gold 3 Silver 10 Bronze	Difficulty: Easy Online Trophies? No Time to Completion: 5 hours DLC Trophies? No
	View Trophy List	Read More About the Game

Gallery: flOw

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Original soundtrack to flOw coming soon

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 5th 2009 at 11:00AM }

thatgamecompany's first PSN game, flOw, captivated players looking for a relaxing game experience. The soothing visuals and unique motion controls are certainly vital components of creating the feel of flOw, but the music is certainly driving force behind the game's soothing presentation. A recent PlayStation.Blog post has an interesting orchestral rearrangement of flOw's soundtrack, which you can watch after the break. Replacing the electronic sound of the original game with live instruments creates a totally different feel. After watching the performance, we wouldn't mind playing the game with a full choir cheering us on.

Those inspired by the performance will be saddened to know that this orchestral rendition will not be available for download "for various contractual reasons," according to Austin Wintory, the composer of flOw's score. Wintory does appease fans, however, letting them know that "an original soundtrack is in the works featuring the actual music from the game." Hopefully, the flOw soundtrack follows the steps of the PixelJunk series, releasing on PlayStation Network sans DRM.

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thatgamecompany's third Sony project is 'something you've never experienced before'

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 15th 2009 at 10:00PM }

thatgamecompany, aside from giving us a chance to start this paragraph off with a lowercase letter for once, is currently hard at work on its third contractual Sony project. At the Develop Conference in the UK this morning, tgc's Jenova Chen had a handful of artfully abstract information to drop on conference attendees regarding the upcoming game. He said the project "feels like a natural progression" from the company's other titles and will be "something you've never experienced before." So, Flowest confirmed? Not quite.

"In the future there's a lot of feelings that video games haven't explored that are open for us to find," Chen said -- he specifically cited God of War as "a really good game about hatred." As Eurogamer points out in its coverage of the conference, Chen repeatedly cited the iteration time necessary for a game concept to go into full production -- he says that the concept for Flower took about two years -- and as such, may very well not have any solid information to talk about regarding his company's next game. Have you considered the fourth dimension, Mr. Chen? Hmm?

[Image]

Creator of flOw decries flOw-esque Aquatica iPhone game

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 25th 2009 at 4:00PM }

You might be confused as to why we just posted a YouTube clip from the 2007 PSN hit flOw at the top of this very story. See, friends, that's not actually flOw -- it's an iPhone game from developer Ketara Software, titled Aquatica: The Underwater Adventure, and it's the biggest ripoff we've seen since the harrowing 2007 adventure title (and Game of the Year contender) Limbo of the Lost.

Thatgamecompany's Jenova Chen, who released the code for the Flash version of flOw shortly after its release, responded to the app by tweeting, "I released flOw source for people to learn. I didn't expect to see it on iphone without quoting the creator." In the comments on the YouTube clip above, Ketara responded to Chen's claims by explaining, "actually, all the source code is completely, 100% written from scratch," informing him that, "in general, most games within each class are practically the same, just different graphics." (Psst -- your graphics aren't different, Ketara!)

As more and more commenters harangued the small developer for apparently copying the PSN title, Ketara began damage control -- first by apologizing to Chen and the gaming community, by adding attribution to the video and app description, then ultimately by pulling the game off the App Store altogether. Ketara promises that "nothing like this" will happen again, so we probably won't be seeing Petals: The Flying Floral Adventure any time soon.

Boom Blox producer leaves EA, joins thatgamecompany

by Andrew Yoon { May 21st 2009 at 8:15PM }

thatgamecompany, the studio behind flOw and Flower, has managed to sweep away former EA developer Robin Hunickle. Hunickle worked as the lead designer behind MySims, and produced the two Wii Boom Blox titles. In a statement to Kotaku, Hunickle explains that she wants "to reach new people, with new experiences, via the medium of games and the language of game design" in her new position. With both flOw and Flower completed, Hunickle says thatgamecompany is "at the forefront of the indie movement."

It's currently unknown what position Hunickle will serve at thatgamecompany or what project she will be working on. The team is still contractually obligated to develop at least one more game for PlayStation Network.

You gotta believe Masaya Matsuura and Jenova Chen will speak at Develop Conference

by JC Fletcher { May 12th 2009 at 7:45PM }

Develop has just announced the addition of two speakers to the Develop Conference's 2009 lineup, both respected game designers whose works tend to be more than a little unconventional.

Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura, whose last game was the Wii marching adventure Major Minor's Majestic March, will present "It's Time for Music Games 2.0," in which the developer will "map out unexplored gaming possibilities and reinvent our understanding of the genre." thatgamecompany's Jenova Chen will present a retrospective about flOw and Flower, and "explore the relationship between games, entertainment and art."

The Develop Conference will be held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton from July 14th through July 16th. If you're flying there and the pilot looks like this guy, get off and wait for the next plane.

Puzzle & Power Packs: PSN-only games on UMD this Oct.

by Christopher Grant { Sep 4th 2008 at 11:27AM }

Despite a higher percentage of broadband penetration in Europe, and the introduction of a PC-based PlayStation Store for the PS3-less, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has still opted to wrangle up the bits of some of the PSP's download-only titles for UMD distribution in themed "packs".

The first two packs (there are "more Collection Packs to be released throughout 2009") are the Puzzle Pack – cramming the mischievous Lemmings with the excitable Go! Sudoku and Go! Puzzle – and the Power Pack – an odd grouping of Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, the more contemplative stylings of flOw, and the rhythm-happy Beats. The Puzzle Pack is slated for a European debut in "mid" October while the Power Pack will come along right behind it, in "late" October. We've asked the fine folks at SCEA to comment on a North American release so, until then, let's just assume this is Europe-only.

Sony Europe preps UMD collection of downloadable games

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 4th 2008 at 11:00AM }

Many hardcore PSP fans love being able to launch games off the Memory Stick, instead of UMD. Not only does it mean we can carry multiple games on our system, without having to carry around an extra pouch for games, but games stored on Memory Stick typically load faster as well. In spite of that, many casual users of PSP may not know about the PLAYSTATION Store. Sony Europe's solution? To bring downloadable games out on UMD.

The PLAYSTATION®Network Collection - Power pack will arrive in Europe next month, and it will house three very different downloadable games: beats, a music game which lets you use your own MP3 collection, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, a third-person multiplayer shooter based on the Syphon Filter universe, and flOw, a relaxing adventure where players grow and evolve creatures.

The PLAYSTATION®Network Collection - Puzzle pack will feature three other download games: Lemmings, Go! Sudoku! and Go! Puzzle. This collection will also be available next month.

[Via Siliconera]

Joystiq E3 hands-on: flower (PSN)

by Ross Miller { Jul 21st 2008 at 7:00AM }

Before E3, the last time we heard anything about flOw dev Thatgamecompany's newest project was November 2007. Cut to last week, when TGC Creative Director and co-founder Jenova Chen guided us through an early build of their upcoming PSN title flower (note the 'o' is now lowercase).

Like flOw, it's really hard for us to confidently form an opinion on the abstract idea (check out PS3 Fanboy for their praises). We hope Sony decides to release a demo with this game. Videos and previews will not do flower justice; it's a game worth trying for yourself.

Gallery: Flower

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This Week in Review: A Smashing Start

by Ross Miller { Mar 7th 2008 at 9:00PM }

Welcome to This Week in Review (formerly This Week in DLC), where we round up all the hands-on impressions and game reviews (including Metareviews) from the Joystiq Network. This week's megaton title should come as no surprise whatsoever.

Nintendo Wii

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American PSN updates for March 6th

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 6th 2008 at 3:30PM }

As promised, flOw headlines this week's update. Check out our review, and then point your internet browser to store.playstation.com on your PC to start downloading this great content.

PSP Software:

flOw ($7.99)
Ape Escape: On the Loose ($14.99)

Game Videos:

God of War: Chains of Olympus
Ape Escape: On the Loose

Wallpapers:

Warriors Orochi

Enjoy!

PSP Fanboy review: flOw

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 5th 2008 at 5:00PM }

The best-selling PSN title will be available on the PSP tomorrow. This experimental title received a lot of attention when it sailed to the PS3 due to its unique style and premise. Less of a "game" and more of an "experience," players titled their SIXAXIS controllers to guide an ever-growing creature through a series of primordial stages. Players would consume other creatures along the way, expanding in size and capability.

flOw is a rather accurate recreation of the PS3 title -- an impressive feat, considering the reduced processing capabilities of the handheld. Just like the PSN original, flOw will look and feel unlike anything else on the system. However, those that have played the original will find little reason to revisit the title, and many may find the technical shortcomings of this SuperVillian-developed effort to be an ebb to an otherwise engrossing experience.

Gallery: flOw

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flOw out this month in PAL territories; Ape Quest in April

by Jem Alexander { Mar 3rd 2008 at 10:00PM }

According to a press release sent to New Zealand based site GeekPulp, PAL territories will be able to get their hands on flOw during the same month their American cousins will. The game is due out sometime this month for both territories and for more information you should check out our PSP hands-on. Another game hitting the PC Store is the monkeylicious Ape Quest, which Americans have had their hands on for a little while now. The Ape Escape spin-off RPG will be available in PAL territories sometime in April. Check out our review for more information.

[Via N4G]

GDC08: The top PSN downloads since launch

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 21st 2008 at 2:00AM }

Congratulations to flOw for standing atop of Sony's list of best selling PSN purchases since the Store's debut over a year ago. It's great to see stellar games, like Everyday Shooter and Super Stardust HD, earn the sales recognition they deserve. But, why such high sales of Mortal Kombat II? Guess nostalgia (and bargain price) help loosen the wallet of potential buyers.

For the list of top downloaded demos from the PSN (and European figures), check out PS3 Fanboy.

PSP Fanboy hands-on: flOw

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 20th 2008 at 3:15PM }

Within the PlayStation Lounge at GDC, we were able to try out the upcoming PSP version of flOw. The game starts with an interesting attempt to connect to the Network. Interestingly, this is done outside of the usual PSP Network interface. We can only hypothesize that the PSP is looking for other systems to play with, if any happen to be nearby. Unfortunately, no one was able to comment.

From the very get-go, one will see the seriously toned-down graphics. The screenshots initially released don't accurately convey how poorly the transition to PSP has affected the visual presentation. Pixelation is very present, and in spite of the small screen of the PSP, nothing looks very sharp. The framerate didn't seem silky smooth like the PS3 original, either. It doesn't look bad per se, but we were rather disappointed.