Joystiq

Crackdown 2 dev announces Tribal Towers

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:45:00 EST

Ruffian Games, which has been teasing a game announcement for a little while now, announced today it is working on a new series called Tribal Towers, and not Crackdown 3 as expected.

"I know, I know it's as shocking as finding out your favorite lasagna is chock-a-block with Red Rum's offspring," Ruffian co-founder Billy Thomson wrote on the studio's site announcing Tribal Towers. If this analogy requires context, we'll just slide this disturbing news article your way.

So, what is Tribal Towers? A good question, and one that Ruffian isn't planning on discussing until next week. All we know is that the developer continues its work on consoles and is attempting to get better at PC and tablet development.

Crackdown 2 dev announces Tribal Towers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Footage of Ruffian's Streets of Rage leaks out

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST

Video has surfaced of what is reportedly a downloadable Streets of Rage remake from Crackdown series developer Ruffian Games. Uploaded to Vimeo by one "Huff Allium," the footage shows off some familiar, rage-filled streets, now rendered in 3D.

It's not clear whether this is actual gameplay footage or something pre-rendered. Either way, it looks significantly different from the Streets of Rage that Sega fans remember, ditching the cartoonish style favored by later Streets of Rage games for something grittier. No rollerblading kids, robot grandpas or boxing kangaroos here.

Sean Noonan, former level designer for Ruffian (now working on Watch Dogs for Ubisoft), mentioned the footage on Twitter, writing, "So it seems like one of my previous projects has leaked, as pretty as I remember."

Just over a year ago, it was rumored that Ruffian was developing a multiplatform game, referred to as "a major contract with one of the biggest publishers in the industry." Recreating one of Sega's most well-remembered franchises would certainly fit the description, and the publisher hasn't been shy about resurrecting its old franchises in recent months. We've contacted Ruffian to confirm the project's existence, and to learn whether or not it's still in the works.

Footage of Ruffian's Streets of Rage leaks out originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Ruffian contracted by major publisher for multiplatform game

David Hinkle — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST

It would seem Crackdown 2 developer Ruffian is hard at work on a multi-platform title right now, Develop says. Current job listings suggest the Scottish-based dev has a project underway, but earlier today the Environmental Artist positions had wording stating Ruffian had entered into a "major contract with one of the biggest publishers in the industry."

The wording on the job listings has since been changed, omitting any specificity about a potential project associated with the position. We've contacted Ruffian for some more information and will let you know if they share with the rest of the class.

Rumor: Ruffian contracted by major publisher for multiplatform game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2 'Toy Box' DLC crashing issues resolved by reissue

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

A new, bug-free version of Crackdown 2's "Toy Box" DLC pack was released yesterday morning on Xbox Live Marketplace, according to Ruffian Games. Unfortunately, rather than a patch, the DLC has been re-issued, meaning that folks who downloaded the content will need to delete it and redownload. The new version fixes issues ranging from "crash on loading" to issues with the narrator's voice and Achievement problems, which we reported on earlier this week.

Ruffian says that the glitches were "caused by problems mastering the DLC package," thus the reissue rather than a patch. The developer assures players that "all will be fine" after the download, which was available publicly as of yesterday morning. We've yet to hear of any issues with the re-release, but feel free to let us know if you find any.

Crackdown 2 'Toy Box' DLC crashing issues resolved by reissue originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2's 'Toy Box' DLC handing over keys to Pacific City

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Ruffian Games is making good on last month's promise of Crackdown 2 DLC, with the announcement this morning of a forthcoming add-on for the game titled "Toy Box." The free version of the content pack will come with a rethought "Keys to the City" cheat unlock, the "Thruster" ability (described as "jetpacks for your boots") and a new multiplayer mode -- "Vehicle Tag."

For those of you willing to shell out 560 MS Points ($7), the pack also contains five new weapons, two new vehicles, a couple of Avatar items, and 10 new Cheevos. Are you keen on dressing up your agent in various colorful suits? Who isn't? The paid version of the pack additionally contains eight fancy new outfits, with ambiguous names like "Terror Firma" (also our second favorite Doctor Who spinoff) and "Dem Apples." The pack is said to be "coming soon," though a solid date hasn't been given for release. ~~We do have a trailer of the content in action, just after the break~~. [Correction: The video documentary was unrelated to the DLC. We've posted a Youtube trailer of the new content after the break. Thanks, Ryan!]

Continue reading Crackdown 2's 'Toy Box' DLC handing over keys to Pacific City

Crackdown 2's 'Toy Box' DLC handing over keys to Pacific City originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two Crackdown 2 DLC packs teased

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We might not have loved Crackdown 2 as much as anticipated, but we're glad to see that's not stopping developer Ruffian Games from supporting the game post-launch with downloadable content. Speaking to MTV Multiplayer, producer James Cope revealed two (tentatively titled) packs already planned for release: "The Toy Box" and "Deluge." According to Cope, The Toy Box will be available first and features "new gadgets and vehicles," as well as opening up Pacific City in the same way that the first game's "Keys to the City" mode did.

Next will be the Deluge pack, which will contain "new game modes to expand the play" -- Cope says the team at Ruffian is aiming for "a completely new way to play the game you've already got." No release prices or dates were given for the DLC add-ons, though, presumably Crackdown 2 owners are still plenty occupied collecting all of them orbs. It's a hunger that can't be satisfied, folks!

Two Crackdown 2 DLC packs teased originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Metareview: Crackdown 2

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Crackdown 2 left us with the feeling we were missing something -- like, an entire sequel's worth of content. It appears we weren't alone for the most part. Then again, if you've got AOO (agility orb obsession), you'll be too busy to care. Chase down the review orb links below for the full content:

Eurogamer (80/100): "Besides, they're offset by everything that Ruffian gets right: the masterful way the developers have turned simple neighbourhoods into set-pieces; the moments where nightfall triggers neon signage that reveals a hidden pathway up the side of a skyscraper; the way in which a chain of seemingly random Agility Orbs picks out a perfect racing line of superhero bounds from one chimney to the next and off into the horizon."
IGN (75/100): "The new additions, specifically the expansion to four-player co-op, are welcome, but this hardly feels like it was worth the three-year wait. It's mostly just more of the same, in the same city, with the same shortcomings and a slightly expanded set of missions. Crackdown 2 feels uninspired and rushed, and it certainly doesn't feel like a full sequel."
Game Informer (73/100): "Yes, the fights with gang leaders got old after a while in the first game, but they instilled a sense of progress. Without them, you're just jumping around ruined versions of the same old places, tracking down nearly 1,000 orbs, and working through the same pair of "kill 'em all" story missions until the credits roll. Crackdown is still ripe for an ambitious sequel, but this Crackdown 2 thing clearly isn't it. What a squandered opportunity."
1UP (B-): "There's no question that Crackdown 2 is a mere shadow of the first game, which stands as an absolute classic. The sequel feels more like an ambitious user mod than a true follow-up."
Giant Bomb (3/5) "There's a narrow subset of people that will absolutely love Crackdown 2 for it's "it ain't broke, so we didn't fix it" approach to sequel development. ... If you're in that group or if you're just looking for something absolutely mindless to do with a few online friends, Crackdown 2 is practically perfect for that."

Gallery: Crackdown 2 (E3)

Metareview: Crackdown 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Third Crackdown 2 ViDoc revels in mass destruction

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:15:00 EST

We should warn you right off the bat that the ViDoc for Crackdown 2 embedded above does at one point feature a Ruffian Games employee using the word "awesomeness," though he thankfully catches himself quickly before the madness spreads too far. While his excitement for this summer's Xbox 360 release is appreciable, we're not so sure that devolving into Valley Girl-isms is the way to play up the game's comically destructive sandbox gameplay.

As senior designer Dean Smith puts it, "For some reason, there's a lot of explosive things lying around Pacific City as well, so there's always a new prop to grab or a new explodable of some type." Now that's what gets us excited for more Crackdown: stuff exploding! Lots of stuff exploding! Hooray explosions!

Third Crackdown 2 ViDoc revels in mass destruction originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 May 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2 vidoc shows that nothing is sacred

David Hinkle — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:15:00 EST

Despite its title, the latest Crackdown 2 vidoc, "Nothing is Sacred," reveals at least one sacred thing in Ruffian's upcoming game: humor. The amusing action becomes apparent when you knock someone upside the head with a sign post, or attach a satchel charge to their face.

The first game certainly had its share of guffaw-inducing moments and, come July 6, we'll know if -- on top of skills for kills -- agents will get lulz for kills.

Crackdown 2 vidoc shows that nothing is sacred originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2's VGA trailer invites you to 'blow #&$^ up' with it

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST

As you might have already guessed, last night's Spike Video Game Awards show's "World Premiere" trailers have landed on the web via GameTrailers.com. First up for us this morning: Crackdown 2. Featuring the first campaign footage from the game that we've seen, it looks as though we'll be cooperatively taking down enemies with other agents when the game launches. Moreover, the entire trailer glories in the mass destruction introduced to us in the first Crackdown, backed up by a "Would you like to blow &%^$ up with me?" soundtrack. Color us excited.

Gallery: Crackdown 2 (11/24/09)

Crackdown 2's VGA trailer invites you to 'blow #&$^ up' with it originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: Crackdown 2

Xav de Matos — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:16:00 EST

A hands-on preview of Crackdown 2 at TGS last week came with a catch: deathmatch only. No matter how much potential for greatness a game might possess, it's hard to gauge its true character when limited to a boring multiplayer mode. That's not to say that my time with Crackdown 2 was entirely boring -- it wasn't -- but simply playing the most generic mode of all didn't raise my enthusiasm beyond a mild passing interest.

While I wasn't able to play the game's single-player campaign, I was shown a rough portion of it in action. Ruffian lead designer Steve Iannetta and producer James Cope showcased the game's new weapons and enemies (the mutated citizens of Pacific City that were simply referred to as "The Freaks"). Unlike the deathmatch portion of the preview session, this part was interesting.

Gallery: Crackdown 2 (TGS 2009)

Continue reading Preview: Crackdown 2

Preview: Crackdown 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Overheard@TGS: Putting the 'crack' in Crackdown 2

Xav de Matos — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST

During a behind-closed-doors presentation of Crackdown 2, Ruffian Games lead designer Steve Iannetta broke it down like this: "The orbs are the 'crack,' in Crackdown."

It's true, and Iannetta says that orb fiends will not be disappointed when they go hunting for the returning collectible in Crackdown 2. Stay tuned for gameplay footage and our hands-on impressions of the upcoming sandbox title.

Gallery: Crackdown 2 (TGS 2009)

Overheard@TGS: Putting the 'crack' in Crackdown 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Crackdown 2 screens -- zombies included [updated]

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST

Click to embiggen

Is it still kosher to assume zombies are what's being featured in these Crackdown 2 screens? We saw a glimpse of the ... let's call them "mutated" enemies in the trailer released back at E3, but we'd yet to see them being punched, kicked, and exploded so vociferously before. With any luck, we'll nab some new gameplay video -- or maybe just impressions of new gameplay video -- when we check out the game this week at the Tokyo Game Show.

Update: After spotting 10 unlisted Crackdown 2 images on Ruffian's Flickr page, we were asked by Microsoft to remove the screens due to an exclusivity agreement with Game Informer magazine. In the interest of playing nice, we've complied with the request. We'll have the images back on Joystiq as soon as possible, we assure you ... though a Google Images search might net you results a bit sooner.

Gallery: Crackdown 2 (TGS 2009)

New Crackdown 2 screens -- zombies included [updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft explains why Ruffian is the right choice for Crackdown 2

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST

Before Microsoft revealed that Ruffian Games would be developing the upcoming Crackdown sequel, the original game's developer, Realtime Worlds, expressed some skepticism towards the idea. "I very much doubt that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a startup on RTW's doorstep, for obvious reasons," RTW's Colin MacDonald said last year. Things weren't so cut and dry for self-accused Crackdown fanboy (and Microsoft exec) Phil Spencer, who recently told Develop, "When Billy Thomson, the lead designer of the game [Crackdown 1], left Realtime Worlds, there was an opportunity."

Apparently, it would seem Mr. Spencer believes Realtime Worlds is simply too busy developing APB to give a Crackdown sequel the attention it deserves. "I wanted to make sure that anything we work on is correctly nurtured ... we had to find the right team who really understood what game it is - and that was Billy [Thompson] and the team at Ruffian." Crackdown 2 will be the first game developed by Ruffian Games since the studio's inception late last year.

Microsoft explains why Ruffian is the right choice for Crackdown 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Game Studios licenses GFx tech for Crackdown 2, all titles

Xav de Matos — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST

Microsoft has signed a deal with Scaleform to utilize its GFx user interface middleware across all Microsoft Game Studios titles, officially beginning with Ruffian's upcoming Crackdown 2. Scaleform's GFx is a vector graphics rendering engine that allows artists to design user interfaces -- such as menus and in-game heads-up displays (HUDs) -- and animated textures using Adobe Flash. Scaleform's middleware has already been used in an assortment of games, including The Conduit, Resistance 2 and Crysis.

According to Scaleform's site, using its middleware will allow game developers to focus on building gameplay, "rather than coding interface elements or developing custom tools." We hope that means Crackdown 2's menus won't run abnormally slow, like the original game in the series.

Brendan Iribe, president and CEO of Scaleform, was elated at the news (and probably holding a giant novelty check), claiming Microsoft's new "master agreement" for use of the Scaleform GFx middleware will streamline the process for all future MGS development teams.

[Via Develop]

Microsoft Game Studios licenses GFx tech for Crackdown 2, all titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2 spotted on iPhone

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST

Get it? It's not an iPhone version of Crackdown 2. It's literally an iPhone with Crackdown 2 emblazoned across its shiny, shiny surface. It's a joke, see? The offending iPhone was spotted on the Ruffian blog, which noted it belonged to an unnamed executive producer at Microsoft.

Certainly, it's not quite as cool as a portable version of Crackdown 2 -- assuming it was a good portable version, anyway -- but it's cool nonetheless. At any rate, with the complete absence of any concrete Crackdown 2 details, we suppose it wil have to do for now.

Crackdown 2 spotted on iPhone originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Close to half of Crackdown team working on Crackdown 2

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST

Close to half of Ruffian Games' Crackdown 2 team is made up of developers from the original group from Realtime Worlds. So says Ruffian Creative Director Bill Thompson in an interview with Edge, where he explains that the developer has "core members from every discipline who worked on [Crackdown], the majority of the design team," along with the coders and artists. That talent drain from Realtime Worlds might explain why its creative director, David Jones, was a "bit miffed at Microsoft" for giving the sequel to Ruffian Games.

Producer Jim Cope states that the company still maintains a "really strong working relationship" with Realtime, noting that they are neighbors in both "personal and professional relationships." Cope says the team firmly believe they're "the right people" to make the sequel and that they know what to fix and enhance in the second outing.

Close to half of Crackdown team working on Crackdown 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackdown 2 situation one of those 'awkward moments' for Realtime creative director

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:45:00 EST

Imagine: Your company makes a hit game (and gets bundled with a hit beta). The publisher won't green light a sequel, so your team begins work on another franchise. Then the sequel is awarded to a developer ... in your own town, who permanently borrows your talent. With all that said, it's understandable that Realtime Worlds Creative Director David Jones was a "bit miffed at Microsoft" for giving the Crackdown sequel to start-up Ruffian Games.

Speaking with GI.biz, Jones explains that Realtime Worlds was all set to do a sequel before Crackdown's release. When the company didn't receive the go-ahead from Microsoft, it moved on to create APB. Jones wishes that Microsoft had chosen one of its shuttered internal studios to make the game instead of going with Ruffian Games, a company that's in the same town and takes from the same talent pool. He notes it's "challenging to get enough developers in one region as it is." Maybe Realtime can get the third title in the series? Trade off like Infinity Ward and Treyarch did with Call of Duty.

Crackdown 2 situation one of those 'awkward moments' for Realtime creative director originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Agency is recruiting again: First Crackdown 2 trailer

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST

"The city is infected. You are the cure."

So begins the first trailer for Crackdown 2. The trailer subsequently showcases one of the Agency's supercops doing what he does best. If you've played the first Crackdown, you'll know that what an Agent does best is basically to be a complete and total badass. The only difference is that this time, it looks like the Agents just might have met their match. We won't spoil it for you, so just go ahead and give it a watch.

The Agency is recruiting again: First Crackdown 2 trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruffian Games expands team by 15, 'itching' to reveal first project

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:45:00 EST

While many other development studios are withering beneath the sweltering heat of the recession, it seems at least one studio is blossoming -- Ruffian Games, founded earlier this year by a number of former Fable II, Crackdown and GTA devs, recently announced that it had bolstered its staff with 15 new recruits.

This is great news for the unorthodoxly expanding studio (and for the recently employed developers), but we still don't know what Ruffian is working on. Apparently, this fact bothers them as much as it bothers us -- studio head Gaz Liddon said, "Now we're in full production, we're itching to share the fantastic work these guys have been producing," adding that he hoped said sharing "won't be too far away." We hope so too, as our attention span is pretty limited as far as -- Hey, a butterfly! Neat!

Ruffian Games expands team by 15, 'itching' to reveal first project originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 May 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheelman, Crackdown designers join Ruffian Games

Jason Dobson — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

It's fully a month on and we're still no closer to discovering just what newly founded Ruffian Games is up to than we were when it first broke ground. The fledgling company was first announced in January, formed by team members having worked on such titles and franchises as Fable 2, Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown.

Now a pair of new faces have joined the Scotland-based studio's eclectic cast, including Steve Iannetta, former lead world designer on Wheelman for Midway Newcastle. Iannetta was also a designer on Crackdown alongside Ed Campbell, who also joined the company. With so much former Crackdown talent on Ruffian Games' payroll (most everyone at the company had at least some part in the game's development), the smell of open worlds and explosions coming out of the Ruffian's kitchen is unmistakable.

Wheelman, Crackdown designers join Ruffian Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former GTA, Fable 2 and Crackdown devs for Ruffian Games

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

Recently mentioned alongside rumors of Crackdown 2, Ruffian Games has officially been formed. Develop reports that several former developers on projects such as Fable II, Grand Theft Auto, Crackdown and MotoGP have gathered to form the studio, which is based in Dundee, Scotland. Heading the studio is Gaz Liddon, who most recently worked on titles including Fable II, Crackdown, Project Gotham Racing and Too Human. The studio aims to create "the best in action gaming" on the current crop on consoles. Creative director Billy Thompson -- formerly the lead designer of Crackdown -- stated that Ruffian's "highest priority is gameplay" and that the company aims for "tight intuitive controls, well-balanced goals, game changing rewards, and player progression that will make you feel like a god!" Sounds like a good set of priorities to us.

Thompson also stressed Ruffians committment to online "co-operative and competitive multiplayer gaming," and said that it is "the future of gaming." According to the company's website, the team is already signed with "one of the world's biggest and most successful publishers" for its first game. Is Ruffian working on Crackdown 2 after all? You'll know when we do.

Source - Develop: Ruffian officially opens its doors
Source - Ruffian Games Website

Former GTA, Fable 2 and Crackdown devs for Ruffian Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Realtime Worlds in 'discussions' with Microsoft about Crackdown 2

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

Realtime Worlds honcho Colin MacDonald confirmed the studio is in "ongoing discussions" with Microsoft about the possibility of Crackdown 2. In a statement sent to VG247, MacDonald responded to rumors that a sequel is currently in development by Ruffian games, a new studio that allegedly employs several former Realtime Worlds staffers from the Crackdown development team.

The statement from MacDonald relays that about "five or six" ex-Realtime Worlds staff are employed by Ruffian, noting that he doubts whether Microsoft would harm its "otherwise fruitful existing development relationship" by funding a Crackdown sequel with a start-up on RTW's doorstep. We'll have to wait and see what happens, but if Ruffian does develop a potential Crackdown 2, it sounds like Realtime Worlds wouldn't be too happy.

[Thanks John. P]

Realtime Worlds in 'discussions' with Microsoft about Crackdown 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Whispers of Crackdown 2 surround new studio

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Business

We're not exactly sure how "A leads to B" in this case, but Edge claims a new Crackdown could be in development following the creation of Ruffian Games. The new studio, which has not been officially announced, is allegedly comprised of several members of the Crackdown development team, including "key members" and the game's lead designer.

Realtime Worlds, the original developer of Crackdown, is currently working on APB. Of course, all this sequel talk falls snugly in the realm of rumor and speculation. We've contacted Microsoft, which owns the rights to Crackdown, to ask if Crackdown 2 is currently in development. It's a Friday, might as well take one good shot in the dark before the weekend starts.

Update: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."

Rumor: Whispers of Crackdown 2 surround new studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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