Posts with tag haze
Haze madness continues, PS3 exclusive "for now"
Rumor: Haze to remain PS3 exclusive
According to Ripten.com, representatives from Ubisoft at the Play.com Live event at UK's Wembley stadium are telling anyone within earshot that Haze will never see life on the Xbox 360. While there have been signs that all-out exclusivity was in the works, Ubisoft had never officially confirmed Haze would only release on the PS3. Visiting Free Radical Design's official product page for Haze adds to exclusivity confusion with the wording in the features press release, "[Haze] is now scheduled for release exclusively on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system in May 2008." Which, based on the wording, sounds like it will remain a timed-exclusive only.
We're waiting for the official word from Ubisoft but color us surprised if PS3 does get the exclusivity nod based on Ubisoft's past (and public) love for the Microsoft machine, the déjà vu effect of Assassin's Creed "exclusivity," Free Radical Design's use of a pull quote from the April 2007 issue of 360 Mag [German Edition] on the Haze product page and that new video of Haze writer Rob Yascombe showing off the game in the Free Radical office with visible Xbox 360 development kits in the background of the action.
Yeah ... we think we'll wait for the press release before we call this one confirmed.
Developed by Free Radical Design, makers of the award-winning TimeSplitters series, Haze is a political first-person shooter that explores such subjects as corporate social responsibility and shooting dudes in the face and is set to hit stores this May.
Haze 360 removed from Ubisoft release list
Hey, remember back when Haze was a timed exclusive for the Playstation 3? Remember that other time when Ubisoft revealed its release schedule for Holiday 07 and Haze 360 was dated only a week after the PS3 version? We hope you do remember, because it looks like Ubisoft is trying to rewrite history. The release list, revealed only yesterday, has since been revised, removing the 360 and PC versions of Haze altogether. Joystiq points out, and so must we, that this series of events has an eerie symmetry to the initial mystery surrounding the 360 version of Assassin's Creed. Again, Ubisoft refuses to directly answer questions regarding PS3 exclusivity, saying only that the PS3 is "the only confirmed platform."
Will history repeat itself? Is Haze destined to appear as though it were a PS3 exclusive title? Perhaps more interesting, assuming that the game is coming to 360, is maintaining the illusion of exclusivity really important?
Ubisoft dates its winter titles
It's been said by many people for months now: 2007 looks to be a big year for gamers. It seems like every company is pulling out all the stops and quality games are getting ready to rain from the heavens. Some say that 2007 may be the best year EVAR. True or not, Ubisoft is playing a large role in the 360's holiday season. As proof of that, Eurogamer has unveiled Ubisoft's official release list for this holiday season, including planned release dates for major titles like Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell Conviction. Check out the list after the break.
PS3 nabs Haze, likely a timed exclusive
It looks like the Playstation 3 will be getting some exclusive love from the upcoming shooter from Free Radical, Haze. The game will debut this fall on the Playstation 3, while it seems that mention of the Xbox 360 and PC versions has dropped from the game's official fact sheet. When probed about exclusivity by GameSpot, a representative from Ubisoft said, "Haze is leading on PS3, but no exclusivity for any platform has been officially announced." In all likelihood, this pegs Haze as a timed exclusive, which means PC and 360 players may be waiting until 2008 to experience the mature shooter.
Sorry fanboys, if you were looking forward to playing as a genetically enhanced super soldier in 2007, you'll have to look elsewhere.
[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Hazed and confused: Haze writer disses Halo
If you want to grab some attention for your game (or just in general) one of the easiest things to do is publicly mock something that's successful. In the case of videogames, a sure way to get your game noticed is to mock Halo. Speaking to Edge, Rob Yescombe, scriptwriter for Free Radical's upcoming shooter Haze, has some choice words about the king of console shooters. According to Yescombe, new-gen games are about more mature, compelling content: "Halo is brilliant, you're a teenager - the next-gen is about becoming more mature ... in Haze you become an adult." Yescombe adds that games should take a page from world events as inspiration, saying, "It's about what's happening in the world today - it's ludicrous, and how can you make something that doesn't reflect that? Well, you could bury your head in the sand and make Halo 3, but the fact of the matter is there are more important things at stake." Haze, it seems, is a satirical work aimed at modern warfare, though Yescombe admits that some may not see the satire.
Naturally, we here at X3F are card-carrying Halo 3 fanboys, so Yescombe's comments sting a little. However, regardless of Haze's merits, for Yescombe to imply that Bungie is socially irresponsible for creating Halo is asinine. Escapist fiction has always been a part of human culture and is just as important as any piece of satire or non-fiction. We need our action movies just as much as we need our documentaries. We need Stephen King just as much as we need Johnathan Swift. Without some escape from the world's problems, we'd all be nothing but bubbling piles of depression. To quote Sergeant Johnson, "People need heroes, Chief. To give 'em hope."
[Via Joystiq]
Welcome back Haze, it's time to go viral
The last time we heard any information about Free Radical's shooter Haze we were a year younger and E3 was in full swing. But now it looks like the Haze team has finally made some progress, because a new Haze inspired viral website has emerged. The Mantel corporation's (the company the main character works for) corporate website launched the other day with virally fake company policies, financial details, and mission statement. All of course set in the not to distant future which is when Haze takes place. The website also has restricted access to a few sections, which will probably be unlocked nearer to a Haze release, but doesn't showcase any new Haze media or information yet. And since the viral marketing has begun, when do you think Haze will hit the streets? This Summer, this Fall, or next year sometime? Heck, all we know is that "Mantel is there, making a difference".
[Via IGN]
