Trine: A Not So Trine-y Price
(Updated) Trine pricing is out. You may not like it but it could be worse. And about that co-op...Published 30/06/2009 at 8:00 by Watchful
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We have all had our eyes on Trine for a while now with Alex giving it his E3’s Biggest Joy award. Then just last week we brought you the news that the PC version had been given a release date which led to wild speculation that we might see the PSN version at about the same time. Now we are able to bring you even more Trine-based facts and speculation.
The facts are that Shacknews are reporting the US prices for the PC and PSN versions of the game. There is some good and bad news for PS3 owners. The bad news is that the US price for the PSN version is $20, the same as Watchmen: The End Is Nigh sold for and we all know how well that price went down with the community. The good news is that it could be worse. Much worse. The PC version will sell for double, $40, though it is available for pre-order on Steam at a special price of $30. The same reason that Watchmen gave is used to justify the high price; high production values and a sizeable development team.
Following the facts, here is your speculation. Should that $20 price translate onto the UK Store at the same rate of exchange as Watchmen did we are looking at charge of £12.99 to sample Trine’s delights. Though Watchmen was released way back at the start of March and there has been a little bump in the way PSN prices are translated since then which could see it costing a pound or two more.
No Online Co-op!
Hidden at the foot of Shacknews’ article is a little comment that certainly came as a surprise to your author as it is not something I had read before. So apologies if you have. If you are looking to take your knight out with your PSN pals’ thieves and mages to indulge in some fantasy platforming action you are out of luck.
Neither the PC or PSN versions will support online co-op play. For that you will need to pick up the forthcoming XBLA version. According to one of Trine’s developers “it just wasn’t possible to do” in the initial PC and PSN editions of the game. They have not ruled it out for a later DLC update though, saying that it may be added depending on sales performance and other factors.
Update: Over on FrozenByte’s forums one of their developers has posted, “The XBLA version and its features is just speculation at this point. I can say that in all honesty, as developers, we would love as many people as possible to be able to play our games and therefore I hope Trine will eventually find its way to XBLA too.” Still no online co-op in either of the officially announced versions though.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
cc_star | 30/06/2009 08:20
Team TSA: Writer
7847 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Looking forward to this, price seems about right, and certainly better value than the watchmen. Without it being an established brand I feel it may not sell to well and therefore we may not ever see the DLC which allows online co-op. Disappointingly the 360 version appears to have that in from release so I may have to pick up that version after I get my 360 in August.
That could further hinder PS3 sales if people decide to do the same as me.
mugsybalone | 30/06/2009 08:57
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347 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
I take it you mean, PS3 sales of Trine, right?
deepmenace | 30/06/2009 08:26
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263 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
gah! no online co-op???
id love to see a full featured answer to that….ok so XBL seems to be the best online gaming system but “just wasnt possible to do” on PSN??? wtf.
3shirts | 30/06/2009 09:51
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2485 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
More to the point, the PC version?!
So World Of Warcraft has been doing exclusively this since 2004 but you can’t do it now?
Roarster | 30/06/2009 10:28
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148 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
I think they just mean they weren’t able to do in time for the release. It seems to be suggested they’ll work on it post release and patch it in at the same time as the 360 version is released.
sibbor | 30/06/2009 08:27
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95 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I think they should work on co-op implementation so it’s released within the same time the XBLA version is released. This is for sure a game that would benefit from co-op online.
cc_star | 30/06/2009 08:31
Team TSA: Writer
7847 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Agreed
looks like it was designed for co-op
hannes_truce | 30/06/2009 08:39
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
bah. no online co-op? the last time i felt this disappointed was with ragdoll kung-fu and i ended up not buying it. I think I’ll wait to see if they give it away free for a week on the US store. any NASCAR events coming up?
on a serious note, i will still get this. it looks too good to pass up.
Aitrus | 30/06/2009 08:45
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1488 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Price seems within reason. Let’s just hope enough people buy it to make a co-op add-on worthwhile.
I’m really looking forward to this, Fat Princess and Wipeout Fury.
DarthSharkey | 30/06/2009 08:48
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1041 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
If it plays well I might go for it. I hope there is a decent demo/trial for it.
PrettyVacant | 30/06/2009 08:58
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86 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Interestingly it has a platinum trophy. Seems like it is considered to be a ‘full’ game similar to Wipeout HD, so maybe the price is reasonable.
LycanGav | 30/06/2009 09:19
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590 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Price is a little disappointing, given the lack of online co-op. It’s not like that is a new fact thought, Frozenbyte let fans know that the PC and PSN releases would not have online co-op “OOTB” a while ago. The main problem (for me) is that without online co-op, there is little replay value in the game and it’s only about 8-10 hours long. Local multiplayer just doesn’t appeal to me all that much, and not because I don’t have friends! I’m very popular.
Watchful | 30/06/2009 09:46
Team TSA: Writer
2084 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
That’s why I said in the article that it’s news to me but maybe not to everyone else.
I won’t be buying it off PSN without online co-op. I’m very surprised that this game didn’t have online co-op in the PC and PSN OOTB releases. For a game like this it seems so obvious that it should have it.
LycanGav | 30/06/2009 10:14
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590 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
From what I’ve heard, it wasn’t down to Frozenbyte, but Ascaron. Online co-op means a certain level of continued support and Ascaron want to see substantial sales figures first. It’s a different publisher for the 360 though (Atlus) and they are willing to foot the bill off the bat.
Divine | 30/06/2009 09:47
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742 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
This was a ‘day-one’ for me… Until I read that last paragraph. No online Co-Op is really a bit of a deal breaker.
Person678 | 30/06/2009 10:08
BOOM! Headshot!
1792 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
Bullshit. If It’s possible on XBL It’s possible on PSN.
YOURMUMANDME | 30/06/2009 10:21
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1149 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I’m sorry but they’re talking Sh*te , what they’ve done is concentrate all their efforts on the 360 version and released a half-arsed effort for the PC and Ps3 version .
So I’m boycotting it unless it’s half the price of the XBL version ! Half a game only warrants 50% of the price .
Don’t do things in Halves ! Or like djhsecondnatures ‘Relentless’ No Half Measures !
Rant Over
Carl | 30/06/2009 10:21
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732 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
Difference is, Watchmen was shit. Trine wont be.
And the devs have already said they will add online co-op to PC/PSN versions if it sells well and the people demand it
Carl | 30/06/2009 10:29
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732 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
Very surprised by the amount of you not buying it due to lack of online co-op. In my opinion it wont make that much of a difference.
zb100 | 30/06/2009 12:16
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544 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
I thoroughly disagree – have you played the demo Carl? As fun as it is, it’s a pain having to keep switching characters when it makes a lot more sense to work co-operatively. As I stated below, it feels like it was designed from the ground-up to be multiplayer – much like Gauntlet et al.
Roarster | 30/06/2009 10:31
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148 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Has anyone tried the PC demo? I don’t have Windows so I can’t give it a go.
This is definitely one I’m interested in, particularly if it’s one the wife will enjoy playing (co-op on LittleBigPlanet was great fun so I’m hoping she’ll enjoy this as well).
AcidCrashX | 30/06/2009 10:51
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597 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
YUP!
i have and found it a real treat to play. this is something im sure you and your wife will enjoy playing together (as my girlfriend enjoyed it and shes very casual)
AcidCrashX | 30/06/2009 10:50
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597 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
Online co-op doesnt annoy me so much. seeing as several other games i own dont include it also (superstardust and ragdoll kung-fu). After playing a large portion of the demo on PC i really fell for its style and feel and so will definately be picking it up, probably on PSN.
marvzilla | 30/06/2009 12:49
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136 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
SuperStardust does have online co-op