United Front Games, creators of Modnation Racers for PS3, have spoken out on today’s news that their next game, True Crime, has been canned by publishers Activision. A message, relayed via their website, says:
We are sorry we did not get a chance to complete this project with Activision, but we understand why. We are both committed to doing quality games and nothing less.
Maybe we will have a chance to work together in the future, but in the meantime we are setting our creative sights on a different horizon. You can keep up with the latest developments at UFG here on our site.
It’s a noble, respectful message and one indicating that the news wouldn’t have been much of a surprise. The decision to stop development of the game, says Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, was “based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world’s best interactive entertainment experiences.”
Eric Hirshberg, COO of Activision Publishing, said that True Crime wouldn’t be able to compete against the best in the open world genre.
PriceKitty
I was really looking forward to the new True Crime game.
Now I have a new reason to hate both Guitar Hero and Activision.
Activision, screw you and your crappy first person shooters.
BIGAL-1992
I was really looking forward towards True crime. It’s a shame that’s gone now.
E8_BALL_
same, really enjoyed t.crime l.a. Gave us a fresh take on the genre.
DrNate86
I hadn’t realised it was cancelled! That’s a shame, it looked like it was well on its way. I hadn’t expected it to do very well though, it definitely looked like it was headed for the early bargin bin.
Uhyve
That was my thinking, but then just last week, there was a preview article on CVG (I think), where the said that it was one of the best open world environments they had ever seen, or at least words to those effect (I can’t be bothered trying to find the article).
DRCD1
Damn. The game looked great… first game, other than Batman, with a frestyle fighting system. Guess that’s one less game for me this year… I feel jealous for the people who got to play it at E3… DAMNIT
DRCD1
“We are both committed to doing quality games”. Are they aware that quality =/= selling better?
Delriach
Sony should acquire them >_>.
skibadee
that is a real shame was looking forward to it.
cc_star
“To be blunt,” said Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirschberg, “it just wasn’t going to be good enough.”
Does anybody want a game that even the publishers thought was bad?
No, thought not!
cc_star
Eric Hirschberg (before he left for Acti) was the man behind Kevin Butler, and who are we to argue with him?
Jim H [Teabags]
To me the game LOOKED fine, but it may have played quite poorly. I guess I am both glad and disappointed that Acti are pulling back on a lot of titles this year (Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Tony Hawk.) On the one hand it could spell bad times for those franchises, but on the other, it gives the publisher more room to work on new IPs.
hazelam
yeah, but they wont, they’ll focus on COD and its dlc, they set up a new studio just for that purpose in fact.
jikomanzoku
Terrible series, better off dead. Was amazed after the shocking first game that anything further was greenlit.
Grey_Ghost13
I agree, I didn’t like it when I played the original. Amd at least the knew it was bad and stilldidn’t push it out!
jikomanzoku
Curl it out may have been a more appropriate phrase as far as TC is concerned! :D
hazelam
“based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world’s best interactive entertainment experiences.”
translation.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
jayjay119
Yeah especially if you look at the family guy game thread. Not one of those games listed looks like it will be any better than True Crime would have been, but they will make money from the name. It’s not about focusing on creating the world’s best interactive experiences, it’s about canning a mediocre series for other sub-mediocre games that will sell better. Of course you cannot blame them, as a company it’s a logical thing to do.
Rad4Life
Activision slaughtered their own sacred cow when it comes to Guitar Hero. That is what happens when you flood the marketplace with a plethora of average products that offer the same thing. Harmonix played their cards right. I bought RB3 and have had a blast with it. I even buy a song or two every month or so. I was looking forward to True Crime and thought the trailers looked promising. But it today’s market, if you don’t think you can recoup your money, do the smart thing. Hard choices like this is what has made Activision a top company from the start of video games’ history.