Tag Archives: crackdown

The ethereal beauty of Gravity Rush owes a debt to a cult-favourite Xbox 360 exclusive.

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Some shots of Crackdown 2 surfaced on the net yesterday, and the game’s looking rather nice.

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During the release of the NPDs last night, Microsoft sent a mail out responding to the figures, and in it, it said Crackdown 2 would be released in June.

Well, apparently, that’s not the case.

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A Realtime Worlds CV has apparently confirmed the studio is working on a project due for release in 2011.

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Crackdown’s up on Live Games on Demand now for £15. See here.

The game sees you, as an Agent, killing a lot of people with large guns.

If you haven’t, you really should. Because it’s awesome. End of.

Crackdown may have been a huge hit with gamers, but apparently the game only broke even money-wise for the developers and Microsoft.

“With Crackdown we sold about 1.5 million copies, but even at that we pretty much only managed to break even,” Dave Jones told Gamasutra. “It was due to the amount of factors that were out of our control as the developer, influences such as GameStop’s amazing used-game sales.

“We know 1.5 million new copies were sold, but it’s likely there were 2.5 – 3 million sold when you include used.”

Wow. Sorry ’bout that.

Via IndustryGamers.

Dave Jones revealed during Develop that Realtime World’s was ‘keen’ to work on Crackdown 2, but Microsoft wanted to see how the first one turned out before letting the firm loose.

Unfortunately, the development team was busy with APB by the time Microsoft decided to move forward with the franchise, thus Ruffian Games got the job.

At least fans can be placated knowing it’s being made, we reckon.

More through CVG.

Realtime Worlds’ Dave Jones has told GI he’s not exactly thrilled Crackdown 2 went to Ruffian Games.

“I think it was unfortunate that it had to be with a start-up in Dundee… it is challenging to get enough developers in one region as it is, so that was the only little big of negativity to the story,” he said.

“It’s just one of those awkward moments. In terms of the franchise, as always – as with anything we’ve created – we’re always keen to see it do great things. This is like a bump in the road… was there really no way it could have been done by one of the studios Microsoft shut down?

“I was a bit miffed at Microsoft that it happened that way, but you live and learn,” he added.

Ruffian’s staff roster includes many that worked on the original Crackdown.

Crackdown 2 was announced in Microsoft’s E3 press conference at the beginning of the month.

This is Ruffian Games’ fridge. It’s full of Stella and Red Bull. Almost looks as though it’s stocked for a celebration.

Can you guess why?

We’re now officially stupidly excited. The MS conference starts at 10.25am PST, or 6.25pm UK time.

EG’s just posted a Leadbetter tech retrospective on Crackdown, showing the game’s city in timelapse video, if you can believe that.

Seriously, it’s very cool. Check it out.

Microsoft says that it has no announcement regarding Crackdown 2 at this time.

Microsoft revealed yesterday that a premium Crackdown theme would be made available for download today, which had people wondering if it was a lead-up to some sort of announcement.

“We are always looking for new ways for fans to connect with their favorite games, including the award-winning “Crackdown,” and thus we created the new theme pack,” a Microsoft rep told OXM.

“But as far as future or potential projects go, we have nothing to confirm or announce at this time.”

For those itching at the chance of a sequel, take heart that there wasn’t a flat-out denial in there.

Hit the link for the rest.

Nelson’s just posted some shots of a premium Crackdown theme coming to NXE tomorrow.

It’ll cost you 240 Microsoft Points.

A premium theme for a two year-old game. Wonder why?

Update: Sorry, we boo-booed here. This is a Realtime Worlds ad, and the game’s APB. It’s an old post that’s just been refreshed. We apologise for being so shit. Thanks, TheDifficult3rdAlbum.

A GI job ad posted by a Dundee developer has revealed the company is working on a 360 MMO.

“Our client is one of the World’s leading XBOX360 developers now working on an MMO which is likely to be a benchmark for online action games for next-Gen consoles,” says the ad, which could probably do with a bit of an edit.

Which company? Well, it’s either Realtime Worlds or Ruffian, unless there’s a secret console developer in Dundee. Which there isn’t.

An online Crackdown game? That’d be a shock.

Microsoft should get on and announce this. There’ll be nothing left before too long.

A UK publishing source has reliably informed VG247 that the unannounced Crackdown game in development at Ruffian is a multiplayer-only effort.

“Crackdown 1.5? That’s generous,” our man added. “It’s more like 1.25.”

When pushed on whether or not the project was definitely underway at Ruffian, the chatterer was unequivocal: “Oh yes, it is true.”

We’ve verified the lack of single-player with two other dev sources, who described the information as “good”.

The game is supposedly being scheduled for “late 2009″.

Ruffian, the newly-formed Scottish developer, announced this week that it’s taken on another two Crackdown veterans, and was mainly formed initially from Realtime Worlds staffers.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

Newly-formed Ruffian Games – working on the as yet unannounced “Crackdown 1.5″ – has added Steve Iannetta and Ed Campbell as lead designer and senior designer respectively.

Iannetta previously worked at VIS, Red Lemon Studios, Realtime Worlds and Midway Newcastle. Campbell’s CV includes titles such as NARC, State of Emergency 2 and Crackdown.

“Given the abundance of talent, the chance to work with old friends on a ground breaking project and to be back in my beloved home town of Dundee, being a part of the Ruffian team is easily the most exciting opportunity I have ever been presented with,” said Iannetta.

Campbell added: “I’m delighted to be joining the excellent team at Ruffian. There’s a lot of talented, experienced guys here and that, coupled with a real knowledge and love of games, is what makes this an exciting team to be a part of.”

More on GI.

Ruffian’s Billy Thomson has reiterated to Edge that the newly-formed Dundee developer’s focus is online gaming, despite the fact single-play will play an important part in its projects.

“It’s not like we’re going to avoid making singleplayer games,‭ ‬we still see a massive market in them,” he said.

“‬But,‭ ‬moving forward,‭ ‬many games are pushing things like co-operative play.‭ ‬If you look at the consoles that are out there now,‭ ‬everybody’s encouraging everyone to stay online,‭ ‬particularly through your friends list on the‭ ‬360,‭ ‬and now with the PS3‭’‬s Home.‭

“We definitely want to keep making solo games‭ – ‬we want to make great solo games‭ – ‬but we see the life of games online.‭ ‬Because when you finish your solo experience,‭ ‬if you want to get anything else out of the‭ ‬£45‭ ‬or‭ ‬$60‭ ‬you’ve spent,‭ ‬it’s going to be through online play.”

This piece was supposed to be published two weeks ago, as we alluded to in this article. Billy and the boys are working on a new Crackdown game, although it’s yet to be announced.

In a statement issued exclusively to VG247, Realtime Worlds studio head Colin MacDonald has confirmed the developer is in “ongoing” discussions with Microsoft regarding Crackdown 2.

His comments came after it was rumoured today that Microsoft was funding Ruffian Games – a new, Dundee-based firm partially formed of ex-members of Realtime Worlds – specifically to develop a Crackdown sequel.

MacDonald added that while an offer to develop a second game hadn’t been made to Realtime Worlds, he “very much” doubts “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.”

Realtime Worlds boss and GTA creator Dave Jones told us that he’d be “gutted” not be involved with Crackdown 2′s development, “but if it had to be that way, I would want to see it done justice – by an established, renowned developer that had the track record of delivering the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand.”

MacDonald also confirmed that “five or six” staff had left to join Ruffian, as was rumoured this morning, but that the “vast majority of the Crackdown team remain at RTW” working on APB and an “unannounced project that will cause quite a stir when unveiled.”

The existence of Ruffian came to light this morning after this Flickr set emerged of members of the fledgling firm look at office space in Dundee.

Crackdown lead designer Billy Thomson is involved with Ruffian, as is Xen Group long-timer, Gaz Liddon. Xen provided physics, art and other resources for the original game.

The full statement, emailed from MacDonald, is published below.

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VG247 has is on good authority that Microsoft is funding Scottish start-up Ruffian Games specifically to develop Crackdown 2.

We’ve been told this morning that a significantly-sized group of people resigned from Realtime Worlds approximately two weeks ago to form the new company.

Realtime Worlds has steadfastly refused this morning to give any information on the individuals that left.

A spokesperson told us on the phone that doing so would be “against the data protection act,” and declined to comment in any way.

Ruffian came to light this morning after Gamasutra posted a link to a Flickr set of members of the fledgling firm look at office space in Dundee.

Crackdown lead designer Billy Thomson is involved with Ruffian, as is Xen Group long-timer, Gaz Liddon. Xen provided physics, art and other resources for the original game.

Why Microsoft has decided to go it alone on the sequel is unknown.

The news is no real surprise. Microsoft dropped a heavy hint recently that something was moving forward with a much-wanted sequel, with Xbox Live’s director of programming, Larry Hryb telling MGS boss Phil Spencer in a podcast, “I’m here to tell you on behalf of the community, I want – we need – another Crackdown.

“That’s all I’m going to say, so you don’t have to confirm for deny anything. I’m just saying we want it.”

Spencer replied: “Yes, Crackdown’s one of my favourites. I’ll leave it at that.”

Microsoft UK was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

Crackdown 2! We are, quite literally, living the dream.

Gamasutra’s reporting that a Dundee-based developer called Ruffian Games has been founded by key Crackdown-related employees, including lead designer Billy Thomson.

There’s a Flickr set here of three Ruffian staff looking at office space. In case you’re bored, like.

Obviously… Crackdown 2! Or not. More through there.

Microsoft’s given a less than subtle hint that a sequel to Realtime World’s beloved open-city 360 shooter, Crackdown, is a little more than fantasy.

“I’m here to tell you on behalf of the community, I want – we need – another Crackdown,” Xbox Live’s director of programming, Larry Hryb, told MGS boss Phil Spencer in the latest Major Nelson podcast.

“That’s all I’m going to say, so you don’t have to confirm for deny anything. I’m just saying we want it.”

“Yes, Crackdown’s one of my favourites,” said Spencer. “I’ll leave it at that.”

A sequel to Crackdown never materialized as “the numbers just didn’t add up,” we were told by Realtime Worlds studio boss Colin Macdonald told us this summer.

Macdonald himself said at the time that the studio was open to negotiations on a second game.

“I don’t think the door’s closed,” he said. “Obviously, right now we’re tied up with APB and everything else, but hopefully in the future we’ll have the resource and something can be worked out with Microsoft.”

Crackdown, a first-party Microsoft game, shipped in February 2007 to general critical acclaim.