Tag Archives: flower

Sony’s investment in thatgamecompany really paid off, producing two of the PlayStation Network’s top performers.

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Sony has put up a video featuring a message from thatgamecompany, as part of the make.believe project.

The mantra of the video is “Believe that anything you can imagine, you can make real”, which has led to the development and release of games like flOw and Flower.

Check out the inspirational video of it below, or through the US PS Blog.

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Thatgamecompany’s Jenova Chen said at GDC last week that the firm will not release a new game this year.

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Sony’s put live what you can expect in this week’s PS Store update for Europe.

The big headliner is obviously the Heavy Rain demo. Everything else you needs to know is below.

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The Game Developers Choice awards nominations have been announced, with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves leading the way with seven.

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While speaking at develop regarding thatgamecompany’s flOw and Flower, Jenova Chen told attendees that games need more mature content by way of emotional engagement, not necessarily violence. Otherwise titles become nothing more than “toys”.

“I never see that sense of thrill any more in today’s games,” he said. “Yes, today’s games are more real and satisfying but the underlining mechanics are no different from toys. But the human brain likes information – it’s like a sponge that sucks up information and wants more all the time.

“Other pursuits are enjoyed by adults and not viewed as toys. As grown up gamer I don’t want to see the games I have been playing with love turn into toys. I think games need to have more mature content – but not like [Dead of Alive] or [Manhunt], but more sophisticated works.

“Games should make the player think and touch the gamer’s emotion. Gameplay needs to be like any other medium – it has to evoke all kinds of responses. Otherwise our industry will flatline.

“It shouldn’t be about one feeling – like excitement or happiness. Humans have a range of emotions, and life is stressful. Games should reflect that.”

Chen said developers could accomplish this by incorporating contemporary themes and approaching games as one would approach the creation of art.

“Most people in the games industry are jaded with this argument about games being art,” he admitted. “But it is important. I’m not an artist, I’m a computer science guy, and as game designer I think art is a component that is necessary.

“Look at the greatest artists and their works [Van Gogh, Tolkien and Alan Moore], they reflect the time and the world around them at the time.”

More over on Develop.

GamerBytes  has released a list of the top ten best selling games on PSN in April.

Hopefully your favorites did well.

1. Rag Doll Kung Fu
2. Worms
3. Wheel of Fortune
4. Flower
5. Mortal Kombat II
6. Comet Crash
7. Ratcher & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
8. Linger in Shadows
9. PAIN
10. Noby Noby Boy

You can get the full analysis and break down through the link.

Thanks, D’toid.

Sony’s released its March PSN figures, showing Flower on top for the second month in a row.

Wheel of Fortune and Noby Noby Boy came second and third respectively.

Get the top ten from Gamerbytes.

The latest edition of Qore’s shown Flower as the most downloaded PSN game last month, followed by Noby Noby Boy and SF II’s HD remix.

More on Joystiq.

1. Flower
2. Noby Noby Boy
3. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
4. 3 on 3 NHL Arcade
5. Savage Moon
6. Mortal Kombat II
7. Bejeweled 2
8. Burnout Paradise
9. Linger in Shadows
10. Magic Ball

A renaissance of sorts is happening in the games industry, according to Flower creator Jenova Chen.

He feels that new developers now coming out of college will usher in a new era of cheaper and more emotional content.

“All these companies are designing these games particularly to these groups; they never really focus on the old,” he told GamesIndustry.biz.

“But as more companies make games for this audience, they are overlapping in terms of emotional content. They are really competing with each other on production values.

“You have two space marine games. Which are you going to choose? Gears of War 2 or Resistance 2? The decision is based on who has the better-looking character, more levels, or a longer play-time.

The industry is focusing on who has the best tech rather than who has the more emotional or intellectual experience.”

More through the link.

Loads of new themes, movie trailers, game trailers and the usual other stuff is available this week.

Mostly, the only things worth noting are Flower, the free NBA Live 09 All Star Weekend add-on, the Lumines skins pack, and the Guitar Hero and Rock Band tracks Xbox 360 users got earlier in the week.

The full list is on the PS Blog.

SCEE’s confirmed that arty floaty thing, Flower, will cost a sensible £6.29 in Europe.

It’s out on February 12, and will cost $10 in the US.

Flower’s developed by thatgamecompany, and is a game form of “poetry,” apparently.

Saying nothing.

In amongst Venturebeat calling Flower “most inspired game for the PlayStation 3″ in a recent hands-on, the article also revealed that ThatGameCompany’s latest PSN venture will cost the princely sum of $9.99.

Eurogamer then rushed to contact SCEE who told the site that no Euro pricing is forthcoming at this point in time.

Flower will be released for PlayStation Network on February 12.

By Mike Bowden

Sony has announced thatgamecompany’s Flower is to be released on US PSN on February 12 – Europe should be getting it a week later.

“Flower is a tough game to describe. We like to think of it as a video game version of a poem; an exploration into the tension between urban bustle and natural serenity. Players accumulate flower petals as the onscreen world swings between the pastoral and the chaotic,” said thatgamecompany boss, Kellee Santiago to PSBlog.

To celebrate, there’s a brand new trailer for you to look at after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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According to a Sony Denmark release schedule acquired by videogaming247, ThatGameCompany’s lovely looking Flower will be released on PlayStation Network on February 19.

Earlier today, we were treated to two new Flower gameplay movies of this long sought-after PS3 exclusive.

No other details are known at this time.

By Mike Bowden

You’ll find two new gameplay trailers of thatgamecompany’s beautiful looking PSN game, Flower, after the break.

One movie’s called Breezy and the other Colour Burst, and both look pretty stunning. All we need now is a firm release date and price and all will be fine with the world.

Now stop reading and start watching.

By Mike Bowden

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God of War director, David Jaffe, has updated his blog to reveal that That Game Company’s Flower is “one of the most emotional games of all time.”

“You guys know I’m a disappointed cynic when it comes to video games evoking subtle emotions in players,” he said.

“But I’ll tell you what – from what I saw on Friday – these guys/gals at TGC are well on their way to having made one of the most emotional games of all time.”

“I love what I saw,” he went on. “And if the whole game feels like the stuff I saw last week…well wow! Just wow! And the coolest thing to me is, hell, now I’m inspired to step up to the plate and try to do something a bit more meaningful as well. Maybe not with our current title, but one day soon.”

We’re looking forward to Flower too. Still no news regarding a release date as yet though. Oh well.

By Mike Bowden

That Game Company director and co-founder Jenova Chen explained to Kotaku that the theme of Flower is “Life in Balance.”

“As reflected in flOw, That Game Company’s goal is explore what is possible to communicate through video games, from the complex concept of evolution and adaptation to the power found in a simple potted flower,” says the piece.

The article goes on to look at the game more closely, revealing that your petal enters three dream-like states as you play. Or something.

Go for it through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Two new video have emerged showing new footage of That Game Company’s latest title, Flower. They look all floaty and motion-controlly to us. Check them out after the drop.

By Mike Bowden

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