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Killzone Tries To Meet Halo-Beater Hype

Posted by simoniker on from the now-we-know-what-it-is dept.

Thanks to IGN PS2 for their coverage of the first details about Sony Europe's much-hyped FPS, Killzone. As the article says, "...the game formerly known as Kin already has made waves throughout the videogame world. The super secret first-person shooter from Lost Boys (now known as Guerilla Games) has been kept under wraps via non-disclosure agreements for the past 16 months... Killzone has quickly built into one of the most talked about pieces of shadow-ware in the industry." With screenshots looking impressively moody and detailed, and C+VG quoting a Sony insider as saying "the online side of things will be doing stuff no-one's ever seen before", it'll be interesting to see if the Playstation 2 will get a platform-exclusive FPS to match the likes of Halo on Xbox, or whether hype will lead to over-lofty expectation.

41 comments

  1. Judging from the screenshots... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    ... it's certainly not a Halo "killer" (pardon the pun) in graphics quality.

    Now if the gameplay and physics are there, that's a different story. i.e. Socom looks bad, but man, what *sweet* gameplay.

  2. Who are these guys? by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 1, Interesting
    Who are these guys? I checked Google for both Lost Boys and Guerrilla Games and can find no previous product that they've shipped. Does anyone know what they've done?

    Basically all I am seeing concerning this company is the fact that they changed their name and a brief blurb about how they've got an FPS game that's been getting an incredible amount of hype. It makes me a little uneasy about getting excited about a game from a publisher I've never seen work from and a game that's being hyped up this much by the media. But, I guess we'll have to wait and see. Does anyone know the storyline of the game? It looks like it involves shooting people. Although it may be noted that at the official Guerrilla Games website, they're taking applications. So maybe someone who reads Slashdot to infilitrate their operation by getting hired and then sneak some inside information out about this new game.

    The screenshots look pretty sweet; quite a bit better than Socom.

    --
    I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
    1. Re:Who are these guys? by spiny · · Score: 1

      well i checked, but i don't think they are the old atari crew T.L.B.

      i could be wrong though ... :)

      --

      Fry: heh, Yakov Smirnoff said it
      Leela: No he didn't.
    2. Re:Who are these guys? by The+Moving+Shadow · · Score: 1

      There's a dutch "new-media" designoffice that bears the name Lost Boys. They were the main sponsor for the Arrows team btw in the F1 season two years back. But as far as i know LB only does e-commerce and bussiness solutions. I think the reason the guys who are now known as Guerrilla Games had to change their name because Lost Boys already was owned by the beforementioned office.

    3. Re:Who are these guys? by Winterblink · · Score: 1

      Seems to be the relative unknowns that release the best stuff these days. Look at the guys who did Metroid Prime.

      --
      "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
      -Hoban Washburn
    4. Re:Who are these guys? by Arjen · · Score: 1

      Actually, Lost Boys Games used to be part of the Lost Boys family, but I think they parted ways some time ago.

  3. Framerate Probs by Mike+Mentalist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There was an article about this game in the latest edition of UK mag 'Edge'.

    They said that it currently looks pretty good, and the AI is very well realised as well - but the framerate is currently very choopy. It seems that the cause of this is more to do with the AI rather than the detailed graphics (for a PS2 game), and they also expressed concern over how they are going to also cram the online side of things in when it seems that there is so much to do still.

    --
    I put my books on Amazon, Smashwords, Demonoid, ISOHunt and Pirate Bay. Search for 'Michael Cargill'
  4. Stop beating around the niven by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's time to stop beating around the bush and call Kin "Kzin" and Halo "Ringworld"

  5. So, judging by Sony's hype, we can determine... by Rayonic · · Score: 1

    ...nothing. Absolutely nothing. Sony has one of the most evil, decietful marketing machines in the gaming industry. They're worse than Microsoft and Nintendo put together.

    They deal in rumors and incite speculation. They keep a project under wraps, release some small tidbit of information, and say something ominous like "it will change your life forever." The press laps it up greedily, and the overactive imaginations of the gaming community take it from there. (See the Playstation 2 release)

    The marketing profession is full of weasels and sneaks as it is, but Sony's cynical hype should be especially ignored.

    --
    [PowerPoint] is a tool for capitalist presentation
    1. Re:So, judging by Sony's hype, we can determine... by mausmalone · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Sony's cynical hype should be especially ignored.

      I don't know... Sony's delivered on promisses in the past. Both the PSX and the PS2 changed the gaming scene completley (for better or worse). I doubt this game will live up to the hype, but I don't think that anyone would believe in a Halo killer except for Halo 2 or Doom 3. Hopefully, it'll be a decent game, worth picking up off the used rack a few months after release. :)

      --
      -=-=-=-=-=
      I'd rather be flamed than ignored.
  6. Not on the PS2 by MBraynard · · Score: 3, Informative
    Agreed, the PS2 sells more machines, sells more games, etc. So in that sense GTA, etc. are all "Halo-killers."

    But in terms of quality of an FPS, it just ain't gonna happen on a PS2 because the graphics and the processor are not as capable. The difference between the two is massive. Halo is 720p - and judging by the screen shots posted, this thing looks like Metal Gear Solid - fugly.

    1. Re:Not on the PS2 by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 1
      Halo is 720p

      What does 720p mean?

    2. Re:Not on the PS2 by JFMulder · · Score: 1

      It means that the game is rendered in "something" by 720 lines of resolution. If you have the HDTV adapter fox the Xbox (not available on the PS2 I believe) and an HDTV, that's what you're going to get. Other resolutions include 480p, 480i (for interlaced, so 480i is less good than 480p), 525p, 525i, 1080i (not sure about the last one tough). So when there's a P, fullframes are rendered, like on a computer, and when there's an I, then it's half-frames, like on a TV.

    3. Re:Not on the PS2 by ooPo · · Score: 0

      I know you meant to type 480p.

    4. Re:Not on the PS2 by MBraynard · · Score: 1

      I meant 720p - I'm pretty certain. I could be wrong, though.

    5. Re:Not on the PS2 by MBraynard · · Score: 1
      just to be a little more specific -

      I means interlaced.
      P means progressive.

      Interlace means that the odd and even numbered horizontal lines on the screen take turns being drawn.

      Progressive means that the odd and even numbered horizontal lines on the screen are drawn at the same time.

      The number is the number of horizontal lines on the screen total.

      Typical TVs are 480i. HD typically comes in 3 modes - 480p, 720p and 1080i.

    6. Re:Not on the PS2 by Quikah · · Score: 1

      It is only 480p, few games use HDTV resolutions.

      --
      Q.
    7. Re:Not on the PS2 by MBraynard · · Score: 1

      All Xbox games *can* but few developers allow for it. There are a few 720p - I know Robotech is.

  7. With screenshots looking impressively moody... by fuchikoma · · Score: 1

    With screenshots looking impressively moody

    This isn't 1997 anymore. Using massive fog to lower polycount is no longer an 'atmospheric effect'.

  8. Halo copycat more like... by antin · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hard to tell at this point - and there is probably a lot of information not currently being shared with us - but breifly:

    1) Space based marines...
    2) Colonization of the galaxy
    3) Squads - but more like AI backup (think the Marines in Halo)
    4) Recharging health meter akin to Halo shields
    5) Compared to Halo and called the Halo 'killer'

    Now I know it is too early to judge, and whatever I say will probably later been found to be wrong, but from the small hints IGN are giving it really just sounds like someone is copying the core elements of Halo...

    Then again, in their defence, although Halo is one of the definitive FPS games - polished beyond imagination - it wasn't really that innovative itself (although it did set new standards for controls, and the recharging shields are a nice idea).

    1. Re:Halo copycat more like... by Mattb90 · · Score: 1

      There's also connections to Brute Force, in terms of a team of four fighting against a large number of enemy troops.

      --
      Mattb90
      Editor, allaboutgames.co.uk
  9. Battle Engine Aquilla was their previous game by grahamwest · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I don't think it got released in North America, but they made a PS2, PC and Xbox game called Battle Engine Aquilla fairly recently. www.eurogamer.net just listed it as one of their favourite games that nobody bought.

    --
    Graham
    1. Re:Battle Engine Aquilla was their previous game by tc · · Score: 1

      No, that's Lost Toys. Different company.

    2. Re:Battle Engine Aquilla was their previous game by grahamwest · · Score: 1

      Hmm, so it is. I stand corrected.

      --
      Graham
  10. Graphics... by JFMulder · · Score: 1

    One of the reason of Halo's success, besides the great story and awesome action, is the incredible quality of the graphics. It's jawdropping even on a regular TV set. I haven't seen it yet on an HDTV, but I bet it's one of the most beautifull games on the Xbox, despite it being released at system launch.

    What I've seen so far from that PS2 are average graphics, and very dark colors. There's no way this is going to match Halo's bright and detailed worlds.

    So that game will really have to have a really great gameplay to surpass Halo AND get a major graphics overhaul to even be worthy of Halo. And by that time that game finally, comes out, Xbox ownser will all be happy playing Halo2 on their Xbox, and if God wants to, Doom3. :)

    Maybe if that game came out 3 years ago, it might have been nice, but now, unless it does get the graphics overhaul, it's just going to look boring compared to other FPS. You shouldn't always judge a game by it's looks, but that's what people always do at first, and that costs sales.

    Now, to anyone who says that "it's because of people like me who prefer graphics over gameplay (which I DON'T anyway) that the creativity has stagnated in the gaming industry in the past few years in favor of graphics", well you know what? Get real. Today's games aren't only about gameplay, they're also about immersion, and since the standard of computer graphics has been raised, nobody is gonna be fooled anymore by Mario Bros blocky sprites and call that immersion.

    1. Re:Graphics... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Puh-leaze.. I know you want to justify your buying an Xbox, but Halo's graphics aren't that good.

      It's a nice game, for an FPS on a console great even and I enjoyed playing it. Halo's graphics however are OK and not revolutionary like some people want others to believe here. Nothing a PC couldn't do at the time anyway.

      (Granted, the story and action were very good. Though some levels were quite repetitive.)

      What I've seen of Kin, the graphics are at least on par with Halo.. a little better even.

    2. Re:Graphics... by JFMulder · · Score: 1

      Yeah sure, a PC could do better, but we're comparing console games, and the PS2 just doesn't have what it takes to make an FPS as beautiful as Halo.

    3. Re:Graphics... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Wrong :)

      Though they've had a few years to play with the PS2.

      Look what people managed to tweak out of the C64 and the Atari ST years after they were released. Things people thought were impossible when those machines were just released.

      Never underestimate what programmers will be able to get out of a machine with fixed hardware.

  11. I call BS by Torgo's+Pizza · · Score: 1

    What makes me pissed off about this article is that Jeremy Dunham didn't even *SEE* the friggin' game. It's all based on a press release. Go back and re-read the article and count how many times he uses "supposedly". Hype hype hype. This is not journalism. Jeremy just turned himself into a marketing shill.

    1. Re:I call BS by gtshafted · · Score: 1

      hmmm... did Sony pay IGN for this article? Reminds me of in show commercials popping up more often to combat stuff like TIVO...

  12. PS2 v. XBox by jplvr1 · · Score: 1

    The ageless battle. PS2 just lacks the power for game developers to keep up with what is offered by the Xbox. More games sure, but the Xbox has so much potential. Can't wait for the next Halo (or Halo esque) game for the Box!

    --
    Best Web Based Game
    1. Re:PS2 v. XBox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought the ageless battle was Nintendo Vs. Sega...

      What?... Sonic on a Nintendo system....nooooooooooooooooooooooo

      oh...

    2. Re:PS2 v. XBox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Emacs vs. vi

  13. Hype? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is it that if this Halo killer is so hyped the only hype I've seen about it is this mention on /.? I'm not about to RTFA or google for it because it's not hype if you hafta go looking for it. Seriously though I have never heard of these guys or there game, and from the looks of these post neither has anybody else. Is this getting hyped some place other than America, because I certainly wouldn't say it is hyped here.

    M.D. Inc.

  14. Ugh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those are the worst screen shots I have ever seen. Give me tetris before that eyesore.

  15. "Halo-Beater Hype" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    According to SONY.

    I'll take that as much salt as Microsoft telling me that Project Gotham Racing is the XBOX's Gran Turismo killer...

    1. Re:"Halo-Beater Hype" by Recoil_42 · · Score: 1

      no, but imo PGR2 is looking like exactly that. over 100 cars, 7 new cities (meanig maybe 50 tracks) and the graphics just give me nerdgasms....

      --


      Newsie, Moderator, www.tauniverse.com
    2. Re:"Halo-Beater Hype" by gtshafted · · Score: 1

      yeah the graphics aren't bad, but not jawdropping either - i expected more based on Sony's past "accidentatlly leaked" information who knows maybe gameplay will be good...

  16. PS2 multiplay weak by wittace · · Score: 1

    PS2 is still fighting a weak multiplay. Having SOCOM as the only real game utilizing online play, the game won't survive based on this feature alone. Not that Xbox's setup is all that. The reason of Halo's success was it was the flagship game much hyped (due to Microsoft)console. People bought an Xbox for Halo. People bought a PS2 for GTA. People bought a Game Cube for...someone else so they could buy a real system for themselves. The point is, without a PC backing, a single console game will not live up to the success of the entry-point game.

    1. Re:PS2 multiplay weak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      People bought a Game Cube for...

      Silly Nintendo games probably. Fuck that shit.

      Who wants to play a game throwing strawberries at purple elephants. Get real!

      Gimme real arian role-playing games goddamnit! None of this purple spiky hair bullshit... bleagh.

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