[patsu]

Co-op impressions:
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/adventur...&mode=previews

While you find yourself lost in a vast desert at the beginning of the game, if you're online, you'll soon find other passersby with whom you can interact. You'll be able to partner with one of them simply by approaching, at which point you'll be able to share resources and solve puzzles together. If either of the pair decides he or she wants to go it alone, that player can simply move away from the other player at any time. What you won't be able to do is communicate verbally. Chen claims that it was given a trial, but it detrimentally affected the game. That means that you could end up playing the game with an 80-year-old woman or a 16-year-old boy and never know it, but thatgamecompany claims that mystery actually aids the overall experience.

Each player's avatar features different symbols on his or her chest, so that you can differentiate between people as you meet them. The game's resource takes the form of ribbons, which are collected around the world and then displayed on your character's scarf. When you use powers, such as the ability to fly, these ribbons are used up and drift away into the air. If you're playing cooperatively, they can be collected by the other player, effectively allowing you to share resources between each other. You'll also need to work together to solve cooperative puzzles. We saw an instance where both players had to stand on platforms simultaneously to continue.

Journey is a beautiful-looking game, particularly thanks to the sand effects. At one point, the wind caused the ground to ripple like a vast lake. Thankfully, we're also promised environments such as mountains as you progress. Chen also promises some conflict in the game, although he wouldn't draw on the enemies you might come across.

[TEEDA]

First gameplay footage
http://uk.ign.com/videos/2011/06/03/...bjectid=867592

[Trejser]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYysw...layer_embedded

So beautiful...

[patsu]

YES ! One of my 3 most anticipated items for this E3....


Jevona Chen, would you please make this into an AR game ? Like transforming my office and Bay Area buildings into desert with "sand waterfall" and flower bed ? And allow us to piece all together in a global virtual world ?

[TEEDA]

Joystiq preview of the game

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/jo...ers/#continued

The game opens with the fading of a white-hot sun, the dimming light revealing vast sand dunes. A beacon of light, emitting from a far-off mountain barely visible in the distance instilled in me a sense of urgency. Silently I stood for a while, ignoring my instincts in an attempt to soak it all in. There we were, the sand and I, alone. It was an almost comforting bleakness.

As I took my first steps forward, pushing the sand out in front of me like a sheet with a pocket of air trapped under it, I made it my goal to reach the light. Walking up and down dunes small and large, I eventually stumbled upon what I could only describe as a shrine. Suddenly, my character was surrounded with an aura that highlighted the folds of my clothes and gave me a the tiniest bit of a scarf

My brief play session was one full of emotion -- I marveled at the environments and beauty of it all; I questioned myself, my motives and what it was all for; and, most importantly, I persevered. It was empowering in a way no racing game or shooting game could ever replicate.

I imagined the feelings I had playing Journey are the same Jacques Cousteau might have felt as he explored the seas. There's a certain magic in discovery and figuring things out for ourselves, putting the puzzle together without a hand to hold us. I may have questioned the point of my own journey while I was there, but I can't wait to pick it back up again

Edit : little awesome gif
http://i53.tinypic.com/9ljwpw.gif

[tuna]

Not gonna read more, will wait until game is released to know more. Flower was incredible, I belive this will be as well.

[Billy Idol]

wow!!! just wow...insta buying this game

[PhilB]

The concept behind the game is just really interesting. Don't know if it'll be fun as much as it'll be an experience but I'm looking forward to that the most.

[patsu]

Gametrailers interview:

[Jedi2016]

They've nailed it twice now, I think I'll be okay in saying even now that I'll be picking this up when it's released. Even if I don't know any more about it than I do now.

[patsu]

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/...steps-post-e3/

To test Journey’s innovative and unusual multiplayer functionality, we are conducting a small, invite-only beta that will run tomorrow, June 28 and will run through July 12. If you were one of the very earliest adopters of Flower, and you are a PS Plus subscriber as well, watch your XMB inbox for your invitation and entry into the beta. Additionally, we’ve been able to free up a limited number of additional spots for the beta. Please check thatgamecompany’s Facebook page, here on the PlayStation Blog, or our media partners and their sites for code give-aways.

I fit the bill, but I definitely don't want to participate in the beta to avoid spoiling the game for myself.

[Sigfried1977]

I just hope it'll be more than just pointlessly faffing about in pretty environments. Flower was a very laid back and relaxing experience, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy oneself just for heck of it. However at the end it still had basic video game goals. In order to keep things fresh, every level put some fresh and essentially rather traditional obstacles between you and said goals. There was a clear sense of progression to motivate you ever further. If Journey really is just about wandering from start to finish, with a little singing and dune surfing in between, that bold experiment may very well end up a rather boring one that gets old very fast. I think Noby Noby boy is a good example of how novelty alone isn't enough to carry a game. If a game that lets you eat a woman and a cow and then poop out a woman with a cow-head gets boring after a couple of hours, how long is a game where you trek across some dunes gonna last?

Anyway, I'm still excited and I will most likely still buy it day one. I'm just not sold a 100% on it yet.

[patsu]

Originally Posted by Sigfried1977

However at the end it still had basic video game goals. In order to keep things fresh, every level put some fresh and essentially rather traditional obstacles between you and said goals. There was a clear sense of progression to motivate you ever further. If Journey really is just about wandering from start to finish, with a little singing and dune surfing in between, that bold experiment may very well end up a rather boring one that gets old very fast.

The game has some collection element (collecting fragments of cloth), which gives you different abilities to solve puzzles together. I think the articles mentioned the players have to find the end goal or goals.

I agree with what you said about Noby Noby Boy though.

EDIT:
http://www.el33tonline.com/past_arti...urney_preview/

Your little humanoid will soon be bestowed with a scarf. Basically this is an energy meter and you’ll need to collect resources to be able to fly. As these resources are spent they will be released and return to the land. As you progress in the game you’ll discover pieces of hanging cloth that you can harmonise with because you’re also made of cloth. You’ll also happen upon non-playable characters who will give you clues about what might have happened in this place. They will be visual clues, not based on dialogue, memories from the past that will help to create your own storyline of what may have happened.

Players will be able to find another player by singing. You’ll be able to touch to harmonise and even use the resources that the other player has used and discarded to draw strength and fly. You can, however, also choose to play as a single player in the multiplayer. Or you could leave the second player in search of another player who may better suit your play style in a scenario that Chen describes as being reminiscent of speed dating. The gameplay is very co-operative with conventional elements of players being able to discover hidden secrets. These may be paintings that give hints about the story or white pieces of cloth that players can collect to extend the maximum length of their scarf so they can fly further.

I remember one of the trailers showed a flying craft for the player to interact with.

[Sigfried1977]

Thanks for shedding some light onto the situation. I just watched the Gametrailers interview and when it was over I was pretty much none the wiser for it, hence my concern that there may be not a whole lot to the game afterall.

[patsu]

At this point, I hope someone makes a Patapon + Journey game. Engaging hordes of Patapons in an unknown world, disrupting their beats, sizzling their army under the hot desert Sun while they summon their Rain juju should be devilishly fun (for me at least. ).

[RenegadeRocks]

WoW, Journey Beta ! I want in !

[patsu]

Anyone got into this beta ?

[TEEDA]

Originally Posted by patsu

Anyone got into this beta ?

I did with IGN giving bunch of codes here
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/117/1179541p1.html

not the smartest way to do it but some peopl got in. There was already a patch when youn installed the game.I got 2 freeze after playing 5 minutes so i could not see the end of the level but the game gives that " flower" -ish feeling. same kind of melodical music, relaxing , peaceful gameplay.

here's another impression

Things worked much better when I came back later. Looks like they might have gotten a new update file, could have sworn I saw 2.01. Looked a bit dicey while updating, but this time it finished and I was allowed to play the game. More, I was able to play to the end of the 30 minutes or so that it took me to finish what is included in the beta. It didn't freeze on me during the game as others have reported.

The game is quite serene and surreal, there's no english or any other language for that matter for setting details, just a written pictographic language. The only instruction you get comes in the form of an outline of a controller with the specific command and button combo. So far you can walk with the left stick, move the camera with the sixaxis function, eventually you can jump and glide using the X button but only after you acquire a scarf. Each segment of the scarf determines how high and how long, and once you use up the charges you can't jump until you get some more. You can also make a sound pulse using the circle button, a tap for a small one, hold it for a large pulse. Other than pointing you in the right direction and occasionally giving you waypoints the game largely leaves you on your own after that. There's no run button, no climb button, you simply have to work out how to navigate the world on your own. The game is quite attractive in a very minimalist fashion, sand dunes as far as the eye can see, simplistic character.

[JPT]

Morse code for communication?

[TEEDA]

The newest patch added camera control with the right stick. Nice addition. Looks more natural than having to use the sixaxis gyros. And I could play until the end this time. it took me 15 minutes to complete. There is the intro part and the second part of the beta where you can encounter somebody to help you. This gamegives you a really amazing feeling. The wide opened desert, the way it moves, the graphics are just so beautiful and when you encounter somebody you have this little smile like you re saying " finally i m not alone, someone here to help ".
At one moment I was stuck , couldn't go to a point because I had to fly glide really high in the sky to reach a plateform and the buddy I played with just showed me how to proceed. And I just followed and copied.

I do think communicating with either a microphone, via skype or messages could ruin the co-op experience of the game. It is so much more interesting not to use any other way of communicatiing while playing the game with someone.

[patsu]

Originally Posted by JPT

Morse code for communication?

Ha ha... Are the sound always the same 1-2 note or do we have a few octaves to make music ?

Other than the crashes, the feedback seems very positive so far.

[KKRT]

20 minutes gameplay from beta [polish commentary]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B98D0-9de4

[TEEDA]

Here's a nice review
http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/...a-impressions/

After walking through the door to the next area, I began the muliplayer portion of the game and came to the point that I stopped at during E3. This is where things get amazing.

s I walked through a long corridor, I found myself on top of a giant structure with various giant ribbons on the ground below me. I also spotted another player for the first time. I jumped down and headed to the other player to begin our adventure together. We sang to each other and jumped around for a bit, getting to know each other if you will. I love how immersive it felt, especially with the lack of a hud and voice chat. The soothing music and ambient sounds really added to the atmosphere as well.

I felt like I was playing with an old friend and we were just having the time of our lives in a place where time didn’t exist.

You know those moments in life that literally warm your heart or make you feel tingly inside? Maybe it’s a spectacular movie, holding hands with that special someone, or just doing something kind for someone else. That’s the best way I can describe how I felt through the entirety of my playthrough. It was simply a joyous experience. The final portion of the beta will sound sillier than the rest, but might possibly be the most fun I had.

Overall, this is one of the greatest experiences I’ve had playing a game, beta or otherwise. Considering it’s a beta, I never once ran into a glitch or anything that would otherwise take me out of the game. Simply put, thatgamecompany has a masterpiece on their hands and I can’t wait to take on the full experience when it’s ready.

I exactly felt that same sensation when encountering another player. it felt so warm and was really fun solving things together. I encountered another one who left me in the thirs part of the beta so I continued alone. Was way too short. But when playing, it just feels so unique each time.
the best thing is that you don't know whith whom you' re playing with. there are no hints, no name or whatever. And when you get to the end of the beta it's joy and sadness at the same time because you don't want this to end. And you' re like in that moment when you had fun into a party and everyone leaves. you got that little smile and waished it never ended.

[patsu]

I know exactly what you mean.

Wait till your anonymous and quiet friend rush towards certain death *without hesitation* so that you can live. T_T. The sense of inadequacy and incompetence was rather profound to me.

Good to know you can make music in the game.

[patsu]

Here you go. Actual Journey beta gameplay. Include glimpses of music, magical cloth, flying, puzzles, etc.
http://www.g4tv.com/videos/54038/jou...eo/?quality=hd