Ninja Theory hints at next project

Energy derived from bio-mechanics? Makes me think of Final Fantasy 7 and Mako reactors.

 

Return to the M.A.T.R.I.X

 

Well, I am extremely liking it ! Its good that the standard settings are being left behind, It's the sense of Awe and wonder that defines a game for me !

 

Played HS and all I got to say is WOW what an amazing game....currently fighting Bohan....the graphics the production value is off the charts. The last guy is hands down better than DMC4, can't wait to see the ending. Borrowed the game but I will purchase just to support definitely worth the money.

 

Ninja Theory's Next Project - NOT HS

News just in..:

From here..

Sounds like they have far reaching aspirations & I guess they want to maximise their sales potential this time with a multiplatform release.. However I have questions..

Aside from the new IP (whatever it maybe) I'd like to know whether then new multiplatform engine is an evolution of the HS engine & if so, how well does it run on the SPU-less 360..? (with respect to the *massive* scale environments we've seen in the likes of HS which I have yet to see in a 360 game to date..)

Intruiging news nonetheless!

 

Also aren't they in the same building as SCEE? How many multiplatform devs are that close to a parent console company?

 

Wasn't sure about that but it does seem to be the case (126-130 Hills Road, Cambridge)..

Interesting considering they aren't working wit them directly anymore.. (I'm sure they still are to some degree..)

 

Maybe SCEE cambridge are working on Heavenly Sword 2..

It would make sense given the relationship..?

 

Or it just might be that HS didn't sell well enough for Sony to be considering a sequel right now.

Hope that changes.

Can NT take on HS2 along with this other project at the same time?

 

peon over at the NT forums has already expressed that it was NT who made the decision not to do a HS sequel so i'm assuming they were probably offered the contract for it by Sony.. Especially considering the investment Sony made into the company, the accomplishments they made as a development house (from kung fu chaos to sky high production values..) & the reasons behind poor sales of the initial game (lukewarm critical reception due to the game length & gameplay depth primarily, both elements which are easily fixable in a sequel..)

 

A sequal to HS would probably end up competing with God of War 3? Instead, once they have the God of War engine, maybe much better to do a Heavenly Sword 2 sequel not too long after, sharing some technology.

 

HS IS amazing .>edit,me mad want HS2...
Its very sad because that game showed talent all over

Best graphics out beating Uncharted IMHO.

 

since they say Sony owns the IP, maybe ther will pass the project over to Santa Monica studio

 

Very interesting, can't wait...

 

Err...

1) Because you can't judge the talent of *entire* development teams talent based on the inadaquacies of a few design issues which hadn't been prioritized from the start of development..

2) Because 1) is understandable due to the fact that:

• Ninja Theory are a young studio
• Their designers are inexperienced with respect to projects of such scale
• It was a new IP by a young studio & therefore bound to have some weaknesses
• They brought in a significant amount of new talent for the project, thus having to deal with much greater ramp up issues
• Sony's vision for the project was clearly on the production values & storytelling, of which they did succeed without a doubt but at the expense of gameplay inadaquacies which should have been a high priority for the devs, again probably due to the inexperience of their designers

Not to mention the fact that any design problems with the game could/would have been easily fixable in the sequel..

e.g.

HS 1 with some form of onimusha-style weapon development system, an area battle survival mode mini-game (to gain points to use to develop your weapons etc..) & unlockable extras upon completion (a la DMC, e.g. new costumes, playable characters, weapons etc..) to increase replayability & the game would have killed it in the reviews..

 

I wonder how many defections of core people there were after HS? Not that this is abnormal but iirc nAo and DeanoC have moved on to other projects (feel free to correct me on this point). It would be cool someday if some internal guys did some writing on the ever shifting face of developmental teams and how it impacts development (good and bad).

 

It's really quite unfair to view NT as having 'core people' and 'others'. I know you guys here have nAo and DeanoC up on a pedestal, as though they defined & implemented all of the code in HS, but that is really not the case.. and having members of staff leave is, as you say, quite normal.

I guess I think if I were working there, I'd feel pretty upset with everyone talking like there were essentially two programmers responsible for everything of note in HS. When that's blatantly not the case.

And actually, one of the best programmers I've met in my (pretty long) career still works at NT.. Ok, so he doesn't post on forums all day (and as such is unknown to most of you), but (visibility + forum post counts) != ability.

Dean

 

Great post Dean!

made me chuckle too..

 

Very true. This is Celebrity Culture unfortunately. Human beings latch onto names and identities - see the Cliffy B Genius thread for another example, where the work of a lot of nameless people is attributed in sweeping generalizations to one guy. C'est la vie.

 

Point taken DeanA. Don't worry, I still look forward to NT's next title. I'm just a little disappointed that I won't see Kai in the foreseeable future.