Firesprite Games - New studio from ex-SL members

[marcingru]

http://t.co/g8sRGqyap3



?????

Gretzz!

Cant post more here ??? so ill edit now

there is something interesting about Firesprite logo, it was mentionet here somethnig but my not perfect english is not letting me catch it

Take a look at this ,and if someone can read Japanese will be much help ;)

83258326

Is text under logo does not look similar to Psx Wipeout text?

Regards!

[DDD113]

Wow. Almost brings tears to my eyes. Those guys are a special group. Also, personally, I still believe that WipEout is special to Sony, and that they would like to see it continue on their consoles. It would be a hugely classy move to hand over the WipEout IP to Firesprite. That would completely renew my love and faith in Sony.

[Knux_Chaotix]

Aaah, didnt see this one lol. This is a positive thing. Im trying not to get overly hopeful though, but this could be the little ray of light we all wanted.

[greenymac]

Was just reading this at NeoGAF... Everyone there is going nuts hoping for wipeout...As I am

[Azurooth]

I'll keep my fingers crossed, it's a lot better than nothing. =)

[Aeralys]

Their logo has a remarkable resemblance to a game I remember playing before. Anyone recognise it? No? Guess I'm in the wrong forum...

8308

[blackwiggle]

Although great news to see ex SL people still active in a ever diminishing amount of gaming studios.
The fact that Sony still owns the rights to Wipeout, and the likely fact that Sony would most likely want to keep it Playstation exclusive, might, for a independent studio like Firesprite, make it a less tempting to take on.
I mean as they are independent, they ultimately want to make games that they can sell on multiple platforms to maximize returns.

The only thing that might make taking on a new Wipeout for the PS4 more tempting [no point making it for the PS3] would be if Sony gave them the partially constructed full console Wipeout that SL were [heavily hinted at] in the process of making at the same time they were making WO 2048.

Having a partially constructed game, or even the majority of the art work already done [ quite possibly by ex SL employees now at Firesprite] would certainly make constructing a new WO a lot quicker than if starting from absolute scratch.

[Aeralys]

Edge has also published a great article on the news, giving some insight on the studio's ambitions.


Studio Liverpool lives on. Firesprite is the new independent development studio founded by several key members of the former Wipeout developer, and it has already shipped its first project, having helped Sony’s Japan Studio finish PS4 curio The Playroom. It is now busy at work on a new game – whether it’s a new Wipeout title remains to be seen.


Of its 20 staff, 15 are former Studio Liverpool developers, and with that pedigree in-house Ankers believes that Firesprite can uphold high-level production values while pushing out into new areas. “Of course playing with new technology and pushing hard has always been a big part of what we do. Its been great to continue that journey with The Playroom on PS4.”


There is a new game in development, one which Ankers can’t tell us about, but we suggest that with all of the history and experience at the studio, it seems likely to be a racer – if not another Wipeout game. Ankers is careful with his reply. “All of us have made a number of racers and are big fans of the genre,” he says. “One of the founding principles of Firesprite is to work on games that are unique in some way, through some cool hardware, technology, platform or gameplay. Whatever we work on we bring all our focus and values into it and push hard to make it the best experience possible.”


So while proud of that history with PlayStation, Ankers says that the new studio is independent, and it is not limiting itself to Sony hardware. “The engine we are creating works across multiple platforms including mobile,” he adds. “The distribution of retail or digital really depends on the game.”


We push Ankers again – could Sony entrust the new indie to make another Wipeout? It’s not difficult to see that he’d dearly love to, but can’t confirm either way. “I don’t know where this journey is going to take us,” he adds. “Ultimately we love Wipeout but the decision isn’t ours. Wipeout is a special game, its soul comes from Liverpool development history.”

I Highlighted most of the important parts in regards to the studio and any hints at WipEout's future. To be honest this is all great news. They clearly still have close connections with Sony and have already contributed to the PS4 with Playroom. By the sounds of it their new arrangement and engine allows much more creative freedom for indie sized titles and bigger console projects to come into fruition, so all the power to them. But seriously why you gotta tease us with dat WipEoutEsquE Logo? :hyper

Read the full article here. (http://www.edge-online.com/news/new-indie-firesprite-rises-from-the-ashes-of-studio-liverpool-but-what-of-wipeout/but-what-of-wipeout/)

[Mikahail]

Good news to read. Fingers crossed for a new WipEout, of course, but whatever the games they'll make it's great to see them with full energy.

[Knux_Chaotix]

Facebook page ^_^ https://www.facebook.com/FirespriteGames?directed_target_id=4762257318

[Olivario]

I don't think they do a new Wipeout game, at least in the short-medium term. Said this, a new Wipeout for PS4 would automatically make me buy the console, so I don't mind if they take their time as I don't want to spend 400 euros atm :g

[blackwiggle]

From what I can gather from that interview, Firesprite is busy working away at building a new "Game Engine".

All games use a game engine, a lot of them are based on say something like UNREAL TOURNAMENT.
You will get a lot of FPS using that engine, only difference would be the graphics / look of the game, and maybe some handling tweaks to make it somewhat a individual game.

To build a NEW Game engine, as stated, would only be warranted if Firesprite thought they could make a game better with their own game engine, rather than using a tried and tested engine that they would have to pay royalties on for using.

Find out what sort of game engine they are working on, and that will give you a real idea of what sort of game [s] they are contemplating on making.

[Aeralys]

I'm not familiar with what engine was used to develop WOHD/2048. However given that Firesprite are an independent studio (with strong Sony connections), they probably felt is was necessary to make their own proprietary game engine, to be able to develop on those other platforms and include the quality and techniques the team has gained over all the years at SL.

Both Batman: Arkham Asylum and UT3 was made on the unreal engine. Both drastically different in gameplay. Still I couldn't imagine WipEout HD, and the techniques used to make it would be possible on that engine.

This Article (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-wipeout-hd-fury-interview) gets a bit technical on some development techniques used to make WOHD's graphics they way they are. It mentions making good use of PS3's Edge Tools? Possibly an example of some capabilities they're trying to replicate in a new engine to bring across to more platforms?

So yes I'd say that a new engine is definitely warranted in their ambition. They're building both the engine and the game to go with it. Integrated development and all.

I don't know, It's all good news. I'm so exciiiited and I just can't hiiiide it?

[JABBERJAW]

I would hope they would make a game like wipeout ( very much like :) ), call it something else, so it is their game and they can do what they like with it.

[blackwiggle]

I think Sony would be ready to pounce on Firesprite if they made a game too similar to Wipeout and called it something else.

If they do make a futuristic racer, it could be so vastly different that maybe Wipeout fans wouldn't be interested in it.
Fatal Inertia is a classic example of this.

The genre of futuristic racing has always been hampered by each gaming system having it's own take on it.
Playstation with Wipeout, Nintendo with F-Zero, Xbox with Quantum Redshift.
Wipeout has been doubly hampered by having it's last two new games only released on PSP.

What's needed to get the whole category back in the public's attention is a killer racer that is released on all consoles.
When you pared it right down, it only really needs 3 basic things.
Great tracks, great craft physics/handling, and a online leader board to update your recorded times for each track/speed class, the rest is dressing.

[leungbok]

New wipeout incoming or not, it's a very good news for those devs ! :)

[stin]

*closer to buy a brand new PS4 :), looking promising.

stevie:)

[Rapier Racer]

This is great news and it will be interesting to see what games they produce! I don't know about Wipeout though I mean despite the obvious barriers of Sonys ownership of the game, even if those weren't a problem do you think they could afford to develop a full Wipeout title? It might have been niche but its not indie.

[GalacticSpartan]

It's awesome to see them back now. I hope they make something better than WipEout (no offence lol) But maybe...a new Destruction Derby or Colony Wars?

[docfo4r]

Fatal Inertia is a classic example of this.

Actually I never understood the hate for Fatal Inertia. For me it's like an off-road AG racer. Sure, it is nowhere near WipEout but it has it's own unique style and it doesn't try to copy WO. It's like comparing Gran Tourismo with Need For Speed... Anyways, online races on Fatal Inertia are lots of fun, cuz the learning curve is easier than WO. But for a singleplayer experience, I'd prefer WO more.

Back on topic: If not a new WipEout, then maybe at least some sort of innovative/futuristic game is what I would hope for. I mean, these guys should know best how to design a futural environment.

[blackwiggle]

I don't hate Fatal Inertia, I can't remember anybody else at the zone saying they hated it either.
It was just used as a example of a game that was similar to WO, but had failed to get sales.

I only ever played the single player demo when it was first released, it just never appealed to me.

I agree these guys should know how to make a great game.

I expect whatever their first game is it will be rather modest given the amount of staff they have.
Maybe something sort of similar to "Journey".
Although while surfing the web I did read somewhere that they [or at least some of what is now Firesprite] could of been among the several small independent studios asked to help sort out problems Sony have been having making "The Last Guardian", which was slated by Sony for a PS3 release early 2014.

[docfo4r]

Ah yeah... 'hate' was the wrong word. Sorry for the german-ish slang :D

Whatever game they are going to make, it'll be highly interesting to see how it looks and feels. Would be cool to see more updates regarding their studios, am kinda curious haha

[JABBERJAW]

Maybe they could let them continue on the "supposed" wipeout game that was already being made for the ps4, maybe if this was in the works it could speed up the process. A lot of " ifs" in this though.

[blackwiggle]

Well that's what I was thinking as well.

I suppose they would be in two minds about taking it on even if it was a viable project for several reasons, the main one being a part of SL and have it shot in the head in front of you, then have the assassin come and ask you to help.
You would need either a very thick skin or a very short memory or be paid very, very well to sort out the "Supposed" to completion to the standard of SL with so few staff.
I can't see it happening , at least ATM.
They need to build the studio up first, get a killer game out, then pick and choose their projects after hiring more staff.

[Pico de Goroh]

new interview:

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207010/QA_Former_Wipeout_developers_at_Firesprite_look_to _whats_next.php

[DDD113]

Wow, they are quite disciplined in the art of being very talkative yet very vague. :P

[Autechom]

Browsed through, but didn´t find an answer. If there was one, sorry. The Japanese letters (Katakana in this case) underneath just mean Firesprite...

And yes, Fatal Inertia was no fun :( Better to revisit the old xbox and play Quantum Redshift. I enjoyed that one.