Hey, all. My name is Jason Coker, and I am the Associate Producer on the PS3 PSN title PAIN.
When people ask me, “Hey Coker, what project are you working on?” I reluctantly tell them that it’s PAIN. I say “reluctantly” because I have found that it’s pretty much impossible to do the game justice without actually having it right in front of someone to show it to them. Sure, I tell people that it’s a crazy game in which you launch a character from a giant slingshot into a downtown area and smash him into stuff and blow stuff up and you snatch Mimes out of the air so you can slam them through plate glass windows and you blast monkeys out the side of a building in an attempt to stop another player’s character from successfully crashing into bowling pins and you can play as a dude named Ed in a cow suit and so on and so on…
[catches breath]
…but it’s actually a lot more than that. Unfortunately, I can’t really tell you exactly what because it’s too impossibly fun to put into words. You’ll have to try it for yourselves, and you definitely won’t be disappointed.
What I CAN tell you is that it has been a blast to work on. It hasn’t been easy, but it sure has been hilarious. Here are just a couple of the gems I’ve heard (or said):
* “Coker, can you write up a description of a little person hip-hop pirate right quick?” (Yeah, I had the same reaction. You’ll see.)
* “Ummmm….who did the voice-over for that? That’s nasty.”
* “Hey man, if I get you a big glass of water, can you step into the recording booth and belch for about half an hour?”
* “Check the Leaderboards, Son. Spank. The. Monkey.”
* “Dude, I just really don’t think the farts are loud enough.”
* “Did you just grab that Granny by her head? Do it again! Do it again!”
* “That’s him right there. We call him the Ooch Master. He can’t be touched.” (You know who you are at Idol Minds, and I’m coming for you. The student has become the Master, baby!)
* “OH, *&%*!! THAT *^&%*#@ DONUT!!!!!!”
And that was just in one afternoon.
Probably the most important thing I can tell you about PAIN is that the game is really what you make of it. There is sometimes this misconception that it’s this cool experiment in physics that’s fun to watch. Hardly, it’s much, much more.
Fact is, I’ve been working on this game for quite a few moons, and I’m STILL finding new things to do and new trash to talk (I’m quite the PAIN Bowler, and I EARN my trash-talking rights, thank you very much).
Check it out when it hits PSN, and if you want some multiplayer action, come see me. You bring the Kool-Aid, and I’ll bring the PAIN!
In the meantime, check out the OFFICIAL PAIN SITE to stay hip to the world of PAIN.
Yes, the argument is just stupid. Just list it in the European stores as “PAIN – US Version” and everbody is happy. Especially the British probably won’t have any problems understanding the jokes. The answer regarding European releases sounds like a slightly enhanced version of pre-designed answer from a Sony public relations manual. Why don’t you game developers put a little pressure on Sony Europe to do the right thing? There is certainly nobody else who is able to do it i guess…
TW and Coker,
From what I have seen, this is an instant buy. No waiting for reviews or posts over at the forums. Your game appeals to all of us that have ever wanted to sling somone off a roof (maybe that isn’t a good way to put it). I can tell you this…my 6 year old son wants it as bad as his 40 year old Dad. That’s a pretty big demographic. Good luck and either get busy readying DL content or making your next game SUFFERING.
yif this were to be made available today i’d have snapped it up.
but if i have to wait till january just because you see the continent that i live as an afterthought, well funny thing, it starts to look a whole lot less interesting to me.
tell me why it is you wait till after the us release to start the localisation for the one market where the ps3 is actually doing well?
are you going to start ignoring the us if the ps3 starts selling well there too?
this is bad comedy, i’d laugh but i’m one of the one’s you’re taking the piss out of.
9.99 ? awesome guys, thank you, and I hope it starts a trend, at $10 this game is a definite buy for me.
bet you it’ll be twice that by the time it finally makes it outside the us.
did you know the ski game was nearly four times the price in eurrope, not the sale price, the normal price.
and you know what, that i can understand.
the blatant refusal to release so much of the psn content in europe and thereby miss out on god knows how much potential income is just staggeringly stupid.
and it’s like 100% profit after all, no media costs, no shipping costs, they dont even advertise it.
yet time after time, game after game, no eu release.
damned incompetant witless imbiciles.
that wopuld abe a good way of describing the sony management if one were inclined to be kind.
Don’t bother with the european PSN this week it’s just another huge pile of crap (except the resistance maps).
11 trailers/videos/adverts, pathetic!!!!
This is really starting to get tiresome now, what is the point of having the european store, its like opening a shop with nothing but adverts on the shelf !!
Sony Europe really needs to pull something out of there hat if they want their european user base to increase otherwise there will be alot of second hand PS3’s come the new year.
Oh I forgot they don’t give a damn about europe, silly me…..
[…] Pain ($9.99) It’s the funniest game in town! Load characters into a super-sized, ultra-powerful slingshot and launch them into an active, physics-controlled environment filled with precarious and humorous situations. Score points by stringing together PAINful collisions and unleashing chaos on the downtown environment. Enjoy single player challenges like Spank the Monkey or head-to-head modes like Fun With Explosives. File size: 200 MB […]
How come when I try to use the Santa and Cookie characters it tells me that the game is corrupt and I have to download it again? I followed that request, and redownloaded the game from PSN but it still produces the same result.
Steps to produce error:
1. Single Player Mode
2. Select any level
3. Select Santa or Cookie
Message on screen says that there is a problem with the application.
Version 1.00
here’s a japanese PS3 fan too. please don’t forget the asia.
“Check it out when it hits PSN, and if you want some multiplayer action, come see me. You bring the Kool-Aid, and I’ll bring the PAIN!”
Did you not realize what you were saying in this paragraph? I just bought a game specifically to play online with my friends based on your blog post and apparently there is no online multi-player in this title at all!?! Were you inviting us all over to your house?
Very Disappointed!
[…] information on the coming-soon, fun-looking PlayStation Network game PAIN. Shoot a hapless person through downtown areas with the goal of inflicting maximum pain on the […]
Pain is freaking awesome. 10 times better than you said it would be- you’re stealing all my sleep.
As with DarkKnight, I’m highly disappointed in the lack of online play. The primary reason I bought PAIN was to enjoy it with my friends around the World. This is a game that would truly benefit from a party like online system. Voice chat with up to eight people while playing Horse would be soooo much fun.
I’m also slightly disappointed at the lack of themes. Not so much though (the one theme available seems to be pretty robust), but it would’ve been nice to have more. Also, why aren’t Cookie and Santa selectable? They say it was a downloadable error of some sort. I take it an update will be released to include them in time for the holiday season.
Don’t get me wrong though, PAIN is so much fun! They did a great job with the gameplay. BUT!!! It would be so much better with online competitive play.
As for the content justifying the price point…I would say it hit the bare minimum (well, fell far under with the exclusion of online play IMHO). Compared to other PSN games, you do in fact get quite a bit for your money, but let’s be honest, that’s not saying much. 2 extra themes, far more selectable characters and an incredible online offering, then and only then would I say you get “a lot for the money”. Right now it’s average content or slightly below average. Again, online play would big a HUGE help.
So please!!! Take my (and everyone else’s) request for online play to heart! Doesn’t have to be anything crazy, just simple matchmaking for up to 4 (preferably 8) players with voice chat (SUPER IMPORTANT!!! PAIN is dependent on the laughs of those playing! It’s the music of PAIN! Don’t silence the laughter!). AND PLEASE DON’T CHARGE $$$ FOR IT!!!
Sorry, that 8) smiley face in my post #113 should just be “8 )”. Damn you smileys!!!
So ya, at least 4 players online, but 8 would be preferable.
After reading my post, it sorta sounds like I regret forking over the cash for PAIN. I don’t. PAIN is awesome, I just wish it had online. =(
You do get a decent amount of content for the money…I guess I’m just spoiled with stuff like VF4: Evolution and 2k Sports 2k5 lineup (all released at the budget price of $20) so my expectations of content is higher (for all games, not just those that lack the $60 price tag). =/
But still, having online would add a tonne of value to PAIN (especially going by your blog posts, which tend to highlight the multi-player aspect of PAIN).
I have an error selecting a new character. I have santa which I can select, but I get an error, telling me to redownload the game. Is it only me?
@Clice: No. It’s not just you.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8767127&postcount=294
Seems like PAIN was rushed out the door to meet the deadline. If they do patch online in, it better be free.
NOT free.
Have to pay .99 for each Character.
So it’s 1.98 for Cookie and Santa.
NOT a bug, NOT an error…just a sneaky move.
Tsk, tsk. (Any chance this is related to the ‘nickel-and-dime’ comment from Dylan Jobe (Warhawk)? “Not be some nickel-and-dime upgrade that takes advantage of our player community!!! (That’s my own personal opinion on DLC so I’ll get off my soapbox now)”
https://blog.playstation.com/2007/11/30/operation-omega-dawn/
You want $11 dollars for a game basically with no content? Then have the nerve to charge almost $2 dollars for extra characters? Don’t turn into EA Sony.
Sorry but I’m not paying you guys for this game! $9.99 Thats just ridiculous!!!.I mean wheres the tryout Demo for it anyway?..Lame!. And I’m very Disappointed for The Nov 29th Update for the PSN sucked so bad!..Come on Xmb for my PS3 So my friends can hear my music and that Patch for being able to chat without having to leave an online game! Damn Sony you guys had a whole year for this!.Hurry up already. =(
I’m starting to get really annoyed with the psn store.
Why do we have to wait so long for stuff in Europe. Cant they release an English only version and if you want other languages you may have to wait a while.
Why do we have to see adverts for stuff like PAIN and HVB months in advance, I was looking forward to PAIn this week and an outside chance of HVB, all we got on the EU store was the same trailer that’s been on the web for weeks.
Why do we have to wait for Thursday, and Why Thursday, online content should be released when it’s ready.
Why are we paying 1.5 x the US price for the same game or content (see the price of Motorstorm content on the US site vs EU site.)
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE..
Give us the same content at the same price, at the same time.
come on, don’t put effort in translating into 120 languages, PAIN isn’t a game someone would not understand. we live in the 21st century, everybody should at least understand english…
i am european and i bought the us version. it’s a great game, props to the developers :D
@123 —-it is one thing for you, an everyday joe, to say everyone should speak English—-people would consider it a somewhat interesting and possibly relevant comment (not trying to be mean, but keep reading to see point)—if Sony said same thing–what do you think would happen? They would get a flame backlash way worse than what people on this board are doing.
Please people, Sony has no reason to screw you over with this game so stop with the conspiracy theory and save it for realms where it truly is warranted such as Gartsmann’s firing. They are working their tail off to get the product to you and they will have money once you buy it so there is no incentive to hold it back.
@122 the reason is cost of living, I bet Europe overall has a different ratio for that kind of stuff and goods generally cost more (do you pay more per console and per standard-on-blu-ray-game???)—kind of like how in the US different stuff will be priced differently in different states–not necessarily games (which are standardized in the US with MSRP) but stuff like food will cost totally different sometimes because some states, like California, are expensive to live in while others (like Montana, where I am) are way cheaper for various reasons……….might be the reason might not but I don’t think Sony has much to gain if they were jacking it up—because if they really did so unfairly someone could easily prove it and cause a media storm that would cost them more than the jacked-up-price of the DLC brought in–so there is incentive there to be fair…..
@zookey: i know, i know. just sayin’, that i also take all games in englisch, i don’t need german translation ;)
true true I understand hehe (125)—but Sony would get ridden hard if they said that kind of thing :-)
sad but true :cry:
yeah–so do most people in Europe speak English (never been there, only to Japan hehe!)
You want feedback? You’ve got it.
My wife LOVES this game.
That makes me a proud (and scared) husband. Hehehe
@Armyless: Awesome. That makes ME proud too.
@Linuxguru: It’s not a sneaky move just an efort to allow you to purchase whatever content you like.
HAhah lovin this game~! Seriously didn’t want to pay 9.99 but i have to say this game is worth it for the laughs. Just don’t tell my Girlfriend.
I have played for a couple days now and feel the price is justifiable.
It’s fun and as you said different, my buddies couldn’t believe it was a real game at first.
thanks
Hey Travis!!!!! Yeah dude bowling rules!
when is this game getting release
my bad i meant High Velocity Bowling
PAIN is most definitely worth the money. Surprised they didn’t charge at least 15 bucks. There’s a lot to do in the game, a lot more than I thought. It truly is the ultimate party game and it supports rumble too, for those who’ve imported already. This is the kind of game I’ll put on when I got a bunch of my peoples over and they want to have some mindless fun that is also quality. I was surprised by the detail and what you can actually do in the game.
Games Radar called it one of the best games ever on the PS3 and tagged a 9/10 on it. I would agree.
Keep making new characters to throw into things…for $.99, I’ll buy ’em all, especially if you put as much humor and time into the characters as the last two.
And for all of you cheap complainers, get a job or something. This is truly a game where the developers should have charged more.—-12
This is a awesome game, hoping for a few add ons……..
uk store sucks! when is pain coming out in europe??
[…] this recent post from Jason Coker, Associate Producer of the PlayStation Network title PAIN for PS3: What I CAN tell […]
Pain is a good game that lacks what HV Bowling has and that is, IT DOESN’t Have IN GAME MUSIC XMB. LAME SCEA, LAME. I paid 10 dollars for this game at least update the game to have in game music XMB like HV bowling. That music that comes with the game is very boring after about 5 minutes I turn on my XM radio so I don’t go insane from hearing the same old songs over and over again. Also give us more LEVELS and characters FOR FREE there is so much Ad’s in the game to where I feel it could be a free game anyways, but I want to say I detest XBOX LIVE! so don’t dissapoint anymore SCEA!
@41
8 december and still no PAIN on europe PSN
@41
14 december here and still no PAIN available on the european PSN.
Will it ever come to us ?
At this rate probably next year when we will get High Velocity Bowling. European PSN Store Sucks big time.
@41
22 december and still no PAIN available here at PSN europe.
WE DO NOT NEED ANY TRANSLATION, GIVE UP THE BAD TRANSLATIONS (translators don’t even know the language they translate to and worst they never play the game they are translating) GIVE IT UP, AND BRING THE PAIN (and all the others games waiting) HERE WITHOUT TRANSLATION.
And since there is no update next week, PAIN will never come out from US in 2007. What a shame.