Ratchet & Clank Comic-Con Recap (with Videos!)

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Comic-Con was huge for Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. On Wednesday night, we revealed the winner of the Captain Qwark’s My Blaster Runs Hot contest, the Spiral of Death, and showed footage of the weapon in the game. We also let the press try their hand at the new time puzzles that Clank will have to complete.

Throughout the course of the show, attendees could check out the Krell Canyon demo at the PlayStation booth. There were also photo opportunities with Ratchet himself, as well as swag: an inflatable replica of Ratchet’s Omniwrench 2000.

All of this built up to Sunday, when we revealed all of this and much more to the public in our panel session. Creative Director Brian Allgeier, Project Manager Bryan Bernal, and Writer Todd Fixman were joined by voice actors James Arnold Taylor (Ratchet), Armin Shimerman (Dr. Nefarious), and Joey D’Auria (Allister Azimuth). The panel was moderated by Gamespot Editor-In-Chief Ricardo Torres.

We led off with some exclusive videos that those of you playing at home won’t be able to see until the final game releases, one involving Captain Qwark, and the other an unlockable video about the Agorian Warriors. Allgeier and company then discussed the story, and its theme of “throwing caution to the wind,” especially relating to the effect of Ratchet being with an older Lombax for the first time. One of the early highlights involved a verbal spar between Taylor and Shimerman, using the voices of Ratchet and Dr. Nefarious, respectively, as they sat together on stage talk about Nefarious’s temperament issues.

Discussion then turned to Clank and his whereabouts after being kidnapped at the end of Tools of Destruction. Bernal revealed that Clank is being held at the center of the universe (give or take fifty feet), in a secret facility known as the Great Clock. Clank gains new time abilities and has some brand new indie-inspired time gameplay.

For more about Clank and the first footage of his gameplay, check out this video:



Next came a topic that is a series standby: weapons. The beginning of the discussion centered on the Weapons Contest event that occurred on Wednesday evening. The Spiral of Death was revisited and shown in case attendees hadn’t seen it. Winning fan designer Jackson Finley was recognized by Bernal, and the crowd gave him a huge round of applause. If you haven’t seen the Spiral of Death in action, check this video out:

Torres then moved onto the world reveal of a brand new line of weapons for A Crack in Time, The Constructo weapons. Brian Allgeier discussed how fans really enjoyed the ability to specifically tailor weapons to their own playing-style with modifications in Deadlocked and Up Your Arsenal. He announced two new weapons, the Constructo Pistol and Constructo Bomb Glove, and revealed some mods that longtime series fans will love – the video below shows and explains more.

The voice actors discussed their work on the game and how much fun they have had working with these characters over the years. James Arnold Taylor discussed how Ratchet’s voice is really his voice, and as such it’s really one of his easiest characters to jump into (which he did repeatedly throughout the panel). He also mentioned that it was only during this past year that he met David Kaye, the actor who voices Clank, as game voice actors typically record their sessions separately.

Armin Shimerman told attendees he generally has to take the next day off after recording Nefarious due to the amount of screaming a session involves, especially due to his perception of Nefarious screaming a lot more in this game. However, this didn’t dissuade him from screaming for the audience, including the classic yelling at his butler, “LAAAAAAAAWREEEEEENCE.” Newcomer to the franchise Joey D’Auria discussed voicing the first new male Lombax in the series, and how much he’s learned from the other voice actors, particularly Taylor. He also discussed how Azimuth’s character arc and how impressed he has been with the evolution of gaming as a storytelling medium.

We recently announced that we were partnering with DC Direct to bring fans the first Ratchet & Clank action figures. These long-awaited figures, including Ratchet, Clank, Nefarious and Qwark, were brought on stage to give fans a chance to see them before their release on December 2nd.

Before the Q&A, attendees were treated to the world premiere of the brand new trailer for the game, which you can watch below. The trailer includes the first glimpse at a new level in the game, Axiom City.

Finally, the group then took some fan questions. Highlights included a young fan who asked about the RYNO. Before anyone on the panel could answer, the fan proceeded to remind the panel of what each RYNO from each game did to crowd laughter and applause. Allgeier confirmed the RYNO as well as the Tools of Destruction fan-favorite, the Groovitron, will return in A Crack in Time. A fan asked if multiplayer would be included, to which Allgeier said the team was focused on closing the story arc started in Tools of Destruction and Quest For Booty while creating an epic single-player experience (also bringing applause). Another fan asked if The Plumber would return, to which Fixman revealed that he indeed would.

Everyone on the panel had a fantastic time. We here at Insomniac want to send a big thank you to all of our fans who came to see us and asked questions and came up afterwards to chat with us, ask for autographs, and take photos. We also want to send out a big thank you to James, Armin and Joey for taking the time to participate and see their fans. A huge thank you goes out to Ricardo Torres for moderating the panel, as well. We also are grateful to everyone at Comic-Con for giving us the opportunity and space to present new features and video directly to our fans. Finally, we want to thank everyone at Sony Computer Entertainment who helped put this together, including all of our PR/Marketing folks as well as all of the event folks who helped us out on the floor when trying to hand out thousands of inflatable wrenches.

That’s all for now – we hope you enjoyed this recap of the panel and the videos. Next up for us is GamesCom in Cologne, Germany, where we will reveal a bunch more new stuff, including the first look at our Space gameplay.

We’ll try to answer your questions in the comments – but as I’m writing this from a plane, Bryan Intihar may chime in as well.

Thanks for all your support! It was great to see so many of you at Comic-Con!
JS

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149 Comments

  • I’m a little worried about this game, I wasn’t too fond of the Clank’s missions in Tools of Destruction. Hopefully this isn’t just a long drawn out version of that. But I trust you guys; you know what your doing.

  • HEY!

    Is it just me or does that Spiral of Death weapon look just like the saw blade weapon in RESISTANCE 2 they’re very similar : )!!!!!

  • What up with Trine getting delayed? Really sad how business is being conducted lately, have some pride.

  • @93

    Seriously ? The game looks freaking epic ,the gameplay looks amazing, they made it the best Ratchet and Clank installment by the looks of it. Yet, you take the time to whine about a weapon ?

    @ Those who complain about a possibility of no online. Okay, so it may or may not have online, doesn’t mean you should be disappointed, Ratchet and Clank is about Single Player experience not multiplayer. If you choose not to buy the game because no online, then why did you bother getting past Ratchet and Clank games ?

  • I hadn’t seen that Constructo weapons video yet :O Looks amazing!

    I wonder if there’s going to be a Collector’s Edition.

    Also, when is the Ratchet & Clank content coming to LBP?

  • Will we be able to rename our constructo weapons?

  • i know you said this features the most game play out of any ratchet and clank game but what about secret agent clank that focused on clank for most of the game or are you saying that the clank bits alone are longer than the whole of secret agent clank because if they are that is one long game

  • Constructo weapons = YAY

  • @105 I don’t think Secret Agent Clank counts a)it isn’t technically a Ratchet and Clank game, just a Clank game
    b)Secret agent clank was by a different developer

  • god im dying for this game, tools of destruction and resistance 2 are my favorite games.
    but do me a favor and make the RHINO more powerful.
    in R&C 3 it was awesome extremely cool how i want it.
    in FTOD it was useless so weak slightly more powerful than other weapons but not much.
    its a gun thats banned for being to powerful so it needs to feel like holy tripe this is going to destroy the world.
    ok now i sound like tacyon…… my bad.
    hes my favorite villain his butler always made my lol.

  • What about the real question, are the rumours true that this is it, that this is the last game to ever be made in the ratchet and clank series.

  • @108
    Firstly, its R.Y.N.O, not rhino. Secondly in ToD it was still ridiculously overpowered to the point where Tachyon dies in a matter of seconds.

  • A lot of great games are comming

  • Is this going to be the last game of the searching for Clank thing?

    Q4B was my first Ratchet & Clank game ever played. So, I’m kind of new on the franchise. And I am willing to buy Tools of Destruction to get set up on the searching for Clank serie.

  • Looks great

  • Looks really good. Can’t wait

  • This is right behind Uncharted 2 as my “most-wanted game of the year”.

  • Looks like the time mechanics have taken some inspiration from Braid.

  • R&C is my favorite series of all time – i have played and beat story mode of ToD about 20 times and it is still fun – i heard that on the game we can explore other planets in the solar system will the areas be small or as big as the regular story levels

  • Looks awesome! Almost makes me forget about that building in R2 that was said to be on fire that never was.

  • This looks awesome! Thanks for the videos. One question: Does A Crack in Time feature co-op? One player would be Ratchet, and the other Allister.

  • @23
    I’m well aware of the contests on the PS Blog already. Unfortunately those were contests directed at actual game content or I could not be a part of for one reason or another.

    I’d like to see a contest where the winner gets all the game bonus’ without pre-order or even a copy of the game. I’d like the contest to be something more than brain storming for Insomniac.

    While those contests are cool and all, I really would like to see something more accessible to the masses.

  • pre ordered at gamespot cant wait till november have every r&c in the seires love it waiting on pins and needles great vid thanks you all at insomniac kudos to yuor team keep it up any clue to whats next ?

  • i love the blog and the new trailer

    i just want to know if there is going to be online play with R&C ACIT

  • dam! nice vids might pick this up after all

  • Congrats guys–I am so jazzed for this game! Ratchet FTW! Even though it is the end of the story arc, please keep Ratchet and Clank alive! He (Ratchet) is way more of a bad arse PlayStation mascot than Crash ever was…..

  • You guys have really done well with the PS3 hardware, your in game footage is amazing.Best graphics in the business, Kudos, I will be purchasing this game. :-)

  • This game is going to be awesome!!!

    I would have preferred the winner weapon was something funny as the disco ball or the one you mentioned about turning enemies into sandwiches. It may be my fault for not voting, haha.

  • Cannot wait for this game! These guys outdo themselves with each effort.

  • I was there at the panel :) It was definitely an amazing experience. James Arnold Taylor was funny lol. Esp the Q&A, the kids had the funniest questions ever ;)

  • i’m buying this, only problem is, there are so many games coming out i hope it comes out late november because that seems like a respectable release date for sales.

  • Ratchet and Clank is the best Franchise ever why are u guys choosing to stop making the series i have every Ratchet and Clank game alive and im definetely getting this one also will Crack in Time have trophies

  • Wow the game looks amazing! Your cinematic cut scenes are getting better! I’ve been working on some Resistance 2 Fan Art. I would really love to see Insomniac milking the Resistance series and making a real time strategy game!

    I guess I just want to be able to command hundreds of Chimera.

  • please dont break up ratchet and clank.
    from some of the vids ive seen it looks like at the end of ACIT ratchet and clank part ways.
    that would destroy the series dont do it.
    and please dont tell me this is the last R&C game i want to see them for many years to come.
    you keep making them ill keep buying them.

  • ARGH!! I LOVED UYA ONLINE! I WISH THEY WOULD BRING SOMETHING REMOTELY CLOSE TO THAT BACK!! :'(

  • This gaame is going to rock

  • At the end of the trailer it shows the PSN symbol does that mean there will be online elements?

  • It seems like they are doing so much to make the game amazing in every aspect.

    like they are adding new gameplay types with clank and they have a new roster of weapons.

    visually it seems like they will have lots of cinematics and ratchet has new fur effects plus there is self shadowing system and lastly there are way more particle effects like with water shown in krell canyon.

  • Such a great franchise. I can’t wait to pick this one up.

  • Any news of online multiplayer?

  • That’s funny, I thought the weapon contest was to design a weapon for Quark, and not necessarily Ratchet. Being in that state of mind, one would have also though that the weapon wouldn’t be as much kick ace as it would be goofy or silly. Oh well, congrats to the winner anyhow. I can’t wait to play.

  • Looks like a Good game. But will it have trophies

  • Wow, I’ll have you know this blog leaves us hardcore Ratchet & Clank fans VERY satisfied! I saw the Full Moon show, and other videos online of the panel and it really looks like you all had an incredible time! ^_^ [haha, I saw “Ratchet” get a kiss on the cheek by Chun-Li! X3]

    Props to Insomniac! I know I can always depend on their brilliant minds to come up with some awesome aspects for an R&C game. Constructo Weapons, Clank’s new Time-manipulation tricks, the Plumber returning, Ratchet’s Arsenal [which haha -I saw my weapon design in the video! yay! ^____^], it’s all mind-blowing incredible XD

    I know Brian Allgeier [MUCH respect to him by the way] said this will conclude the story arc of the “Future” Saga. I saw in an IGN interview, he totally teased fans by saying that there’s a “good chance” Ratchet & Clank might separate for good!? IS HE CRAZY!? NO! NOOOO! *whacks DEV team with inflatable wrench* BAD Dev Team! BAD! XP LOL In my HONEST opinion, R&C is clearly the MOST hardcore action/adventure/platforming game that still lives today! The playstation needs this series to live!!! PLEASE don’t let Ratchet & Clank go!! Heed to the legions of fans out there! >_< *cries*

  • Shame Shockwave Inductor and my gun didn’t make it. Spiral of Death sucks big time. It’s simply the star gun from previous games with unl. ammo.

    Lame.

    From the looks of one level the game will look more like Going Commando (which is awesome)

  • The Action figures are coming out on my birthday YAY

  • Please, PLEASE, please not too much clank scenes. We all love clank and couldn’t get anywhere without him, but the parts where clank is on his own are typically the most boring and/or annoying parts of these otherwise great games…!

    Thanks in advance!

  • [Creator of “Shockwave Inducer” weapon design]

    @ 144: Aww, Im glad you really liked my weapon! [although Spiral of Death was indeed similar to past designs, I’d let it slide. It still was a cool weapon.]

    In fact, Im glad many people are giving it attention! I’m truly shocked to be honest. [no pun intended!] I always thought I didn’t really stand a chance in the competition,[ while designing it i thought to myself-“To design for an Insomniac, I gotta try to think like an Insomniac! lol] but seeing how many people are admiring it – I guess I’m beginning to think otherwise :) Same goes for you James Stevenson! I recently saw your blog about your fave 5 weapons, and how you posted mine. I practically jumped out of my seat! [Jokes aside] I really felt honored by what you wrote. It put a big smile on my face ^_^ Pass my thanks to the DEV team for believing my weapon “had great potential”. [hah! quoted you from your own blog James ^_O]

  • I hope the Weapon modifacation is similar to what you could do in the insomniac museums in the older games that was fun and you didn’t even get to use the weapon.

  • This game looks like so much fun! Thanks for all the info in the post. I was so excited when Deadlocked was mentioned — personal favorite as far as weapons.

    I really appreciate the way elements of Insomniac titles appear in other games. Any of that in this one? Skins, skill points/trophies, unlockables, lawn ninjas?

    Keep up the good work!

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