Coming out of E3 a few weeks ago, we at thatgamecompany couldn’t be more excited about the reception our latest game, Journey, received from both the press and general showgoers. Journey is our third exclusive game with SCEA’s Santa Monica Studio for PS3 and PSN, and we’re trying something new, something that we hope changes the way people think about online gaming.
As you may have heard, in Journey, players take on the role of travelers headed to a mysterious mountain in the distance. But unlike our previous two games, flow and Flower, Journey presents our vision of what an online adventure can be. As you explore Journey, you may cross paths with other travelers. You can join and play with up to one other player at a time.
But what makes Journey different is that there are no online lobbies, no matchmaking, no PSN IDs, and no chat. You are the character, limited to the ways of communication of the character itself. Will you choose to travel together – or go your own way? What secrets lie in the mysterious, sand-covered ruins of this world?
We had a great time at E3 talking to all of the press that stopped by the Sony booth. And we couldn’t be more proud after Journey took home some great awards like PlayStation: The Official Magazine’s Most Valuable Game award, Machinima’s Best Downloadable Game award and Examiner’s Living Art award, as well as Best PS3 game nominations from IGN, G4TV and GameSpy, as well as a Best Original Game nomination from the E3 Game Critics.
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.
We will be inviting players to join our weekly play sessions in order to help test our network code and all of the technical stuff running in the background of the game. You will also be able to provide feedback to the team on your experience. These sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 6 PM to 10 PM PST.
Thanks, and keep watching the blog, and our Facebook page, for the latest on Journey.
I am really wondering how good Journey will be.
The visuals are top notch, and the sound effects sound nice too, but I ever since I heard there were no PSN IDs or chat, I became rather worried how good it would be on release.
Sweet, looking forward to this game. I loved flower & Journey looks like an amazing journey :)
Hopefully I’ll get in. Day 1 buyer of Flower and Plus Subscriber. Also, thanks for the section in your forums to help future game developers. I wish it was cleared up a bit. Thanks though.
would love a code, definitely getting this when it comes out
Hope I get in , game sounds good.
I don’t think this will be a best seller.
This game will be fantastic like the 2 others!
Loved Flower and I’m a Plus member ;).. you know what I mean.. T_T
Will you guys also be giving codes out via Twitter, or will it only be through Facebook?
Sweet! I know I bought Flower day one and I’m a PS+ member so I sure hope I see the invite when I get home! =)
Btw, I know this is out of topic but it would be wicked if we could access our messages, redeem codes and the psn store from a PC. Would be awesome to be able to do things when away from the ps3! :D
I like the fact that it has NO online communication. It reminds me somewhat of Demons Souls where its about a solitary experience (although being two completely different games). I am highly anticipating this title and believe that this’ll be thatgamecompany’s best game yet!
Wow I hope I get in on this beta.
-I obviously have PS Plus
-I bought Flower the day it was released, a few hours after it was put on the PS Store.
On the other hand, participating in the beta may spoil the final product. And experiencing the final product under ideal circumstances is paramount.
I just saw on Battlefield 3 BLOG had some of these awards too. Do they just give them out to every one. LOL:) I need to go to E3 so I can get my award too. But game does look cool.
Good work guys, was great to finally see some journey gameplay, it sure didn’t disappoint, will be checking my inbox, hope to get one.
Earliest adopter of Flower? Yes
fl0w? (Yes)
PS Plus? YES.
Lets hope I get in.
Earliest adopter of Flower?
How early is early?
I am a Plus Member since 1st month
What exactly does “earliest adopter of Flower” mean?
I love Flower the game, but I didn’t really get into it until later on; partly because I hadn’t heard of the game until quite some time after it was released. Does this not qualify me to be a Beta tester then? =(
I would love for the chance to test this game; it’s my perfect game. If there was ever a game that had me be as passionate–about art and gaming, as Journey does, I would jump at the chance in a heart beat, no doubt.
beta please
This is a very fair way to get into the beta. I was a Day 1 Flower buyer myself.
What a great game.
Day 1 purchaser of Flower and PS+ subscriber. Hope I get in on this beta. Anything that thatgamecompany puts out is gold, I tell ya. Gold!
Here hoping that I will receive an invite :) But with all things aside I am excited for this, thank you guys.
—
Chris
Day 1 Flow, Day 1 Flower, Day 1 Journey
i can say that flower was a pretty relaxing type of game. however, it seems that this game will be rather depressing in scope. sorry if i am this blunt earlier when the game is not even out then. but from what i have heard the game tries to make you feel how alone all we are and the like.hope i’m wrong..
Beta Beta beta ^^
I’m really looking forward to Journey. That said…
I realize the angle you want to go for with this game. You are the character, giving you a much bigger feeling of immersion. But… I think keeping out voice chat to some extent could be a mistake. Even with a distance based voice chat system or “party up” sort of system having voice chat makes any game easier and much more interactive.
I bought Flower day one and PS+ day one… I best get in this beta.
I like your “brag table.” Gotta be gratifying after all the hard work.
I bought both Flow and Flower on launch day and I am a PS+ member…. just saying. Keep up the good job.
Really looking forward to this game, definite day one purchase for me. Is there any way to find friends and play with them?
Great news! This Journey is going to be a very neat expermient, and hope you’ll share some of what you find out about us as I’m curious myself. Things like how many rushed to the mountain .vs explorers, how many of us worked as a team, and how many preferred to be on our own…
To the first poster. There is no chat in Demons Souls and its one of the best games ever made. ThatGameCompany knows their stuff. They haven’t let me down yet. This looks to be something special once again.
Looks like another amazing experience from the minds at ThatGameCompany. Congrats to anyone who gets to experience early.
Well I’m pretty sure I bought Flower the day it released, was sitting around all day waiting for the update. Seemed like forever. Got PS+ not long after it came out too. Hopefully I get it.
I would love to get into this. Got Flower the day it came out and I still play it from time to time. Love it.
Woot!! I bought flower like… when the store updated practically.
Lookin forward to it! loved Flower and Flow. Most under-rated psn games ever
nice im pretty sure i got flower day one… well will see if i did if i get a code or not
cant wait
If we bought Flower on day one and are PS+ subscribers, does that solidify our spot in the beta 100%
Now I wish I wouldn’t have sent my PS3 in to get fixed some time ago. I lost my original PSN account with Flower. Most likely no Journey Beta for me. :(
I am quite intrigued by this game, I love the Art style and would love to try it out myself. Here’s to hoping I get into the Beta. Either way Good Luck to all those in the running. :-)
So I can’t participate because I didn’t buy Flower on Day one…. I have a full year ps plus account
I saw the interview on G4 from E3. I echo the earlier poster that my first thought was this was a non multiplayer online experience, like Demon Souls which was effing fantastic, particularly in their innovative use of online. You took that concept but didn’t make the point to invade and kill a stranger, but to allow us to decide how to interact. So very, very intelligent. I don’t look to gaming for cerebral input, but how wonderful that there is a successful indie that is giving us that rare aspect in gaming. Kudos to Sony for giving brilliant and innovative developers a supportive home.
I bought Flower day 1, hopefully i get in. I’ve only been a ps+ subscriber due to the welcome back program, but hopefully that still counts! I’ve been waiting for this game ever since it was announced, and plan on getting it day one, but if you ask me I think this game is taking itself a little too seriously….I just want to have fun
Hope I have a chance to help with the beta!
I’m looking forward to this game and I loved flower very much, but I have a question, any chance you guys could get 3D support for flower? That game seems perfect for it and I’d love to play it in 3D making it perhaps more immersive.
So if I get PS+ now would it be enough to qualify. I sure supported flOwer since day one and flOw too.
flOw was fun, but flower was waaaay to wussy for my own tastes, butt i gotta hand it to Jenova & crew, Journey is looking LIGHT YEARS ahead of the other two games.
and any highly aesthetically artistic game which manages to be simultaneously relevant and fun to pick up and play certainly deserves all those awards imo. Here’s hoping the finished game surprises us even more the the E3 display :)
PS why isn’t this post featured on the top right of the page? all the old posts from a few days back are still there. if it wasn’t for the heads-up on the EU blog i woulda totally missed this.
Release date, please? I realize you guys want to get the game just right and appreciate all of the work that went into Flower and Flow, but it has been an agonizingly long time since we first heard about the game.
PS + subscriber and bought flower day one. Hope I get an invitation! Looks amazing. Anything from you guys is a day one for me.