Hey all! David Jaffe here with some good news and bad news on behalf of myself, my Eat Sleep Play partner and Twisted Metal co-director Scott Campbell, the entire Eat Sleep Play team, and Sony Santa Monica.
First the good news: Eat Sleep Play and Sony Santa Monica are cranking like mad to get a fantastic Twisted Metal build ready for both Gamescom and PAX Prime! For those not in the know: Gamescom is August 17th-21st in Cologne, Germany and PAX Prime will take place here in America August 26th-28th in Seattle, Washington. Both shows are open to the public but PAX – I believe- is already sold out. If you’ve got PAX Prime tickets, I can’t wait to see you there! I hope you’ll swing by the Twisted Metal booth and give our game a try!
At Gamescom and PAX we’ll be showing off a brand new level called Thrills & Spills Amusement Park! It’s one of our favorite all time Twisted Metal levels and it’s filled with the over the top destruction, strategic level choices, and twisted humor that fans of the series have come to love and expect. Players at both shows will also get hands on with TEAM HUNTED, a brand new mode that we’ll be unveiling – for the first time ever – at Gamescom. We’ll also be premiering the new Dollface story trailer which delves into just what makes that nutty-but-sexy pink-haired freak tick.
And at both shows we’ll be handing out some super cool, super creepy Sweet Tooth masks! Halloween will be here before you know it and we want Twisted Fans to be able to represent their favorite slasher in style!
Ok, so now…the bad news. Or at least the ‘news that seems bad at first but after you read the rest of my post I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s actually fantastic news’ news. So here it is:
We’re not shipping Twisted Metal October 4th, 2011. We’re going to miss our date. We’re going to be late.
Ugh! I know, I know. A lot of dedicated, supportive, passionate Twisted Metal fans have been waiting for the return of Calypso’s demented contest for a long time but the truth is: we’re just not ready yet.
Sony has been – and remains – a super supportive champion and collaborator on this title and all of us at Eat Sleep Play are so grateful that their patience and generosity will allow us the extra time needed to polish our demented baby until it shines. NOTE: I don’t actually think that qualifies as a mixed metaphor… just a bad one. But the ‘demented baby’ part was really cool to me, and it felt very Twisted Metal-y, so I’m keeping it in this post.
Anyway – it sucks bad when games miss their announced launch dates. We’re gamers too and we know how annoying it is. It’s disappointing and frustrating and it really takes the wind out of your sails if you’re a fan that has been looking forward to playing a title for a long time. Thing is, you gotta trust me when I tell you that – with this extra time for tuning and polish – the game is going to be so much better than it already is. And if you played Twisted Metal and liked it at E3 or Comic-Con, or if you get to play it (and you enjoy it) at one of the August shows, just imagine how much more fun the final game will be with some extra time, polish, and love.
There’s a great, classic industry saying by legendary Nintendo designer – and personal hero – Shigeru Miyamoto that goes a little something like this:
‘A late game is only late until it ships. A bad game is bad until the end of time.’
Now, if we shipped Twisted Metal tomorrow – going off the response from folks who have played it – I assure you, it would never be a bad game. Not even close. But we’re aiming for a heck of a lot more than that! With Twisted Metal we plan to ship a multiplayer classic. We plan to ship the best Twisted Metal ever made. We plan to convert a lot of folks who think vehicle combat is a relic best left to 90’s nostalgia. And we plan to explode the belief that the only relevant kind of shooter is a first person one (or a 3rd person one, where you play a human… with a tee shirt not all the way tucked in :)…).
Most importantly, we plan on treating you – the kind folks who play our game (and pay our bills) – like the VIPs that you are. You only deserve our best and we appreciate your understanding as we take a little more time to guarantee that our best is what we deliver.
Twisted Metal for PS3 will ship early 2012. Stay tuned for more details.
Sad to see this but happy at the same time for two reasons . One being that it’s going to be a busy time of year for games anyway so this will help save some money for now . And two is that extra time means even better final product . Thanks for the early heads up guys keep up the hard work .
I called it I knew this was going get delayed. This game would have bombed if it released this year good call sony. Take your time David it’s better to release a polished game than a rushed have a**ed game I will support you guys day 1.
Sucks but I’m fine with it, I definitely rather wait and get the best possible game than something not truly finished.
Yes it does suck that the game will ship later than we thought, but I believe in Jaffe and the Eat Sleep Play folks.
We’ve waited this long. A few more months should be too much worse.
Will there be a multiplayer beta? I’ve seen some footage, and haven’t played a Twisted Metal game before. It looks quite fun, so I’d like to give it a try via a beta before I make my decision on purchasing this game. =)
PS: Like my avatar David? lol =D
Jaffe for president.
Thanks for the update Dave. I´m 100% sure this game is gonna be awsome. I still remember the insane amount of hours I spent play TM Black, and I´m sure this one is gonna been even better. BTW, I´m writing from Uruguay, (South America) even here you and Scott are well known and respected!
Gonna be late? Ah man….
I’d rather have a late great game than a cruddy, early game.
Thanks for the update Jaffe.
Any chance of a multiplayer beta/demo?
I think we can all agree that the best polished game is worth a little delay…The questions is, how many times has Twisted Metal already been delayed? It’s like the Last Guardian, teased too soon, or just taking too long in development…games like that feel almost doomed no matter how much polish they get. Because people have been waiting and anticipating something for so long, too long, that when that thing you’ve been waiting for finally comes, it can’t possibly measure up to the hype machine that fueled it. (both from your own inner mind and the media) So all that to say both to Eat Sleep Play, and all developers for that matter, don’t tease a game too soon, and don’t let the development phase go one longer than 12-18months with the public knowing about it or, in my opinion, you risk loosing the greatness of your game to the long-winded-hype machine! Good Luck TwistedMetal, I’m a huge fan, but am really loosing interest.
No worries, there are already more than enough releases this fall. I think this is a good thing as TM will stand out with an early 2012 release.
bummer.. on a side note, sony is flooding us with games starting next month…take your time! i want a classic too
‘A late game is only late until it ships. A bad game is bad until the end of time.’
Tell that to Duke.
Danget, was really looking forward to buying this and playing it at XMas with friends…guess not. Well I’m happy too because they are for sure going to make the game better with the extra time now.
Will you be at Gamescom, David? I’ll be there the whole week, and hearing that I’ll be able to play Twisted Metal is awesome news! Save a Sweet Tooth mask for me ;)
If you guys need to delay it to make the game even more awesome I am fine with that. Last thing that I want is another SOCOM.
Make a version for the vita because that got delayed till next year too ! >.>
Now im mad that i cant go, I’d kill for a Sweet Tooth mask.
Oh yeah btw, awesome call on bringing more blood and violence to this one, Black was by far the best TM to date
I’m confused, where is the fantastic news he mentions at the end of the post that is supposed to make what was once a 2 month away game now a over 5 month away one any better? :( *fingers crossed for a non-plus beta at least*
Just your words are enough to convince me to buy it Mr. Jaffe!
Good job on the release update. good to keep us informed… Unlike some companies…
Awww man, that sucks. But I am willing to wait for a better product. I can’t wait for some good vehicle combat. Bring on the carnage Jaffe!!
Multiplayer beta would be awesome, plus it serves two purposes get your network already for us crazy twisted fans and would help spread the word of the game to all of the gamers that don’t know they awesome that is Twisted Metal.
“A late game is only late until it ships. A bad game is bad until the end of time.”
Very wise words. I’m disappointed not playing it this year, but I’ll live.
It’s good the game is being delayed if it’s not ready. That’s why I don’t like actual release dates. Release it when it’s ready.
NOOO!!!!! I knew it! I received an email last week for my pre order and I noticed the date had changed to december 31th i was hmmm I hope its not delayed!
Damn that sucks but I understand, I hope we will get a demo this year tho that would be sweet! Thanks for the update. We want the game to be perfect so we can wait a little more.
Refreshingly honest and straightforward post. Well played, sir.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
But still i understand Mr.Jaffe.
ohhhhhh thats creepy but well you put many reasons and i undertand why you are doing this please make a superb game
Well to be honest where would it have stood on its legs in this overcrowded Fall lineup? If the delays helps it, sure.
Im kinda upset by the delay but at the same time not so much because so many games are coming out in the fall! With this getting pushed to 2012 i can play the games that get released in the fall more and i also get to play Twisted Metal more when it comes out in 2012.
No problem here, David. Even though I have a hard time waiting to get my paws on the game, I’d rather it lives up to its full potential. Thanks for the update!
take your time Jaffe im sure all the fans would rather have a polished game then a rushed one :)
I knew it would be delayed… this game is so off my radar now…
Let’s hope this works out. We heard this twisted tale before with SOCOM 4. I hope this is not a case where now that the game is almost done Sony marketing suits and bean counters are metaling with the mix forcing you to reach a “Boader Audience” with an all new “Expurience”.
We just want your Twisted metal Mr. Jaffe.
This sorta of sucks but it is totally alright if its to make it better
I should have known….
It was kind of expected… but at the same time, will there be a beta to compensate and help with development?
Spare us all this bulls.h.it about polish and fan a.s.s-kissing Jaffe…we all know you (Sony) are delaying the game because only a real sadist would release it amidst the multiplayer mayhem of dominating marketing franchises taking place on the 4th quarter. Twisted Metal would just drown, not to mention Sony traditionally don’t support their big titles with advertising as much as they should, and as little as the will this holiday season splitting the resources between Uncharted 3, Resistance 3 and Twisted Metal would do none of them a favor.
So it’s a good decision, I guess. MAY 2012 sounds good to me, there are never good multiplayer games releasing on May.
And to be honest, that’s the reason I was going to pass on the game, at least for a few months. I’ll have my hands full with Dark Souls, Uncharted 3 and Batman Arkham City for the rest of the year…and then there’s Skirim.
A little disappointed, but I know I can probably afford it now. After all, you were releasing it alongside many other great titles. GoW Origins, Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Assassin’s Creed Revelations, PSVita, Resistance 3, Ratchet and Clank All 4 One, etc.
My Wallet took a breather lol I’ve owned every Twisted Metal(except Small brawl) since number 1, and I am VERU excited for this!
I really hope there is plenty of dlc for the new twisted metal game like vehicle skins,character skins,weapon packs,vehicle packs,level packs,alternate character ending packs ect.. because it will extend the life of the multi player & keep the ball rolling long after the game has released.So if anybody from eat sleep play reads this comment please bring what i mentioned above to the attention of the twisted metal team & consider these dlc packs?
Thank You!
VERY* lol
I am glad it got delayed, more time to polish.
This is good and bad news for me, but mostly good. Bad because it is farther away but good because I have more room to get and play other games this fall like UC3 and BF3. Honestly I’d rather you take a year or even more to get a “9 or 9.5 game” then for it to come out in a month and it be a “7 or 8 game”.
I say take all the time you need, as long as the game is awesome when it does come out, we will all be happy.
Thank you David Jaffe! Can’t wait for Starhawk and Twisted Metal and Ghost Recon Future Soldier and who knows what else in 2012.
I’m SUPER-psyched about this game! Take your time, fellows! I love it when upcoming games skip thier release date to make the game better. I’m so sure it will all be worth it! Also, I loved the Nathan Drake reference!
Twisted Metal is DEFINATELY at the top of my list standing right next to Uncharted3 and right in front of AC:Revelations.
Take your time.
My Amazon pre-order isn’t going anywhere ;)
OK ..I WOULD BE VERY UNDERSTANDING IF THE LATEST GAME CAME OUT LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO…EVEN 5 YEARS AGO…BUT FOR A 10 YEAR OLD GAME..TO BE LATE-EER…NO F-ING EXCUSE! “WE WANT TO POLISH IT” ARE YOU KIDDING ME…YOU GUYS AT EAT SLEEP AND PLAY MUST TO ALOT OF THE FIRST TWO VERBS I JUST MENTIONED..SMFH! I REALLY WANTED THIS GAME FOR MY BDAY..OCT 19..BUT NO..NOW WE GOTTA WAIT FOR THIS AND THE PS VITA AND GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE RELEASE DATES SONY LIED TO US ABOUT…THIS IS BS! AND IM ONLY COMPLAINING BECAUSE I KNOW THIS GAME IS AMAZING! BUT TO MAKE US WAIT EVEN LONG…MAN I THOUGHT THIS GAME COMPANY WAS DIFFERENT..NOT LIKE ZIPPER OR Polyphony Digital ..SMH ..
David Jaffe, you are a god among men. Only you could actually make me excited about a game being delayed. I can’t [DELETED] wait to play Twisted Metal the way you intended it to be.
I played at E3 – waited in line uh 7 times to play in fact…..game RULES. Disappointed – yeah sorta, but I can wait for you to polish her up……good things come to those who wait!
BUT and this one is HUGE!!! You better play us online when it comes out online so we can shoot you for this delay……its only fair. I AM TAKING DOWN YOUR STATUE DAVID JAFFE