HAZE - Official Thread

[curryking1]

They better.. that is one sexy boxart.

[NickSCFC]

This game's looking so cool, I don't reckon KIllzone 2 stands a chance against this and Unreal 3 on PS3 this crimbo!

[Applefiend]

Whatever 3rd parties do 1st and 2nd parties tend to do better....

[Passive]

I agree with apple on that one. and lets not say HAZE will beat KZ when we have no idea what KZ looks like.

[NickSCFC]

What dya mean?

[Passive]

This game's looking so cool, I don't reckon KIllzone 2 stands a chance against this and Unreal 3 on PS3 this crimbo!

that. You cant possible say KZ wont stand a chance. you have no idea what it looks like, none of us do. sorry :P i hate it when people assume things about things they have no way of backing up what they say.

[dnpmakkah]

As it stands right now that cover looks great and Haze is a must buy for me unless they do something to ruin the game.

[Red_Eyes]

Graphically, Killzone will be superior. Storyline wise and experience wise Haze will be superior. Haze is all about the experience: The first time you realize that you're shooting at nothing and it's all an illusion control by your mask, when you realize your friend doesn't exist all these time, when you realize the badass enemies you've been fighting all these time were innocent harmless villagers who are unarm, or whatever shocking experience Haze has in store for us.

[LiquidEagle]

Graphically, Killzone will be superior. Storyline wise and experience wise Haze will be superior. Haze is all about the experience: The first time you realize that you're shooting at nothing and it's all an illusion control by your mask, when you realize your friend doesn't exist all these time, when you realize the badass enemies you've been fighting all these time were innocent harmless villagers who are unarm, or whatever shocking experience Haze has in store for us.

Yup. Although 1st/2nd parties tend to do better, we already know from MGS & Syphon Filter that that isn't always the case :-p . Likewise, FRD knows their shit a lot more than Guerrilla. That's nothing against Guerrilla really -- FRD are the masters of FPS :laugh:

[BruceWayneIII]

LiquidEagle: Regarding their 'knows their shit', I doubt FRD knows more about the PS3 than GG (considered they are helping out with the EDGE tools and libraries). But I do understand what you are saying in relation to the FPS genre.

[Epix]

Yup. Although 1st/2nd parties tend to do better, we already know from MGS & Syphon Filter that that isn't always the case :-p . Likewise, FRD knows their shit a lot more than Guerrilla. That's nothing against Guerrilla really -- FRD are the masters of FPS :laugh:I think to be fair we need to wait until we see KZ2 next week until we make anymore comparisons between KZ and Halo, KZ and HAZE, and even GG's abilities vs. other developers. One thing I will say for GG though is that they are priviledged to be working on an exclusive game. Like it or not, no matter how talented a developer is, the reality is that multiplatform games are inherently harder to optimize. There is only so much time, manpower, and money that a company can invest.

[LiquidEagle]

I think to be fair we need to wait until we see KZ2 next week until we make anymore comparisons between KZ and Halo, KZ and HAZE, and even GG's abilities vs. other developers. One thing I will say for GG though is that they are priviledged to be working on an exclusive game. Like it or not, no matter how talented a developer is, the reality is that multiplatform games are inherently harder to optimize. There is only so much time, manpower, and money that a company can invest.

True true. We'll see on this. At least we have something to fall back on if KZ2 looks like complete shit, eh? :laugh:

[LaLiLuLeLo]

I'm just gonna put my lolz fanboy helmet on for just a second.

Killzone doesn't even have to match the CG trailer to look better than Halo 3. Have you seen halo 3? It looks like shit. It looks like upscaled 720p Halo 2 on bigger map. It's just running on the force of it's predecessors' momentum, because as is, everyone in the industry should be taking a shit on it for being so sub par. Warhawk looks better. If they can pull that off on an online game, so can friggin Bungie whose resources are dedicated to the 360 architecture. Gears looks better, COD4 looks better (that'll be online, trust)...I really don't get it. I mean, I get it, but it's just goddamn senseless. If we were to call out graphics whores up here I'd probably be at the bottom of the list, but damn the art team at Bungie is not even trying.

[Passive]

I agree with you 100% Lali, its Halo 2.5

[LiquidEagle]

I'm just gonna put my lolz fanboy helmet on for just a second.

Killzone doesn't even have to match the CG trailer to look better than Halo 3. Have you seen halo 3? It looks like shit. It looks like upscaled 720p Halo 2 on bigger map. It's just running on the force of it's predecessors' momentum, because as is, everyone in the industry should be taking a shit on it for being so sub par. Warhawk looks better. If they can pull that off on an online game, so can friggin Bungie whose resources are dedicated to the 360 architecture. Gears looks better, COD4 looks better (that'll be online, trust)...I really don't get it. I mean, I get it, but it's just goddamn senseless. If we were to call out graphics whores up here I'd probably be at the bottom of the list, but damn the art team at Bungie is not even trying.

:laugh: klar! It's like it's something everybody knows (even the Halo fans), but if you say it you must be a hater or something... I said it to my friend who's a big Halo fan (and he hates Timesplitters/FRD games) and I've been gloating my ass off about how much better HAZE looks than it, and he just kinda doesn't respond :laugh: Not that I like torturing him or something, it's all in good fun so don't think I'm a douchebag who tortures his friends :-p

[LaLiLuLeLo]

No one ever (in the gaming press) talks about Halo 3's visuals one way or the other, it's all about teh multiplayer modes and 'rebalancing the weapons'.

Cuz everybody looked and was like, 'damn....it's really...not that good looking..'

[Passive]

LOL

Lets not go there Black

[LiquidEagle]

Alright, enough Halo.

GooooOOOOOOO HAZE!!! :-D

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Yaaaay Haze is awesome I guess cuz I ain't never played it but it looks badass

[Passive]

lol liquid is elergic to halo.


yes omg haze :)

imo the helmet design is damn cool

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Elergic?
or Allergic?

[Passive]

That Too!!!! :d

[LiquidEagle]

Maybe you should check your dictionary for that term too :-p

[Passive]

oi! dont you all start commenting on my spelling skills when ive now been up since 10am sunday morning and its now 7:15am tuesday.

work it out :P im to tired to do it.

[Epix]

oi! dont you all start commenting on my spelling skills when ive now been up since 10am sunday morning and its now 7:15am tuesday.

work it out :P im to tired to do it.Don't worry about it. It's been more fun watching you try to get to 1000 posts in a single day. :rockon:

[Maya 5.0]

What has sold me on this game is the online co-op play.I loved playing co-op on Syphon Filter:OS and any game that has it will be on my wish list.

Also great story line like this one seems to have is great.

[Passive]

Im doing damn well! XD i was waiting for someone to pick up on that. well im trying to make valid posts thought, no one word ones or anything, but in the last few hours ive failed badly.

[OmniCloud]

No one ever (in the gaming press) talks about Halo 3's visuals one way or the other, it's all about teh multiplayer modes and 'rebalancing the weapons'.

Cuz everybody looked and was like, 'damn....it's really...not that good looking..'It's OK though, because they didn't have that damn trailer...;)

hahahahha...let's see it already GG!!!

[Passive]

we shall in-time. anyway back on topic.

What are you hoping to see at E3 in the way of HAZE? im hoping a playable demo. maybe even something over the PSN

[OmniCloud]

we shall in-time. anyway back on topic.

What are you hoping to see at E3 in the way of HAZE? im hoping a playable demo. maybe even something over the PSNYeah, I'm hoping for a demo real soon, would be nice to test out the multli-player...

[Passive]

I just want to see the game in action, the only Gameplay ive seen was pretty bad.

[Smokey]

I just want to see the game in action, the only Gameplay ive seen was pretty bad.

where mate??

[Passive]

In this thread, i didnt mean bad as in it looks shite, i meant to video quality was pretty shonky

[Smokey]

do people think it will look like the D/L off PSN??

[Z]

the PSN one didn't have gameplay footage. it was just a CG trailer. check gametrailers/gamevideos for in game footage. it looks pretty nice actually.

it'll be playable at E3 in a few days- most likely.

[LiquidEagle]

HAZE is going to rock peoples' socks off. If you aren't wearing socks, then you're just fucked.

[Passive]

lol! you're going to be footless. I myself will be sporting some padded socks :) just to be safe.

[LiquidEagle]

lol! you're going to be footless. I myself will be sporting some padded socks :) just to be safe.

Just make sure they aren't attached to any skin or hair 'cause it'll hurt when they fly off if they are attached to anything :-p

[Passive]

Nah i plan to grease them up so they fly off with ease

[Passive]

Hey im reading on alot of sites including gametrailers that HAZE will be on pc and 360. i thought it was only coming to the ps3? or at least a timed exclusive? or have they gone full on multi plat now?

[OmniCloud]

Hey im reading on alot of sites including gametrailers that HAZE will be on pc and 360. i thought it was only coming to the ps3? or at least a timed exclusive? or have they gone full on multi plat now?No it wasn't exclusive, it's just built for PS3 and then ported to everything else later...

How later is still up in the air, but there were some tentative releases dates that had the 360/PC version releasing about a week or two later I think.

Bottom line, the game is optimized for PS3 finally, and not the other way around. It's supposed to have sixaxis support as well, and it has the cool jump in/jump out online setup like Warhawk.

[Passive]

Sweet. i was looking at it again today and i was wondering how the 360 could run it at the quality shown. :P its really stunning

[BruceWayneIII]

I wouldn't worry about the PS3:

Taken from a discussion (a few months ago) with Neko, project lead, on the Haze forum:


Quote:
Q: So would you say that the PS3 version of HAZE bucks the trend by actually being on par with the other versions right now?

A: It's easily on a par, to be honest. We've been getting a lot of good results out of the PS3 lately.

Q: That's very good to hear, although on par is still on par, not better, but then as a multi-platform developer I suppose you don't see much mileage in making a game better on one format than another...

A: Yeah but when I say 'easily on a par' I mean the PS3 is outperforming PC's that it really shouldn't be. It's a potent little (or rather, large) beast, no doubt.

[Applefiend]

Yah. When properly coded for PS3 is a monster. When badly coded for it's a Pentium 3 800Mhz. :)

[dnpmakkah]

Man my Pentium 3 800MHz was the shiznit back in the day :(

[amuront]

Yah. When properly coded for PS3 is a monster. When badly coded for it's a Pentium 3 800Mhz. :)

That's the machine where I am typing this post. WOW, I didn't know I am already a PS3 owner. AWESOME. Selective reading FTW :pinky:

[dnpmakkah]

The commerical/trailer for this game with the dude jumping from the roof onto the two soldiers is probably one of the best commericals I have ever seen for a game.

[Passive]

The ubidays 07 trailer? if thats the one you mean then yes, its the best trailer ive seen to date, but that will change next week.

[dnpmakkah]

Yea I think that's the one.

[Grovestreet]

Is Haze gonna be shown at E3?

[Passive]

Id except so.

EDIT: yes, i just looked.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

That's the machine where I am typing this post. WOW, I didn't know I am already a PS3 owner. AWESOME. Selective reading FTW :pinky:

Yeah it's a ps3...but more like a gimped misused one-legged puppy ps3.

[LiquidEagle]

No it wasn't exclusive, it's just built for PS3 and then ported to everything else later...

Well, they've been building it for all versions simultaneously I believe, but it probably is more like you describe it since PS3 is the lead platform (at least it is now, it might not have started that way)

How later is still up in the air, but there were some tentative releases dates that had the 360/PC version releasing about a week or two later I think.

Those release dates for the 360/PC versions were completely bogus though, so we should completely disregard that as any kind of indication about when the game's coming out on those platforms.

Bottom line, the game is optimized for PS3 finally, and not the other way around. It's supposed to have sixaxis support as well, and it has the cool jump in/jump out online setup like Warhawk.

Yup! If anything, PS3 owners will be getting this game first. No more waiting for the PS3 version of a game (*cough* R6: Vegas *cough* Ghost Recon 2 *cough* Fatal Inertia *cough* whoops nobody was waiting for that game anyways *cough*), because the worst-case scenario on HAZE is we get it at the same time as 360 and PC :-D

[VG Aficionado]

Lil' update (http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/784/784480/imgs_1.html)

[Passive]

Nice!! Thanks VG :)

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/801/801276/haze-20070703111058587.jpg

[LaLiLuLeLo]

COOOL. I love the soldier design.

[Passive]

As do i Lali. its actually a believeable design for a future soldier.

[Smokey]

good pic Blacksin looks cool, so this Nectre is like the "white" for the Gemhadar? (spelling) interesting

[Passive]

Nectar gives the user better speed, accuracy and strength; the ability to see enemies through cover by highlighting them and a hazard warning sense (for example, thrown grenades will have a rippling effect surrounding them enabling the user to avoid them). However, when used in excess, Nectar has devastating effects: the user will become visually incapable of distinguishing friend from foe and will fire at everyone in sight (in the player's case, pointing the gun at any friendly or enemy unit will cause it to fire automatically). This can happen to your teammates as well, leaving the player to choose whether they should be killed to minimize damage or hide and hope the effects wear off. Enemies can even try to induce Nectar overdosing in your squad, either by the use of "Nectar Grenades" or by shooting your squad's Nectar administrators located below the back of their necks which cause their air-tight masks to flood.

Just in-case you didnt know what nectre was :P

[LiquidEagle]

I've seen that picture before... I think it's in the PSM that first unveiled HAZE.

[LiquidEagle]

New pics, completely jacked from dede999 at the HAZE forums (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7551024144/m/8401053175?r=8401053175#8401053175). Before you even think about thanking me, thank him :-D.

These new soldier designs resemble FEAR a little bit IMO, but overall when they're in motion they'll have that unique FRD-feel to 'em, I know it! :)

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-6.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-2.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-5.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-10.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-7.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-4.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-9.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-8.jpg


This drawing reminds me of Yoji Shinkawa, and I mean that in the best possible way
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-11.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-1.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-3-1.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-3-2.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-3-3.jpg

[Passive]

um lol all these pics can be found at the 'lil update' VG posted a few posts back. just scroll up. even mine was found there.

[-gin-]

New pics, completely jacked from dede999 at the HAZE forums (http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7551024144/m/8401053175?r=8401053175#8401053175). Before you even think about thanking me, thank him :-D.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/deded999/Haze%20640/haze-1.jpg

i like the detail on the soldiers.. and the motion blur looks cool too

[Passive]

i find the bullets hitting the armour with sparks and slight debris coming off the spot where the bullets hit really impressive.

[warmachine]

Hopefully there will be blood if you hit someone in a place without proper armour. (eg. head :P ^^)

[LiquidEagle]

um lol all these pics can be found at the 'lil update' VG posted a few posts back. just scroll up. even mine was found there.

VG can go straight to hell then >:O

[Passive]

lol! i agree Liquid! blasted fool thinks he's better then you and l!!

[VG Aficionado]

:cry2:

[LiquidEagle]

:cry2:

:laugh: we love you, we just don't mind if you go straight to hell. :-p

j/k, my bad for posting old news... It was foolish of me to think I'd be ahead of the game. :laugh:

[Passive]

awww we luv you VG. in that non homsexual way of course. lets not get carried away :P

[VG Aficionado]

:cowboy:

[warmachine]

^Brokeback Mountain? oO

[LiquidEagle]

Yikes.

I need sleep! :laugh:

[Red_Eyes]

Hopefully there will be blood if you hit someone in a place without proper armour. (eg. head :P ^^)
OH, there's blood everywhere. It's just that you can't see it because you're wearing your "enhanced" combat helmet.

[-gin-]

thats a great point Red_Eyes, i never thought of that

[warmachine]

@Red: Now I remember! You could see something like that in one of the videos, when he had this malfunction with his helmet...

Interesting!

[Grovestreet]

New footage. (http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=80898)

[warmachine]

I just downloaded the HD version of this footage from IGN and this game really looks nice! oO

And there IS blood! You can see it in the background while he's fighting against Mantel Light Soldiers. Looks really nice! ^^

[Z]

I am enticed by the concept of the mind play behind the game. nice.

[Sephiroth_VII]

Applefiend, I don't see an HD link at IGN? And yes, I'm a subscriber.

[LiquidEagle]

That Behind the Scenes video for the Ubidays demo was sweet, all that new gameplay footage was great to see, especially the part where the player is shooting at Mantel troopers without overdosing on Nectar...

[saud264]

New footage. (http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=80898)

why blurring the sixaxis?

is it the new sixaxis?!

:shrug:

[VG Aficionado]

They don't let the camera show what controller they're using? That's Ubisoft for you. A multiplatform developer who doesn't want to let people know what version they're seeing. At least for once we know it's not the 360 version.

[GTAce]

Oh that hurts.
And it was a light blur nothing to big that you cant see a sing just to let get away the detail in the image (looks like a failure in the video).

[LiquidEagle]

They don't let the camera show what controller they're using? That's Ubisoft for you. A multiplatform developer who doesn't want to let people know what version they're seeing. At least for once we know it's not the 360 version.

I don't think Ubi Soft had any real hand in that video, it appeared to be all FRD. Maybe Ubi told them to blur it, or maybe FRD's just covering their asses just in case. We all know what version they're playing, especially when Rob Yescombe said that one coder was optimizing the PS3 code ;)

[Sephiroth_VII]

I think the controllers for the 360 devkits are grayish/black...

[Smokey]

why blurring the sixaxis?

is it the new sixaxis?!

:shrug:

well his thumbs were in the ps posy during the car bit

[LaLiLuLeLo]

You can still tell it's a PS3 controller because the guy says PS3 version, and you can tell by the shape of the controller (though blurry).

[Shogun042]

i didn't think it was blurry? when they were demonstrating the game to the ubisoft people they were clearly using a sixaxis..

[OmniCloud]

i didn't think it was blurry? when they were demonstrating the game to the ubisoft people they were clearly using a sixaxis..That's throughout the video, there's a section where the controller is clearly blurred though...

[Nameless]

At the start of the movie you can clearly see he is using a Sixaxis during the run through. Also, when he is using the controller that is blurred if you look closely toward the end of the scene you can see it's a Sixaxis controller.
I'm not sure why they decided the blur the controller it could be the new rumble axis or just an odd decision to obscure the controller in use...

At the end of the video there's a comment about a big announcment at E3 and I can only think of two potential big announcements; PS3 exclusivity or rumble axis support.

[VG Aficionado]

Yeah, it's weird that they've blurred it when it's blatantly obvious everything seen there is PS3 footage and there even aren't commentaries on the other versions or 360/PC logos at all.

[PurePremium]

Nice.

[cliffbo]

mmmmmmmm.... coming up to E3 fellas

[Red_Eyes]

Interesting. Someone should contact Haze developers for comments on this.

[mokmok]

That is definitely a PS3 controller - blurred image or not!

[Old_Timer!]

These damn Haze soldiers look like they stole Chimerian Tech when they use that Sap and you can see players heat signature lol.

[cliffbo]

watch this :)

http://uk.gamespot.com/video/933103/6173896/videoplayerpop?rgroup=e32007_live&tag=video_main%3bimg%3b0

[Epix]

WARNING: Some SPOILERS in this article.

Could you introduce yourself and explain your role in the project?
Hullo. I’m Dave Doak, a company Director at Free Radical Design.
Hullo. I’m Derek Littlewood, the creative director of HAZE.
Hullo. I’m Rob Yescombe, the screenwriter on HAZE.

Please give us a short overview on HAZE. What is the story behind it?
Haze is set in the year 2048. There is a war going on in a region of South America, where a group of vicious rebels called The Promise Hand are trying to overthrow the government, and replace them with their leader: Gabriel ‘Skin Coat’ Merino.

Skin Coat is so-called on account of the fact that he flays and strips the skin off his enemies, and has the pieces fashioned into crude leather, from which he makes his ‘coat’. Obviously, a maniac like him needs to be stopped as soon as possible, so thankfully, Mantel Global Industries has set its private army in to deal with the problem.

You play as Sergeant Shane Carpenter, a Mantel trooper whom I hope is like most of us: a good guy, who wants to do good things for good people in bad places. Carpenter is transferred into the area mid-way through the conflict, and is taken under the wing of his peer – Sergeant Morgan Duvall.

As Carpenter’s dependence on Nectar grows, so does the nagging feeling that the orders he’s following might not be as ethical as he was lead to believe…

What is Nectar? Could this really happen in the future?
As far back as the Vietnam War, there have been rumors that psychotropic drugs were being used on soldiers to try and make their experience more ‘pleasant’. Of course, those rumors are unsubstantiated, but they’re certainly food for thought. But what HAZE, and more specifically Nectar, is really about is censorship - the idea that someone is in a position to decide what we should or shouldn’t see. Taking Nectar ensures that the Mantel soldiers experience war in a sanitized, ‘video game’ form. The only thing that helps keep violence on the outskirts of most societies is the psychological ramification that the perpetrator suffers. Cutting someone’s head off can be fun in a video game, because it doesn’t affect you – it’s not real. So, what Nectar does is allow Mantel soldiers to draw a line between themselves and their actions. What the Promise Hand does for Shane Carpenter is rub that line out and force him to face the reality of what he’s been doing.

That kind of censorship exists in everything from movies to the daily news. So, in that sense, Haze isn’t about something that could happen – it’s about something that, metaphorically speaking, is happening right now.

Why did you guys decide to release exclusively this Holiday on the PS3?
Free Radical has always been a PlayStation developer at heart, thanks to our experiences developing the TimeSplitters series. We have a wealth of experience working with PlayStation technology, and perhaps are in a position to get to grips with the raw power of the PS3 a little faster than other developers. We see Haze as our opportunity to stamp our pedigree onto the new generation, and the PS3’s power, and particularly its online support, are going to be invaluable bearing in mind the kinds of multiplayer functionality we want to bring to Haze.

What is the big announcement that you are doing about Haze at E3?
The rumors are correct. You do switch sides in Haze. But it’s not just about turning your gun on your colleagues – Haze is literally two games in one, right out of the box. When you start off, you’ll be using the high-tech Mantel suit and weaponry, playing in a very gung-ho video-game style. That’s the perfect way to get to grips with the basics of the game, but once you switch sides, and join The Promise Hand, you won’t have all that technical support – you’ll have to learn to play more tactically, and use some real teamwork with your squad mates. Playing as a rebel really where expert players are going to get their kicks. It’s far more dangerous, with many more facets to the gameplay, so you’ll need to learn to improvise and hone your skills to survive.

Oh, and we need to confirm another rumor: yes, Haze will be a PS3 exclusive.

So far we haven’t talked at all about the final and pretty significant plot twist in Haze – apart from just changing sides. But that will have to remain a secret for now.

What will you gain fighting alongside the Rebels (Promise Hand) and against Mantel?
The most important difference, is the role of Nectar depending on which side you’re fighting for. As a Mantel trooper, Nectar is your best weapon - you need to take it in order to make yourself tougher, faster and more accurate. However, and here’s the twister, as a rebel you’ll find that understanding Nectar is your best weapon against Mantel. Here’s what I mean: there are a number of ways to force Mantel soldiers to Overdose on Nectar. You can strap Nectar packs onto grenades, and make a huge cloud of Nectar gas; you can shoot the soldiers in their Nectar packs; or, most fun of all, you can smear Nectar on a knife and throw it into a bad guy. Making a Mantel soldier Overdose causes them to freak out – amongst other things, they’ll start firing at everyone, friend and foe; or they might just shoot themselves in the head; or hug a grenade until it blows up; or try and blow off their own feet with a rocket launcher. So, sending one Mantel soldier into Overdose when he’s with his squad mates is tantamount to setting off a smart bomb.

And! The best part is, all the Nectar Overdose aspects don’t just happen to A.I characters – it can happen to you in single player, co-op, and on the multiplayer maps.

The final way that Rebels can take advantage of Nectar is by Playing Dead. Nectar censors reality for Mantel, so just like in a video game they don’t see blood, and dead bodies simply disappear. So, by pretending to be dead, the rebels disappear from the Mantel trooper’s view as if they were just another corpse. This, of course, allows the rebels to get the drop on a Mantel soldier.

What dark truths will you uncover about Nectar and or Mantel?
Haze is just the tip of the iceberg. Carpenter is not some superhero who’s going to discover the inner-workings and industrial secrets of a multi-billion dollar corporation and bring them down. But what he will do is learn something about himself, and about his perception of war. Maybe, just maybe, the player will too.

Of course, there are secrets you will learn - in fact, there’s a rather important one in particular - but if I told you then they wouldn’t be secrets, would they?

How does the switch pertain to the overall story of the game?
No one likes to feel that they are being controlled. As much fun as it is to be a Mantel trooper, kicking ass with wild abandon, you will still feel that there is a level to the game that you are being denied. It takes you breaking away from the influence of Mantel, and Nectar, in order to see what that is.

How will the Rebel abilities offset the Mantel soldiers’ Nectar abilities?
You already know about the abilities that Nectar gives to the Mantel soldiers: better aim; faster speed; able to inflict and receive more damage; and that famous ‘Melee Blast’ - a huge melee attack that sends the poor victim flying. But as a Promise Hand rebel, beyond the ability to use Nectar against Mantel, you will acquire several new skills. Specifically:

1. SCAVENGE: This allows you to recalibrate ammo from other guns to fit yours. So, if you have a particularly great weapon that you love using, you don’t need to throw it away when you run out of ammo. You can just refit other bullets to fit your mag.
2. DIVE & ROLL: Once you’re out of that heavy Mantel armor, you’ll be less protected, but thankfully you’ll be freed up to move faster and more acrobatically.
3. TRAPS: Pretty self-explanatory - you learn to set traps, like hiding grenade-mines under the dirt.
4. PLAY DEAD: This one is great fun. When you’re being fired at, if you time it right, you can fall to the ground writhing in fake agony. Once your opponent turns their back, just leap to your feet and plug a shot in his head. The reason why it’s so effective is because Nectar censors death and blood for the Mantel troopers – Just like in a video game, it makes the bodies disappear. So, by pretending to be dead, the rebel disappears from the Mantel trooper’s point of view.
5. WEAPON STEAL: A little kung fu goes a long way. If you can get close enough, you can wrestle the gun from your opponent’s hands, and turn it back on them.
6. NECTAR GRENADES/ NECTAR KNIFES / NECTAR PACK SHOTS: As I was saying before, the rebels have a number of ways to force Mantel troopers to Overdose. The Nectar Grenade is particularly awesome fun in a crowded room – making everyone turn on each other uncontrollably.
7. REVIVE: As a rebel, you’ll need all the help you can get. So, if one of your team gets injured, you can give them medical aid, and get them back on their feet.

Will you have access to different weapons when playing the Rebels than on Mantel’s side?
Other than all the ways to use Nectar against the Mantel guys, the rebels have their own weapon set. We’ve made a point to keep the weapons as realistic and ballistic as possible. We didn’t want to have some crazy laser gun in there. The reason behind this thinking is that really, Nectar is your best weapon whether you’re with Mantel or The Promise Hand. It’s all down to how you use it.

What other tools/gadgets that you will gain by fighting along side the Promised Hand?
Well, as well as a whole new weapon set, and all the unique ways to turn Nectar against Mantel, you’ll also get new rebel vehicles to cruise around in.


What will be the role and importance of your teammates when on the Rebel side?
As a Mantel trooper, you don’t really need anyone. You’ll have a squad with you, but whether they live or die isn’t of great importance to you because Nectar makes you so damn tough. But, as a rebel, you need as much firepower as possible to take down the Mantel guys. Hence why you’ll have to learn to give your teammates medical aid if they get hurt.

How will the storyline and gameplay work together?
The entire experience is absolutely free from loading screens. You could buy the game on the day of release and play through the entire campaign mode without ever having to stop and wait for something to load. What’s more, the whole game is in first person. We don’t cut away into some special cinematic to tell the story. We want to keep you locked – trapped even – inside the head of Shane Carpenter. We think that telling the story this way will ensure a level of immersion that you might not normally get from a First Person Shooter.

You’ll be seeing some pretty unpleasant events unfold in Haze, and taking the player out of Carpenter’s head to show them to you allows you to disassociate yourself from what’s going on. But we don’t want that – we want you to feel responsible, claustrophobic, maybe even guilty.

When will the game be released?
November 2007.http://www.gamerwithin.com/?view=article&article=2471&cat=10

[Passive]

Oh, and we need to confirm another rumor: yes, Haze will be a PS3 exclusive.

:D

You’ll be seeing some pretty unpleasant events unfold in Haze, and taking the player out of Carpenter’s head to show them to you allows you to disassociate yourself from what’s going on. But we don’t want that – we want you to feel responsible, claustrophobic, maybe even guilty.

god dammit that sounds awesome. say goodbye to the generic FPS on this one.


btw thank you for that awesome read Epix :) reppage for you.

[LiquidEagle]

Before I read that article, are the spoilers very big? I've already seen the E3 trailer so is it going to spoil much more than that? I mean... they don't spoil the whole game in that interview do they?

[Epix]

Before I read that article, are the spoilers very big? I've already seen the E3 trailer so is it going to spoil much more than that? I mean... they don't spoil the whole game in that interview do they?Not really, just some basic elements of the story. (ie. who your fighting for)

[Grovestreet]

New Haze interview and Gameplay footage. (http://www.e3coverage.com/E32007/e32007_haze.html)

[OmniCloud]

I just realized how much this game can potentially be awesome!!!

I might have to get Haze/Unreal instead of COD4/Unreal...

decisions decisions...

[yoshaw]

Oh, I will get 'em all!! Only need to do is rob a bank or something.

[Z]

I just realized how much this game can potentially be awesome!!!

I might have to get Haze/Unreal instead of COD4/Unreal...

decisions decisions...

and that is exactly why PSN demos are a must. I have decided I will never buy a game that doesn't have a demo that I can try for myself.
that of course doesn't include the no-brainers that'll I get without even seeing a single pic of like MGS4, FF13, Versus, etc.

[OmniCloud]

and that is exactly why PSN demos are a must. I have decided I will never buy a game that doesn't have a demo that I can try for myself.
that of course doesn't include the no-brainers that'll I get without even seeing a single pic of like MGS4, FF13, Versus, etc.Have any of these guys said anything about a demo?

COD4/Haze/Unreal teams?

It's funny that PS3 (Japanese consoles) has the most exclusive FPS this year....

What a change of pace:huh:

[VG Aficionado]

http://www.gameinfowire.com/game.asp?gid=1983

Play both sides of the same war and experience two unique game systems, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system this holiday season. Set in the year 2048 in a world where governments have outsourced military operations to private military corporations (PMCs), you play as Shane Carpenter, a newly enlisted soldier seeking fulfillment and thrills by fighting for a good cause. As the leading PMC, Mantel Global Industries offers an array of cutting-edge military equipment, including a high-tech arsenal of vehicles, deadly weaponry, and the performance-enhancing drug Nectar.

Your conflict begins in a war-torn country where you have been sent to fight a vicious rebel faction, the Promise Hand. At first all is well, but things quickly begin to look a little strange…

Uncover the truth, switch sides, and break away from Mantel’s manipulative grip when you join your former enemies, the Promise Hand.


Key Features


* Impeccable FPS credentials from the developers of the critically acclaimed TimeSplitters series and the publishers of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and Far Cry. Free Radical and Ubisoft have proved their ability to create innovative, platform-defining FPS titles.

* Play both sides of the same war: Evolve from a ruthless high-tech Mantel Trooper to a cunning Promise Hand rebel, each featuring distinct game systems, weaponry, and abilities.

* Experience the power of a Mantel Trooper. You'll be equipped with the most advanced gear and deadliest weapons and empowered by Nectar, Mantel’s battlefield-optimized performance-enhancing medication that lets you boost your fighting abilities and experience the highs and lows of drug-laden warfare. Perform fighting abilities such as Nectar Focus, Nectar Foresight, and Melee Blast.

* Expose the truth, switch sides, and break away from Mantel’s control. Join up with your former enemies, and lead the rebels against the Mantel army. Use your knowledge of your former teammates’ weaknesses and new abilities and techniques such as Play Dead, Weapon Stealing, and the deadly Nectar Grenade.

* Cutting-edge gaming technology exclusively developed for the PLAYSTATION 3 system featuring the Disparity Rendering System, which shapes players’ views of the world on and off Nectar. Haze also features an entirely streaming experience and the groundbreaking Conspire AI System, in which all enemy behaviors are entirely dynamic – nothing is scripted.

* State-of-the-art multiplayer modes. Fire up your console for online battles and choose from a variety of online modes, including furious four-player co-op action! Play as both Troopers and Rebels and unveil hidden secrets from the single-player campaign.


Nice to see so much emphasis on the PS3 version of a multiplatform game.

[Shogun042]

reads like the back of a retail copy.

[Z]

Have any of these guys said anything about a demo?

COD4/Haze/Unreal teams?


it is only expected to see more games featuring demos as we go deeper in PS3's cycle- especially for these big titles.

[LiquidEagle]

Some new pics on their site:

http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_Swamp_2007July06.jpg
http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_Bridge_2007July06.jpg
http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_AbandonedResor_2007July06.jpg
http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_Copperplant_2007July06.jpg
http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_MountainAscent_2007July06.jpg
http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_Observatory_2007July06.jpg

I hope they put the E3 '07 trailer on the PSN store soon...

[Passive]

nice! thanks Liquid :)

[user friendly]

The latest Haze video on the EU store was awesome. Im buying this game purely on the fact that Free Radical is developing it. I just hope online is good is at least as good as resistance.

[curryking1]

Nice screens, looks solid. I wish it looked more 'lush' and full or whatever for lack of a better word, but it's all good lol. It kind of looks empty as I look at screens over again, a little bland graphically to me.

Really looking forward to the 4 player coop, that's become the main reason I want to try this one out. There's not enough games that offer that option, I love blasting fools alongside buddies lol :)

[masteratt]

4Player Split-screen.

First in next-gen I believe.

I wonder if 7Players on one console will ever be a useful feature?
Other than sport games.

[curryking1]

^I think so too, I hope other games follow suit, I'd love KZ to have a similar option, and for online as well. Halo 2 or something was the only one to have that 4 players on one console online right?

Heck, every FPS you know! UT3 and all of them, maybe that future Red Faction that was hinted about!

4 player coop on or off just makes everything sound sweeter lol.

[VG Aficionado]

I hope they put the E3 '07 trailer on the PSN store soon...It's available on the store. I downloaded it and it looks really great.

[LiquidEagle]

Must only be on the EU store because the US store only has the HAZE "Origins" trailer which is from Ubi Days '07. Maybe I missed it... I'll check again in the E3 section & such.

Anyhoo, those screens aren't terribly impressive (except the copper refinery or whatever, that one looks really nice IMO), but this game is most definitely a visual feast in motion, and we all know the gameplay will be solid (FRD never disappoints there), plus the story sounds incredible.

The multiplayer (from what they've let out so far) also will be a doozy. Since Nectar/Mantel tech. hides dead bodies from its soldiers, the Promise Hand players (or when you're Promise Hand in single player) can play dead and the Mantel soldiers won't notice them or will think they've killed them, then BAM! They're on their feet again, shooting the Nectar device on their backs making the Mantel soldiers flail like crazy. I think that's just the beginning too...

And yes, co-op is going to be glorious. :-D

There are some really lush areas of the game, as shown in parts of the E3 '07 trailer, but keep in mind that this game is not a shooter in the jungle (like Crysis/Far Cry). The jungle is just one of the many locales you'll be going to :)

[yoshaw]

Some new pics on their site:

http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/media/004/HAZE_Swamp_2007July06.jpg


Wow, I had a funny, RE4 like vibe from that image quoted above. If anyone else recalls it, there was one artwork from RE4 that resembled this cottage image pretty closely.

[Nameless]

Visually this game has not really impressed me compared to the other AAA PS3 exclusives. I do like the multiplayer features and if the multiplayer is solid I may give this a go. There's just so many good games coming this fall I can see this getting lost in the mix...

[GTShotoKen]

Nice new Developer Diary vid:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/23043.html

Jungle Gameplay footage from E3 (not sure if this has been posted yet):

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/21613.html

[LiquidEagle]

Some new screens of HAZE, some might be old...

http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70271-Haze_Screen_Rebel_Action2_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70268-HAZE_Screen_LightTrooper_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70265-Haze_Rebel_Action_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70262-HAZE_Observatory_HeavyTrooper_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70259-HAZE_MountainAscent02_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70256-HAZE_Copperplant_HeavyTrooper_FireSupport_2007July 06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70253-HAZE_AbandonedResort_Rocket_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70250-HAZE_AbandonedResort_flamethrower_2007July06_l.jpg
http://resources.ubi.com/resources/70/70247-HAZE_Abandoned_Resort_Cave_2007July06_l.jpg

Some of those look so-so, but others look incredible. As with past FRD games like Timesplitters, screenshots don't do it justice compared to when the game's in your home and the controller's in your hand though.

[VG Aficionado]

Looking great!

[VG Aficionado]

Haze hype (http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Haze-Hype-Day-7-Better-Physics-Than-Halo-And-More-Vehicles-Than-BioShock-5812.html)

[yoshaw]

Haze Developer: PSN Offers More Freedom Than Xbox Live
Haze developer gets philosophical

SPOnG caught up with the developers behind Haze, Free Radical, yesterday, and amid all the chat about entering warzones jacked up on drugs and who'd win in a fight between Buddha and Jesus†, some interesting things were said about the PlayStation Network. Specifically, the joy and the terror provided by the freedom it enables.

"The disadvantage of the Sony stuff is that there isn't as much defined by Sony as to how you have to do things - they leave it very much up to you" Derek Littlewood, project leader on Haze told us.

"So, on the one hand that's a disadvantage, because developers will under-deliver compared to what Live provides. But at the same time, because it's not as strongly defined, you have the freedom to do it in the way that you want to - in a way that may be more suitable to your game. You see some games with the Live interface, [where] they might have been able to innovate and alter things round and make things work better than Live, but they can't because they have to conform with Microsoft's standards on that, whereas on the PlayStation Network you have the freedom to do things in the way you want to."


Putting Haze out on the PS3 first, with an online service widely considered to be inferior to Xbox Live, hasn't hindered the title's online offering at all as far as Free Radical's concerned. "For us, because we've thought about multiplayer right from the start, I certainly wouldn't say that our multiplayer has suffered at all. We've been able to do it in the way we want to."

Then things started to get a bit, like, deep, "It's a fundamental difference in philosophy between Sony and Microsoft. You see it in all of their libraries and their tech support, as well. Sony very much, y'know, let you just go at it, whereas Microsoft provide a lot more structure and a lot more libraries for you and - for us as a developer - the PS3 stuff... we've always liked working with it."

http://news.spong.com/article/13501

[GTAce]

Yeah the guys from Epic said the same.
Nice to hear it.

[masteratt]

Devs will always want freedom- Watch out MS.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

[saud264]

new post in HAZE blog

http://blogs.ign.com/HazeGame/2007/08/16/63577/

[curryking1]

It's nice that a developer not as close to Sony has finally said something that we feel is strongly positive of the PS3. Good for you, PS3 :)

And for the love of god, is that enough bloom already? Jeez.. lol. Some of those pics are really not impressing me... they just seem to get brighter and brighter and further washed out at some point, no?

[OmniCloud]

Nice praise...but it would be nice if more devs actually did the unique thing and not took the easy approach/quick approach..

Why do so many users support crap!!!

[LaLiLuLeLo]

What do you mean, Omni? I mean specifically, I think I missed something.

[OmniCloud]

What do you mean, Omni? I mean specifically, I think I missed something.Some games online modes are awesome..others aren't--feel like rush jobs or are just uninspired to say to the least.

This isn't really a problem on X360 because it's kinda strict on requirements I guess...

Yet and still, consumers keep buying crap and crap all over again. I honestly want to see the top selling games thread at the end of this generation. If I see Simpsons up there, I might vomit:spit:

[Domination]

Then things started to get a bit, like, deep, "It's a fundamental difference in philosophy between Sony and Microsoft. You see it in all of their libraries and their tech support, as well. Sony very much, y'know, let you just go at it, whereas Microsoft provide a lot more structure and a lot more libraries for you and - for us as a developer - the PS3 stuff... we've always liked working with it."

http://news.spong.com/article/13501


It depends on preference, like I said before.

IMO, however, Sony has the best strategy because even though they don't have all of Live's features as a standard, they've made if so flexible to where it can become greater than a lot of things that Live doesn't support and/or introduces if that developer chose to fully take advantage of it. It also allows for more freedom to the user.

[LiquidEagle]

And it's free :)

[GTAce]

It depends on preference, like I said before.

IMO, however, Sony has the best strategy because even though they don't have all of Live's features as a standard, they've made if so flexible to where it can become greater than a lot of things that Live doesn't support and/or introduces if that developer chose to fully take advantage of it. It also allows for more freedom to the user.

Yeah like mods for example.
I agree with you here completly.

[warmachine]

15 new Screens looking as gorgeous as ever! (http://www.gamersyde.com/news_4835_en.html)

[GTAce]

Quoted you here. http://forums.e-mpire.com/showthread.php?p=1657096#post1657096

Nice screenies.

[Epix]

New HAZE off screen vid (got some vehicle action in there!)

DIRECT DOWNLOAD (http://media.game1.nl/game1/4084.flv)

[archy121]

New HAZE off screen vid (got some vehicle action in there!)

DIRECT DOWNLOAD (http://media.game1.nl/game1/4084.flv)

Watching this video just made me notice that the jungle terrain in Haze does not distruct to any degree with all the shooting taking place. This has come as a bit of a let down as i was thinking of Haze as a contender to Crysis. For me the realism will be seriously hampered if the jungle is completely immune to all the gunfire & explosions, It will drop a notch on my top WANTED list. I hope this will change in the final build.

[Killing Moon]

Watching this video just made me notice that the jungle terrain in Haze does not distruct to any degree with all the shooting taking place. This has come as a bit of a let down as i was thinking of Haze as a contender to Crysis. For me the realism will be seriously hampered if the jungle is completely immune to all the gunfire & explosions, It will drop a notch on my top WANTED list. I hope this will change in the final build.

That really sucks then.

It's nice that the game looks nice. But really, what is it doing different or what is it advancing in the genre?

So far it just looks like yet ANOTHER FPS tech demo.

[OmniCloud]

That really sucks then.

It's nice that the game looks nice. But really, what is it doing different or what is it advancing in the genre?

So far it just looks like yet ANOTHER FPS tech demo.Kinda have to agree, it's seems more like a game that will be awesome with 3 other people on the couch with you and online, but not much outta the norm...

Then again--that's what people buy FPS for mostly...

Probably gonna have pretty good sells...

[Killing Moon]

Kinda have to agree, it's seems more like a game that will be awesome with 3 other people on the couch with you and online, but not much outta the norm...

Then again--that's what people buy FPS for mostly...

Probably gonna have pretty good sells...

Seriously doubt it.
No defining character to connect with the mainstream audience. No gimmick to attract those addicted to Halo. No severe draw factor.

Oh...well it looks nice. But so does EVERY F'ing FPS on consoles today.

[OmniCloud]

Seriously doubt it.
No defining character to connect with the mainstream audience. No gimmick to attract those addicted to Halo. No severe draw factor.

Oh...well it looks nice. But so does EVERY F'ing FPS on consoles today.That is one thing that I do NOT understand about some games...

It's blatantly obvious that people just connect easier with a lead character than they do with the entire gist of a story--no matter how awesome it is...

Take Resistance for example, if Hale had more personality and charisma the game probably would have appealed to more people.

It's in so many of the big games like come'on!!

Kratos
Master Chief
Leon
GTa guys
Samus
Mario
Lara

well at least some devs are trying doing the protagonist appeal thing with titles like Heavenly Sword and Uncharted.

[Nameless]

I just can't get excited for this game...
The visuals just look average IMO, but I'm interested to see how the coop and multiplayer options pan out. Still seems like VOIP functions are unstable on PS3 titles and this feature is essential for multiplayer gameplay.

This game is not even on my rental list, but if they release a great demo that could change very quickly. I was not planning on playing Bioshock, but that quickly changed after playing the demo.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Yeah, I'm all about Resistance, it's fun as hell, but I couldn't give a shit about the main protagonist. I wish I could tell someone at Insomniac. He's got all the personality of a jar of mayonnaise. The main character in Haze, Shane something or other, might prove interesting. But he is a character, with a personality and a voice, so we'll see. I reserve final judgment for its innevitable release.

[LiquidEagle]

That is one thing that I do NOT understand about some games...

It's blatantly obvious that people just connect easier with a lead character than they do with the entire gist of a story--no matter how awesome it is...

Take Resistance for example, if Hale had more personality and charisma the game probably would have appealed to more people.

It's in so many of the big games like come'on!!

Kratos
Master Chief
Leon
GTa guys
Samus
Mario
Lara

well at least some devs are trying doing the protagonist appeal thing with titles like Heavenly Sword and Uncharted.

... HOW DARE you not mention Snake in that list...

[yoshaw]

... HOW DARE you not mention Snake in that list...

:lol: you read my miiiiiiiind. I was like WTF!!? Snake shud had been the top of that list!

[Smokey]

Still seems like VOIP functions are unstable on PS3 titles
resistance works flawlesly

[Fats]

^Not with my BT headset. :(

[Passive]

the TRUE list of game personalities

snake
snake
snake
snake
snake
snake
snake
possible master chief (imo a ponse)
snake
snake

[LaLiLuLeLo]

That is one thing that I do NOT understand about some games...

It's blatantly obvious that people just connect easier with a lead character than they do with the entire gist of a story--no matter how awesome it is...

Take Resistance for example, if Hale had more personality and charisma the game probably would have appealed to more people.

It's in so many of the big games like come'on!!

Kratos
Master Chief
Leon
GTa guys
Samus
Mario
Lara

well at least some devs are trying doing the protagonist appeal thing with titles like Heavenly Sword and Uncharted.

...No Solid Snake?????
WHAAAAAT????

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/Lalilulelo/0077mm8xo8.jpg

[warmachine]

Master Chief and personality...
.
.
.
.
BRUAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Good one! *tears running down my cheek*

^^

[Fats]

Wie wir soeben bei einer Präsentation des Shooters aus erster Hand erfahren haben, wird es keine Xbox-360-Version von Haze geben. Der Titel ist dieses Jahr noch PS3-exklusiv und wird voraussichtlich im November erscheinen, 2008 wird eine PC-Fassung folgen. Weitere Informationen zur Präsentation folgen heute Abend.

Translation.

How we learned just now in a presentation of the Shooters out of first hand, there will be no Xbox-360-Version of Haze. The title is this year yet PS3-exklusiv and will appear presumably in November, 2008 will follow a PC-frame. Further information to the presentation follows tonight.

Source (http://www.exp.de/shownews.php?id=24424&aid=multi)

GTAce, can we get a second opinion on the translation? Take this with a grain of salt guys.

[GTAce]

Correct!
No Xbox 360 version from Haze!
It will be exclusive for this year and will come 2008 for PC.
They got it from a dev or rep it seems and more information from that presentation will follow later.


And yeah i made it big to troll a little bit. :-p

EDIT: I think its official it sounds very real to me.
EDIT2: I deletet the "confirmed" lol.

[LiquidEagle]

I have a hard time believing that, but we'll see.

[VG Aficionado]

Since Haze sucked because it was a PS3 timed exclusive, now it will be utter garbage! :dur:

[LiquidEagle]

OMG, the review just came in now from 1UP and it got a 4/10...

They reviewed a preview video FRD sent them, but they figure it'll be the final version and they didn't want to have to move the controller at all anyways.

PS3 = fail!!!

[VG Aficionado]

Are you serious? =-o

[LiquidEagle]

:lol:

Not in the least. I think it says a lot about 1UP that you'd have to ask if that was true... :laugh:

[VG Aficionado]

I almost believed you until I remember that Haze isn't out until November, so it was too early for a review of any kind yet. However, that sounded so likely... :unsure:

[LiquidEagle]

Well the way these high-profile PS3 games have been getting reviewed so early and sometimes rather poorly... I'd be shocked if there wasn't something going on or some kind of agenda/deal going on in the press. Srsly...

[masteratt]

Guys c'mon now, don't act like fanboys in denial.

I think both Heavenly Sword and Lair got what they deserve.

I haven't played Lair yet but all those videos seemed a bit daft, like it was a tech demo rather than a proper game.

[LiquidEagle]

You're right. Clearly Mario Strikers Charged, which IGN UK (http://wii.ign.com/articles/790/790253p1.html) gave an 8.7 is that much better of a game.

Lair I can see coming, but Heavenly Sword... I say no. I'm not in any kind of denial, I just think it's impossible to look at the game-media's perception of all things Playstation and not think that's going to affect how these losers review games (yes, most of them are losers, I've been saying that long before PS3 was even announced)

[masteratt]

Yeah the gaming media always sucked, so what?

Let's just be thankful it's not very wide spread (as in not many people outside gaming enthusiasts read it).

I never even read reviews anyway so I'm not the best person to discuss this with lol.

Anyway- HAZE! woooo!

[Sephiroth_VII]

Good news. Now that it's exclusive, they'll be able to concentrate on the PS3 version. Unless the Germans misunderstood, but I hope not..

[masteratt]

It was always PS3 concentrated anyway.

[Jay Gee]

Since Haze sucked because it was a PS3 timed exclusive, now it will be utter garbage! :dur:
Exactly. It's just another cookie cutter FPS now. And suddenly Free Radical will go from great developer to a group of washed up hasbeens who delivered an unpolished product to the masses. Teh PS3 curse continues.

[Raitei]

Correct!
It will be exclusive for this year and will come 2008 for PC.
.

isn't that how it was always going to be?

[LiquidEagle]

Yeah the gaming media always sucked, so what?

Let's just be thankful it's not very wide spread (as in not many people outside gaming enthusiasts read it).

I never even read reviews anyway so I'm not the best person to discuss this with lol.

There are a lot of people who aren't exactly gaming enthusiasts who do read reviews & random Gamespot news or whatever, and those are the people who get swayed by reviews. They don't consider themselves to be big gamers (generally because they think it's too geeky :laugh:), and look at the people reviewing these games as like Über-Geeks who know a bunch more about games than them and therefore can tell them what to like.

I just have a very low opinion of critics (regardless of format), they're there 99% of the time because they can't make anything of their own, or couldn't bear the criticisms their work would receive.

Anyway- HAZE! woooo!

w00t! :-D This is the game I'm most looking forward to this year now that MGS4's been pushed back, and I know FRD won't disappoint

[Smokey]

i reckon MGS for 6/10 from IGN

[Fazares]

what...???

[Smokey]

what...???

ya wrong thread for me. i was being sarcastic with all the IGN low scores gettin around

[LaLiLuLeLo]

I got it, Smokey. I thought it was funny.

"Yeah it's MGS, and it's awesome, but I mean, like, so what?"
6/10

[Fats]

Ubisoft has told GameSpot that First Radical's sci-fi first-person shooter Haze is now being planned solely for Sony's PlayStation 3 platform.

Originally, Haze was slated as a multiplatform release for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 in spring, but back in May Ubisoft announced that the PS3 had become the "lead platform" for the title, which would be released in November on the PS3-only, although "no exclusivity for any platform has been officially announced."

Today, Ubisoft said that currently no other versions in development, and although it was still leaving the door open in the future for "new partnerships," currently the game is indeed only planned for the PS3. A spokesperson said, "The official statement on PC and Xbox 360 is that these platforms are not confirmed."

The Web sites of Free Radical, the Official Haze site, and Ubisoft site, all now only list the PS3 version of the game.

Source (http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6177964.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;1)

[VG Aficionado]

Is it finally confirmed then? Expect more hate to it now :-|

[Shogun042]

sweet, well initially the game impressed me, now it's looking so so (especially next to COD4), so since FRD only has one system to focus on they better crank it up a notch (especially on the visual side of things).

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Hm, that's nice of them.

[kagai]

I like sites such as Rotten Tomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/) (more so for movie reviews than for video games, as the video games section is severely wanting). Also, some video game blogs offer these types of multi-review reviews, unfortunately those are usually for bigger games; of course, you can just do the leg work yourself and visit a few different sites. Anyway, I think this type of collective rating is much more indicative of the general worth of a movie or video game for someone that isn't really sure whether they would want to buy a certain game or see a certain movie.

If I'm really excited about a certain title, I will buy it regardless, but, for me, this type of feedback (along with user impressions on various forums) gives me an idea if I would want to plunk down my cold, hard cash, just rent, or totally forget a title that I may be interested in, but not totally sold on.

At the same time, I think it is irresponsible to rate any game that isn't an actual certified final pressing, as some magazines/sites have done. I think a lot of these gaming magazines/sites use close to final builds to rate a game to get a jump on the competition, which really isn't fair to either the game or the consumer.

[Jay Gee]

Is it finally confirmed then? Expect more hate to it now :-|
Oh, yeah. I'm gonna go to Gametrailers and look at the all the xbots do a complete 180 on it, citing terrible graphics and lack of interest in "another FPS."

[kagai]

Oh, yeah. I'm gonna go to Gametrailers and look at the all the xbots do a complete 180 on it, citing terrible graphics and lack of interest in "another FPS."

I watched the latest walk through on Gametrailers and I like the graphics and some of the concepts (weapon stealing, playing dead was cool); however, although I liked the idea of using nectar against your enemies, it seemed way too easy to pull off. Of course, this could be because it was a walk through and they didn't want it to be too hard, but the player would through one nectar enhanced knife and the enemy would go berserk. The nectar knife and the nectar grenade seems to be unbalanced in the footage shown, making it too easy to take out the enemy.

I also noticed that when the enemy went berserk, even if the player was standing next to him, he would ignore the player and go running into another run to attack one of his own. I thought when the enemies went berserk they would start killing any and everyone. Hopefully, these issues have more to do with the games current state and not indicative of what the final game will be like.

[Jay Gee]

Nope. Last time I heard, Nectar Rage was only bad for Mantel soldiers. They don't actually go after you, hence the reason you attempt to put them into a Nectar rage in the first place.

[kagai]

Nope. Last time I heard, Nectar Rage was only bad for Mantel soldiers. They don't actually go after you, hence the reason you attempt to put them into a Nectar rage in the first place.

I don't think that's correct. From what I've read a nectar rage makes it impossible for the Mantel soldier to distinguish friend from foe, so everyone becomes an enemy. See this interview with Rob Yescombe and Derek Littlewood: Haze Creators Interview (http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/678498/EXCLUSIVE_Interview_Haze_Creators.html)

TF: So when players are in overdose mode they're not in control of their character at all, right?

They have a sort of partial control so what you end up doing is struggling to not kill your teammates or anyone else around you, in effect.

Wow, that sounds really interesting.

Yeah, its pretty cool...it's nothing that anyone's really experimented with before.

It's interesting because when you're in overdose state you are a complete killing machine because it's very easy to lock on to enemies and it's very easy to shoot at them...you will automatically shoot when your reticle is over what you perceive is an enemy...problem being that what you perceive is an enemy could be an enemy of a friend. That's what you lose, the ability to tell the difference between the two.

[fazzk]

Is anyone else not too impressed with the recent walkthrough on GT.com? I think the jungle levels they showed looked pretty good but the level on that walkthrough looked kinda dull and boring. Gameplay concepts definitely seemed interesting though.

And even though I know everyone else is saying this too - I dont think I will want this game with Halo 3 and COD4 coming out this fall. Those will be my FPS games, which is probably my favorite genre besides sports. So really I dont mind buying multiple FPS like I know some do, but even with that said I dont think I will be getting Haze.

[kaphwan]

This game made me cry tears of happiness when I read of it in OPS2 Australia.

The impressiveness and innovation are cream-worthy already.

[Red_Eyes]

Anyone who's not impress with this game is just a graphic whore.

[kagai]

Well, I'm certainly not a graphics whore. I still play graphics adventures and Independent games that are free online: Adventure Game Studio (http://new.bigbluecup.com/games.php) and Independent Gaming (http://indygamer.blogspot.com/)

I just find, at least just from watching the walk through, that some of the weapon balancing (as far as anti-Mantel nectar weapons are concerned) and some of the enemy AI responses to be somewhat off. The game definitely looks interesting, with some cool concepts, none the less.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

This reminds me that they said (if you look a few pages back you might find it) how they really liked PSN's online and the openness of it.

[fazzk]

I just think that stage looked dull as I said. Level design was boring, in my opinion, that makes the overall graphical feel much worse.

[Smokey]

when does Haze come out?

[VG Aficionado]

November.

[Smokey]

:)..

[section]

Was this video (http://www.eurogamer.net/tv_video.php?playlist_id=4522&s=l) from eurogamer already linked here?

Nothing extraordinary but seems like a solid title, nice touches here and there.

"Why is this happening?!!?! Why is thi*kaboom*" lol

[cliffbo]

PSU Exclusive Interview: Haze
Posted on September 25th, 2007 at 16:06 EDT

If there is one first person shooter that PlayStation 3 gamers can look forward to this holiday season it's Haze, and what better way to get gamers excited than all new details and re-confirmation that PS3 users can now call Haze their own? Here is PSU's interview with Rob Yescombe, screenwriter and developer at Free Radical. Enjoy!

PSU: A lot of people, press included, have been labeling Haze as a possible Halo killer. What are thoughts on this comparison and for you, how does Haze have the upper hand?

Rob Yescombe: Well, since we’re a PS3 exclusive, we’re not really in direct competition anyway. The truth is that we’re big fans of Halo, and we’re under no illusions about the fact that Halo is a juggernaut that will roll over most things. Whilst Haze has things in common, we’re doing things differently: we’ve got our unique asymmetric combat system, with different weapons sets and skill sets for each faction, so you’ll be choosing either Mantel or The Promise Hand based on the way that you like to play First Person Shooters. What’s more, on the narrative side, Halo seems to be about saving a planet, whereas Haze is about saving the soul of one man. We’re trying to tell a very personal story.

PSU: About exploration; will players be rewarded for putting in the extra time to explore the game's environments? Are there any hidden areas, or are the levels mostly linear?

Rob: Haze is linear, but we’ve tucked a few secrets away in there. It’s up to you guys to find them.

PSU: To what extent are the environments destructible? Will we be able to tear down a forest or collapse small buildings?

Rob: Ha! No, there’s no deforestation in Haze. But yes, you will be able to have a very noticeable effect on the environments.

PSU: What is the confirmed number of players supported for online multiplayer? Will offline multiplayer support bots?

Rob: 24 players in multiplayer, and 4 players in co-op. And yes, by popular demand, we’re bringing back Bots.

PSU: We all have heard that Haze will be supporting 4 player co-op. Will this be done via online, LAN, or can you have 4 players playing split-screen on one machine?

Rob: It’s two players per screen, but you can play over a LAN and online too, in any combination up to four players in the main campaign mode.

PSU: Many of our readers want to know if vehicles will be supported in multiplayer. If so, what vehicles will be available to Rebels, and which ones to Mantel?

Rob: Yes, absolutely. There are vehicles designed for both Mantel and The Promise Hand. I can’t reveal them all yet, but there will be Jeeps, Quad Bikes, and 4x4s. You’ll also be able to man the guns in the Dropships and Helicopters. Plus, we’ve got one very special vehicle designed specifically for one of the multiplayer maps.

PSU: What multiplayer modes will be available online and will players be able to customize their soldier for online play?

Rob: You won’t be able to customize the soldiers, because we want the distinction between the two sides to be as clear as possible in multiplayer. Mode-wise, we’re still holding some of that back as a surprise, but you can certainly expect all the games you’re used to – like Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. But we’re planning much more than that - we’re also doing the famed story-based multiplayer maps, where the events happening in the maps are closely involved with the single player narrative.

PSU: Which team (Mantel or Promised Hand) and multiplayer mode does Free Radical favor playing during their lunch breaks?

Rob: It really is a 50/50 split. If I’m in the mood to run and gun, I choose Mantel. But if I’m feeling sneaky, I’ll go with The Promise Hand.

PSU: How far along is development on Timesplitters 4? Are you still in pre-production stages?

Rob: Yup. What we have is an absolutely enormous list of ideas that needs to be whittled down to a point where they could actually fit into one game. So right now, we’re whittling to the max.

PSU: When can we plan to hear first details on Timesplitters 4?

Rob: Soon enough, my good man. But we haven’t set a date.

PSU: What is the official release date for Haze?

Rob: Exclusive on PS3 in late November 2007.

We'd like to thank Rob for the interview. Look out for our review of Haze very soon.




http://www.psu.com/PSU-Exclusive-Interview--Haze--a0001399-p2.php

[masteratt]

Best fucking interview ever (except maybe the Halo question....)!

Everyone else take notes.
Straight tot he a point, all about the game features, excellent.

This will be a solid title, no doubt (not a big one I don't think but still solid and fairly popular).

[Jay Gee]

Halo 3's co-op stole a bit of it's thunder, no doubt, but I'm still interested in this title.

[LiquidEagle]

Halo 3's co-op stole a bit of it's thunder, no doubt, but I'm still interested in this title.

Halo 3 also stole Timesplitters' Virus mode... >:O

[masteratt]

10mins 50secs Haze Gameplay (http://www.gamersyde.com/news_5208_en.html)

I'm 6mins 40secs into the video and meh...It looks average at best so far, nothing interesting.

[VG Aficionado]

Hmmm. I'm not going to post the rumble trailer. It's a bit lame, but it shows they're supporting the PS3 :-p

[FantasyGhost]

Assured 2007 release

Haze is currently "exclusive" to the PlayStation 3 and will most likely stay that way, but who knows in this topsy-turvy industry. Regardless of what platform(s) it ends up on, it looks pretty good.

We spoke with David Doak of Free Radical all about Haze. He talks about Nectar, the drug that augments the soldiers in the game, and the company that uses it: Mantel.

He also has some praise for the PlayStation 3 and assures us that the game will release in 2007 with co-op and multiplayer.http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/679787/Haze_Game_Preview.html

[Rockmond]

It looks like a very solid FPS.

[LiquidEagle]

This game's gonna be amazing. 4-player co-op, 24 players online w/vehicles & such, awesome story, and Free Radical's limitless talent for making FPS games :-D

[ded5850]

The AI in that walkthrough seemed a bit dumb, and I don't really like the idea that as a rebel i just turn the enemies against one another all the time. kinda anticlimactic vid.

[VG Aficionado]

TimeSplitters 4 teaser trailer (http://www.frd.co.uk/timesplitters4/videos.php) :-p

[GTAce]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Oh dear, i LOVE it.
Make a new thread man, an official TS4 thread.

[VG Aficionado]

Suit yourself :-p

[VG Aficionado]

Teh weaponz! (http://blogs.ign.com/HazeGame/2007/10/10/68587/)

[GTAce]

"Da Boom" lol

Some of them are nice but overall maybe a bit generic.
But still top!

[Red_Eyes]

"Da Boom" lol

Some of them are nice but overall maybe a bit generic.
But still top!
It feels "generic" because Mantel wants you to feel that it feels generic...
But with a little Nectar...
And a Promise Hand...

[LiquidEagle]

And Milli Vanilli, your trusty shotgun... :-p

[VG Aficionado]

Check the next page for some new pics.

[VG Aficionado]

New screenshots:

http://images.gamersyde.com/gallery/public/6761/1081_0001.jpg
http://images.gamersyde.com/gallery/public/6761/1081_0002.jpg
http://images.gamersyde.com/gallery/public/6761/1081_0003.jpg
http://images.gamersyde.com/gallery/public/6761/1081_0004.jpg
http://images.gamersyde.com/gallery/public/6761/1081_0005.jpg

[Sephiroth_VII]

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /gallery/public/6761/1081_0001.jpg on this server.

:(

[FantasyGhost]

http://www.gamersyde.com/news_5359_en.html

[Sephiroth_VII]

:)

+rep

[FantasyGhost]

Ubisoft’s Haze campaign gets Korny

Hard rockers Korn get involved with upcoming Ubi title with radio and video blitz
Ahead of the release of its PS3 shooter Haze next month, Ubisoft has teamed up with hard rock outfit Haze to help promote the game.

The band has recorded an original song that was ‘inspired’ by the game, and it will be released on the radio and via video to coincide with the release of the game next month.

Haze’s leading man Jonathan Davis stated: “Gaming for me is a religion and Haze is the shit!” By that we think he means he likes it.

Ubisoft’s vice president of worldwide licensing Christian Salomon added: “This partnership with Korn is original in the video game industry in that the song will be released and promoted as a full-fledged single, and not just as a download with the video game. It is a testament to the synergy possibilities between music and video games, which often share the same audience.”http://www.mcvuk.com/news/28658/Ubisofts-Haze-campaign-gets-Korny
Play Haze At Nottingham’s GameCity

Let’s not forget that in addition to all the events and festivities happening in the capital today as part of London Games Festival, there is also the UK’s leading indie games festival kicking off up in Nottingham this week. News of the latter today is that gamers will be able to get hands on time with Free Radical’s highly anticipated Haze at the weekend.

Haze you will no doubt be aware, is Free Radical Design’s/Ubisoft’s ground-breaking new FPS initially launching on PlayStation 3.

The four-player, co-op features and the storyline in Haze(feeding heavily on the current unease about the wartime use of private military contractors) really do set the game apart.

Set in the near future, the game follows protagonist, Sergeant Shane Carpenter’s, journey through a war in South America during which he is fed a ‘miracle nutritional supplement’ called NECTAR that makes him and his fellow soldiers tougher, faster and smarter.

However, Carpenter soon realises that his employers - and Nectar itself - have a dark side. Carpenter defects to fight against his former comrades and learns to use their addiction to Nectar against them.

Get down to Nottingham to catch up with the guys from Free Radical Design and to check out the Haze exclusive demo kicking off at 11am-1pm this coming Saturyday, 27th October, Broadway Cinema and Media Centre

For more on GameCity check out gamecity.org. (http://www.gamecity.org/)http://spong.com/article/14083/Play_Haze_At_Nottingham_s_GameCity?cb=283

[cliffbo]

Haze Demo Nov.16th - EU PS Store

Khaqan - trainee
Published: 40 minutes ago | News | PlayStation 3
Info Report
22
Spanish PlayStation website confirms that a demo of Haze will be available on the EU PS Store on November 16, 2007.

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-76578.aspx

[VG Aficionado]

Good news! I really want to play a demo to see if I can get excited about a PS3 FPS other than Killzone 2.

[GTAce]

Very nice news.
Oh man my PS3 is working a lot in the last time, theres just so much great software, very good. 8)

EDIT: KORN rules btw. :-p

[cliffbo]

don't let Killzone take this game off your radars, it's going to be brilliant! very interesting premise behind this game

Clearing the Haze: Rob Yescombe On Writing For An FPS
(Page 1/5)
Next arrow

Ubisoft and Free Radical have teamed up to create Haze -- one of a multitude of next-generation shooters following close in the wake of Halo 3, and one of several that has overt political content as part of its narrative.

Here, Gamasutra speaks to Rob Yescombe, Free Radical's full-time, in-house writer about the formation of the scenario for the game, which is currently planned exclusively for the PlayStation 3, how the writing and development affected one another, and more.

Haze's story centers around a private military corporation known as Mantel Industries, engaged in a battle with rebels. Set in 2048, the game's story and gameplay revolve around that conflict and Nectar, a nutritional supplement-cum-drug that lets Mantel's soldiers fight with superhuman power.

Tell us a little about your role on the game.

Rob Yescombe: Let me get this out there first... my job is the screenwriter, so it's kind of difficult for me to talk about how good the script is, because that would be supremely pompous of me. So what I'll tell you is this: the lead actors in Haze are from the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Those kind of actors don't do video games. However, actors are interested in two things: lots of money, or a good script. And we didn't have any money. So hopefully that's testament to the script being a pretty decent piece of work.

I think it's an interesting tactic to go for theater actors instead of movie actors, because movie actors have generally proved themselves over and over to be somewhat not suited to video game work, because they seem to view it as a lesser art.

RY: The reason why that happens is all down to direction. There is no actor in the world that will turn in a bad performance if you have a good enough director.

I agree completely.

RY: A lot of movie guys -- not to name names -- but movie actors will come in for the paycheck, and publishers will dish out massive amounts of money and get a bad performance. People are starting to realize that, and I think less and less movie guys are appearing with some publishers.

And obviously it's not that big of a draw to players. They're not like, "Oh, I better go play that game because it's got so-and-so in it." They just want to play the game, really.

RY: The truth of it is as well is that when people do use big actors, they're an appetizer. You never saw Michael Ironside's name on the front of Splinter Cell, and his performance is pretty good -- very good in fact. But I always find it weird that they don't name them on the front of the box.

Yeah, it's very strange. This game seems to have some similarities to a couple of its contemporaries. Feigning death is also happening in Army of Two. You're the scriptwriter, so how involved are you actually with all the intricacies of its development?

RY: Absolutely. I'm full-time now. I'm not a freelancer who has come in to write the script; I was there right from pitch documents right down to writing the manual.

Okay, good then. So there's that mechanic, which is also in Army of Two, and it seems that you've got a little bit of the political content that we're seeing in that game, as well as in BlackSite: Area 51. As far as the message of the game, what are you trying to get across?

RY: Well, to be honest, I've talked about that a lot in the past, and it's an extremely controversial subject, and we're very wary about talking about it now, because people got very worried about it. The truth is -- make no bones about it -- it's the entertainment business, and without the business, there's no entertainment, so you have to have a product that will sell.

Pushing something that's overtly political or making it your selling point will alienate people who aren't interested in being lectured. What we have is, yes, absolutely, there's a subtext to Haze that I want people to be able to discover for themselves. People are smart. If they want that, they'll find it, but I don't want to push it too hard, because I don't want people to feel like that's all that Haze has to offer.

Have you diminished it, as a result?

RY: I can say that originally, some of the stuff in there was way too controversial to include and it had to be cut. I can't talk about what it was, but it was very overt and very direct, much moreso than any other games.

That's a shame, because actually with BlackSite, when I was talking to Harvey Smith, it's incredibly overt, insanely overt. The U.S. government is making soldiers turn into monsters, and they're not taking care of them, and now you have to go kill them. I think it's interesting that some of these things are happening right now, but it's also interesting that there's a backlash.

RY: Haze, more than that, is a commentary on games themselves. In a game, you obey your orders without exception. That's what you do. And as a soldier, you obey your orders. There's no exception, and that's what you do. There are definitely parallels that can be drawn.

But more than that, it's a commentary on violence in video games. As a Mantel guy, it makes sense that you play it like a game, because you're absolved from responsibility. It's weird that our entertainment is founded on shooting people in the face! The truth is that I enjoy it as much as anyone else, but I find myself weird for liking it so much. That's less than a big political statement; it's much more about, "What are we, as people who are entertained by this?"

Yeah. I think inherently in our culture -- especially in masculine culture -- we have the exaltation of the hero, and warrior myths and things like that have always been intriguing to us. It makes sense. It's very ingrained in our culture. But do you think that games are a way you can do that without actually having to go through with that?

RY: How do you mean?

I mean, a way to live out a power fantasy without actually...?

RY: Oh, absolutely. That's where the kick comes from. Look at pretty much any high-concept movie; it's basically "ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances." It's no different for this. It's being able to do the things that you would want to be able to do if there were no consequences.

What was the impetus for the writing of the script? What was the node of the idea?

RY: Right back at the very beginning, the template for it was Apocalypse Now, but in the end, we became too overt and just too controversial to approach the marketplace. It's a 20-odd million dollar production, and it's a very risky thing to try and push it down that avenue too far. That stuff is still in there for the people who want to find it, but at the same time, the most important thing about Haze -- and this is the most important thing about any game! -- it doesn't matter how interesting your political commentary or story is. If a game isn't fun to play, you've wasted your time.

Well, certainly I'd imagine that if a game is fun to play, it'd surpass any type of political expectations that people may have, because people will skip the cutscenes or whatever.

RY: And by the way, there are no cutscenes in Haze.

It's all in-game?

RY: It's all first-person perspective in-game and it's a single streaming experience. There are no levels, and once you load up the game, if you bought it on the day of purchase and loaded it up, you could play the entire single-player campaign ten to fifteen hours without ever seeing a loading screen.

But there's probably a heavy loading screen at the beginning if you're streaming off the hard drive, right?

RY: No. It's all done on a stream.

I see. Cool. Well, I was just thinking that it's a shame to have to dial stuff back, because as an interactive medium, it seems like we don't have an obligation necessarily, but we certainly have a unique opportunity to be able to inform people more.

RY: It doesn't mean that we're not doing that. It's the same with anything. If you want to entertain people, it's about balance. Look at a movie like An Inconvenient Truth. That is a very intelligent balance between making it entertaining but also informative. If he'd gone in all po-faced without the jokes, it wouldn't have done the business. It wouldn't have reached that many people. So you need to have the spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

That's true.

RY: Originally we didn't have the sugar, and people wouldn't want to swallow it.

I see. So it was more like a serious game, almost.

RY: It's still very serious.

Well, I meant serious game as in serious games as a genre, like training games or military simulation types.

RY: It wasn't so much about the gameplay being very serious. It was just about that story and the things that were happening there. I mean, it's still some extremely fucked up shit that happens sometimes, and that you will feel responsible for. And that's the key thing. We want people to feel a little bit guilty about what they're doing.

That's good. As long as you turn the camera back on the player, I think that's...

RY: Exactly. And that's one of the reasons why we're keeping all the narrative in single-player. We want you to feel claustrophobic, trapped inside this body doing these things and thinking, "Well fuck, I'm responsible for it."

No, it's good. It's kind of hard, though. I understand it's difficult to get that kind of thing across and have it still be fun. It seems like a very difficult thing to do.

RY: It is a very difficult thing. But we're not out until November, and we're tweaking and balancing and have got plenty of time to get it right. It's going amazingly well, as you will see and play today.

Yes, good. But at the same time, there are still movies that we can watch that make us uncomfortable and are really a bit tragic and things, but they're still really compelling and we want to watch them again. I hope eventually we'll get to that stage in games as well.

RY: The complication with doing that in a game is that a player in a game is an actor who doesn't know his lines. So making him complicit in the events he wasn't complicit in, is all about taking away the interactivity, but they're paying money to interact. It's that balance -- giving them the gameplay but not taking too much away t