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[thorns]

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/8552/GTA-Creator-to-Make-Exclusive-Games-for-Xbox-360/

GTA Creator to Make Exclusive Games for Xbox 360

Today at the ELSPA Games Summit industry conference in London, Peter Moore, corporate vice president, worldwide marketing and publishing, Xbox, announced that Scottish games developer Real Time Worlds have signed a partnership agreement with Microsoft that will see a number of exclusive titles developed for the new Xbox 360 system that puts players at the centre of the most powerful next-generation games and entertainment experiences.

Founded in March 2002, Real Time Worlds employs 75 people and is led by three game industry veterans who, between them, are responsible for some of the world's most popular games. Real Time Worlds creative director David Jones, founder of DMA Design, was the creative director behind two of gaming's most successful franchises, "Grand Theft Auto" and "Lemmings."

Ian Hetherington, former managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, founded Psygnosis, one of the United Kingdom's first videogames publishers. Tony Harman, former director of development and acquisition for Nintendo of America, was the executive producer of the "Donkey Kong Country" franchise.

"We're looking forward to working with Real Time Worlds and are thrilled with what they're going to be achieving with Xbox 360," said Moore. "The company harbours some of the most talented people in the industry, responsible for milestone games such as Grand Theft Auto, Lemmings and Donkey Kong Country. That creative history is now coming to the most powerful games platform on earth, and we can't wait for gamers to experience what this partnership can offer."

"We're delighted to be working with Microsoft," said David Jones, Creative Director, Real Time Worlds. "In the short time we've had to get to know Xbox 360, we've been blown away by the potential this platform offers and what it means for gamers – the exciting hardware means we can harness even more power to create amazing worlds that utilise innovative online components thanks to Xbox Live. The combination of powerful hardware, great software and innovative services has freed us up to concentrate on creating incredibly immersive game worlds and experiences that will define what this next generation means for gamers."

 

[gollumsluvslave]

We must have posted at the same time :lol

 

[thorns]

seems I posted one minute before you

 

[Rorschach]

We must have posted at the same time :lol

He beat you by a minute.

[edit] damnit, now we posted at the exact same time...you must be awesome at jinxing people.

 

[cyberheater]

More magic news for 360.

I like the sound of "many games"

 

[Piepz]

thorns wins

 

[gollumsluvslave]

that's the 2nd new thread in a few days that i've been pipped by a minute or 2 :lol

GAF is on the ball

 

[Striek]

Ok. This is good news, I guess.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

Well, it seems they're really committed on MMO games, look here: http://www.realtimeworlds.com/what.htm

MMOGTA? ;-)

 

[cyberheater]

Hopefully they'll do a massive multiplayer online version with massive cities and hundreds of people.
It will be just like real life. But better

 

[Ceb]

It will be very interesting to see what they're gonna come out with. I'm getting a bit tired of these PR pieces that focus on old accomplishments though. "From the father-in-law of Herzog Zwei comes an epic adventure..."

 

[cyberheater]

From Blimblim (posted in the other thread!)

Yeah, their first MGS published game has been in development for quite some time now. If I understood correctly it's actually being developed by a team at Redmond, but I'm not 100% sure. It uses the Unreal 3.0 engine, and I'm sure you can already guess the type of game it is
I'm surprised by the "who are seen as crucial to Microsoft's launch window for the Xbox 360 - defined by Moore as "around 90 days post launch" comment though, unless it's only about Rare's and Bizarre's titles.

 

[Sean]

The game they are making is called (or code-named) All Points Bulletin (APB). It's an MMO GTA-like game I think.

http://www.apb.com/

 

[Meantime]

Well, it seems they're really committed on MMO games, look here: http://www.realtimeworlds.com/what.htm

MMOGTA? ;-)

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/apb/617450p1.html?fromint=1

 

[lochnesssnowman]

They've got another game outside APB on the go in Dundee.

 

[Bebpo]

It will be very interesting to see what they're gonna come out with. I'm getting a bit tired of these PR pieces that focus on old accomplishments though. "From the father-in-law of Herzog Zwei comes an epic adventure..."

Yeah. It seems like MS can't actually get major series or companies, so they're doing their best at grabbing people associated with the titles and trying to play up their association to other games.

 

[Blimblim]

Yeah. It seems like MS can't actually get major series or companies, so they're doing their best at grabbing people associated with the titles and trying to play up their association to other games.

Indeed. Time will tell if it was actually a good investment or not.

 

[Prine]

MS are doing a fantastic job of securing developers. Keep it up, 360 is going to be a beast

 

[Suerte]

+ 1 Scotland!

 

[sol5377]

uh oh... a new GTA-style game using the Unreal 3.0 engine?? Nice! I hope it's not just another cookie cutter GTA clone with better graphics. I wanna see a game that changes the way games are made and played (like GTA did).

 

[AtomicShroom]

Is it just me or lately, tons of "important people" from huge popular companies have been leaving them to form up their own little development studios, and coincidentally they're all making games for the 360?

 

[Striek]

Platform: PC Online / Console Online
Genre: Hybrid MMOG
(Massively Multiplayer Online Game)
Developer: Real Time Worlds
Publisher: Webzen, Inc.
Status: Under Development
Release date: 1Q/2007
Service Territory: North America, Europe, Asia

All Points Bulletin (APB) is a massively multiplayer online freeform combat and driving-based game, designed by the creator of the original Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise. Developed by Real Time Worlds Ltd. and published by global online entertainment company, WEBZEN Inc., APB brings players into a living, breathing city where cash is king and territory equals respect.

Nice concept, bad art

Will be great if PC and X360 users can play with each other. Seems to be just a multiplayer free-for-all though.

 

[DarienA]

Is it just me or lately, tons of "important people" from huge popular companies have been leaving them to form up their own little development studios, and coincidentally they're all making games for the 360?

I think the really interesting thing is that David Jones left DMA the same year they were purchase by Take Two... 1999... and while yes he created the GTA series... if he left in 1999 he certainly didn't have much to do with the 3D versions and their success... it might however explain why GTAII is so similar to GTA.

The question I guess really is... when does a creator of a series stop getting credit for it?

 

[KyotoMecca]

Meanwhile, the next GTA heads exclusively to PS3 judging by Houser's hints at the PS3 conference.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

Yeah. It seems like MS can't actually get major series or companies, so they're doing their best at grabbing people associated with the titles and trying to play up their association to other games.

This is what they've always done in other fields too: for example, for creating C# and the .NET framework, they took Anders Heijlsberg off from Borland. He was the creator of Turbo Pascal and Delphi. If MS can't buy a product, they try hard to get the minds behind it ;-)

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

Meanwhile, the next GTA heads exclusively to PS3 judging by Houser's hints at the PS3 conference.

They said in an interview made after the E3 (don't remember the site, sorry), that for now it isn't exclusive to any next-gen console. They're in talks with both MS and Sony, but it seems they'd like to stay multiplatform.

 

[Solid]

nvm

 

[wobedraggled]

Boring, can they do anything excepet crime based games, it's getting a bit old.

 

[Luscious LeftFoot]

Is it just me or lately, tons of "important people" from huge popular companies have been leaving them to form up their own little development studios, and coincidentally they're all making games for the 360?

Important people leave companies all the time to start new ventures, it's nothing new.
MS just happens to be signing them up for exclusive content... and making sure everyone knows about it.

If it pays off, they'll be in good position next gen.

 

[Borys]

Boring, can they do anything excepet crime based games, it's getting a bit old.

No they can't.
Just like Nintendo can't let Mario, Zelda and Metroid go.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

No they can't.
Just like Nintendo can't let Mario, Zelda and Metroid go.

Touchè :lol

 

[Bebpo]

If it pays off, they'll be in good position next gen.

Though in the video game industry it fails 99% of the time :\

Nintendo even got Kojima with Boktai and while Boktai is a neat little game it's no system seller and no MGS.

 

[wobedraggled]

No they can't.
Just like Nintendo can't let Mario, Zelda and Metroid go.

ohhhh burn.

When you find me a bad or repeating mario/zelda/metroid title yuou let me know.

 

[Borys]

Good news for 360 fans.

I always repeat that only exclusive games will make or brake a console (or PC) success.

If everything would go multiplatform there wouldn't be any push to pick one system over another.

Now, Sony should stand on their heads to get GTA4 fully exclusive. If it costs $$$ then cough the dough!

 

[Borys]

ohhhh burn.

When you find me a bad or repeating mario/zelda/metroid title yuou let me know.

Yuou tell me fitrs wahts rwong wit San Andrez.

 

[wobedraggled]

Yuou tell me fitrs wahts rwong wit San Andrez.

Nothing wrong with San Andreas, Vice city is the sore spot of the series.

GTA 3.125

 

[Ranger X]

Those 3 guys sure know something about making games. This develloper may just end up great.

 

[DCharlie]

looks like Sim Chav.

 

[Borys]

Nothing wrong with San Andreas, Vice city is the sore spot of the series.

GTA 3.125

Almost every series has its low-point.

 

[Meantime]

looks like Sim Chav.

Or Sim Who Ate All The Pies.

 

[Ghost]

David Jones left DMA before they became Rockstar north, he had nothing to do with VC or SA.

looks like Sim Chav.

A game where i get to KILL CHAVS....Id pay $50 a day for that pleasure.

 

[Luscious LeftFoot]

Though in the video game industry it fails 99% of the time :\

Nintendo even got Kojima with Boktai and while Boktai is a neat little game it's no system seller and no MGS.

True. And trying to generated hype using past achievement probably isn't going to help matters.

 

[Blimblim]

David Jones left DMA before they became Rockstar north, he had nothing to do with VC or SA.

I think (but I could be wrong) that he was one of the people who were againt the move to 3D for GTA3.

 

[Borys]

I think (but I could be wrong) that he was one of the people who were againt the move to 3D for GTA3.

Well that didn't play out exactly as he wanted, did it?

 

[Prine]

No they can't.
Just like Nintendo can't let Mario, Zelda and Metroid go.

:lol oh snap

 

[fenners]

I think (but I could be wrong) that he was one of the people who were againt the move to 3D for GTA3.

You're wrong. DMA had been trying out 3D GTA variations for a while before he left.

Most of the programming team from the first two games, the producer and the two core level designers, left DMA to join RTW in May 2000 as well.

 

[Blimblim]

You're wrong. DMA had been trying out 3D GTA variations for a while before he left.

Most of the programming team from the first two games, the producer and the two core level designers, left DMA to join RTW in May 2000 as well.

I remember that there were some people against the move to 3d after GTA2's release, I read about a couple of years ago on a GTA history site.
But I'm not sure who was against this move. Anyone knowing the GTA series better than me care to comment?

 

[DarienA]

I think (but I could be wrong) that he was one of the people who were againt the move to 3D for GTA3.

That's interesting....

Look at the (according to IGN) US release dates for GTA, GTA London, GTAII and GTAIII

3/24/98
5/25/99
10/27/99
5/21/02

Now it's safe to say that he obviously heavily involved in #1, and probably the London add-on pack.... he probably left some time during the developed of II.... or perhaps development of 2 was completed and they were thinking about 3 but he laid the smackdown on that... could that be why there is such a lag between II and III? After he did leave they finally re-evaluated and decided to go in to 3D and start from.. "scratch"?

You're wrong. DMA had been trying out 3D GTA variations for a while before he left.

Most of the programming team from the first two games, the producer and the two core level designers, left DMA to join RTW in May 2000 as well.

Interesting... they left in may... so I wonder when developed of III actually started? The amount of time between II and III seems to lean towards something going on internally doesn't it?

I'd actually like to see some titles return to at least that long of an incubation period actually...

 

[Borys]

No matter the perspective all GTA games are great.

I still didn't beat GTA1&2 because they are so damn hard... I can't even do a single kill frenzy... yet I had no problems with rampages in GTA3, VC and SA.

 

[fenners]

Now it's safe to say that he obviously heavily involved in #1, and probably the London add-on pack.... he probably left some time during the developed of II.... or perhaps development of 2 was completed and they were thinking about 3 but he laid the smackdown on that... could that be why there is such a lag between II and III? After he did leave they finally re-evaluated and decided to go in to 3D and start from.. "scratch"?

DMA weren't involved in GTA London. GTA2 was completed (or nearing completion) when Take Two bought DMA from Infogrames. GTA3 was already in pre-production by that time, with the team behind Silicon Valley working on a 3D engine on the Dreamcast with plans in place to put it on the PS2 instead of the DC. The GTA2 team was working on a GTA:London style add-on pack, set in Miami as it happens, which was canned the day most of the programming team quit (actually March/early April, not May 2000, thinking about it).

There had been 3D prototypes knocking about DMA longer than GTA2 was in development. I don't think it's fair to say Dave Jones was "against" 3D for the series in any way.