100°

Underrated: Zipper Interactive - shooters we remember, and one we don't

PSU takes a look at game developers that brought us great games this console generation, but didn't get the attention they deserved.

SynGamer3995d ago

All we need (for PS3/PS Vita/PS4) is SOCOM HD. Preferably SOCOM 1&2, but I would allow some maps from 3 if necessary. I would also accept a multiplayer-only release for this (with offline bots).

IcyEyes3995d ago

People just bash too quickly Socom4 ... It was a nice, nice game.

ssj273995d ago

PS4 SOCOM is is any it need to be more like the Confrontation formula.. but lag and bug free.. more fluid next gen animations.. it need to be 1080p running at 60fps.. and everyone will be happy well one or two will still ate it since there is always haters ..

no need for a campaign.. and is is any it need to be more like "Act of Valor" Movie and full campaign with 4 people co op.

Army_of_Darkness3995d ago

Zipper was my least favorite Sony first party. Personally, I thought they really sucked compared to the likes of Naughty dog, santa monica and Gorilla games, which is probably why they stayed underrated.

SoapShoes3995d ago

Their games never were well received, even the PS2 Socoms never got huge praise but they were pioneers in online technology. They brought great online features early on in the PS2's life and made 256 players in one map work on PS3. They brought a lot of great innovation in that aspect which is why I respected them and am sad they are gone.

Skips3995d ago (Edited 3995d ago )

Socom 1, 2, and 3 have an 82, 87 and 82 on meta and received EXTREMELY high praise from customers. Watcha talkin bout? Socom just weren't the HUGE sellers that they should've been.

@Army

Disagree somewhat.

Socom games were AMAZING back in the PS2 days.

MAG was pretty good and Unit 13 was a VERY fun portable title... Hated Socom 4 though (Pure garbage)...

I honestly thought Zipper should've been given another chance to make a REAL Socom game on PS4.

SoapShoes3995d ago

Yeah nothing spectacular overall though. They never were really praised by the critics except for Socom 2.

Not saying I didn't love them and I know the consumers gave them high praise, I got the first one when it came out and was a fan ever since. I think the PS2 ones sold fairly well, they were like the Call of Duty of its time.

Jek_Porkins3995d ago

Zipper was part of the reason the PS2 and that online system got any attention. Who doesn't remember the Socom commercials with the kid who played Goldberg in Mighty Ducks?

Anyone that went hardcore on PS2 had Socom 1 and 2, brilliant games, and Zipper was a hell of a developer.

1OddWorld3995d ago (Edited 3995d ago )

Well said sir. Bubbles for you.

I spent like 12 hours a day on Socom 1 and 2. I miss those games so much.

M14 / M16 on burst = headshot
And it didn't take a million bullets to kill some one. And when you died you were dead no respawning. You had to sit and watch your team and possibly learn how to stay alive the next round.

GezForce3995d ago

Add a SP campaign and bots into the mix and you got a day 1 purchase from me!.

StockpileTom3995d ago

They forever put a scar on the SOCOM franchise with SOCOM 4... Maybe underrated if you count last gen but this gen was absolute garbage with MAG being the only sign of life.

Show all comments (16)
210°

Petition Launched for Socom 2

Socom fans speak out on Change.org with a petition to bring back Socom II Remastered to PlayStation 4. Will it even make a difference?

Read Full Story >>
urgentfury.com
s2Celerity3309d ago

Greatest game to ever exist, this would sell consoles for sure.

urgentfury3309d ago

I agree it would sell some consoles but I am not sure the numbers will be staggering enough. I do however think that the franchise should be revived and brought back to its roots.

Crimzon3308d ago

I can't speak of the roots of the franchise since I never played SOCOM 1 or 2, but was the last game on PS3 really that bad? I saw a lot of the fans of the older games speak poorly of it back when it launched, but as someone new to the franchise I thought SOCOM 4 was incredibly fun and enjoyable to play. I was really disappointed when Sony shut down the servers for that game.

I was really impressed with that game on a technical level as well. The gameplay was enjoyable enough, but the levels being so large, with complex geometry and so much foliage while letting 32 players run around with no lag was very impressive at the time, especially since the graphics were actually really good in my opinion.

It was frustrating to see Sony shut down Zipper Interactive. I guess their games weren't for everyone but I really liked MAG and SOCOM 4. Same goes for Sony Liverpool and Wipeout HD. Sad to see great developers like that gone and Sony use the money to fund rubbish like The Order instead.

Commodore3308d ago (Edited 3308d ago )

To Crimzon:

SOCOM 4 (We don't even consider it a SOCOM game) was so terrible, it was amazing that the game even got made with the amount of misdirection Zipper went with. Every previous SOCOM was based on 1 life, no respawn. That gave it the thrill and intensity that no other game has ever done to this day. It was a cluster **** of every current game at the time. Call of Duty and Uncharted mainly. Wall hugging? No thank you.

SOCOM 2 would still have it's core base but people today who can't handle waiting 5 minutes for the next round when they die. They do something stupid like rushing into a room and not working together as a team....and then they die.

morganfell3308d ago (Edited 3308d ago )

Compared to the other SOCOMs, SOCOM 4 was bad because the MP was completely different from previous titles and what people wanted was the gameplay they had previously enjoyed.

Confrontation turned out to be good but you wouldn't know it from some people. Persons that liked SOCOM 2 didn't like Confrontation because they played it for the first month or so then quit. It took 6 months and over 600MB of patches but eventually Confrontation had a really good SOCOM II vibe. Those that stuck it out or else came back to the game after that 6th month were pleasantly surprised.

The main thing missing from COnfrontation, and SOCOM III for that matter was the Breach mode as itr was never the same after II and it was my favorite game mode. Playing SOCOM II and Breach on Sujo or Sandstorm was a blast. But it was winning Breach mode as a SEAL on Enowapi that took the most skill.

Sujo: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Sandstorm: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

2014 Gameplay for Fish Hook, SOCOM II: https://www.youtube.com/wat...

BattleAxe3308d ago (Edited 3308d ago )

It will never happen. I'm not sure why people keep kicking this dead horse. The Playstation Blog already had a petition with something like the second highest votes out of all the petitions on Playstation.Blog Share, and Sony didn't do anything about it back then. H-Hour is what everyone should be concentrating on right about now. Socom 2 was awesome, but it's time to stop living in the past, and start moving on with your lives.

Helix3308d ago

you all do realize HHOUR is coming out by Sofstudios

www.sofstudios.com

morganfell3308d ago

Yes, but despite the pedigree H Hour isn't SOCOM. If you look at the most recent vids it is quite apparent.

BattleAxe3307d ago

^^^

Well at this stage of H-Hour's development, what do you expect? And unless you've been playing the alpha, how can you talk about pedigree? Zipper was a well funded studio, whereas SOF Studios is just getting started.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3307d ago
Bigpappy3308d ago

Being a huge Ghost fan, I have always had an interest in playing the early Socom games. It was this and GOW that always caught my interest. Not big on Uncharted and Bloodborne or D'Souls (not saying those are bad games).

lilbrat233308d ago

I remember never sleeping playing this game on the PSP I wish they would also release a Vita version of this game. The online was epic.

ZombieKiller3308d ago

I would buy this again in a flash. I've been waiting for another really good Socom game. Where camping is legitimate instead of running around like a chicken without a head.

Sorry A.D.D. world, but camping IS A STRATEGY.

harbie3308d ago

Damn can't agree 1million times lol ;)>. Never before have truer words been spoken. SOCOM II is the greatest game of all time.

You can still play it today via Xlink, come join us, until SOCOM II HD finally comes out! :)

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3307d ago
s2Celerity3309d ago (Edited 3309d ago )

We can do better than this people, let's get it started! http://imgur.com/w2yBsrg

NO_FEAR3309d ago

This was the all time best game on any console at it's launch. It was a pivotal moment in console gaming history. Millions of fans enjoyed it and it formed bonds of friendships that survive to this day. It spurred the competitive gaming scene. A great game will always be a great game. This timeless remaster would be enjoyed again by old fans and new alike.

s2Celerity3309d ago

Still playing multiplayer on LAN through a PC application that connects ps2 ip's together. Cant believe it's been almost 12 years

harbie3308d ago

Xlink is the app if anyone is interested in playing SOCOM 2

HELVEG263309d ago

Yup Sony should bring back a Classic SOCOM, its still sorely missed by thousands even after all these years. There is a lot of money to be made for them if they get it right. This game sold consoles!! Always a deciding factor in the past when choosing between a PS or XBOX.

s2Celerity3309d ago

No doubt in my mind this would sell consoles. It's the most addictive experience out for almost a decade now.

OUROSMAG3308d ago

Wasn't the studio behind SOCOM shut down?

s2Celerity3308d ago

Sony still owns the rights and has given it to another studio before as well. Anything could happen

Show all comments (40)
70°

Broadening your Audience - It Can be the Death of you

Ever wondered how the third iteration of video game series always end of worse than the second part? Kyle Flanagan explains how the concept of broadening your audience can make your games worse.

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30kpolygons.com
MasterCornholio3635d ago (Edited 3635d ago )

Imagine if they made Dark Souls for casuals?

The franchise would never be the same after that.

Mutant-Spud3635d ago

Yeah and we casuals still wouldn't want to play it!

DCfan3635d ago

MGS is unfortunately going that route.

DCfan3635d ago

Everything about MGSV screams 'westernization'.
Its not like the game is not popular enough.
And did you forget Kojima's talk about westernizing MGO?

DanielGearSolid3635d ago

Personally, the game still feels like good ol' MGS, but with better controls, to me...

I don't think they're trying to "broaden their audience" per say... I feel like it's more taking elements from Western games that can fundamentally improve their game... But, thats just me

jeremyj29133635d ago

That's what Capcom tried doing last gen and look at them now.

100°

SOCOM: Developer Home Movies

TRS writes: "As a token of appreciation for the SOCOM fanbase’s support with H-Hour, David Sears has shared some never before seen footage from his home movie collection. The following footage was filmed during the early production days of SOCOM at Zipper Interactive on a research trip to Morocco."

Read Full Story >>
therealsocom.com
SynGamer3962d ago

Looking at the kickstarter, it doesn't look like they are on pace to hit their goal. Perhaps if it was $100,000? That, or if it actually had "SOCOM" in the name, but sadly Sony owns that IP.

BattleAxe3962d ago

Come on people, where is the Socom fanbase when we need them? Help support the H-Hour kickstarter!

http://sofstudios.com/index...

r213962d ago

Journalists need to spread this info. It should help gain more support.

REAL13962d ago

We seriously need this. I hope it really happens.

JordanCabot3962d ago (Edited 3962d ago )

I think we should follow them on social media websites and people will also come to know about them.

http://www.alphaimpactwindo...

RowSand3962d ago

i smell New socom game in the future