SOCOM HD Is Sony's Best Move

TheRealSOCOM.com writes: "SOCOM fans have been scouring the internet this past year looking for any signs of life regarding the future of the SOCOM franchise. All kinds of rumors have been floating around the past 6 months and there has been an assortment of emotions surrounding each one."

[ShadowGhost]

Since Zipper is now gone, it would be a perfect time for Sony to bring back the SOCOM franchise to its old roots again. By getting another developer that is willing to go back to the original gameplay of the SOCOM games that were glorified as being a tactical 3rd person shooter back in the PS2 days.

[iamnsuperman]

I agree but I wouldn't want a carbon copy of Socom II.

[adonis183]

Omg i hope they bring it back and do funny commercials like beforr.

[DoomeDx]

Chester..Chester!!

[Azmatik]

Just bring back Confrontation. Fix the slow loading and issues, that game was amazing IMO.

[BattleAxe]

^^^

Noobs...you can live without them.

[Donger]

SOCOM 1 & 2 was the only Playstation game I have played over the past year.

[ICE PICK]

It would be great to play a SOCOM game again. Not a COD wannabe that says SOCOM on the box like SOCOM 4.

[ChunkyLover53]

I missed the old Zipper, Socom 2 was my Catcher In The Rye. I played that game nonstop. Was sad to see them go so far downhill after they were bought out.

[CGI-Quality]

Are you suggesting them being acquired was the reason for their downfall?

OT: Contrary to many, I really enjoyed SOCOM 4. Curious to see where Sony takes this franchise.

[Soldierone]

I'd say it'd have something to do with it. Then again Sony was always the publisher anyways so it didn't really matter.

I think the overall issue is Sony has forgotten how to advertise. PS1 and PS2 days I saw PlayStation this, PlayStation that, and they had some of the most funny (making them memorable) commercials. Then PS3 hit and I rarely see a commercial...

This killed Zipper because of MAG what? Whats that? Socom 4 is out? Really? Oh it sucks? Never mind then. they have so many games it just got spread thin, and Zipper was taken out. While if they were still their own company they would have went elsewhere like Insomniac.

[violents]

I think your the only one man! I prob could have enjoyed socom 4 if i Hadn't played the original socom on ps2. That was the definitive fps back in the day and imo that game is still the closest to actual simulation in a warfare style of game.

[Hellsvacancy]

It would be awesome to hav Socom HD, but why are we paying to play old games? theres loads now, soon the whole PS2 back catalog will be in HD

So no, it isnt "Sony's Best Move", Sonys BEST move would be to remake/reboot the series

[LUKENBACHER]

We have seen so many attempts at rebooting the series with major revamps. Although most of the fanbase wants a true sequel, we have our doubts if it could be developed properly without losing focus on what SOCOM really is. The "safest bet" is an HD remake rooted in the first two titles. We all know that was successful, and plenty of fans want to see it happen. Although we could possibly get some updated textures & graphics, the number one thing we would be paying for is security. Hackers have destroyed this franchise more than any decisions regarding development. Fresh new servers, and a fresh new start that brings SOCOM back to it's original glory is what this franchise needs. It would pave the way for all types of opportunities in the future like a true sequel on next-gen.

[JBSleek]

But will going back to the original sell though? Sure it has a following yet will that generate to the sells needed to sustain this franchise.

This isn't PS2 days anymore (sadly) and I'm afraid the need or want for this would have diminished as well.

Zipper did what they thought needed to be done in order to sell and some call it selling out while others call it survival.

I hope this makes Socom continue but it still needs to innovate.

[creatchee]

@JBSleek
I think that the commercial success of Counterstrike: GO has proven that gamers are more than willing to revisit classic shooter gameplay. There STILL is nothing like SOCOM 1/2 out there.

[LUKENBACHER]

Just as the article states, SOCOM 2 HD is the MOST requested game on the entire PlayStation.Blog.Share. Other franchises with half the votes have already been remade. If Sony views that site as an important source of their gaming demographic's needs & desires, then what are they waiting for?

[creatchee]

One of the problems may be the dedicated servers issue and reworking the netcode for the PS3 platform. A lot of people say that MAG's could be used, but they are two very different animals. Half of SOCOM's awesomeness was the lobby system. Clans and players were extremely territorial back in the day and it added to the allure of the game with the meta aspects of gamer mentalities.

[Shadowgate]

I would buy this day one name your price SONY!!!!

[BLow]

I remember many late nights playing part 1 and 2. I also enjoyed the single player especially with the voice controls for your squad. Yeah, a PS2 game with voice controls that worked. It is a perfect fit for squad based shooters and I was really let down that they didn't have it in part 4. I refuse to believe that we need a Kinect for voice control. Yes, it is less work but come on! I hope I'm not the only one who has missed this feature. Man, this brought back some good times...haha

[StreetsofRage]

SOCOM is Sony's main shooter. Why Sony didn't put some serious cash in the SOCOM franchise baffles me. SOCOM on the PS3 is garbage. I miss my real SOCOM.

[FinaLXiii]

SOCOM in the PS2 never got the attention from Sony because many didnt had web connection to begin with.

SOCOM1/2/3 singleplayer wasnt nothing spetacular.

[LUKENBACHER]

Is that just your personal opinion? Or are you stating that from an industry-wide kind of stance? The first 3 SOCOMs had some impressive online numbers...

And to the guy below me about worldwide sales, the original SOCOM came close to 1M (800,000) and hit half a million on the sequel in the UK. Not staggering by any means, but not horrible either for a niche exclusive if you ask me. http://www.vgchartz.com/gam...

Related video

[FinaLXiii]

North America famous isnt worldwide famous lets be clear on that.

Nostalgia is blinding you ppl face it.

[Ulf]

The reason SOCOM is gone has less to do with SOCOM 4, and more to do with the fact that SOCOM only ever sold well in the US -- the region where Sony holds the least marketshare these days.

SOCOM only ever sold decently due to the sheer # of PS2s in the US when it released, and the relatively unique online component at the time.

Making SOCOM 2 HD would be foolhardy -- the online would need to be completely rewritten, and the HD collections only do decently in world regions where SOCOM was never even popular.

[DigitalAnalog]

But it wouldn't cost that much to re-master and the ROI would be greater even if it doesn't sell as much as the original SOCOM.

[Ulf]

Justify "wouldn't cost that much to re-master". This isn't a music recording, you know.

Without an online rewrite... minimum of 6 months, 20 people, @$200K/person/year (mostly engineers and skilled artists, their salaries being about half of the overall cost) looks like $2 million to me, and then you have to advertise (> $1 million), print discs (~$7 each), etc.

Lets be conservative and say it costs Sony $4 million, WITHOUT the online -- $7 million with, assuming they can get some ex-Zippers to do the rewrite. At the typical $40 retail price for a HD remake, that'd be about $10 (after retail cut and cost-of-goods) per copy... 700K copies sold, before they break even?

I doubt they're gonna sell that many. I think it's pretty clear as to why they're not bothering. Even back when SOCOM was still hot, that number would have been a serious gamble. Sony is not in a position to take gambles, at the moment.

[DigitalAnalog]

"I doubt they're gonna sell that many. I think it's pretty clear as to why they're not bothering. Even back when SOCOM was still hot, that number would have been a serious gamble. Sony is not in a position to take gambles, at the moment."

You DO realize they just remastered both ICO and SoTC. Both of which have been grossly undersold despite their acclaim back in the PS2 era. By your logic, that HD collections would not be greenlighted considering the fact that SoTC not only had to be reverse-engineered but was built from a non-traditional programming method would have been more costly. If anything that was the biggest gamble for any HD collection since it's possible they would not even break even. And yet here they are going ahead with the Jak & Daxter collection soon after.

The SOCOM series on the other hand has managed to sell above and beyond said franchises which would automatically make it viable for an HD collection. I don't think you need 20 people to simply "port" everything as long as SONY had the assets ready at place. You even neglect the fact that the PSN downloads which eliminates and disk/retail charges. And since most would play for the online, I figure this is the most viable method of purchasing the game.

[Ulf]

20 people at a minimum, for 6 months, is an underestimate. For reference, Bluepoint Games, with a staff of 35, took 5 months to port GoW 1 & 2. Also, I'll be that Sony was banking on the ICO/SotC collection actually outdoing the originals, because the originals lacked hype and marketing, and the games have garnered a cult following nowadays. However, I bet they regret doing the remake at all, in retrospect, given its abysmal sales numbers.

Try this: Name another HD collection with online support. Note that Killzone 1 HD does not have online, nor does Ratchet & Clank 3 HD, despite the fact that both were online titles, on the PS2.

How well do you suppose SOCOM HD would do, without online?

[Straightupbeastly]

Sony won't do it, it makes too much sense. They're in this to lose money. It's worth a shot because it's not much to make. But like the poster above me, I agree Sony lost a large chunk of its US base to Mictosoft therefore it would never come close to the numbers it used to do. Socom 4 probably would have sold more on xbox360 believe it or not

[PS3gamer4life]

Bring socom 1 2 3 HD then I'm quiting. Cod and all other war games

[JAMurida]

Bringing back the former Zipper Interactive would be Sony's best move.

Just my say...

[Sainox16]

No...fuckin way...can't wait this will sure bring back great memories