What's going on at Insomniac?

Hey folks, James Stevenson, Senior Community Manager here. Over the last couple of months, the burning question amongst all of our fans out there has been, "what's going on?" As far as I can remember, this is the longest stretch of time without Insomniac having announced a future project, leaving many of you wondering what exactly we're up to in the walls of our Burbank and Durham studios…

[FangBlade]

Either resistance or another ratchet and clank will be awesome.

[scruffy_bear]

How about both

[GrandTheftZamboni]

I want Resistance 3 with those alien vehicles from R1, whatamacallit, walkers?

[blind-reaper]

In my opinion they should give R&C a rest and bring a new franchise, I mean there has been 9 games since the born of the series (2002-2009), way too much so it is not a surprise the slow sales of A crack in time.

[randomwiz]

CiT was a great game imo because it was my first R&C game.(for some reason i played the first ever r&c demo and didn't like it too much last gen)

As I played the previous iterations, and borrowed my friends ps2 R&C games, i noticed not much has changed in terms of gameplay, but its still fun.

I really do hope they either change the gameplay or make a new ip. After R1 gets a true sequel of course.

[cayal]

I have always wonder what the reasoning is behind devs not announcing what they are working on? What exactly is the big secret?

[Figboy]

it really is as simple as that often times.

some games they just aren't ready to show in any capacity.

having worked in the gaming industry for a while now, i've seen many a game in it's early stages.

hell, Obsidian Entertainment could have announced Alpha Protocol back in 2006, when i worked there, but it was nothing more than concept art, and an early take on the game engine (a few shots of characters and environments). i can tell you, from seeing the game NOW, it's come a long way, and looks way better than back when i saw it early on.

this leads to another point: game development is an iterative process. things change quite a bit from pre-production, to production.

i remember seeing some games that were announced before their time, and boasting features that eventually had to be scrapped for various reasons (ie, time or budget). all that does is lead to disappointment.

also, gaming is a business. publishers have to time their title announcements "just right" as to not either conflict with their other titles (i'm sure Sony could announce quite a few games right now; Killzone 3, inFAMOUS 2, Resistance 3, etc, but that would just overshadow SOCOM 4, which was just announced today), and are often timed to increase momentum.

the SOCOM 4 announcement today was timed perfectly to build more momentum for the PS3 going into GDC, and the release of God of War 3.

Destination Playstation is also right around the corner, where i'm sure they'll announce ANOTHER game or two (maybe Resistance 3 or inFAMOUS 2), which will carry momentum into E3, where they'll announce ANOTHER game or two (Killzone 3 for 2011, Motorstorm 3, Twisted Metal PS3, Starhawk, or Syphon Filter PS3), which will carry them well in TGS (where i'm sure we'll either have The Last Guardian's release date announced, to name only one title in the works at SCEJ).

when you are a publisher as HUGE as Sony, you have so many different products to juggle that it's just not a simple matter of "just announce it because we can."

as a Playstation owner, there is still a LOT of games for fans to look forward to.

i'm just as eager as the next guy to see what Insomniac has cooking, but we'll see it when they are ready to show it. considering all the games i currently have to play now, and all the upcoming games that i have to find the money to get, i can wait. i'm a patient guy.

[PshycoNinja]

And it looks sssooo good.

[Sigh]

about you and Sevir knowing. Did you guys attend an event or something?

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

I feel they are pretty behind compared to other PS3 devs... but I guess as long as they are ahead of devs. on rival consoles, they really don't care...

For me personally I have yet to be awestruck by an Insomniac game this gen!

[PirateThom]

Behind?

Their engine was doing some really cool stuff and on raised the player limit on games for PS3 twice. Their games may not have been as flashy as Uncharted or God of War, but their engine was solid.

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

Im just saying I personally wish their graphics engine would step up, I actually had higher hopes of what they would do with Resistance 2 visually... but in the end it wouldn't of mattered anyways cause I still prefered R1's in-game/online structure more!

[Kalowest]

Dude Shut the hell up about graphics, all of IG games are awesome.

[JustTheFactsMr]

"I still prefered R1's in-game/online structure more!".

Same here. Bring back the weapon wheel !!!!. 40 players with crystal clear chat was pretty impressive for a launch title. Expectation for R2 may have been a bit too high based on that out of the gate performance.

I don't think they are a 1st party studio so they won't have the same level of access/support as Naughty Dog or Santa Monica teams. So I wouldn't be expecting quite as much. Expect R3 to step it up though.

Their network code is as good as the best in the business. Well except maybe Zipper.

[badz149]

I don't know what you're talking about but, WHAT?? behind? who? Insomniac?

dude, they were not experienced in FPS genre when they released R:FoM but they just suddenly pushed the envelope for online MP on consoles with 40-player MP! - you usually don't do that the 1st time around trying and with a launch title but guess what, they DID! and R:FoM turned out to be a very good game although they went kinda generic with R2 but they still managed to up the ante with 60-player MP & 8-player co-op! the only other game which has the MP count bigger R2 is MAG!

I'll admit that R2 is no where near Uncharted in terms of graphic but it pushed the PS3 in the MP side of things. however how can you still say they are behind when R&C series on the PS3 has the pixar level graphic? with the solid 60fps, (if I'm not mistaken) it's not just the best looking but also one if not THE best platformer available on any platform today!

now that there are people saying that they've seen what Insomniac's cookin' in their studios with their new engine and everything, you might wanna pull back your statement about them being behind! for me personally, Insomniac is right up there with the best devs for PS3 alongside the other 1st parties!

[Carl1412]

I don't think anyone is asking this. We all know they are working on resistance 3.

[raztad]

We know about R3 but IG has TWO studios so one game is still under wraps. Besides, I want to see how much improved is R3. Looking at GoW3, UC2, KZ2 and now those gorgeous and smooth and butter Socom 4 screens I'm pretty sure R3 engine is going to be great.

[Kalowest]

Wats Up, don't worry when has IG ever made a bad game, they always bring their a game to a project, graphics aside, the gameplay they come up with is very addictive.

[Devil MAY KILL]

nothing,only developing i new PS3 exclusive.

[frankymv]

I love my PS3 but Insomniac is by far the worst of the sony 2nd part studios. They have yet to make a game that cracks 90 on metacritic.

[Two-Face]

Insomniac has delivered many AA titles this generation.

Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance 2
Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time

Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty is a A title.

Insomniac really is pumping out good games. They have not made any AAA titles, but AA titles are also very good.

[sajj316]

I've played 4 games that hit 95 on sajj316critic.

[raztad]

AciT is brilliant, stop playing meta scores. Both R1 and R2 are really fun, not mindblowing but really fun. No every game got to be 9+ to be enjoyable.

[Kalowest]

don't waste your time on this man.

@frankymv: You are a dumb a$$, EVERY game IG has made this Gen, has been acclaimed in one way or another, more then i can say for alot of other Studios.

[Ravage27]

it makes me groan everytime someone uses the metacritic score(87 isn't good enough for you?!!?) to downplay the game.

When you have sites like Edge and Teletext around, it's pretty hard for a ps3 exclusive to score 90+, you do know that rite?

[stuna1]

Sly Cooper in the house!?!?!?

[Two-Face]

Sly Cooper?

Wasn't that series made by Sucker Punch?

[TheBand1t]

That's Sucker Punch...

EDIT: Beat me to it

[rezzah]

Resistance 3!! =D

[ps360s]

ermm can't wait for whatever they got up their sleeves...

BTW had to say this...HEAVY RAIN is f**king GREAT! just finished it and damn...Loved it...story is goddamn good!

[JayX666]

"im a father too, and i dont have a choice" FECKING EPIC

[Cajun Chicken]

I simply cannot wait. I want Resistance 3 soon and weapons, far more insane weapons!

[TheBand1t]

I want a gun that shoots those swarm things from Resistance 2. (Bryce Canyon I think was where that boss showed up)

[Cajun Chicken]

Oh yeah, those annoying things in the tunnels.

That would be awesome to behold.

[wildcat]

I want the weapon wheel back...and more creative weapons that Insomniac do so well

[chisox100]

the GDC is on Tuesday so they are probably holding out till then

[gtamike123]

Resistance 3

[Freak of Nature]

RPG/act/platformer from NC......I hope the old rumors were true....