Posted Aug 16, 2007 at 09:27AM by Ryan A. Listed in: Interviews, Games, Haze Tags: Microsoft, Ubisoft, Sony, Free Radical, PlayStation Network, Derek Littlewood
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Haze developer Free Radical prefers working with Sony than Microsoft - Image 1  

Online gaming site SPOnG recently caught up with Free Radical Creative Director Derek Littlewood to talk briefly about the upcoming game Haze (Xbox 360, PS3, PC). In the said interview, emphasis was given on the main differences between the multiplayer aspect for Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network (PSN).

Littlewood explained that the difference actually lies on how Sony and Microsoft conduct their businesses. In a nutshell, Sony gives developers more freedom while Microsoft tends to have detailed and specific instructions. The creative director shared:


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.


Derek Littlewood then admitted that Free Radical prefers working with Sony than Microsoft. He claimed that they understand the advantages of having specific instructions to follow and the downside of having too much freedom, but it's just that Sony's style works for them better:


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.


It was reported before that Haze publisher Ubisoft recently removed the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game from its official release list. The PS3 version, on the other hand, is scheduled to be released this coming November.


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129 Comments


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   by AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-16
 » who cares

Good for them. Work with sony and sell less games. I own a ps3 and Im still not gonna buy this game. I have better stuff to play.


   Re: Spectre and Stealth. (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » Pointless

I agree who cares?, this is pointless news I have no doubt if you asked another company they would say the opposite and another would say Nintendo etc etc etc

   Re: Jx1 - 2007-08-16
 » with what?

yourself? I doubt so.

   Re: Shatterdome - 2007-08-16
 » Well...

This is why we have cross game invites and messages available from any application. This is also why we have acheivements and game lists that can be viewed and compared from anywhere.

This is why microphones work the same way in all online games....

Sorry, but I like the way microsoft is standardizing everything.

Free radical can blow it out it's ass with it's Halo wanna be game....

   Re: Xtra (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » You R a *****ING liar

You don't own a ps3. You are also always in the ps forum bashing out the ps3. You r as useless and pathetic as your 360

   Re: rawr (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » skies

She/he's just sore that someone 'official' said that the PS3's better than the 360 for something.

   Re: old (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » @ rawr

Well they only said Sony does their business better cause of how free it is

   Re: r35 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » bullcrap

Haze is gonna rock, if you own a PS3 this will be a must have if you say otherwise you are lying and you own a X360 and are scorned that it was pulled from 360 heck so am i... regardless its not because PSN is free its because they dont have to conform to MS standards with regards to Live and the whole service itself which i think is actually a much smoother service than PSN however, PSN is also freeeeeeeee

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   Re: LOL (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » Thought you were talking about PS3

" This is why we have cross game invites and messages available from any application. This is also why we have acheivements and game lists that can be viewed and compared from anywhere.

This is why microphones work the same way in all online games....

Sorry, but I like the way microsoft is standardizing everything.

Free radical can blow it out it's ass with it's Halo wanna be game...."

LOL I thought you were talking about PS3 till I got down toward the bottom.

   Re: i_am_evan - 2007-08-17
 » aoxo has a ps3, and i want it.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/HardToExist/proofps3axomamoxoa.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/HardToExist/proof360axomamoxoa.jpg

that enough for you?

on to buisness.
Its me from the Killzone thread.
You know, the one who wants to buy your ps3 seeing as you never use it.
How about 100$ plus shipping?
If you never use it, then you shouldnt care.
I am 100% serious.
I want a ps3, just don't have the cash.
Not that I'm poor. Its that I am below legal working age for my state (its 16 or something).
So I figured if (s)he doesn't use it, maybe (s)he can pass it on to someone who could truly appreciate it.

   Re: OOOO. (Unregistered) - 2007-08-17
 » Ban Aox for being an Ass

wow when gears came out there where 6 million consoles so what are trying to say Epic was a moron no for waiting. Dote by haze im glad your not gonna buy it somebody who bashes the PS3 so much just sell it you ass.

   Re: i_am_evan - 2007-08-17
 » ...

you cant ban aoxo for what she says. its in her constitutional rights to say what she does.
if you dont like what she says, dont read the comments
   by Taken83oveR (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » HA

I guess we will see how much better Haze's multi is when it is finally released. Here's to me guessing it will be no better then what is already available on PS3 (or XBL/360). I bet it will not innovate any on the MULTi aspects of gaming. I find it very hard to believe that XBL will hold any developer's multiplayer intentions back. More times then none, it will improve it, and thats why there is a standard to be met.


   Re: matt (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » GPS attachment at play-asia

It's only $60 now if you have homebrew psp.
http://www.play-asia.com/SOap- 23-83-7rqf-71-bh-49-en-15-gps- 84-j-70-1mij.html

   Re: Oyes (Unregistered) - 2007-08-17
 » Orly

so gears not getting extra content because of MS is fine. you cant spawn camp in RFOM its random. your ID didnt work before so how do we know you didnt find a lame friend with a PS3 to make a Name. PS3 is going to get a gamer card and Home is more like LIVE in 3D plus all those features you you claim to only be exclusive in time with every update will be on the PS3. so when the PS3 has the same and better features with lower fail rates and better games and a bigger fanbase how will the 360 fair. i see 30%-50% of all 360 owners buying a 360 in the future. Most games on the 360 is really by a stroke of luck everything accept for gears and 1st Party games which mostly sucked ass, there second installments will be on the PS3 condemned 2, saints Row 2, dead rising 2, graw2, its quite clear that the 360 has survuved by throwing there garbage system out there just to get some games before there raped by PS3.
   by 1ST (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » 1ST

1ST.................yeah sony =freedom,

microsoft= slavery

having to pay for alotta dumb shyt and expecting you to got to the store to replace your broken piece of shyt box 711 every 3 hours

thaz bullshyt


   Re: WTF (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » HAHAHAHAAA

You forgot not knowing if online will be included in PS3 games cos devs have to sort all that stuff themselves.

And since when did Sony + freedom?

All I hear in games shops are grand ma's and grandma's saying 'ohh lets buy little jonny a praystation I hear they are da cooliest ting going!'.

Word up buy both then post monkey boy.
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   by Mister Common Sense - 2007-08-16
 » so?

Sony doesn't really help developers too much and needs the games badly so they'll do whatever they can to get them!

Microsoft wants quality control and good Live compatibilty.

I don't care what they think either way.


   Re: Justin (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » agreed

While I love both my Xbox and PS3...id have to say in this case, there are reasons for having standards to conform to. By forcing people to these standards you create a uniform architecture.

It's cool Sony offers freedoms, but it doesnt add to a cohesive online system.

I guess we'll just have to see how it all pans out.

   Re: Thinker (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » I agree ... and I disagree

I would say both types of support/management have their ups and downs:

1) Strict standards and boundaries can sometimes stifle creativity. On the other hand, these can be good for enforcing uniformity
2) Laid-back oversight can sometimes lead to a lack of standards (case in point, Microsoft's Internet Explorer). On the other hand, it can be really good for encouraging creativity.

   Re: Seoulfood (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » agree and disagree

I'm sure because XBL has rules and regulations to follow, multi development goes by a lot quicker, because they help devs and devs just do a lot of the stuff simply by the book. Also they can filter out sub-par stuff from getting onto Live. But the negative side about this control is that there are certain things devs might want to experiment with, but that might not coincide with Live regulations. Since Sony doesn't care, this obstacle is non-existent. Also Microsoft wants to keep Live as lucrative as possible, so they want to have really close control over their stuff so that they can sell it online. This can be seen in dev interviews for UT3. In the end, both parties offer something pretty special.

   Re: kd (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » freedom

if sony provides freedom that dosent means quality of online games will get low

   Re: wow (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » HAHA

Microsoft wants quality control haha if quality control was top priority people wouldn't have broken 360 every month

   Re: na2rul - 2007-08-16
 » @mister com sense

"needs the games badly so they'll do whatever they can to get them!"

Xcrotch360 was out a yr b4 so of crs they will hav more games. Fking GENIUS

   Re: Devise (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » ...

Well said Common. Even with the open freedom they have on PSN they wont come even close to offering a better online feature set than Bungie's Halo 3. Microsoft XBL standards have taken online console gaming where it is today. And not only does the 360 have a much better online service but it has a much bigger and more active online community. Millions of people will be playing Halo 3 online for years, and Haze will be lucky if it sells a million copies.

   Re: PS3 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » I agree

Yes I'm sure Haze will sell very well on the PS3. With the right marketing and a downloadable demo in the store then I'm sure they could sell up to 2 and a half million copies.

   Re: badz149 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » just see

haze is also set for 360 and pc, so haze will be on XBL as well, but later then the one for the PSN. we'll see any difference that the game developer can make with the freedom of PSN and then by the rules of XBL later on. I hope more online features will be there for ps3 users.
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   by AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-16
 » the true story

Chances are the true story was more like MS had standards that Haze couldnt meet, so they just said "screw you, we will go to sony and release it". They then asked sony "Sony, can we put this low standard game on your failstation3?" and sony replied "Sure, do whatever you want. We already sold our forced format onto our customers, we dont really care what you do now"

And chances are this game will suffer from the usual failstation problems like framerate issues, low quality textures, and boring gameplay (much like RFoM). It will just be another below average scoring game that the starving ps3 fanboys will eat up like crumbs on the floor. Oh well, thats sony fantards for you.


   Re: zaniaac (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » lol

i must agree with Aoxomamoxoa he has a point! lol this game looks gay anyhow

   Re: Lee (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » Haze

Man why all the hate? The framerate looks smooth and the game looks hot. Read on what they're doing with the games. It's got a lot of new things they're doing for the genre. Don't knock it 'till u try it.

   Re: Seoulfood (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » yea

Aoxoas;ldkn;lkn is probably right. I mean, looking at quality games like Vampire Rain and Tenchu Z, you can tell that Microsoft will only let the best of the best games onto their systems. Honestly, if you put it the way you did, it really makes you sound like a "desperate M$ fantard". In order to reply to your statement in the same vernacular, "go take your X-bore 360 and play your crappy Gay of War!!! PS3 ftw!!!!"

That's what the kids say these days, right?

   Re: AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-16
 » @Seoulfood

Its funny that you mention two old ps2 game franchises (Tenchu and Vampire Rain) when you bash MS. In all actuality youre only bashing Sony since theyre the ones that supported those god awful kind of games for so long.

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » sweet christ Aox...

Get a fricken life, you are here every hour on the hour just to make a lame comment. does it really make you feel better about yourself? When you have said that you are a woman, you didn't need to tell us your self esteem issues pour through your posts...

   Re: kd (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » AoxomamoxoA the aass hole

first of all this game looks better than halo 3 and bioshock seacondly shiiitbox 360 cannot hold this game this game is allways compared to ctysis and thats why xbots suffer poor xbots and to remind u ps3 dosent have red rings of death in every 3 hours but shiitbox360 has

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » The b1tch needs a pimp-slap....

1. Vampire Rain is not an old PS2 franchise. Its brand new IP. And Tenchu did not suck on the PS1 and 2. (Definitely not as much as Tenchu Z)

2. Haze is looking pretty good and is trying to differentiate itself from other FPS. With the whole Nectar/battlefield sanitisation thing going on, it looks pretty interesting and if that extends to multiplayer its going to be just as innovative as a game like Gears.

3. The only reason you have something against Free Radical is because they said something good about Sony... So you have to spin it to make M$ look good.

   Re: na2rul - 2007-08-16
 » Axomofo slag

RFoM has hella fierce gameplay. of crs u hav already been declared a fake with ur sublime PSN so u dont no how smooth and fast it plays(40-40 multiplayer!)

   Re: legendkilla (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » RFoM

its has way better online than Gaylo#3...the beta was pretty sad

   Re: badz149 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » @AoxomamoxoA

are u serious with ur comment? 'failstation3' u said? with 0.08% failure rate compared to up to 33% plus the red ring problem for 360?? yeah right, so much for M$ quality control for what ever reason the XBL rules are for! 0.08% failure is not good but M$ sucks more with so many failure! loosing more that a billion bucks just to repair damaged 360s! the only good thing left for the 360 is its one year in advance game library but from now on, the war is in delivering new games. which console perform better will win and I have faith in ps3.

   Re: badz149 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » my mistake

...it's 0.2% failure rate for ps3! meh...whatever!! still waaaayyy...better than 360's failure rate!
   by Dj Natas (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » The truth is

that even though MS has standards with game developers they cannot get their own crap straight. Oh and where in the world is the freaking frame rate prob in RFoM. Man you people make stuff up........


   Re: AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-16
 » well

I was talking more along the lines of boring gameplay when mentioning RFoM. I dunno what your idea of fun is, but spawning and then immediately dying due to spawn campers in every game isnt really a fun way to play multiplayer. Im sure your reply to that will be something along the lines of "well you just suck at RFoM then"...no, I dont suck, RFoM sucks. When other games come out for the ps3 that do FPS multiplayer right then you will realize just how bad RFoM sucks. Dont hold your breath though, I hear it might be 2009 before ps3 gets a game worth owning.

RFoM has a semi steady framerate, with only a few instances of slowdown and dropage here and there. But the textures are terrible even at 1080p and even the most basic things such as hit detection and headshots are nonexistant. One day you will feel embarrassed that you actually defended this garbage title.

   Re: blahblah (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » well there's

proof if ever it was needed that you don't have a PS3, Resistance doesn't play at 1080p you ass its a 720p game.

   Re: AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-16
 » proof?

aww look, and heres all the proof that I do...

PSN ID: AoXomAmoXoA

   Re: Thinker (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » To Aoxomamoxoa

"PSN ID: AoXomAmoXoA"

I thought, a few weeks ago, your PSN ID was "Sublime1985". What happened to that? Did you happen to forget the lie you made up?

   Re: gtauk - 2007-08-16
 » RFoM

you dont spawn in the same place each time you die, you spawn at random locations so know one is going to know where you spawn the next time

   Re: the People (Unregistered) - 2007-08-16
 » To Aoxoxoxox whatever

2 things dude:
1. You do suck in resistance
2.If you've actually played you would no about the ranked games

   Re: AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-16
 » woooo!

It was Sublime1985, but I changed it to match my QJ name. Also, you dont even have a ps3 yourself, otherwise you could easily send me a message or friend request and see that I do in fact have a ps3. Chances are it is YOU who is without the ps3, am I correct? Of course I am.

Ever notice why the regulars and registered users never say "I bet you dont even have a ps3 aoxo!!"? I'll give you a hint, theyre on my friends list on psn, moron.

Its so easy to check and see if I in fact have a ps3, all you have to do is message my name on PSN. Or the other option is you could continue to look like a dumbass, its up to you.