Atari Holds Breath as DRIV3R Goes Gold
French giant rolls dice – can key franchise pass the test?
Atari has announced that DRIV3R has gone gold and is ready to begin shipping to retail, seeing what is arguably the firm’s biggest title to date put to the ultimate driving test, a release that will surely be a major signifier in the evolution of the company formerly known as Infogrames.
The roll-out of DRIV3R has been marred by delays, leading analysts to question the ability of UK-based developer Reflections to transport the series onto the PlayStation 2. Reflections' first and only PS2 offering so far - Stuntman - was launched to critical apathy in 2002.
It has been obvious from the outset that Atari is resting a lot of its hopes in the performance of DRIV3R, with a fiercely dedicated, adequately funded and well managed PR/marketing campaign in place from the game's initial announcement.
However, the real test will come when the game goes on sale later this month, and will be one of the more interesting releases in some time as it poses the question: will the Driver series be able to regain any of the ground lost to Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto franchise? Given that Reflections essentially invented the modern mission-based driving game, it seems absurd that it has taken until the latter part of the PlayStation 2’s lifecycle to release a Driver game. Since winter 2001, and the release of Driver 2, Rockstar has dominated the genre with Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City, not only for PS2, but also for PC and Xbox.
Atari's nervousness is no doubt compounded by mutterings from the print press suggesting that perhaps the DRIV3R builds they've experienced do not fulfil what was widely expected, as Atari tries to secure high scores for what is arguably its most important release to date.
In the US, you can pick up DRIV3R for Xbox and PlayStation 2 on June 21, followed by the European release for both platforms on Friday, June 25. No date has been set for the PC version and, as you will be aware, the GameCube version has been canned.
We’ll bring you updates and feedback on the game’s performance in the coming weeks.
The roll-out of DRIV3R has been marred by delays, leading analysts to question the ability of UK-based developer Reflections to transport the series onto the PlayStation 2. Reflections' first and only PS2 offering so far - Stuntman - was launched to critical apathy in 2002.
It has been obvious from the outset that Atari is resting a lot of its hopes in the performance of DRIV3R, with a fiercely dedicated, adequately funded and well managed PR/marketing campaign in place from the game's initial announcement.
However, the real test will come when the game goes on sale later this month, and will be one of the more interesting releases in some time as it poses the question: will the Driver series be able to regain any of the ground lost to Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto franchise? Given that Reflections essentially invented the modern mission-based driving game, it seems absurd that it has taken until the latter part of the PlayStation 2’s lifecycle to release a Driver game. Since winter 2001, and the release of Driver 2, Rockstar has dominated the genre with Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City, not only for PS2, but also for PC and Xbox.
Atari's nervousness is no doubt compounded by mutterings from the print press suggesting that perhaps the DRIV3R builds they've experienced do not fulfil what was widely expected, as Atari tries to secure high scores for what is arguably its most important release to date.
In the US, you can pick up DRIV3R for Xbox and PlayStation 2 on June 21, followed by the European release for both platforms on Friday, June 25. No date has been set for the PC version and, as you will be aware, the GameCube version has been canned.
We’ll bring you updates and feedback on the game’s performance in the coming weeks.
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Comments
Joji 8 Jun 2004 11:40
1/6
Well I'd say GTA has beat DRIV3R to the finish line. Two GTA games have been out in the time it's taken to get this version of DRIV3Rs' engine warm and running, with GTA San Andreas on the way soon. It might gain some ground but it's one hell of an uphill climb.
Personally I think Reflections should go back to the drawing board and try something else, perhaps try a different genre all together. Driver series is good but has done it's part, one that GTA and True Crimes are doing better. What the hell is wrong with Shadow of the Beast series, they are obviously forgetting how they got here. If this can work for PoP and Ubisoft, then why not them too. Either that or something new, because this Driver biz is one wheel that does not need to be reinvented once more. Get out of the car, walk around and try something new, dammit. Show us you aren't a one trick pony, on wheels.
Personally I think Reflections should go back to the drawing board and try something else, perhaps try a different genre all together. Driver series is good but has done it's part, one that GTA and True Crimes are doing better. What the hell is wrong with Shadow of the Beast series, they are obviously forgetting how they got here. If this can work for PoP and Ubisoft, then why not them too. Either that or something new, because this Driver biz is one wheel that does not need to be reinvented once more. Get out of the car, walk around and try something new, dammit. Show us you aren't a one trick pony, on wheels.
DoctorDee 8 Jun 2004 11:50
2/6
Joji wrote:
>Well I'd say GTA has beat DRIV3R to the finish
>line.
Will we ever agree on anything Joji? ;-)
I'm excited as a very excited thing about Driv3r, and I know everyone else in our office is too.
I know GTA has been ultra phenomenally mega popular, and Config plays it to death, but it never really got me that excited... Driv3r though..i I'm moist for it.
>Well I'd say GTA has beat DRIV3R to the finish
>line.
Will we ever agree on anything Joji? ;-)
I'm excited as a very excited thing about Driv3r, and I know everyone else in our office is too.
I know GTA has been ultra phenomenally mega popular, and Config plays it to death, but it never really got me that excited... Driv3r though..i I'm moist for it.
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Smelly 8 Jun 2004 15:41
3/6
Publishers really are silly monkeys arent they? Ps2 and xbox already have gta, cube owners would lap up a game like this without needing to compare it to gta.
So they can it.... madness!
So they can it.... madness!
Joji 8 Jun 2004 18:45
4/6
Sometimes when stuff like this goes on, makes me think the games industry will never change. I was gonna by the GC version of Driv3r, but the beggars went and cancelled it, so now I have to buy the True Crimes series instead. I've seen the same happen to a lot of games like Colin Mcrae and The Suffering, but it doesn't change the fact that these games would be able to clean up on GC due to lack of similar competition, and if marketed better.
I'm becoming a fan of Io's games after have just got hold of Freedom Fighters, but I noticed GC got Hitman 1 and 2, but not Contracts. If the previous GC versions didn't sell well I can understand why, so fair enough. But when the likes of Reflections cancel Driv3r on GC, having not done a home console game for Nintendo for years (if ever), it's hard for the GC consumer to love em for it. Atleast Io gave it a try, and I respect them for that, but the others I don't for not trying.
Capcom also have some respect for the GC owners, with RE4 and VJ.
Viewtiful Joe sold loads on GC, and proves there's life in the box yet, and is now moving onto PS2 as a result of it's success. Wish more developers could see the test water potential of GC (but i guess the lack of GC demo disks on mags doesn't help either), as opposed to the popular but vastly over crowded PS2 market, where it's harder for any consumer to notice your games from the next guys.
I'm becoming a fan of Io's games after have just got hold of Freedom Fighters, but I noticed GC got Hitman 1 and 2, but not Contracts. If the previous GC versions didn't sell well I can understand why, so fair enough. But when the likes of Reflections cancel Driv3r on GC, having not done a home console game for Nintendo for years (if ever), it's hard for the GC consumer to love em for it. Atleast Io gave it a try, and I respect them for that, but the others I don't for not trying.
Capcom also have some respect for the GC owners, with RE4 and VJ.
Viewtiful Joe sold loads on GC, and proves there's life in the box yet, and is now moving onto PS2 as a result of it's success. Wish more developers could see the test water potential of GC (but i guess the lack of GC demo disks on mags doesn't help either), as opposed to the popular but vastly over crowded PS2 market, where it's harder for any consumer to notice your games from the next guys.
TigerUppercut 9 Jun 2004 09:33
5/6
I think that SPOnG is the first site to point out just what DRIV3R means in terms of the industry and the future of both Atari and Reflections. The game has been in development since before the PS2 was released, since the completion of Driver 2. Stuntman was little more than a testing ground for Reflections’ technologies – after the original Driver 3 gubbins was scrapped.
The point is, just how much money has been spent on the game to date? Say a dev studio can get through about a million and a half a year working on one project – Combine this with the massive marketing spend – on a global basis – DRIV3R has seen and then add the cost of manufacture of the actual games from SCE and Microsoft.
If DRIV3R doesn’t sell very well, Atari is going to be in the s**t, as is Reflections. Make no mistake, this is a big moment. And looking at the game, it has some serious flaws.
Let’s sit back and watch. :-)
The point is, just how much money has been spent on the game to date? Say a dev studio can get through about a million and a half a year working on one project – Combine this with the massive marketing spend – on a global basis – DRIV3R has seen and then add the cost of manufacture of the actual games from SCE and Microsoft.
If DRIV3R doesn’t sell very well, Atari is going to be in the s**t, as is Reflections. Make no mistake, this is a big moment. And looking at the game, it has some serious flaws.
Let’s sit back and watch. :-)
Joji 9 Jun 2004 16:00
6/6
I have a close friend who works there who's name i shall not utter on here, but I now worry he may be out of a job, if things don't work out.
Driver was original when it first came out, but since then the crown has been taken by the GTA series. Rockstar had their games out quick with no real problems.
I have always said to my close friend that the softco he works for needed to vary their games into different genre, because it's hard to balance a rep on one game series and genre, and keep folk buying. He agreed with me, but ofcourse he has no power to change things. Meanwhile Rockstar have (ex capcom game) RDR on the way, something sweet and different from GTA. Stuntman was terrible, and shows they are in need of new and different ideas, preferably something without wheels.
As a result now Atari/Reflections are banking on this one game to keep them from disaster. It's a shame, and could have been so different, had they spread their wings a little more, to really take off and soar into the sky of success. Innovation, creativity, fun and variety are the winds that will truly lift them, and others there, and if lucky keep them there too.
It's time for change, diversify or die.
Hey, maybe it's the Curse of Atari messing things up. Those ET carts stiring, in their dusty desert graves.
Driver was original when it first came out, but since then the crown has been taken by the GTA series. Rockstar had their games out quick with no real problems.
I have always said to my close friend that the softco he works for needed to vary their games into different genre, because it's hard to balance a rep on one game series and genre, and keep folk buying. He agreed with me, but ofcourse he has no power to change things. Meanwhile Rockstar have (ex capcom game) RDR on the way, something sweet and different from GTA. Stuntman was terrible, and shows they are in need of new and different ideas, preferably something without wheels.
As a result now Atari/Reflections are banking on this one game to keep them from disaster. It's a shame, and could have been so different, had they spread their wings a little more, to really take off and soar into the sky of success. Innovation, creativity, fun and variety are the winds that will truly lift them, and others there, and if lucky keep them there too.
It's time for change, diversify or die.
Hey, maybe it's the Curse of Atari messing things up. Those ET carts stiring, in their dusty desert graves.