E3'09: Realtime Worlds said it would never happen. At E3, Microsoft showed it has.
Ruffian’s secret is finally out – the Dundee, Scotland based developer is working on Crackdown 2.
The announcement marks the end of six successive months of speculation surrounding the developer’s next project.
Ruffian Games found itself in a unique predicament during last few weeks of 2008. Even before the Scottish developer had the chance to officially say hello to the world, it was besieged by rumours linking it with Crackdown 2, as it was discovered that two of the developer’s co-founders – Billy Thomson and Gaz Liddon – had worked on the first Crackdown in some capacity.
Billy Thomson was, in fact, the lead designer for Crackdown when at Realtime Worlds. Yet his former company had spun the rumours down a different path, implying to VG247 that Ruffian was almost certainly not working on Crackdown 2.
“I just wanted to correct the rumours today surrounding Crackdown” read a company statement. “Although to date we haven’t had an offer from Microsoft for the Crackdown sequel rumoured, we continue to have ongoing discussions with them.”
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RTW’s creative director went one step further, saying that he would be “gutted not to be involved [with Crackdown 2], but if it had to be that way, I would want to see it done justice – by an established, renowned developer that had the track record of delivering the quality gaming experience Crackdown players would demand.”
If that was a statement that didn’t look like it could possibly be more explicit, Jones found a way: “In any event, I also very much doubt that Microsoft would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship by gambling on funding Crackdown 2 with a startup on RTW’s doorstep, for obvious reasons.”
Crackdown 2, developed by that very startup on RTW’s doorstep, is due for release in 2010.
True to Thomson’s opening statements when Ruffian officially formed (“we want to provide an online experience rivalling any other through co-operative and competitive multiplayer gaming. Online play is the future of gaming and we're incredibly excited about where that is going to take us") Crackdown 2 will feature revamped cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.
Image: Eurogamer.
lol.
Realtime worlds behaved like morons, obv
Who cares what they said!
I'm just overjoyed that the game is back on track.
The diference between smart and stupid people is their taste in Crackdown; the game was just immense, but few gave it their time.
Ferdinand you show yourself again to be a most short-sighted commenter.
This is not simply a case of RTW saying something stupid, it is a situation where a well-known developer is actively warning Microsoft of handing over game development to an unknown team.
The fact that a developer came out and said how unlikely it was that Ruffian will get the deal says something about RTW's regard for that developer.
I personally loved Crackdown, of course, but I loved it because it was crafted by the capable hands of RTW.
My concerns are that their brilliant work will not be echoed.
I've no idea why people are willing to jump on me like this, especially when all we're talking about is videogames here. There's no need to turn this into a personal slagging match.
I've only one thing to say to zm's concers, though I'm not trying to belittle them:
A great number of Crackdown designers are now working at Ruffian, in fact the lead developer is. there not as different as you fear.
chin up, this could be a great game!
Nice to see a UK dev still working on it
;)
Ruffian are a talented bunch and they'll do a great job.
RTW's earlier comments to VG247 are baffling, disappointing, and hard to defend.
My point was, we're only excited about Crackdown because of RTW's work on it. In their position, even I'd be surprised to see MS want to move that to another outfit.
But I take your point, it says on Ruffian's website that a great deal of the Ruffian team is from RTW, so I am encouraged, if a little nervous.
http://www.ruffiangames.com/profile" onclick="window.open ( this.href ); return false;" class="comment_url" >http://www.ruffian...ofile
In future, Ferdinand, you should support you claims with links.
What is weird is that RTW people made those statements (the one bout ongoing negotiations) after they already knew that Ruffian was makin the game. I know for a fact that RTW had informed all employees stating that Crackdown 2 had slipped from their hands months ago (around the time Ruffian formed). It was also an open secret to people in Dundee. Anyway, the team at Ruffian is also quite capable and experienced. All the best to both devs for APB, Crackdown 2 and any other project they got in the pipeline. ;D.
zm - RTW are looking pretty stupid now after that bitter display. CD2 is going to be amazing and Ruffian hands are the most capable hands ever seen to handle it. Especially as it the very same talents who broke free from the stupidity of RTW to create their own company.
Innit! :)
FACT is completely right and correct, at the time of their statements Realtime Worlds were fully aware that Ruffian were already working on a Crackdown sequel. Their outburst was a clumsy and childish spoiler that's garnered them a fair bit of enmity for them in the Dundee development community and was a source of embarrassment for many of their own staff.
They should concentrate on getting APB out of the door rather than waste time of petty back biting. Getting a game released should be their focus.
