Following on from yesterday’s decision to delay this week’s launch of Motorstorm Apocalypse in Japan, Sony have today also announced their decision to postpone the games release beyond its scheduled Friday launch in the UK.
A statement issued by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe read “We are very conscious of the parallels between these events and the underlying theme in MotorStorm and are doing everything we can to be as sensitive as possible to the situation.”
Regarding copies of the game already in the retail system, the statement added “Although the game itself is already in distribution, we are ceasing any further shipments and removing as much of the marketing materials as possible.”
While the odd copy slipping into the public’s hands is probably an inevitability at this point given the incredibly short notice of the delay, major retailers including GAME and HMV have already halted the processing of pre-orders. A revised launch date for the UK is currently unknown, although parity with the as of yet unaffected US launch on April 12 seems a likely guess. According to reports, the playable demo has also been withdrawn from the PlayStation Network with immediate effect.
Such a last minute delay is obviously disappointing, but the circumstances are totally understandable. Releasing a game that involves driving around an earthquake ravaged landscape a week after one of the most devastating natural disasters of recent times would have been pretty hard to swallow for many. As meaningless as it may be in the grand scheme of things, Sony would have also been welcomed with an absolute PR disaster. The gaming industry endures a turbulent relationship with the mainstream press as it is, and sandwiching advertisements for Motorstorm Apocalypse between rolling 24 hour news coverage of a very real and very current catastrophe would have presented far too much of an easy target.
Sony themselves have understandably been hit pretty hard by recent events in their home land, with many employees obviously affected. The company are however donating 300 million yen to the relief effort and will provide as many as 30,000 radios and other localised aid as and where required.
I’m sure the Tap community will join Evolution Studios and Sony Computer Entertainment in sending our thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the recent tragedy.
Email the author of this post at matc@tap-repeatedly.com
This is fine and dandy. I mean, for a change a measured reaction to a real world issue and we should applaud to it.
But, allowing myself to be sort of a bastard here: Apocalypse demo left me almost totally cold. I mean, I am not that much of a racing fiend, but I loved the previous MS games, including the PSP one. Apocalypse demo just looks like a lot of shit going to hell at the same time while the racing that is the core element to the game is just not that damn remarkable. Also, the graphics… I am not sure if it’s because the game needed heavy optimisation for the minority that will eventually play it in 3D but… the graphics do look somewhat poor to me. Combined with the delay that is the result of the biggest cataclysm Japan has experienced in half a century, Apocalypse might be the first flop this franchise has ever known.
This is a good decision by SCE. It might cost them a bit of coin in the interim, but in the long run it’s far better to take a hit on your finances than your public image (and indeed, the image of gaming culture as a whole would likely have been assaulted if the marketing continued).
Agreed. As many of you have likely read, the latest Disaster Report game was canceled outright in reaction to this tragedy. While to some that may seem an unnecessary decision, just as some may dislike the delay of their latest Motorstorm game, it is important to be sensitive in times of crisis.
Kotaku and others are gathering lists of charities that are contributing directly to earthquake relief in Japan. Let’s also not forget the major earthquake less than a month ago in New Zealand. Thoughts and well-wishes to all.
Unfortunate, but sensible.
I’d not even considered this but it’s obviously a good call.
I’ve played the Apocalypse demo about six or seven times since I downloaded it and while the handling feels as fun as ever I can’t say I was that thrilled with it. I’m no graphics hoe but the visuals seem on par with, if not, a step back from Pacific Rift’s. The apocalypse idea sounds fun but amounts to nothing more than a few hazards to avoid on each lap; hazards that occur in the same place, in the same way. I seem to remember Mario Kart having hazards to avoid 😐 After a few races these ‘events’ become spectacles to stare at rather than genuine threats that jeopardise your position. I honestly expected more procedural stuff. The addition of gang members throwing molotov cocktails also seems a bit odd and out of place as well.
It’s like Evolution haven’t taken the idea far enough and stranded themselves between Mad Max and Burnout. It’s a little uncomfortable but hey, the demo was but one track with two vehicles so what do I know?
I pretty much agree with the general consensus here, to be honest. I wasn’t blown away by the Apocalypse demo. It felt a little “phoned in” for me and I don’t think the apocalypse setting has been taken advantage of particularly well. Both the car and bike handled far too smoothly given that they were driving on crumbling, ruined streets and through rocks and debris, and as Gregg mentioned above, the events ended up becoming pretty predictable and bland. I enjoyed it a fair bit don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t thrilled by it.
Mind you, I’ve since watched gameplay footage elsewhere that shows a number of tracks which look significantly more interesting than the demo track, so maybe the full game has a bit more meat to it.
Playing the Apocalypse demo did however push me back towards the first two games in the series, which for some reason I never got into before, but have now decided are awesome. I’m having an absolute blast with Pacific Rift..
Of all the games I’ve had on my PS3 Motor Storm: Pacific Rift has had the most time spent with it. It’s just a lot of good, visceral, arcade fun (and it gets exceptionally tough later on in the Festival – Mat you’ve been warned ;-)). I just wish that Evolution would focus on making the actual racing dynamics more interesting. Ever since F-Zero GX I’ve wanted racing games to have enemy drivers with their own personalities that determine their style of driving and their grudges with other drivers. I’m just sick of racing faceless bot drivers, and no, giving them a name is not the same as giving them a personality.
I’ve also always found that league style points tables really ramp up the tension in racing games but Motor Storm has never had this as far as I know; each race is just a stand-alone event as opposed to there being a dramatic rolling saga of races.
Appropriate response from the developer, but seriousness aside, recent reviews suggest it needs holding back!
Like some of you here, I’m not into racing games, but I think SCE have made a very wise and considerate decision here. Good on them!
My prayers go out to those in Japan and NZ. (My brother-in-law that lives in Tokyo was fortunately overseas at the time, so he dodged a bullet there.)