TimeSplitters 4

[Cool King]

Originally Posted by Eurogamer.net Crytek UK is talking with various publishers about the possibility of creating a brand new TimeSplitters game, Eurogamer can reveal. The studio formerly known as Free Radical Design is also discussing an original IP – a single-player and multiplayer first-person shooter – with publishers. "We're talking to publishers at the moment about whether that's [TimeSplitters] a viable route or not," managing director Karl Hilton told Eurogamer at the GameCity festival in Nottingham last week. "There hasn't been a TimeSplitters game for quite a while. Obviously TimeSplitters is a FPS with a strong multiplayer element. The question is, is that the way to go with another one, or should it go down a different route, or should we be developing a new IP altogether? "It's down to us talking to publishers about what their interest is and where they see it going. If they're keen for a TS game, then we'd be happy to do one. If they'd like us to develop something new then we'd do that. "Whether the TS is like the classic TS or whether the TS is a new imagined TS, that's the other thing to discuss with them." While the game Crytek UK ends up creating is undecided, Hilton's comments are the clearest indication yet that gamers may one day see another TimeSplitters game. And, according to Hilton, publishers are making positive sounds. "Talking to publishers, everyone is aware of TimeSplitters. It's got a brand awareness that's really good. Its success in different markets was quite variable. So depending on who you talk to, they either look at it as a really successful product or as a product that was almost successful but could have done better." More encouraging is Hilton's assertion that whatever happens, Crytek UK will retain the Britishness of the cult FPS series. "The thing to watch out with something like TimeSplitters is it was a bit of a game of its time, but it was quite British. It had a sense of humour to it. These days it's difficult because the cost of developing the big budget games is so much now you need to have a broad market. You need to be trying to sell everywhere. "So you've got to avoid making something that's too niche, that doesn't work, but at the same time you can't make something bland and generic because there are plenty of those. It's getting that character and personality into a game, but not disenfranchising a whole set of people who might otherwise buy it." He added: "I don't think it's about sacrificing the Britishness. It's about working out with a publisher what's the characteristic and personality of the game. Every good game should have a personality. When you play it you should feel from the way it plays and the way it looks what it is you're playing, otherwise you can get a very mediocre product." The last TimeSplitters game was Future Perfect, released in 2005. It was received well by critics – Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell awarded it 8/10 – but perhaps TimeSplitters 2, still one of the highest-rated FPS games on the PS2, is remembered most fondly. "TS had a very high profile within the industry, among press and game developers and publishers," Hilton said. "That's great. And certainly within our team there's phenomenal enthusiasm for it and we'd love to do another one. But everyone realises it's a hard commercial climate out there, so you've got to do something that's commercial but still has integrity. That's the balance you're going to have to find. "But yeah, we'd love to do it. We don't want to get self-indulgent with it. We want to produce something that speaks to a lot of people and a lot of people play. That's the best thing: when you make a game and it sells a lot of units, not from a financial view, but because it's great to see your product out there that people are enjoying it and playing it." Last year Crysis creator Crytek bought Free Radical Design after it slipped into administration following lacklustre sales of PS3-exclusive Haze. Free Radical was renamed Crytek UK and put to work on the multiplayer portion of Crysis 2 – due out next year. That work is now largely done, freeing Crytek UK to concentrate on what's next.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...alking-to-pubs

Awesome news.

I've been waiting since Futute Perfect for a forth installment. The TS4 work that Free Radical had on their site before they went into administration looked really promising and I had a feeling that the game was going to be amazing.

I was pissed off though when Free Radical died and all the plans for TS4 were scrapped.

[Fignuts]

Hooray

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Oh it better happen. Best FPS series ever.

[CSL]

Legends, only FPS I've ever really loved.

[Cool King]

Same here.

Since Free Radical died, I tried to find a replacement FPS to be a "favourite FPS", but it was impossible.

The TS franchise is just so damn good.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

http://www.vg247.com/2012/11/14/time...0k-signatures/

Yes, if this following petition gets 300k signatures, it'll be presented to the bigwigs.

So fucking sign it or I swear to god I will slit your throat while you sleep.


https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitio...-hd-collection

[XCaliber]

Was so disappointed when they shut down the servers not long after the game's release it was some of the best multiplayer experiences I've ever had.

[Cool King]

I've already signed it, though it's taken a big jump in signatures since when I signed it though.

It's all looking good so far.

[Cool King]

Originally Posted by Eurogamer.net Ex-Free Radical devs reveal why publishers turned down TimeSplitters 4 Diverse characters and Haze reception to blame. By Wesley Yin-Poole Published Tuesday, 27 November 2012 Ex-Free Radical Design developers have revealed why publishers turned down TimeSplitters 4, pointing the finger at the poor reception to Haze and difficulty marketing the brand. After the release of Haze for publisher Ubisoft Free Radical Design tried to find a publisher for TimeSplitters 4, showing off a working demo in pitch meetings. But publishers refused to sign it. Free Radical slipped into administration before being saved by Crysis maker Crytek, which bought the studio and set it up in Nottingham as Crytek UK. Crytek UK managing director Karl Hilton and TimeSplitters co-creator Steve Ellis told GamesTM (via NintendoEverything) of the struggle Free Radical had during that time. “TimeSplitters 4 was in the very early stages of development when Free Radical went into administration,” Ellis said. “A small playable demo was shown to several publishers, but it didn't attract any publishing deals.” “We pitched it to a lot of publishers, and from each of them we got the same two responses,” Hilton explained. “Firstly, they would ask what happened with Haze. We were the company that made a series of high-rated shooters and then we had released Haze, which wasn't as well received. This worried them. “Secondly, their marketing person would say something along the lines of, 'I don't know how to sell this.' The unanimous opinion among all publishers that we pitched TimeSplitters 4 to is that you can't market a game that is based around a diverse set of characters and environments - you need a clear and easily communicated marketing message, and TimeSplitters doesn't have one. “Perhaps they are all right. Perhaps this is why the previous games in the series achieved much more critical success than commercial success. For these reasons, one by one they all declined to sign the project.” The chances of a new TimeSplitters game look slim. Despite there being an online petition to convince Crytek to revive the series, company boss Cevat Yerli remains unconvinced. "Unfortunately the petition doesn't look that convincing," Yerli told Game Informer. "If the petition picks up it will be an even better argument for us."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...imesplitters-4

[The Destroyer]

Well, bollocks. Petition isn't exactly looking much healthier either.

[Cool King]

[Cool King]

Originally Posted by The Escapist TimeSplitters Respawns Onto PC The cult classic shooter series is finally making a comeback. And yes, there will be monkeys. Never underestimate a dedicated fan base. After Free Radical kicked the bucket and was purchased by Crytek, it looked like there was no hope for a new entry to the much-loved TimeSplitters franchise. In spite of this, a few optimistic supporters started a petition begging for a TimeSplitters 4. And by "a few," I mean 75,000. Crytek, as the current owner of the IP, wasn't impressed enough to justify developing a new installment, but it did the next-best thing: the company gave a team of 25 talented fans official permission to resurrect the series with a new game. This fan-directed project aims to capture the best parts of the TimeSplitters trilogy, and has been appropriately dubbed TimeSplitters Rewind. The team was permitted to use assets from the main TimeSplitters games, but declined in favor of rebuilding everything from scratch in CryEngine 3. Using an updated engine will lend the game a more modern look, but the developers don't plan on fixing what's not broken. The 300+ playable characters, dozens of weapons, and classic maps will be as close to the original flavor as possible. "It will still feel like a TimeSplitters game," promises project manager Michael Hubicka. Rewind focuses on the fast-paced multiplayer and skill-based Challenge Mode of the series, ditching the campaign and co-op modes in the interest of finishing the project in a reasonable amount of time. 8 to 16 players will be able to play online, over LAN, or solo, with AI-controlled bots available in any mode. All the classic game types will be present, along with a couple of new modes. The team hasn't ruled out the possibility of recreating the trilogy's campaign, but it will have to wait until they can dedicate their full attention to it. The project is coming along slowly but surely, with a demo planned to release by December and the finished product available not long afterwards. The completed game will be 100% free, with batches of new content (including many of the playable characters) scheduled for free post-launch updates. Currently the core team is developing the game in their spare time, but if you think you can help contribute to the effort you're welcome to contact Hubicka to lend a hand and speed up the effort. It's a labor of love, after all - and thankfully, there's enough love for TimeSplitters to actually make this happen.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news...spawns-Onto-PC