Jak & Daxter 3 and Ratchet and Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal Coming Fall 2004

[Mairu]

Jak II(TM) and Ratchet & Clank(TM): Going Commando Continue to Shine at Retail

# FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that the popular and critically acclaimed Jak and Daxter and Ratchet & Clank series, created and developed by Naughty Dog, Inc., and Insomniac Games respectively, will return exclusively to the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system in Fall 2004.(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a )

"We are delighted to continue our relationship with two of the most talented and imaginative development teams in the industry," said Ami Blaire, director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Consumers want more from traditional platform games and Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games have made strides to implement technology innovation in order to raise the industry standard and invigorate the genre. The upcoming sequels will continue to push the boundaries as both teams incorporate revolutionary gameplay elements."

The announcement follows a successful retail season as Jak II(TM) and Ratchet & Clank(TM): Going Commando, last year's sequels to the "Greatest Hits" titles Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy® and Ratchet & Clank(TM), continue to flourish as top selling titles since their launch.

"Both Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog continue to push the envelope with each game that they bring to the market," said Andy Reiner, Executive Editor of Game Informer, the world's largest multi-platform gaming magazine on the market today. "The level of craftsmanship that goes into each project truly is remarkable. I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeves this time!"

As both franchises have sold through to consumers more than one million units internationally since their inception, Sony Computer Entertainment America has proven that the platform genre continues to prosper. Demonstrating this, Jak II was chosen by PlayStation Magazine (PSM) for Game of the Year, Best Character Design and Best Story, it was awarded Action Game of the Year as well as tied for Game of the Year by PSE2 and it received PLAY Magazine's Hybrid Game of the Year. Jak II also was honored with an IGN Editors Choice Award for 2003, as well as IGN's pick for Best Graphics.

Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, was honored by IGN, Cinescape and Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) as the Best PlayStation 2 Game of 2003. The game was included in PSM's Top 10 Games of 2003, was chosen by TechTV's "X-Play," GameSpot and the Dallas Morning News as Best Platformer of the Year, received an IGN Editors Choice Award for 2003 from IGN and was nominated by 1up.com for Game of the Year. PLAY Magazine labeled the title as both PlayStation 2 Game of the Year and Action-Shooting Game of the Year, and the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News included Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando among its Top 10 Best Games of 2003.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040224/sftu108_1.html

First Screens:

[Sl1p]

Kill me.

[Andy]

Kill me.

[Diff-chan]

By 2006 they'll be in Tomb Raider/Tony Hawk territory.

[sggg]

I don't care about J&D..... but I am currently playing R&C2:GC and it is shockingly good, so I am quite happy that there is another one en route.

I had skipped the first R&C because Ratchet seemed so incredibly bland, but then one day in a store I saw a R&C guide book next to a Mario Sunshine one and I realised that Ratchet might be very MOR but he's inoffensive and not especially stupid looking. He still seems quite bland, but everything else about the game is very high quality. It's really polished, the gameplay is super fun, and there is an amazing attention to detail. Because it's an original 3D franchise it's not restrained by a 2D legacy it actually reminds me of old school games, in a strange way. ... Regardless, good news.

[Captain Vegetable]

We already know about this. It's all been mentioned in the Sly 2 thread. As well as Sony green lighting the Mark of Kri sequels.

[ChaoofNee]

More Ratchet & Clank!
I hope it doesn't start to get stale...
...and that they get rid of the Weapon level-ups. Man, how tedious!

[Zondaro]

Isn't it a little soon for sequels? What happened to two years to build a AAA quality game...

That said, does anyone else see Nintendo as majorly screwed this fall? What do they have Metroid Prime 2? vs Three AAA quality Sony releases and MS' Halo2?

[Mairu]

Isn't it a little soon for sequels? What happened to two years to build a AAA quality game...

That said, does anyone else see Nintendo as majorly screwed this fall? What do they have Metroid Prime 2? vs Three AAA quality Sony releases and MS' Halo2?

The few games that weren't released that they showed last e3 (pikmin 2, geist, some that i'm forgetting), and whatever they show this e3. I know people on this board love to do it but it's a little soon to be jumping to conclusions about Nintendo's fall lineup :P

edit: new pics from gamespot!

[Opaque]

The second installment of both these series was spectacular... if they can both be done again just as well then bring it on....