Saints Row 2

[Melf]

Saints Row for the PlayStation 3 is no more. During a conference call with analysts after THQ's earnings report today, CFO Edward Zinser revealed the port, which was originally slated for release during this quarter, has been canceled. He said that as a result the California-based publisher is revising its guidance for the April-June quarter, the first of its fiscal year, downward.

THQ CEO Brian Farrell explained the logic behind the cancellation thusly to analysts: "We think the most important thing for the Saints Row franchise is to have a simultaneous ship into a larger installed base next year," he said. "We think the bigger opportunity is a multiplatform launch."

As one might deduce from Farrell's comments, THQ has reallocated all Saints Row resources at its internal studio, Volition, to work on a sequel. The game, which currently has no official title, will ship simultaneously on the PS3 and 360 sometime next year. Further details on the second Saints Row were scant, with THQ saying only that the game would "utilize Volition's proprietary open-world engine and deliver an all-new cross-platform gaming experience." Farrell did tell analysts the game had been in the works for "some time."

Released last August as a 360 exclusive, Saints Row was praised by critics as being the first free-roaming urban crime game to be worthy of comparison to Grand Theft Auto. It also benefited from the fact no GTA game was released for next-gen consoles in 2006, selling nearly 700,000 copies in the US alone, according to industry research group NPD Funworld. The game has topped over 1 million copies worldwide, and recently achieved Platinum Hits status. Perhaps not so-coincidentally, there are no console versions of Grand Theft Auto planned for 2008.

This is great. The first SR did everything GTA does, but better, and I'm eager to see Volition give us a great sequel with all the trimmings.

Day 1 for me.

[EvilMog]

What really worked for me in this game was the way point system. Fucking GREAT. GTA 4 better copy that thing.

[arjue]

GTA4 better copy the gun mechanics too.

[Melf]

Those were some of the major advancements that made me enjoy SR so much. I also liked being able to bring 3 homies along on missions.

[Jeremy]

Customization was another thing I think Saints Row did better than any GTA. I'm glad they cancelled the PS3 port, as it really makes no sense to release it with a sequel coming out so soon.

[Glass Joe]

Awesome! I loved this game so much more than any of the GTA games. I really hope they beef up the insurance fraud portion and the other "side quest" parts.

[bVork]

Saints Row was a great example of how to properly clone a title. It played like GTA and fixed a bunch of the little problems that Rockstar seemed to ignore. I thought it lacked the spark of GTA, but was still fun nonetheless.

[Melf]

New info!

When THQ CFO Edward Zinser projected the company's first-quarter financials in May, he stated that revenues would be down, and the PlayStation 3 port of the 2006 Xbox 360 hit Saints Row had been canceled. In lieu of a PS3 version of the original, THQ CEO Brian Farrell noted that Saints Row creator Volition had shifted its full focus to developing the game's sequel for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, to release simultaneously next year.

Today, THQ officially confirmed that Saints Row 2--now its official title--would be coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2008. The publisher also revealed some details on how the protégé will attempt to differentiate itself from its inspiration, the Grand Theft Auto series. The distinction might be necessary, given that Grand Theft Auto IV's delay to Spring 2008 might pit it against Saints Row 2.

Saints Row 2 will return to an expanded version of Stilwater, the crime-plagued metropolis that was the original's locale. However, Volition lead producer Greg Donovan said the game will have a heavier tone than its predecessor. "Saints Row 2 has a much darker and more sinister story that leads your character down a path of betrayal, revenge, and redemption against the city that has left him for dead, although we've blended that with the same light-hearted humor from the original," he promised.

Saints Row 2 will also offer a number of new features. Previously mission-based, online two-player co-op will now be extended to the full campaign mode, which will let two virtual gangsters play through the entire story together. SR2 will also include a somewhat mysterious "open-world competitive multiplayer mode never before seen in the genre." And as is standard for a sequel, Volition has expanded on many features of the original, including new character-customization options and added vehicles, such as motorcycles, boats, helicopters, and planes.

THQ also launched the game's official Web site today. Saints Row 2 has not yet been rated or priced.

Source.

Fuck yeah, the pimp is back.

[PepsimanVsJoe]

I'm looking forward to creating a female character for the singleplayer/coop mode.

Hopefully the customization options are really deep so I can play insurance fraud by being a fat hooker falling out of an airplane.

[Jeremy]

If the new multi-player co-op campaign mode allows for a bot-controlled created character, I can FINALLY have Crockett and Tubbs play through the game, as opposed to just having Crockett go through the first game. Fucking awesome.