Sleeping Dogs (True Crime: Hong Kong)

[GamerMan316]

True Crime in Hong Kong revealed at Spike VGA



The second world premiere of the VGAs was the full version of the teaser we saw a couple weeks ago -- you know, the one we initially presumed was for another installment in the True Crime series? Yeah, well, it was totally for another installment in the True Crime series, which is being developed by ModNation Racers creators United Front. Guess there's no more mystery as to what Activision's upcoming Hong Kong-set action title is, huh?

There was a trailer with this news but it's been removed, so i'll look for another.

[GamerMan316]

True Crime Trailer

[GamerMan316]

True Crime: Hong Kong delayed

Activision has delayed open world action game True Crime: Hong Kong.

True Crime, in development at Vancouver studio United Front Games, was due out on for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this autumn. It will now be released in 2011.

Activision delayed the game "in order to give the development team more time to deliver the high-quality entertainment experience they envision for the game".

Activision CFO Thomas Tippl said the gargantuan publisher had put additional investment into the development of the game.

[sambo]

If it's anything like the first 2 games it will need all the development it can get.

[GamerMan316]

True Crime delay 'has paid off'
Driving, shooting and fighting mechanics greatly improved, says Activision CEO

Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg has offered assurance that the August delay of True Crime: Hong Kong has "paid off".

The game was originally due for release in late 2010 but was booted back to a 2011 release, Activision saying at the time that the dev team needed "more time to deliver the high-quality entertainment experience they envision for the game."

Now it's coming along nicely, assures Hirshberg. "The additional development time invested in this game has really paid off, for gameplay mechanic the make the fighting and shooting as sophisticated as the driving, which is something that's very hard to achieve in the open-world genre," he said during an investors call today.

Activision pins True Crime: HK as one of next year's big releases alongside the next Call of Duty game, Bungie's as yet unrevealed new IP and an "exciting new kid's IP".

[GamerMan316]

Square buys True Crime: Hong Kong rights

Square Enix has picked up the rights to open world action title True Crime: Hong Kong following Activision's decision to pull the plug on the game earlier this year.

As revealed by Gamasutra, no release date has been set for the resurrected game, which is still in development at Vancouver-based United Front Games. Square Enix London Studios is supervising â€" the same office that looked after Batman: Arkham Asylum and Just Cause 2.

The publisher has not purchased the rights to the brand IP so will have to rename the game before release.

"When we first saw and got our hands on the game we fell in love with it," said Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton.

"When we met the team at United Front Games it was a done deal in our eyes - we instantly recognised the huge potential in the game and the team.

"UFG is an incredibly talented team, who have individually worked on some of the biggest games in our industry, and this talent shines through from the moment you walk in the door.

"It's one of those games where you don't want to put the controller down; it's what we call 'sticky'."

Singleton also highlighted its "incredible new game engine, rich new story with deep and complex characters, and gameplay features which have simply never been seen at this level in an open world game."

Meanwhile, former custodian Activision is calling the resolution a win-win for all involved.

"Our team has worked very hard to find a solution where everybody wins," commented Acti exec Eric Hirshberg.

"Square Enix gets the benefit of the tremendous investment we've made in the game thus far. UFG gets to stay together and complete their vision. And gamers get to play a great game. We couldn't be more thrilled."

Back in February Hirshberg had this to say about the just-canned project:

"Even our most optimistic internal projections show that continued investment was not going to lead to a title at, or near, the top of the competitive open world genre.

"In an industry where only the best games in each category are flourishing, to be blunt, it just wasn't going to be good enough."

Square is in the process of re-staffing at United Front, and hopes to pick up most of the talent the developer was forced to shed when Activision ditched the title. However, a small team had apparently been beavering away at the game before Square swooped in to save the day.

"During this time, the game has continued to be developed by a core team on a slower burn, but now that we've signed, we're ready to turn up the heat and get the team up to capacity," explained Singleton.

"We see this as a fantastic opportunity to create a new and unique franchise which gamers will come to know and love for years to come.”

[Windedprism]

Nice one, I've been watching this one and was disappointed when the axe fell. SE save the day.
Good news indeed

[Failed]

Square continue there quest to add Western games to their market strategy, i approve, now get back to FFXIII-2

[GamerMan316]

Official: Sleeping Dogs is new True Crime
Hong Kong gets new name, out "second half of 2012"

Square Enix has officially announced Sleeping Dogs, the new name of dropped Activision open-world title, True Crime: Hong Kong.

Now being developed in conjunction with Square Enix London Studios, whose credits as collaborators include Batman: Arkham Asylum and Just Cause 2, Sleeping Dogs will release in "the second half of 2012" (although august has been reported) on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

The United Front Games (ModNation Racers) developed title was dropped by former publisher Activision early last year, before being picked up by Square Enix in the summer.

True Crime: Hong Kong was playable from start to finish and "virtually complete" in terms of content before Activision canned it, United Front Games told CVG in a studio visit shortly before the announcement.

Since Activision owns the rights for the True Crime name, the publisher's been forced in to a name change.

"From the moment you pick up the controller and experience the blend of driving, close combat and shooting you know you're playing something fresh and a bit special," said Lee Singleton, GM of Square Enix London Studios.

"Sleeping Dogs has one of the best melee combat systems out there - it's super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG's proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it."

Stephen Van Der Mescht, executive producer at United Front Games, added: "Working on Sleeping Dogs has been such a huge passion for the team at United Front Games and we're really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios.

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Posted on Wednesday 8-Feb-2012 2:00 PM
Official: Sleeping Dogs is new True Crime
Hong Kong gets new name, out "second half of 2012"
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Square Enix has officially announced Sleeping Dogs, the new name of dropped Activision open-world title, True Crime: Hong Kong.

Click to view larger image
Now being developed in conjunction with Square Enix London Studios, whose credits as collaborators include Batman: Arkham Asylum and Just Cause 2, Sleeping Dogs will release in "the second half of 2012" (although august has been reported) on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

The United Front Games (ModNation Racers) developed title was dropped by former publisher Activision early last year, before being picked up by Square Enix in the summer.

Click to view larger image
True Crime: Hong Kong was playable from start to finish and "virtually complete" in terms of content before Activision canned it, United Front Games told CVG in a studio visit shortly before the announcement.

Since Activision owns the rights for the True Crime name, the publisher's been forced in to a name change.

"From the moment you pick up the controller and experience the blend of driving, close combat and shooting you know you're playing something fresh and a bit special," said Lee Singleton, GM of Square Enix London Studios.

"Sleeping Dogs has one of the best melee combat systems out there - it's super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG's proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it."

Stephen Van Der Mescht, executive producer at United Front Games, added: "Working on Sleeping Dogs has been such a huge passion for the team at United Front Games and we're really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios.
Watch in HD No comments yet, be the first!

"The extensive experience both our studios have in creating compelling openworld gameplay and rich and rewarding combat makes for a perfect partnership. Working together we can make sure that Sleeping Dogs is the most intense and immersive experience it can be."

[zerosum]

Official: Sleeping Dogs is new True Crime
Hong Kong gets new name, out "second half of 2012"

Love all that gameplay footage...

All kidding aside though, I hope ths turns out to be a great game - I remember really looking forward to True Crime: Hong Kong. If anything, the setting had me sold. It'll be interesting to see if any adjustments have been made, I'm suspecting there have been some, being that the trailer there didn't show much any gameplay footage.

[Windedprism]

I know reveal trailer!! ok so you've revealed the concept, I get it I get it!
Back on the radar this one, crazy kitchen fighting hong kong chefs!

[nCogNeato]

[Windedprism]

It's like Shenmue with balls, hope it turns out good.

[nCogNeato]

It's like Shenmue with balls

That's exactly what I thought.   

[nCogNeato]