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We May Take A Journey In March

Ben-Dutka 10 Comments

The final update on Journey in 2011 was encouraging: the developers had hit a "major milestone" in December.

Now, we never learned what that "major milestone" was, but the good news is that we may not have much longer to wait. Thatgamecompany's hotly anticipated PSN exclusive could be ready in March.

We had heard the game held a vague Q2 2012 launch window but March would be earlier than that estimation…and early is good in this case. The info comes from the latest issue of Game Informer (as reported at IGN ); they concluded a preview with:

"No matter how you describe [Journey], it's a title that should absolutely be on your radar as we near its release in March."

Oh, it's on our radar. After Flow and Flower , it's definitely on our radar. There's every chance that Journey could become the downloadable game of the year. And even if it falls a little shy, you have to applaud such artistic inspiration and ambition.

Related Game(s): Journey

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Journey Seeks To “Create A Human Connection”

Ben-Dutka 3 Comments

There's no downloadable game we want more in 2012. Thatgamecompany's Journey sits at the top of our digital priority list.

And whenever a member of the development team is willing to talk about the project, we're willing to listen. At CVG , Robin Hunicke talks about the inspiration(s) behind Journey , and their goals in regards to immersion and the overall experience.

Hunicke said they've looked to From Software ( Demon's Souls , Dark Souls ) when trying to innovate on a grand scale. "There's a lot of interesting work to be done in asynchronous but reflexive gameplay," Hunicke said. Then came the question concerning the team's intention to "create new feelings." Hunicke replied:

"The guiding light for this has been to create a human connection for that time when you're playing with a stranger – to take away the anxiety about performance. Journey is an opportunity for people to play in a safe way, which embraces the fact there are strangers and embraces the fact they may not even know the world in the same way. That feeling of connection and smallness is what we focused on for most of the project."

Hunicke finished by saying that "life is short and you should do what you believe in – I believe you should work on things that make the world a better place." That's not only a unique viewpoint; it's also a risky one in this business where violence tends to sell extremely well. And we have to applaud Thatgamecompany for sticking to their artistic guns and doing what they do best.

We can't wait to go on a Journey .

Related Game(s): Journey

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Journey “Just Hit A Major Milestone”

Ben-Dutka 8 Comments

It's a week for rest and relaxation, and we imagine Thatgamecompany has earned plenty of both.

The team that brought you Flower wished everyone a very happy holiday season over at the PlayStation Blog , and they even provided patient fans with a small – although significant – update on their new project, Journey :

"We just hit a major milestone on Journey, and are super excited to take a brief break – when we return it will be pedal to the medal to finish it up and get it out to you! Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive over the last THREE YEARS (our longest project yet!). Your support really does make all the difference, and I can’t say 'thank you' enough on behalf of everyone at thatgamecompany."

Wow, three years. We often forget how fast time flies; it seems like just yesterday we were reveling in the soothing quietude of Flower . We assume you're already schooled on Journey but if not, you can always check out our preview ; it has been our most anticipated PSN game for a while now. And we love that part about "pedal to the metal."

Hopefully, a finalized release date will arrive soon after the New Year.

Related Game(s): Journey

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Springtime Brings A Unique Journey

Ben-Dutka 23 Comments

Thatgamecompany has already wowed us a couple times, so you can bet our expectations are high.

And although we won't get it this year, we're still anxious to try the studio's latest innovative title, Journey . Thatgamecompany has announced that it will launch exclusively on the PlayStation Store in the spring; there's no concrete date but we can live with that…for now.

The Flower developers are in the process of creating a unique quest that deals with the vulnerability of humanity and the thrill of adventure in an unknown world. It also implements online multiplayer functionality in a way we've never really seen before, which is the only aspect of the game that may or may not cause problems. Said creative director Jenova Chen at the PlayStation Blog :

"While there is still a ton of care and polish needed, we can't wait to finally deliver Journey, TGC's take on an online adventure game. Like all our games, Journey is an experiment. In the end, it's what you think that matters."

For more on Journey , check out our preview . We're definitely excited to see how it turns out, and we hope Chen and Co. are rewarded for their efforts. We need continual injections of freshness and innovation in this industry, you know.

Related Game(s): Journey

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20 Minutes Of Stunning Journey Gameplay Surfaces

Ben-Dutka 37 Comments

In the world of digital downloadable games, there's no title we want more than Journey .

In development at Thatgamecompany ( flOw , Flower ), the latest desert-roaming adventure is not only innovative, but downright revolutionary in some ways. If you missed it, make sure to check out our in-depth preview in order to obtain some relevant details. After reading, check out no less than 20 minutes of gorgeous gameplay.