Price explains Resistance online

By Eurogamer staff Published 2 November, 2006

No integration with PS3 buddy list for launch title.

Despite being one of the best-looking titles for the PlayStation 3 at launch (unless you're Ridge Racer 7 fetishist Tom, it's between this and MotorStorm really), Insomniac Games' Resistance: Fall of Man will not be integrated with the console's online functionality, specifically the built-in buddy list - instead, it will use its own buddy list, clan management system, and so on.

That's according to Insomniac boss Ted Price, who was speaking to Eurogamer's Rob Fahey earlier this week in an interview for the ThreeSpeech blog. While the decision to make the game run its own buddy list and so on is a blow to Sony's claims of an integrated online service - and in fact, it harks back to the bad old days of the PS2 online system - Price apparently left the door open for the possibility that the two systems could be reconciled in future, saying that "it is definitely possible to update the game via online."

At least the news about the rest of the game's online functions is more positive. According to Price, the game supports four player split screen, and up to 40 players online - with games being hosted on Sony's own servers for low-latency play. He claims that the team has played matches from locations as far flung as the USA, Spain and Japan without any problems, which is promising.

Price also speaks in the interview about what sets the game apart from the World War II shooter genre - aliens, science fiction weapons which heavily utilise the PS3's prowess in the physics department and environments based on real British cities such as York, Nottingham, Manchester, London and, er, Grimsby (no, seriously) seem to be the main factors - and explains how Insomniac has brought its close relationship with Sony to bear to ensure that Resistance looks more like a second wave title than a launch title.

"We worked closely with Sony at the very beginning to understand what the architecture was going to be all about," he explains. "We participated in that early aspect of development, before we even had dev stations. As a result, we were able to get ready for when those dev stations came - so as soon as we got the dev stations, we jumped on it, and we had our levels up and running very quickly. We began building assets long before we got PlayStation 3 development stations."

You can read the rest of Rob's interview over at ThreeSpeech.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • effinwooly #1 5 years ago

    and so it begins................

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    awe cool i get buddy lists seperate from the main list.

    But seeing that i don't do online gaming with friends and shit this is bound to get someone else riled.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #3 5 years ago

    Surprised me a bit actually.

  • Canadian_Mike #4 5 years ago

    " disc
    02-Nov-06 18:09:27

    Yes but I'm not an Xbot.

    Also, they can easily patch this later."


    ...thats actually a good point.

  • JediMasterMalik #5 5 years ago

    So Sony have a seperate Buddy List in the system for friends, which games can choose to have integrated or not? Why didn't they do it, or is it difficult to do? The servers working well is a good thing though, even if I can't have the same buddies in my system as I do in individual games.

  • rhinoxious #6 5 years ago

    Agreed, i'm amazed they didn't sort this out properly, not impressed.

    I'm more surprised they are hosting all the Resistance games on Sony servers, how long will that last with a free online system (as opposed to the subscription live service, which doesn't even do this).

    It's a lot of servers to run in the long term with no revenue coming in to maintain them.

    EDIT on the other hand if Sony want to pay to host big lag free games YAY!
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 18:34

  • lambtron #7 5 years ago

    @Jedi

    A unified service isn't necessarily an easy thing to do. The reason they probably haven't done it is the same reason we heard feck all about anything online PS3 until recently is simple. It ain't ready yet. Remember Neversoft saying there will be no online in the PS3 version of TH - that's probably why.

    Disc pretty much said how I feel about this.

  • Inflatable #8 5 years ago

    Like expected.. Did anyone really think the PS3 was gonna offer the same unified online system Xbox Live does? You knew this was gonna happen once Sony announced they were leaving it up to the individual developers again..

    Xbox Live will remain the premium online service where you have the same friendslist and online awareness accross all games, so you can always see what your friends are upto, and can always send all kinds of messages and invites to friends no matter what game they are playing or doing on their console, aslong as they're online.. That's why you pay 5 euro a month for it..

    Only thing I would like to see MS do though is offer dedicated servers for some games, so they can put more players in games.. Atm all Xbox 360 online game sessions are peer to peer which limits the ammount of players.. Resistance on the PS3 uses dedicated servers, that's why they offer upto 40 players online..

  • SeesThroughAll #9 5 years ago

    A unified service isn't necessarily an easy thing to do.

    Well then, they shouldn't have promised too much. Deliver whatever you can, when you can.

    Is MotorStorm going to be playable online at all??



    I'll just stick to the PSP. A handheld is enough for casual gaming. F*** the PS3.

  • Rambaldi #10 5 years ago

    A real Live killer then?

  • JediMasterMalik #11 5 years ago

    Motorstorm will be online.

  • SeesThroughAll #12 5 years ago

    yep, I think so too, disc.

    But in a handheld, online is more like a bonus. I really don't need online in order to enjoy games like E3, I think. Adhoc is mostly sufficient for two-player. Some of my friends also have PSPs, and we always manage that way.

    Video-chatting in the PSP? Sounds nice. Great portable screen. Sony could have made it possible with the upcoming camera, but once again failed to make full use of the hardware they produce themselves. Word has it, it even requires a UMD in the slot in order to run as an ordinary camera. Which is really not handy.

    Ok, on the upside, there are also rumours that there will be games supporting cross-platform (PS3-PSP) multiplayer. It would be nice, I guess.

    But the online service is not looking that good to me at this stage, anyway.
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 19:11

  • JediMasterMalik #13 5 years ago

    What exactly would having a unified buddy list mean? I think the most important thing to me at least, is being able to play online for free, on good conenctions, and to have an interface with which I can more easily connect to games. As long as Soy can deliver that, I will be happy, unified Buddy list or no. At least the unified log in is confirmed.

  • urban #14 5 years ago

    nice nice.

  • penhalion #15 5 years ago

    The servers haven't been tested yet and I don't really think 40 insomniac guys playing resistance is any kind of test do you!

    I'll wait to see if it all keels over after a million plus people have managed to buy PS3 not just a few hundren thousand

  • MadMirko #16 5 years ago

    Disc is right, it's a disgrace.

    They couldn't even copy what's been around for a long time: Live. They didn't have a strategy for online, or we could see it right from the start. I get the feeling that they haven't thought much about their console and were just confident that the PS3 would manage the same way the PS2 did: Just the same basic package, updated with current technology.

    I can believe they were suprised by Nintendo and their controller, but there has been no surprise in Live, why are they forced to rush and shoehorn in this area as well? Something went seriously wrong.

  • Xerx3s #17 5 years ago

    :(

    Hope that this isn't a sign that they are going back to the ps2 online again. :\

  • Xerx3s #18 5 years ago

    I'll wait to see if it all keels over after a million plus people have managed to buy PS3 not just a few hundren thousand

    I think that ppl will have moved on to better games by then, don't you?

  • Lex_Luthor #19 5 years ago

    "I think that ppl will have moved on to better games by then"

    Played it? Or did you just mean to type 'other' games?
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 19:51

  • Steroyd #20 5 years ago

    I think that ppl will have moved on to better games by then, don't you?

    Apparently people are still playing on Halo 2 so who knows....
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 19:50

  • wired009 #21 5 years ago

    PS Online is free now because they don't have enough features or content to justify charging you yet. Point being I wouldn't get too excited just because it's been announced pre-launch that signing on will be free. It's pretty obvious that the intention is to sell you digitally distributed content and upgrades at the least.

  • Shadar #22 5 years ago

    " disc
    02-Nov-06 18:09:27

    Yes but I'm not an Xbot.

    Also, they can easily patch this later."


    ...thats actually a good point.

    Just what I want! Patching in console games! Rush the game out the door and add promised features later. Or, you know, if the game doesn't do that well, save the money and fuck over your customers instead. They won't care.

  • Lex_Luthor #23 5 years ago

    "Just what I want! Patching in console games!"

    Yep, be terrible when that starts happening...

  • Shadar #24 5 years ago

    Would you like to see the problem exacerbated? Additional content is fine with me. At least I can elect not to buy Bethesda's shitty horse armour and fifteen minute quests. I got rid of Saints Row a long time ago, and didn't care about whether their netcode was broken or not. Because, quite frankly, the online play was utter bollocks.

    What I don't want to see is patches like we get for Dark Messiah of Might & Magic. "Oh, we couldn't be arsed to finish the game, so we shipped it. Look, there's a slight problem about loading the second level, and the sound stutters throughout the entire game. Oh! And there's a memory leak in there that causes high quality textures to triple the game's system requirements. We'll sort it out some time. Maybe."

  • Feanor #25 5 years ago

    Joystiq are claiming it's a bit dodgy for journalists like Shinji to be part of a corporate blog like ThreeSpeech.... what do you guys think?

  • jiveguy #26 5 years ago

    Sony like Rob Fahey because he generally has only good things to say about their consoles. It does nothing for him though because anyone with sense know by now to take anything he says about Sony or their competitors with a grain of salt.

  • OhWiseOne #27 5 years ago

    "Sony in Let Down Shocker" - is this news any more?

    SONY = Shocking bunch of Clowns who are throwing away everthing.

    PONY ShiteStation 3

    Forget online with Sony, they can make pretty boxes, but nothing else.

    Clowns.

  • OhWiseOne #28 5 years ago

    One more thing, Rob, you are King Canute, shit in your chair while the sea engulfs you, you moron little twerp.
















    Tool

  • jamesbee #29 5 years ago

    If you read the full article they mention that the game will support 'parties'. For me it was the best idea in multiplayer gaming, since, ever! Halo 2 was a joy to play online with my friends because we could all jump into a party and move around getting our asses kicked by everyone. Why has no xbox game since used this idea?! (Not any I am aware of)

    I wish more games used the Halo 2 method of matchmaking. I tried to get into the GRAW online recently after missing months of it. Ranked only a 1, nobody wants me in the room and I was kicked from about the first 6 rooms I entered. The only room that didn't boot me for being too 'crap' was the one where the Admin appeared to be away. This is all before I even managed to fire a single bullet to prove my non-crapness.

    Nothing is more annoying than a ranking system that then allows the admins to decide if you are good enough to be in their team. It's like school sports day all over again!

    I gave up trying after an hour.

    Microsoft, if you are listening, somehow, make parties part of the xbox dash! Across all games, let me get some friends in a group and jump into a match, no hassle, no problems!

    I guess a lot of people won't agree with me, at the launch of Halo 2 there was a lot of people angry that Bungie had removed hosting control, problem is, you give people control and they fuck it up, always!

    Sidenote: None of the above relates that much to this news item, other than the parties bit of course.
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 21:03

  • JediMasterMalik #30 5 years ago

    People are really gonna listen to you now aren't they? Jackass.

    Edit - I was referring to the apparently not so wise one.
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 21:02

  • Penguinzoot #31 5 years ago

    For me the non-integrated buddy-lists is very disappointing. What happened to Sonys assertion that PS3 was designed from the very outset to be online capable? Doesn't really seem like it to me - more like a bolted-on afterthought TBH. Again.

    Anyway, R:FOM still sounds and looks interesting.
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 21:53

  • ronuds #32 5 years ago

    It's going to be a bitch trying to remember separate screen names for every game!

    Ha ha!

    Oh, and I loved the comment how there wasn't any lag playing between the US and Japan and so on. Like the guy would've said if there was lag.

  • Xerx3s #33 5 years ago

    Joystiq are claiming it's a bit dodgy for journalists like Shinji to be part of a corporate blog like ThreeSpeech.... what do you guys think?

    Well that's an obvious one, isn't it? Even if he stays 100% unbiased, it damages how much credit and faith readers can put into his writings in related articles. One of the fundamentals of all credible journo is that they should remain disassociated in any way with the parties that they write about.
    Not that I mind THAT much, I pretty much know what to expect from him and am yet to stumble onto something that is utter bull written by his hand. But still...

  • JediMasterMalik #34 5 years ago

    A seperate buddy list does not mean different log in names, it simply means you may have to put your friends name in twice if you have the same game as him. Not that big of a deal to me, but still would have been nice to have. Sony need to tell developers to incorporate these things, I'm sure they can, they just aren't.

  • The-Bodybuilder #35 5 years ago

    >"Joystiq are claiming it's a bit dodgy for journalists like Shinji to be part of a corporate blog like ThreeSpeech.... what do you guys think?"

    So let me get this straight....
    Shinji, a person accused many times of being biased towards sony, shows the fact he isn't biased by.....joining a sony corporate blog?

  • JackB #36 5 years ago

    Sony fanboys will continue to spin this as no big deal and they'll say, "but it's free, so it's better".

    P.T. Barnum said it best, "there's a sucker born every minute". Almost nothing is free in life. These servers cost money to support. They will be shut down or come with a fee at some point. Count on it. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

    Microsoft's peer-to-peer has some disadvantages, but there aren't the big servers to maintain and shut down. Microsoft does have the potential to offer dedicated servers like Electronic Arts already does on Live (damn them for negotiating that with Microsoft!), but by having a unified peer-to-peer system, they have a lower cost system that is much less likely to get shut off. Unless, of course you are doing dedicated servers like EA and shut them off after two years to save money and force you to buy the latest version to play online.

    Can't people see, that dedicated servers aren't free. Someone will have to pay. That's why MMORPG's collect the monthly fee to keep those servers running. It's not cheap, but for some reason Sony fans think everything will be free and it will be just "awesome".

    Get ready for surprise after surprise in the next 12 months, when it comes to PS3 games online support. It will be the PS2 all over again. Just slightly better. You get what you pay for...

    Oh, but Sony will spend the time to give you a great online store.... Enjoy!
    Edited by 2 at 02/11/06 @ 21:58

  • Steroyd #37 5 years ago

    I don't get it... Sony's used dedicated servers for the PS2 for years and I didn't have to pay a penny even today. :/

    What's going to be so different about PS3?
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 22:33

  • Mr_Brown #38 5 years ago

    Though I'm hardily a Sony fan, but this is ridiculous. I think it was extremely clear why PS2 online didn't catch on as well as Xbox Live and its very clear how it needs to be fixed. So why the hell haven't they sorted their online system out?? If someones paying £420 for a console they expect all the trimmings and rightly so. To say that this is double the price of 360, but isn't even close to comparison with online sysyem is a disgrace on Sony.

    But then its this kind of thing that backs up why we have to pay for the XBL service. Quality comes at a price...obviously.
    Edited by 1 at 02/11/06 @ 22:44

  • Canadian_Mike #39 5 years ago

    So, will the system (the PS3) show you as being "online" (on the XMB) while you play Resistance?

  • Dizzy #40 5 years ago

    Rofl.. Sony just doesn't get it.

  • Krun #41 5 years ago

    The PS3 is costs X amount more to buy than a 360. This "free" low rent, messy service is one you just paid up front for; when you buy the overpriced console. You'll keep paying too with poor service and no support.

    A now a launch title isnt even going to use its built in features? Will any game use any of the "features" sony want them to? If they can't do it from the start, then when?

  • Xerx3s #42 5 years ago

    I don't get it... Sony's used dedicated servers for the PS2 for years and I didn't have to pay a penny even today. :/

    What's going to be so different about PS3?

    I think that you just picked one of the worst examples of a free online service in the history of man there.

  • JediMasterMalik #43 5 years ago

    I don't get what the fuss is all about, what advantage does having a unified buddy list give you? The most importabnt thing is ease of use, especially for a free service. As long as you can easily find an online game to play and join it easily there shouldn't be any complaining. So what if you have to put your friends nick in twice, is it that difficult? Are you paying $50 a year for the console to copy and paste nicks? I would much rather copy and paste it myself than pay for it to be done for me.

    Like I said before, the most important things for this online service, is not to be like XBL in every way, it is to provide a satisfactory online experience, for no cost. If you want the absolutely best online console experience, go with a 360, if you don't want to pay for it, and dont mind getting a worse service, go with the PS3. See simple.

    Besides we've known this for a while, well I have.

    PS - Can't you see the console buddy list during gameplay by bringing up the XMB?

  • doctor__no #44 5 years ago

    >>Sony fanboys will continue to spin this as no big deal and they'll say, "but it's free, so it's better".

    Right, like how all the Xbots spin having to pay to play online.

  • SeesThroughAll #45 5 years ago

    @ JMM:

    what advantage does having a unified buddy list give you? The most importabnt thing is ease of use

    You answered your own question. It's not like it's the most important thing for playing online, but I can certainly see it as helpful.

  • JediMasterMalik #46 5 years ago

    $50 helpful?

  • SeesThroughAll #47 5 years ago

    We don't know yet what are the differences between the Sony online service and Live.
    Too soon to judge what difference do those 50 euro/bucks per year make, isn't it?

    At this point, we already saw one feature less, and counting. Sony need to convince us that they can deliver, especially after so much obscure marketing.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 00:05

  • FooAtari #48 5 years ago

    JMM

    There is also system wide chat, I can talk to anyone no matter what game they are playing.

    System wide invites, I can see what my freinds are playing and send them an invite to any game at any time.

    Generally everything on XBL functions in a standard way and all games work with this system fully. It's a completely integrated experience, and that's what sells it to me anyway.

    With the exception of browsing market place, which is a complete pain in the ass, it's a fairly simple and straight forward system to use.

  • JackB #49 5 years ago

    Asking PS2 users who've never experienced 360 Live why is 360 Live worth paying for is like asking someone who's never played a video game to explain why Splinter Cell is a better game than Burger King's "Sneak King" game for $4.

    My mom would say, "oh, gee they are both video games.." what's the difference? Let's get the $4 game. They both work on the 630 Nintendo Box!

    Keep telling yourself you won't need the features Live offers. And if you never experience 360 Live you may continue to wonder what's the big deal about online... You may find yourself saying about online "it sucks...". And you know what... The PS2 online system did suck and the PS3 is going right down the same path. Maybe they'll figure it out in time for the PS4.

    Ignorance is bliss sometimes.
    Edited by 2 at 03/11/06 @ 01:19

  • Penguinzoot #50 5 years ago

    @JMM

    On Xbox Live, you have a single friends list whether you are using Silver or Gold accounts. Although you can only play online if you have a Gold account :p, you can still communicate etc with friends via a single unified friends list with just Silver.

    For me the question still remains:
    Sony have had years to get this right. But for some reason the nuances of all the online stuff still seems to elude them. They really should have been able to sort this out by now.

    Its too early to say exactly how PS3 online will work out in practice compared to Xbox Live and the cost of a Gold account, and maybe some of this stuff will get fixed in updates, or get sorted out over time.

    But when Sony have a major strategic partner like Insomniac building their own interfaces, well, it just doesn't seem to be evidential of a very coherent online strategy to me.

  • Xerx3s #51 5 years ago

    Right, like how all the Xbots spin having to pay to play online.

    You know, the only one who gets to lower grounds by such name calling is you. :\

  • WrongShui #52 5 years ago

    Grimsby.......

    Can't wait.

  • BartonFink #53 5 years ago

    As Shinji described this in the forum last night this 'is frankly a COLLOSAL cock-up' . Not a good start to Sony's online efforts.

  • Penguinzoot #54 5 years ago

    .... and if Shinji says its a cock-up, then I guess it must be true! ;-)

  • Garulon #55 5 years ago

    "Joystiq are claiming it's a bit dodgy for journalists like Shinji to be part of a corporate blog like ThreeSpeech.... what do you guys think? "

    A _bit_ dodgy? It's pretty stunning that there isn't an uproar in this. Imagine if (for example) Jonathan Ross was doing the PR for a movie he was then going to later review.

    As to the other news: Sony Online Service Smoke And Mirrors Shocker :)

  • belziah #56 5 years ago

    Is it me or do I smell fear?

    First of all, one out x online launch titles has a seperate buddy list and another will use x-fire. This obviously spells the end for Sony as two out of 20 launch titles dont use their system. Its a surefire sign that Sony are as "TeH dOomed" as 'the' fanboys say they are.

    Facts are, I dont know why Sony/Incognito took this route with this game but, its one game. When there are 10 games with 9 unique online set-ups(ala ps2), then start bitching!

    Just as MS have evolved Live so will Sony.

    Second, any twat that would use Joystiq as a rod to beat any other journalists back with is trully stooping. I would take the consensus of Pete Doherty, Bhagdad Bob and Jade Goody over the word, let alone opinion, of any Joystiq staffer.

    The site that had Xbox fanboys crying for the first 3 months after launch because all they did was slag it off. The reason they do it, to get hits. They get hits, they get paid. The easiest way to get hits on a blog site is to slag off whats popular. They have the journalistic integrity of the Christmas day edition of the Sunday Sport.

    To come here and say ".....but, Joystiq says it aint right" is fucking pityfull and those questioning Shinji's integrity based on what that cess pool of a site reckons, needs to take a good look at the world, their place in it and consider whether its fair to be stealing oxygen from those that obviously have a better use for it.

    Its clear that those moaning about shinji/threespeak(shit name) are same people who moan about any sort of non-negative PS3 news, they'll be moaning when Gears of War only gets 10/10, they moan IF a multiplatform game scores higher on a playstation and they'll moan when people stop buying the Wii - sometime next October going on recent Nintendo history.

    fuck sake, these are games we're talking about, after all.

  • FooAtari #57 5 years ago

    belziah, you do realize at the end of the day Joystiq is a blog site, not like EG or Gamespot or IGN and that they are not necessarily journalists, but are simply expressing their opinion on whatever subjects and posting what ever they find of interest. It doesn’t need journalistic integrity, it just needs to be entertaining to read, which it usually is.

    Although I do agree that from time to time they seem to have posted some articles to annoy the fanbois and get the hits.