Sony changes tune on WipEout HD

By Tom Bramwell Published 25 July, 2008

Now delay is because of new features.

Sony has effectively denied reports that WipEout HD has been delayed due to a "specific technical problem", attributing the futuristic racer's extended incubation to the rush to add new features and make improvements.

Last week at E3, Sony Europe boss David Reeves told Eurogamer that "a really, really tricky technical problem that no region has been able to solve at the moment" is responsible for the game's delay. Subsequent reports suggested the game had failed industry-standard epilepsy tests by a large margin, requiring large-scale redevelopment.

"Regarding the speculation about health issues, we can assure you that we take consumer safety very seriously and monitor it very carefully," Sony said in a statement yesterday evening.

But, it claimed, the real reason WipEout HD is nowhere to be seen is that it's being fitted with all sorts of new gizmos and gadgets, including Trophy support and split-screen multiplayer.

"The reason for the delay of WipEout HD on PS3 has been due to the many improvements we have been making and the numerous features we've added to the game," the statement said, contradicting Reeves' comments.

"These include: eight reverse tracks, four extra ships, two alternative HUDS, two-player offline split-screen and XMB Trophy support. We look forward to sharing WipEout HD with you very soon."

WipEout HD remixes existing content from two excellent PSP outings in a 1080p, 60 frames-per-second downloadable format that we had a lot of good things to say about earlier this year. Whether it's a technical problem or feature creep holding it up, we hope Sony Liverpool sorts it out soon so we can get hold of the finished article.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (40) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • SeesThroughAll #1 4 years ago

    Sony, you bloody idiots.
    Those extras are a nice way of apologizing that I'd be more than happy to accept... No need to bullshit.

  • Aretak #2 4 years ago

    The horse has bolted, but shut the stable door anyway so he can't get back in. That'll teach the bastard.

  • BadBoyBonner #3 4 years ago

    PR - spin.

  • the_dudefather #4 4 years ago

    'split-screen multiplayer'

    mostly PR spin, but this is nice

  • penhalion #5 4 years ago

    Isn't Reeves the developer? Wouldn't he know whay something is delayed. This sounds like a taxi driver ringing you to say the cabs delayed in traffic and then his office ringing to say actaully it's down to him having to get more petrol. By this time you'd already know the second call was just to set your mind at ease that the cab would be there eventually.

  • DFawkes #6 4 years ago

    Adding new features, such as functioning I'd wager.

    I do like split-screen multiplayer though, too many games don't bother nowadays.

  • bdaggers #7 4 years ago

    PSelipsy3lol

  • SeesThroughAll #8 4 years ago

    They're not delaying it with the aim of improving it.
    Rather, there was a problem (most probably the epilepsy triggers) that needs to be fixed.
    What the developers decided to do, however, was take the time to add features that had been cut off before due to lack of time. Which is, frankly, a very good policy.

    The new features, we're happy to hear about for sure. What we really don't appreciate is bullshitting like this.

  • andijames #9 4 years ago

    Can only be a good thing if extra features are being included. If there is a problem with the epilepsy inducing flashing then obviously it needs to be fixed before it gets released. Whenever this game eventually turns up at least it's going to be more feature packed now.

  • escapedape #10 4 years ago

    Come on blig, surely even you can smell the bull here...

  • Bigglesworth #11 4 years ago

    Is there any evidence at all for this epileptic trigger rumour?

  • SBfistfun #12 4 years ago

    wow 8 reverse tracks!

  • spammage #13 4 years ago

    Rumor has it that Don Mattrick has suggested that Wipeout HD causes drug abuse and homosexuality among it's target demographic. It's another reason why MS platform is made of win. Clearly.

    If the last 2 PSP versions of the flagship title are anything to go by it will be worth the wait.

  • SeesThroughAll #14 4 years ago

    I suppose they'll be labelling the tracks as "white" or "black" like in Pulse then.

  • seasidebaz #15 4 years ago

    Oh look, I was right...

    Shoehorning in trophy support broke Wipeout.

  • zuljin #16 4 years ago

    "two-player offline split-screen"

    W000t!

  • mattigan #17 4 years ago

    @ SeeThroughAll

    They're not delaying it with the aim of improving it.
    Rather, there was a problem (most probably the epilepsy triggers) that needs to be fixed.
    What the developers decided to do, however, was take the time to add features that had been cut off before due to lack of time. Which is, frankly, a very good policy.

    As an XBOT, unusually, I am in complete agreement with you on this one, it's just common sence, what's the problem? I find the Spin distasteful but this is Sony after all, and they just can't help themselves it seems.

  • aldo_14 #18 4 years ago

    I find the Spin distasteful but this is Sony after all, and they just can't help themselves it seems.

    Well, they can't exactly release a press release saying it was because the game caused seizures, can they?

    It'd be like, I dunno, Coca Cola cancelling new Coke Ebola because it caused horrible haemorrhagic fever death, rather than because customers preferred the clean crisp taste of Coke Hepatitis C.

  • Beano #19 4 years ago

    I don't give a rats arse about the reason... just tell me when it will be out, Sony !

  • oreillymj #20 4 years ago

    I'd like to know how they do this so-called epilepsy testing.

    Do they force a room of 100 epileptics to watch the game for a hour and count how many have seizures? >5 =fail

    I mean how does that hippy Minter get any of his games through these tests?

  • APHIZM #21 4 years ago

    Nice cynical headline there EG. Seems to have got the reactions you wanted, yes? Well done.

  • penhalion #22 4 years ago

    I forgot this games tracks were a nightmare epileptic fit generator. Litterally strobe lights in track form and for hours at a time when people really got into it. I'll wager that some people discovered their photo sensitive epilepsy playing this game.

  • mazzl #23 4 years ago

    sony pr setting the bar really high again.....

  • Godhather08 #24 4 years ago

    Is there any hold to this epilipsy rumour?

    Sony never confirmed this, it's just a rumour.

    "Sony has neither confirmed or denied the report."

    So the title on this article here just speaks for it self. EG are full of it as usual.

    Sony never changed their tune on this.
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/08 @ 12:33

  • Beano #25 4 years ago

    "Sony never changed their tune on this."

    Well... first they said they had major technical difficulties and now they are claiming to hold it back to expand it and add new features.

  • miiiguel #26 4 years ago

    Epiletic beta testers needed.

  • Godhather08 #27 4 years ago

    Beano, could it be that the technical problems he refered to were related to getting split-screen multiplayer up and running?

    Edit: or must it be some evil plot by Sony to try and confuse us all for no reason?
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/08 @ 12:55

  • monkie_king #28 4 years ago

    This is Fitting!

  • Beano #29 4 years ago

    @Godhather08: Dunno, but the whole story smells of damage control and spin. The first story from Sony sounded far more serious and they made it sound like it might not even make a 2008 release. They are obviously downplaying the delay no matter the reason.

    Read the first story here :
    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=191929
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

    Personally I don't care about the reason for the delay, but Sony really need to stop delaying games. Wipeout HD was announded as a small teaser for a proper PS3 sequel 1½ years ago... and still a no-show. It's frustrating!
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/08 @ 13:11

  • Freek #30 4 years ago

    If it had been some anonymouse source they might have been able to spin but the news came straight from the horses mouth, bitt late to deny it now.
    Still, adding a few new feautres while you're at it is nice enough, although the cynic in me is saying those were probably future DC anyway.

  • Godhather08 #31 4 years ago

    Beano, they're adding split-screen multiplayer, reverse versions of all the tracks, new ships, a heads-up display and trophies. It sucks that it's been delayed for so long and that they still haven't given any date for when it's beeing released.

    I think they're downplaying the delay like you say, but they're not lying and changing their story like many are saying. The never said WO HD failed an epilepsi-test or what the technical problems were. First the media make up stories about the reason behind the delay and then when they(sony) give out information they get crap for changing their story. Funny how things work.

    Edit;
    Give them (sony) crap for delaying it and not giving a release date, but also give credit to them for trying to make the game as good as they can. It means they use more time and resources, it costs them more and we're still paying the same, though we have to wait longer.
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/08 @ 13:22

  • Ryze #32 4 years ago

    It'll only help sales of the game and the PS3 if they take the time ton get this game sorted.

    The extra features look like they'll be great as well.

  • Beano #33 4 years ago

    "The never said WO HD failed an epilepsi-test or what the technical problems were."

    And I never claimed they did.

    They first claimed they ran into MAJOR technical problems and could cause a long delay. Now they claim they are just adding a few new features and reverse tracks (not even new tracks), and it will be out soon. That's why EG are writing "changing their tune". The epilepsi-rumor has nothing to do with it.

    End of story.

  • Godhather08 #34 4 years ago

    If someone said that the technical problems were related to keeping the game running in 1080p at a steady 60fps then I be more inclined to believe you, than this epilepsi nonsense. Epilepsi is a serious thing, but they just label the games, they have not prohibited disco's with strobe lights, etc..

    Edit: read your response after I wrote the above.
    Well, we don't know anyway, the technical problems could have been like I said above or anyhting, and why speculate, WO HD is getting more features, but it's delayed and coming soon. End of story.


    According to EG this is what happens if you play Wipeout HD on PS3

    http://im g139.imageshack.us/my.php?image...
    Edited by 3 at 25/07/08 @ 13:42

  • Beano #35 4 years ago

    I just hope it really means "soon" and not a Home/LBP "soon" ;)

  • Darren #36 4 years ago

    Check out the video for Geometry Wars Evolved 2... if THAT game can pass an epilepsy test then ANY game can! LOL

  • HermitArcader #37 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • Rash' #38 4 years ago

    Personally, I don't really know what all the fuss is about. The game's "delayed" (was there ever a confirmed release date?) because they're adding features to improve the experience. There were rumours as what the problem was, which sounded like a legit reason to "delay" it and now they've confirm the reason as REAL and POSITIVE additions for the quality of the product. Stop the pointless bitch!

    Edit: Additionally, an ambiguous response as a technical problem can mean anything. Who are we to suggest the technical problems aren't related to the new feature?
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/08 @ 11:07

  • MossyMos #39 4 years ago

    Split-screen multiplayer will make this game pure maple syrup sexy goodness, Aunt Jemimas syrup to be exact.

  • ocktober17 #40 4 years ago

    A Technical problem no region can overcome.Now its new features.Sony I'm call you out "you lying bastards".