Grave Gamer News & Views — superbot entertainment

Sony America Dumps PlayStation All-Stars Dev; Break Up Apparently Amicable

With neither party offering up much insight into the decision, both SCEA and SuperBot Entertainment have formally announced the end of their working relationship; a partnering that resulted in last Fall’s over-named, license bloated online fighter, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.

With PS3 version currently sitting on a critical reception of 74 on Metacritic (its Vita counterpart not far off with a 75), PS All-Stars actually fared pretty well for a game most wrote off as a Smash Bros. clone.  But, considering most major publishers’ open disappointment with scores below the coveted 80 paired with the game’s middling sales performance (not to mention a below-room-temp public reception), Sony’s abandonment of SuperBot starts to make sense from a dry, business perspective.

Instead of venomous accusations and endless finger pointing, it’s the high road for SuperBot.  “We are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Sony on Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale, and are extremely proud of the work we have done.”

Though they may have gained the most exposure with Sony, the studio began independently in 2009 and intends to keep trucking onto “the next chapter” of their journey.  “SuperBot Entertainment will continue working on projects that reflect our passion for games and our commitment to creating award winning titles,” said the developer.

Recently having to suffer through layoffs, SuperBot says there is no further reduction plan in place but admits it is unlikely the studio can persist with its current workforce for very long.

Meanwhile, PlayStation All-Stars will see continued support from Sony’s Santa Monica Studios, including the upcoming release of character DLC meant to bolster the game’s roster.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (PS3 - Holiday 2012)

You can find a great interview on the PS3 brawler with the game’s director, Omar Kendall, as well as some footage for your eyes to munch on over at the PlayStation blog.

Kendall claims his studio and staff were handpicked for having the most experience in the fighting genre and I sincerely hope they put it to good use.  The gameplay looks to paint a target on the casual gamer’s forehead (much so to the point I’m shocked Move support hasn’t been loudly announced yet), but wouldn’t it be a helluva thing if there was a tech-heavy fighter beneath All-Stars’ kiddy veneer?

Developer Superbot also makes mention on the PS blog that a bigger reveal is slated for this year’s E3.

It’s Real, Sony Fanatics: PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is Slamming into a PS3 Near You

If you haven’t heard about it yet, you aren’t possible.  Sony’s “secret” fighting game has been outed from minute one as a rebuttal to Super Smash Bros.  I just didn’t believe it would be a mirror image of SMB as you can see in GTTV’s exclusive preview.

Dubbed PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, the title does not have the excuse of being a poor Japanese translation as SCEA’s own Superbot Entertainment is tasked with readying the game on Western shores for a projected Holiday release on the PS3.  While Superbot’s resume is a tad…blank, the internalized Sony studio has stated serious fighting game talent was brought on board to bulk the four-player brawler up.

PSASBR – as it will never be referred to again – features familiar Sony game mascots entering the fray such as Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Sly, and Parappa (occupation: the Rapper), but several unexpected combatants make the roster, ranging from obscurities like Fat Princess and extending to even third-party characters friendly to the company’s platforms.  Given the mash-up nature of the game, stages also follow suit and offer up crossovers like a Little Big Planet themed level that literally builds itself up until turning – well, honestly, degrading – into a Buzz! inspired backdrop/nightmare-scape.

Let’s review: we’re getting a kitschy SMB clone from an unproven developer that swims in a tirade of licenses, some that may coast right past most people’s threshold of recognition…This one can really go either way, but I’ve seen miracles in this industry before.  Just that, most of those miracles weren’t so unfortunately named.

Still, with as many huge properties attached to the bill, the only real feat All-Stars needs to perform is being fun to play.