Heavenly Sword downloadable content coming ... if it sells well

by Jem Alexander { Sep 14th 2007 at 12:30PM }

It's a two-way road, this video game business. Developers want you to buy their products so, in turn, if you request something from them then you had better be willing to front the cash. During a presentation and Q&A at last night's Warhawk tournament at 3Rooms, Tameem Antoniades (co-founder of Ninja Theory) was asked what his response was to the criticism that Heavenly Sword was too short. He replied that Ninja Theory are definitely interested in extending the experience via downloadable content - but only if it sells well.

The game has been getting good reviews pretty much across the board, with the most common criticism being that there simply isn't enough game to play. With the marketing push that is happening in Europe (we couldn't get through the paper this morning without being greeted by Nariko's face at least twice) we expect the game to sell well, but will it sell enough to persuade Ninja Theory to release extra content? We sincerely hope so. If you want to see it happen, then put down the money and buy the game.

Tags: 3rooms, heavenly-sword, ninja-theory, threespeech

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Pistolaero @ Sep 14th 2007 12:41PM

Yeah, but will they charge you for it? I can't help but feel cheated by games like Motorstorm that cost me 60 bucks, and only came with a few maps and only one race mode.

It makes me feel-as a consumer and fan-cheated. They should have included all of the crap they are finally now releasing. And not charge us for it. This kinda crap really pisses me off and I refuse to give them more of my money.

If Ninja Theory is planning DL content, it had better be free. Because as good as the game is, it is just way too short for having shelled out 60 bucks.

Solace @ Sep 14th 2007 12:47PM

Heavenly Sword is fricken awesome and i'd rather pay for more of something good than get something crappy for free.

Justin @ Sep 14th 2007 1:02PM

I know I bought it.

brettjr @ Sep 14th 2007 1:09PM

Uh no sorry ninja theory that's not how it works. We don't pay $60 for a game that's 6hrs long and then only get more of it IF it sells well. You give us a good game from the get go and then provide extras. Ninja theory sucks. Go die.

Matt B (SDF - White Gold Ring) @ Sep 14th 2007 1:17PM

HS is the most beautiful game I've ever played. I think it is a must have in any PS3 library. I have not beaten the game yet so I can't vouch for the length. It wouldn't bother me anyway.

Bring on DLC!!! I'll buy it.

RaZor @ Sep 14th 2007 1:21PM

Yeah, or at least only charge like $44.99 for the game and not $60!

Luke @ Sep 14th 2007 1:32PM

I brought this game yesterday, In my opinion it is a awesome game too. Best voice acting I ever seen in a game period. I am only one chapter in so I can't vouch for the length either. Downloadable content would be cool. The shortness of this game will not brother me too much. I wish Ninja Theory would have atleast put 12 hours of gameplay in. This game is diffidently worth the money though. Hey Ninja Theory, if you make a sequel set a goal to atleast put 12 hours in. 30 hours would be great.

halebound00 @ Sep 14th 2007 1:33PM

I got the game yesterday and beat it in about 8 hours. I was disappointed in the length, but only because it was so good I wanted more. I think if they threw in a bunch of filler missions it would've taken away from what was a great story (btw, everyone dies at the end....lol, j/k). I would definitely welcome some extra levels. You gotta imagine they cut a couple of levels out from the final cut for whatever reason, all they have to do is go back and finish them up. Overall though, effin great game and anybody who says otherwise should drown themselves. Pick it up and I am sure you will enjoy it. Peace!

ruibing @ Sep 14th 2007 1:38PM

I bought it and it got shipped to my house, i hope i get to play it when i get back home this winter.

JeremyK @ Sep 14th 2007 1:39PM

I'm not a fan of the cost of DLC this gen. Maybe if I didn't feel like stuff that could be released in the game was being specifically held back to make more money down the road it wouldn't bug me as much but that's the impression I get.

Either way a game has to be pretty amazing to get me to spend $60 on a 5 hour game. I think Ico is one of the few short games I've bought where I didn't feel ripped off when it was over. Going by the reviews Heavenly Sword is good but not great. I'll gamefly it...

Tanya @ Sep 14th 2007 1:47PM

I got it yesterday and it's awesome. I'd definitely buy content for the game if it became available! :)

jadedcritic @ Sep 14th 2007 1:50PM

For what it's worth Razor, sometimes discounts can be found. I was able to order a copy for $45 if only because that particular site has a 5$ off for new customers coupon.

As to the larger issues - I can see arguments on both sides. "Your game is too short" -> "We'll make DLC if it sells well enough" -> is a cop-out. On the other hand, I'd rather have a solid 6 hour game then a poor quality 12+ hour.

Either way, call me suspicious - but I don't think we've seen the last of Nariko. (Yes, I'm aware that story events would make that...difficult, but that's not to say they couldn't do a prequel.)

Don @ Sep 14th 2007 1:52PM

I just went out and picked up the game. With or without future downloadable content, I'm happy with my purchase. From what I've played so far, the game is amazing. The artwork and graphics are amazing coupled with some top notch gameplay. I've already missed a couple of unlockables so I will definitely play over eventually. If they do bring out downloadable content in the future, bonus!

a.j. @ Sep 14th 2007 1:53PM

The game is unbelievable, BRING IT ON!!!

drdre74 @ Sep 14th 2007 2:03PM

Now people have no good reason not to pick this game up. I know for a fact I've played 20 hour games that sucked ass the moment I put the disc in the drive. Its like sex. Some times that wild crazy rip your close off sex is better than that rub some feet cuddle for 30 min and then have sex with a chick that is bad in bed. lol!

sectionz @ Sep 14th 2007 2:16PM

8. wait until you play it on a harder difficulty .. lets see if you can pull that off in 8 hours ;)

rawd @ Sep 14th 2007 2:22PM

I dont even own a PS3 and i bought it!

coplice @ Sep 14th 2007 2:55PM

6 hours long? thats maybe above average... most shooter and stuff like omnimusha dont evan take 5 hours to finsih.. same for metal gear

Zim @ Sep 14th 2007 3:02PM

This game is amazing, i would buy more DL content if it was cheap enough and it was worth it unlike motorstorm,

Justin @ Sep 14th 2007 3:15PM

game is awesome!!!!!

halebound00 @ Sep 14th 2007 3:19PM

@16----I just found a little time to try it on hell mode and got my ass handed to me on the very first level. The second time around is gonna be more fun, I can already tell. And there is no way button mashing will get you through this game, you have to master the combat system, especially for the last battle.

HektikLyfe @ Sep 14th 2007 3:23PM

Well I for one have never appreciated money hungry developers. But in this case I consider it the exception. Compare the quality of this game to say, Lair. Same price. One is crap and one isn't. Lair is longer (I hear) then Heavenly Sword. But the pricing is way off. Sure Heavenly Sword is short but I'm three chapters in and I can honestly say its the most fun I've had in a video game in a LONG time. The animation is outstanding, the audio is fantastic, the graphics are breathtaking, the mechanics...err, God of War did it better but its still a lot of fun. I'm sure the extra content is already in development and/or locked on the disc itself. Is it underhanded? Perhaps. Worth it? This time, yes.

Pricing should (in a perfect world) reflect the quality of the game/film but unfortunately opinions vary too greatly to develop any kind of standard.

Motorstorm is not a $60 for me, with or without expansions.

Mc187 @ Sep 14th 2007 3:57PM

Im only about 2 hours in and loving every bit of it. DL content hells yeah .just keep it free or dirt cheap thanx ninja theory, and kudos on a beautiful game.

doug @ Sep 14th 2007 3:58PM

did someone say metal gear is less than 6 hours long? awww hell no you didunt?!?

railven @ Sep 14th 2007 4:09PM

Are you guys serious about the money issue? I grew up paying $40-$50 for my games. This next gen era drops and all of a sudden MS sets the price at $60 and everyone follows.

Regardless, you guys sound like cheap a-holes. You guys expect what for your money? Mario 3 can be tooken down in less than 5 hours, it cost $50 when it launched and it had no DLC. People didn't moan and bitch then. That game also cost less to make than any current gen game.

And I was talking with my girlfriend, 5-6Hrs is average for most action games. I took out Gears of War in 6 hours, I took out MGS3 in about 8hrs, and God of War in about 8hrs too.

After the first run through in any of the RE/SH series you can take them down in under two hours. My fastest time for SH2 was 55 minutes. Same goes for Onimusha, Megaman, Metroid, etc. I waste more time exploring environments and trying to find hidden crap on my first run through than I actually play the game. The second run through is usually a hell of a lot shorter.

You guys have too much time to sit around and pump out 6-8hrs in one day. Get a job and then you'll stop whining about the price of stuff this generation.

Depending on your abilities, games are either really easy and short, or really long and frustrating.

Mc187 @ Sep 14th 2007 5:22PM

Wow its really nice not to see any trolls (so far). HS being an exclusive seems to have kept this blog on point.

timjdonat @ Sep 14th 2007 5:24PM

Alternate costumes for Nariko. I would be ALL OVER THAT! plzkthxbye

hoffer @ Sep 14th 2007 7:49PM

Another MotorStorm Well reviewed game that everyone said felt unfinished. Then they come out to finish it, but charge us $10.

Good job Sony

Byron517 @ Sep 15th 2007 12:20AM

This is by far the best Action Game I've played in a looooooooonnnnnggggg time It's up there with Shadow of the Colossus and Metal Gear! I'm extremely happy with it!! I hope they do release some more content!

irishgamer666 @ Sep 15th 2007 7:51AM

iam guessing most people here are fans of god of war 1 and 2. i finish GOW1 in 6 hours and GOW2 in 5 and half. so i dont see wants wrong with finishing HS in 6 hours.

LW @ Sep 15th 2007 9:43AM

I worked on the sound for Heavenly Sword, and wasn't sure what it would be like, given that the renders were really lo-fi and we got everything in short clips out of order. Now that I have the game, I'm VERY impressed with it. The pacing is perfect, it doesn't let up, and is very suspenseful. I don't care about the length as long as the game is good. It also has decent acting, not the cheesy crap most people are used to in video games. My only criticism is the game keeps you on rails, you really can't wander around and explore the beautiful environment too much, but they said they wanted it to be like a scripted movie, and that's pretty much exactly what they achieved, where you're the main character and the path that you're on is beyond your control.

KMJFNIGUY @ Sep 15th 2007 10:26AM

gREAT GAME ON CHAPTER 3.....BEST GAME I HAVE PLAYED IN A VERY LONG TIME. I THINK I AM IN LOVE WITH MY PS3 AGAIN..IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT A YEAR...BUT I AM FINALLY HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE..........

SIDE NOTE: I THINK THAT DLC IS A JOKE..WHEN IT COST MONEY. I AM COOL WITH $60.00 GAMES BUT $5.00 DLC IS A JOKE I CAN GO TO A NATS GAME FOR ABOUT $7.00

Byron517 @ Sep 15th 2007 11:51AM

For all we know if the game does really well they could release the DLC for free as a thank you for purchasing the game! I have been following HS for a long time and I post on the Ninja Theory forms as well and from my experience NT is by far the best Dev's when it comes to interacting with the gamers I've ever seen! They are extremely cool I wouldn't be surprised at all if the content was for free!

Matt Rutkowski @ Sep 15th 2007 12:51PM

I played the game through 3 chapters last night and thought this game is awesome. HS is not as repetitive that some low scoring game sits have you believe. I agree with the other comment that it makes you want more. So, bring on more content. If it is reasonable, I say why not.