Saints Row canceled due to lack of Sony support, Cell 'complicated'

by Alan Tsang { Aug 1st 2008 at 10:00PM }

With Saints Row 2 arriving on the PS3 soon, some of us are left wondering why a port of the original Saints Row was eventually canned without a detailed explanation. Producer Dan Sutton of Volition tells CVG a valiant attempt was made, since they were about 50% done when they concluded that "we just couldn't get our heads around Cell ... it's just really complicated." Eventually, they decided when the port of Saints Row was finished it would simply be too late to release.

Well, what's so complicated about it? "Cell's really, really powerful. The problem is it's also a really different system, the way it uses multi-threading technology." came the reply. They also attribute the lack of Sony support in fixing bugs to the cancellation: "PlayStation-only bugs are so complicated and Sony didn't have the support to help us out during the Saints Row 1 development."

But it appears things have changed for better this time around for Saints Row 2, as Volition hired a specialized PS3 team to deal with the hardware. And Sony is helping this time around, too. "I think now the support's there at least - we've had many conversations with Sony trying to get our heads around that ... but now we have that support and it's really exciting." Sounds good to us -- let's hope Sony continues to provide that level of assistance to every third-party developer.

Tags: saints-row-2, saints-row2, saintsrow, thq, Volition

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 1st 2008 10:18PM

Hmm. PS3 isn't so complex that Criterion can't manage to program it and do so VERY well.

But I think canceling SR makes sense. It's too old, it wouldn't have sold well anyway.

I think the BioShock port is risky too. Hell, you could get BioShock for PC for $15 last week! So the potential market for BioShock is people who have a PS3 but no 360 or PC and will sport $60 for a 14 month old game?

Shipping SR2 makes more sense, it should do well, in fact, it may out-earn on the PS3 over 360 because of the PS3 success outside the US (like EA's figures last week).

Alex @ Aug 1st 2008 10:44PM

HEY, it's you!

we have very differing opinions when it comes to our comments on Autoblog.

but i pretty much agree with what you stated above.

see you around. ;p

{@} @ Aug 1st 2008 11:50PM

Criterion? I think you mean Volition. Criterion = Burnout Paradise.

dnlkk94 @ Aug 2nd 2008 1:34AM

{@},

LS2LS7 was talking about Criterion, and how they developed Burnout Paradise brilliantly on the PS3 as the lead development console.

{@} @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:35AM

@dnlkk94, I don't know how you got any of that from what he said.

Carlton @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:19AM

@ {@}

Because that is exactly what he said.

Steven Colbert @ Aug 1st 2008 10:18PM

You guys should buy this game when it comes out.If you were dissapointed by GTA4,this game will have many of the qualities of San Andreas.Car customs,clothing options,tatoos,and good online really make this a better purchase than GTA4.Just dont expect a good story.

anthonyjh @ Aug 1st 2008 10:44PM

Exactly why I've traded in GTA4, and exactly why I plan on giving Saints Row a chance.

Carlton @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:49AM

Yeah, the story won't be as good...
... or the physics...
... or the a.i. ...
... or the lighting...
... or the art design...
... or the soundtrack...
... or the voice artists...
... or anything else for that matter.

But at least it will be severely dumbed down so that you won't have to worry about not getting any of the social satire, or requiring cultural capital to understand the numerous references.

Oh, and tattooos. There will be tattoos.

...

Saints Row 2 will be to videogames what Get Rich or Die Tryin' is to cinema.

Steven Colbert @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:05PM

Your right but unlike GTA4,at least its fun.Besides it isn't all rap.The first Saints Row had radios with classic rock,alternative,classical,and some easy listening.Dont judge a book by its cover.

Armani @ Aug 1st 2008 10:23PM

Phew. I thought you meant Saints Row 2

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Aug 1st 2008 11:36PM

yea me too.

*wipes beads of sweat from forehead*

Khaled @ Aug 1st 2008 10:24PM

I'm confused... Is Saints Row 2 coming out for the PS3 like planned?

iamkid @ Aug 1st 2008 10:49PM

....i think so...im confused too

Jettic @ Aug 3rd 2008 3:04PM

Saints Row 1 is being cancelled, as it wouldn't be viable to release that game now, Saints Row 2 is being developed for both the PS3 and 360 as planned, hope that clears things up.

Gate @ Aug 1st 2008 11:01PM

I think the most important thing about this article is the fact that Sony is now offering more help to third-party devs, and that only spells more success for the PS3.

Kruegmeister @ Aug 1st 2008 11:07PM

This Just in...
Volition Programmers are STUPID.

Give me a Call if you want a MAN to program that for ya...

{@} @ Aug 1st 2008 11:57PM

They're also quite busy at the moment. They're developing Red Faction 3 and the sequel to SR... so they may not have had all the resources to port the 1st game over to PS3.

Vii @ Aug 1st 2008 11:10PM

Its too bad this game will sell like crap. Especially when one considers that Saints Row is not as cool a universe to mess around in as GTA.

At least that's imho.

Daniel Lawson @ Aug 2nd 2008 2:03AM

you play the original?

uh-oh polio @ Aug 1st 2008 11:17PM

o well, i wasnt gonna buy it anyway.

Drago Dracini @ Aug 1st 2008 11:41PM

One word... HA!

Josh @ Aug 2nd 2008 4:18AM

This is pathetic, Ted price already put out two original IP's and this lousy dev cant put out a fuckin port?

Steve Childs @ Aug 2nd 2008 5:42AM

To be fair, ports can in some ways be harder to produce than a new title. If the original wasn't designed with the future in mind (why should it) then you can end up having to re-write 90% of the core game engine to get it to work well on the new system.

360 ports are slightly easier to do the 360 being multi-core anyway, but say a PS2 port would be 1 core and much more work intensive to convert.

But I have to say, of the games which have been developed on the PS3 as lead console, it does seem to lead to better PS3 games and ironically, better 360 ports.