SAW: The Game (not happening?)

[Ron]

has anyone else heard about this yet?

[Deathscythe]

Nope, this a rumor or is it real?

[Ron]

It appears to be real, I read about it herehttp://www.officialsaw.com/subpage.php?PG=news

[Jigsaw]

This has the potential to be great, hope it turns out to be a good game.

[The Dream Master]

What's it going to be? Some kind of puzzle game where you have to figure out how to escape Jigsaw's traps?

[Jigsaw]

I wonder the same thing. Nevertheless it'll be interesting to see how they pull this off. I was thinking it might be somewhat along the lines of Shadowgate for the NES (which is vaguely Saw-esque in that the choices you make as you go along can affect your progress).

[Ron]

This game definitley has a lot of potential to be great. I wonder how it would play??

[Jigsaw]

As I said before, I could see a Saw video game playing somewhat similarly to the old NES game, Shadowgate.

[Ron]

It would be cool if you could create traps and take on the roles of Jigsaw and Amanda also.

[Jigsaw]

That would be awesome as well.

[Ron]

hopefully we won't have to wait forever. maybe this game will get made relatively quickly considering the films do. i hope so because i don't really play video games anymore, but this is one i'd definitley check out.

[Just Jeans]

It would be cool if you could create traps...

There is a game series that is something like that. Dungeon Siege, I think the name is. In the game, you build dungeons, set up traps and puzzles, and then some AI characters have to try and escape. If they fail (and are killed by your traps), you win.

I wonder if this game will be based on one of the films, or set in an original scenario? Given that I've only seen SAW -- but have had SAW II and III spoiled like shit for me -- I'd like to see an original scenario.

hopefully we won't have to wait forever.

If they spend less than a year developing it, steel yourself for the possibility that it'll suck like a Hoover. Games with extremely short production times tend to be glitchy and feature poorly-conceived play mechanics.

[Jigsaw]

James, definitely see Saw II at least. I can easily see a survival horror game based on the concept of Saw II.

[Ron]

Yeah, 2 had some great traps.

[Jigsaw]

I wonder if the Saw game might play somewhat like the F13 NES game, having to go from one location to the other to get what's needed to advance while completing your objectives before you fail, resulting in either your death or someone else's. Lots of possibilities there.

[Ron]

Hopefully we'll get some early screenshots soon.

[Jigsaw]

I can't wait to see how this turns out. Hopefully it'll be a good game too, and from the sound of it they're not rushing it out to get it out in time for Saw IV or V, so hopefully they're taking their time to perfect it.

[Just Jeans]

I've got SAW II and III. But after I got the twist involving Amanda spoiled for me, I lost interest and never watched them. I'll get around to it one day, I suppose.

As for the game -- I'd like for it to combine the puzzle elements of the Resident Evil franchise with the trap elements from that one series whose name I can't remember. Puzzles and traps are the way to go.

To be honest, though, I'm not sure how they'll make it work. There's no cannon fodder in the SAW films, and I'm afraid it'll fall into the same trap hit with other games based on films. Superman Returns had a bunch of robot drones. The original F13th game had zombies. What will SAW feature apart from the traps?

Unless it's strictly a strategy/puzzle game, they're going to have to insert bad guys other than Jigsaw for the player to fight. The only way I could really see it working is if the game lets you build traps from the perspective of Jigsaw, and then judges you based on how effective they are.

[El Rooto]

They can just throw in dinosaurs and lawnmowers like in the old-school platformers.

[Ron]

They can probably make it a solid puzzle game without much else. A 'create your own trap' mode would also make for a good time.

[Just Jeans]

Puzzle games aren't financially viable these days. It's the reason games like I.Q. and Myst bomb so hard, despite being rather fun and wholly challenging. If I had money, I'd be willing to bet it that the game features some form of run-n-gun gameplay mechanic.

For what it's worth, IGN doesn't even have a blurb about the SAW game as yet, so I think it's safe to say the game is probably in the very, very early stages of development. The link provided toward the top of this thread has nothing more than one line saying that a game is expected, so I'd be surprised if the game has even gone into development yet. There was nothing at E3 about it, so it probably won't be out for a while yet. I expect it'll probably come out between SAW IV and SAW V (if there is a SAW V).

[Ron]

I think a game with the 'Saw' name attached would sell pretty well, but who knows. With these next generation consoles the sky is the limit as far as gameplay is concerned.

[Jigsaw]

I'm thinking that obstacles for the players can include after having a limb or body part cut off or damaged that you have to try to sustain yourself long enough to make it out, and if other players are involved they can end up being a challenge as well (much like Xavier in Saw II). I think a Saw game has limitless possibilties as to what can happen.

[Just Jeans]

I've spent way too much time with the modern video game industry to believe that SAW is going to be creative and original. The cynic in me expects the worst, because the reality is that video games based on films/TV generally aren't very good. The production teams rely on the license to sell discs, and the game on the disc generally suffer for it.

Of all the film-based games to come out over the course of the PS2 lifespan, only one or two have been really good (Spider-Man 2 and Scarface). The rest have been either mediocre (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds, Futurama, JAWS, Lord of the Rings) or downright awful (Batman Begins, Superman Returns, The Godfather).

I hope for something good, but I expect something awful. That way, I'll be less disappointed if the game bones, but pleasantly surprised if it's really good. :pray:

[Jigsaw]

Seeing as the game is probably in it's earliest stages of development, the developers might be taking their time to make it, rather than rushing it out. I wouldn't be surprised if the game came out in time for Saw V next year, and if that were the case than the developers have well over a year to work on the game and perfect it.

[Ron]

We can only hope for the best. It has a lot of potential.

[Just Jeans]

I wouldn't be surprised if the game came out in time for Saw V next year, and if that were the case than the developers have well over a year to work on the game and perfect it.

That's still a pretty short production time, but then I'm used to playing games that take years to develop. Square Enix mentioned at E3 that they're 13% done with Final Fantasy XIII and 1% done with Final Fantasy Versus XIII. They've been working on both games for over a year. Resident Evil 5 has been in production for over a year, and they're saying that it should be out sometime before 2010 (so, likely, 2009).

I'd prefer they spend two years making a massive, fun game. Anything less just isn't enough time to work out all the kinks and make a game that's brilliant. But as is the case with most film adaptations, they're not going to spend that kind of time on it (the only exception that I've seen thus far has been JAWS and Scarface, I think they both spent a little over two years in production.)

If the game is being released through Vivindi Universal or EA, then I'm going to be worried. I hope it comes out through someone else. Sierra would be a good pick. Or Take 2 (it's too bad bigger developers -- apart from EA -- never take on film adaptations.)

[Ron]

The only way I can see them having this ready around the time of the release of Saw V is if the developers use a pre-existing engine with minor tweaks.

ADD: I love the new avatar Jeans!

[sickboy]

I'd like to see it where you have to figure out the traps people are in to try and help them... all on time limits. If you die then game over, if someone else dies then it's not game over but it affects your ending.

Kinda like in dead rising. You can play it as a saint and get ending X or play it as a fucker and get ending Y, with various in-betweens.

Oh, and a 'design-a-trap' mode would force me to buy this regardless of gameplay :D

[MaDMaNMaRz]

Oh, and a 'design-a-trap' mode would force me to buy this regardless of gameplay :D

That would be......AWESOME! :)

[Jigsaw]

The game is official: http://www.psu.com/Saw-the-videogame-announced-for-PS3-News--a0002587-p0.php

http://www.whoisjigsaw.com


Hope this turns out good. I'll be saving up in advance now to get all three of the major next-gen consoles (Wii, PS3 and XB360) for Christmas this year, and will probably get this for the XB360.

[Jack Bauer]

Maybe this could be like choice your path wisely sort of deals.

[Ron]

It's cool that they're releasing this in conjunction with the final film.

[Jigsaw]

I'd like to see this game play somewhat similarly to Shadowgate for the NES, where you have to choose the best course of action to survive the danger ahead of you.

[The Dream Master]

It's cool that they're releasing this in conjunction with the final film.

You really think it'll be the final film? ;)

[Jigsaw]

Don't be shocked if we get Jigsaw Takes Manhattan, or Jigsaw X or Jigsaw Vs. Hannibal, and of course the inevitable remake ;)

In all seriousness though, I hope this game turns out good. With a full year of being in development, the designers and developers have more than enough time to tweak the game and fix any problems.

[Ron]

You really think it'll be the final film? ;)

Good point DM..as long as the films keep pulling decent money they probably won't stop making them.

[Jigsaw]

It'd be extra-cool if they could get the actors from the movies to voice the characters. It would add that extra touch to it and I'm sure they'll get Tobin Bell to voice Jigsaw in the game.

[Chex]

I'd like to see this game play somewhat similarly to Shadowgate for the NES, where you have to choose the best course of action to survive the danger ahead of you.

Hmmmm....

"As you reach the middle of the bridge, it collapses
under your feet!! The bridge won't hold you. You can't
cross unless you lose some weight!!"

Jigsaw says those that appreciate life don't way so much.

"You thrust the sword into your chest! Blood begins to
flow! Suicide won't help in your quest."

Well, he obviously didn't appreciate life sooo...

"You now have terrific second degree burns on your
hands" (First time)
"You hold the flame close enough to your skin to cause
second and third degree burns." (Second time)
"You finally set your hair on fire, the rest of your
body follows!" (Final Time)

Jigsaw says that if you're actually stupid enough to keep setting yourself on fire, you just don't appreciate yourself.

"When you remove the book from its pedistal, the floor
collapses, and you fall to your death."

The message here is that those who appreciate living should know better than to read...or at least spoken the words like in Army of Darkness.

"You jump down the hole and, after a couple of
moments, hit the floor!! It seems that you have broken
both of your legs!! It's only a matter of time before
you die!!"

Yeah....ummm, Jigsaw says you deserve that if you're dumb enough to jump down a great distance. Despite what Van Halen states, sometimes you need more than to just Jump, jump.

"You have opened a magic portal into deep space. You
are immediately sucked through. The lack of air causes
you to quickly lose consciousness. The Grim Reaper
quickly embraces you!!"

I wouldn't be surprised if eventually there's a trap similar to this one.

"Suicide obviously does not solve problems"

Jigsaw agrees.

"The troll cries, "You can't trick me!!". With one
swift motion, the troll launches his spear and runs
you through!! The spear pierces your chest and exits
through your back!!"

I wonder how Jigsaw could tame the troll in the first place. Anyway, the message is probably not to trick people or else you don't like life....or something.

"Whoosh!! Flames suddenly shoot from the dragon's
mouth!! Dragon flame engulfs your body. You pay for
your curiosity with your life."

I also wouldn't be surprised if Jiggy gets a dragon at some point.

"A broken fragment of a wooden ladder hangs from the
opening. As you go down the trap door, you realize you
took a big step. The fall is quite fatal."

To enjoy life, you need to take smaller steps or whatever.

"You put the burning torch close to it. With a loud
roar, the wolf pounces on you, taking your life!! The
wolf's powerful jaws rip your throat out!!"

Those who want to live don't mess with wolves.

I miss Shadowgate, Deja Vu, and Uninvited. Fun games.

[Jigsaw]

Heh, I just meant playing with a similar approach to Shadowgate, that danger is around everywhere you go and you have to choose carefully to survive. I can see a Saw game playing similarly to that.

On a side note, just imagine if an 8-bit Saw game had been made. You'd probably have to fight flying saws and hordes of pig-masked Jigsaw followers before reaching Jigsaw himself at the end :D

[Just Jeans]

Reading the article, I see the game won't be out until October 2009. That steadies my concerns a bit. That's a little over two years in production, so that's good. But I'm still hesitant due to the fact that a no-name developer is working on this. It could end up being brilliant or really, really rot awful.

[Chex]

Heh, I just meant playing with a similar approach to Shadowgate, that danger is around everywhere you go and you have to choose carefully to survive. I can see a Saw game playing similarly to that.

Oh I know, I just like the descriptions of the numerous ways to die in Shadowgate. :p

[Jigsaw]

I love Shadowgate, one of my all-time favorite NES games. It'd be so awesome if the Saw game would play somewhat similarly to it, it'd be like a next-gen Shadowgate.

[Chex]

I love Shadowgate, one of my all-time favorite NES games. It'd be so awesome if the Saw game would play somewhat similarly to it, it'd be like a next-gen Shadowgate.
Ever try Uninvited? Pretty much the same standard fare except this time it's with ghosts and a haunted house. Oh, and check out Sweet Home as well.

[Jigsaw]

Never heard of Uninvited, I'll have to try it out. I've heard of Sweet Home and hope to play it some day. Is it available on the Wii Virtual Console?

[Chex]

Never heard of Uninvited, I'll have to try it out. I've heard of Sweet Home and hope to play it some day. Is it available on the Wii Virtual Console?

You'd enjoy Uninvited as it's made by the same creators of Shadow Gate and Deja Vu. Sweet Home doesn't have an official release outside of Japan, but it is available via ROM online. If you're ever looking for it, send me a PM and I'll help you out. :)

[Jigsaw]

Thanks, I'll let you know when I'm interested in playing Sweet Home :) I'll also be on the lookout for Uninvited and Deja Vu next time I go to places that sell used games.

[Spade]

Well this is a game I will be buying.

Maybe this could be like choice your path wisely sort of deals.

I'd like to see this game play somewhat similarly to Shadowgate for the NES, where you have to choose the best course of action to survive the danger ahead of you.

That would be cool.

[Jigsaw]

It'd be cool to have modes where you play as both a victim and as Jigsaw, and Amanda as well. It'd be a bonus to have multiplayer and even online play, too.

[Just Jeans]

I'm not sure how well multi player would work, at least online. SAW doesn't exactly lend itself to high octane death match situations, which is what the Halo generation is used to. It seems like SAW would probably be something more akin to the early Resident Evil and Silent Hill games -- advancing will rely primarily on solving puzzles to open your way through to the next area.

Which brings me to another issue of concern: what will battle consist of? I very much doubt the game will feature nothing that can be killed by the player. There's going to have to be enemies of some kind, unless the game ends up being strictly a puzzle game, but puzzle games have never made a splash in the mainstream market. In fact, most of them never come out here.

I've suddenly got a horrible sort of picture in my head of the player razing down dummies on tricycles and men in pig masks between solving trap puzzles.

[Jigsaw]

I'd imagine multiplayer would be very similar to the Saw II Traphouse scenario, with multiple players within an environment full of traps and the player would have their own individual trap to conquer and an antitode to procure. Depending on the time, some of the other players might become desperate to get an antitode for themselves and could try intervening or interrupting another player's game, leading to a conflict.

[Just Jeans]

But that still begs the question -- what will combat involve? Apart from using one's fists, I can't imagine much else. Maybe some other blunt weapon combat, but very little in the way of firearm combat. And when you're playing the single player scenario, what kind of enemies will you face between traps?

I just can't see this working as a traditional game. I'm desperate for some more details.

[Jigsaw]

The Saw films don't feature many firearms, but the few that have been featured in the films would work for a game and would allow for a much more realistic and tense survival situation. The films have featured standard pistols, and there's the more elaborate melee weapons like the Saw II Nailbat. Also weapons like the hacksaw and skilsaw, and the automatics used by the SWAT team. I'd imagine a Saw video game would be much more about survival rather than all-out killing. Which undoubtedly would be the point, trying to survive among the obstacles.

I think a Saw video game would be based most on Saw II, with the traps-within-a-trap scenario of that film and the multiple players aspect as well. With single-player games, I'd imagine you'd go up against A.I.-programmed characters, or be put through multiple tests that you'd have to survive on your own.

[Just Jeans]

It's not really a matter of what the films have featured in terms of firearms. It's how the weapons/combat are factored into the game play that's important. Some adaptations handle this pretty well -- despite having mediocre game play, Futurama at least managed to implement the idea of battle into the plot fairly well -- but I'm having trouble working out how combat can be brought to the foreground in this game. And it's going to have to be. The game simply isn't going to be a solid puzzle game (and if it is, it'll flop regardless of how good it is, because puzzle games just don't sell in the American market.)

Another thing I wonder about is the inventory/healing systems. I can't imagine John scattering herbs/healing sprays/first aid kits all over the complex, nor can I imagine ammunition/provisions/weapons being left laying around all willy nilly.

There really are a whole lot of issues that need to be worked out to make a successful game. I won't be surprised if they manage to botch it, but I will be disappointed, particularly since they'll have had nearly three years to work on it by the time it comes out in 2009.

The SAW films aren't about all-out action, but then again neither is Futurama or JAWS. A certain level of creative smudging is going to take place when the story jumps mediums, there's just no way around that.

I think a Saw video game would be based most on Saw II...

That's not the impression the article gives. It says the game will be based on all of the films (which gives the impression that a single game is going to try to adapt the entire franchise in one entry. If that's the case, it's going to need to be a very long game.)

[Jigsaw]

I have yet to play the Manhunt games, but from the descriptions I've read and the gameplay footage I've seen, I can easily see a Saw game playing very similarly to Manhunt. Heck, just take the basic engine of Manhunt and tweak it a bit to make it fit the Sawverse, and you have a Saw video game. I wouldn't be surprised if the Saw game is similar to Manhunt, and I'd imagine it would implement aspects of puzzle-solving, mystery and survival horror into one game.

Seeing as the game will combine different aspects of the films, I can see games similar to the Traphouse with players inside an environment rigged with multiple traps, and a single-player game where the player is put through a series of tests they have to overcome (like Jeff in Saw III), or if they're used as a pawn by John or one of his accomplices (like Zep in the original Saw or Art in Saw IV) to get his tasks carried out, or if the player is an insider during one game (like Amanda in Saw II or Hoffman in Saw IV).

[Just Jeans]

If this game tries to be the same as Manhunt, it's just going to be a less impressive clone. These fellas need to come up with their own style of game play rather than riffing on what more established companies have already done, otherwise they're never going to get their feet off the ground.

If it does mimic Manhunt, that still requires a butt load of enemies that I just can't think of a logical narrative answer for, unless John takes to hiring mercenaries/gang members to take part in his traps in SAW V or SAW VI.

[Jigsaw]

I'm thinking maybe John could have law enforcement after you (or possibly even Hoffman from Saw IV, seeing as it's likely he implicated Amanda to the police with the contents of her letter). I would think you'd have to contend with law enforcement personnel, and possibly gang members after John or one of his lackeys drops you off in a bad, gang-ridden neighborhood.

[Cody]

Brash officially shutting down (http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/11/brash-officiall.html?query=brash)

Several sources have confirmed for me that Brash Entertainment is ceasing operations as of tomorrow.

Not too surprising given its many problems, as I reported last week. In a nutshell, the few games it managed to put out sold poorly, it wasted money on some ill conceived ideas, and talented executives fled as they saw how things were going.

Since co-founder Thomas Tull left the board, I understand that the investors who had committed $400 million when Brash launched last year had pulled out. So Brash was simply out of cash.

Now the question is what happens to the many projects in development, from "Saw" to "Superman" to Night at the Mueseum 2" to "Tale of Desperaux," which was supposed to come out next month. I'll be following that for sure, as well as continuing to report on how things managed to go so very, very wrong.

[Jack Bauer]

Superman?

Any info on this?

[DRE]

Maybe it will be picked up by another company.

[Just Jeans]

The franchise will likely be licensed to another developer, but I highly doubt this build will carry over. A new developer will want to start afresh with their own play engine.

[Jigsaw]

I hope another publisher gets the license and continues this game, I was looking so forward to it :( A Saw video game would be incredible if done properly.