Sony shutting down Studio Liverpool

gizmo

Looks like we have another studio closure on the cards. News is leaking out that Sony have just closed their Studio Liverpool offices with all current projects cancelled.

Some of the older folk around here may know these guys as Psygnosis, one of the oldest games companies still around these days, who were responsible for both developing and publishing a slew of excellent titles over the years beginning all the way back in the Spectrum era. Since the Sony studio rebranding they've mainly been churning out the F1 and Wipeout games.

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Retr0gamer

Sad news, they've been around for years as Psygnosis on the 8 and 16 bit machines.

Nerdkiller1991

Wow. I know it's probably cliche to say this, but this is probably, without hyperbole, the worst generation in gaming, all around. So many studios shuttered this gen, and now one of my favourite devs who make one of my favourite franchises is gone.

Otacon

I think my avatar explains why I feel so disappointed by this. I was a fan of most of their work.

Mr E

They've left a massive legacy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCE_Studio_Liverpool#Games_developed_or_published_as_Psygnosis

I have a feeling it will be a positive thing in the long run. A team as talented as that can only excel when they are free from churning out racing game sequels. Good luck to them.

Now... Blood Money for XBLA, plz.

Josey Wales

That is a real shame to hear. I am a big fan of many of their games going back to the MegaDrive. I used to love Wiz n' Liz on the MegaDrive, then Destruction Derby on the PS1. My favourite series of games from them is easily WipeOut. I think that WipeOut HD and the Fury expansion is the best racing game of this generation.

Sad to see them go.

gizmo

Gunmonkey

*Sony buys company who made Team Buddies*

*Doesnt re-release original or make new Team Buddies, closes them after forcing em to churn out Wipeout*

The word "DERP" springs to mind.

:EDIT: Dammit, gizmo reminded me. Where the F*** is next gen G-Police and Colony Wars??

hooradiation

Nerdkiller1991 wrote: »

Wow. I know it's probably cliche to say this, but this is probably, without hyperbole, the worst generation in gaming, all around.

I agree, I mean this is nothing compared to the time the entire gaming industry almost totally imploded and took nearly a decade to recover.

That was nowhere near as bad as today. Nope, not even close.

Nerdkiller1991

hooradiation wrote: »

I agree, I mean this is nothing compared to the time the entire gaming industry almost totally imploded and took nearly a decade to recover.

That was nowhere near as bad as today. Nope, not even close.

That crash only affected the US. Elsewhere, in Europe and Japan, gaming was actually starting to take off. But in all honesty, this is still a bad generation for gaming, regardless.

richymcdermott

This is terrible , was bad enough team ico broke up and now one of my fav sony studios is gone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKXYKmM2ALw

worse i happen to read this thread while listen to this

Nerdkiller1991

richymcdermott wrote: »

This is terrible , was bad enough team ico broke up and now one of my fav sony studios is gone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKXYKmM2ALw

worse i happen to read this thread while listen to this

Team Ico is still around, though I doubt they will be after The Last Guardian releases, so at least you only have one reason to be sad.

richymcdermott

Nerdkiller1991 wrote: »

Team Ico is still around, though I doubt they will be after The Last Guardian releases, so at least you only have one reason to be sad.

But two or 3 of the main guys have left , still sad

I feel The last guardian going to be cancelled

hooradiation

Nerdkiller1991 wrote: »

That crash only affected the US. Elsewhere, in Europe and Japan, gaming was actually starting to take off. But in all honesty, this is still a bad generation for gaming, regardless.

No I'm clearly agreeing with you, this is the worstest time in games bar none!

You are in no way overblowing this in the slightest!

Retr0gamer

I remember when my PS2 laser went. Now that really was the worst time in gaming ever.

gizmo

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I remember when my PS2 laser went. Now that really was the worst time in gaming ever.

I see you your broken laser and I raise you my "oh ****, wrapping the cable around the power supply of my SNES isn't keeping it alive anymore".

JohnMarston

Psygnosis made the ps1 game Overboard! which i fondly remember. Sad to see them go

Nerdkiller1991

hooradiation wrote: »

No I'm clearly agreeing with you, this is the worstest time in games bar none!

You are in no way overblowing this in the slightest!

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I remember when my PS2 laser went. Now that really was the worst time in gaming ever.

Meh. Twas nothing compared to my YLOD on my old PS3. I felt like I, and gaming in general was going to die.

K.O.Kiki

Why didn't they push out a sequel to the Colony Wars franchise?

Only series I kick myself for never buying.

Nerdkiller1991

Never forget.

Josey Wales

Re: the post above

Yes, WipeOut Fusion was an excellent game. It was one of the last games I bought for the PS2 and I put hours and hours into it. Some of the track designs in the game were amazing. In my opinion it was the best WipeOut game until HD came along.

K.O.Kiki

What does this mean for WipeOut HD add-ons & online play?

gizmo

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

What does this mean for WipeOut HD add-ons & online play?

Nothing. They're closing SCE Liverpool but that doesn't meant the end of the franchise nor will it have any affect on their online services.

Zillah

They made Colony Wars!

I haven't played that since I was a young teenager so I'm sure it's probably not aged well, but I have fond memories of it.

hooradiation wrote: »

No I'm clearly agreeing with you, this is the worstest time in games bar none!

You are in no way overblowing this in the slightest!

Every single post I have seen from you is a load of angsty sarcasm. You don't have to constantly show everyone how cool you are.

RobbingBandit

These guys made the best football game ever, Adidas Power Soccer for PS1, I loved that game so much.

CptMackey

Zillah wrote: »

They made Colony Wars!

I haven't played that since I was a young teenager so I'm sure it's probably not aged well, but I have fond memories of it.

hooradiation wrote: »

No I'm clearly agreeing with you, this is the worstest time in games bar none!

You are in no way overblowing this in the slightest!

Every single post I have seen from you is a load of angsty sarcasm. You don't have to constantly show everyone how cool you are.

Colony wars. Loved that game. What ever you do tho don't turn it on and look at it.
It has not aged well. Would have loved a remake of the first one. Loads of different endings aswell.

Didn't they also make Rollcage? What a game

hooradiation

Zillah wrote: »

Every single post I have seen from you is a load of angsty sarcasm.

Stop using words you don't understand.
You look foolish.

dloob

I guess this isn't good news for Shadow of Beast 4 then

Captain Chaos

Colony Wars and G-Police, PS1 classics right there. Colony Wars deserved a reboot for this gen.:(

Fnz

This makes me an angry man.



I liked their style; more-so back in the Psygnosis days. The WipEout games introduced me to some awesome music and the work of The Designers Republic. 2097 had one of the best intros of the generation.

Kinda depressing to see the list of games they developed as SCE Studio Livepool: [Link]

Formula One 2001
Wipeout Fusion (2002)
Formula One 2002
Formula One 2003
F1 04
Wipeout Pure (2005)
F1 05
F1 06
Wipeout Pulse (2007)
Formula One Championship Edition (2007)
Wipeout HD (2008)
Wipeout HD Fury (2009)
Wipeout 2048 (2012)

helimachoptor

Wipeout was great.

On an aside you can get gpolice for your pc, still holds up well tbh