Driver Madness

I was having a look on the Playstation website at upcoming releases for this year, and un-surprisingly, Driver wasn't listed.

This could be just because a release date hasn't been confirmed though., probably quite likely as even FIFA wasn't listed and it's guaranteed to be released.

I couldn't find a page on the XBOX website to back it up though.

I checked the US site too, no news there either.

Here's the URL: http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/r ... lendar/ps3

emmetmcl wrote:I was having a look on the Playstation website at upcoming releases for this year, and un-surprisingly, Driver wasn't listed.

This could be just because a release date hasn't been confirmed though., probably quite likely as even FIFA wasn't listed and it's guaranteed to be released.

I couldn't find a page on the XBOX website to back it up though.

I checked the US site too, no news there either.

Here's the URL: http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/r ... lendar/ps3

I also doubt a 2009 release. There has not been a single word about the game since last year(unless I missed a bunch of sites). And what ever happened to Q1 of 2009 release? Didn't happen now did it.

According to Ubisoft, we don't even know if there working on a new driver title. But I'm sure they are .

Driver: Parallel Lines was announced approximately 4-5 months before it's release. There is still time for an announcement in the next upcoming months but it does feel doubtful, perhaps a release just before Christmas.

Unless, They don't want to announce it so early.
Therefor we just have to wait and see.

Maybe someone can go into the future and give us a title and release date .

Or, we could ask to a developer in Ubisoft Reflections and ask if they're working on something... (read a Driver game).

Well, we know that they're working on some form of Driving game, because we saw in the BBC report the team was creating some new cars!.

and I'm sure that it'll be Driver, because Ubisoft obviously want to make a bit of money from the "GTA" crowd... otherwise... why buy reflections?... why not buy a proffesional race driver style game developer?.

You were saying about them making a driving game, but didn't they make the Wheelman or was that a different developer, becasue I know it was made in Newcastle anyway.

Although, that might have been Midway

I wonder why Ubisoft won't say anything though.

You'd think they'd at least confirm or deny that the game is in development, what have they got to lose if it is or isn't in development.

And maybe someone should contact Reflections, instead of just Ubisoft because they basically just tell you nothing.

Wheelman was developed by Midway Studios - Newcastle, along with Tigon Studios.

I'm seriously thinking in contact a developer, but I'm aware that he may ignore me; or refuse to say anything.

It would be good if they would confirm it 100%.

Nick Brasil wrote:Wheelman was developed by Midway Studios - Newcastle, along with Tigon Studios.

I'm seriously thinking in contact a developer, but I'm aware that he may ignore me; or refuse to say anything.

All employees of reflections have to go through some course on keeping things secret and then they have to sign contracts saying they won't leak any information and a breach to that contract equals serious penalties.

They aren't even allowed to go home to there families and say what there working on in any detail.

Yes. So, I guess that the only way is wait for the E3 in June...

Well if someone knows a developer, it wouldn't hurt to ask anyway.

OK, a 2009 release doesn't seem as doubtful now, but when I e-mailed Ubisoft the following:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Do you have any information on the new Driver title since the trademark 'Driver: The Recruit' has been registered.

Yours,
Emmet Mc Laughlin

they answered quite differently to the way they usually do. Below is their response:

Dear Mr. Mc Laughlin :

Thanks for your email and your interest in Ubisoft. We’ve not made any formal announcements regarding Driver at this time. When we do, you will be sure to read it on your local gaming news sites.

With kind regards,

Mary Beth Henson

Usually they reply with a standard e-mail saying that there is no Driver game in development.

-If anyone has any e-mail replies from Ubisoft about the development of the new Driver, post them here.

Does that mean that a formal announcement will be made soon? Let's see...

Just something else to even further re-assure ourselves:

I sent this developer an e-mail a few weeks ago and he replied today.

Hi Emmet,

To answer your question, 'yes'.

Unfortunately, the terms of my employment contract and the competitive
nature of the industry mean I (and almost all other Ubisoft or Reflections
employees) are not allowed to give you or anyone else outside the company
any more information than that until Ubisoft HQ in Paris make it public.

While I am a programmer at the studio, I'm a small part of a big team and
definitely not an official spokesperson or contact.

If this is a press enquiry, you should go through the proper Ubisoft PR
channels and/or speak to my boss, Gareth Edmonson.


PS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7460359.stm

Cheers,

Simon.

What was the original email you sent to him?

The message I sent to him:

Dear Mr. O'Connor,

I notice on your website that you have worked for Reflections Interactive/Ubisoft Reflections.
Could you tell me whether or not a new Driver game is currently being developed or whether or not there are any plans to create a new installment in future.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Yours,
Emmet Mc Laughlin

Hey that's just great that they responded to you, I didn't think that they ever would. But i wouldn't go posting that guys name on the site, i think you should delete his name so that no one can see who you have had contact with inside, because divulging info as sparse as that was, is still punishable by terminations, so in future don't post the employees names that give you info.

Meh, even though he removes his name, you could still contact others devs by searching their names in Google.

I have found the domain name for the next Driver game, it wasn't that big of guess but anyway.

Read this: http://ultimatedriver.weebly.com/news.html

Although Ubisoft may of registered that domain to make sure no one decides to use it and to screw people around

I doubt they would register a domain to just try and confuse people, it would be a waste of money, and I don't see why they wouldn't use it.

I agree with bb until the "use it" part.

Just realised that DRIVER 76 is available in the Playstation Store, it's been there since 30th April.
Could this be a way of boosting Driver's profile before the (possible) announcement at E3 or would it have been there anyway?

NOTE: The game is the Irish PSStore, not sure about UK, USA, etc.

Daltarin-Elite wrote:Hey that's just great that they responded to you, I didn't think that they ever would. But i wouldn't go posting that guys name on the site, i think you should delete his name so that no one can see who you have had contact with inside, because divulging info as sparse as that was, is still punishable by terminations, so in future don't post the employees names that give you info.

I don't really think it matters as the game is on his CV which is publically avialble to view online, and he didn't give me any more info than that.

Could you give me the link of his site?

My two cents on this topic. I think a 2009 release is a certain, but hey i have been wrong before.

But my reasons...

Ubisoft has finally announced or trademarked a name, whatever you want to call it i reckon it amounts to the same thing, being confirmation that Ubisoft has prepared the Driver game to a point where they are happy to let the world knows it's existence.

That means, that they are out of the development stages and are doing last minute details such as the name, so the game is as bigger surprise as possible when it is shown at E3.

Ubisoft has never said a word about Driver since they bought the series, and that lead people to speculate and then forget, so the release at E3 will turn to be a huge surprise for everyone, except me...

That is unless they don't unveil it in which i will be surprised because it's a perfect time to catch people off guard. Your regular fans wont know of The recruit and therefore when the announcement is made, interest in the game goes through the roof, or because of recent disappointments in driver, it will at least send a few eager people up a rather steep and tall ladder, they will be close to the roof, but obviously not through it.

A shock announcement will lso grab the attention of game columnists too, who while they bag the Driver series the way it left off, they will no doubt be excited to see the new generation of Drive and it's new generation of management.

After all, when the original idea was set forward that there would be a Hollywood walk off fame for video games, guess who was in the initial list of inductees...

It was Tanner. I kid you not...

Obviously this walk of fame never happened because people thought it was a stupid idea, but this was back in the Ps1 days, where no one believed the game industry would be as bid as it is now, bigger than film in fact.

So the idea was cast aside by a group with no foresight, i bet they are kicking themselves now...

But anyway, In amongst my history lesson of little known facts i am sure there was sufficient evidence to prove that Driver will be announced at E3 and probably released before the year is out.

I reckon if the game has a low rating, then just before Xmas, at the annual console price drop, chuck Driver in the box free with the Ps3 and a free controller. Fans of the series who grew up on Driver but never got round to a new console because they work too much now, may be tempted by this offer, or even if they have young children (the reason behind my low rating comment) they may even get it for them and say... "Son, this is how i grew up... And now so will you."

Or something of the like...

Just an idea.

More info to support a release coming soon:

Dear Emmet,

You recently submitted the question below on the pegi.info website.

Unfortunately we have to inform you that we cannot help you with this type of product related consumer questions. It is PEGI policy not to give out any information whatsoever about games that have not yet been released.

Details about the game’s rating will have to wait until after the game is released.

Kind regards,

The message I sent:

Dear Sir/Madam,
I was wondering, what is the age rating for the new Driver title, Driver: The Recruit? Any help would be appreciated.
Yours, Emmet Mc Laughlin.

This could either mean, the game is rated and they just can't reveal this to the public, the game has not been rated but they know about it, or of course, this could just be a standard reply for games they know nothing about.

I also e-mailed NIMROD (the music producers for D3, DPL and D76) but they say they know nothing. If you can think of anyone else who might have something to do with the game, e-mail them.

You have some guts Kid!

How exactly do I have guts?

The link of the guys site is sc3d.com.

Sorry I took so long to post it.