Confirmed: Sony Shuttering Zipper Interactive - Farewell

[Grim Reaper]

IGN

The dev behind SOCOM, MAG and Unit 13 is apparently being closed.

According to a rumor currently running on Kotaku, Sony-owned developer Zipper Interactive is being shut down.

Zipper Interactive was founded in 1995, and created games solely for Microsoft Windows until 2002. It was in that year that Zipper made a name for itself with its PlayStation 2-exclusive SOCOM: US Navy SEALs. In 2006, after a slew of SOCOM games on PS2 and PSP, Sony purchased the company and brought it into its first-party family.

Kotaku's rumor notes that the studio "is in the process of being shut down," and that while Sony "declined to comment on the matter" to them, they've "heard chatter for several days that Zipper was in the process of being hit with layoffs and a project cancellation. The scope of the layoffs appears to indicate a studio shutdown."

Such news, if true, isn't surprising given the performance of Zipper's recent releases. MAG, Zipper's 2010 PS3 release, had a loyal following but didn't sell exceptionally well. The next year, the studio released SOCOM 4 for PS3 right when the PlayStation Network went offline due to a hacker attack, proving to be hugely problematic for the sales of the online-centric game. Unit 13, the studio's most recent offering, is a PlayStation Vita-exclusive that we gave a 7.5.

We've reached out to Sony for official comment and were told that they "don't comment on rumors or speculation."

[Jafo]

http://www.4shared.com/music/BO-TONX2/file.html

If true, tis a sad day

[Brandon.]

Well hopefully now someone can take over socom 2 and release a remaster.

[Trace17]

"Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm the closure of Zipper Interactive, a Seattle-based internal game development studio that has been part of the global development operation of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS). The closure is a result of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within SCE WWS. Zipper has complete all work associated with its most recent project, Unit 13 for PlayStation Vita. Zipper titles MAG, SOCOM 4 and Unit 13 will continue to be supported, including the new Daily Challenges in Unit 13."

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/122/1221535p1.html

Edit: Zipper's twitter:

Zipper Interactive ‏ @Zipper
After 17 years it’s time to head off into the sunset. A sincere thank you to all our fans for everything you've done for us. Farewell.

[Goodguy818]

just saw the news on twitter

[Snicket]

Too bad all those people lost their jobs, I hope Sony finds a place for them.

I would have been interested in MAG 2.

[Hayabusa85]

And yet another company goes into braindead mode and closes their best developer. Unit 13 better get patched to fix the game breaking audio glitch

[ScarredLungs]

Dang. I really enjoyed MAG when it came out. It had a lot of innovate ideas.

[Trace17]

Originally Posted by Hayabusa85

And yet another company goes into braindead mode and closes their best developer. Unit 13 better get patched to fix the game breaking audio glitch

If you're suggesting Zipper was Sony's best developer...actually, I don't even know how to respond to that. I wouldn't even rank Zipper in Sony's top 5 for PS3 games, probably not top 10 studios either. Their PS2 games were stellar, but that doesn't mean jack for the PS3. I played MAG and Socom 4, and while each had some good things going for them, neither was good enough to sustain company image (and apparently profit) for the long run.

If you weren't suggesting that then...uh, just ignore me.

But it still sucks for those losing their jobs.

[Hayabusa85]

Originally Posted by Trace17

If you're suggesting Zipper was Sony's best developer...actually, I don't even know how to respond to that. I wouldn't even rank Zipper in Sony's top 5 for PS3 games, probably not top 10 studios either. Their PS2 games were stellar, but that doesn't mean jack for the PS3. I played MAG and Socom 4, and while each had some good things going for them, neither was good enough to sustain company image (and apparently profit) for the long run.

If you weren't suggesting that then...uh, just ignore me.

But it still sucks for those losing their jobs.

MAG is the best game this gen IMO. It failed because it required teamwork and skill. Something the COD fans controlling and killing the shooter market don't want. Listening to those morons whining at launch was unbearable. Solid gameplay, innovative ideas and the only console game that has ever shown that consoles can compete with PC online gaming. And Unit 13 is easily the best handheld shooter ever (Not that it really has competition since shooters on any other system are like playing a shooter on PS1). Socom 4 was the only blemish on their record and even then it was good just not great like the first two they made. It was also screwed from the start because an online focused game launching as the PSN hack happened was a nightmare scenario for them.

For me Naughty Dog were the only ones close for me followed distantly by Sucker Punch. All the others have too many bad games mixed in with the good or have not shown enough yet to know where they are headed. And others like Insomniac are not actually first party but get mistaken for it.

[Trace17]

Originally Posted by Hayabusa85

MAG is the best game this gen IMO. It failed because it required teamwork and skill. Something the COD fans controlling and killing the shooter market don't want. Listening to those morons whining at launch was unbearable. Solid gameplay, innovative ideas and the only console game that has ever shown that consoles can compete with PC online gaming. And Unit 13 is easily the best handheld shooter ever (Not that it really has competition since shooters on any other system are like playing a shooter on PS1). Socom 4 was the only blemish on their record and even then it was good just not great like the first two they made. It was also screwed from the start because an online focused game launching as the PSN hack happened was a nightmare scenario for them.

For me Naughty Dog were the only ones close for me followed distantly by Sucker Punch. All the others have too many bad games mixed in with the good or have not shown enough yet to know where they are headed. And others like Insomniac are not actually first party but get mistaken for it.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I think you're the first (and maybe only) person I've seen that thinks MAG is the best game of the generation. Best shooter? Arguable. Your argument behind it is really just comparing it to COD (which is trash, but that's neither here nor there) and the shooter market. But I really can't see it being anything more than (possible) the best shooter. I don't think MAG was perfect though, and SOCOM 4 was certainly far from it. I haven't played Unit 13, but even if we keep the discussion on PS3, 1 decent game and 1 game that even hardcore fans couldn't get into doesn't make them Sony's best studio.

IMO, Sony studios better than Zipper:

Naughty Dog - 3 excellent games.
Media Molecule - 2 excellent games.
Evolution - 4 decent games.
Santa Monica - too many to count.
Sucker Punch - inFamous series started out okay, but I think it has only gotten better
Polyphony Digital - okay, horrible inefficient, but 1 GREAT game.

And I think San Diego, Bend and Guerrilla are right up there. Of course, Insomniac and Quantic Dream aren't first party, but I think they're better than Zipper too.

If we're talking just this generation of PS3 games, I really don't see how one could argue that "too many others have too many bad games mixed in". The studios I listed above all have really solid track records for the PS3 generation. I'll admit Evolution has some pretty weak sales, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the Motorstorm games.

As I said earlier, I respect your opinion, but I extremely disagree. I don't see how anyone could think Zipper is (was) Sony's best studio. I think 80, 90% of people would agree with that too.

After Socom 4's pitiful launch, with pretty weak sales, the outage all but killed the MP online and I think Unit 13's was the studio's last grasp for air before drowning. Once again though, I haven't played it, and I've heard good things, but I don't think it was expected to make huge bank.

[Blu Ian]

Shit

[Bageara]

Originally Posted by Trace17

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I think you're the first (and maybe only) person I've seen that thinks MAG is the best game of the generation. Best shooter? Arguable. Your argument behind it is really just comparing it to COD (which is trash, but that's neither here nor there) and the shooter market. But I really can't see it being anything more than (possible) the best shooter. I don't think MAG was perfect though, and SOCOM 4 was certainly far from it. I haven't played Unit 13, but even if we keep the discussion on PS3, 1 decent game and 1 game that even hardcore fans couldn't get into doesn't make them Sony's best studio.

IMO, Sony studios better than Zipper:

Naughty Dog - 3 excellent games.
Media Molecule - 2 excellent games.
Evolution - 4 decent games.
Santa Monica - too many to count.
Sucker Punch - inFamous series started out okay, but I think it has only gotten better
Polyphony Digital - okay, horrible inefficient, but 1 GREAT game.

And I think San Diego, Bend and Guerrilla are right up there. Of course, Insomniac and Quantic Dream aren't first party, but I think they're better than Zipper too.

If we're talking just this generation of PS3 games, I really don't see how one could argue that "too many others have too many bad games mixed in". The studios I listed above all have really solid track records for the PS3 generation. I'll admit Evolution has some pretty weak sales, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the Motorstorm games.

As I said earlier, I respect your opinion, but I extremely disagree. I don't see how anyone could think Zipper is (was) Sony's best studio. I think 80, 90% of people would agree with that too.

After Socom 4's pitiful launch, with pretty weak sales, the outage all but killed the MP online and I think Unit 13's was the studio's last grasp for air before drowning. Once again though, I haven't played it, and I've heard good things, but I don't think it was expected to make huge bank.

+1. Sony has many much better devs than zipper. I enjoyed Socom on the PS2 , MAG was terrible , good ideas but terrible game, never played Unit 13

Sony aren't stupid they are obviously going to get rid of their least productive devs first

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Hayabusa85

MAG is the best game this gen IMO. It failed because it required teamwork and skill. Something the COD fans controlling and killing the shooter market don't want. Listening to those morons whining at launch was unbearable. Solid gameplay, innovative ideas and the only console game that has ever shown that consoles can compete with PC online gaming. And Unit 13 is easily the best handheld shooter ever (Not that it really has competition since shooters on any other system are like playing a shooter on PS1). Socom 4 was the only blemish on their record and even then it was good just not great like the first two they made. It was also screwed from the start because an online focused game launching as the PSN hack happened was a nightmare scenario for them.

For me Naughty Dog were the only ones close for me followed distantly by Sucker Punch. All the others have too many bad games mixed in with the good or have not shown enough yet to know where they are headed. And others like Insomniac are not actually first party but get mistaken for it.

[Monkey]

I bought Socom 4 in hopes of a good campaign. It was average at best. The online was just okay as well. GRAW 1 and GRAW 2 are MUCH better games

I'm not bummed at all at them closing the studio. I feel bad for people losing jobs though, that always sucks.

[Bageara]

Originally Posted by Monkey

I bought Socom 4 in hopes of a good campaign. It was average at best. The online was just okay as well. GRAW 1 and GRAW 2 are MUCH better games

GRAW2 was an awesome game. It was my main online shooter for the first year of the PS3. Loved the clan set up

I feel bad for people losing jobs though, that always sucks.

Meh they should of made better games then maybe they would still have a job

[Hayabusa85]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I think you're the first (and maybe only) person I've seen that thinks MAG is the best game of the generation.

I actually know a lot of people who consider it the best shooter this gen and a few that also consider it the best game this gen. Between the PS3, 360 and Wii and not even counting the PC games in that timeframe I own almost 2,000 games this gen and I wouldn't even think twice about MAG being the one game from this gen I would take on a desert island. I don't care if people agree with me or not I am just saying that to me they just closed their best studio as EA did with EA Chicacgo and as Microsoft did with Ensemble and FASA which I am sure people would argue to. RockStar were on the verge of shutting down RockStar San Diego at one point too. In that case literally the only studio of RockStar's that have ever made a game I like.

But since you posted a list I will give me brief opinions on them.

Naughty Dog - 3 excellent games.

Like I said they would be second for me. But they fall short for me for various reasons. Most of all that Tomb Raider esque games are nowhere near the top of my favorite styles of games. Second because I consider more than this gen and never got into Crash. Third because while I love the Jak games they were always a step behind Ratchet for me. And finally because I don't feel they have been as consistent as they should be. All their series have seen a high and then dropped off with Uncharted 3 following the trend being nowhere near Uncharted 2. But they still finished second for me because whenever they do hit a high it at least is a pretty damn good high.

Media Molecule - 2 excellent games.

For me the first was fun but the appeal was gone by the second. And really they are tool kits with the levels they create being kind of meh. As a long time PC gamer it also doesn't wow as much as a console only gamer that hasn't been used to modding.

Evolution - 4 decent games.

Actually had to google this one to even realize they were who make Motorstorm. Motorstorm RC is good but the others have never blown me away. Fun but nothing special and flawed in a lot of areas.

Santa Monica - too many to count.

They are a first party studio but everything they do is a collaboration with non-first parties like Q Games, Jaffe etc. They have also had turds in the mix like Carnival Island. So really they are more a publisher within a publisher

Sucker Punch - inFamous series started out okay, but I think it has only gotten better

inFamous games are some of my favorite sandbox games and I love the Sly games which is why they are third for me but while I like their games none of them have ever had that wow factor for me like Socom did on PS2, MAG, Unit 13 or Uncharted 2 which is why they fall short of those two.

Polyphony Digital - okay, horrible inefficient, but 1 GREAT game.

They take too long with games and are inconsistent. Have hated every second game and liked the others. So I expect to hate the next one. Also prefer Turn 10, Codemasters, Slightly Mad etc.

------------

San Diego have the good like MLB but too many bad games since they are kind of the shovelware studio. Same with SCE Japan. Hated the PSP so hard for me to factor in PSP games and Golden Abyss is terrible so Bend wouldn't even enter my mind. If I had to take Killzone over Halo or something then I would but over MAG or the PS2 Socom games? Not a chance so Guerrilla fall short.

Cambridge, Liverpool, Santa Monica, Bend, Foster Studio or SCE London should have been gone long before Zipper if anybody had to go.

[Trace17]

Originally Posted by Hayabusa85

I actually know a lot of people who consider it the best shooter this gen and a few that also consider it the best game this gen.

Let me guess - people you played the game with? If you posted a poll on NeoGaf, Sony forums or even here on blu-ray.com on Sony's best studio for current-gen games, Zipper wouldn't see the top 5 at all. Look at the other two people who replied as well.

Like I said earlier, best shooter is one thing, but best game this gen is another. It's fine if you like it, that's totally cool. My favorite "desert-island" game of this entire generation is Burnout Paradise. But I'll readily admit I'm in the minority on that opinion, and if Criterion closed, I wouldn't say "the best studio this gen closed" but instead "my favorite studio this gen closed".

I'm not going to quote and go through the rest, but I think PS2 quality games are completely irrelevant. Zipper can't rely on Socom PS2 sales to profit. Naughty Dog doesn't bank on Crash profit.

You may not like the stuff Bend or Liverpool put out, but if the're more profitable than Zipper, then that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

[ChadFL]

Hate to say it but it's not surprising. The last few games they put out were just horrible in quality. I liked the earlier SOCOM games but SOCOM 4 and MAG were just awful.

[Hayabusa85]

Originally Posted by Trace17

Let me guess - people you played the game with? If you posted a poll on NeoGaf, Sony forums or even here on blu-ray.com on Sony's best studio for current-gen games, Zipper wouldn't see the top 5 at all. Look at the other two people who replied as well.

Actually never played with some of them but yes obviously people that play the game kind of goes without saying. And not even on gaming forums. Just by chance on some random forum that is actually wrestling focused desipite the fact I hate wrestling now the game got a huge following. Actually a couple of us used to have a forum war going and MAG brought an end to it

Like I said earlier, best shooter is one thing, but best game this gen is another. It's fine if you like it, that's totally cool. My favorite "desert-island" game of this entire generation is Burnout Paradise. But I'll readily admit I'm in the minority on that opinion, and if Criterion closed, I wouldn't say "the best studio this gen closed" but instead "my favorite studio this gen closed".

That just means you don't think for yourself then and care more about general opinion. Saying a studio you like less than another is the best this gen because of what others think is stupid. I couldn't care less if people like shit studios like Bungie just because they might be more popular with some 12 year old Halo fanatics. If a studio is my favorite then it is also the best to me.

I'm not going to quote and go through the rest, but I think PS2 quality games are completely irrelevant. Zipper can't rely on Socom PS2 sales to profit. Naughty Dog doesn't bank on Crash profit.

You may not like the stuff Bend or Liverpool put out, but if the're more profitable than Zipper, then that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

The thing is MAG did more than one million which in the gaming industry isn't bad. Not COD numbers but it didn't have the casual appeal. Socom 4 has almost done one million in a year despite the PSN hack hurting the launch. Unit 13 sales numbers are not known yet but I can tell you it is the best selling Vita game around here. Only game I had to go hunting for because it was sold out everywhere I kept trying.

Bend games on PSP didn't sell well at all and Uncharted Golden Abyss is selling by name and isn't something they can count on Bend doing. And Unit 13 is probably right up there with it anyway.

Santa Monica, Cambridge, Foster and studios like that are just beyond pointless and not needed. They are paying operating costs so that they can lend a hand to third parties or other first party studios actually making the games that could be made without them. Zipper at least actually make games no matter what you think about them. At most you have one studio for this you don't have a bunch of different studios that do nothing but help out with a few small areas of a game.

Liverpool make Wipeout and nothing else. Wipeout games have never sold well and they are not exactly pumping them out. They used to make the F1 games but the second Sony lost the F1 license Liverpool became worthless.

London are the one I listed I actually like and are somewhat valuable in Europe but even then the SingStar series is not selling all that well anywhere these days. This is the only studio that actually developed their own games that I listed on my should have been them list which had better sales of any game than MAG. And those were the PS2 SingStar games when it was more popular which were nowhere near the PS2 Socom sales. So they don't win on the PS3 front or PS2 front against Zipper.