Saturday, April 18, 2009

BIZ PICS

Hey all- sorry out of touch this last week, was out in Utah. Sony came to visit us and we were swamped with those meetings along with lots of gameplay tuning.

Gonna head out in a bit and see STATE OF PLAY and then hit the toob and play some KILLZONE 2 single player. I spent lots of time with the MP but am only now going back to go thru the one player campaign. So far, I'm digging it lots. Pretty amazing looking game, that's for sure. Oh and playing OUTRUN on the 360 as well! Very fun, very addictive!

Anyway, been accruing game biz pics over the last few months and figured I'd post them here just for fun, and to also shine the tiny light which I am able to shine on lots of other amazing men and women who make the game biz run. So here ya go- and I'll chat with ya'll more regular like start of next week!

David



This is at the Sony party at GDC. At this point, I was as drunk as I have been in several years. At pic left is Scott Hyman, Biz Dev head of Creat Studios (they of the PSN addictive MAGIC BALL, among many others). At pic right is super agent to the stars, Gina Ramirez of UTA talent agency. I do not know why I look so smarmy in this pic. Perhaps I get smarmy when I get drunk? Either way, there ya go. And yes I am wearing the same clothes here as I did on the Bonus Round that was taped the next day. Like I said, I was very drunk. It was a very long night that never really ended. It just kind of went from here to the glamor spot that is Denny's. And then, before you know it, it was the next day and there I was, hung over and trying to hold my own on the Bonus Round


Some of the heaviest hitters in the Sony family...and then me :) That's Shu Yoshida who runs the product development ball of wax- all over the WORLD!- for Playstation. If it wasn't for this man, you'd have no ICO (among many other ground breaking games). Sean Layton is next to me, who now runs Japan's Playstation PD and has been a major Sony playa/heavy hitter for years. And then there's Studdy at the end, Shannon Studstill who was the GOD OF WAR I producer (i.e. she who pulled the whole damn chaotic thing together), was exec prod. on GOW II and is now over at EA Los Angeles.


This is me- drunk again- on the first night of the show. I am really not that big of a drinker, altho these pics would indicate otherwise. But biz shows are not only for nuts and bolts work, but the nights are great times to hook up with industry friends and colleagues and just blow it out. So there tends to be lots of drinking. But by the third night of the show, I was done with the booze and just wanted to hit my hotel room and watch a flick. Anyway, this is me when I took the trumpet off some random San Fran cab driver's dashboard and proceeded to see if I could still play the INDY JONES theme (as well as the ON BROADWAY solo from back in high school...either it was that or GIMME SOME LOVIN')...either way, I can't play the damn trumpet anymore....not that I was ever much good at it. But now it sounds like a duck being slaughtered.


And here's the cab driver- whose horn this was- taking the trumpet and showing me how it's done. Why the FUCK I put my mouth on some strange cab driver's trumpet (shut the fuck up) I have no idea. But he could play, that's for sure. Glad I've not come down with anything since that nite. Perhaps all the booze killed whatever germs were living in the mouthpiece.


Did I mention there was much drinking? Here's me doing the only thing in my life that even comes close to being a gangsta: drinking Patron like a fucking fish. Altho I hear these days the rappers are into the White Russians and Patron is kind of out of vogue. Ah well. That's me, Shannon/Studdy, and then Nate (who was a designer on God of War II and is now doing external design work for Sony Santa Monica) and God of War III game director, Stig Asmussen.


Me and Shannon in some cool light.


We're missing Ru (the director from CHAINS OF OLYMPUS...altho me and Shannon downed pancakes and french fries with him later that night) but here's me, Shannon, God of War II director Cory Barlog, and God of War III director Stig Asmussen!


Now this is both amazing, flattering, embarrassing, and sad. This is the FUCKING ANIMATION DIRECTOR for MGS4!!! Yes, that's right- the man who fucking worked hand in hand with Kojima to create some of the best- oh hell, THE BEST- cinematics ever put in a video game. And I can NOT REMEMBER HIS NAME!!! :( I was just getting my drink on- but was buzzed enough- that I have blanked on this super talented dude's name!!! Also his name is Japaneese and I'm bad remembering names from Japan. So if you are reading this, please shoot me an email. I would love to stay in touch. So cool that he came up to me and told me how much he dug GOD OF WAR. And I was like: oh man, you worked on MGS4?!? So it was very cool. But how lame that his name has slipped my mind :(



Me and Eric, one of Sony Santa Monica's external senior producers and magnet for drunk Persian women. Eric is working with us on the new game and also seems to know pretty much everyone in the biz. This is from dinner with the Sony folks out in Utah just a few days ago.


Me and Eat Sleep Play Co Founder/Co Pres Scott Campbell (also of Incognito and SingleTrac fame). I was going thru some fun gifts that Tina Kowalewski (industry super schmoozer and head of Sony Santa Monica External Dev) had gotten me for my bday. I had to have Eat Sleep Play fed ex them to my house as I would not be able to get on the plane with a magic 8 ball (cause it's not only filled with more than 3 oz. of fluid but looks like a fucking cartoon bomb from Rocky & Bullwinkle)...


Me and Tina K in the hotel lobby. Tina K- by the way- took ALL these pics except this one. I should hire her to be a paparazzi for me :)

Ok, so there's me and my buddies out and about in this amazing industry that is the video game biz. Ok, movie is gonna start soon- gotta run. Chat later ya'll!

David

42 comments:

  1. Jackred2:39 PM

    Hi Dave it's been a long time I was wondering since you do know me and is one of my favorite developers of all time can you do a video about the worst game you ever played I'm sorry to ask such a thing on you I'm just curious what it is going to be.

    I'm going to tell you the worst game I ever played was Superman 64 because it's so bad we're talking it recently got a Guinness record for being the lowest Super Hero game ever made that is saying a lot I hope you enjoy your birthday I'll say you later.

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  2. Hey man awesome pics, it's good to know game designers can still let loose makes you guys seem more human.
    Love the trumpet, cant believe you used to play it. You should try to relearn it :P.

    P.S. The real gangsta shot is Baileys Irish Cream :P

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  3. V_Ben2:44 PM

    looks like it was a pretty good time. Im in britain, so i got to get outrun for psn, and i gotta admit its pretty good. i remember finding an arcade ferrari caminet a few years back, it was pretty awesome.

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  4. yencid2:45 PM

    dude thats awesome!
    i think this has got to be one of my favorite post's on your blog. its always nice to see developers and learn the faces behind the games.

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  5. amazing pics Dave, I think you owe a round to all the bloggers who view this!! ;)

    -Z

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  6. Ashtar7:17 PM

    It's cool to see all these people that make the games I love out and about, having a good time.

    Although, I must demand, Mr. Jaffe, just announce your new game. I know it's not your call, but it's been more than a year since you (very well hidden) code was cracked.

    I know Sony is going to drop some bombs at E3 this year. GT5, GT on PSP2, new Team ICO game (my pants get tighter at the mention of that), but for god's sakes, just put the cherry top of the ice cream for me, because I have a Sweet Tooth.

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  7. Ashtar7:20 PM

    P.S. - The trumpet bit made me think of that old Twilight Zone episode with Jack Klugman. I think I want to watch that now.

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  8. Anonymous7:52 PM

    Cool pics Jaffe. How often do you have to fly out to see the team in Utah?

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  9. Anonymous7:56 PM

    yeah i agree do a blog about the worst game you played. do a short rant about that susan boyle on Britain's got talent. Make sure its a video blog!

    And Jaffe do you even read these comments? You should mention that you do read the comments in your next video blog.

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  10. Yes I read alot/most of the comments. :)

    Thanks for coming to the blog!

    David

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  11. yaaa...i didn't get invited to any parties. I didn't know anyone at GDC. But I learned a lot. I'll know more people next year.

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  12. awesome pics David! You need to get into some of the Gaf games on Killzone 2! If you want to add me so you can find the games easier my PSN is cjtiger300. Take it easy and enjoy the SP.

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  13. Anonymous10:16 PM

    What is with the hands in the pockets? Insecurity?

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  14. Haha love the smug smile in almost all the photos Dave :P
    It's pretty cool to see the guys behind the scenes of Sony, love watching that kind of stuff in special editions of games. Pretty sure there was a GoW one which you were on pretty much the whole time!

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  15. Harlequin:

    Shit- really?!?! Smug in ALL of them :(

    Man, I know what you mean tho- there are just some people who have a 'look' about them that they don't even mean to give off, but the do. I wonder if people think I simply have a smug smile even tho I VERY RARELY feel smug...

    ah, well...tis the face I was born with and it's done me well enough so far. What can you do?

    Non-Smug David :)

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  16. We all make weird faces. It's pretty inevitable.

    Hoping E3 isn't the disappointment as it was last year. Sony and MS are already hootin' and hollerin' and greasing up the bearings of their respective hype trains of this year's show. However, as a wise man once said...

    "Don't believe the hype."

    :)

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  17. Anonymous2:59 AM

    favorite post to date (that has no vid) ... definitely.

    great post, great pics ... great comments. especially enjoyed the mgs4 one... sad but it happens.

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  18. You should do a Q&A type of post in the near future. Althou' you can't talk about your game at the moment, but i bet there are bunch of questions that people want to ask you about movies, comics, tv-shows, games in general ( so pretty much about everything you post already...)etc.

    like: How hot is Tina Fey from scale of 1 to 10 ?

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  19. Darkknightakron6:32 AM

    PSN ID Sympozium_666 So.... is Outrun Online worth purchasing I'm kinda torn between worms & Outrun :(

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  20. Ashtar6:33 AM

    I can think of about 3 "10's" between who I know in life and celebrities, and Tina Fey is one of them.

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  21. Looks like quite a few days worth of crazy fun there. Gotta say...something about those trumpet pics just make me laugh. Maybe you could still play the Indy theme if you hadn't hit the "germ killer" drinks in advance. :) Also...damn never would have thought of that 8 ball thing, Thats messed up!

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  22. You look pissed in the first picture man! Lol. Good thing you're enjoying yourself. Now, are we going to find out about your game at E3? And do you know about the Survey Sony did for what gamers want in the collector's edition of God of War 3? One of the options was God of War and God War 2 on bluray disk, and a key chain. Can you pass to the team to please include the past 2 games + voucher code for God of War: Chains of Olympus + blade key chain + God of War t-shirt in the collector's edition? Thanks!

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  23. Hey David...the mastermind behind the art design of MGS 4 was Yoji Shinkawa...and you're standing right next to him. MAN AM I JEALOUS. Lucky you, it seriously looks you had loads of fun.

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  24. Killzone is a pretty cool game ! I really want it ! So David i am really happy you had a good time back there, and i hope the world to understand the things that you are posting about games and other things.The games would be much better if the people who working on them were thinking like you !
    And i am talking about the Spider-man games !!!

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  25. @Mr. Deja Vu


    Where do you see Yoji Shinkawa ?

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  26. According to IMDB Tetsuya Wakao and Masahiro Yoshinaga were the animation directors on MGS4. So, it's either one of them.

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  27. Anonymous12:24 PM

    hey jaffe. I just watched the part 2 of the bonus round. Man it was great! You should totally be in some of the future episodes.

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  28. cool post dave. looks like u had fun this week ;-) bout to watch the latest bonus round. cheers

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  29. Anonymous3:20 PM

    Part 2 of the bonus round was awesome. Pretty much my favourite three people in the gaming business.

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  30. Anonymous8:00 PM

    You know the 7-11 just north (and one block east) of Eat Sleep Play? Man, I was in there buying a sandwich once and the place got robbed. Terrified me. You should move Eat Sleep Play to a less crime infested area. For your own protection, dudes.

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  31. just watched the latest episode of bonus round (I really don't like how they spread it over a month...)

    there was something in there that Pachter was saying and that you sort of agreed with David that I really take offense with.

    It was about that whole issue with spore and only being able to copy it 3 times... look I totally get your point with gamestop and developers getting fucked every which way and even when they try to do something about it, they get roasted and all that shit, and I get what Pachter was trying to say, but calling anyone who needs to install a game more than 3 times out as a pirate... well man,.. I don't know...

    look here's the deal, Why would I buy something that I can only use a limited number of times when the entire industry practice from when I was a little kid till now has been that when I buy an item I have unlimited use of it.
    I mean, sure maybe you guys don't have high end pc's, and maybe you're not into overclocking your systems and all that jazz, but shit happens, you do actually re-install windows... but that's all besides the point, the point is, I bought it, I should be able to use it whenever I want, including 5 years from now for nostalgia's sake.

    I don't know what the solution is, but limiting my installation options after I paid for a product is crazy! AND EA should have caved on it as they did! On principle alone, its absolutely mental.

    I get where you guys are coming from, and I certainly don't have the answers. And I know that sometimes it must be like well fuck the consumer because they do shit that hurts the industry without realizing/thinking about it... I get it. But there's loyal consumers in that group that DO think about it and that DO make thoughtful decisions when buying games, and when we get shafted well... it just makes you a little bitter you know?

    anyways, I'm gonna go drink this off.

    cheers,
    Mango

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. It's an issue of consumer training, Mango.

    And I know that term sounds condescending but it's not meant to. It's simply a good way to express the way other industries manage to set expectations for the value of their products with their customers. But the game business- perhaps because games began with coding and coding has- generally- been a sort of liberal,share everything. information-wants-to-be-free sort of thing. I really don't know where it began that our customers feel so entitled to have our products without any sort of limitations or payment. But they do and I DO agree with Pachter's logic of if you need to install a game you've bought more than 3 times, then chances are, you're giving copies away to friends.

    I am NOT saying shit doesn't happen and I 100% agree that when that shit happens, the publisher should be there to help the consumer. I do NOT think if shit happens (i.e. Windows reinstall) that the customer is just shit out of luck. But I am of the mind that the frequency of THAT scenario (i.e. customer really needs to legitimately reinstall the game) vs the other scenario (customer is giving the game to friends for free) pales in comparison.

    I was and am also against Sony's bullshit policy of letting people download most PSN games and just fucking GIVE 5 copies of it away to anyone they like. I think that was/is a misguided idea that has significantly hurt the sell thru of PSN games.

    David

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  34. Anonymous4:33 AM

    That's right I'm gonna say this and I don't care:

    Did you bang any of these chicks :P

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  35. David,

    You MUST do developer commentary on God of War III!
    That pic with you, Mr. Barlog, and Mr. Stig is just too much, man. All three of you (four, if Mr. Ru wants to throw down) should have a "Director's-only" portion of the commentary where you guys sort of talk about the series as a whole, your inspirations, your greater ideas of the story, etc.

    Please! It would absolutely rule to the max!

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  36. Anonymous6:48 PM

    I'd tap Gina Ramirez

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  37. Anonymous3:43 PM

    You got that pimpin look in that pic,david...but i'd definitely give Gina Ramirez my o-face.

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  38. Anonymous1:09 PM

    I have only one very important question:
    Is there any chance, that Achilles and/or Hercules are (mini-)bosses in GOW3.
    Since they were not in GOW2 and those two are the most famous greek myth heroes at all, so I'd love it, if they are in GOW3 anywhere.
    BTW I'm from Austria, Europe (so sorry for my bad English) and a HUGE fan of God of War.
    You and your team definitely created a masterpiece (no *sskissin!)!
    Martin

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