Saw (video game)

For the online browser game based on the same series, see [[:Saw Das Spiel (Online Game)]].

For the film series this game is based upon, see [[:Saw (franchise)]].

Saw
File:Saw Videogame poster 1.jpg Poster as of January 2009
Developer(s)	Zombie Studios
Publisher(s)	Konami Brash Entertainment (former publisher)
Designer(s)	David Cohen (Producer)
Writer(s)	James Wan Leigh Whannell David Cohen
Series	Saw
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre(s)	Third person action, Survival horror
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multi-player

Saw is a survival horror video game with action elements. It is currently in development by Zombie Studios and is being published by Konami. The game is set to launch on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles, with a downloadable version being made for the Microsoft Windows platform. It is an adaption of the Saw film series, and has a tentative release date of October 2009. The game is set to release around the same time as Saw VI, although they have entirely separate story lines.

The game was originally being published by Brash Entertainment, who later ceased all operations due to financial troubles. This allowed Konami to pick up the publishing rights for the game only a few weeks later. The game, now under control of Konami, is being designed to be a spiritual successor, or similar to Konami's other survival horror franchise, Silent Hill.

Plot

Taking place between the first and second films, the game will answer questions from both films. It has been revealed that the game will take place in an abandoned asylum with different Jigsaw traps scattered around the area.

The story will center on Detective David Tapp's kidnapping by his alleged suspect, The Jigsaw Killer. During the first Saw film, Tapp witnesses his long-time friend and partner, Detective Steven Sing, fall victim to one of Jigsaw's traps, leaving Tapp mentally unstable and was soon discharged from the police force. Later, Tapp was shot in the chest by Zepp Hindle after chasing him in pursuit of Jigsaw.

File:Saw Videogame Screenshot1.jpg

Detective David Tapp receiving a video message from the Jigsaw Killer through Billy the Puppet. Tapp is shown to be in the Jaw Splitter trap from Saw.

Jigsaw then gets someone to heal Tapp and put a key in his chest. Later, Tapp is placed in an abandoned asylum. Upon awakening in a bathroom with the Jaw trap, Tapp quickly pulls it off and searches a toilet full of used syringes for the key to escape into the rest of the asylum. From there, he is forced to work through several of Jigsaw's traps containing people with dark connections to Tapp.

It has been revealed that Tapp will encounter many people throughout the asylum. Some will be friendly and helpful, while others may attempt to kill the player. Recent trailers also show a person dressed in Jigsaw's robes and the signature Pig Mask stalking Tapp and others throughout the asylum.

IGN states that the game will have moral choices to be made that can result in multiple different endings. Early screens of the game's opening sequence show Tapp in a Jaw-splitter trap like the one Amanda Young was in for the first Saw film.

In an interview, the game's producer David Cohen stated that the game will "combine action, puzzles, mystery, and terror" and that "it has always been a priority to make sure the Saw video game feels like it is as important part of the puzzle as each film".

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Characters

• Detective David Tapp (unannounced voice actor): A veteran policeman, Tapp has been on the Jigsaw case since the beginning. After being shot by Zep Hindle in the first Saw film, Tapp was brought to an asylum by Jigsaw, who got someone to heal his gunshot wound and also place a key inside his chest. When Tapp awakens in the asylum with the Jaw Splitter trap on his head, he quickly escapes and begins to unravel the clues left behind by Jigsaw. It was revealed that Tapp will not be voiced by Danny Glover, the actor who played him in the films.

File:Saw Videogame Screen 4.jpg

Detective David Tapp, the protagonist of Saw

• John Kramer, "Jigsaw" (voiced by Tobin Bell): The antagonist of Saw, Jigsaw is a serial killer who captures victims and puts them into traps to test their survival and teach them lessons to correct their past errors. Jigsaw has captured Tapp and put him into the abandoned asylum that the game takes place in. A persuasive being, Jigsaw has minions stalking Tapp placed all around the area. It was officially announced on June 4 that Tobin Bell would reprise his role as Jigsaw, contrary to previous belief.

• Billy the Puppet (voiced by Tobin Bell): Jigsaw's puppet that is used to deliver clues and information to his victims. While usually through video messages, Billy also appears in person riding a tricycle to congratulate surviving test subjects. Jigsaw will assist Tapp through Billy to help him navigate the asylum.

• Amanda Young (unannounced voice actor): One of Jigsaw's first victims, Amanda has become Jigsaw's apprentice after surviving her test. A trailer showed Amanda in the asylum, being stalked by the Pigmask Stalker.

• Pigmask Stalker: Recent trailers for the game detail a person dressed in Jigsaw's robes and his signature Pig Mask stalking people in the asylum. It is unannounced who the person is in the robes.

Screenshots released by Konami also reveal 2 other unnamed characters present in the game. One is a male who is in a large steel box trap covering his entire head. The second is a dead male who is left wrapped in razor wires after bleeding to death. Recent interviews have confirmed that the game will elaborate on the fates of characters from the first film. Dr. Lawrence Gordon will have his fate finally revealed since his disapperance at the end of Saw I It is hinted that Detective Hoffman may be involved in this game, due to Jigsaw stating that the bear trap was left over from one of the investigations. Hoffman took it to be used for the game.

Traps

At this point only a few traps have been revealed, The reverse Bear Trap shown in a demo, and toilets filled with needles.

Also traps include the razor wire trap, a game that Paul had been put in, in Saw 1. Also the shotgun collar trap can be seen in the E3 teaser trailer, when a character, persumably Tapp, has to get it of but it explodes in his face. Another trap shows a man with a large box covering his head and torso.

Gameplay

File:Saw Videogame Screen 3.jpg

The player being prompted to control the in-game character

Saw will run on the Unreal Engine 3 engine as licensed by Epic Games. The game will be played entirely through the third person perspective. Throughout the game, the player is expected to make use of a number of weapons to interact with obstacles and fend off attacking characters. Dread central reveals that Saw will in fact have an online multiplayer component because, "working together will help you survive The Game". The extent of the multiplayer has yet to be revealed except that it will be online through Xbox Live and Playstation Network.

The player will assume control of several characters throughout the game. There will also be 'fuse boxes' that the player may interact with to progress through the game. The player will have the ability to search for clues and items that can help out in puzzles. Searching abilities include looting bodies, nightstands, toilets, and other objects. Commenting on the game, Konami representatives stated that, "Everything is a test. Everything is a clue".

Gameplay footage was released by Gamespot of the game's opening where Detective Tapp first awakens in the asylum with the Jaw Splitter trap on. After a video message from Billy about how Tapp has wasted his life and others in his pursuit to catch Jigsaw, Tapp breaks out of his bonds and actual gameplay begins. The demonstrator, in an effort to show that Saw will not just be a collection of "Minigames", showed that in order to escape from Tapp's trap, the player must rotate the analog sticks properly while pressing a button indicated by a light on the trap itself.

From there, the demo took Tapp through the Jaw trap until he pulls it off his head, before it activates on the ground. Tapp then moves to an, "Environmental Trap", where the player must position the camera correctly and look into a mirror just right to see the combination to a bathroom stall near where Tapp woke. Tapp inputs the combination and discovers a toilet full of used syringes where he must reach in and grab the key to escape the bathroom before a "pain" meter fills up. From there, Tapp retrieves the key and exits the bathroom. The demo concludes with a glimpse of the asylum and a shotgun trap similar to the one that killed Tapp's former partner, Steven Sing.

Development

Brash Entertainment was the original publisher of Saw. The game was first presented at a press event on January 22, 2008 where a teaser trailer was played. The trailer showed franchise staple Billy the Puppet preaching to reporters about their wasted lives. The trailer also briefly showed some gameplay elements from one of the traps featured in the game.

Series producer Oren Koules has revealed that at least some of the characters featured in the video game will be voiced by the corresponding actors who portrayed them in film, although as of May 2009 no actual names have been announced. It has also been confirmed that Charlie Clouser, who has composed the music for every Saw film to date, will reprise his role for the game's soundtrack.

On November 14 2008, it was reported that Brash Entertainment would be ceasing operations due to financial difficulties. It was further reported that since Brash Entertainment was developing the game with Twisted Pictures, the game itself may have been left in a "possible state of limbo". After some time, with the state of the game unknown, Konami picked the game up for distribution/development on February 6, 2009, after almost four months of uncertainty regarding the game's fate.

There have been 9 total screenshots released by Konami. Three screenshots were released on April 3, one depicting a worn down corridor with a collapsed floor. The other two pictures displayed a man in a Jaw-splitter trap like the one Amanda Young was in for the first Saw film. Six other screenshots were released on April 13, depicting Billy the Puppet, more traps, and other locations.

On April 14th, 2009, Konami held a Gamers Night Press Event which allowed a more general public to demo the game. While it was only in 'Alpha stage', the demo allowed the play-through of a Jaw-Splitter trap, some interactions in the asylum, and other things. The demo was well-received by many people who had tested it.

The game was demonstrated by Konami executives at the E3 Electronic Expo 2009. More plot details were revealed, along with some gameplay footage. Another trailer was shown shortly after the demo. The trailer showed Detective Tapp in the Jaw Splitter trap, glimpses of the asylum, and other features.

External links

• Official website
• Fan website
• 'Saw' teaser trailer at 1up
• 'Saw' "combat" gameplay video
• 'Saw' "sacrifice" gameplay video
• Saw at IMDb

See Also

• Saw series
• Saw
• Saw II
• Tobin Bell
• Lions Gate Entertainment
• Twisted Pictures
• Zombie Studios
• Konami