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Reports of the rename ''Sleeping Dogs'' surfaced following a Sony retailer event in February 2012. No information had been released publicly by Square Enix, but numerous reports from the Destination PlayStation event indicate that the game will be released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in August 2012.<ref name=rename>{{cite web|author=computerandvideogames.com Andy Robinson |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/334954/sleeping-dogs-is-the-new-true-crime-hong-kong/ |title=Sleeping Dogs Release Date and Platforms Announced |publisher=Computerandvideogames.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-08}}</ref> Following U.S. online retailer Future Shop Gamer published an image, which looked a lot like ''True Crime: Hong Kong'', but with the ''Sleeping Dogs'' logo.<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-08-square-enix-announces-sleeping-dogs-at-retailer-event</ref> A ''Sleeping Dogs'' trademark by Square Enix was spotted January 2012, mistakenly associated with a new entry in the ''[[Kane & Lynch]]'' franchise.<ref name=rename/>
Reports of the rename ''Sleeping Dogs'' surfaced following a Sony retailer event in February 2012. No information had been released publicly by Square Enix, but numerous reports from the Destination PlayStation event indicate that the game will be released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in August 2012.<ref name=rename>{{cite web|author=computerandvideogames.com Andy Robinson |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/334954/sleeping-dogs-is-the-new-true-crime-hong-kong/ |title=Sleeping Dogs Release Date and Platforms Announced |publisher=Computerandvideogames.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-08}}</ref> Following U.S. online retailer Future Shop Gamer published an image, which looked a lot like ''True Crime: Hong Kong'', but with the ''Sleeping Dogs'' logo.<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-08-square-enix-announces-sleeping-dogs-at-retailer-event</ref> A ''Sleeping Dogs'' trademark by Square Enix was spotted January 2012, mistakenly associated with a new entry in the ''[[Kane & Lynch]]'' franchise.<ref name=rename/>


Following the reports, Square Enix officialy revived ''True Crime: Hong Kong'' as ''Sleeping Dogs'' to public with a live action trailer and several in-game screenshots. Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton stated that ''Sleeping Dogs'' "has one of the best melee combat systems out there". Square Enix confirmed that ''Sleeping Dogs'' will release in "the second half of 2012" (although August had been reported) on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-08-square-enix-makes-sleeping-dogs-official</ref>
Following the reports, Square Enix officially revived ''True Crime: Hong Kong'' as ''Sleeping Dogs'' to public with a live action trailer and several in-game screenshots. Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton stated that ''Sleeping Dogs'' "has one of the best melee combat systems out there". Square Enix confirmed that ''Sleeping Dogs'' will release in "the second half of 2012" (although August had been reported) on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-08-square-enix-makes-sleeping-dogs-official</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 23:30, 8 February 2012

Sleeping Dogs
True Crime: Hong Kong
Developer(s)United Front Games
Square Enix London Studios (overseen)
Publisher(s)Square Enix
Composer(s)Brian Tyler[1]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • EU: August, 2012
  • NA: August, 2012
Genre(s)Third-person action, Sandbox
Mode(s)Single-player

Sleeping Dogs (originally True Crime: Hong Kong)[2] is a video game in development by United Front Games and is to be published by Square Enix. It was going to be the third installment and a reboot of the True Crime series, and it would not be developed by Luxoflux, largely due to the studio being closed in February 2010. Square Enix picked up the publishing rights to the game after Activision originally cancelled it. The game remains in production at United Front Games, but the project's now being overseen by Square Enix London Studios (the same office that looked after Batman: Arkham Asylum and Just Cause 2), and the game was renamed as Square Enix did not purchase the True Crime name rights.[3]

Sleeping Dogs will take place in Hong Kong and focuses on an undercover operation to infiltrate the Triads. The game will be released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in August 2012.[4]

Plot

Sleeping Dogs, focuses on a police officer attempting to bring down criminal factions. The game takes place in Hong Kong with players assuming control of Detective Wei Shen, an officer of the Triad Bureau of Hong Kong Police. Wei has been assigned to go undercover and infiltrate the Triad organization called Sun On Yee. The plot focus on the moral struggle of Wei to stay true to his mission and stop the Triads while maintaining his cover and being as much like the criminals as possible, similar to the central conflict of Splinter Cell: Double Agent.[5]

Development

True Crime: New York City was met with mixed reviews and did not meet sales expectations. Although a True Crime 3 was said to be in production, these low sales numbers for New York City made Activision cancel a third game and focus on other titles.[6] No mention of another True Crime game was made for several years. Then, on December 12, 2009, Activision debuted the announcement trailer for the series third game, simply titled True Crime, at the Spike Video Game Awards 2009. The trailer confirmed that Activision would be publishing and that a new developer, United Front Games, would be developing in place of traditional True Crime developer Luxoflux.[7] The game was set to be released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 by Activision.[8]

On August 6, 2010, it was announced that the game would be delayed until 2011 to give more development time.[8] According to Activision CEO, Eric Hirshberg, who’s assured that the August delay of True Crime: Hong Kong had greatly "paid off." "The additional development time invested in this game has really paid off, for gameplay mechanic the make the fighting and shooting as sophisticated as the driving, which is something that’s very hard to achieve in the open-world genre," said Hirshberg.[9]

On February 9, 2011, Activision decided to cancel the game, in order to focus on online games that have a higher margin.[10] Activision stated that True Crime had ceased production along with their Guitar Hero franchise quoting: "These decisions are based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world's best interactive entertainment experiences."[11] The game was declared cancelled for being "just not good enough" to compete in the open world genre. Activision didn't expect True Crime to generate enough profit and stopped development.[12][13] Even with its most optimistic projections, said the firm, it couldn't see True Crime reaching the top of the open-world genre.[14][15] United Front Games announced their disappointment on their website: "We are sorry we did not get a chance to complete this project with Activision, but we understand why. We are both committed to doing quality games and nothing less. Maybe we will have a chance to work together in the future, but in the meantime we are setting our creative sights on a different horizon."[16] The game's executive producer Stephen Van Der Mescht told Computer and Video Games that True Crime: Hong Kong was playable from start to finish and "virtually complete" in terms of content before Activision canned it.[17] Despite Activision's low expectations, Van Der Mescht said the game "stood apart" from the competition.[17]

Rights acquired by Square Enix

"Our team has worked very hard to find a solution where everybody wins. Square Enix gets the benefit of the tremendous investment we've made in the game thus far. UFG gets to stay together and complete their vision. And gamers get to play a great game. We couldn't be more thrilled."

—Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg about the publishing rights[18]

On August 2, 2011, Square Enix picked up the publishing rights to the game. Square Enix will still be working with United Front Games on True Crime, but the game will be renamed as Square Enix did not pick up the True Crime IP.[19] "When we first saw and got our hands on the game we fell in love with it," Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton told Gamasutra. "It's one of those games where you don't want to put the controller down; it's what we call 'sticky'," Singleton added. "When we met the team at United Front Games, it was a done deal in our eyes - we instantly recognised the huge potential in the game and the team."[18] United Front Games' President Stefan Wessels stated he is excited and "really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios and their excitement on the game means a great deal to us".[20]

Reports of the rename Sleeping Dogs surfaced following a Sony retailer event in February 2012. No information had been released publicly by Square Enix, but numerous reports from the Destination PlayStation event indicate that the game will be released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in August 2012.[4] Following U.S. online retailer Future Shop Gamer published an image, which looked a lot like True Crime: Hong Kong, but with the Sleeping Dogs logo.[21] A Sleeping Dogs trademark by Square Enix was spotted January 2012, mistakenly associated with a new entry in the Kane & Lynch franchise.[4]

Following the reports, Square Enix officially revived True Crime: Hong Kong as Sleeping Dogs to public with a live action trailer and several in-game screenshots. Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton stated that Sleeping Dogs "has one of the best melee combat systems out there". Square Enix confirmed that Sleeping Dogs will release in "the second half of 2012" (although August had been reported) on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Filmmusicsite.com - Interview with Brian Tyler". Filmmusicsite.com. Retrieved 05/08/2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ http://kotaku.com/5883288/true-crime-gets-a-new-name-lets-sleeping-dogs-lie
  3. ^ "Square Enix Nabs Rights To True Crime: Hong Kong From Activision". Gamasutra. 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  4. ^ a b c computerandvideogames.com Andy Robinson. "Sleeping Dogs Release Date and Platforms Announced". Computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  5. ^ "Gamers to Return Deep Undercover With True Crime in 2010". CNN Money. 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2009-12-16. [dead link]
  6. ^ Ink, Thorsen (2006-01-11). "True Crime and Gun sequels stillborn?". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
  7. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2009-12-12). "True Crime spree hitting Hong Kong". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
  8. ^ a b "True Crime: Hong Kong delayed". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  9. ^ "True Crime delay paid off, says Activision CEO". That VideoGame Blog. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  10. ^ "Activision Dissolves Guitar Hero Business, Refocuses On Digital". Gamasutra. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  11. ^ "Activision Blizzard Reports December Quarter and Calendar Year 2010 Financial Results". Activision. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  12. ^ "True Crime: Hong Kong gets Cancelled". Destructoid.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  13. ^ Thorsen, Tor (2011-02-09). "Guitar Hero business unit disbanded, True Crime: Hong Kong canceled, Tony Hawk on hold". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  14. ^ computerandvideogames.com Andy Robinson (2011-02-09). "Confirmed: Activision axes Guitar Hero, True Crime". Computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  15. ^ Dutton, Fred (2011-02-09). "True Crime was "not good enough" News". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  16. ^ computerandvideogames.com Andy Robinson (2011-02-10). "True Crime dev 'sorry' over cancellation". Computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  17. ^ a b computerandvideogames.com Andy Robinson (2011-02-10). "True Crime was 'virtually complete'". Computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  18. ^ a b computerandvideogames.com Tom Ivan (2011-08-02). "News: Square Enix picks up True Crime: Hong Kong rights". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  19. ^ "News - Square Enix Nabs Rights To True Crime: Hong Kong From Activision". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  20. ^ "Square Enix will publish True Crime: Hong Kong under a new name | SQUARE ENIX MEMBERS". Member.eu.square-enix.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  21. ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-08-square-enix-announces-sleeping-dogs-at-retailer-event
  22. ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-08-square-enix-makes-sleeping-dogs-official
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