GamesRadar - Flower

6 things about games that aren't true (Feature)

Oct 6, 2009

Anything new and relatively untested will be subject to more misconceptions than facts. Ridiculous and sensational news reports about the seedy underbelly of Animal Crossing and batshit-insane lawyers like Jack Thompson have diluted the truth about gaming. Combine their ignorance with our own misconceptions as gamers, and there’s a lot of nonsense to sort out. We can’t sort it all out, but we can at least hit some of the bigger points of confusion with our hammer of truth and brief internet research ...

PlayStation 3 Motion Controller Confirmed for Spring 2010, Software Line-up Revealed (News)

Sep 24, 2009

Sony Computer Entertainment announced a number of titles set to launch exclusively for the Motion Controller in 2010 at the Tokyo Game Show today, Along with a number of existing titles which will see an update to include Motion Controller compatibility. The full list of titles revealed is as follows:

'Games need more grown-up content' (News)

Jul 15, 2009

In a wide ranging talk at the Develop Conference today that looked at the founding of his company and the making of its games flOw and Flower, thatgamecompany's Jenova Chen devoted some time to rant about a topic close to his heart.

Namely, that games just aren't trying hard enough to emotionally engage with players and that their content aren't mature enough.

Thatgamecompany's PlayStation Network games have been widely praised for their short, subtle and emotive content.

Despite being a gamer all his life - and a games development student no less - Chen said that the content of these games came about from his eventual dissatisfaction with mainstream games.

"I never see that sense of thrill any more in today's games," he said.

Follow up to Flower will be 'larger', 'more challenging' (News)

Jun 16, 2009

Nick @ PS3Center writes:

Flower floored the gaming community earlier this year, taking gamers on an emotional ride that few games ever do. So what's next for ThatGameCompany, the Santa Monica-based studio behind the innovative PSN title? The developer's creative designer, the 27 year old Jenova Chen, recently dropped some hints to what their next game just may be.

Interview With thatgamecompany (News)

May 15, 2009

PlayStation LifeStyle writes:
"In an exclusive interview, PlayStation LifeStyle goes one-on-one with thatgamecompany's John Edwards, lead programmer for the hit titles Flower and flOw."

ThatGameCompany's Jenova Chen teases new game (News)

May 1, 2009

The third of ThatGameCompany's contractual PS3's developments is clearly in the very early stages of development, as Jenova Chen teases the first playtest of their new title.

ThatGameCompany have created flOw and Flower thus far, both being received very well.

We may hear more at E3, but it's clearly very early.

The Top 7… greenest games (Feature)

Apr 20, 2009

How noble, the human species! Once a year we selflessly take a break from wrapping products in toxic plastics and burning piles of old tires to appease this stupid, stupid planet we live on. How dare it demand more trees, breathable air and animals that don’t choke to death on our trash? ...

Jenova Chen Confirms flower Soundtrack Coming Soon (News)

Apr 20, 2009

Jenova Chen, Creative Director at thatgamecompany, has confirmed via Twitter that not only is the flower soundtrack rumour true but it is scheduled for release on iTunes and PSN 'soon'.

PSN: The Road To NPD - PlayStation Network Sales For March 2009 (News)

Apr 16, 2009

Gamerbytes: With the March NPD U.S. game sales numbers coming out at the end of the week, I thought it would be interesting to look back at the last month of sales for downloadable spaces -- as best as we can, with the data we can get.

For the PlayStation Network, we delve into the Top 10 PSN games of the month, brought to use courtesy of the Pulse video show released online, and through the PlayStation Store -- which releases a new list every month.

Things The 'Flower' Team Ditched (News)

Mar 27, 2009

During the Experimental Gameplay Sessions yesterday, developer Jenova Chen revealed several features that his team tried and then removed from the PS3 downloadable game "Flower."

They removed:

* Timers, which they thought might help motivate the player
* Desert terrain, which would cost any players who flew over it some petals
* Spells, which were part of a system that allowed the player to gain improved flight abilities
* Orbs, into which players were going to deposit petals in order to unlock checkpoints

PS3 Flower's grass impossible on other systems (News)

Mar 16, 2009

GameZine:

"ThatGameCompany describes their dependence on the PlayStation 3's SPU processors in rendering Flower's multitude of grass blades.

I was incredibly impressed by the graphics of ThatGameCompany's Flower when I reviewed the game in February. Rendering at full 1080p and 60 frames-per-second, there are thousands of grass blades that all interact with you (the wind) during gameplay."

Flower is top downloaded PSN game in February (News)

Mar 13, 2009

The PSN-exclusives Flower and Noby Noby Boy both take the top spots in February. These innovative games take gaming in new directions, and we're glad to see gamers have embraced them.

1. Flower
2. Noby Noby Boy
3. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
4. 3 on 3 NHL Arcade
5. Savage Moon
6. Mortal Kombat II
7. Bejeweled 2
8. Burnout Paradise
9. Linger in Shadows
10. Magic Ball

Fans Remember Flower - with Video (News)

Mar 13, 2009

Randall Lowe // Associate Producer, PSN: "Hi everyone, Randall Lowe here, associate producer on Flower.

I wanted to introduce you to a great trailer entitled "Remember" that was put together by The Duo Group, with the sound put together by Hybrid Two. Right after Flower came out last month, Kellee from thatgamecompany came to us and showed us this trailer, asking if we could distribute it on the blog and PSN. After seeing what an amazing job The Duo Group did putting the trailer together, our answer seemed pretty obvious.

The trailer captures so many feelings that the game conveys, it just seemed like a perfect fit. What's even equally amazing is that all of this with nothing but idle screens, which is what are shown when you leave the game sitting for a short bit. After a little work on the back end, we were able to get the trailer ready and approved for distribution today via the PSN. So, without further adieu, please sit back, enjoy, and remember."

This Flower by Rebecca Mayes (Video)

Mar 6, 2009

Maybe blowing petals around in the wind to make flowers bloom is more of an experience than a game, but if you want to play a quick PlayStation Network game to just be mellow, this is one of the best.

PS3's Flower with added song power (Feature)

Mar 6, 2009

Remember Rebecca Mayes, the girl that likes to sing about games? Well, she's done a new ditty, this time about the sweet smelling PSN game Flower. We heard it, we liked it and we instantly thought it would go like bees and honey over the top of some Flower footage. So that's what we've done.

Check it out, it's four minutes of warm breeze for your ears and pretty petals for your eyes. It's probably the sweetest video you'll watch ...

Downloadable flower Soundtrack May Be On Its Way (News)

Feb 26, 2009

PushSquare: "We at PushSquare love flower. You may have noticed from our review. One of the main things we loved about flower was its soundtrack. Without getting all pretentious, we did actually say (and we quote): "We're holding out for a soundtrack announcement (please)."

Imagine our delight when we read over at GameSetWatch that flower composer Vincent Diamante is in "talks with Sony" regarding the release of flower's music."

Industry is entering "era for independence," says Chen (News)

Feb 20, 2009

GI.Biz writes: "The videogames industry is entering a new phase of its life cycle, which will usher in a new generation of game creators, as the tools to create content become cheaper.

That's according to the creative mind behind critically-acclaimed PlayStation 3 title Flower, Jenova Chen, who believes we're starting in an 'era for independence.'"

One-Liner: 'Flower' Creator Believes Gaming's Renaissance Is Happening Right Now (News)

Feb 18, 2009

MTV:

""I feel it's a time where a lot of people who study games start to graduate and come into this field. It's a really good time for all these people to really push the boundaries of what games can be. With digital distribution - PSN, Xbox Live, WiiWare, Steam - all those [avenues]…Before, everything sold through retail. You can't even make a game that's below a million dollar budget. I think right now - in the future, when people look back, I think it's the renaissance of video games."

– thatgamecompany co-founder and "Flower" mastermind Jenova Chen in response to a question about the affect of digital distribution on games"

Trophy Guide: Flower (News)

Feb 16, 2009

Flower is the second PS3 title developed by LA-based ThatGameCompany, their first being flOw. The game is unique in both design and concept. Gone are the traditional paradigms of using analog sticks and face buttons, Flower is controlled almost entirely by use of the SIXAXIS. One traditionally wouldn't think that a game in which you control a flower petal in the wind would make a great game, but the folks at ThatGameCompany have pulled it off.

The Trophies are also unique, as you could easily go the whole game without getting a single one. The Trophies for Flower encourage exploration and relaxation.

Flower (Review)

Feb 12, 2009

Flower is likely to inspire the sort of purple prose that always appears whenever games skirt the periphery of ‘art’; but to bury the game under a load of pretentious hyperbole is to do it a disservice. The concept – guide a bunch of petals around evocative landscapes, gradually bringing colour and life back to the world – is strong enough that such prose is redundant. ...

Flower (Screenshots)

Feb 12, 2009

Flower Out On PSN This Week, Go Behind The Scenes Now (News)

Feb 9, 2009

Playstation.Blog writes: "Hello PlayStation blogees! We here at thatgamecompany are so stoked that this week "Flower" will be out of our hands and into yours. A lot of people ask us what it's been like to work with Sony, so you may have heard us answer this before - working with Sony is a treat. They truly support their developers and their games from start to finish.

I wanted to mention this as a way to introduce to you this developer diary, where SCEA's Eric Koch and I talk about the ideas behind Flower, and show you how the gameplay works. We hope you enjoy it!"

'Flower' Should Make You Feel Better About Yourself, Argues Creator (News)

Feb 5, 2009

Thatgamecompany co-founder Jenova Chen is intensely passionate about his upcoming PlayStation Network release "Flower" and the impression he hopes it leaves on the people who interact with it, even going so far as to say "Flower" should inspire them to feel better about themselves.

Flower Trophy List (News)

Feb 2, 2009

Here's the breakdown...

1 Gold
2 Silver
11 Bronze

Some spoilers in the trophy descriptions...

Flower Priced for Europe (News)

Feb 2, 2009

Quote from site:

"Sony have revealed that PSN game Flower will cost just £6.29 when released next Thursday 12th February.

In the US, the game will actually hit the store for $9.99, so it seems that we are actually getting a bit of a bargain.

Flower, which is developed by makers of Flow, thatgamecompany has players restore vibrant colours to the dreary dream-worlds of city flowers. To do this, petals must be steered around on the wind and clattered into other flowers, sending up more petals to join the cause."

Flower Priced, Has Seven -- Not All Sunny -- Levels (News)

Jan 23, 2009

Via 1up.com:

"In a press demonstration today, thatgamecompany co-founder Jenova Chen gave us a sneak peek at the latter half of Flower, addressing some of our curiosities, while adding a few new mysteries. In December, we got to play through the first three levels of the PSN title, which has you flying around in the dreams of flowers, collecting petals and beautifying the environment. You can read our impressions here and watch us talk about it on The 1UP Show. But, like many of you out there, we were curious what came next -- the first two levels are quite similar in nature, with the third just hinting at things to come. Will Flower have more than four levels? Do you get to do more than fly around in the sunshine? Now we know the answer."

TGC: Demos Hurt Downloadable Game Sales (News)

Jan 20, 2009

Responding to a comment on the PlayStation Blog, President and Co-Founder of thatgamecompany (TGC) Kellee Santiago said that demos for downloadable titles hurt sales.

Trophy support confirmed for Flower (News)

Jan 20, 2009

Hi! I know many people are asking the same questions, so I'm responding to stlthriot simply because they seemed to consolidate them all nicely into one comment here. =)

Trophies - yup. look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.

Stop and Smell the Flower on PSN February 12th (News)

Jan 19, 2009

Kelly Santiago writes: "Hi! I am really happy to finally let the internets know the official launch date for Flower. Hooray for releasing games (It's really my favorite part)!

Flower is a tough game to describe. We like to think of it as a video game version of a poem; an exploration into the tension between urban bustle and natural serenity. Players accumulate flower petals as the onscreen world swings between the pastoral and the chaotic."

Sarcastic Gamer: CES 2009 Gaming Impressions (News)

Jan 11, 2009

Lono writes: CES is not a gaming convention. It is a gadget and software convention. That said, there's a lot of gaming peripherals and games themselves on display. My updated impressions of the trade show and a bit of info as to what I saw and experienced.

Flower to release in Febraury (News)

Jan 8, 2009

According to a Sony Denmark release schedule acquired by videogaming247, ThatGameCompany's lovely looking Flower will be released on PlayStation Network on February 19.

Sony Introduces New Genre To Video Games... Zen Gaming (News)

Dec 11, 2008

MTV Multiplayer writes:

"I just got some information from Sony about upcoming PlayStation 3 game "Flower." Included in that announcement is the official genre for the game:

"Zen gaming"

It's not being called a flight game. It's not labeled a nature game. It's zen gaming. You play by tilting and turning your PS3 controller, flying a growing collection of flower petals across landscapes, making flowers bloom as you touch them. The game is set for an early 2009 release.

I've got nothing more to add except a suggestion that… we need more "zen gaming." Agree?"

New Flower Details (News)

Aug 19, 2008

The pioneers that brought you the award-winning PLAYSTATION®Network title flOw are back with another concept that challenges traditional gaming conventions. Flower expands the team's tradition of delivering simple gameplay, accessible controls and a medium to explore emotional chords uncommon in video games. In Flower, the surrounding environment, most often pushed to the background in games, is pulled to the forefront and becomes the primary "character." The player fades from an external and stressful world in the opening of this fresh and genuine game only for PS3, and journeys through beautifully vivid landscapes, changing the his surroundings and exploring nature along the way. Check out full details in the full article.

Flower... most emotional game made (News)

Aug 19, 2008

TalkPlayStation.com writes:"David Jaffe, the man behind the God of War and Twisted Metal series got to play That Game Company's newest game FLOWER when he was in Santa Monica last week. Jaffe liked it a lot more than flOw which he appreciated but never really liked. He thinks FLOWER is on its way to becoming a classic. He mentions that the game is fun and in his mind it lives or dies by the metions it creates while you play."

Joystiq E3 hands-on: flower (PSN) (News)

Jul 21, 2008

Joystiq:

"Like flOw, it's really hard for us to confidently form an opinion on the abstract idea. We hope Sony decides to release a demo with this game. Videos and previews will not do flower justice; it's a game worth trying for yourself. "

Full preview after the jump

UGO' Best of E3 08 Awards: Fallout 3, Gears of War 2 & More (News)

Jul 21, 2008

Despite moving back to its old stomping grounds in the Los Angeles Convention Center, E3 was kinder and gentler than year's past. Crowds were rarely seen and game journalists were, at times, able to form the semblance of a smile by the end of the show...thanks in no small part to some very enjoyable games and a distinct drop in the body odor factor. Anyway, here are UGO's picks for the best of the best of E3 2008.

Shacknews Flower Impression - The Serenity of Blowing Petals (News)

Jul 17, 2008

The downloadable PS3 title continues in the serene, calming atmosphere of thatgamecompany's PlayStatin 3 creature-eater life simulator flOw. But thus far, it seems like there's no way to fail, no way to die.

Across the two-level demo, there were no enemies whatsoever.

Instead, the game is all about blowing flower petals throughout a level, all the while gathering a larger cloud of petals and revitalizing a barren landscape. The controls are a simple, one-button setup: hit a face button to blow the wind, and tilt the Sixaxis to control its direction.

E3 08: New PS3 model, lower prices and PSN games galore (Feature)

Jul 17, 2008

This year's E3 press conferences might have been a tad on the dull side in terms of big revelations, but Sony has pulled a few interesting smaller announcements out of its big corporate sleeve today. ...

Trophie Guide (FAQ)

Jun 24, 2009

Go to GamesRadar to see the FAQ ...

Flower: Secrets Guide (FAQ)

Mar 30, 2009

Go to GamesRadar to see the FAQ ...

Trophies (Unlockable)

Feb 12, 2009

Go to GamesRadar to see the Unlockable ...