Backbreaker News Post

Backbreaker Fact Sheet and Screenshots

12:02 AM - April 18, 2008 by Steve_OS

We have just posted the fact sheet for Backbreaker, as well has a few more screenshots.

Quote:


	"It�s time to tackle football like never before. Backbreaker is taking sports video games to a place where the action is never the same and every hit looks and feels as realistic as a Sunday afternoon. Utilizing NaturalMotion�s revolutionary euphoria motion synthesis engine, the same groundbreaking technology featured in Grand Theft Auto IV and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, you�ll never see the same tackle again. Ever."

Backbreaker screenshot gallery - Click to view

Game: BackbreakerReader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 51 - View All

Backbreaker Videos

Member Comments

# 1 kenneth33 @ 04/18/08 12:08 AM

looking good, now lets see some logo and different color sceam

# 2 chadskee @ 04/18/08 12:55 AM

As a follower and poster on the BB boards since the trailer was released, I have to disagree that it will be more burnout than Madden. That implies it will be more for fun and arcadish times. From all the developer interaction at the board I can tell you they plan to make it sim, it just seems that way because of the changed view and focus on the on the field audio glorifying the hits.

# 3 p_rushing @ 04/18/08 01:37 AM

man that feature list was great

I'm starting to think that there won't be anything more than season play, which means I won't buy it.

# 4 allBthere @ 04/18/08 12:16 PM

even without franchise, I will probably still buy it. It's new, and looks exciting etc... but no franchise is cancer, and I have no idea as to why they think they could/should release a football game without it. It's essential.

# 5 RaychelSnr @ 04/18/08 12:40 PM

I'm sorry guys, but I honestly think this game is going to be nothing more than a tech demo, especially after this "fact sheet" was released. If they try to make this game a fast patched arcade game and stray away from being sim, this title could be a good title. I just hope they don't try to be sim, they won't succeed

# 6 allBthere @ 04/18/08 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	I'm sorry guys, but I honestly think this game is going to be nothing more than a tech demo, especially after this "fact sheet" was released. In their fact sheet they don't even talk about anything football minus "technology". Unless they are going to spring a ton of surprises on us, I just don't see this being any good compared to other games that will be on the market.

IMO there are no other games on the market that are any good. That fact sheet looks like somthing I read last year. It didn't mention customization, which we know there is because of the 1up's helmets etc.

'nothing more than a tech demo' ...I don't understand these comments. If you want to make a tech demo, than you go ahead and make a tech demo and show it to dev studios. If you are making a playable football game that has taken over a year of hard work, with unique controls and camera's and uni customization - you are not making a tech demo.

If you have not been following the dev diaries and 'ask the dev team' segments, I could see potentially saying something like this based off of the fact sheet. But if you have been following everything, you'd see there is much more than what's listed on the fact sheet, and you'd have to justify why this game could be called a 'tech demo'

is gears of war an unreal engine 'tech demo' ?

# 7 RaychelSnr @ 04/18/08 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	IMO there are no other games on the market that are any good. That fact sheet looks like somthing I read last year. It didn't mention customization, which we know there is because of the 1up's helmets etc. 'nothing more than a tech demo' ...I don't understand these comments. If you want to make a tech demo, than you go ahead and make a tech demo and show it to dev studios. If you are making a playable football game that has taken over a year of hard work, with unique controls and camera's and uni customization - you are not making a tech demo. If you have not been following the dev diaries and 'ask the dev team' segments, I could see potentially saying something like this based off of the fact sheet. But if you have been following everything, you'd see there is much more than what's listed on the fact sheet, and you'd have to justify why this game could be called a 'tech demo' is gears of war an unreal engine 'tech demo' ?

I have been following things and I still don't see anything of substance with this game that would make you want to purchase it over the current games on the market. They have to do something unique and different and offer replayability to make it worth playing over the EA Titles and other third party games. Right now they aren't marketing anything but the technology, and if that's their hook, the game is going to fail miserably.

A lot of people are sounding like the people before Blitz: The League was released. That game was the next big thing at one time too, but the game didn't play well. I just think this game is going to be fun to look at for awhile, but after a day or so playing it, you are going to realize there isn't much else there. Like I said, if the game can do something different with the gameplay other than trying to be sim, it has a chance.

# 8 nxt @ 04/18/08 01:14 PM

It looks pretty... but that fact sheet is a joke. We've all seen the hype videos of the different tackles, etc. Now, let's see some full 11-on-11 gameplay videos. We want to see more substance, more depth. I'm open to a new football game; even a generic one... but without a deep franchise mode, I will have to pass. It'll definitely be a rental because I want to see what they were able to achieve with this engine, but I wouldn't buy it.

# 9 allBthere @ 04/18/08 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	I have been following things and I still don't see anything of substance with this game that would make you want to purchase it over the current games on the market. They have to do something unique and different and offer replayability to make it worth playing over the EA Titles and other third party games. Right now they aren't marketing anything but the technology, and if that's their hook, the game is going to fail miserably. A lot of people are sounding like the people before Blitz: The League was released. That game was the next big thing at one time too, but the game didn't play well. I just think this game is going to be fun to look at for awhile, but after a day or so playing it, you are going to realize there isn't much else there. Like I said, if the game can do something different with the gameplay other than trying to be sim, it has a chance.

what's wrong with trying to be sim?

At this point I don't play the EA titles anymore other than giving their demo's a shot. This is because MOST of the things in their games interest me EXCEPT for playing an actual game of football, where I believe it fails miserably. Franchise and GM is great, but I just hate the actual gameplay.

What makes you think that it will be so bare bones? The fact sheet? Personally I would be suprised if there is no franchise, and it will kill the game if there isn't one, but I don't believe we can come to a conclusion that there IS or ISNt based on that puny little fact sheet.

I think they are doing something unique and different with the 'experience of being on the feild', the audio cues, and the controls.

One thing I read a while ago (that I doubt will be true) is that the file size was so small because nothing is pre-rendered that it could be a xbla download - imagine a 1200 mp backbreaker game,..where there is one stadium and a red team and a blue team and nothing else... I'd grab that

but, I don't believe that's the case based on developer polls on how player attributes should be handled among many other things.

# 10 yamabushi @ 04/18/08 02:03 PM

Ive gotta agree with MMChrisS, Ive seen nothing that makes me think this a real game as oppossed to a marketing campaign for EA to buy their Engine.

# 11 RaychelSnr @ 04/18/08 02:08 PM

Don't get me wrong guys, the game HAS potential. It's just that there has been zero great third party titles in the past several years. The odds aren't in Backbreaker's favor for it to be an even good game much less great. It has some unique qualities, but if the gameplay on the field tries to be sim and fails (which is the likely outcome) then the tech will only carry it so far. Since they are trying to focus on the tech, it would be better if they kept it simple and made it a bit more arcadey and focused on just making it as fun as possible and not worry about if certain aspects are entirely possible with real football.

# 12 kenneth33 @ 04/18/08 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	I have been following things and I still don't see anything of substance with this game that would make you want to purchase it over the current games on the market. They have to do something unique and different and offer replayability to make it worth playing over the EA Titles and other third party games. Right now they aren't marketing anything but the technology, and if that's their hook, the game is going to fail miserably. A lot of people are sounding like the people before Blitz: The League was released. That game was the next big thing at one time too, but the game didn't play well. I just think this game is going to be fun to look at for awhile, but after a day or so playing it, you are going to realize there isn't much else there. Like I said, if the game can do something different with the gameplay other than trying to be sim, it has a chance.

Man this dude mmchris make it sound like ea football is great>I said it once all ready Madden & Live are both overhyped game living of there past much like Mike tyson was for his last few fights.....

# 13 kenneth33 @ 04/18/08 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	Don't get me wrong guys, the game HAS potential. It's just that there has been zero great third party titles in the past several years. The odds aren't in Backbreaker's favor for it to be an even good game much less great. It has some unique qualities, but if the gameplay on the field tries to be sim and fails (which is the likely outcome) then the tech will only carry it so far. Since they are trying to focus on the tech, it would be better if they kept it simple and made it a bit more arcadey and focused on just making it as fun as possible and not worry about if certain aspects are entirely possible with real football.

Lets get the facts right there has been zero good football games in the last 3yrs on Next-gen that includes EA, Midway,& 2K

# 14 allBthere @ 04/18/08 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DONF


	Well said. EA's football titles/games are a complete mess. Question, will BackBreaker feature online play? Doesn't Take-2 own these guys?

nope, TT has the rights to use euphoria in some of their games (gta4)

we don't know anything about BB's modes yet.

# 15 plasticbeast @ 04/18/08 03:58 PM

the only thing I have to say about this game and the guys developing it is: Congrats!

At least someone is trying something different then the standard madden formula that has been around since the genesis days. To me personally, that alone is worth the price of admission.

# 16 JBucc @ 04/18/08 06:44 PM

That feature list is kind of sad, but I do think this will be a real game and more will come out later. I'm not sure if it will have much more than really good looking tackles though.

If the game is any good at all it will be a real feat since isn't it just a six man dev team? EA probably has more people than that working on sock colors for Madden.

# 17 SageInfinite @ 04/19/08 01:42 PM

I hope EA does put this engine in madden. Maybe we'll finally get some good player interaction and tackles in Madden/NCAA.

# 18 p_rushing @ 04/19/08 06:02 PM

EA doesn't like to change the engine, so I bet its not even a thought until the next round hadware comes out.

# 19 jballa838 @ 04/19/08 06:02 PM

The Fact Sheet looks like a joke because they are releasing info as quickly as they are getting stuff done. 1up had a story about their logo importation a while a go, but that doesnt get near as much hype as it should. Just a hunch, but this game will have a full franchise and complete customization.

For the record, I'd bet it will have all that more often then not. 80% sure on franchise and 92% on complete customization.

# 20 gamerk2 @ 04/19/08 09:36 PM

First off, with stuidos already getting licenseing agreements to the engine (GTA IV), why would they sell it? They have a much higher earnings potential if they keep licensing it off.

Secondly, with all the space saved by not having canned animations, they can actaully have a deeper franchise mode then madden, as they have the space to do things madden can't.

Also, because they don't have to follow regulations the NFL dicates in the licensing agreement they have with EA, they also have a lot more freedom on what can be put into the game.

I will admit, I will be shocked if in year one that a franchise would be better than the one in madden. But after seeing APF 2k8 tank, with the major complaint being "no franchise mode", do you really think a forward-thinking studio would make the mistake of NOT including a franchise mode.

More Links

Backbreaker Fact Sheet and Screenshots