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Here's the story as I understand it.
Sony is working on WIPEOUT, a game that, even in beta, looks like it's going to be a killer title for the brand new Playstation console. And Sony was going for a "club" feel with the PSX and WIPEOUT was perfect.
Sony is working on WIPEOUT, a game that, even in beta, looks like it's going to be a killer title for the brand new Playstation console. And Sony was going for a "club" feel with the PSX and WIPEOUT was perfect.
Designers F'n Republic giving it the look. Ships that look like something a hundred years in the future. Smooth as butter gameplay. This thing is going to be huge. And the best part is the S YN E R GY. Sony-signed artists as the soundtrack! Chemical Brothers. Orbital. Leftfield.
Two things happened here, again, as I understand them. Other Psygnosis vets can correct me, and I'd be sad but understand if how I was told this internally was in fact wrong.
The first is the music. Sony UK, those absolute lads, had only signed license contracts for European distribution of the music for many of these hot bands. Yes, that's right, WIPEOUT, a game based around its awesome soundtrack, could not use most of the music in the US.
So, here's what happened. One of the sound designers of Psygnosis, a great guy named Tim Wright, was handed a task - REPLACE ALL THE MUSIC. NOW.
And fuck a duck, he did. He called himself CoLD SToRAGE and BANGS OUT NINE TRACKS.
And fuck a duck, he did. He called himself CoLD SToRAGE and BANGS OUT NINE TRACKS.
Imagine it turns out Elton John, Ben Folds, Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder can't make one stadium appearance on the Piano Greats Tour, so maybe you could step in and play the piano alone for one night. That's what this guy did.
EPIC. Most USians have no idea it was just one guy.
EPIC. Most USians have no idea it was just one guy.
The other thing.
From the get-go, when Sony bought Psygnosis, it was a match made in Panoramic Hell. Not going to go too much into it, but let's just say when Sony buys you, Sony Assumes They Own You. You are no longer your own thing. Lick those Walkmany Boots.
From the get-go, when Sony bought Psygnosis, it was a match made in Panoramic Hell. Not going to go too much into it, but let's just say when Sony buys you, Sony Assumes They Own You. You are no longer your own thing. Lick those Walkmany Boots.
I don't have time to go into all the ways this hate-fest exhibited itself, so I'll just focus on one. WIPEOUT is going to be obviously big. It's going to be the Flagship Sony Playstation Title.
What does the head of Psygnosis do?
Fuckin' ports it to SATURN AND PC.
What does the head of Psygnosis do?
Fuckin' ports it to SATURN AND PC.
Imagine if WHILE OWNED BY MICROSOFT, 343 Studios releases HALO: INFINITE next SUMMER on PS4.
Psygnosis did this. Years of existence had allowed them to keep distribution and production facilities separate, they used them, and so WIPEOUT Saturn/PC is a thing. 100% a screw you.
Psygnosis did this. Years of existence had allowed them to keep distribution and production facilities separate, they used them, and so WIPEOUT Saturn/PC is a thing. 100% a screw you.
Anyway, as soon as the last founder left Psygnosis, it was immediately renamed SCEA Europe (Sony Computer Entertainment of America Of Europe) and then eventually SCEE and then finally Sony Studio Liverpool.
Which is really Sony Language for "Fuck You, Ian".
Which is really Sony Language for "Fuck You, Ian".
