thatgamecompany

Cross-posted from the U.S. PlayStation Blog on behalf of Jenova Chen.

Journey releases today in North America, tomorrow in Europe/PAL territories, and Asian territories on Thursday.

It’s been a little over three years since we launched our last game, Flower. It was a difficult game to describe, but a game that we took great pride in. Many of you took a chance with it and were as moved by it as we hoped people would be. Now we’re here, three years later, on March 13th, 2012. We can’t wait to let you experience our latest PlayStation-exclusive game, Journey.

It has been heartening to see the reactions from the press so far. We’ve had editors tell us how much the game moved them emotionally, or fundamentally changed the way they think about multiplayer in video games. Our goal was to change the impression players have towards each other over the network. We wanted to bring a thatgamecompany-style adventure to our players and create an emotional connection between them. And it’s been great to hear we might have achieved this goal.

We get very nervous before the reviews hit. With the early access for PlayStation Plus subscribers last week, we started getting reactions from the players. We couldn’t be more moved by what reviewers and players are saying about Journey on the web. Thank you for sharing your Journey experiences with us, they are what keep us going and make all of our hard work truly worthwhile.

Don’t forget to head over to Facebook to pick up your exclusive Journey avatar for your PSN ID. If you’ve played Journey already, let us know in the comments what you think of it. And if you’re waiting to get it tonight, let us know what you’re most looking forward to. I hope you enjoy the game, and I hope to see you online!

Comments

  1. Stefanie says

    I haven’t played Journey yet as I don’t have a PlayStation Plus account, but I’ve pre-ordered it. Last fall I was browsing the PS Store and saw a demo for Flower that I thought looked unlike most other games. It ended up being a fantastic demo and my very first PS Store purchase. My only complaint was that it was too short! I finished that and then bought Flow a couple weeks ago, which I also love. I read a review of Journey in my Game Informer magazine and I knew that I would love it. Since then I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release, and am probably going to be hard-pressed to go to bed at a decent hour since I’m sure I’ll be devoting a decent amount of time to becoming acquainted with the game. I’m excited for this latest game, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for all of your games in the future!

  3. Travman says

    I’ve also never purchased anything off the PSN store except for Flower. It was just magical.

    I won’t be buying Journey to just play a game, I’ll be buying it to have an experience! 😀

  4. Paul says

    Wow wow wow wow wow!

    TGC, Absolutely Beautiful work on Journey! What an emotionally engaging experience. I’m 30-years-old and have been gaming “seriously” since the Atari 2600 but this took me back to feelings I haven’t had with a game since I can remember. So magical, so deep and quite an enlightening Journey indeed. I played it solo last night so that I could selfishly take in everything I could and I can’t wait to share that experience with a “stranger” along the way next time.

    I not only congratulate you on what will clearly be your greatest success to date, but I’d also like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for not following along with the status quo—not only in a “gaming industry” kind of way but also in a very Human way. You have highlighted that inner “Awe” that so many have lost touch with in the world, has never been better communicated as Journey has without a single word spoken but written between the lines drawn in the sand.

    I hope you all feel very proud in continuing to make a positive contribution to this rock we all share. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

    Bravo!

    Paul

  5. Takura says

    Wow, where do I begin…well I guess at the beginning 🙂 So I was a little sad that Journey didn’t get in the store on the 13th, at least in Europe, because I was extremely excited and I had just bought PS Points, which I don’t do often, but I used them to buy Braid as well.

    So I woke up this morning and saw the game not being a PS+ exclusive anymore, so with a smile I bought it and let it downloading while I got ready. I knew I couldn’t play it since I had to go to school, but I was too excited so I had to get a glimpse of the very beginning ^^;

  6. Takura says

    *facepalm* I’m really sorry for double posting, I clicked on submit on accident ^^;

    But I came home today early because I had a little accident at school, so I started the game. I didn’t really know what to expect even though I had seen too much gameplay already. But I just went with the flOw for a bit (l0l)

    Anyways, later in the game I found my 4th companion. And from that moment I knew this game was one of the most, if not THE most amazing gaming experience I’ve ever had. Because we connected just so well together. The other people were fun and exciting to play with as well, but at the end of the game we were just emotionally connected so well. It was beatiful and I had such a smile on my face.

    And after the credits that smile got bigger *spoilers* since I could see the PSN-IDs of the people I met. Which I think is genius. So I messaged my companion, he messaged me back and we started talking with a lot of smilies. We both agreed on everything and it turned out we play the same kind of games etc.

    But I’m sure there are a lot of people with the same stories, altough I think that was one of the experiences you were aiming for as well.

    I know I didn’t really talk about the game itself or give too much feedback, like Paul who I agree with, but I just want to let you all at TGC know that I won’t forget this game, this experience, ever. And I will obviously go back to it after writing this comment 🙂

    Thank you so much and congratulation on an amazing job!

    Takura.

  7. Nader says

    The game is amazing, expect its very short, not deserve to buy it for $15… Its real price $5 or less.
    I finished the games in one hour. I can call it its just a demo for amazing game idea.

    Im very sad, was expecting longer game.

  8. Arnaud says

    This is one beautiful game!

    I downloaded the game this morning, before going to work, and immediately played it through upon getting home.
    At first, I didn’t know what to expect from the online game, i.e. how does one play with someone when one cannot communicate. And I found it to be one one the most unique, gratifying gaming experiences in my life. One connects very easily, playing alone is fun, but having someone at your side is simply charming. And I cannot express enough what feelings came over me seeing the two wanderers fight through the last levels.

    It will not be the last time I played Journey, and I look forward to finding all the trophies.

    Oh, one small grudge: why is the exclusive avatar for facebook users only? It should be made available more widely.

    Looking forward to your next game (and masterpiece), thank you for this fine, fine piece of playable art.

    Arnaud

  9. Aaron says

    @Arnaud:
    The avatar is available to Facebookers in the U.S. for the time being. It’s been available for weeks in Europe, so most likely it will be available for sale in the U.S. soon.

  11. Si says

    Journey is without doubt the most stunning game I have ever played, and I would have happily paid more than £10 the game.

    Congratulations to all of the TGC team, and thank you 🙂

    +

    @Nader Unfortunately you completely missed the purpose of the game if you played through it in one hour. As with other TGC games, Journey is about emotional response and thought/reflection on a personal level. It’s an experience that requires you to open your mind a lot more than regular games do.

  12. Adaptor says

    Just finished Journey in one sitting, together with someone who was with me the entire way. It was amazing! Thank you TGC, for making such an original, moving experience. You have basically set a new bar for what games can be.

  14. Wes says

    You have created something truly amazing. I’ve been playing games for around 25 years but this felt so fresh.
    The co-op element isn’t forced, and isn’t even essential to make it through the whole journey but towards the end I was clinging to my anonymous partner for dear life.
    Keep up the great work thatgamecompany, the industry needs you.

  15. Brandon says

    I’d just like to say how amazing you guys are! I first played Flower out of shear curiousity, but the game moved me in such an amazing way.. By the end of the game I felt such a surge of happiness, it can’t be described.. Journey.. That’s still fresh in my mind.. Never in my life have I been so satisfied with a game..

    It did exactly what it was supposed to.. Take me on a Journey. When I finally reached my destination, I could only look back on the hardships me and my co-op partner just went through, which perfectly coincided with the credits. I love you guys! I can’t wait for what you guys make next!

  16. Slaythe says

    I bought it right away. I am amazed. The art style, the flying, the poetry, the music, the companions you meet…

    What an incredible journey. And if you’re not using any guide, it actually takes a few hours to get everything. And while it is not a sand box game ( even though it might have been, people would just love being there in that amazing world, no need for much more level design in the desert, just add secrets to find n.n ) it still feels fresh every time you play it !

    Also, it really makes you connect to the other players. The place where the dragons like monsters are hunting you down was so scary the first time, I really cared for my partner because I didn’t know what would happen !

    Anyway, thank you for such a wonderful experience !

    I know you guys want to go multiplayform, but after the great responses for Journey, maybe Sony can grant you a much larger budget for one more exclusive !

    See you soon !

  17. Foxiol says

    I´m going to re-post my very first reaction because i bought the game at release here in Spain and commented in GameTrailers so people can see it but wanted to show you how it was for me too:

    “I finished it a couple of minutes ago and i had an strange feeling at the end.

    I was playing with other guy at first but then he went off maybe because his network (he just disappeared).

    Then i found a new one and we started to play together map after map and without a single word only with the sounds and symbols we called each other when we wanted to go to a certain place.We understood each other and we find many secrets and stuff but the best part was in the mountain, in the snow with the wind part when if you moved alone you froze but if you were close to the other person you “kept warm” (or at least it seemed).You felt the need to stay with the other person.

    I felt bad at the very end (yes, that was strange) because i wanted to finish the game with this person but we separate (not on purpose)and i kept waiting for a bit at the top of the mountain but he/she never appeared.

    I saw the credits and saw the name of the guy and i was about to add him and he added me first haha. It was a pretty cool experience.
    You are enjoying this game and having some kind of “peaceful fun” and you feel that you are connected with the other person IF that person wants of course. In this case we connected and was quite fun when we communicated with the sounds.

    Pretty cool experience.It could be a long Journey but i think it was great.
    Loved it.”

    It was an unique experience because people is used to violent games and MP experiences when you don´t need to cooperate and you play only for your personal “glory” in that case.

    This game (being or not one of those people who play those games) invites you to cooperate and gives you that kind of “peaceful” fun because of the amazing and lovely art-style mixed with the great music in certain moments in the game.

    For me this game represented life in art form. You start in a place that you don´t know, you discover and explore, you learn things, you find a way and you follow it, then you find that more people is in your way, you decide if you want company and then you discover that it is better to have company and the game turns in to a fantastic cooperative experience with the need to cooperate to find new things and at the same time with the ability to communicate with the sounds you feel that you are connected with the other person.

    In the game you have those magical and lovely moments (sliding parts and flying crossing each others with your companion) and then those difficult moments (in the caves with the darkness and the flying “dragons” that you need to avoid and then in the mountain with the wind).
    At the end it makes you feel something special.

    This game was deeper than i expected so i have to tell you thank you very much. I am 27 years old and played tons of games in my life and i never felt that way. Simply beautiful.

    Keep doing things like this in the future and all the best for you.

  18. Joshua says

    I just want to express my most profound appreciation and gratitude to everyone involved with Journey. Thank you all so much. Seriously. Thank you.

    I have played through Journey five times now, and I have had the most wonderful gaming experiences imaginable. I’ve been playing games for over 20 years, and I’m not sure anything else compares.

    There is a lot one can do with $15. There is really no shortage of things to spend time and money on. But there is a drastic shortage of things that are commercial products at the same time as they are complete and meaningful artistic expressions.

    I’m just really happy to be here, and to have experienced this game. I look forward to returning to it time and time again in the future.

    Best wishes and love to you all.

  22. Thomas roozemond says

    Hello TGC,

    This was the first time in my life (24) that i have had real emotion with a game, it was so intense, finished about 4 times now 😛

    Best part for me was (spoiler) shooting in the sky to the last epic part of the game,
    Most butefull part was the sunken city,

    I can never get all trophies, how can i not play for a week??

    Tnx TGC till next time..

  23. Gutzahn says

    I just finished my first playthrough, and i just want to say that it’s a absolutely wonderful game !
    I really enjoyed the journey through this beautiful world.

  24. ev says

    Unless Roger Ebert has a heart of stone, Journey will change his view on how video games are a bona fide artform. How amazing is it that such humanity can be condensed in such a simple and profoundly stunning and gorgeous story?

    Like many of you, I teared up a little at the end. I wanted to take the whole experience and give it a great big hug. I made a new friend at the end of my Journey and I will play more and show the new ones where all the nifty secrets are located.

    My hat is off to you, tgc. I don’t know how you top Journey, but I can’t wait to see you try.

    Ev

  25. Maj says

    I know its 2 years late comment to celebrate the initial of this masterpiece art. I have no shame to say I am PC gamer and Journey was biggest reason I bought PS3. last summer project I have given my students in art class was to ask them to play the game I even offered membership to those who didn’t owned it of my junior students, and told them to write about it in the school newspaper, they were surprised. Few days later I was shocked higher grade students came to me asking about the game. By the end of the semester the main entrance of the art school was covered with a huge drop down JOURNEY curtain. Thank you and congrats for winning over best Indie game 2012

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