Grave Gamer News & Views — flower

Flower Blooms on the PlayStation Vita

thatgamecompany may have found widespread success with a little digital diddy called Journey, but the L.A. based developer was burning up the indie scene at all four corners way before gamers were chirping and hopping the cresting dunes of, er, Journey-ville?

I’m referring to 2009’s critically acclaimed PSN download — and my personal favorite from the studio — Flower.  In this motion-sensitive game, you are the wind, and as the wind, you blow a flower pedal about, interacting with the world’s flora and gathering a colorful flotilla of even more pedals as you bring brighteness and life to sometimes sparse and desolate environments.  It sounds like a six gram mushroom trip, I know, but it’s actually a relaxing bout of artful, offbeat fun.

Despite co-founder and lead designer Jenova Chen’s insistence on seeing his games made as widely available as possible, the majority of TGC’s catalog is PSN-only.  Today, though, brings the news that Flower is being ported to the PlayStation Vita.  The Vita version will come equipped with new motion and touch controls specific to the Sony’s handheld.

A release date hasn’t been locked down but Flower for the Vita will make an appearance as a part of IndieCade’s E3 display.  While Flower arguably makes tons more sense for the Vita, I think the question stands among fans whether a portable visit to Journey-ville is in store?  (They, uh, they’d probably word the question differently.)

Journey Collector’s Edition Going Retail in August

The fastest selling downloadable game in PSN history is preparing to go corporeal as Thatgamecompany plans on packaging Journey onto a special edition retail disc for the PS3, releasing August 28th.

For $29.99, Journey Collector’s Edition comes stocked with the titular game as well as TGC’s previous two outings, flOw and Flower.  But TGC understands Blu-Ray discs are large enough to house the whole of human history.  That won’t be included, but this content will be:

• Concept art, screenshot galleries, trailers, dev diaries, soundtracks, and Creator Commentary playthroughs of all three games.
• Behind-the-scenes documentary on Journey.
• PS3 themes, wallpapers, and exclusive Journey avatars.
• Reversible cover art to match your flippant mood.
• Three TGC crafted mini-games created during the 24hr Game Jam: Gravediggers, Duke War!!, and Nostril Shot. TGC says these competitive multiplayer titles represent the studio’s lighter side, “We hope you sincerely enjoy their silliness as much as we have.”

Do PS3 Owners Have More Refined Tastes Than Other Gamers?

“Sony has a more artistic and adult-focused taste.  They care about how grown-ups feel toward their games. The player who owns a PlayStation 3 is more likely to be interested in artistic games compared to Wii and Xbox 360.”

Jenova Chen, thatgamecompany’s co-founder, stoking a very large fire to fuel fanboy rage.  thatgamecompany, started in 2006, is responsible for PSN hits such as Flower and Journey, two titles created under an exclusivity contract with Sony.  Not accusing Jenova of bias by mentioning that fact (I’ll let you do that for me).

There has certainly been instances where Xbox 360 titles, especially downloadable ones, have proven the console’s users have more eclectic taste than Mr. Chen gives them credit for.  And just look at the Wii…and promptly look away because it’s impossible to argue away that system’s good-to-bad ratio of titles (i.e. the Curse of Shovelware) and also explain its continued success.

Jenova Chen has this knack for making comments that always fall between being brilliant and being steeped in controversy – but he never fails to be quotable.  This time, fans of Microsoft and Nintendo are guaranteed to get incensed over his words.  I’m curious to also hear from gamers that aren’t aligned with just one console, but own more than one.

So, gaming populace at large, how does Jenova’s comment make you feel?