saw-game posts

Last year Konami released Saw, the survival horror game that's based on the long running Saw horror movie franchise. The game was released for the PC exclusively via digital download. The first Saw game, developed by Zombie Studios, sold well enough that Konami decided to commission a sequel, Saw II, that will be released in the fall of 2010.

While Konami's official press release only mentioned Saw II as a PS3 and Xbox 360 game, Big Download has learned that the sequel could still be released for the PC as well. We spoke with John Williamson of Zombie today who told us that while nothing is definiate yet, Konami is still considering a PC release for the title. If they do decided to release Saw II for the PC it will be as a digital download title only like the first Saw game. In its press release announcing the sequel, Konami states that Saw II will have "all-new stomach-twisting traps and puzzles, more visceral combat, and an all-new storyline that takes place between the second and third movie."

A couple of months ago Variety posted up rumors that Konami was going to take over as the publisher of the game based on the Saw horror films. Today Variety has now confirmed those rumors, saying that the publisher will release the Zombie Studios-developed game for the PC and other platforms this fall, around the time Saw IV is released to theaters by Lionsgate.

The Variety article also has the first actual screenshots from the game (reproduced here) The game itseld will have an original story and not an adaptation of any of the films. The game has your character trying to solve the nasty torture puzzles put in place by the movie's villain Jigsaw. The game was one of the many titles under the now defunct Brash Entertainment which went under in a rather spectacular fashion lasf fall.

Brash Entertainment had one of the biggest flame outs in game publishing history but at least one of the games that was orphaned by the company's collapse may be getting some new life. Variety is reporting via unnamed sources that the long-in-development title based on the Saw films may be going to Konami.

According to the story the Saw game, which was under development at Zombie, went back to the movie's owners at Lionsgate after the collapse of Brash. After considering the possibility of publishing the game themselves, Lionsgate decided to go the more traditional route and give the game to an established publisher. The story claims the Saw game will be released this fall around the time Saw VI is in theaters. So far Konami, Lionsgate and Zombie have not said anything official about this development so treat it as a rumor for now.

Remember how the CEO of game publisher Brash Entertainment, Mitch Davis, denied his company was in trouble just a few weeks ago to our sister site GameDaily? Yeah..about that. GameDaily is now reporting that the company, which has released poorly received movie-based games like Alvin and the Chimpunks and Space Chimps, has now laid off 20 of its employees and is trying to find some cash to stay afloat.

This is the company that supposedly raised $400 million about 18 months ago to start up their business. A story posted on Variety's web site, using unnamed sources, says that the truth is a tad different as Brash has only been able to access a portion of those private equity funds and is now needing cash. The article claims Brash is trying to sell back its many movie based licenses to their owners. Those licenses include making games based on Superman, 300, Night at the Museum 2, Tale of Desperaux and others. The article claims that Brash will still publish a game based on the Saw horror movie franchise next year.

If you raised $400 million to start a game publishing company, would you decide to make your first game an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie tie-in title? Well, that's exactly what Brash Entertainment did. The Los Angeles-based company, which first announced its presence just over a year ago, was quite open in its intentions in releasing games based on licensed properties. However its track record isn't all that great so far. It has released two games since its launch; the previously mentioned Alvin game (released for the PC and other platforms) and one based on the sci-fi movie/box office bomb Jumper. Both got slammed by critics and while the Alvin game sold OK, the Jumper adaptation sold a measly 16,000 copies.

Now comes word via Variety that the company's co-founder and president, Nicholas Longano, has left his position at Brash Entertainement (the article isn't clear if he resigned or was fired). Brash co-founder and CEO Mitch Davis (also the co-founder of the MMO in-game property trading company Live Gamer) will assume Longano's duties. Brash Entertainment's slate for 2008 isn't encouraging; it has a kids game based on the CGI movie Space Chimps due this August. Its first major next-gen title willl come out this October via an Unreal Engine 3 based adaptation of the Saw horror film series. Brash has kept the game under tight wraps (they haven't even revealed the game's developer). Only time will tell if the company can come back from its rocky beginnings.