Eight Days
Encyclopedia
Eight Days is an action game
that was being developed by SCE London Studio
for the PlayStation 3
. The game was reported to have been cancelled on 4 June 2008, however it was later revealed in October 2009 that the game was merely on hold. Although a portion of the game was used in tech demo
at E3 in 2005, the game was first announced at Sony
's E3 2006 press conference.
In August 2009 new screenshots were released stirring speculation about the title still being in development.
at the time. The game would have also included a real life clock
. If the game was being played at night, it would be night in the game. The player would be able to choose between two characters, one "good" and one "bad". In the "bad" characters storyline, he attempts to get revenge
on a mob
syndicate
. The other storyline would follow the "good" character, a detective searching for the same mob syndicate, after he kidnaps his son. The two characters end up crossing paths, and eventually work together.
Eight Days was being developed by SCE London Studio
. The game had a team of 63 development members, which would have been expanded to 80, with an additional 40 outsources workers. After the production of Eight Days was completed, a bulk of the development team was to begin working on development for The Getaway. Eight Days senior producer
Phil James explained in an interview with The Guardian
-""The idea is to have two pre-production teams and one production team, which flips onto whatever product, at that point of time, is ready to have that team working on it".
during Sony
's E3 2005 press conference. The scene showed a gas station exploding. It was used to demonstrate how the PS3's Cell processor would handle visual effects and physics. In March 2006, the game was then shown at SCE
's platform keynote
as a demo entitled "PlayStation 3:Beyond the Box". The demo was of a car getting shot at and then exploding. After the bullets hit the engine
of the car, the car exploded, causing the wheels to fall off.
Eight Days was officially announced in a trailer that was played during Sony
's E3 2006 Press Conference. The trailer began with a scene of two men staring at guns inside the trunk of a car. The trailer then cuts to a group of people standing in the Arizona
desert
. It then cuts to a scene in which passengers in two separate sports cars are shooting at each other. After being shot at, one of the cars flips over, destroying it. The other car arrives at the spot where the group of people were standing. They then engage in a gun
battle with the two men from the first scene. The fight continues, and eventually the two men run off as a tanker truck slides and crashes into a diner
, causing an explosion. The trailer then cuts to the logo
of the game. A final scene after the logo is displayed shows one of the men picking up a lighter
from the body of a dead enemy. He then flicks open the lighter and drops it in the gasoline
from the tanker. As he walks away an explosion occurs.
There was discussion in whether the trailer featured actually in-game footage. Several scenes from the trailer included a full HUD
, suggesting that the footage was of real-time gameplay
. Patrick Klepek from 1UP.com
referred to the footage as having "almost too much polish" compared to other games that were shown. Alex Navarro from GameSpot
also questioned the footage-"Certain sequences included a full HUD
, but even then, is it too good to be true?". Mike Jackson from CVG UK considered the footage to be "blatantly pretend in-game CGI".
announced that Eight Days, along with The Getaway, had been cancelled. Sony
released a statement on the cancellation-"This decision was made following an internal review of all games and it was deemed that with the incredibly strong list of exclusive first party
titles coming up both this year and in the near future, resource should be reallocated to enhance those projects closer to completion". Two weeks after the cancellation of Eight Days, President of Sony Computer Entertainment
, Shuhei Yoshida
, stated that the lack of an online
mode in Eight Days was "part of the consideration" to cancel the game. He also stated that the cancellation of Eight Days was not because it was not failing in production, but because Sony
is increasingly moving towards online-supported games, and Eight Days did not fit that overall strategy. However, on October 2009, it was confirmed that the game hasn't been cancelled, but merely put 'on hold'.
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
that was being developed by SCE London Studio
SCE London Studio
London Studio is an in-house Sony Computer Entertainment developer located in London. Established in 1993, London Studio is Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s largest internal development studio, with staff working in a purpose designed 7-storey building located in London's Soho district...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The game was reported to have been cancelled on 4 June 2008, however it was later revealed in October 2009 that the game was merely on hold. Although a portion of the game was used in tech demo
Tech demo
A tech demo is a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a product, put together with the primary purpose of showcasing the idea, performance, method or the features of the product...
at E3 in 2005, the game was first announced at Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's E3 2006 press conference.
In August 2009 new screenshots were released stirring speculation about the title still being in development.
Gameplay
The game was to be set over the course of eight days, and to be set in eight different states, which would have made it the largest game mapMap
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
at the time. The game would have also included a real life clock
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
. If the game was being played at night, it would be night in the game. The player would be able to choose between two characters, one "good" and one "bad". In the "bad" characters storyline, he attempts to get revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
on a mob
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
syndicate
Syndicate
A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies or entities formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest or in the case of criminals, to engage in organized crime...
. The other storyline would follow the "good" character, a detective searching for the same mob syndicate, after he kidnaps his son. The two characters end up crossing paths, and eventually work together.
Development
SCE London Studio
London Studio is an in-house Sony Computer Entertainment developer located in London. Established in 1993, London Studio is Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s largest internal development studio, with staff working in a purpose designed 7-storey building located in London's Soho district...
. The game had a team of 63 development members, which would have been expanded to 80, with an additional 40 outsources workers. After the production of Eight Days was completed, a bulk of the development team was to begin working on development for The Getaway. Eight Days senior producer
Game producer
A video game producer is the person in charge of overseeing development of a video game.The earliest documented use of the term producer in games was by Trip Hawkins, who established the position when he founded Electronic Arts in 1982...
Phil James explained in an interview with The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
-""The idea is to have two pre-production teams and one production team, which flips onto whatever product, at that point of time, is ready to have that team working on it".
Trailer
A scene from Eight Days was first shown as an un-named tech demoTech demo
A tech demo is a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a product, put together with the primary purpose of showcasing the idea, performance, method or the features of the product...
during Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's E3 2005 press conference. The scene showed a gas station exploding. It was used to demonstrate how the PS3's Cell processor would handle visual effects and physics. In March 2006, the game was then shown at SCE
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
's platform keynote
Keynote
A keynote in literature, music, or public speaking establishes the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address...
as a demo entitled "PlayStation 3:Beyond the Box". The demo was of a car getting shot at and then exploding. After the bullets hit the engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
of the car, the car exploded, causing the wheels to fall off.
Eight Days was officially announced in a trailer that was played during Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's E3 2006 Press Conference. The trailer began with a scene of two men staring at guns inside the trunk of a car. The trailer then cuts to a group of people standing in the Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
. It then cuts to a scene in which passengers in two separate sports cars are shooting at each other. After being shot at, one of the cars flips over, destroying it. The other car arrives at the spot where the group of people were standing. They then engage in a gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
battle with the two men from the first scene. The fight continues, and eventually the two men run off as a tanker truck slides and crashes into a diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
, causing an explosion. The trailer then cuts to the logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of the game. A final scene after the logo is displayed shows one of the men picking up a lighter
Lighter
A lighter is a portable device used to generate a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.- History :...
from the body of a dead enemy. He then flicks open the lighter and drops it in the gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
from the tanker. As he walks away an explosion occurs.
There was discussion in whether the trailer featured actually in-game footage. Several scenes from the trailer included a full HUD
HUD (video gaming)
In video gaming, the HUD is the method by which information is visually relayed to the player as part of a game's user interface...
, suggesting that the footage was of real-time gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
. Patrick Klepek from 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
referred to the footage as having "almost too much polish" compared to other games that were shown. Alex Navarro from GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
also questioned the footage-"Certain sequences included a full HUD
HUD (video gaming)
In video gaming, the HUD is the method by which information is visually relayed to the player as part of a game's user interface...
, but even then, is it too good to be true?". Mike Jackson from CVG UK considered the footage to be "blatantly pretend in-game CGI".
Cancellation
On 4 June 2008 Sony Computer EntertainmentSony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
announced that Eight Days, along with The Getaway, had been cancelled. Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
released a statement on the cancellation-"This decision was made following an internal review of all games and it was deemed that with the incredibly strong list of exclusive first party
First-party developer
A video game development party can be one of two parties: a first-party or third-party developer.- First-party developer :In the video game industry, a first-party developer is a developer that is part of a company that manufactures a video game console, and develops exclusively for it...
titles coming up both this year and in the near future, resource should be reallocated to enhance those projects closer to completion". Two weeks after the cancellation of Eight Days, President of Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
, Shuhei Yoshida
Shuhei Yoshida
Shuhei Yoshida is appointed senior vice president, product development, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and is responsible for all software development activities . Yoshida is among those responsible for the creation of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s 170-person internal product development team...
, stated that the lack of an online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
mode in Eight Days was "part of the consideration" to cancel the game. He also stated that the cancellation of Eight Days was not because it was not failing in production, but because Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
is increasingly moving towards online-supported games, and Eight Days did not fit that overall strategy. However, on October 2009, it was confirmed that the game hasn't been cancelled, but merely put 'on hold'.