PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a fine game, but there are some major omissions in its roster. The loveable Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon are both considered PlayStation icons, but unfortunately they belong to Activision. That clearly prompted some serious negotiation issues behind-the-scenes, which resulted in the protagonists being dropped from the mascot mash-up’s line-up. But now, through the power of the Internet, a group of fans are campaigning to get the stars in the game as DLC. We spoke to one of them in order to learn the full story.
“The objective of the campaign is to convince Activision and Sony Santa Monica that Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon would be profitable, well-received additions to the PlayStation All-Stars roster, and to request their inclusion as DLC,” one fan tells us, who wishes to be referred to by his online handle, McFordson. “We aren't going to demand a certain version of the character, as we believe the characters have relevance to the PlayStation brand and a lovability that overcomes whatever cosmetic changes may have taken place over time – even changes such as the Skylanders series.”
The request seems reasonable; unlike previous online fan-driven campaigns, McFordson and his followers aren’t acting with disrespect – they’re simply making enough noise to ensure that neither Activision nor Sony Santa Monica can ignore them. It’s doing this through a number of channels, including Twitter, NeoGAF, and the official PlayStation Community message boards. It’s also reaching out to websites such as this one, in order to garner a greater online presence. But what can you do to help?
“What we aim to do is start a Twitter campaign, Tweeting @ATVIAssist (Activision Support's Twitter account) and @SonySantaMonica using the hashtag #ListentothefansActivision,” McFordson continues. “We also encourage players to make videos, images, Tumblr posts, Facebook statuses, and utilise all sorts of social networking services to spread the message, including messaging recent players of PlayStation All-Stars via the PlayStation Network about the campaign.”
A quick search on Twitter shows that a huge number of players have already joined in on the endeavour, and McFordson is particularly complimentary of the community’s reaction so far. “The response from the community has been fantastic,” he adds. “Sure, there are a few hecklers, but people have been working together, keeping a cheery atmosphere, and sharing every little bit of news.” Even developer Sony Santa Monica itself has described the efforts as “valiant and inspired”, which shows that the message is at least getting through.
For more information about how you can help the campaign, refer to the official thread on the PlayStation Community forums. “This is a group effort,” McFordson stresses. “We may seem small now, but with every Tweet we grow larger and stronger.”
Comments 15
I hope this helps. I mean, I don't really care on a personal level, but it might help sales a bit.
@naruball I don't understand what the big deal is. Skylanders is no longer about Spyro, and Crash Bandicoot hasn't existed in any meaningful form for ages. It's pretty much free money for Activision — and clearly Sony want to do it.
@get2sammyb I think they just don't want to renew Crash and Spyro license/copyrights just to release it as a character in this game it would just be a waste of money for activision thats how they see it. It would be just perfect if they could announce a game for both and then add it to the game thats the only way to make it profitable.
NO! Christ, I thought we were finally free of that constantly annoying orange bastard. Leave him in video game hell where he belongs.
Also these fan petitions are useless. Most of the time it doesn't work and then when it does only a handful of the tens of thousands of people who wanted it actually buy it, wasting God knows how much money from the developers. The last time I remember a petition working and selling successfully was when the much missed Nintendo Gamer (then simply N64 Magazine) organised one which got Nintendo to release the original Super Smash Bros. outside of Japan way back in 1999.
@rastamadeus You're right, a lot of the time this stuff is a waste of time — but it worked with Mass Effect 3.
@get2sammyb Only as EA were responsible and wouldn't want to risk damaging sales in further games. If Bioware self-released they'd have told the fans to sod off.
@Rastamadeus
See, the amazing thing about DLC is... You don't have to get it. The people who want it (which is pretty much everyone except for a handful) will buy it, and you can choose -NOT- to buy it~ Everyone wins!
@rastamadeus Seriously man? You're the one complaining on every article about how terrible this is compared to smash and how the characters aren't "classic" enough. And now that fans are trying to revive one of playstation's most classic characters you get upset? #doublestandard
I won't spend 4.99 for characters that don't specifically appeal to me or any of my friends (issac, Zeus) but this would be an instabuy
@ztpayne7 No problem with Spyro but Crash isn't a "classic" character by any stretch of the imagination. Iconic to the early PS one adopters maybe but there's a reason Sony and Naughty Dog didn't want to keep him. Also, it's not terrible compared to Smash, it's terrible full stop. Bar the 'all the characters in one game' it's nothing like Smash.
@Azikira Possibly but I will happily bet you my sister that if this DLC happened not even 25% of the people declaring "DAY ONE! INSTABUY! OMG!" would buy them. Also Activision aren't idiots, they won't spend money renewing Crash license's and whatever else is needed to go in a game that has massively struggled to sell. Simple truth sadly.
Crash and Spyro are both prerequisites for me to purchase the game passed the $20 mark.
Made a quick account to mention some information and gain support. I started the campaign. We've received 500 unique tweets(probably well over that for multiples to get the point across). Our thread on Playstation forums has become the Top Kudeod thread. We've received mentions on Playstation Lifestyle, JunkieMonkeys. We have posts on Neogaf, N4G, Cheapassgamer, we've even received temporary support from the Smash Bros. community (before our thread was removed). Please spread the message and instead of giving us a simple "I wish you guys luck," try and participate, one tweet a day if you can. A twitter account takes a minute to create. Tweet @AtviAssist @SonySantaMonica @SethKillian @ToddPapy #ListentothefanActivision, and simply add a request for Crash and Spyro in your tweet. Thank you, spread the word.
I personally don't care either. I don't know if this will work. The game hasn't sold to well.
I've kinda had been playing it again lately, so I would probably love to see Crash and Spyro, now. I like playing this game, but not as much as Smash Bros.
to me Crash is the Mario of PlayStation and so is Spyro and it also really needs Final Fantasy characters like Cloud, Sephiroth, Leon, and Auron etc., but it needs more then just new PS3 game characters but more classic PS1 n 2 characters like Tomb Raider Lora Croft, Gex, Rayman, Kingdom Hearts Sora, Castlevania, Tekken, Street FIghter, Mortal Combat and it needs more villans like Cortex, Gnasty Gnorc, Mr. Dark etc and that's a true PlayStation Smash Bro's type game
Tap here to load 15 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...