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God of War: Ascension director leaves Sony

Todd Papy departs Sony Santa Monica, moves to Germany, teases "I haven't quit games."

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God of War: Ascension director Todd Papy has left Sony Santa Monica, the industry veteran announced on Twitter today.

"Yesterday was my last day @SonySantaMonica. I'm extremely honored to have been part of that team. <3 you SSM!," he said. "Time for the next adventure!!"

Papy was also design director on God of War III. He assured fans that his departure from Sony does not mean the company will suffer.

"There's a huge amount of talent from the old guard. They've added a ton of new talent & continue to do so," he said.

In a follow-up tweet, Papy said he decided to move to Germany to "experience a different culture & all the wonderful things that Europe has to offer."

Asked if he was leaving game development altogether, Papy replied, "I haven't quit games ;)"

Some notable Germany-based developers include Crytek, Deep Silver, and Yager.

God of War II director Cory Barlog returned to Sony Santa Monica in August. He is currently hiring an Ocean's 11-style cast of developers to work on a "freaking huge" game.

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Avatar image for komuchen
komuchen

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I liked Ascension, all the places we visit and ball-busting difficulty, according to some people. It wasn't as good as 3 (my personal best), but to me, it was better than first (no Ares cheapness or maincart BS).

Great addition to the great series.

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Avatar image for blobby-blobby
Blobby-blobby

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@komuchen

I actually thought Acsention was fantastic. What you wanted form a GOW game, over the top mayhem with great and created puzzles and scenery. Really challenging as well, even on normal mode. Awesome game.

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Avatar image for Ripper_TV
Ripper_TV

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Worst game to date. By FAR.


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Ripper_TV

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I meant in the series.

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Blobby-blobby

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

I think Ascention is one of those games none PS gamers like to imagine was terrible but actual was great. Give GOW 3 and Ascention a try. You will love it.

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Avatar image for deactivated-5e83c14458072
deactivated-5e83c14458072

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I borrowed it and I couldn't finish it. Got really bored.

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freedom01

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freedom01  Moderator

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Isnt the worst game to date Aliens Colonial Marines?

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roman4545

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<< LINK REMOVED >> worst game ? yeah for you but aint for other people..

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esgyear

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It's good that the director from God of War 2 is coming back. Part 2 is arguably the best of the series and one of the best of all time.

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Faye_Tallity

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HAHA GOW GOW God Of War Gears Of War God Of War Gears Of War *snaps fingers*

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soulless4now

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<< LINK REMOVED >> lol You're late. xD

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Queuingreturns

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David Jaffe is the MAIN man.

So long as he is at SSM then all is well.

All the best to Todd.

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castleperry

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Jaffe left SSM a long time ago dude...

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Queuingreturns

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

Lol.

My bad.

He has his own development company working for Sony.

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battlefront1943

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GOW was solid, GOW II was even better, GOW III was spectacular... GOW: ASCENSION was a mishmash of bad and boring ideas, the sign the series jumper-the-shark at III. Glad Cory Barlog is still at SMS, but not really heart-broken that Papy left.

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DjentMaven

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Yeah the story was just plain bad in Ascension. Loved the gameplay. No need to waste time on multiplayer. So SSM please no multiplayer!

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MonstaTruk

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<< LINK REMOVED >> God of War Ascension graphically was unprecedented. Super high frame rates for a PS3 game, and the textures looked absolutely amazing. But...story wise, 3 is still King...

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Avatar image for deactivated-588e2038987e3
deactivated-588e2038987e3

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Whenever I think of Germany once it comes to games western RPG immediately pops up.


If this is what this guy is planning on working on I'm happy just because I believe there can never be enough traditional western RPG's.

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Sushiglutton

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New IP time for SSM I hope. They are very talented, just need something new to show it off properly. I wouldn't mind if they kept some history/mythology influences.

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roman4545

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<< LINK REMOVED >>The Order isnt the new game of SSM ? Even though half the studio is working with the other team Red Dawn ?

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Zepthire95

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the company is called Up At Dawn and are the guys who made the PSP GoW games. I'm not sure how much of SSM is helping with The Order but I'm sure they are working on something else as well.

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Deadlysyns87

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Ready at Dawn

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Sundberg_man

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Thank God. Ascension was horrible.

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roman4545

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<< LINK REMOVED >> wrong ! Ascension is not horrible its just not the same caliber like the previous games... therefore the game is nothing special but still worth the experience and still a good game for the series.

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Lhomity

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> "Game Y was not quite as pleasing as Game X, thus Game Y was complete shit." = This is actually how some people think.

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Dragerdeifrit

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its time to reboot God of war on a new mythology. have Kratos slam Thor's face with his own hammer. :D

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deactivated-58bd60b980002

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<< LINK REMOVED >> **** no ... no more shitty reboot with emo ass holes or changing everything making the game ... something else than it should be. If they want to make new game ... use new ideas instead of recreating something ... Tomb Raider was meh, DMC was uber shit ... no thank you

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SoulxReaperx366

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Sony: "That's too much blood and gore, we can't advertise this"

Director: "NO, we need MORE"


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deactivated-58bd60b980002

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Sony can produce Little Big Planet and God Of War. Something for everyone

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heartindarkness

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design director awesome but main director was a bit outta his league i mean ascension was really good jst isn't gr8 i mean u rly had to make common enemies as tough as heck while supposedly strong ones that easy along with poor use of elements and finally NO CHALLENEGES THT WAS AN OUTRAGE, and multiplayer was passable at best :'

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Avatar image for deactivated-59cda6205cc59
deactivated-59cda6205cc59

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Ascension was a great game, but it lacked that certain something to make it superb.

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GSyyStringerboyyyGS

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Not surprised. Ascension was kind meh, it lacked proper direction.

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kik4444

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<< LINK REMOVED >> True. I'd much rather have an crazy with rage Kratos than a chilled Kratos

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NoHyperbolePlz

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It was definitely lacking that WOW factor from 2 & 3, just a sequel for the sake of a sequel I felt.

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Avatar image for GSyyStringerboyyyGS
GSyyStringerboyyyGS

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of*

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pyro1245

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cool. never like GOW

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angeloti83

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<< LINK REMOVED >> you gotta try GOW, at least 1,2 and 3 parts.

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banana23man

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After the atrocity that was GOW:A, can't say I'm sad to see him leave.

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battlefront1943

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Well, it wasn't an atrocity. Mediocre? Yes, certainly.

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tom2750

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> it wasn't mediocre not even close it was still a great game and its why game spot rated it an 8/10 a 5/10 is a score given to a mediocre game god of war ascension was great not as good as the first 3 main titles but still great

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SteamRule

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good luck for him but i really think that director of GOW ascension leaving and director of GOW 2 coming back isn't bad at all for the Studio

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angeloti83

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<< LINK REMOVED >> it´s a big leap!

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RicanV

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Good luck.

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