If it were my decision? Cut the studio down to no more than 45 people. Get them on a multiplayer 3rd person game (doesn't have to be a shooter) for the NGP (shorter development time). Support the game for 1 year after launch. See how that pans out and if we get something, we can start looking at a another new handheld multiplayer game and maybe a PS3 version to go with it.

Sell Zipper and evolutions studios, buy Sucker punch and quantic dreams.

= Yay.

Sucker punch doesnt want to be bought guys lol. Either way they own all the ips which is all that matters. Sucker punch wont switch because they are happy where they are, but its nice to have freedom.

OT: I dont think they should get rid of zipper, i think they should ask them to go in a new direction. Their network skills are off the chartz.

idk about get rid of them, but at least they need to revamp their games desperately as socom 4 is poo poo and mag was meh

This. Zipper makes the most uninspired generic games of the generation IMO.

Zipper should do something like Rare....change direction and start making PSN better by adding features etc. They are very talented when it comes to features in online mp.

TBH, Zipper is, in many ways, the tech powerhouse of Sony -- they have made unprecidented advances in network tech, as well as usage of the Cell for non-rendering tasks -- think of all the CPU muscle required to run the game logic, physics, and animation for 256 players at once. Even the SOCOM 4 co-op has a *really* impressive number of pretty intelligent AIs. I would even go as far to say that their 3D rendering tech is the best there is -- full 720p, at 30 Hz, with MLAA... that's pretty dang impressive. That, with all the networking, animation, ragdoll & physics, etc... is simply outstanding.

Pressing the reset button on such a team would be like folding a Draw Poker hand that has a pair of aces, before the draw -- i.e. it'd be foolish. What Zipper needs is good creative and design direction. They have some incredible engineering muscle -- they just need some creative juice to fuel them.

No, imo SOCOM might be their premier online game, perhaps with Killzone and Uncharted multi making it somewhat contentious. They hjust have to listen to fans for god's sake, we just want a more expanisve update of SOCOM 2.

SOCOM 2 was amazing, even one was quite good.

Naaaa they are still very valuable, they can release a Socom or MAG version for PSV featuring crossplay and enhanced features. I guess they can re use their code and pull it out in time for Q1 2012. They can always try a new IP.

Just look at DICE they failed comercially with Mirror's Edge but they bounce back with Battlefield 2.

I wouldn't want Zipper to become like Rare, but they should change pace and focus on improving the PSN.