Why isn't Gex 2 on the PSN store?

[scorptatious]

For those who don't know, the Gex games were a series of platformers where you play as a gecko named Gex who enters different worlds that are themed around television genres, such as Saturday morning cartoons, horror films, sci fi, ect.

I've decided to check on the PS1 classics section of the PSN store and noticed that the first game was on there along with the third. But the second one was nowhere to be seen.

It just seems kind of an odd move on Sony to have the first game on there, but then skip the second one and went straight on to release the third. I guess it's not to big of a deal since the games aren't known for their story. But the second game is the first Gex game I played and is my favorite in the series. So it's kind of a shame that they left it out in the cold.

So does anyone know why this is? Did Sony had some kind of disagreement with the makers of the games?

And for additional discussion value, what PS1 games do you wish will be released on the PSN? I personally hope Klonoa gets released on there soon. I have yet to finish it and I remember it being a boat load of fun.

 

[Lilani]

If it's so obscure you have to explain what it was before saying anything else, then that's probably your answer. It costs money to port games and put them up on the PSN, and if it's not a very successful game or developer it's just not financially worth it. Sony doesn't have the rights to those games, so they really have no part in getting them onto the PSN. It's the owner of the IP that makes that call, and provides the money to make it happen.

And looking at Wikipedia it says Midway Games, the developer who made the version for the PS1, is currently under liquidation (the business equivalent of stripping something down and selling it for its parts). So, yeah. I'm sorry, but it's probably just not going to happen.

 

[scorptatious]

If it's so obscure you have to explain what it was before saying anything else, then that's probably your answer. It costs money to port games and put them up on the PSN, and if it's not a very successful game or developer it's just not financially worth it. Sony doesn't have the rights to those games, so they really have no part in getting them onto the PSN. It's the owner of the IP that makes that call, and provides the money to make it happen.

And looking at Wikipedia it says Midway Games, the developer who made the version for the PS1, is currently under liquidation. So, yeah. I'm sorry, but it's probably just not going to happen.

Aww. That's too bad.

That doesn't really seem to answer the question as to why they left a gap in between the games though. If you're not going to re-release the second game then why re-release the third game? Surely the series is not so obscure that they would skip an entire game just because it wouldn't be worth it. If that were the case then why release any of the games?

 

[Lilani]

If it's so obscure you have to explain what it was before saying anything else, then that's probably your answer. It costs money to port games and put them up on the PSN, and if it's not a very successful game or developer it's just not financially worth it. Sony doesn't have the rights to those games, so they really have no part in getting them onto the PSN. It's the owner of the IP that makes that call, and provides the money to make it happen.

And looking at Wikipedia it says Midway Games, the developer who made the version for the PS1, is currently under liquidation. So, yeah. I'm sorry, but it's probably just not going to happen.

Aww. That's too bad.

That doesn't really seem to answer the question as to why they left a gap in between the games though. If you're not going to re-release the second game then why re-release the third game? Surely the series is not so obscure that they would skip an entire game just because it wouldn't be worth it. If that were the case then why release any of the games?

Wikipedia saves the day yet again!. Apparently Gex 3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gex_3] was developed by Eidos Interactive [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidos_Interactive], a subsidiary of Square Enix which is still alive and kicking to this day. Eidos is a fairly well-known and successful developer with the financial backing of Square. Since they are a successful developer, putting even their lesser known or successful games on the PSN is a good investment for them because some people who purchase Gex on a nostalgia trip may see other Eidos games and think "Hey, that's made by the same people. Maybe I'll give them a shot, too!" Self-advertising, basically.

But Eidos doesn't own the PS1 version of Gex, they only worked on the Windows version. Again, that's Midway Games. But wait a minute...look at the Gex 2 Wiki page. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gex_2] Under platforms, it says Playstation Network. Are you sure it's not there?

 

[scorptatious]

snip

Hang on a minute I'll check...

*2 minutes later*

Nope. It's not there. :/

That actually does explain a lot though. Thanks.

 

[Lilani]

snip

Hang on a minute I'll check...

*2 minutes later*

Nope. It's not there. :/

That actually does explain a lot though. Thanks.

Huh, strange. Maybe it was on the PSN, but now that Midway Games is being liquidated they've lost the right to sell their games. Maybe the new owners will sell it again, or maybe it'll just get buried into obscurity. Either way, good luck, and glad I could help find you some info

 

[Wayneguard]

Oh GOD I LOVE GEX ILOVEGEXILOVEGEX SO MUCH. Gex 2... ah fond memories of your kung fu themed level where the pickups were chinese take-out boxes XD

Did I mention that I love gex?

 

[scorptatious]

Oh GOD I LOVE GEX ILOVEGEXILOVEGEX SO MUCH. Gex 2... ah fond memories of your kung fu themed level where the pickups were chinese take-out boxes XD

Did I mention that I love gex?

I believe you have. No worries though. I had great memories of the game too.

"Note to self, don't drink tap water at Jerry Garcia's."