Interview: What's Next From Tecmo?

Three creators. Three games. No mercy. Kikizo takes a flying tour of Tecmo's top developers to check out Again for DS, Undead Knights for PSP and Quantum Theory for PS3.

Page: 1  2  3  4  5 

Page 2

Kikizo: It's a very impressive game technically - you have live action on 3D environments. What's going on behind the scenes to achieve that?

Yamaguchi: As far as we know there are no other DS titles that have been able to achieve this level of quality, with both screens showing in 3D. Technically we were told that it would be almost impossible to display both screens in 3D, but we were able to overcome that challenge, and the fact that even in very early builds we have those action sequences running is something we're going to... we still have some time to polish it up.

Some of the scenes are even going to be shot in the States, just so that the actors have a conducive setting... It does become a challenge to find that setting, even though we're talking about a DS game, to mirror the environment correctly. We want to make sure we showcase that this is taking place in America.

Kikizo: Japanese adventure games are popular on the DS all over the world - Hotel Dusk is the most well-received example that springs to mind. Why do you think that is?

Yamaguchi: I think the biggest reason why is that the storyline and the stage-setting take place outside Japan. It's very natural for an overseas gamer to pick up and play because they know that it's an environment they have either seen or lived in or can adapt to easily. I think that is probably the key element in the success of those games. This one is hopefully the next chapter in that success story.

	Kohei Shibata, Tecmo producer for Undead Knights on the PSP

Shibata: Undead Knights is a brand new PSP IP. It's an action game, but it's not your typical hack-and-slash title. Other games, once you destroy your enemies they're basically gone and you go to the next level, but in this case there's sort of a second layer - after destroying your enemies you can transform them into zombies, and utilise them to overcome some of the challenges.

The zombies are AI-controlled, but you can send out limited commands such as 'throw' and 'charge'. In some instances you won't be able to overcome a challenge if you have a small group of zombies - you're going to need a massive troupe of zombies. You might create a zombie ladder so you can climb over a high wall. So these zombies are basically your tools to advance in the game.

The characteristics that enemy soldiers and knights have will be carried over when you transform them into zombies, so there will be a wide variety of zombies. There's actually no limit as to how many enemies can be transformed, so every enemy on-screen - as long as you're good - can be transformed.

Kikizo: Sounds almost like a strategy or puzzle game.

Shibata: When you think of most zombie films and games, it's you against the zombies and the zombies are attacking you, but in this case you, the main character, start out the game by yourself, and what you want to do is increase the number of zombies so that you have allies, in order to conquer the game's four different environments. And executing that is as simple as hitting the main attack button and pointing in the direction you want your troops to go.

So there's a little bit of strategy involved but the main core of the game is still action. It's just that if it was typical hack-and-slash your allies wouldn't really have any purpose. So it adds another layer to the zombie action game.

Page: 1  2  3  4  5 

NEXT PAGE >>