So it looks like gamesindustry.biz has had a little set down with Epic's president to get his take on all angles of the game industry including topics like social gaming, the new Xbox Live Experience and the company's business plans and in all i must say i started out just looking it over and found myself reading it all.
GamesIndustry reports: Q: Gears of War was Epic's first narrative game. When you first set out on the project, did you have any idea it would capture gamers' imaginations in the way it has?
Dr Michael Capps: You always aim for that, right? We were actually scared to death, because our numbers for online interest were tracking really, really dangerously big - and we were worried about bring over-hyped.
I mean, we were number one on 1up, number one on Gamespot, everyone was so excited and we were like, "How do we live up to this? Everyone's expecting so much". Inevitably, when you've got sort of interest coming in before you sell it, you've got the folks who are saying, "Well, it isn't perfect" - there's always a little bit of detracting that way.
But [the excitement] was so much more than we ever would have expected. We thought we'd made a really fun videogame, but we didn't know people would have so much interest... I mean, Newline is making a movie! We've never been in that space before.
Q: Do you think there's a key element of the game that caught peoples' imagination?
Dr Michael Capps: We built a really beautiful game. Our technology set the bar, I think, for next-gen gaming. There were a lot of people with brand new HD TVs and Xboxes and they bought Gears of War to show off. I mean, with videogames graphics is what catches your interest and the controls are what keep it.
I think the idea of 'destroyed beauty' really resonated with people, more than just the hardcore shooter owner. The Mad World commercial is a good example - we didn't aim that at 18 year-olds who like to shoot stuff up in videogames, we aimed it at their girlfriends and their moms, people who would see that this is a deeper, more resonant world.
Q: I love the idea that you based the development of Gears around one phrase - 'destroyed beauty'. Is that an ethos you bring to all game development at Epic?
Dr Michael Capps: It is now! We actually had a few statements about Gears - another is 'you never fight alone'. This is a game where it's you and your mates and you're playing as a team together against crazy odds.
You're not one guy going round as a super hero - you're a team of guys. In the second one those relationships between the characters play an even greater part.
Q: Gears, then, is part of this industry trend toward social gaming?
Dr Michael Capps: Yes. I really want to be able to have my girlfriend or my mom play this game. My girlfriend's a gamer, but she's a Nintendo gamer - this isn't her sort of thing at all. But she had a blast, she looked around, saw the pretty settings and love the cinematics.
We want to make it accessible - I mean, that's how you sell videogames. The Sims sells for a lot of reasons: one, because it's great and two, because it's so accessible to everyone. So trying to take a game that's such a niche hardcore title, but open up the controls and the story to make it more widely appealing - so far it's worked pretty well.
Seems like game makers are having a hard time keeping there game info and content on the down low and and to show this as fact here is what the web is saying will be the track line up for the up coming Guitar Hero: World Tour and keep in mind it has not been confirmed so far but nether was the Rock Band set list and it turned out true.
Eagle Rock High School Tour:
“Dope Nose” by Weezer
“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World
Encore: “Today” by Smashing Pumpkins
Big City Kids Tour:
“Roland” by Interpol
“Santeria” By Sublime
Encore: “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
Feelin’ Nostalgic Tour:
“Take It on the Run” by REO Speedwagon
“Hold the Line” by Toto
Encore: “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol
Vixens Tour:
“Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar
“All Around Me” by Flyleaf
Encore:”Misery Business” by Paramore
Undertow Tour:
“Stinkfist” by Tool
“Lateralus” by Tool
“Schism” by Tool
Synchronicity Tour:
(UPDATE) Thist list has been called BS by Activision and they said some of the tracks are right but the mass of the list is way off. "Damn" Select Read More For The Full List....
"Undertow" was the Xbox LIVE Arcade Game of the Year and has received awards for Editors Choice in 2007.
Using the Unreal 3 Engine and offering features such as 15-level single player and co-op campaign with two multiplayer modes for 2 to 16 players "Undertow" won over millions of gamers.
Donald Mustard the creative director of Chair Entertainment Group said: “We’ve received a ton of great gamer feedback on "Undertow", which has helped us to create more of the exciting types of content that fans of the game will really enjoy, whether they’re looking to continue the saga we’re building in the single player campaign or seeking more opportunities for competitive multiplayer battles, the expansion offers something new for everyone.”
Available from Xbox Live Marketplace this Wednesday at a cost of 400 Microsoft Points (about $5), the Undertow: Path of the Elect expansion pack extends the full game with a five-level, single-player and co-op campaign, a new playable race (aliens called the Elect) and four new multiplayer maps.
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that all Xbox Live members (Gold and Silver) around the world would have access to a full Xbox Live Arcade game to download free of charge as a compensation for the issues the service experienced during the holiday break.
Today, Microsoft revealed that beginning next Wednesday, 2:00 a.m. PST through Sunday, 11:59 p.m. PST, Xbox Live members worldwide can download the full version of Undertow.
The Xbox LIVE Arcade library, now 58 games strong and growing, continues to expand and provide every type of gamer with accessible, pick-up-and-play game experiences. An electrifying lineup of racing games, card and board games, and both original and classic action games will be coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade in the future, including the following (not in chronological order of release):
Mad Tracks “Mad Tracks.” This 3-D racing party game from Load Inc. and D3Publisher recalls all the fun of playing with toy cars from childhood. Up to four players can race micro cars in a variety of gameplay modes in familiar settings such as a living room, a restaurant and a toy store.
Rush’n Attack
“Rush’n Attack.” Also known as “Green Beret,” from Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., this is a faithful next-generation update of this classic coin-op arcade title where the player assumes the role of a special forces agent sent behind enemy lines to infiltrate an enemy military complex and free captured prisoners of war.
Soltrio Solitaire
“Soltrio Solitaire.” From Silver Creek Entertainment, this is a collection of 18 different solitaire games, offering co-op and competitive two-player solitaire game modes.
Spyglass Board Games
“Spyglass Board Games.” From Strange Flavour Ltd. and Freeverse, this offers classic versions of the world’s most beloved board games, including chess, checkers, mancala and reversi, as well as the ability to enjoy video chat with friends via the Xbox LIVE Vision camera.
Street Trace:NYC “Street Trace:NYC.” This is a hover board racing and arena battle game from Gaia Industries Inc. set against the urban wasteland of future New York City. Make your mark on the leaderboards in intense eight-player action over Xbox LIVE, or battle at home through split-screen or single-player tournaments.
Undertow
“Undertow.” This is a fast-paced action shooter from Chair Entertainment Group that thrusts players underwater as they battle for control of the oceans, and features a robust single player/co-op campaign and up to 16-player multiplayer action over Xbox LIVE.1
Like all Xbox LIVE Arcade games, the above titles will have a free demo that will allow gamers to try out a game before deciding to buy. More details will be available closer to each title’s launch later this year.
CHAIR ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES “UNDERTOW” FOR XBOX LIVE® ARCADE
-- Underwater Action-Shooter Offers 16-player Online Combat; Exclusive Trailer Provides Early Game Play Preview --
Provo, Utah – April 23, 2007 – Chair Entertainment Group, an independent video game production company, today announced its newest original property, Undertow, is currently in development for Xbox LIVE® Arcade, the premier destination for digitally distributed, downloadable games. Expected to go live worldwide this summer, Undertow is powered by the Unreal Engine 3 and offers an unprecedented 16-player online experience for Xbox LIVE Arcade.
“We’ve really enjoyed designing Undertow for Xbox LIVE Arcade because it’s given us the freedom to create a pure gaming experience focused on fun, addictive game play” said Donald Mustard, creative director at Chair Entertainment. “Whether a player is looking for hours of intense multiplayer or they have just 10 minutes for the ultimate gaming experience, we’re confident Undertow will be as exciting to play as it has been for us to create.”
The fast-paced action of Undertow features two multiplayer modes for up to 16 players, and a robust 15-level single player and co-op campaign. Players navigate the stormy seas as one of four unique, upgradeable unit types ranging in ability from the fast and agile to the large and powerful. Players then earn points for adding upgrades by killing enemies, completing objectives, and taking checkpoints. The non-stop conquest-style battles of Undertow push the envelope of on-screen effects and combat action with stunning graphics and special effects.
To coincide with the announcement, Chair Entertainment today released a 30 second game play trailer which provides an early look at the game in action. The trailer can be viewed right here on 360-hq in our media area.
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