May 25, 2009 - Next week the Electronic Entertainment Expo kicks off in Los Angeles, where hundreds of new games will be unveiled or shown in updated form. Development studio High Voltage Software, best known to Wii owners for its first-person shooter The Conduit, has not one, but two new games in the works for Nintendo's console. The first, revealed exclusively on IGN today, is called Gladiator A.D. and it's a brutal fighter that takes players back to ancient Rome to do bloody battle. (The other title will be revealed on IGN tomorrow, so stay tuned.) We caught up with High Voltage's CEO and founder Kerry Ganofsky, chief creative officer Eric Nofsinger and design director David Pellas to learn more about Gladiator A.D. We've also posted the first screenshots and concept art for the game below.
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IGN: You're just wrapping up work on The Conduit. Tell us about the concept behind Gladiator A.D.
Kerry J. Ganofsky: Gladiator A.D. is our next step in filling the holes in the Wii's library. Players choose a Gladiator, each with unique attacks, behaviors, moves, and weapons. They then battle through a series of competitions, some one-on-one and some much more complex.
David Pellas: The concept for Gladiator A.D. is to recreate the brutal fighting and high tension of the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome. We are developing a game that is both fast-paced and tactical in nature. A lot of work into the art style as well as the AI systems to make a game that is not only beautiful to look at, but challenging and well-balanced for all skill levels.
Eric Nofsinger: Gladiator A.D. takes strategic combat mechanics and steps it up a notch with an RPG-light twist and more player options. Players take their gladiator into one of history's most brutal blood sports; the Roman Gladiatorial Circuit. After winning enough favor from the crowd, players can challenge the champions for fame, wealth, and in some cases, freedom stand waiting to the victor.
IGN: Who do you play as?
Eric: Players have the option of playing as one of many gladiators, ranging from the Dark Druids of Amesbury, to the daughter of an Egyptian priest. Special achievements will unlock new gladiators, such as the current arena champion and even the emperor himself. Each character has an intricate story, abilities, and motivations to encourage playing through the game with all the different gladiators.
David: We are going to great lengths to make sure that every fighter not only looks unique, but plays uniquely.
Kerry: We are offering many playable characters with different backgrounds and fighting styles. Each character has a unique storyline and interacts with the other characters in different ways.
IGN: What's the storyline and how are you telling story in the game?
Kerry: The story for each character revolves around the gladiatorial circuit culminating in the Coliseum to determine the grand champion. The characters all have unique motivations to rise to the top. The player can choose to be ruthless or forgiving, affecting the storyline of the character.
David: And the story line is different for each fighter. Some fight for honor, some for revenge, and still others fight for the pleasure of ending an opponent's life. We have a very deep story mode which includes many elements of traditional RPG games, but we are being careful not to bog the player down with endless menus.
Eric: Each of the selectable gladiators has his/her unique story, rival, and plot twists. These stories are earned by unlocking events based on player decision. Choosing to allow your rival to live, rather than putting him to the sword will cause later repercussions. These events are different between the gladiators.
IGN: The Conduit's Quantum3 engine pushes Wii tech. What about Gladiator? What's happening tech-wise with this project that you're proud of?
Kerry: We are using the Quantum3 engine for Gladiator as well. Improvements are continually being made to the engine and we are taking full advantage of each update. Being an arena-style game, we are able to push the graphics up a few notches. Our characters, environments and animations are simply amazing. The AI system is adjustable and flexible which will allow our designers to make each enemy feel unique and challenging.
Eric: Think of Gladiator A.D. as the distillation of everything that made Conduit what it was. With fewer characters in smaller environments we are able to get more detail. In addition, we are utilizing our imposter system to get the crowd reacting to the player's action. Watch them throw objects at the ill-favored gladiator, as well as stand and cheer with large hits, or boo and jeer when the player uses cheap tactics.
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super violent game :D
pivotbuttkicker 2 years ago 4
DAMN!! THOSE GRAPHICS ARE BOMB!!
lindalocs 2 years ago 4