amuront
07-06-2006, 04:57 AM
http://www.firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=10980
Sony Online Entertainment is best known for MMORPGs like the Everquest series but they have also released games for the PS2 and PSP consoles. This fall, the developer/publisher will released one of the first PS3 exclusive titles with the fantasy action-RPG Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom. FiringSquad got a chance to ask its senior producer Kevin O'Hara some questions about the game, which is an extension of two previous games for the PSP.
FiringSquad: First, how did the idea for Dark Kindgom come about?
Kevin O'Hara: Following the success of Untold Legends on PSP, we wanted to bring the franchise to the PlayStation 3. The team was anxious to take the proven elements of a classic hack and slash RPG and focus more on the action and tactics. Our designers started by making feature lists about what we thought made our previous PS2 titles Champions or Norrath and Return to Arms fun and what would take those to the next gen console. The storyline started to fall into place as we focused on the environments we wanted to show and the character types we wanted to play.
FiringSquad: What can you tell us about the storyline for the game?
Kevin O'Hara: In Dark Kingdom, you play a member of an elite squad of warriors in the Kingdom of Dureth. You're essentially Spec Ops for the kingdom; going off on dangerous missions abroad. The game starts right in the action with you bringing a final end to a barbarian incursion. Unfortunately while you've been away, the king has begun to experiment with dark powers. With external guidance, he has found a source of power in the suffering of his people. When you return, your homeland is a changed place. In order to save your kingdom, you'll need to betray your king.
Although most of the locations are the same, the motivations and events in the storyline will change depending on which of the three characters you choose to play. Golan the Warrior seeks to the salvation of his beloved homeland. Zala the Scout is driven by revenge against the King for a personal tragedy he is responsible for. Malakesh the Mage's ambition for power leads to a different story ending as well.
FiringSquad: Besides being a PS3 exclusive title, what gameplay elements will make Dark Kingdom different than other fantasy action-RPGs?
Kevin O'Hara: We're focusing on fast and tactical gameplay. Your character is going to have a light attack and a heavy attack and whole bunch of combos that come out of them for dealing with specific situations. Dodging and blocking will become more important to survival as will picking which enemies to put down first. You won't be drinking tons of health potions to prolong bad combat decisions. Your health and mana recovery come from actually defeating enemies. Sometimes you'll be able to detect if an enemy is going to give you a lot of health or mana and there is strategy in whether to target them first if you are low on either attribute or save attacking them until later in a group battle. Additionally, there will be lots of things to pick up and hurl at your opponents, including their own allies.
FiringSquad: How hard was it to develop a game that was made specifically to be run for the PS3?
Kevin O'Hara: Like any new technology that is leaps and bounds beyond the previous generation, it was a challenge. We have been fortune to have worked technical demos before starting on Dark Kingdom. This gave us a leg up compared to many other PS3 developers. The process has certainly been exciting with lots of programmer frustration followed by a series of impressive results.
FiringSquad: What will some of the biggest graphical and technical features for the PS3 that Dark Kingdom will use?
Kevin O'Hara: Taking advantage of the PlayStation 3's cell processors, we were able to get a lot out of advanced physics, particle effects, cloth and water simulation, to name a few. With dedicated SPE cores, each of these processes will run fast and look fantastic.
FiringSquad: What multiplayer features will the game have and how will it use the PS3 online service?
Kevin O'Hara: We will have a number of different modes to play including a cooperative story mode with up to four players online or two players same screen and some competitive mini-games like arena battles. That's about all we can say about it right now.
FiringSquad: Are there plans to add new content to the game after its release via the PS3 hard drive?
Kevin O'Hara: Okay, well we can say a little more I suppose. Yes, after the game ships, we'll create additional content for download. At this time, we have not announced what that will be.
FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom?
Kevin O'Hara: We're really shooting for a pickup and play action adventure. Like we mentioned above, there's going to be a lot of tactics, combos, physics and environmental puzzles to keep the serious console gamer interested, but the non-hardcore player is also going to have a great time hacking and slashing. They will need to learn a bit more than button mashing, but the game has a comfortable progression where we teach you when and why to do more advanced moves.
Sony Online Entertainment is best known for MMORPGs like the Everquest series but they have also released games for the PS2 and PSP consoles. This fall, the developer/publisher will released one of the first PS3 exclusive titles with the fantasy action-RPG Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom. FiringSquad got a chance to ask its senior producer Kevin O'Hara some questions about the game, which is an extension of two previous games for the PSP.
FiringSquad: First, how did the idea for Dark Kindgom come about?
Kevin O'Hara: Following the success of Untold Legends on PSP, we wanted to bring the franchise to the PlayStation 3. The team was anxious to take the proven elements of a classic hack and slash RPG and focus more on the action and tactics. Our designers started by making feature lists about what we thought made our previous PS2 titles Champions or Norrath and Return to Arms fun and what would take those to the next gen console. The storyline started to fall into place as we focused on the environments we wanted to show and the character types we wanted to play.
FiringSquad: What can you tell us about the storyline for the game?
Kevin O'Hara: In Dark Kingdom, you play a member of an elite squad of warriors in the Kingdom of Dureth. You're essentially Spec Ops for the kingdom; going off on dangerous missions abroad. The game starts right in the action with you bringing a final end to a barbarian incursion. Unfortunately while you've been away, the king has begun to experiment with dark powers. With external guidance, he has found a source of power in the suffering of his people. When you return, your homeland is a changed place. In order to save your kingdom, you'll need to betray your king.
Although most of the locations are the same, the motivations and events in the storyline will change depending on which of the three characters you choose to play. Golan the Warrior seeks to the salvation of his beloved homeland. Zala the Scout is driven by revenge against the King for a personal tragedy he is responsible for. Malakesh the Mage's ambition for power leads to a different story ending as well.
FiringSquad: Besides being a PS3 exclusive title, what gameplay elements will make Dark Kingdom different than other fantasy action-RPGs?
Kevin O'Hara: We're focusing on fast and tactical gameplay. Your character is going to have a light attack and a heavy attack and whole bunch of combos that come out of them for dealing with specific situations. Dodging and blocking will become more important to survival as will picking which enemies to put down first. You won't be drinking tons of health potions to prolong bad combat decisions. Your health and mana recovery come from actually defeating enemies. Sometimes you'll be able to detect if an enemy is going to give you a lot of health or mana and there is strategy in whether to target them first if you are low on either attribute or save attacking them until later in a group battle. Additionally, there will be lots of things to pick up and hurl at your opponents, including their own allies.
FiringSquad: How hard was it to develop a game that was made specifically to be run for the PS3?
Kevin O'Hara: Like any new technology that is leaps and bounds beyond the previous generation, it was a challenge. We have been fortune to have worked technical demos before starting on Dark Kingdom. This gave us a leg up compared to many other PS3 developers. The process has certainly been exciting with lots of programmer frustration followed by a series of impressive results.
FiringSquad: What will some of the biggest graphical and technical features for the PS3 that Dark Kingdom will use?
Kevin O'Hara: Taking advantage of the PlayStation 3's cell processors, we were able to get a lot out of advanced physics, particle effects, cloth and water simulation, to name a few. With dedicated SPE cores, each of these processes will run fast and look fantastic.
FiringSquad: What multiplayer features will the game have and how will it use the PS3 online service?
Kevin O'Hara: We will have a number of different modes to play including a cooperative story mode with up to four players online or two players same screen and some competitive mini-games like arena battles. That's about all we can say about it right now.
FiringSquad: Are there plans to add new content to the game after its release via the PS3 hard drive?
Kevin O'Hara: Okay, well we can say a little more I suppose. Yes, after the game ships, we'll create additional content for download. At this time, we have not announced what that will be.
FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom?
Kevin O'Hara: We're really shooting for a pickup and play action adventure. Like we mentioned above, there's going to be a lot of tactics, combos, physics and environmental puzzles to keep the serious console gamer interested, but the non-hardcore player is also going to have a great time hacking and slashing. They will need to learn a bit more than button mashing, but the game has a comfortable progression where we teach you when and why to do more advanced moves.