Metagamers: Hey Ciji, thanks for taking the time to talk with us again (for those of you who did not notice Ciji aka: StarSlay3r was featured on metagamers way back when). So get us up to speed, last time we spoke you were in the G4 Gamer Girl GotCast promotion. What was that experience like (it really seemed like an outpouring of support came from the community for you) and what have you been up to since then?

Ciji: Since last year I competed in a ton of Guitar Hero tournaments and claimed top 3 in just about every tournament I entered. Summer of 2008 I competed in the World Cyber Games and dedicated about 5 months to practicing for the event and competing. I attended many conventions like PAX where I hosted a Guitar Hero: World Tour “Beat Judy and Win” contest, where contestants could try to beat me for their shot at an ultimate game system and Guitar Hero Prize pack. I faced off against over 50 competitors and obtained a 56/4 Win/Loss ratio. Wrapping up 2008 I competed along side 11 fantastic gamers for the chance to win $100k and the title of “Ultimate Gamer” on a Sci Fi reality show called WCG Ultimate Gamer that airs this March 10th. Needless to say, I have been quite busy!

Metagamers: Still shredding away on Guitar Hero/Rock band we’ve noticed, what’s been your most prized accomplishment thus far?

Ciji: Although I’ve won many tournaments my best accomplishment was actually claiming the rank of 5th worldwide for Guitar Hero: World Tour. It took me 2 weeks of practicing 10-11 hours a day to get that ranking but once I made top 5 I was more proud of myself then I’ve ever been.

Metagamers: After all this time playing “music/band” games do you ever get tired of them? What keeps you motivated to play them?

Ciji: I have a passion for music and video games that will never die, so combining the two into a game like Rock Band or Guitar Hero is awesome! I’ve been playing rhythm games for a total of 10 years now (ever since Konami’s DDR and Guitar Freaks) and don’t think I’ll ever stop as long as Rhythm games keep being produced. As long as the music selection is one that I can rock out to, and the note tracking is something that challenges my skills and can help me to become a better player, I will continue to play.

Metagamers: What do you think about the idea of expanding this genre to other areas? DJ Hero comes to mind.

Ciji: I’ve always been a fan of Konami/ Bemani games and they’ve already expanded into that area years ago so I know what to expect and am definitely open to the idea of DJ Hero. I love music games in general so as long as the music is good the peripheral doesn’t matter… I’ll keep playing and pwning noobs at all of them.

Metagamers: We always get to see you as a hardcore gamer but many want to know, outside of gaming what are some of your favorite pastimes?

Ciji: I love to go to metal/ industrial concerts, anime/game conventions, roller blading, bowling (even though I suck), and going to theme parks. (I especially love Cedar Point in Ohio)

Metagamers: How’s the sponsorship gig coming along? Are you currently affiliated with any group at this time? Any events you have planned coming up?

Ciji: At this time I have only one sponsor and that’s Coffin Case. I am affiliated with many groups but am leaving myself free to any offers that may potentially arise for future gaming events. I unfortunately don’t have any events coming up so far due to the lack of sponsors and the fact that many of the events I had previously planned to attend now have canceled. (Wizard World, LA for example)

Metagamers: This year marks the “hopefully” triumphant return of E3. When looking at the event what are you looking forward to seeing? Any plans on being there and if so can we expect to see a Judy Nails performance?

Ciji: I do plan on attending E3. I am in the final stages of getting my industry pass as we speak. I am looking forward to seeing everything as I’ve never been able to attend an E3 before. As far as a “Judy Nails” performance goes, I have pretty much dropped the Judy Nails thing in order to be taken more seriously in the gaming community. Many people don’t realize that I’m not just a cosplayer, but a hardcore competitive gamer. It is very likely you will, however, see me rocking out somewhere at E3… if I see Rock Band or Guitar Hero at a booth I can’t resist the urge to show off.

Metagamers: This coming March 2009 the debut of WCG Ultimate Gamer airs on the Sci Fi network which has you competing against other gamers to win $100,000, the ultimate electronics package and the honor of traveling the globe with the WCG. Knowing you are limited on what you can talk about is there anything you would like to share with the viewers about yourself and/or the show before it airs? Can we expect to see any onscreen rivalries?

Ciji: This show will definitely be interesting. Many of us know each other from prior tournaments and clans so there are already some friendships and rivalries going into the show. Living with 12 people for an extended amount of time is just asking to start drama and most likely you will be seeing the result of that in the future episodes however I can not be specific on who does or doesn’t get along with who. All I can say is… what do YOU think happens when 12 HARDCORE gamers are put in a house to compete for the same $100k?

When there can only be one winner… you know things can get vicious.

Metagamers: Finally, any update you can give your fans on www.starslay3r.com? What can we expect to see when the site re launches?

Ciji: I’ve already been adding updates to StarSlayer.com every chance I get. I’m trying to make the site a more exclusive place to get all of the updates as to what’s going on with me. Right now I am on multiple sites and it’s hard to maintain all of them and keep them current. With starslayer.com being the main area of interest everyone can contact me more directly with questions, see my videos and pictures, view my recent matches and my upcoming events all in one place. Hopefully once I get some sponsors going I can start running my own matches through the site against people and give out prizes for people who are able to beat me.

Metagamers: As always it’s been a pleasure talking with you and we hope to have the chance to speak with you again at the conclusion of the WCG Ultimate Gamer show to learn more about some of your experiences behind the scenes.

Keep gaming and best of luck Ciji!

Xchrom0someXX: I am happy that you chose me, so thank you.

Jonnymovgamer: How long have you been a member on Metagamers, and how did you find out about Metagamers?

Xchrom0someXX: I have been a member since April 2006. I found out about Meta through myspace. I got a message to tryout the forums and it turned out I really like Metagamers.

Jonnymovgamer: We’re glad you like Metagamers. Really, we are. What’s the aspect you like most on Metagamers? Is there an area you want to see improved?

Xchrom0someXX: I like the support girl gamers can find at Metagamers. Nobody judges and everyone is here because they are a gamer. There are a few areas I would like to see improvement, but the biggest thing I would like to see is more general forums and more PC related topics.

Jonnymovgamer: I’d like to see more PC related topics, but I don’t create many topics in there, because unfortunately I’m not a PC gamer. Hopefully PC gamers that read this will start creating some more topics. As for more general forums, what kind of general forums would you like to see added? We’re always looking for ways to improve.

Xchrom0someXX: A politics forum, a movies forum, an art forum, a books forum, and an introduction forum. Those would be better off as forums instead of threads and would do well outside of the general forum.

Jonnymovgamer: Those would be good additions. We always thought it would make the forum looked cluttered, but you’re not the first to request such forums. Perhaps it would be a good thing.

Jonnymovgamer: Moving on

Jonnymovgamer: What was the first game you ever played, and what’s the first system you ever had?

Xchrom0someXX: My first game was Super Mario Cart Racing. It came with my first console ever, Super Nintendo. I got it for my seventh birthday. Before that my sister and I shared consoles.

Jonnymovgamer: I remember the Super Nintendo. My favorite game for the system was Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2. What were your favorite games for the system?

Xchrom0someXX: I would probably have to agree with you. I remember spending hours trying to get past the “Stop and Go” level on Donkey Kong Country 1.

Jonnymovgamer: I used to spend New Years Day back when the first three came out playing them trying to beat the games. I used to take turns with my brother and my mom. Surprising isn’t it? My mom was a gamer. Those were fun days.

Xchrom0someXX: I wish my parents were gamers. They support me, but don’t understand it.

Jonnymovgamer: That’s unfortunate. It’s a good thing they support you though. That’s what’s important. Perhaps you should introduce them to the Wii.

Xchrom0someXX: My mom owns her own business and my Dad is a Wrestler. They both have their own hobbies. They are a little old fashioned.

Jonnymovgamer: With that said, we shall move on

Jonnymovgamer: Are you a PC/Mac gamer, or a console gamer, or both? What systems have you owned, and currently own?

Xchrom0someXX: Both. I consider myself a multi-platform gamer. I excel in first person shooters, but I enjoy almost all games. I have owned an Atari, NES, SNES, N64, Game Cube, PS1, Dreamcast, and an Xbox 360. Currently I own a PS3, Xbox, and a PS2. I also have owned a PSP and gameboy. Currently I own a DS and 2 gameboy advanced handhelds.

Jonnymovgamer: I can say you have owned more systems than me. I’ve yet to get a PS3, or a PSP. How do you like the PS3, and what is your favorite game for the system at the moment? What did you think of the PSP?

Xchrom0someXX: The PS3′s graphics are amazing, but only really impressive on a HDTV and unfortunately I do not have one of those. My favorite game on the PS3 is Ghost Recon: War Fighter. I am really looking forward to Soul Calibur 5 though. I was also impressed with the PSP graphics, but there were not that many games, so I sold it.

Jonnymovgamer: With the PS3, have you played online against others? If so, how is the online gameplay?

Xchrom0someXX: No I have not. My internet is not connected to the PS3 right now. For internet gameplay I go on my PC.

Jonnymovgamer: How much internet gameplay do you usually play in a week?

Xchrom0someXX: It depends on my school schedule, but I try to get in at LEAST 20. I used to play 65+ hours a week in high school, but when college started I had to cut that down a lot. Right now I have about 35 hours clocked into Counterstrike: Source so far this week.

Jonnymovgamer: Counterstrike: Source I believe is your favorite PC game. Does this game rank as your all time favorite game? If not, which game does?

Xchrom0someXX: No, CS:S does not rank as my all time favorite, just my favorite online PC game. My all time favorite is Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. That is the game that inspired me to getting better at art and becoming a hardcore gamer.

Jonnymovgamer: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is easily in my top 5, or 10, I like too many. I think it would be hard for me to pick any one game.

Jonnymovgamer: I know you’ve taken your passion for videogames beyond just playing games. Do you want to share how? Also, what are some of your hobbies?

Xchrom0someXX: I have taken my passion for games to my career. I have decided to work in the field of video game entertainment, but I am not sure exactly how. I am attending Full Sail Real World Education to learn to industry and hopefully get my masters in Entertainment Business. Some of my hobbies include making and painting small statutes of video game characters, reading, art, and being on Myspace. Other than that gaming is a huge part of my life.

Jonnymovgamer: When you get into the industry, hopefully we’ll get a first exclusive. I like to get predictions from members on certain things, and would like to get your predictions. Currently the Wii and the 360 are neck and neck for 1 and 2 in the console war between the Wii, 360, and PS3. What is your prediction as to who will win this upcoming holiday season?

Xchrom0someXX: I think, because of last year’s lack of Wii’s around the holiday, that Wii has a very good chance to come out on top.

Jonnymovgamer: We shall see if that’s correct sometime in January I would guess. Speaking of the Wii, did you know that Sonic was introduced as a new character for Smash Bros. Brawl today? Does this make you want to play or buy Super Smash Bros. Brawl when it’s out? You’ll get to use Link’s sword on Sonic, among other possibilities.

Xchrom0someXX: Yes I was aware of that. My good friend sent me the link. He has wanted Sonic in Smash Bros. since the first one. This really does not change how much I want to play and buy it because this is a game I have always enjoyed it and have been looking forward to it since announced.

Jonnymovgamer: Good news about the game is that it will have online co-op, so if you get the game, I will be able to play against you.

Xchrom0someXX: That would be a lot of fun.

Jonnymovgamer: Yes it would. I’m looking forward to the game simply because of the online factor.

Jonnymovgamer: Lastly, what games are you looking forward between now and the end of the year? Are there any systems that you might get?

Xchrom0someXX: I really want to get and Xbox 360 again. Also I would love to get a Wii. I just have not had the money to do that. The game I really am looking forward to is Left 4 Dead by Valve. I am really excited for that game.

Jonnymovgamer: With that said, I’d like to thank you once again for taking the time to be metaviewed today.

Xchrom0someXX: Thank you. It was fun.

1. How is Black Powder, Red Earth coming along?

We’re doing fairly well. It took a bit longer than expected to add the polish we wanted to the demo level but we’re finally there. The Unreal Engine tools are pretty amazing, but like any new tool, it takes a bit of time to really push the capabilities to their limits and there’s always more to learn ^_^

The integrated social/commercial networking elements have also evolved quite a bit as well. We are really tuning and adding elements to make us more than a game where you can buy guns online. The web component of our game is a fairly rich experience and in some ways, a whole other game to itself.

2. Is there an estimate as to when this game might be available?

It really depends on when we get funded. For the time being we’re still 4 guys working on it and taking in outside work to keep the lights on and pay rent, feed ourselves, etc.

3. How many developers are working on Black Powder, Red Earth?

4 full time and 4 part time. We’re also working with some partner studios to provide assets in areas where we couldn’t find local people that shared our vision. Most notably Production IG and Simply Dynamic Tactical.

4. How has the feedback from people awaiting the game been for Black Powder, Red Earth?

Well we’ve had some play testers and the feedback has generally been good, but honestly no one outside of 3 or 4 of us have really experienced the full game. We normally limit our tests to very specific things, like weapons balance or new field tech, so we can control and see what effect every new element has on game play.

One of the biggest changes we made was to push the game in a more scifi direction. It freed us up to do a lot of cool things we were coming up with during/after play tests without trying to keep everything “realistic” which we found was unattainable anyway.

5. Back on June 25, Echelon Software released the first in game shots and first trailer for Black Powder, Red Earth. When will you be releasing new screenshots of the game?

Not sure. Honestly, we wish we hadn’t released those shots as we were just excited to show progress. The company should have held out a bit longer and done a complete and polished presentation (which is what we’re working towards now). Honestly, the market is unforgiving and releasing stuff prematurely is one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make. When you see BPRE again, it will be near finished quality.

6. How many players will Black Powder, Red Earth be?

It’s multiplayer and that’s all we’re saying for now

7. How will single player levels compare with multiplayer levels, assuming there will be multiplayer of course.

Actually, our initial release is multiplayer only. To create a rich single player experience, we would need a lot more $ and people to produce a useful demo by today’s standards. We discovered when meeting with people that showing a game demo these days is nothing like it used to be. The first thing everyone cared about was graphics and how good they looked. Gameplay was honestly a secondary concern. If you look at today’s top billed FPS games, they are all pushing graphics with only “minor” evolutions in gameplay.

I’ve been told that most games we see coming off the line have several totally “finished” levels up and running and that many companies dig deep into their pockets to create these builds. For us, with shallow pockets and a lot of sweat, we can only do so much and achieve the level of quality we want to bring to the table.

8. Last time I asked you what are your views on the next-gen systems. I was wondering, what are your thoughts on rumble returning to the PS3′s controller?

Cooltastic. Honestly, I never really missed it that much. I play a lot of PC games, I know that feedback is nice to have but by no means essentially to enjoying a game.

9. I thought I would ask your thoughts on the new $399.99 PS3. How much of an impact do you think this will have this holiday season? For prediction purposes only, how do you think the consoles (Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3) will fare this holiday season? You don’t need to answer this question if you don’t want to. I just want to get a developer’s prediction on this.

I was an early PS3 adopter for Armored Core 4. Which I loved. I recently got an Xbox360 for Halo3 and I really enjoy that as well.

In terms of the market, I think with so many major titles missing this holiday season it means sales might be leaner than brick and mortar places expected or it means Halo 3 is going to sell 10 billion copies, LOL. It seems like the only ones with a killer app this season are Microsoft, be it Halo3 on the console or Crysis on the PC side. Crysis made me even consider Vista, though not for too long

The bigger thing to see here is how long it takes to make “Next Gen” content. Even with teams exceeding 200 people, triple A games are taking more than 4 years to make now. That’s a scary amount of money right there. Multiplayer only is much more attractive to smaller organizations such as ours. I think the focus for the future will be less content at a higher quality for a lower price tag. But that’s just my thoughts as a person trying to survive

1. Dementium: The Ward looks like it’s going to be a great Mature themed first person shooter game. What inspired you to make this game?

Renegade Kid are huge fans of the horror genre and survival horror games, and realized that no one had really nailed the genuinely spooky and often genuinely scary feeling of the classics of the genre on the Nintendo DS. Someone had to step up to the plate, and they felt if no one else was going to do it, then they had to.

2. How challenging will the game be?

Depends on the player, I suppose. We consider the game to walk that fine line of challenging enough to keep you going without crossing over into the territory of frustration. On top of that, it’s not just a straight shooter, there’s exploration of course and some really cool puzzles to figure out that are designed to be fun, but never make you throw your DS down because you need Steven Hawking to figure out the answer.

3. Is there any plans to bring Dementium: The Ward onto the Wii? It looks like it would make good use out of the Wii’s Remote.

That’s best left for Renegade Kid, but if the game does well enough on the DS, I suppose anything is possible…

4. How many developers worked on the game?

The Renegade Kid crew is actually a really small team. There’s just three of them and they are super-talented, but it also means there’s probably more work for everyone than there should be. That said, it’s easier for them to communicate and agree on what should be in the game.

5. Fury really has come a long way, since I last read about it. Do you expect this game to be the first in hopefully a long line of games?

That’s up to the developers – Auran. We know that they have a ton of ideas for the future and we’d love to see them come to fruition. In the meantime we encourage everyone to check out the game over at www.furychallenge.com as we are nearing the end of an open beta period and the $2 million Fury Challenge! We have been seeing some really good community feedback that has been incorporated to make the game more enjoyable.

6. Will there be any monthly fees with Fury?

Aside from your Internet connection fees and so on, Fury is free to play; there’s no compulsory monthly subscription, but that just fits in with Fury not being a ‘standard’ MMO in most ways. Fury’s like a hybrid in that it brings in first person shooter speed and dynamics to fantasy combat. It’s all about player versus player combat. Auran has set up ‘Immortal’ access to the game for a small monthly fee. This allows for some boosts to the game experience that don’t affect your chances to win in combat – that’ll always be down to skill.

7. Can you give a brief synopsis of the game, so those that are not familiar with the game will get a better understanding of the game?

Fury is all about fast and furious online combat. Whereas other massively multiplayer online games feature player versus player combat as an afterthought, Auran focused on it. They wanted to make the most exciting online battles possible, and I think they’ve succeeded. Auran also wanted to make sure that player versus player combat is about skill, rather than time spent in the game and purple loot – they’ve done that too.

8. When will Insecticide be released?

On January 8, 2008 (Preorder now!) on Nintendo DS and PC. It has beautiful artwork and a really cool mix of classic adventure gaming and 3rd person shooting and platforming. The detective bits are great; it’s a really engrossing game with great characters and plot.

9. Legendary – The Box looks like a hit in my opinion. I know I plan on getting it when it’s released. What systems will the game be available on? Will it be available on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3?

Yep, exactly right. We’re really jazzed about that one too – they guys at Spark have plenty of surprises in store and nothing looks as awesome as Griffons taking down helicopter gunships over burning cities!

10. Mushroom Men is going to be released on the Nintendo Wii. How does the game make use of the Wii remote?

The guys at Red Fly are working on the perfect integration of the Wii controller, so we’ll get back to you exactly how they’re going to do that soon.

11. Section 8 looks in my opinion very Haloesque. Will the game be released on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? I know it says PC.

I think its easy now to say any first-person shooter that features people in power armor is Halo-esque, but Section 8 is going to redefine the genre in many ways. The game will definitely be for the PC. As for it appearing on consoles, you’ll have to wait and see.

12. What are your expectations for Section 8? In my opinion, Fury, Section 8, and Legendary – The Box look like standout titles for Gamecock.

We pick games because we think they’re amazing, so we have high expectations for all our titles. They’re all like our children. We love them all and can’t put one above the others.

1. How did the creation of Pi Studios, LLC come about, and when?

Kenn Hoekstra: Pi Studios was formed in Plano, Texas in 2002 by Robert Erwin, John Faulkenbury, Peter Mack, Dan Kramer and Rob Heironimus. These guys banded together from Gearbox, Rogue and Raven Software, did some demo work and ultimately landed production work with Activision. The company moved down to Houston in 2005.

2. How Long Have You Guys Been Fans of Gaming?

Kenn Hoekstra: We’ve got some pretty hard core guys on the team. A lot of us have been developing games for ten years or more, so it’s no surprise that we’ve been gaming fans since the very early arcade days. I, personally, used to spend countless hours in the arcades. My first home console system was the Atari 2600 in 1979.

Jeremy Statz: Since I was a kid, really, and we got our first PC. Incredibly slow old “Turbo XT” with CGA graphics, and I’d try to scrounge up any games that were worth playing on the thing. I tried writing text adventures and such in GW Basic, but never finished one.

3. What was the first game you’ve helped develop on?

Kenn Hoekstra: Pi Studios’ first commercial work appeared in Grey Matter’s Call of Duty: United Offensive (PC).

4. Your company has had the opportunity to develop for the Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and the PC. Which system was the most challenging to develop on?

Kenn Hoekstra: We’ve actually done PS3 development as well, and that was probably the most challenging system so far.

Jeremy Statz: The PS2, since it doesn’t have much ram and does a lot of awkward things graphically that you need to watch out for. Swimmy textures on large faces, things like that. The PS3′s probably trickier on a nuts and bolts level though.

5. I read that your company helped develop two new multiplayer levels for Halo 2 on Windows Vista (District and Uplift). How long did your company work on the levels, and how many people worked on the project?

Kenn Hoekstra: We started out with seven people on the project, but that number varied as the scope and production needs changed. Three level designers worked on the map portion of the project and development lasted about 10 months.

Jeremy Statz: I actually built most of Uplift, and the bulk of the work there happened in the first few months, after that being limited mostly to QA feedback and gameplay tweaks. I was onto Mercs 2 by that point though, so that got handled by other guys. David Mertz built District and I thought it turned out really awesome.

6. What are the similarities and differences in working on the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista?

Jeremy Statz: They’re fundamentally different hardware and environments, though the SDK’s similar. The basic environments don’t have that much overlap, and any console development has a lot of outside requirements from the console manufacturer themselves. Which buttons activate menus, what to do when a controller’s unplugged, etc. You still have to deal with that sort of thing on a PC, but there’s no set formal guidelines like with a console.

7. I know your company is working on Mercenaries 2 for the PlayStation 2, but other than that game, is there any other game your company is working on?

Kenn Hoekstra: Other than Mercenaries 2, our other projects are unannounced at this time. But it’s safe to say we’re keeping busy.

8. Which controller do you like best? The Xbox 360 controller or the PlayStation 2?

Kenn Hoekstra: I think there’s a lot to like about both, but I’ve always been partial to the PS2 controller.

Jeremy Statz: I was always most impressed by the Gamecube controller, but that’s apparently a minority opinion. Of the two I’d lean towards the 360′s at this point, it’s got a really elegant feel to it and it’s well-sized.

9. Is there any plans for Pi Studios, LLC to possibly develop for the Wii?

Kenn Hoekstra: We are a licensed Wii developer at this point, so it’s a definite possibility. You never know.

10. What are your views on Xbox Live?

Kenn Hoekstra: It’s a great model and we really like it. We’re actually very much looking forward to working with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo developing for their respective online marketplaces.

Jeremy Statz: Really cool environment that lends itself well to the creation of smaller and more experimental titles. I’m excited to see it take off.

11. Is there anything else your company would like for us to know that hasn’t been mentioned up above?

Kenn Hoekstra: Keep an eye on http://www.pistudios.com. We’ve got some exciting announcements coming up in the very near future. Stay tuned!

Echelon Software opened it’s offices in December 2006, but we’ve been working together on this project since around 2002. Myself, Phil and Altay met at a company called Sorceron in Y2K where we all were friends with a mutual interest in computer and video games. After I left Sorceron, I met Max working on a Soldier of Fortune 2 mod called The Last Enemy and later a top scrolling shooter called KETM.

We had all wanted to make a tactical shooter but we knew we had to do something beyond what was passing for “realistic”. To that end I built relationships with several ex-Special Operations, Ranger and SEAL team operators who were going to and from (at that time) Afghanistan. They gave us a lot of background and ideas that we had never experienced in a game at that time.

We set to work on dozens of prototypes trying to find the magic mix that would give us something fun that we were uniquely suited to create and could do better than anyone else in the world. I even went to Blackwater to get training with the M4 carbine so I could more accurately express a gun fight virtually. But it turned out our “silver bullet” would have little to do with that. In September of 06 we figured out what that would be…

After spending some time soul searching, working out a business plan to see if the numbers would keep us in the black and saving a lot of money we made the decision to quit our jobs and go for it full bore.

2. How long have you guys been a fan of gaming?

The first game I ever played was checkers and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Card games, board games and finally video games! I used to play Atari until my hands were blistered from that terribl controller, but nothing could beat the arcades. Missile Command, Star Wars, Tempest, Battlezone, After Burner and Space Harrier were the worst of the lot wen it came to gobbling up quarters. I know Phil loved Spy Hunter (he still speaks fondly of it)

I also was big into Advanced D&D, Alpha Dawn, Recon and Twilight 2000 but eventually, the Commodore 64 brought me back into the family office because on the C64, you could make your own games.

3. Black Powder, Red Earth looks like it’s your first game. Could you give a description of the game?

Our core idea is, take the fast paced gamelay of a tactical FPS and add to it, persistant RPG elements in manner that doesn’t force users to experience those pieces in an articulated 3D environment.

Rather than building an entire online world, our persistance is the real world. If that sounds cryptic, you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the coming weeks ^_^

4. What systems will Black Powder, Red Earth appear on?

Currently we’re using the Unreal Engine 3. As you know, UE3 engine runs on computers, 360 and PS3, but our efforts are focused in the PC department now.

5. What games inspired you guys to develop Black, Powder, Red Earth?

The initial impetus for the title dates back to 1997 when I worked on a screenplay called Sawtooth. I developed a whole world for this film, that could never possibly be expressed in the 70-90 minutes I would have in a feature film so I started thinking about the possibilities of expanding the world into a stand alone game.

6. Do you think Black Powder, Red Earth will spawn future sequels?

That’s the plan, but we need to get the first title in the can first

7. What are your views on the next-gen systems (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii)?

I have a PS3. I purchased it to play Armored Core 4 and Metal Gear Solid 4. There are a few other new titles I am interested in checking out this year (if they don’t get delayed), but overall this generation of consoles is basically the last generation plus 1. The high-def is nice, but honestly I notice the difference more in Blu-Ray than anything else. Seeing GITS Innocence in 1080p made the whole thing worth while ^_^

8. What are your views on PC Gaming? With the ability to play games in HD on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, how do you feel this effects PC Gaming?

I love computer games. Always have and always will. I don’t really have a preference for one platform versus another for gaming. I do love developing on Macs though

At the end of the day, a good computer gaming rig will end up costing you about the same as getting a set up powerful enough to experience the next gen consoles at their fullest potential.

9. Do you have a website set up so our fellow Metagamers can check your company out?

Our website is echelon-software.com

We don’t have much there for now (intentionally) but we do have shirts available for sale. All purchases help us keep the doors open and the lights on so buying a shirt is really appreciated ^_^

10. Does your company have any other games in development?

BPRE is the only title we are currently developing.

11. Is there anything else your company would like for us to know that hasn’t been mentioned up above?

That about covers it. Thanks.

2. What are the differences between developing a game and publishing a game?

See question 1…8-)

3. Tank Beat is scheduled to ship this month. Can you give a brief description on the game? What are your expectations of the game?

The game is entirely stylus based. You draw tracks on the DS’ bottom screen to move your tank and watch the action unfold on the top screen. Tank Beat features a complete story campaign as your character attempts to take back his occupied country with the help of his platoon mates. The game is a mechanized shooter, but you also have the ability to take control or give commands to allied tanks during the battle. Tank Beat also features wireless and wi-fi combat for up to 4 players to play free-for-all on the DS.
We are very excited about the game. For what we’ve researched, nothing like this has come out yet on the DS. We feel that DS players will be very pleased with the work that O3 and Milestone have put into the project.

4. How many developers worked on the game?

The development team at Milestone consisted of 28 people. The O3 publishing team consisted of 19.

5. Is it possible that Tank Beat eventually makes the leap to a console version, such as the Wii? I think the controls would be good.

Right now there is no plan to bring Tank Beat to the Wii. Although we cannot discount the possibility, as you said, the controls would work great on the Wii.

6. What are your thoughts on the Wii’s controller?

Personally, I’m a big fan. The Wii’s game play has revolutionized next gen play. The possibilities of what development studios can do with the remote are literally limitless.

7. Your company has released games on the DS and GBA. What are your thoughts on the two handhelds?

Both Nintendo handhelds are widely popular. That is a given. But you could tell that Nintendo was planning something special with the Wii when they first delivered the DS to retail. Stylus play was different than what past handhelds were doing, and you could tell that Nintendo was ready to make some revolutionary leaps with its consoles.

8. Lastly, this question jumps back to #2 sort of, but does your company have any games in development that you can reveal? (NDS, Wii, GBA)

I wish I could tell you what we are working on with developers, but we cannot disclose projects before we are allowed. Suffice it to say, we do not have any GBA projects in the pipeline outside of Dark Light GBA (see our site for more info).

1. Your company has developed for multiple platforms which include Windows, the PSP, Xbox and the PS2. Which platform was more of a challenge to develop on and which do you enjoy the most?

Ralph: PS2 if the toughest of platforms to develop on, due to a lot of specific low-level hardware features the platform offers. This of course offers challenge but at the same time a occasional frustration . Developing for Xbox is the most enjoyable, because of elaborate documentation, support and high-level interfacing to very powerful features in hardware. It resembles developing for Windows, but then of course on Windows you’ve to account for different types of hardware and exactly that makes the Xbox a killer development machine. So in order of difficulty, starting with toughest towards easiest I would say the order would be: PS2, PSP, Windows, Xbox.

2. Is Playlogic currently developing any games for the Xbox 360? If so, can you name any titles, or give a brief description on the genre of any titles?

Both: We can’t give you any details but can confirm that we’re planning on developing games for the Xbox 360.

3. Infernal, which was released last month, seems like it has the potential to be a big hit. What are your expectations for this game? Is it possible that this game might be ported onto the Xbox 360?

Jean-Paul: We are very content with the way Infernal turned out and the reactions from press and public, so far, have been positive. Therefore we have good hopes the game will catch on. But it is always very hard to predict what will happen.

About a possible port: Infernal is the type game that is very suitable to be ported to a console and we are currently looking into the possibilities on doing so. However, nothing has been decided on the platform which might be chosen. Both PS3 and the 360 are great consoles with huge capabilities, so we are still looking into that.

4. Assuming you have had an opportunity to develop for the Xbox 360, what are the similarities and differences with developing for Windows (PC) and the Xbox 360.

Ralph: At a high level both platforms have a lot in common, especially looking at the programming interface. And yet, the Xbox 360 is a console, meaning that the hardware is fixed as opposed to PC’s that are configurable with any type of graphics adaptors, sound processors, etc. Fixed hardware is obviously more convenient for developers. Furthermore, a console doesn’t have virtual memory like any OS has, including Windows. This means you are in direct control of memory usage on a console, including the Xbox 360. This is especially convenient for performance gains, but makes it harder to schedule memory usage, which you have to do yourself as a developer.

5. What are your thoughts on the Xbox 360? Now that home consoles (Xbox 360 and PS3) have games in which the graphics are HD, how do you think this affects PC gaming?

Ralph: Personally I think there won’t be a lot of changes in the way and quantity PC games are played in relation to consoles. Some games are just better played on PC due to several reasons. One could be the use of mouse control, another might be the location of the personal computer in the household. While console manufacturers envision living-room experience and attracting secondary and tertiary gamers there will still be a demand for games that are played in a more intimate or private location. It’s exactly that incentive that makes people play games like World of Warcraft, Sims and point&click adventures games on the PC. I don’t see any reason this would change in the near future.

6. Do you know when Ancient Wars: Sparta , Xyanide Resurrection, and Age of Pirates: Captain Blood will be released?

Jean-Paul: Ancient Wars: Sparta will see a worldwide released by the end of next month and Xyanide Resurrection will be released in the next couple of months. People can expect Captain Blood to ship in Q3 of this year.

1. What inspired the name of your company?

An overall lust for life and the goal of bringing some humor back to the industry. Everyone’s making such a big deal about the name, but the fact of the matter is it’s not a big deal. The industry needs a reality check; we make games and that’s something they seem to have forgotten. The emphasis needs to shift from the publisher and back to the developers and games. In the end the publisher is just a tiny name on the back.

2. What are your thoughts on the feedback across the Internet?

I think the feedback has been great; everyone we’ve talked to has been positive and looking forward to the lineup. To be honest most of the posts I’ve seen so far have been exactly what we were hoping for. A sense of humor mixed with some serious gaming. Looks like everyone is down with the Gamecock, who can ask for more?

3. What systems are Hero, Fury, Insecticide, Mushroom Men, and Hail to the Chimp set to be released on?

Uh uh uh (wags finger) you didn’t say the magic word! No, actually we’re just not ready to spill the beans on platforms yet. If you’re interested, hit our site www.gamecockmedia.com and we’ll be getting some information up there soon.

4. You’re a publishing company, but do you intend to ever cross over and develop games?

Harry and I have spent some time with development already; right now Gamecock’s focus is on the publishing end of things. The fact that we were in development in the past means we know what it’s like and we’re here to make meaningful, lasting relationships with the developers that we work with.

5. A quote from an IGN article “A new publisher is challenging Nintendo at the dirty name game.” So my question is, who won? The Wii or Gamecock?

I don’t want to get too cocky here, but let’s face it. Gamecock or Wii, I think we all know the winner of that bout.

6. Hero and Fury seem like the best candidates to have the best success. Mushroom and Insecticide seem like sleepers. Do you agree with this statement, or disagree?

All the games we’re launching with were chosen for a reason. I don’t think any one has as leg up over another. The RPG/MMORPG scene is exploding right now and players are hungry for the next game to jump into that “Oblivion” gap. We’re not looking to jump in and pacify the mainstream with cheap knock offs and sequels. We’re all about originality and that’s what we’re bringing to the table. The things you’ll be seeing in Hail to the Chimp, Mushroom Men and Insecticide are going to impress, no doubt – but we’ll have more on that later. ☺

7. Your company is known as Gamecock Media Group. Will there eventually be a game based around Roosters?

If someone has a game that they think will blow the lid off the cockfighting genre, give us a call – we’ll talk.

1. What are your thoughts on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? Which next-gen platform presents more challenges?

Honestly, they’re just very different machines and so making a game for both requires a slightly different approach. There’s no switch you can flip that easily ports one version to the other, and that in and of itself is a challenge. It’s very different than, say, doing a 360 game and bringing it to Windows, or vice versa.

2. Bethsoft currently doesn’t have any projects for the Wii listed on the website. Does Bethsoft have any plans to develop a game for the Wii? What is your company’s thoughts on the Wii?

We don’t have anything currently in development for it, but it is certainly something we’re looking into going forward. There’s quite a few folks in the office that own one and are loving it.

3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a popular game, and is also set to appear on the PlayStation 3, and the PSP, in addition to already being out on the Xbox 360 and PC. I’ve noticed that an expansion The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles that will be released on the Xbox 360 and PC soon. Is their a certain date where gamers can expect this to be released? Is there any plans to release this for the PlayStation 3?

Shivering Isles will be out for PC and Xbox 360 in late March. We also plan to release it for PS3 at some point this year, though right now I can’t say when, or even how. Oblivion for PS3 will be out next month as well.

4. Star Trek: Legacy was recently released and allowed for “Trekkies” to unite. The game was released for the Xbox 360 and PC. Is their any plans to bring this game to the PlayStation 3?

It’s possible, but we don’t have any such plans at this time.

5. Your company has worked on Pirates of the Caribbean on the Xbox and PC, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow on the PC and PS2. Is your company going to be working on a Pirates of the Caribbean game to tie in with the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End?

Anything we did going forward would not be tied with the next movie, just as Legend of Jack Sparrow was not tied to the second film. We don’t have any announced plans for another Pirates game at this time.

6. Rogue Warrior, which is set to be released on the Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows, looks to expand Bethsoft’s genre of gaming. The game is a shooter. Is this game a first person shooter or third person shooter? The game appears to have a speculative release date on EBGames website of June 1, 2007. If your able to, could you give a more definitive date as to when gamers can expect this game to be released?

Rogue Warrior is a first or third person shooter, you can play in either mode. I don’t have a definitive date for you at this time. We hope to have more info to share on the game in the near future.

7. Is Bethsoft working on the Elder Scrolls V?

No, we’re working on finishing up Shivering Isles and Oblivion for PS3 and then focusing solely on Fallout 3. Given the success of Oblivion it’s pretty safe to assume we’ll do another Elder Scrolls game, but when that will start or how long it will take is TBD at this point.
8. Is Bethsoft working on any new games that you can give details on?
Nope, nothing else in the works for me to reveal at this time.