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Manveer 'Eidolon' Heir :: 01:00 AM @ April 17th, 2005 :: In-House: Interview |
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Today we have a special treat for you. Recently, we conducted an interview with Karthik Bala of Vicarious Visions. Karthik worked on the PSP version of Spider-Man 2. This interview was conducted prior to the launch of the PSP, but due to e-mail server problems we have been unable to post it until now.
GameGossip: With more than a few versions of the game already out, what has been done to separate / compliment Spider-Man 2 for the PSP from versions on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube and Nintendo DS?
Karthik Bala: Although Spider-Man 2 PSP shares the backdrop of the movie storyline, it is an original, built from the ground up game, containing all new levels, missions and an extended story featuring multiple classic villains, including Doc Ock. The game was designed for the PSP and takes full advantage of its console class horsepower and graphics to deliver a 3D handheld Spider-Man game with a highly cinematic look and feel.
GG: The console versions of Spider-Man 2 featured various characters not seen in the film, including the Black Cat and Rhino and, going further back, the original version included Craven and Shocker. Can gamers expect to find any special cameos in the PlayStation Portable version of Spider-man 2?
KB: Absolutely! In addition to Doc Ock, Spider-Man squares off against Vulture, Mysterio, Shocker and Rhino.
GG: What was the most challenging aspect of bringing Spider-Man 2 to the PlayStation Portable?
KB: As with any launch title for a new system, much of the development was done before the hardware was finalized. This meant a lot of good guesswork and ability to be adaptable midstream in development to work around hardware eccentricities and take advantage of specific hardware features as they are discovered. Our goal was to bring a full 3D Spider-Man gameplay experience with an unparalleled cinematic flavor to a handheld, and we did just that.
GG: Arguably one of the best features of Spider-Man 2 on other platforms was the ability to sling around New York. What sort of sandbox gameplay can players expect in the PlayStation Portable version of Spider-Man 2?
KB: There�s plenty of exploration and intense Spider-Man combat in the PSP game. For PSP we had to be conscientious of battery life, so a streaming city was not possible. What we�ve developed is a swinging mechanic more similar to the first Spider-Man console game, with an episodic style pacing in game design that is more conducive for handheld gaming.
GG: Given the somewhat different button layout of the PlayStation Portable, has the combat system been tweaked or added upon?
KB: The combat system has been improved with a really cool upgrade system. Doing unique combos awards the player with hero points, which can be spent to upgrade skills and �purchase� new moves. The combat system works quite well with the shoulder buttons. The D-Pad is used for camera adjustment and the analog nub is used for movement.
GG: Will the PlayStation Portable version of Spider-Man 2 feature any mini-games similar to the training arcade games in the console version?
KB: There are a slew of training missions and challenge modes as well as some unique mini-games that are exclusive to the PSP. It brings a nice level of replayability to the game.
GG: Can gamers look forward to unlockables, such as alternate costumes and additional difficulty settings in Spider-Man 2?
KB: Yes, there are some cool unlockables and cheats that players can discover as they play through the game.
GG: Given the nature of development on handhelds, how has the PSP changed your expectations of handheld games?
KB: The PSP has raised the bar in the production value and game experience that players can expect from a handheld platform. The cinematic console like quality graphics and sound really look amazing on the wide screen. Gamers have a lot to look forward to in the next generation of handheld games.
If you want to learn more about Spider-Man 2 for the PSP, visit the official site. Spider-Man 2 is now available for the PSP.
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See, this is good. This is what GG needs more of, exclusive content.
Well done folks, keep it coming. |
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| #2 - Pezman - 04/17/05 @ 03:49 PM EST |
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We have more interviews underway, glad to see you guys like it. |
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Damnit, you guys are awful.
I saw this exact interview 4 months ago. OLD NEWZ
;) |
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