Developers from the East and the West sides of the planet tend to be two negative sides to a magnet. Neither can really get a hold in the other’s market place, with few exceptions.
So how about this for a universe-breaker: Square-Enix is taking a traditionally Japanese franchise, completely changing the genre to appeal to western audience, and going as far as working with a western developer to make sure the job is done right.
Short of a teaser trailer, and some basic details people have gotten from previous games in the Front Mission franchise, there wasn’t much going around. All we knew for sure was that this was supposed to be a much different game from previous entries, and western developers Double Helix would be working with Square-Enix on its creation.
We sent our man, Alex Donaldson, to get more information from E3, and he delivered in style. Below is his report on a small conference between himself and representatives from Square Enix and Double Helix.
Representing Square Enix is producer Shinji Hashimoto, and representing Double Helix is development director Jeremy Lee.
During our interview with Square Enix and Double Helix at this years E3, we pushed them for lots of gameplay details. Here’s a few choice cuts from the interview, of what we can expect from the gameplay when it hits 360, PS3 and PC in 2010.
“These are military made machines, they are supposed to be very gritty and realistic. The world you are travelling through is being torn apart by war, it wont be all clean and shiny – although with the customisation options available to the player, if you wish to make your Wanzer shiny and untouched you can.”
“Pretty much every single weapon, everything in the Front Mission universe is present. We add a lot to the universe on top of what is already there while still fitting in with the Front Mission idea, and include a massive amount of customisation which, with the new gameplay, should keep the experience quite fresh.”
“There are a lot of customisation options in terms of colour, surface material, hardened arm plates, body, weapons shield amount.”
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Many people have been apprehensive about Square Enix’s decision to make the latest instalment of the Front Mission franchise a third person action game, instead of following the title’s tradition strategy roots. Square Enix though, are confident that they have chosen the right developer for the job with Double Helix.
Speaking to our man Alex Donaldson at this year’s E3, Square Enix revealed that Double Helix was intentionally chosen from a selection of 10 different developers to work on this new approach to the franchise.
“We spoke to probably about ten [developers] and press some offers to see who will be the best, and they supplied games they had already created and also the prototype that Double Helix had built for us, so we thought they would be the best,” Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto explained.
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