Seite 2: Interview mit Tom Crago zu Top Gear: Downforce

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We talked with Tom Crago from Tantalus about the upcoming Nintendo DS game Top Gear: Downforce. Read now to know what awaits us around the holidays.

PlanetDS.de: First of all can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Tantalus Interactive who is behind the project and what did you do till now?

Tom Crago: I’m the CEO of Tantalus, I’ve been at the company for 4 and a half years. Tantalus has been around for 12 years. We originally did conversions, but moved several years ago into original titles. Right now we’re doing a lot of handheld development. We shipped seven games on GBA and have already released 2 on PSP and 1 on the DS. One of our biggest titles was Top Gear Rally on the GBA. This game was ultimately published by Nintendo, but we were originally hired to make the game by Kemco, the same publisher we’re now working with on Top Gear: Downforce.

PlanetDS.de: A lot of racing simulations on the Nintendo DS released up to date are not really that successful. How far does Top Gear: Donwforce have the potential to reach the pole position?

Tom Crago: Yes I agree that most racing titles on the DS up until now have been a little disappointing. When we signed on to this game with Kemco it was a condition of ours that we could do something quite different within the racing genre. This will not be a typical racing game. We want to create an experience that is fun, portable, and unique to the DS.

PlanetDS.de: Can you tell us a little bit more about the game play, features and physics of the game? (How may tracks, cars, etc. will there be?)

Tom Crago: So far we’ve only announced a preliminary feature set for the game. I’m happy to lay this out here:

• Top-down racing comes to the DS for the first time. This unique viewpoint is perfect for handheld racing and ideally suited to the DS.
• 6 distinctive vehicles with robust vehicle physics and a wide variety of skins.
• Race on tracks and terrains featuring alternate paths and shortcuts. Far more than your average racetracks.
• Interactive hazards and features on the tracks, with the ability to manually place hazards, using the touch screen, before the race begins.
• 4-player wireless multiplayer racing and data sharing.
• Smart, competitive AI for tight, fender banging racing.
• Fun factor. Top Gear: Downforce is all about simple, addictive gameplay; custom built for the Nintendo DS.

PlanetDS.de: How will you take advantage of the Nintendo DS specific features, like dual screen, touch screen and microphone? How important are these aspects for you as a developer. Does it more likely feel like to be forced to use these features or do they provide more freedom within the development?

Tom Crago: The whole gameplay style is really built around the dual screen and touch screen components of the DS. Players will use the stylus to place hazards on the tracks before the race, and the tracks themselves are custom designed just for the DS.

PlanetDS.de: How many and what kind of cars can be played in the game and in how far will they be customizable?

Tom Crago: There will be 6 vehicle models with a wide array of decals to enable players to customize and personalize their car.

PlanetDS.de: Will you introduce a damage system to the game and will it effect the car physics while driving?

Tom Crago: There’s no damage system in Top Gear: Downforce. We really wanted to move away from simulation style gameplay and create something that is instantly fun. This is a game that will be very easy to pick up and play, but very difficult to master.

PlanetDS.de: Are you satisfied with the specifications of the Nintendo DS, or especially for a racing game would you like to have more graphical power?

Tom Crago: The DS is just fine for the style of game we’re creating. We’re not going for a graphically rich racer that would require a great deal of rendering power. We did that with our MX title on PSP!

PlanetDS.de: Will you take usage of the Nintendo WiFi Connection feature to introduce online gaming? What other multiplayer options will you be using?

Tom Crago: Unfortunately Top Gear: Downforce won’t support the Nintendo WiFi connection. We’d love to have it in there, but the release date for the game is a little too soon to get it in. It’s still a very new technology. Maybe if there’s a Top Gear sequel… We will be supporting 4 player wireless multiplayer though.

PlanetDS.de: When will we see first images of the game and when can we expect it in the store shelves in the US and Europe?

Tom Crago: The game will ship in November in the US, with Europe and Japan to follow. Some early art work should come online soon. Stay tuned to www.tantalus.com.au

PlanetDS.de: What is your favourite racing car and why?

Tom Crago: In the real word, I’m an F1 fan, and a keen supporter of Ferrari. I’ve always liked Ferrari, for no real reason other than they’re beautiful cars. In Top Gear: Downforce, we’re still in the early stages of developing the vehicles, so I don’t have a favourite picked out yet.

PlanetDS.de: You also uncovered the Nintendo DS game Anaka. Can you tell us what it is about and what further game we can expect from Tantalus in the portable gaming sector? (DS, PSP, GBA, N-Gage etc.)

Tom Crago: Anaka is in the early stages of development for the DS. There’s not a lot else we can say about it at this stage, but you can visit www.meetanaka.com and download a trailer movie. We recently shipped SpongeBob SquarePants: The Yellow Avenger on DS and PSP, and MX vs ATV: On the Edge on PSP. These games have done really well and are worth a look. In Summer we’ll release Payload, an N-Gage title we have developed for Nokia. This is another original game with a pretty cool feature set. Take a look at www.payload-game.com

PlanetDS.de: Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?

Tom Crago: Only that we hope everyone enjoys Top Gear: Downforce on DS. We’re trying to do something different with this title and it’s great that the DS provides a platform on which we can explore new ideas for games.

The interview was held by Kevin Jensen for PlanetDS.de

Thanks to Tom Crago for his support