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50 Cent: Bulletproof - Q&A Feature

Derek dela Fuente

21/07/2005

TVG chats to the Executive Producer of the forthcoming 50 Cent: Bulletproof...

You canât get more street cred with a video game than to have an endorsement from the current revered Hip Hop star 50 Cent. With likeness, voice, and starring role that sees the plot/story focusing on New Yorkâs drug underworld, it looks like itâs got all the ingredients to captivate gamers and pull in an even wider audience. Derek dela Fuente took off his bandana and spoke with Andre Emerson, Executive Producer on 50 Cent: Bulletproof.

TVG: Many observers will say that 50 Cent is the flavour of the month and itâs a quick way to make easy money with a computer game. Firstly whose idea was it to create a game based around 50 Cent and what input has he had? Also what would you say to the cynics who look on this as a blatant cash-in?

The idea for a 50 Cent came from Jimmy Iovine (Interscope) and 50 Cent himself. We have a great relationship with Universal Music which made us an ideal fit to create the game. 50 has been incredible to work with, he's been very involved in the look, game mechanics, storyline, soundtrack, etc. I suppose that anytime someone of 50's stature ventures into other businesses, it could be perceived by some as a 'cash-in'. This game transcends any thinking of that nature with incredible 3rd-person action, a deep storyline and the most amazing hip hop soundtrack available.

TVG: Tell us about the involvement of Terry Winter, his interaction with 50 Cent and the main focus of the game's story and ethos!

Terry went on the road with 50 during the Rock the Mic tour, in preparation to write the screenplay for 50's movie (which comes out in November). This made him the perfect choice when it came time to write the screenplay for the game. 50 introduced us to Terry and the rest is history. He is an amazing talent. Terry won an Emmy Award this past
year for his work on the Sopranos.

TVG: Can you tell us about what's on offer to the player; the progress through the game and perhaps a few environments/missions that players will face?

The action is intense and the game mechanics diverse. The game is played from a 3rd-person perspective with FPS-inspired controls. There is a brutal Counter-kill system which involves 50 stealing an enemy's weapon and using it against him. You can grab enemies and turn them into Body Shields to absorb all frontal fire. These hostages can also be interrogated for info, robbed of their valuables and will occasionally turn and fight on your side if they are intimidated enough. We have Mobile Cover that allow players to grab anything with wheels and use it as cover. You can also charge, crush and kill enemies with these mobile objects. There are tactical cover moves that allow
you to back 50 against cover, spin out and shoot, roll between cover objects, etc. There are tons of different locations, enemies, actions to perform, etc... It's truly an incredible action experience.

TVG: You assume the role of 50 Cent so please tell us about a few of the in-game cast - those you confront and your own buddies?

We have an unparalleled cast in the game. Eminem plays Detective McVicar, Dr. Dre plays an arms dealer named Grizz, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck of G-Unit all play fictional versions of themselves. DJ Whoo Kid plays a bootlegger who sells music and videos to the player.

TVG: Will violence be a prominent feature of the game and if so how many ways will there be to hurt - possibly kill? Is there one on one and what part do weapons play?

The game's action is very intense. There are some scenes where 50 and G-Unit are battling against hordes of enemies. It feels like WWIII in the streets of NYC. There is a huge arsenal of weapons in the game and you'll gain access to them through Dr. Dre's character.

TVG: Apart from the violent aspect of gameplay tell us about other interesting elements and what importance does dialogue play within the game; what's beyond the obvious combat elements?

I spoke about some of the various game mechanics earlier, but in addition to all of this, we have the largest collection of 50 and G-Unit music and videos available that the player can access. There are classic, current and exclusive tracks written specifically for the game. 50's also created new freestyles that the player can unlock and mix with new beats to create their own tracks. The game's original music score was created by G-Unit's Sha Money XL. It's the hottest hip hop soundtrack of the year. The game also features a very cool Arcade Mode that assigns point values, modifiers, multipliers, etc., to all of the
game's mechanics and allows people to compete for bragging rights. This is a great departure in social settings or if you just want to break away from the deep Story Mode.

What kind of technology drives the game and helps to ensure 50 Cent has been faithfully replicated within the game?

We built the team and game from the ground up around this opportunity. We pulled together an amazing team of people with diverse background and pedigrees to ensure the best possible 50 Cent experience. We've got the lead AI programmer from the critically acclaimed, âFar Cryâ, technology from guys who were behind the Ratchet and Clank, and Knockout Kings series, several members from the original Dead to Rights team and lots
of other amazingly talented people.

The in game music/rapping will be a good promotional tool for both 50 Cent and the game. Will there be original songs within the game, perhaps you could elaborate on content away from the actual game?

As I mentioned, the game features the largest collection of classic, current and exclusive 50 and G-Unit music to date. There is a mix lab feature and an exclusive score from Sha Money XL that is perfectly integrated with the on-screen action. You can take music from the lab and mix it into your own custom soundtrack for the game. If you want to
kick back and listen to 50âs tunes or watch his videos then they are all accessible outside of the main game.

What has been the most difficult aspect of putting the whole game together and do you see this as being the first of a truly urban culture game especially for his fans?

A game like this has a million moving parts. The most difficult part has been managing the production and integration of the sheer volume of assets. We have thousands of lines of dialogue, over an hour of CG, multiple hours of music, tons of music videos, etc. We're very pleased with how well it's all integrating. It's the definitive 50 Cent experience.

Finally do you think 50 Cent: Bulletproof is squarely aimed at fans of the artist, or do you believe the game will hold up and offer something to gamers as a whole?

That's the beautiful thing, there's something for everyone with this game. People who just want to kick back and listen to his music and watch videos can do that... Hardcore gamers can enjoy a challenging action game... Movie fans can enjoy an amazing Terry Winter crime-classic come to life with over 60 minutes of cinematics. A group of people can compete in the game's Arcade Mode in more of social setting. No stone has been left unturned in this game.

Many thanks to Andre Emerson, Executive Producer on 50 Cent: Bulletproof. The game is out in the Autumn on PlayStation2, Xbox, and PSP â“ weâll have more on 50âs debut shortly.

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