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Exclusive: Bad Boys II Q&A Feature
Derek dela Fuente
09/02/2004
We chat to the guys at Blitz Games about the forthcoming movie adaptation...
Weâve already covered this with a hands on preview and you know what they say, âso good we came back for moreâ. Well not exactly, but we see plenty of potential here and are eager to get our hands on the review code but in the meantime we thought we would have a quick chat with the Project Manager, Chris Swan, at one of the leading UK development houses, Blitz Games.
TVG: Chris, Blitz has a great reputation in creating games so what qualities and technology expertise do you feel you have used to create Bad Boys II?
With the extensive experience and technologies that we have at Blitz Games we were able to deliver a number of high quality features within a fairly aggressive schedule, timed to meet the launch of the film on DVD. Just some of these features include:
Powerful In-house tools. Using our in-house level-editing tool, Flare, we were able to rapidly create and populate the levels.
All of the main characters make use of Blitzâs lip-syncing technology.
All of the characters used within the game are soft-skinned and make extensive use of animation blending.
Audio DSP effects, allowing us to change the reverb levels of audio within any specified area of a level.
Powerful in-house rendering engine allowing the player to face anything up to a dozen enemies on screen at any one time.
Variety of challenging and unique environments - all capturing the look and feel of Miami in the Bad Boys universe.
TVG: Tell us a little about what the film studio has presented you with and if you are interacting with them? Also what parts of the film you picked to create this action 1st and 3rd person game?
Put simply, we have made extensive use of the unique visual styles of both films. We have also based much of our audio (both music and sound effects) around the tracks used within the films.
TVG: Billed as a shooter, what other action elements does the game offer and what innovations are you proud of?
Iâm particularly keen on the cover mode system that we have created for the game. This system allows the player to dive into cover for protection from heavy fire, or to sneak up against walls and other objects and peek around corners to see what lies ahead. In addition to this, once in cover mode the player is then able to aim in a first person view that gives them a far higher degree of accuracy.
Iâm also very proud of the âtrash talkâ banter that we have between the two Bad Boys as the player progresses through the levels. This ranges from plot-driven comments to unique comments governed by the playerâs behaviour.
We also have a unique arresting element used to collect weapons, if you see a bad guy with a bigger gun you can shoot it out of their hands and pick it up and use it.
TVG: Please tell us a little about the storyline â“ what the main tasks are and how different the game is when you move from one of the main characters you play to the other?
Our story is set just after the second film. A new drug going by the name of Orchid has started appearing in Miami, and itâs down to TNT to find out whoâs responsible for this. As the story unravels the player will find that Johnny Tapia (the main bad guy in the second film) was just a small cog in a far bigger and more sinister crime network...
As for control, you alternate between controlling Marcus and Mike. For stages where both characters are present we have sophisticated AI routines that will control your partner.
TVG: How are health, injury and killing worked into the game and how precise are things?
As the game is based around being a shooter first and foremost, weâve put a lot of attention to detail into this element of the game. All of the damage inflicted on the enemies and the player is evaluated based on the weapon used and the area of the body that was hit. Youâll therefore inflict far more damage with a single head shot, than several shots to the lower leg for example. This information is also carried over to the enemiesâ death animations: being killed in the side will spin enemies around as they fall to the floor, while throat shots see them collapse convincingly to their knees, clutching their necks as they fall to their demise.
We also have a unique mechanism in the game whereby shooting the enemies in their hands disarms and arrests them. This has two benefits: it increases the playerâs chances of being given a Good Cop rating, while also then allowing the player to collect that enemyâs weapon.
TVG: What kind of locations will the player move through and can you substantiate what is on offer in destructible environments?
We have several Miami based levels ranging from a diner to an arcade. We have a chase through a restaurant and across the rooftops of Miami.
We have an Infiltration level in an art gallery, a final storming of the evil mastermindâs mansion out on the Florida Keys, and many more cool locations.
As for destructible environments we have a substantial amount of destructible scenery. Almost everything you can see you can shoot and destroy. This includes cars, boats, windows, sofas, alarms, computers, etc.
TVG: Tell the readers about the Bad Boy rating system, and how you are rewarded for your actions and achievements.
The Bad Boys rating system rewards different ways of playing through the game. Different cool cheats are unlocked dependant on your rating, if you play through the game arresting the enemies and not destroying scenery you will be a âgood copâ. However, executing bad guys and blowing everything up will bring a âBad Boyâ rating your way. Different cheats are unlocked for being good than those for being bad so it rewards both styles of play and promotes replays to get the other rating and obtain the other cool cheat.
TVG: With plenty of weapons on offer, how clever is the enemy you are facing and the AI integrated into the game?
We have an arsenal of sub-machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades and the like. Enemies in Bad Boys 2 will actively seek cover from the player's attacks and are aware when that cover becomes compromised. They will often attempt to flank the player and try to protect areas of key strategic importance. When caught out in the open they will duck and weave in order to present a more difficult target to hit, and they will continue to actively seek out cover.
TVG: To finish, sum up the experience in one sentence!
Itâs an explosive action shooter so go out and buy it - What else ya gonna do?
