Ryan Rucinski interview

[funcroc]

http://play.tm/interview/23521/alpha-proto...-ryan-rucinski/

 

Which settings will we take in during the game, and how are these being brought to life?

 

After the initial foray into Saudi Arabia, the player has the option to go to Moscow, Taipei, or Rome.

 

A lot of our lighting style comes from the Bourne movies, Traffic, Ronin, Nacho Libre, and Syriana. When you look at the movies you can see a distinct saturation dependant on where the movie is taking place. Our Saudi levels are bloomy and brighter in the yellows. Moscow with blues. Rome using greens. We use the same techniques that these movies use to make sure that each hub looks and feels differently from the others.

Edited February 26, 2009 by funcroc

[Enoch]

Nacho Libre???!

[Cl_Flushentityhero]

Nacho Libre???!

 

They did say "The JBs." And when I think spy, I think Mexican wrestling, don't know about you.

[Zoma]

Not much new info. mentioned. Guess its about time we are supposed to look at new screens and video footage.

[Morgoth]

No new info at all. The interviewer should have asked when the game's coming out.

 

Is it still Q1 2009? (i.e. June), or has it been postponed again?

[Slowtrain]

As long as it doesn't make my character look like he has malaria.

[Pop]

The mission structure sounds, on its face, like KOTOR or ME's. I'm hoping for more of a hybrid of that and Bloodlines'. Choice of locales, but you will be required to return to those locales at certain points.

[Morgoth]

I must say though I'm eager to visit all these interesting places. Saudi Arabia, Rome, Moscow and Tapai aren't exactly your typical video game locations you get to see a lot. I'm looking forward how authentic and atmospheric Obsidian pulls these places off. One thing however that worries me a bit is this "color scheme" thing (green for Rome, blue for Moscow etc.). I really don't like too many effects on screen (except they can be disabled). As long as it is kept subtle and with artistry in mind though, I won't complain.

[Cl_Flushentityhero]

I must say though I'm eager to visit all these interesting places. Saudi Arabia, Rome, Moscow and Tapai aren't exactly your typical video game locations you get to see a lot. I'm looking forward how authentic and atmospheric Obsidian pulls these places off. One thing however that worries me a bit is this "color scheme" thing (green for Rome, blue for Moscow etc.). I really don't like too many effects on screen (except they can be disabled). As long as it is kept subtle and with artistry in mind though, I won't complain.

 

I would imagine it's pretty subtle. You may (or may not) have noticed, for example, that films tend to desaturate the colors and tint the screen blue in European locales. It sounds like what AP is doing is similar to that.

[Morgoth]

I must say though I'm eager to visit all these interesting places. Saudi Arabia, Rome, Moscow and Tapai aren't exactly your typical video game locations you get to see a lot. I'm looking forward how authentic and atmospheric Obsidian pulls these places off. One thing however that worries me a bit is this "color scheme" thing (green for Rome, blue for Moscow etc.). I really don't like too many effects on screen (except they can be disabled). As long as it is kept subtle and with artistry in mind though, I won't complain.

 

I would imagine it's pretty subtle. You may (or may not) have noticed, for example, that films tend to desaturate the colors and tint the screen blue in European locales. It sounds like what AP is doing is similar to that.

Yes, though I personally think this is a questioanable method to convey a place's mood. Like in every Hollywood movie, medieval Euro places are unnecessary too dirty, too blue-ish (cold and dark) and always rainy. That's so stereotypical. Just like in every Middle-Eastern movie you always see too much desert and bloom.

I just hope Obsidian knows what they want to do with it, not because they're doing it for the sake of capturing Hollywood techniques alone.

Edited February 27, 2009 by Morgoth

[Cl_Flushentityhero]

Well, yeah, it's stupid, but it does lend a certain artistic style. Given that Obs is trying to create a cinematic spy experience, I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with imitating cinema for the sake of imitating cinema in that regard. If they *didn't* do it, it wouldn't seem as polished and "hollywood" (and Obs needs all the polish they can get). I also think that they wanted to create that kind of atmosphere, which is why they undertook AP to begin with. So, I both agree and disagree with you.

[Morgoth]

Yeah I know AP wants to be a cinematic experience. I just hope Obsidian doesn't exaggerate the colors or fx in some way. Many games these days are just prone to overusage of screen effects, like FEAR 2, which doesn't even allow me to turn off the film noise effect.