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Articles
January 16, 2002
Broken
Sword Game Boy Advance: A Q&A with Charles Cecil, Director,
Revolution Software, Ltd.
Winter 2001
Traditionally this genre of games has been associated with a point and click control system, how has the GBA version been adapted?
We have redesigned the player interface and come up with a direct control method that, ironically, works better than the interfaces offered by PC games. The player controls the game character directly via the D-pad and objects that can be interacted with highlight as the player walks nearby. In addition, a new concept called the 'vista menu' allows the player to see which on-screen objects can be interacted with at any given time. This system takes the labor out of adventuring and brings the player closer to the game. The game is highly accessible and adheres to Revolution's core belief that games must be 'pickup and play' with no need to resort to complex instruction booklets.
Broken Sword has always been admired for it's polished looking graphics and detailed environments, both of which are relatively easily achieved on a PC, but how do these features translate onto the GBA?
Game Boy Advance offers considerable processing power, impressive graphics capabilities and remarkable audio. However, being cartridge based, storage is always at a premium. Compared to other genres, adventures are storage-heavy because of the vast quantities of unique animation graphics required. We have therefore invested heavily in advanced data compression techniques that enable CD-sized resources to be shoe-horned onto the GBA cartridge. We are very pleased with the results because, graphically, the game looks very similar to the PC version.
What stage in the development process is the game currently at?
We are about three quarters of the way through development right now. The game has been re-implemented from scratch in order to address issues that we felt could be improved from the original. The original game was universally praised - but comments were made that some exchanges had simply too much dialogue. Doubt was also cast on a couple of puzzles, in particular the infamous goat puzzle in Ireland. It is excellent to have the opportunity to re-address the whole game and improve it wherever possible.
What does the GBA version offer to both fans of the series and newcomers?
For a newcomer,
we believe that the game is unique on the platform. Rather than being
yet another platform or shooter game, Broken Sword: Shadow of
the Templars provides a rich, narrative orientated gameplay.
Obstacles and puzzles are logical and intuitive and are directly related
to the narrative. The game builds strong character empathy which will
soon draw players into caring about the characters and what happens
to them. We would expect people to play the game for short periods
of time - possibly when commuting to school or work. The game is perfectly
suited to this pattern of gameplay.
The game does contain a number of "easter eggs" that are
unique to the GBA version. We are under strict orders not to reveal
them, however!
The game's music has always played an important part in contributing to the game's atmosphere how is this same effect going to be achieved on the GBA version?
We've worked
closely with Barrington Pheloung, the composer of the original score,
to ensure that all the significant cues have been included in the
GBA version. We're using a complex music playback system that allows
us to incorporate considerably more music than would have previously
been possible had we used the PC method of waveform playback. Barry
has been great, supplying us with MIDI files for all the cues in the
game and also the orchestral samples from his own studio - samples
that were used to create the music in the original Broken Sword. We're
investing a lot of time and effort into the music for Broken
Sword: Shadow of the Templars because we know how important
it is to maintaining the atmosphere of the original. It really is
going to sound great.
Broken
Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
on the Game Boy® Advance
Background
A quiet drink at a French café unwittingly whisks young American
journalist, George Stobbart, away on a mysterious adventure, one that
could change the fate of mankind forever. George is an "American
in Paris" who witnesses the theft of an ancient manuscript and
the assassination of its owner. This manuscript was created in the
14th Century by the order of the Knights Templar and points to where
their legendary power has been hidden for over six hundred years.
George uncovers the evil plot of the manuscripts' new owners who intend
to harness the power for their own sinister agenda.
Immerse yourself in this award winning adventure, as you travel the globe in search of clues to unravel this age-old mystery. Cast away the shadows of time to seek hidden information. Talk with characters from across the world, each with information that will either help or hinder you. Do you have the resolve to stop this hidden power that threatens all of mankind?
Key Features
- A graphical adventure for the Gameboy Advance that offers an exciting, compelling storyline and addictive gameplay.
- A compelling adventure, with beautiful scenery and mind teasing puzzles.
- A classic tale of mystery and intrigue, taking the finest elements of the original award winning PC game and recreating them on the GameBoy Advance.
- Breathtaking hand drawn & colored backgrounds.
- Stunning character animations that bring the adventure to life.
- Fully immerse yourself in a dark mystery with more than 60 characters to interact with and more than 70 locations to explore.
- Newly designed 'iconic' control interface make this a true console adventure--designed for console adventurers.
- Music composed by one of Britain's premier composers, Barrington Pheloung, whose compositions include the music for television's Inspector Morse, and the films Truly Madly Deeply and Nostradamus.
- A game of intrigue and mystery for adventurers on the move.
Platform: Game Boy
Advance
Genre: Adventure
Number of Players: Single
Release Date: March 2002
Publisher: BAM! Entertainment
Developer: Revolution Software, Ltd
ESRB Rating: TBD
Price: TBD
