We got to participate in a chat with some of the developers currently working on Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter for the Xbox360. Here is the full transcript, we are Continuum/Crunker99.
Thanks for joining us. Our guests this evening are: Christian ALLEN – Lead Multiplayer Designer, I believe it's Serellan
(Serellan)hey
(Thunak)Spearman - Gilles MATOUBA – Game Designer
(Thunak)And Adrian Lacey, random punter hiding somewhere. LetÂ’s begin, then. The session will be moderated: only the GRAW team and I may post. This is how weÂ’ll proceed: you may send your questions only to me and I will relay them. Please do not send them directly to the GRAW team, they will only answer to mine. To send me a question double-click on my nick Thunak on the right hand column and a new window will open in which we may chat. Here we go!
(Thunak) Here we go!
(shogun): How will the game support clans on the 360?
(Serellan) Due to the early stage of Xbox Live on 360, we are not currently planning to support clans initially at launch.
(Crunker99): Hi, I was wondering will the X360 version of this game feature a co-op online play mode?
(Serellan) Yes, we are fully supporting Co-op play, both with the customizable game mode system, and a all new co-op campaign. Once you finish the SP campaign, you have a whole new game to start.
(kleaneasy): Theres a lot of confusion over the in game view for GRAW on xbox, is there a weapon view? and is 1st person still in the game?
(Spearman) On xbox it is a entirely FPS view For X360 we chose to stick with OTS like in SS and GR2.For the X360 version, we also feature a Precise Aiming view, like a close-up Over the Shoulder view.
(shogun): What is the max numbers of players in a room on Xbox Live(360)?
(Serellan) 16
(Crunker99-Continuum): will you be able to switch weapons with weapons from dead enemies and allies?
(Spearman) Yes of course all weapons visible during the game WILL be playable
(CriticalHit9999): what are your impressions working with the 360 ?
(Spearman) for multiplayer work, it is great. We can have detailed maps, customizable characters, and thousands of game mode combinations... We were able to push the power of the 360 using our Multi Core technology, which means we can push the 3 processors to the max i terms of animation, post fx, HDR and so on...
(Smis): How many players can appear on-screen at once?
(Spearman) A lot of them in MP, 16
(santtu): tell me please, is it possible to go into buildings?
(Spearman) You don't open doors etc, but using climb etc you can go into warehouses and stuff The main core of the action will be street to street and outdoors.
(ReapeR): Tactics v Run & Gun style….It is always stated that PC gamers want tactics and we console drones only crave the Run & Gun approach…..what will this ‘next gen’ gaming experience give us on the 360?
(Spearman) For 360 we wanted to give people the option of moving yur team, drones and support troops via the 3D tactical map
(Serellan) I don't think that is necissarily the case. Tactics are just as important for console players, it is just the experience is taylored for the interface. When you are sitting in front of your PC, you have a different connection with the game then when you are on your couch. A lot of the differences are based on controller differences, etc
(shogun): What is the total number of weapons in the game for online play?
(Serellan) just a sec, gotta count
25 for single not counting vehicles right around 35 in MP on ship, for MP we added fan favorite weapons from GR1 and GR2
(Smis): How many polygons on a character?
(Spearman) 15000 polys plus normal mapping
(benny): what happened to the GR look in general, doesn't look quite the same as the ones we saw at the 360 presentation?
(Spearman) At the time we weren't even running off the final kits! Since then the post fx, filters and the engine itself has evolved Not to mention the HDR, animations and so on.
(NateTXB): If there's one clear area that Microsoft has concentrated on improving when comparing development for the 360 to the Xbox what would it be and why?
(Serellan) the greatest thing for us is the new live interface and rich presesnce. Now players have a consistant profile, friends list, etc. This takes the work off of the plates of the developers, and ensures the players have a consistant experience across all Live games.
(Osok): Have they limited the ability to look over objects then with the OTS view?
(Spearman) The OTS view has been tweaked to impove the experience, we also added an advanced cover and peak mode also, in MP, servers can restrict OTS view with a host of options*
