While playing KI at The Fall Classic, Rich was extremely informative and helpful. If he saw us struggling or getting raped by Saburwulf, he would throw in a few pointers to help you out. Rich was extremely approachable and walked around, talking to everyone while answering questions.
Here are some of the questions asked with Rich's response.
Question: I asked Rich about the Shadow Jago preorder bonus from the 12 month subscription from Microsoft.
Answer: it's a Microsoft promo, not a Double Helix promo. Shadow Jago is not an outfit or costume but a character in the game. He said that Shadow Jago is something that is answered in the story of the game. I asked him if Jago is actually Shadow Jago and he gave the infamous Rich answer "maybe, maybe not."
Question: someone asked what Chief Thunder says after he wins a match and walks away.
Answer: Chief Thunder is all about respect. While he didn't know the exact translation, he basically said that Thunder is Saying that his opponent was a true and respected warrior and it was an honorable fight.
Question : When will new information be revealed about the new character?
Answer: "Around TGS." This leads me to believe that information will be released like Thunder was because of his use of the word "around." A full IGN character reveal before TGS and then of course a fully playable build of the new character at TGS.
Question: What is the biggest combo internally and how many matches do you (Rich) play a day?
Answer: the biggest combo internally is 140+ and I believe he said it was with Thunder. He also said he plays about a 1000 matches a day. He went on describing how you hear all the people in office pressing buttons playing matches against one another fine tuning the game. He even said that you would occasionally hear Beau say something because someone had pulled a move or win over on him. He laughed about Beau.
Question: Who is your favorite character to play with (including known and unknown characters where I prefaced the question by saying if unknown just give unknown.)
Answer: "Glacius." Glacius is one of the toughest characters to learn to play with in the game but once you learn him, he gives a great guessing game on combo breaking his move set. He talked how he lost around the first 100 matches playing with him, usually against Beau who he said Beau was the better Glacius player. "Pressure gets to Beau sometimes" and that's how Rich said he beats him sometimes.
Question: Why did you bring this build on a PC? (This was asked after the game crashed and he had to expose the PC and keyboard to reboot the game)
Answer: "Security" and he went on explaining how unrelaxed he would have been bringing Xbox One consoles. He went on explaining how he would have thought about being jumped and the consoles stolen. He reassured the game is being played on Xbox One consoles in the office and that there have been a lot of changes to the Thunder build that will be released soon
Question: Is there any alternate endings to a match instead of a loser at a tournament having to sit through an ultra, thus taking efficiency away from matches?
Answer: There is something that is being put into place that can be used at tournaments. He was excited and said to stay tuned because there are TONS of unannounced stuff that people are going to love.
Question: What can you tell us about the new female character?
Answer: Be prepared to see some amazing air combos, linkers, etc. the character is a lot of fun and her objective is to launch you in the air then keep you there.
Question: At one of the KI Friday events at Super Arcade, you (Rich) were doing a manual during Jago's ultra. Will all characters have specific manuals to each character or will they all be the same?
Answer: Yes, each character will have their own specific manuals. Manuals are extremely hard to break and make the guessing game even harder than the faster auto doubles
Question: What can you tell us about the story mode? Bosses of story mode?
Answer: no details have been announced about story mode yet. However, the story mode is being worked on tirelessly and not being just thrown together. There's a story to why things are they way they are now. For example, he briefly explained that there is an interesting story as to why Saberwulf no longer has his bionic arms. He was excited and said that we (fans) won't be disappointed. He said that nothing has been announced about anything else concerning the single player experience but to STAY TUNED!!!
Question: How do you feel about taking Killer Instinct to Tokyo next week? Have you reached out to Daigo and other players from the region?
Answer: Rich said that he is very excited to see how people react to Killer Instinct at TGS. He went on talking about how this is the first time a Western fighting game is being taken to TGS like the way they are doing it so its really new ground being broken here. He said they talked to Daigo about KI but Daigo was busy prepping for a tournament. Daigo is ALWAYS prepping and in tournament mode. He said that they have some announcements to make at TGS and hopes that they welcome in Killer Instinct.
Question: Why has the information and teases been the way they have been with new Killer Instinct info and characters?
Answer: the main reason is to keep the interest and thirst for Killer Instinct. By releasing it in small increments, it keeps the excitement for the game up to and after launch. He loves the guessing and rumors by us on the forums. He went on talking about how him and the rest of the team talk about our guesses, predictions, and rumors in their morning meetings.
Maybe our rumors will end up in the game in some form. I mean look at Ermac from Mortal Kombat.
Question: How did you become involved in video games and eventually at Double Helix as the community manager?
Answer: He (Rich graduated High School at a young age( 15 if I remember correctly) then he went to college after that. He was playing video games and making strategy guides for video games all on his on. Meanwhile he was noticed for his talent and picked up by gaming companies including activision.(It wasn't just handed to him, he worked hard, out in applications, and did interviews like any aggressive person does that really wants something bad enough) Rich eventually wound up at Double Helix this past year to help spear head the Killer Instinct project with his proven success with the gaming community. (Hence why we get the info we get, the playable versions at events, among other things associated with the community behind the scenes.
Question: Do you get agitated when people criticize the game, ask you silly questions, or ask the same question over and over again?
Answer: "No." Rich enjoys constructive criticism and looks at people comments and opinions objectively as well as the rest if the team. People complaining about the art probably means that they buy their games based on the art. People that complain about the music, probably means they buy games based on the music. All details are taken into consideration in this game and nothing is trivial. They are listening to "everything" we like and complain about and talk about those issues in their meetings. They don't go unheard.
Question: Killer Instinct brings back that old arcade feeling. Friends and casuals gathered around an arcade cheering and waiting their turn. Will there be a virtual arcade room where people can go into a room, watch people play, and have an option to question them in to play or just continue to watch?
Answer: "Yes, we will discuss more about the details of online soon." But you will be able to have private rooms where people watch and play each other like a virtual arcade.
*** All of these questions were a collective effort between myself and many of the people that attended TFC this past weekend. I know faces but I don't have names, or usernames to place here in this tread. I talked to Rich a lot, but there were times when we had a small circle of people "drilling" Rich. If you asked a specific question, please let me know and I will give you the appropriate credit.
Thank you Rich and Double Helix for bringing the game to the East Coast!
