We brought the team into the CVG.com hanger and quizzed them about Project Interceptor. Look out for some interesting clues as to what PSP might be capable of. "Revolutionary extensions" to multiplayer? Could that be fully online play? With PSP already launched in Japan and the assumed European launch of March 2005 coming up fast, we'll soon find out...
CVG.com: The flight sim has become quite a marginalized videogame genre - what's Project Interceptor's angle?
Kuju: The game itself is much more exciting than its working code name suggests. The game is a mixture of dog fighting, ground assault and racing. Each player is fighting and racing for their corperation sponsor's name and the prime time TV advertising that their victory will bring. But, you'll have to wait and see...
CVG.com: Some may say that the PSP is an unusual platform for a game like PI, given that it's a flight sim. How would you respond to this?
Kuju: Well, it's not a SIM. It is most definitely a game, one with a strong arcade influence. The game is being designed with the ultramodern PSP player firmly in mind. However, there will be harder flight models to choose from that sim fans will enjoy.
CVG.com: How long have you been working on the game for the PSP?
Kuju: We have been working on this game since the summer 2004.
...
CVG.com: Has it been a struggle developing for the PSP?
Kuju: Touch wood, so far development has not been a struggle. Now kits are in place the team are developing away at a good pace and are excited to see the results on the fantastic PSP screen.
...
CVG.com: What advantages did the PSP hardware offer during PI's development?
Kuju: Having the PSP hardware in place has allowed us to create a game experiance focused at the PSP, the screen, the controls and its general size and feel.
CVG.com: What problems have you encountered?
Kuju: We have had a few texturing issues but nothing major.
CVG.com: Does the PSP offer opportunities for developers like yourself to do very different kinds of games than have ever been attempted before on a handheld platform?
Kuju: We see a great deal of opportunities in PSP. It's a very powerful handheld device that will encourage a whole new breed of players onto handheld. That in itself will encourage new genres of play onto handhelds, such as PI. The PSP has WiFi play, something new to handhelds, this will open up plenty of new opportunities for Kuju as we have experience in developing in this important area.
CVG.com: How successful do you see PSP becoming?
Kuju: Very. It's a great device and has impressed anyone who has picked it up and played with it here. Everyone here wants one or maybe two!
...
CVG.com: How action-oriented is the gameplay? Are you aiming for an Ace Combat-esque feel or a more realistic representation of flight?
Kuju: The game is nearer to Ace Combat, but also has levels of play that are off the end of the scale between AC and a real sim. PI will contain elements of gameplay that AC can only dream of, elements that players will want to come back to and beat again and again.
CVG.com: How crazy do Project Interceptor's dogfights get, and how many aircraft/enemies can participate at one time?
Kuju: I won't give away any numbers at present, but needless to say the PSP is a powerful machine, power enough to give you the intense action you desire.
...
CVG.com: How many planes feature in the game and could you specify particular models?
Kuju: PI will feature a wide range of planes, some modified and some realistic.
CVG.com: Does PI operate on a Campaign structure or individual missions?
Kuju: There will be a mixture of campaign-like modes, instant action and multiplayer missions.
CVG.com: You've promised to take advantage of the PSP's wireless functionality. What are your plans for multiplayer PI?
Kuju: The game design lends itself to multi-player. PI is going to be amazing fun multi-player and we have some secret, some say revolutionary extensions to MP that you will just have to wait for.
CVG.com: How important do you think the wireless capabilities of both the PSP and DS are?
Kuju: Again, this is an area that is going to encourage more people to buy a handheld. Wireless play is going to be really big. You just can't beat playing against another person, especially using a long range wireless system on the move.
...
