This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and – before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside – we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Paul Crocker at Rocksteady about Batman: Arkham Asylum.
So when are we getting real DLC?
We can't talk about DLC, I'm afraid. [Note: with the announcement of Batman: Arkham Asylum 2, if that indeed ends up being the name for the sequel, it seems highly unlikely that we'll get any more DLC for the first game. Rats.]
Well, that's not a no! What has surprised you all the most about the game since launch?
Well, for us we're just really happy that people liked it. We worked really hard to do the brand justice and to try and make a good Batman game. Obviously when you're working on something like that you're really inside a bubble, and you don't know what people really think. And the reaction has been quite cool, so everyone at Rocksteady is really excited.
Speaking about that reaction, how does it work for a developer on launch day? Is it like in the film industry where people get the box office numbers coming in right away? Are you getting sales figures? How do you know it's doing well?
In all honesty ... we look at websites. [laughs] I mean if some website says it sold X number of copies, we don't even know if that's true. I guess we're the last to find out. But we look at the reviews and read what people are actually saying about the game. The afternoon when all the reviews went live, we were all sitting in the office and it was just really exciting. If you get an 8 out of 10, you're like "Awww, that's bad" because the other ones were 9, you know? But we were seeing scores at 9 or more and it was an interesting afternoon, and quite a nice evening at the pub.
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 8:55PM (Unverified) said
But development of AA stopped in Jan 2009, so they've had time.
KotOR II was developed in 11 months...admittedly, not the best example, but once the engine is built things can go quickly.
Reply
KotOR II was developed in 11 months...admittedly, not the best example, but once the engine is built things can go quickly.
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 8:59PM sonicspike41 said
Just wait until the near-end of this generation.
"And now we'd like to announce FF XVI! The next great game...
We aren't done yet however. I know a lot of you were wondering about FF XV, and I'm here to tell you that it's also coming out, after XVI!"
Reply
"And now we'd like to announce FF XVI! The next great game...
We aren't done yet however. I know a lot of you were wondering about FF XV, and I'm here to tell you that it's also coming out, after XVI!"
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 9:08PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
its a TEASER trailer that we have seen.....haven't even been given a tentative release year.....I mean hell they showed the God of War 3 trailer damn near 2 years ago....the trailer for FF13...what...3 years ago? it can still be a ways off
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Posted: Dec 17th 2009 8:53PM (Unverified) said
With all the games we read about every day on blogs like this, it's easy to forget that there's hard working people behind every single game that comes out, be it a good game or a bad game. I find interviews like this invaluable in revealing the humanity behind a particular work, and good for the Batman team that they were able to enjoy the positive reviews and, eventually, the positive sales numbers. They totally deserve it.
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Posted: Dec 17th 2009 9:04PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
should have asked him if they were going to allow Batman to Jump in the next game......
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Posted: Dec 17th 2009 9:28PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 9:48PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
he's a martial artist....jumping can only add to the combat....
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Posted: Dec 17th 2009 10:24PM (Unverified) said
He automatically jumps in the combat, and that's all that's needed. He also automatically jumps up on ledges about waist-high, and the grapple takes care of the rest.
It doesn't need a jump button.
Reply
It doesn't need a jump button.
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 11:30PM CaramelZappa said
Filthy is right. There's really no need for a traditional jump mechanic, and assigning one would just be wasting a button.
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Posted: Dec 18th 2009 6:14AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
I want to be able to jump dammit....that automatic jumping is nothing compared to jumping to bring in a drop kick....or jumping off a wall to do a finisher
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Posted: Dec 18th 2009 10:11AM calgaryaltahotmailcom said
I agree with Chris here, jumping would add to the game. Maybe some Assassin Creed style climbing too.
Just because a jump button wasn't needed in the first game doesn't mean they couldn't invent some cool reasons to include it in the second.
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Just because a jump button wasn't needed in the first game doesn't mean they couldn't invent some cool reasons to include it in the second.
Posted: Dec 18th 2009 11:28AM likedamaster said
@Rocksteady
No jump button please, thank you. That is all.
Reply
No jump button please, thank you. That is all.
Posted: Dec 17th 2009 9:10PM (Unverified) said
They made Killer Croc a pussy in the game. That was possibly the worst "boss" fight ever. He comes charging at you like a big badass and then you throw a batarang at his neck and he goes down like a bitch. And at the end you defeat him by blowing up the floor beneath him. Very cliche. Huge disappointment.
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Posted: Dec 17th 2009 9:58PM RKN said
I couldn't agree more. Remember at the beginning of the game as you are escorting Joker, Killer Croc comes along and meanacinly taunts you? He does it again a bit later in the game and so when you finally fight him, its becomes such a weak boss fight.
And more variety too please, why did Joker and Bane both have to be standard "titan" fights?
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And more variety too please, why did Joker and Bane both have to be standard "titan" fights?
Posted: Dec 18th 2009 11:57AM Dale P said
The Killer Croc boss fight was tricky... as such a large, imposing character, to have done him real justice, they would have had to crank the difficulty way up suddenly. By comparison, he and Bane should have been far, far tougher than The Joker... but The Joker was the final boss.
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Posted: Dec 18th 2009 1:36PM ACLerok212 said
The length and repetition of the Killer Croc fight was what made it so lame. It was the same sequence over and over and over again which completely sucked the suspense out of it that they were trying for. Seriously Croc, popping up 40 feet away and lumbering towards me didn't work the first 20 times that I brought you down with an unbelievably accurate Batarang toss. How many more times are you going to attempt it? Maybe try popping up underneath me.... or I don't know... ducking? How bout throwing an arm around your neck so I can't hit you in the collar for the umpteenth time in a row? I'll run out of Batarangs eventually you say? Yeah... try me.
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Posted: Dec 18th 2009 3:01AM Fullmetal Salchemist said
An 8 in video games is bad because video game magazines only operate on a 4-point scale, with 7 being the lowest.
Unless the game is made or published by a company that doesn't pay for ad space, then any score is fair game.
Reply
Unless the game is made or published by a company that doesn't pay for ad space, then any score is fair game.
Posted: Dec 18th 2009 5:40PM xxxsam said
He didn't mean 8 was bad in general, he meant that after all those 9s it would bring down the average of his game in particular, which he presumably thinks - in common with most reviewers - is fantastic.
No doubt if he'd made a rushed not-that-good game which he wasn't really happy with and it got some 8s, he'd be ecstatic. All about context.
Reply
No doubt if he'd made a rushed not-that-good game which he wasn't really happy with and it got some 8s, he'd be ecstatic. All about context.
Posted: Dec 18th 2009 11:24AM likedamaster said
*speaks in a valley girl voice*
It's just the best Batman like EVER!
Reply
It's just the best Batman like EVER!
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