Electronic Entertainment Expo - E3 2009

Community manager Ben Swanson spoke with Steve Papoutsis, producer on Dead Space Extraction. Check out the video to see more on his thoughts, as well as see a little of gameplay in the backround. Don't miss this title when it comes out September 29th, 2009.

For those who have been following the development of Visceral Games, you're probably familiar with Glenn Schofield. In the event you're not; EA.com has you covered. I caught up with Glenn on the show floor today and wanted to share the experiences with you. So hit the play button, sit back, relax, and watch as the GM of Visceral Games gives you his view of the new brand, as well as E3 2009.

Don’t forget to keep up with us on twitter! @EA @HuskyHog

If you're a child of the 80's, the idea of a game based on one of the most beloved cartoon franchises is a dream come true.  With a tie in to the upcoming film, GI JOE: The Rise of Cobra, we sat down with Sr. Product Manager Jason Enos to get an inside look at the making of the game prior to it's showcase at E3.

Electronic Arts: How did EA come to acquire the rights to a G.I. JOE game?

Jason Enos:  In 2007, the EA forged a long-standing strategic partnership with HASBRO.  This partnership has enabled us to bring the popularity and breadth of HASBRO board games and toy brands to all forms of interactive entertainment, such as videogames, connected console, Pogo.com, mobile and more!  We were aware that a new G.I. JOE movie was in development and everybody in our group were big fans of G.I. JOE growing up.  With the HASBRO partnership in place, it was only natural that we collaborate together on bringing a new G.I. JOE videogame out in time for the movie.

EA: How closely does the game tie into the upcoming film?

JE:  When we first sat down to discuss the direction for a game, we recognized the importance the new movie would have on introducing G.I. JOE to entirely new audiences. At the same time, however, we knew that G.I. JOE had a tremendous history and fans spanning over 45 years and counting!  Rather than follow the typical route of the game retelling the exact storyline of the movie, we thought it would be more interesting to pick up where the movie ends.  This not only enabled us to weave in key plot points from the film, but it also let us integrate the existing G.I. JOE universe, including toys, comics and cartoons.  The end result is a game that ties into the movie without spoiling the movie, while offering plenty of new surprises and storylines, and providing a deeper appreciation for the brand among fans new and old.

EA: Can you give us a taste of what the storyline for the game is?

JE:  We’ve been careful not to reveal too much about the storyline, but we’ve built the story around a popular theme first introduced in the G.I. JOE cartoons and comics from the 1980s.  Using that as a basis for the story, our game ties this theme back to the events you will discover in the film.  Seeing the movie and playing the game really give you a sense of how the COBRA regime came about, their quest for power, and the threat they bring to the world.

EA: How many levels will the game include?

JE:  The console and PSP versions have 20 missions spanning different regions, including arctic, desert, jungle, interiors, etc.  The Nintendo DS game offers a total of 25 missions, including four multiplayer missions.

EA: How many characters are playable in the game, and which ones?

JE:  In total, we have 16 total playable characters and this includes 12 different G.I. JOE characters and 4 unlockable COBRA characters.  The Nintendo DS game features 6 different G.I. JOE characters and 5 COBRA characters.  For fans of G.I. JOE, all of the key favorites characters are included, such as Snake Eyes, Duke, Scarlett, Storm Shadow, Heavy Duty, Rip Cord etc.

EA: Which character is your favorite and why?

JE:  I know it might be the expected answer, but I have to say Snake Eyes.  It’s hard not to think of G.I. JOE and not immediately think of Snake Eyes.  He is a key part of the G.I. JOE team and embodies cool no matter how you slice it.  Being a ninja commando is already awesome, but his back story and seeing him in action makes him such an icon in the G.I. JOE universe.

EA: The game is designed for a younger audience. Will older games who remember G.I. JOE from the toys, TV series or comics still be able to enjoy the game?

JE:  Absolutely.  It was important for us to make the game accessible for many different audiences, especially since many of us grew up with G.I. JOE and wanted a game that we could sit down and play with our younger relatives.  Our game design was built around different types of gamers playing together and having fun.  This was also another reason why we felt it was important to deliver more than the movie experience.
We knew fans wanted to experience some of their youth again while sharing their memories of G.I. JOE with an entirely new generation.  We packed a lot of different aspects of the G.I. JOE universe into this game for the fans.

EA: Co-Operative play is a big opportunity for the game. How is this mode different from a single player experience?

JE:  We completely agree that co-op play is perfect for a game like this.  We believed in that approach so much that we made it the single-player experience.  While this game is best played with you and a buddy each controlling your favorite G.I. JOE characters, the single-player experience gives you a co-op AI player helping you along the way.  You can actually toggle either character on the fly and control both when the mission calls for it.  Anyone who was a fan of classic arcade style shoot-em ups is going to feel right at home.

With our Nintendo DS game, we wanted to still leverage the classic arcade shooter feel, while building something from the ground up just for that platform.  We built a robust single-player mode where you control one G.I. JOE character at a time, but to make up for no co-op, we’ve put more emphasis on character progression with a leveling up system.  We have also included some great multiplayer modes that let you play out that true G.I. JOE vs. COBRA fantasy with up to four players.

EA: Will the game be online? And if so, up to how many players?

JE:  Keeping with the co-op style of gameplay, we really wanted to make G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra about sitting down with your friends and blasting through missions together.  The in-person dynamic really adds to the experience, so we built the game entirely offline.  The Nintendo DS game does offer multiplayer up to 4 players and is really fun to play.

EA: After people play the G.I. JOE game, what is the first feeling you want them to experience after playing?

JE:  How fun it must be to really be a G.I. JOE character and scream “YO JOE!” out loud.