Free Radical Designs’ Rob Yescombe On Haze

Free Radical is best known for their critically acclaimed TimeSplitters series and as the publishers of Far Cry, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. And if you have that listed in your resume, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

Their recent undertaking is a first-person shooter called Haze. The players will take on the character of newly enlisted soldier in the Mantel army Jake Carpenter. In his first mission in a war-torn country in South America, where he squares off with a vicious rebel faction, The Promise Hand. At first glance, all is well, but things quickly begin to look a little strange…

Recently, PS3Land’s Justin Pinter, got a chance to talk to Free Radical’s Rob Yescombe, screenwriter for Haze. If this snippet of their interview caught your interest, imagine what the whole interview via the read link will do to you.

PS3Land: How does title “HAZE” play into the game?

Rob: Well, to be too specific would spoil a few things. But in broad strokes, a ‘haze’ implies something unclear – something obscured. In the heat of battle, it can be hard for a soldier to think clearly. Haze is also a military slang word, associated with initiation tests and ‘Code Reds’. That said, those definitions don’t necessarily imply the content of the game… We’re enjoying being very non-specific at the moment.

PS3Land: First person shooters are becoming more common on consoles, and are already in abundance on PC – what’s different about Haze?

Rob: ItÂ’s early days, so in fact, at the moment weÂ’re keen to show off all the FPS aspects that gamers are familiar with – and to show how weÂ’ve improved them. Things like AI and level design are key to a top quality FPS, but so many games donÂ’t give them the care and attention they need. Beyond that, you can look forward to all the physical and mental benefits that Nectar provides for MantelÂ’s private army… Vague enough for you?

PS3Land: What can you tell us about Jake Carpenter?

Rob: Jake is a young guy, a college graduate. He’s recent transfer from a conflict in Seoul, so he’s well versed in combat but he’s new to the South American war zone where this game is set. He’s pretty much the standard Mantel Trooper – a well-paid tough guy, obeying orders with a smile on his face.

PS3Land: Does Jake follow a fixed storyline, or is there scope to his mission?

Rob: The game is a visceral war story, told over a continuous three-day period. The plot is linear, but there will be some flexibility in how you tackle the objectives. It’s choc-a-block full of rich characters and some really dazzling set-pieces, but it’s not all explosions and gunfire – we think tat downtime is just as important in a dramatic experience. You’re definitely going to feel something for your comrades. Really, war isn’t horrifying because of the blood – it’s horrifying because of who’s bleeding. If you care about the people who die, your gaming experience will be richer. It will mean something.

PS3Land: The game takes place in South America I’ve read, what kinda terrain should we expect to see?

Rob: Well, rest assured, HAZE isn’t just a jungle shooter – you’ll be travelling from sea level through a huge range of environments up to the top of a mountain and beyond. I’m not allowed to tell you specifics yet, but you’ll know from TimeSplitters that we’re obsessed with providing plenty of variety in locations. You won’t be going to Egypt or a Space Port, but you sure as hell aren’t going to get bored.

Via ps3land

Free Radical is best known for their critically acclaimed TimeSplitters series and as the publishers of Far Cry, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. And if you have that listed in your resume, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

Their recent undertaking is a first-person shooter called Haze. The players will take on the character of newly enlisted soldier in the Mantel army Jake Carpenter. In his first mission in a war-torn country in South America, where he squares off with a vicious rebel faction, The Promise Hand. At first glance, all is well, but things quickly begin to look a little strange…

Recently, PS3Land’s Justin Pinter, got a chance to talk to Free Radical’s Rob Yescombe, screenwriter for Haze. If this snippet of their interview caught your interest, imagine what the whole interview via the read link will do to you.

PS3Land: How does title “HAZE” play into the game?

Rob: Well, to be too specific would spoil a few things. But in broad strokes, a ‘haze’ implies something unclear – something obscured. In the heat of battle, it can be hard for a soldier to think clearly. Haze is also a military slang word, associated with initiation tests and ‘Code Reds’. That said, those definitions don’t necessarily imply the content of the game… We’re enjoying being very non-specific at the moment.

PS3Land: First person shooters are becoming more common on consoles, and are already in abundance on PC – what’s different about Haze?

Rob: ItÂ’s early days, so in fact, at the moment weÂ’re keen to show off all the FPS aspects that gamers are familiar with – and to show how weÂ’ve improved them. Things like AI and level design are key to a top quality FPS, but so many games donÂ’t give them the care and attention they need. Beyond that, you can look forward to all the physical and mental benefits that Nectar provides for MantelÂ’s private army… Vague enough for you?

PS3Land: What can you tell us about Jake Carpenter?

Rob: Jake is a young guy, a college graduate. He’s recent transfer from a conflict in Seoul, so he’s well versed in combat but he’s new to the South American war zone where this game is set. He’s pretty much the standard Mantel Trooper – a well-paid tough guy, obeying orders with a smile on his face.

PS3Land: Does Jake follow a fixed storyline, or is there scope to his mission?

Rob: The game is a visceral war story, told over a continuous three-day period. The plot is linear, but there will be some flexibility in how you tackle the objectives. It’s choc-a-block full of rich characters and some really dazzling set-pieces, but it’s not all explosions and gunfire – we think tat downtime is just as important in a dramatic experience. You’re definitely going to feel something for your comrades. Really, war isn’t horrifying because of the blood – it’s horrifying because of who’s bleeding. If you care about the people who die, your gaming experience will be richer. It will mean something.

PS3Land: The game takes place in South America I’ve read, what kinda terrain should we expect to see?

Rob: Well, rest assured, HAZE isn’t just a jungle shooter – you’ll be travelling from sea level through a huge range of environments up to the top of a mountain and beyond. I’m not allowed to tell you specifics yet, but you’ll know from TimeSplitters that we’re obsessed with providing plenty of variety in locations. You won’t be going to Egypt or a Space Port, but you sure as hell aren’t going to get bored.

Via ps3land