M3, GDC 2007: MotorStorm, multiplay, microtransactions…

At GDC 2007, 1UP sat down with SCEE Senior Producer Pete Smith to talk a lot about MotorStorm. A lot. Full interview over at the Read Link, but as you can tell by the article title, we do have some important things to highlight, which may indicate future news and PR from SCEE or Evolution Studios. Seat belts, please.

As to why Evolution/SCEE wasn’t able to implement a couple of additional features in MotorStorm multiplayer – namely split-screen and AI bots – Smith mentioned the no-compromise AAA approach the devs took to developing the game. The focus was on making sure that what MotorStorm delivered was top-notch. They had a ton of ideas to implement in the game, said Pete, but “with the standards we’ve set we can only do a certain amount of things.”

Pete cites the smooth experiences of online multiplayers as the pudding of proof. “Our focus is when there is the full amount of people online, playing this game we don’t want any lag. We want a nice smooth experience, and I think that’s what we delivered.”

Okay, now Downloadable Content“>downloadable content. For the near future, Pete mentioned “tracks and vehicles and characters” as some of their exciting DLC, “but also we’ve got modes as well to expand the width of the game.” Fresh air: DLC being used to expand replayability, as many had hoped. Oh, thank goodness, then. That should address come concerns.

When is it coming? “We are doing it. I think people won’t have to wait as long as four to five months.” And how much will it hurt the wallet?

Some of its going to be paid-for content, but also we’re going to give some content away for free, which I think is really, really going to go down well with the community. Because we’re giving away some real substantial content which is really going to help the community, sustain the community and give them something a little bit new, which I think downloadable content is all about.

Oh, thank goodness, indeed. This IS going to go down well with the community.

At GDC 2007, 1UP sat down with SCEE Senior Producer Pete Smith to talk a lot about MotorStorm. A lot. Full interview over at the Read Link, but as you can tell by the article title, we do have some important things to highlight, which may indicate future news and PR from SCEE or Evolution Studios. Seat belts, please.

As to why Evolution/SCEE wasn’t able to implement a couple of additional features in MotorStorm multiplayer – namely split-screen and AI bots – Smith mentioned the no-compromise AAA approach the devs took to developing the game. The focus was on making sure that what MotorStorm delivered was top-notch. They had a ton of ideas to implement in the game, said Pete, but “with the standards we’ve set we can only do a certain amount of things.”

Pete cites the smooth experiences of online multiplayers as the pudding of proof. “Our focus is when there is the full amount of people online, playing this game we don’t want any lag. We want a nice smooth experience, and I think that’s what we delivered.”

Okay, now Downloadable Content“>downloadable content. For the near future, Pete mentioned “tracks and vehicles and characters” as some of their exciting DLC, “but also we’ve got modes as well to expand the width of the game.” Fresh air: DLC being used to expand replayability, as many had hoped. Oh, thank goodness, then. That should address come concerns.

When is it coming? “We are doing it. I think people won’t have to wait as long as four to five months.” And how much will it hurt the wallet?

Some of its going to be paid-for content, but also we’re going to give some content away for free, which I think is really, really going to go down well with the community. Because we’re giving away some real substantial content which is really going to help the community, sustain the community and give them something a little bit new, which I think downloadable content is all about.

Oh, thank goodness, indeed. This IS going to go down well with the community.