New Mad Tracks Interview: Now With XBox Multiplayer Live!

One of the hard decisions the Load, Inc. Mad Tracks development team had to make was whether to delay the release of the game on XBox Live Arcade or not, twenty days before lauch, in order to incorporate XBox Live multiplayer support. Even with the inevitable result that the release date would be delayed further, the community responded positively, even going on to mark that the game would now be a “sure buy” (or “sure download-purchase,” to be specific about it).

TeamXbox had the chance to talk to Dennis Bourdain, Load, Inc.’s VP, about the Xbox 360 version of the game (originally launched as a PC title) – not to mention thank the developers on behalf of the XBLA community for adding the clamored-for Live multiplayer. Revealed are the following:

• Besides the “basic” release of Mad Tracks, which will feature fifteen challenges (a mix of races and mini-games), the game will also throw in two “add-ons” (Mad Tracks Encore and Mad Tracks Bravo) simultaneously, each with fifteen challenges, for a grand total of 45 challenges (23 minigames and 22 races).
• The pickups and powerups are stackable (coming in packs of one or three), and have no time limit for use before disappearing.
• The game environment will be open, “all things are physical” and can be knocked around. Bourdain even hinted that players will be required to roam around for some achievements.
• Mad Tacks is about 48Mb, plus 11Mb per add-on. So far, Load, Inc.’s looking at about 4-8 players on XBox Live multiplayer. The team’s eschewed System Link multiplayer, in favor of split-screen 4-way home multiplayer.
• The team’s also looking to add other enhancements, such as voice support.

Load, Inc. can only confirm a release date announcement in November, though they are hoping for a January release.

One of the hard decisions the Load, Inc. Mad Tracks development team had to make was whether to delay the release of the game on XBox Live Arcade or not, twenty days before lauch, in order to incorporate XBox Live multiplayer support. Even with the inevitable result that the release date would be delayed further, the community responded positively, even going on to mark that the game would now be a “sure buy” (or “sure download-purchase,” to be specific about it).

TeamXbox had the chance to talk to Dennis Bourdain, Load, Inc.’s VP, about the Xbox 360 version of the game (originally launched as a PC title) – not to mention thank the developers on behalf of the XBLA community for adding the clamored-for Live multiplayer. Revealed are the following:

• Besides the “basic” release of Mad Tracks, which will feature fifteen challenges (a mix of races and mini-games), the game will also throw in two “add-ons” (Mad Tracks Encore and Mad Tracks Bravo) simultaneously, each with fifteen challenges, for a grand total of 45 challenges (23 minigames and 22 races).
• The pickups and powerups are stackable (coming in packs of one or three), and have no time limit for use before disappearing.
• The game environment will be open, “all things are physical” and can be knocked around. Bourdain even hinted that players will be required to roam around for some achievements.
• Mad Tacks is about 48Mb, plus 11Mb per add-on. So far, Load, Inc.’s looking at about 4-8 players on XBox Live multiplayer. The team’s eschewed System Link multiplayer, in favor of split-screen 4-way home multiplayer.
• The team’s also looking to add other enhancements, such as voice support.

Load, Inc. can only confirm a release date announcement in November, though they are hoping for a January release.