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News 
Kaisertal Interview
- Posted By Mike
Schneider, 07.09.2001
Without further ado, we had a short Q+A with Mathijs de Jonge, Creative Director of Formula, about their upcoming GameBoy Advance title, Kaisertal...
NGenres: How many stages are currently planned?
Mathijs de Jonge: We have 9 stages planned. The order and route depends on which fighter you choose at the start of the game.
NG: What do some of these environments consist of?
MdJ: All environments are very earthy. They consist of forests, lakes, seas, mountains, etc. It is not a common space fantasy shooter in this way. The first stage environment displays tiny islands in a blue sea you fly over at great height. Then the player slowly looses height and the scrolling speed increases. Near the end of the game the player rushes just above a dark and rocky surface. This is one of the features we've implemented to create a noticeable climax effect.
NG: Will the player be able to interact with the environments at all?
MdJ: Yes and no, the player can not collide with the environments. but he/she can shoot objects that are located on the ground level like communication towers, tanks, ships, etc. So there will be interaction with the environments.
NG: Will objectives consist entirely of blasting baddies/staying alive?
MdJ: Basically yes, but in order to finish the game the player has to kill enemies, collect their coins and buy the right weapons and shields.
NG: hat is being done to ensure that the game play doesn’t become repetitious and make the average gamer lose interest?
MdJ: Like stated before, with the player closing in on the planet, there is an obvious climax, we hope this will keep the players attention and that it makes the player to want to see what is behind the next hill. During the game you keep in contact with your base secretary and boss, and also with end/mini bosses. Further more we have the 2 player link-up mode so players can team up and defeat the baddies.
NG: How will weather variances affect the game play?
MdJ: Rains and snow are purely visually but if there is a strong wind blowing too, then the player has to steer harder.
NG: How difficult will the average gamer find Kaisertal, and will there be different difficulty settings?
MdJ: The first levels are easy to complete but the later levels can be really difficult. There will be 3 different difficulty settings; easy, normal and hard.
NG: Can you describe some of the weaponry and any types of power-ups?
MdJ: The weapons are based on animals. For example we have a Snake weapon that behaves like a snake and a Rabbit gun that fire bullets that multiply rapidly. The power-ups are divided in to weapon upgrades and coins. The coins can be collected and used in a shop to buy items, weapons, menu options or even art for the art gallery.
NG: What will the multiplayer action be like?
MdJ: Like you expect it to be, arcade style team shooting, plus some dedicated hidden options that will free extra special weapons.
NG: It has to be asked: Are there plans for using an EEPROM for saving your progress?
MdJ: No, the main reason is that this is too expensive. Also, very few shooters save anything like the players progress except for the high scores. We will implement a password system for saving the objects the player has bought in the shop.
NG: If you had to name one existing top-down shooter, which do you believe
would most accurately compare to what you’re trying to accomplish in Kaisertal?
MdJ: Kaisertal is a mixture of various shooters like Aleste, Varth, and even Konami's Salamander. It is difficult to name one also because we have some features we have never seen before.
NG: How has the hunt for a publisher been going?
MdJ: Pretty well, we have attracted interest from a number of publishers, and we hope to, reveal some news on this one pretty soon.
NG: In a gaming scene that seems to be pushing more and more for 3D graphics
and effects, do you think the fact Kaisertal is a sleek-looking 2D shooter has contributed to some publishers being hesitant to sign onto the project?
MdJ: The main reason is the fact that this game is an original title. It is not a sequel nor a licensed game and that, unfortunately can make it unattractive for some publishers. Maybe if it had a ground-breaking 3D engine maybe publishers would knock down our door. However, at the moment Formula are not concentrating on engine development, we try to create quality games with enjoyable game play and hope that publishers will respect us for doing so.
NG: If it came down to it, would Formula being willing to ditch the plotline of Kaisertal and attach a license to it in order to find a publisher?
MdJ: If a publisher demands changes in the plotline we have no other option than to do so. We are not yet well known developers, nor are we in the ideal situation of being developers who are also their own publishers. Ultimately, game development is a business like any other, and sometimes we have to make difficult choices in order to be profitable.
NG: When do you expect that development will be completed on Kaisertal?
MdJ: Kaisertal will be finished in a couple of months.
- Interview by Mike Schneider
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