Sidhe's Rugby Challenge

[TRF C A Iversen]

All sounding good so far. I'd like to ask Mario this question. With development of this game to date, would you say that your:

A ) Unhappy - Maybe behind schedule or feel that a lot needs to be done.
B )Tentative - Think things are going along okay, not as good as you'd of hoped, but certainly not bad.
C ) Fairly Pleased - Things are meeting your expectations of the development in nearly every way.
D ) Excited - Things have exceeded your expectations of development to this point and unless something goes wrong, your sure you have a great title.

I just want to get a feel how your feeling about it, as you know what you want out of the title and it may help temper peoples expectations to a more fair or realistic level to know a little about what's going on in your head, regarding the title.

 

[Mario]

Hmmm somewhere along the C to D scale I think. We still have some big and important things to square away, but development is going according to schedule and we are rapidly approaching a point where we can focus on polish. However, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves by trying to crowbar in the kitchen sink, and are making sure right now that everything that needs to be in the game is in there and solid.

We are continuing with our usability testing and exposing the game to consumers and the results have been positive and trending in the right direction, so there is some external validation on my stated position also which is useful for us to have.

 

[matjam]

Just a question, will sidhe be releasing a demo of rugby challenge and will we be able to look through the game at the different comps and modes? Just so we can decide if we want to buy it or not.

 

[Mario]

Just a question, will sidhe be releasing a demo of rugby challenge and will we be able to look through the game at the different comps and modes? Just so we can decide if we want to buy it or not.

There is no demo planned at this stage (has there ever been one for a league/union game?).

However, all included licenses will have been disclosed before release.

 

[matjam]

No there hasn't, but i just thought there may be considering there is now things like playstation store etc where demos are easy to download. Another thing will there be free updates to the team rosters when they become outdated?

 

[candybum]

There was rugby 2001 and 2004 demo's

 

[Giteau]

Hey Mario, thanx for keeping us so up to date with this game. I'll be sure to throw my cash at you guys for rugby challenge. You guys seem like you know what you're doing, so I'll just add the smallest of suggestions, please do better stat tracking than in previous EA games. Seeing top points/try scorers would add alot of depth to the game.

 

[Mario]

No there hasn't, but i just thought there may be considering there is now things like playstation store etc where demos are easy to download. Another thing will there be free updates to the team rosters when they become outdated?

That isn't in the plan, but we are doing what we can to make the customisation both extensive and easy.

 

[esoj]

there was an early pc demo for the first rugby league game sidhe made.

http://www.gpdownloads.co.nz/dl.dyn/Files/3152.html

it is not the norm though, as mentioned there have been a couple for some of the earlier union games but nothing recently.

 

[CeeJay]

Yeah, Mario proably wants to forget about that demo!

I remember playing that. The player models were just place holders. there heads were just cylinders with generic textures wrapped around them. All the players had weird seams at the wrist knees and elbows.

It was the warriors vs someone.

It was a bizarre demo and left me with very little hope for the game. In the end the game was easliy the best in
the series IMO and a pleasant surprise. I think they just let the cat out of the bag a bit early with that demo. It was there first game though I think. so its understandable.

 

[Mario]

Yeah, Mario proably wants to forget about that demo!

I remember playing that. The player models were just place holders. there heads were just cylinders with generic textures wrapped around them. All the players had weird seams at the wrist knees and elbows.

It was the warriors vs someone.

It was a bizarre demo and left me with very little hope for the game. In the end the game was easliy the best in
the series IMO and a pleasant surprise. I think they just let the cat out of the bag a bit early with that demo. It was there first game though I think. so its understandable.

Ah yes. I did forget about that.

The situation there was the game had been announced for an end of 2002 release, but the other developer had dropped the ball and the project got pulled from them. We came on board in around September 2002 and in order to appease the NRL and fans HES asked us to create that demo from scratch in 5 weeks. The result was pretty bare bones, but given we only had 5 weeks to do it we were pretty happy with the result.

 

[lance2010]

Hmmm somewhere along the C to D scale I think. We still have some big and important things to square away, but development is going according to schedule and we are rapidly approaching a point where we can focus on polish. However, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves by trying to crowbar in the kitchen sink, and are making sure right now that everything that needs to be in the game is in there and solid.

We are continuing with our usability testing and exposing the game to consumers and the results have been positive and trending in the right direction, so there is some external validation on my stated position also which is useful for us to have.

Are we not consumers? Do we get a look at some visual images of the game?

 

[Mario]

Are we not consumers?

Yes.

Do we get a look at some visual images of the game?

Yes, if you sign up for our usability testing program.

 

[Shimon]

Are we not consumers? Do we get a look at some visual images of the game?

Slightly offtopic; but interesting to see your answer...
If you had to choose the option of having your Rugby game as terrible but make alot of money, or great but make minimal profit which would you choose.



P.S I remember watching a video, I think it was a news segment, regarding sidhe and at the very end he mentioned something about a launch party? As in game launch?

 

[lance2010]

Yes.




Yes, if you sign up for our usability testing program.

Sorry i misunderstood your statement.

 

[lance2010]

Slightly offtopic; but interesting to see your answer...
If you had to choose the option of having your Rugby game as terrible but make alot of money, or great but make minimal profit which would you choose.



P.S I remember watching a video, I think it was a news segment, regarding sidhe and at the very end he mentioned something about a launch party? As in game launch?

I wouldn't choose any of them.I would not release a game that i personally thought was terrible why put your name to something that is that bad.

 

[Kage]

Mario, have you guys ever thought of creating a "making-of" video for one of your Rugby games? I personaaly would love a behind the scenes look at the processes involved in creating a game of my favourites sport(s).

 

[Mario]

Mario, have you guys ever thought of creating a "making-of" video for one of your Rugby games? I personaaly would love a behind the scenes look at the processes involved in creating a game of my favourites sport(s).

We have multiple making of videos in progress right now.

 

[TVH11]

woop woop thats good do here. Little bit of Jonah trampling over the poor bugger that has to motion capture the defender; thats what we wanna see
(I'm sorry i can't remember the guys name you said that "helped" with the jonah motion capture - as in the one that was sent to the ground many a time .... I apologise He's a very brave man anyways, and very lucky to have the honour of being trampled on by the legend )
Can't wit to see whats in store

 

[Mario]

woop woop thats good do here. Little bit of Jonah trampling over the poor bugger that has to motion capture the defender; thats what we wanna see
(I'm sorry i can't remember the guys name you said that "helped" with the jonah motion capture - as in the one that was sent to the ground many a time .... I apologise He's a very brave man anyways, and very lucky to have the honour of being trampled on by the legend )

That was Tyrone, my business partner.