retro re imagined lgf
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Retro Revisited:Retro Revisited:
Reinventing the past for the modern Reinventing the past for the modern gamergamer
Nick BurtonNick BurtonRARERARE
IntroductionIntroduction• Nick Burton, Senior Software Engineer at RARENick Burton, Senior Software Engineer at RARE
• Worked for RARE for almost 10 years, StarFox Worked for RARE for almost 10 years, StarFox Adventures, Kameo: Elements of PowerAdventures, Kameo: Elements of Power
• I was Lead on RARE’s first XBLA title – Jetpac: I was Lead on RARE’s first XBLA title – Jetpac: RefuelledRefuelled
• I want to tell you the story of its development,I want to tell you the story of its development,
• Our motivations,Our motivations,
• The design ethos we followed…The design ethos we followed…
““games aren’t as good as they used to be”games aren’t as good as they used to be”
““games are better than they ever were”games are better than they ever were”
BackgroundBackground• So what made us do it?So what made us do it?
– Developers with free timeDevelopers with free time
– Love of Retro GamesLove of Retro Games
– Interest in trying something for XBLAInterest in trying something for XBLA
– Embryonic design idea for a new JetpacEmbryonic design idea for a new Jetpac
– Everything seemed to fit!Everything seemed to fit!
JetpacJetpac
PrototypePrototype• No real team as suchNo real team as such• No overarching designNo overarching design• Design brief;Design brief;
– Must be true to originalMust be true to original– Must be a ‘RARE’ / ‘ULTIMATE’ gameMust be a ‘RARE’ / ‘ULTIMATE’ game– MP must be fun and has to be included MP must be fun and has to be included
as a key XBLA featureas a key XBLA feature– Must fit in 25Mb Must fit in 25Mb
• Code driven to start withCode driven to start with
Prototype cont…Prototype cont…• Attracting a new generation of playersAttracting a new generation of players• Concern over proliferation of tribute Concern over proliferation of tribute
versions of the gameversions of the game• We didn’t know if it would be 2D or 3DWe didn’t know if it would be 2D or 3D• We didn’t know how many players it We didn’t know how many players it
would be – maybe up to 8would be – maybe up to 8• Limited asset sizeLimited asset size• We did know we didn’t want to emulateWe did know we didn’t want to emulate
First AttemptFirst Attempt
1:1 Sprite Upgrade, e.g.1:1 Sprite Upgrade, e.g.
Multiplayer?Multiplayer?
RecapRecap• We have Jetpac HD – just!We have Jetpac HD – just!• Control works well, game feels nice to Control works well, game feels nice to
play at 60fpsplay at 60fps• Look needs a serious rethink!Look needs a serious rethink!• How are we going to upgrade game How are we going to upgrade game
play?play?• Multiplayer requires us to think about Multiplayer requires us to think about
playfield vs. character sizeplayfield vs. character size• No design docs – should we have some?No design docs – should we have some?
Pre-productionPre-production• Working test bedWorking test bed• Need to decide on the ‘look’ as a Need to decide on the ‘look’ as a
matter of urgency matter of urgency • Need to look at all aspects of Need to look at all aspects of
upgrading game playupgrading game play• Other content decisions for ‘added Other content decisions for ‘added
value’ contentvalue’ content
The LookThe Look
In Game ConceptsIn Game Concepts
Front End ConceptsFront End Concepts
We found our style…We found our style…
The LookThe Look
The Look cont…The Look cont…
Game Play – Single PlayerGame Play – Single Player• Control is sortedControl is sorted• Can learn game rules in less than 30 Can learn game rules in less than 30
sec’ssec’s– Don’t die, build and fuel rocket, take off to Don’t die, build and fuel rocket, take off to
next level, shoot baddies for score, pickup next level, shoot baddies for score, pickup bonus items for more scorebonus items for more score
• Game play is unforgiving but very simpleGame play is unforgiving but very simple• Game play is not dynamic by today's Game play is not dynamic by today's
standardsstandards
EssenceEssence• So what makes Jetpac, Jetpac?So what makes Jetpac, Jetpac?
– Rocket building and fuelling to get off levelRocket building and fuelling to get off level– Levels with a new rocket every so oftenLevels with a new rocket every so often– 2D Game play on a single plane2D Game play on a single plane– Single screen, no scrollingSingle screen, no scrolling– Jetman can screen wrapJetman can screen wrap– Easy to pickup game play, hard to masterEasy to pickup game play, hard to master
• Back in the day it offered an unsurpassed Back in the day it offered an unsurpassed arcade experience on the Spectrumarcade experience on the Spectrum
ChangeChange• What can we expand, add to or change?What can we expand, add to or change?
– Small number of one type of baddie per levelSmall number of one type of baddie per level– Single laser weapon seems ripe for upgradeSingle laser weapon seems ripe for upgrade– Collectables only offered score, not functionCollectables only offered score, not function– One hit death seems harshOne hit death seems harsh– One platform layout for the whole gameOne platform layout for the whole game– Static screen is quite boring, we need to look Static screen is quite boring, we need to look
into upgrading this and expanding the playfieldinto upgrading this and expanding the playfield
The Scale IssueThe Scale Issue
Dynamic Playfield Dynamic Playfield ExpansionExpansion
New – Multi PlayerNew – Multi Player• We now have plenty of playfield space for We now have plenty of playfield space for
multiplayermultiplayer• Aim for 4 players as we have 4 joy padsAim for 4 players as we have 4 joy pads• Cause player attrition as much as possibleCause player attrition as much as possible• Key to multiplayer will be a race to leave Key to multiplayer will be a race to leave
the planet fastest to gain a high scorethe planet fastest to gain a high score• Players should be able to steal fuel and Players should be able to steal fuel and
bits of rocket from one anotherbits of rocket from one another
Multi Player – focus Multi Player – focus testing…testing…
• Initial idea worked wellInitial idea worked well• Lots of ‘clean room’ play testing in houseLots of ‘clean room’ play testing in house
– Needed to ensure it was funNeeded to ensure it was fun– MP relied on fine balanceMP relied on fine balance– Needed to be done early to ensure it workedNeeded to be done early to ensure it worked
• Networking became an issueNetworking became an issue– You can see everything in play at any timeYou can see everything in play at any time– Dropped to 2 playerDropped to 2 player
ProductionProduction• Finalise game playFinalise game play
– Added timer to stop campingAdded timer to stop camping– Added score multipliersAdded score multipliers– Finalise more baddies and their attacksFinalise more baddies and their attacks– Further weapon developmentFurther weapon development– SP: Smart BombSP: Smart Bomb– MP: Shooting fuel to make player drop itMP: Shooting fuel to make player drop it– Set difficulty curve for 32 levelsSet difficulty curve for 32 levels– Platform position and background setupPlatform position and background setup
AudioAudio• Audio keyed off 80’s artwork feelAudio keyed off 80’s artwork feel• Brief: ‘Kraftwerk’ meets ‘Balloon Fight’Brief: ‘Kraftwerk’ meets ‘Balloon Fight’• Left quite late for final two tunesLeft quite late for final two tunes
– Some work had been done before as testsSome work had been done before as tests– We tried techno, dance, retro C64 soundsWe tried techno, dance, retro C64 sounds
• SFX needed to be very clean but strongSFX needed to be very clean but strong– 80’s feel but very high fidelity80’s feel but very high fidelity– The most important sound is the explosionThe most important sound is the explosion
Finalise GraphicsFinalise Graphics
Finalise Graphics cont…Finalise Graphics cont…
Final JetmanFinal Jetman
Tweak and Test Tweak and Test • Tweak GFX to ensure everything is Tweak GFX to ensure everything is
keyed into easy playkeyed into easy play• Finalise difficulty curve and set all Finalise difficulty curve and set all
128 levels128 levels• Tweak collectable generationTweak collectable generation• Add restart points for single playerAdd restart points for single player• Tweak and test cycle kept almost to Tweak and test cycle kept almost to
the end of testingthe end of testing
Added ValueAdded Value• A bit of back story about the originalA bit of back story about the original• Some original artworkSome original artwork• Most importantly original game;Most importantly original game;
– This was NOT an emulation, skinned new ver.This was NOT an emulation, skinned new ver.– Ran at 60fps rather than 20fpsRan at 60fps rather than 20fps– Had post process attribute clashHad post process attribute clash– Baddie movement slightly differentBaddie movement slightly different– Retro border with lots old Ultimate characters Retro border with lots old Ultimate characters
for fans…for fans…
Final Retro…Final Retro…
The Finished ArticleThe Finished Article
ConclusionsConclusions• Difficult for the art teamDifficult for the art team• Upgrading old games does not require Upgrading old games does not require
3D3D• Iterative design is goodIterative design is good• Don’t produce huge design documentsDon’t produce huge design documents• Work on the project full time and treat it Work on the project full time and treat it
like a full AAA projectlike a full AAA project• You need programmers strong in You need programmers strong in
different development areasdifferent development areas
RecommendationsRecommendations• Remake with love, not haste!Remake with love, not haste!• Pick a team of people into Retro gamingPick a team of people into Retro gaming• Keep the team smallKeep the team small• Keep the team togetherKeep the team together• In a small team EVERYONE needs to be In a small team EVERYONE needs to be
highly skilled and motivatedhighly skilled and motivated• Allow them to experimentAllow them to experiment• Don’t devalue your IP with a poor remakeDon’t devalue your IP with a poor remake
Final thoughts…Final thoughts…
Other developers are now taking this Other developers are now taking this more finessed approach to retro, look at more finessed approach to retro, look at XBLA Prince of Persia and PacMan C.E.XBLA Prince of Persia and PacMan C.E.
Some developers have been doing so Some developers have been doing so for years, look at Tempest 2000 and for years, look at Tempest 2000 and
Space GiraffeSpace Giraffe
