Source: [Ubidays08] Interview The Lapins Crétins ShowAuk@Ganatomic wrote:Raving Rabbids to practise in group
Could you please first introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Diego Fernandez-Bravo, I'm a lead programmer at the Ubisoft Paris studio, where we're currently developing The Raving Rabbids Show, the third game of the series.
The concept of the game in a few words ?
It's still a social-oriented party-game, a game to be played with friends. It's typically the aperitive game, quick to learn to use and to have fun with.
What was your keynote for this third game?
By analyzing the first two games, we've realized that the first one was really solo-oriented whereas the second one was completely multiplayer, hence a loss of interest for a lonely player. So, the third one is a mix with a multi mode up to 8 players and a solo mode with a real storyline, a guiding thread and a story that allow the progression of the player though the game.
Precisely, what's the guiding thread in The Raving Rabbids Show ?
The Rabbids have invaded the television, and their aim is to make the biggest mess possible in TV magazines to achieve a final goal that will be unveiled during the game.
So, are there gonna be parodies of famous TV shows?
Precisely. The story is a pretext to parody well-known shows.
Will it be French shows?
No. This will be American shows, but which concept is well-known in France too. A culinary show, for instance, talks for itself. Even if you don't know the American show, it will remind you of the equivalent French shows. The Star Academy (French American Idol) is a concept that exists in the United States with the same colour scheme and the same staging.
The good use of the Wii Balance Board
One of the main novelties is the use of the Wii Balance Board
That's it. The first Rayman Raving Rabbids was especially developed for the Wii. We wanted to do the same thing and we took advantage of the new Wii Balance Board.
Out of the 75 mini-games available in the Raving Rabbids Show, 50 % of them are compatible with it. And in these 50 %, 1/3 were completely developed for the Wii Balance Board. The snowboard mini-game introduced during the Ubidays is part of them, for example. Of course, forgetting the players without a Wii Balance Board was out of question. This is why all mini-games can be played with the Wiimote and/or the Nunchuk.
About the snowboard mini-game, the player has to surf on a gnu! Where did you get such ideas ?
In fact, we have brainstorming sessions with 5 or 6 people...
When the player successfully makes a combo during a jump, he gets a kiss from the gnu he uses as a board...
Yes! There was a first idea and then, as we were going further through the development of the game, new ideas popped up. About this kiss you're talking about, it's part of tricks animations, figures from the basic design of this mini-game. Developers enjoyed adding such gags everywhere.
Custom built programmes?
Technically, what has changed since the previous episodes? Have you used the same engine?
Yes, it's the same engine that we've brought about progress. It looks better now. There are more things on the screen, more polygons at the same time. We've tried to lower loading times in order to make the game more fluid.
The game system really is TV-oriented. Browsing in the Raving Rabbids Show is done through a TV grid. There are thematic channels in which mini-games are stored. For example, the gnu game we were talking about is in the extreme sports channel. The dance game will be in a MTV-like channel. The good thing for the player is that he chooses the programmes. At the end of a mini-game, the winner has the remote and can choose the next game. This will result into a journey in the TV grid which is always different. Moreover, it is pepped up by quirky ads, for example. We have really tried to pep up this part.
Exit Rayman?
Throughout the series, the character of Rayman has become more and more secondary. What about this new episode?
In the second game, he appeared in the introducing scene. In solo playing, you could choose him as an avatar. Here in the Raving Rabbids Show, he will also be in the introducing scene, he'll be part of the story but it's true that we won't see him after that. But he's still here! He's always somewhere!
Will Rayman ever come back in an adventure game?
I believe he will.
Is it planned?
I hope so! But I have no information about it.
Screenshots: [1] [2]
Special thanks to Auk!
Just because they THINK with their asses, they doesn't have to PLAY with them!!
