PSU Exclusive Interview: Haze
- Posted September 25th, 2007 at 16:06 EDT by
- 14,405 views
- 42 Comments
If there is one first person shooter that PlayStation 3 gamers can look forward to this holiday season it's Haze, and what better way to get gamers excited than all new details and re-confirmation that PS3 users can now call Haze their own? Here is PSU's interview with Rob Yescombe, screenwriter and developer at Free Radical. Enjoy!
PSU: A lot of people, press included, have been labeling Haze as a possible Halo killer. What are thoughts on this comparison and for you, how does Haze have the upper hand?
Rob Yescombe: Well, since we’re a PS3 exclusive, we’re not really in direct competition anyway. The truth is that we’re big fans of Halo, and we’re under no illusions about the fact that Halo is a juggernaut that will roll over most things. Whilst Haze has things in common, we’re doing things differently: we’ve got our unique asymmetric combat system, with different weapons sets and skill sets for each faction, so you’ll be choosing either Mantel or The Promise Hand based on the way that you like to play First Person Shooters. What’s more, on the narrative side, Halo seems to be about saving a planet, whereas Haze is about saving the soul of one man. We’re trying to tell a very personal story.
PSU: About exploration; will players be rewarded for putting in the extra time to explore the game's environments? Are there any hidden areas, or are the levels mostly linear?
Rob: Haze is linear, but we’ve tucked a few secrets away in there. It’s up to you guys to find them.
PSU: To what extent are the environments destructible? Will we be able to tear down a forest or collapse small buildings?
Rob: Ha! No, there’s no deforestation in Haze. But yes, you will be able to have a very noticeable effect on the environments.
PSU: What is the confirmed number of players supported for online multiplayer? Will offline multiplayer support bots?
Rob: 24 players in multiplayer, and 4 players in co-op. And yes, by popular demand, we’re bringing back Bots.
PSU: We all have heard that Haze will be supporting 4 player co-op. Will this be done via online, LAN, or can you have 4 players playing split-screen on one machine?
Rob: It’s two players per screen, but you can play over a LAN and online too, in any combination up to four players in the main campaign mode.
PSU: Many of our readers want to know if vehicles will be supported in multiplayer. If so, what vehicles will be available to Rebels, and which ones to Mantel?
Rob: Yes, absolutely. There are vehicles designed for both Mantel and The Promise Hand. I can’t reveal them all yet, but there will be Jeeps, Quad Bikes, and 4x4s. You’ll also be able to man the guns in the Dropships and Helicopters. Plus, we’ve got one very special vehicle designed specifically for one of the multiplayer maps.
PSU: What multiplayer modes will be available online and will players be able to customize their soldier for online play?
Rob: You won’t be able to customize the soldiers, because we want the distinction between the two sides to be as clear as possible in multiplayer. Mode-wise, we’re still holding some of that back as a surprise, but you can certainly expect all the games you’re used to – like Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. But we’re planning much more than that - we’re also doing the famed story-based multiplayer maps, where the events happening in the maps are closely involved with the single player narrative.
PSU: Which team (Mantel or Promised Hand) and multiplayer mode does Free Radical favor playing during their lunch breaks?
Rob: It really is a 50/50 split. If I’m in the mood to run and gun, I choose Mantel. But if I’m feeling sneaky, I’ll go with The Promise Hand.
PSU: How far along is development on Timesplitters 4? Are you still in pre-production stages?
Rob: Yup. What we have is an absolutely enormous list of ideas that needs ... (continued on next page)
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Comments
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Mattchewie |
Mattchewie- 5:05pm BST - September 25th, 2007
- 5
I love these interviews, gets me pumped!
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TestosteRohne |
TestosteRohne- 5:32pm BST - September 25th, 2007
- 10
I'm still a tad concerned.
360 Gamer still maintain that Haze will be only be a timed exclusive.
But this PSU article appears to be from the horse's mouth it seems.
Haze versus Unreal Tournament 3 anyone?
I may just lean towards Haze if the storyline is all that.
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NoUseMercenary |
NoUseMerk_PSU- 5:39pm BST - September 25th, 2007
- 11
I am pretty excited to see this game in full motion.
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Headbanging247 |
Tschus- 7:37pm BST - September 25th, 2007
- 17
Haze might have a turn on my opinion about Ubisoft. So far I plan on purchasing this game. m/
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Chubear
- 8:31pm BST - September 25th, 2007
- 21
Nice. I still can't believe halo3 got 10 ratings. if halo3 is a ten then most FPS coming out should honestly be 10s too cause halo3 really didn't do much for a prime current gen, 2 gen game at all. After playing it I'm totally covienced that Editorial Reviews are simply bought.
Haze is shaping up to be very exciting an dI'll be getting it.
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ChildOfIllusions |
FirstAmongEquals- 9:05pm BST - September 25th, 2007
- 22
Good stuff NoUse this game has peeked my interest more and more the close it comes to release
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motzo
- 12:41am BST - September 26th, 2007
- 25
i know all us ps3 fanatics like to try and convince our slevs halo aint that big a deal but when it comes down too it i think halo is the only fps game i woud ever go back and play again. fps are all about guns targets and setting halo got that right by making solid guns that acturly hit the enermy (unlike unreal tornment) but with orginalilty and imaginaiton (unlike most fps) the targets (including your self) do not have too great manuvblity (once again like unreal tornment) but also have enough to be able to aviod being blown up the seoncd your in sight of an enermy and the and enermys had perfect ai and were placed well (also the sheild health bar was a great contributer to the game) and as for the setting it was neutral its so simple a neutral etting dosne thave to be boring but it make the ephises of the game on the gameplay . I never bought an xbox but i had halo on the computer and i think its jsut one of the mso tplay able games ever if this can be anything like halo i will be over joyed stop trying to beat it and try and understand why halo was just SOOO GOOD
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kidkotic2001 |
hotshot2001- 12:52am BST - September 26th, 2007
- 26
This game is going to be the shiz niizz I cant wait one of my most anticipated gams of the year multiplayer coop I like those games
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PS3-The Ultimate Machine
- 6:25am BST - September 26th, 2007
- 27
I'm really looking forward to this game,it seems like the first FPS that will have an interesting storyline for me.
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just8
- 3:53pm BST - September 27th, 2007
- 29
com'on dont go over board! i admit this game looks wicked and is a must buy for my black box of dreams, and as far as developers go, free radical is the cream, and british which helps! but a halo beater>? pft even dave doke and rob dont think so! halo graphicly is no milestone, but game play wise its the best! and do you know why? coz of the shear numbers of ppl playing it! its online capability is outstanding and until ps3 can match that halo will be the best for a long time! that said ive got high hopes for this! and if not this the game most likely to beat halo will be killzone 2!
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Aratacus
- 8:09pm BST - September 28th, 2007
- 30
@arion, your guestion may have been already answered but, yes!, if you have a router/network thats wiresless, you can host a game on YOUR NETWork, and another PS3 with up to 4 players(warhawk), 2(HAZE) can battle it out against your console from another room set up.... i've tried 2 on one PS3, and 1 on another PS3 in a LAN Match on Warhawk.... actually pretty fun!
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Muzikguy |
Muzikguy- 9:18am BST - September 29th, 2007
- 31
@motzo that's a matter of opinion. I played Halo 1 & 2, beat them both. I didn't care for them much at all. Surprisingly enough one of my favorite FPS games so far was Area 51. Haze sounds cool and I'll probably be picking this up in hopes more devs make PS3 exclusives. UT3 - no thanks. COD4!!!!
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Dogswithguns |
Dogswithguns- 6:58am BST - October 2nd, 2007
- 33
Awesome. sounds great. I really want and will pick up Haze this holiday season. Dualshock3 comes with it will rock.
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Jbthegreat
- 1:35am BST - October 5th, 2007
- 38
why does it seem like theres only 4 weapons in this game?
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Clarky-132 |
clarky-132- 5:32pm BST - October 25th, 2007
- 41
This game will be better than Halo3 online by far! 24 people compared to Halo's 16 players...
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