Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile

If you’ve played any game on the Xbox Live Arcade, you’ve probably heard of Geometry Wars. Whether it was on the original Xbox or the Xbox 360, Geometry Wars has become an instant arcade classic. Bizarre Creations, the minds behind Geometry Wars, is now transmuting their success from the console market to the mobile market under the publishing studio of Sony BMG. With collaborative development efforts from Hardcore3D Wireless, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile is the next step in the evolution of the Geometry Wars series. VG Core took the opportunity to ask Bizarre Creations’ Community and Web Lead, Ben Ward, and Shawn Sanders, Executive Producer from Hardcore3D Wireless, regarding the Mobile game. Check it out below.

VG Core: The success of Geometry Wars seems to keep on growing. Is the target audience for Geometry Wars Retro Evolved Mobile the same as the crowd who enjoyed the Xbox/Xbox 360 version(s), or is the mobile version of Geometry Wars aimed at a new market...specifically, the mobile phone market?

B. Ward: Geometry Wars is one of those universally understood games. The concept is simple, and virtually everybody can pick it up and have a play. It’s not just made for hardcore gamers, although if you are a serious gamer there is something in there for you as well.

I think the mobile phone market is generally more casual, and Geometry Wars is suited to this type of gamer too just because of it’s instantly gratifying gameplay. The mobile version has been adjusted to suit the platform (controls and game mechanics), and I think for that reason it’ll have just as wide appeal as the Xbox 360 version did.

VG Core: Going from the Xbox 360 to mobile phones seems as if Geometry Wars will keep on crossing any medium that welcomes it. Is it possible we could be seeing Geometry Wars for the Playstation 3?

B. Ward: Well other platforms are certainly a possibility. I won’t name specifics, but if people are calling out for a version of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved on a particular platform then we may well end up looking at it.

VG Core: How much of the game needed to be re-created, re-developed, or altered to run on a mobile phone?

(SHAWN SANDERS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, HARDCORE3D WIRELESS QUESTIONS ABOUT GEOMETRY WARS: RETRO EVOLVED MOBILE)

S. Sanders: When Sony BMG came to us, they had a clear vision for how they wanted Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile to play. Luckily because of the retro feel and the geometric shapes/patterns the look of the game wasn’t to difficult to port over to a handset. The biggest concern was the controls. Since Bizarre Creations’ original version was played with two analog sticks, our challenge was how to move and shoot in different directions at the same time with only your thumb! The controls had to be simple and intuitive for pick up and play action. With careful design and detailed testing we created multiple control configurations to accommodate the player’s preferences in regards to mobile controls.

S. Sanders:Our Executive Producer at Sony, Brandon Laurino decided and guided the final tuning of the default control setup. In default control setup - the ship constantly fires and the arrow keys to control aiming and direction, while a “double-tap” feature which allows you to strafe in any direction. Bizarre Creations staff provided valuable direction that helped us stay true to the original control’s spirit.

VG Core: Will there be any drastic changes in the general gameplay concept, and will gamers have to make any major adjustments for the control scheme?

S. Sanders: No. The core gameplay is the same, and gamers will adjust to the controls with ease. But we’ve included new Challenge Modes that are specific to the mobile version. Sony BMG pushed us hard to exploit the advantages of cell phones, and luckily Geometry Wars is the kind of arcade-y game that lends itself well to the wireless format. So we got to develop some new ideas.

VG Core: What are some of the advantages of having Geometry Wars on a mobile phone?

S. Sanders: It’s an addictive, visually impressive game that you can play anywhere. It is obsessively faithful to the original. You no longer need to have your DS or PSP with you to play a “real” game while out and about. Sony BMG was clear from day one that a half-baked port of Geometry Wars was not going to make it to market, this was music to our ears because we take the future of mobile gaming very seriously.

VG Core: Are there plans to have downloadable content for the mobile version of Geometry Wars Retro Evolved Mobile after it's released?

S. Sanders:Nothing I can reveal yet!

Our thanks go out to both Shawn Sanders from Hardcore3D Wireless and Ben Ward from Bizarre Creations for answering our questions. Be sure to stay tuned in for more information and news regarding Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Mobile. You can also visit Bizarre Creations main website for more media and news on Geometry Wars.

Article By: Cyguration