October 21, 2008

Renegade Kid Founder and Creative Director Jools Watsham on the DS-Exclusive FPS, Moon
By Louis Bedigian

"The heart of Moon is certainly a FPS, but we’ve also focused a lot of our attention on the story aspect of the game, which we hope results in an enjoyable blend of action and adventure."

It's not everyday that a developer chooses to create a new first-person shooter for the Nintendo DS. Though the dual-screened handheld has been hugely successful, it isn't as powerful as PSP, and certainly cannot compare to the latest consoles. But when it came time to develop Moon, Renegade Kid didn't look at the other guys. This developer went straight to Nintendo DS.

"We chose to develop Moon for the DS for a number of reasons," said Jools Watsham, Founder/Creative Director of Renegade Kid. "We love the DS. We wanted to build upon the technology we created for Dementium: The Ward, and we wanted to work with Mastiff. We approached Mastiff and they were onboard with the idea straight away. Having an opportunity to develop an original FPS title for the DS was something we were all instantly excited about."

Moon is being called an action/adventure. Does this mean you don't think of it as an FPS?

Jools Watsham: The heart of Moon is certainly a FPS, but we’ve also focused a lot of our attention on the story aspect of the game, which we hope results in an enjoyable blend of action and adventure.

Does Moon use the touch screen at all, or do the controls have more of a traditional console feel?

JW: Yes, we have utilized the touch screen to provide an intuitive control scheme that is very close to what you would expect from a mouse control scheme on a PC title.

What engine does Moon use?

JW: Moon utilizes the Renegade Engine 2.0, Renegade Kid’s proprietary 3D engine.

Moon has a very futuristic view, with what appears to be different visors. Is that correct, and if so, what can you tell us about them? If not, what exactly am I looking at?

JW: Yes, Major Kane’s main visor is what you see in the majority of the screenshots. Some of the other screenshots show a special view for the Fermion Sniper weapon, and others show the point-of-view from the Remote Access Droid (RAD), which is an alien device you can control remotely to navigate areas that Major Kane can not access.

Tell us about the settings and environments for Moon. I think it goes without saying that you'll be on the moon, but…

JW: Yes, you’re right, you are on the moon. You can explore some surface areas of the moon on foot including the Alpha Base, and also take the LOLA-RR10 recon vehicle for a drive across some of the more rugged terrain. Once you go beneath the moon’s surface, you will discover alien structures such as Product Storage, Cold Process, and Irradiated Stratum, and in the final stages of the game you’ll visit some more exotic locations. One of our focuses in the development of Moon was to take the player to a variety of different locations. We believe this is an important source of enjoyment for the player.

Moon's description says that it "places gamers on the cold lunar surface in the year 2058. Researchers are shocked to find a sealed, alien hatch during construction of a new lunar base, but it's a shock that soon pales in comparison to what they find beyond the hatch." What is it that they find?

JW: That’s a secret, and something you’ll have to find out by playing the game.

Who are you battling in this game? The aliens?

JW: Perhaps....

What kinds of tools or weapons will you be able to utilize?

JW: There are nine weapons/tools for the player to utilize throughout the game. You start with the ETEO standard issue Super Assault Rifle, and quickly upgrade to an alien weapon called a Muon Pistol, which packs a serious punch. Other alien weapons come in the form of Quanta Rifle, Lepton Spread, Fermion Sniper, Oxid Cannon, and Seeker Pods. And then there’s the RAD and LOLA vehicle I mentioned previously.

Can you give us an idea of some of the missions we'll be tackling?

JW: In some missions you will have to rely on mysterious Intel obtained from an unknown source. Other missions have a clear directive and involve specific targets that you must locate and interact with to trigger subsequent events, such as using the LOLA vehicle to reach the communications satellite dish. We’ve made sure there’s plenty of shooting and dodging to be had along the way.

As a game with a first-person view, gamers will wonder: is this a single-player affair or will there be any multiplayer content?

JW: Our focus has been on producing an engaging single-player experience. Hopefully lots and lots of people buy Moon so we can create a sequel and add multiplayer to that. [Smiles]

Thank you for your time.

JW: Thanks for your interest in Moon.

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