http://wii.ign.com/articles/848/848497p1.html
Sounds interesting.
GN Wii: How long has the game been in development and how big is the team?
Kelly Tainton: Our production cycle has been 18 months, and our team has varied in size from 45 - 65 members, at its peak.
IGN Wii: Why Wii?
Kelly Tainton: The type of gameplay in Monster Lab was a perfect fit for the Wii. The entire purpose to the game is to help the user feel like they are truly a mad scientist. The Wii lends itself to that type of gameplay perfectly.
IGN Wii: Exactly what is the premise for the game?
Kelly Tainton: You start off as an apprentice in the Mad Science Alliance. You learn (with help from your mentor, Professor Fuseless) how to explore six different areas of the Ghastly Valley in order to find different ingredients. Once you have those, you take them back to your castle in order to perform experiments, using the ingredients. Those then make different monster parts (heads, torsos, arms, and legs), based on three different sciences (mechanical, alchemical, and biological) There are literally millions of different combinations of monsters you can make. You then take control of your monster to go back out in to the world to progress through the game, battling other monsters along the way!
IGN Wii: Talk about the monster creation feature. How elaborate is it?
Kelly Tainton: Let me say this again. Millions of different combinations! You can have a monster that is made up of a wrench for an arm, a fish head in a glass bowl, a torso made out of a truck, and legs made out of tree vines. The quality of all of your parts is based on how well you perform the experiments that make them, and what type of part you make is determined on the ingredients you used to make it. The amount of experimentation is nearly endless.
IGN Wii: What do you do after you create your monsters?
Kelly Tainton: You take your monster out in to the world. You are given quests to perform via different characters in the game, and this is how the story advances. Of course, if you just want to go and collect more ingredients to make bigger and badder monster parts, you can do that as well. In fact, it's encouraged.
IGN Wii: Detail the different gameplay types in Monster Lab.
Kelly Tainton: We have the entire single-player experience, which is quite lengthy. We're looking at least 12 hours at this point, and you can continue playing and exploring until your hearts content. We also have a multiplayer option where you can fight your friends online using the monsters you have created during your single-player experience!
IGN Wii: In some ways, Monster Lab looks like a 3D fighter. Is it, or is there more to the game?
Kelly Tainton: The beautiful thing about Monster Lab is that it is a fighter, but it's also so much more. Being a Wii game, there are many smaller quicker mini games, but they are a necessary (and fun!) part of the story and player progression. Then there's combat and exploration to help tie the entire experience together. Add in the multiplayer mode, and it really is a fantastic Wii title.
Tell us about the multiplayer mode.
Kelly Tainton: Yes, Monster Lab includes a multiplayer mode. You can fight any of your friends, or people on your friends list. You battle monsters they have created, vs monsters you have created during your single player experience.
IGN Wii: So the title uses Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to play online against your people on your friends' list.
Kelly Tainton: Yes.
IGN Wii: How does Monster Lab utilize the Wii remote?
Kelly Tainton: The bulk of the experiments and challenges use the Wii remote. We were very conscious of the current crop of Wii games, and how many of them seem to throw the Wii remote functionality as an afterthought. One of our experiments has the user flying down a series of magical tunnels, avoiding obstacles along the way. This is all done with the wii remote acting as the user in the 3D tunnel. Another good example would be our welding experiment. You actually use the Wii remote as a welding gun, and complete a seam.
IGN Wii: Does the game run in 480p and 16:9 modes?
Kelly Tainton: Yes, we support 480p, but not a native 16:9 resolution.
Kelly Tainton: This is our first Wii game and our first original property, we're proud of everything - and especially proud of the team who put it together.
IGN Wii: Is there a storyline powering the adventure? What's it all about?
Kelly Tainton: Yes. The story revolves around the player, a new apprentice who takes on a pivotal role in restoring the Mad Science Alliance. The Evil Baron Mharti has taken control, and the only way to overthrow him is to defeat his most powerful creation "Thrunch the Vastly Superior" in Monster Combat. With the help of a crazy cast of characters, the player will have to explore the Uncanny Valley and discover the secrets of the three mad sciences to build the ultimate monster and take on the Baron.
IGN Wii: Any final comments for Wii fans anticipating the project?
Kelly Tainton: The customization of this game is incredible for a single player game. There are so many options for the user to try out and experiment with, that the experience can literally change as often as the user wants.
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