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TSP Exclusive: Crytek Interview (Part 2) - More Answers

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FezzyBear:
It's been a long time coming, but here are some more of those delicious answers. See if you can spot my favourite answer.

1. Are there any really hidden secrets/Easter eggs in any of the TimeSplitters Games that we might not have discovered yet?
The secrets of time and space are contained within the section of TimeSplitters: Future Perfect where four Cortez's appear to help each other out.  Anyone who manages to understand what is going on becomes aware of the fundamental paradox at the heart of existence and is instantly erased from history as a result.  It's impossible to say how many brilliant minds have been lost this way. It's best not to think about it.

2. Are there button cheats for TimeSplitters like there was in Goldeneye?
There are but they were added by one person and he refused to tell anyone else, and has probably now forgotten them.  Still, if anyone can assemble an infinite number of monkeys and set them to mashing the buttons they will eventually be able to rediscover them.

3. Were any of the characters in the games related to any of the people you know in real life, through traits or mannerisms, etc.?
Oh, absolutely!  The drunk guards in TSFP were based on people we worked with, as were the characters from the circus level in TS2 (although we had to get rid of the Lion because of Health and Safety). R107 was based on our most obsessive fan. In fact he still hangs around outside the office; his cardboard head pressed against the glass as he peers mournfully in.

4. Whatever happened to the Gothic tileset for TS2?
Goths were out, we wanted to do an Emo tileset instead but the artist became too depressed to finish it.

5. Why do you think TSFP didn't do as well as you expected it to?
I think the main problem was that not enough people bought it.

6. What happened with the Gameboy Advance game? Got any screens, videos, concept art locked away?
You know that US government warehouse where they store the Arc of the Covenant and UFO's and stuff?  It's in there.

7. @Team - Which TimeSplitters was your favorite to work on, and why?
TS2 cos no one told us what we could and couldn't do.

8. Comparing TS1's and TS:FP's storylines, why were the TimeSplitters origins completely different?
Well that's the thing about the TimeSplitters, they can change reality by altering history.  They didn't like their own origins and thinking they were Hollywood scriptwriters, they went back to before they existed and brought themselves into being another way.  It's a bit of a brain boggler to be honest.

9. Why where hats removed in TS FP? (e.g. Bear)
I feel the absence of hats in TSFP is syptomatic of a wider malaise in the games industry as a whole.  I can assure you the person who made the decision to axe them found themselves axed repeatedly until their bits were very sorry indeed.

10. Why can you throw bricks and mines slightly further on all three TS games on the NTSC version? The same is true for the Soviet grenades in TS2 and perhaps some other weapon (or maybe the explosion is bigger?)
In the PAL version we coded it so that you are always throwing in the direction of the planet's rotation, whereas in the NTSC version it's always a full moon.
The truth is that NTSC runs at 60 frames a second and PAL at 50 and we forgot to take this into account in the throwing code. 

11. Why is the Anaconda game board in TS2 bigger on the GC and Xbox version?
It's a typical lazy console port!

12. Was there ever any specific reason why there was never a jump feature included in the games?
Staying true to our roots!  Goldeneye didn't have a jump and that didn't stop it being fun.  We wanted people running around shooting not hopping about like the Duracell bunny...

13. This one's more for Graeme: Which songs from the TS series that you composed do you like the most of all?
That one you know - Tum ti tum ti diddly poo, dum di dum di dum di doo!

14. Who came up with "It's Time to Split!" and what sparked that phrase?  Was it random or did it just click at the elevator scene?  How did people in the office react to it?
It was supposed to be an ironically awful catchphrase and I think it was a 50% success.

15. Concerning Robofish, is the fish controlling the robot, or is the robot running life support for the fish?
The fish is the brains and invented and built the robot exoskeleton after getting bored waiting for evolution to get it out of the sea and onto land where all the action was.

16. How do you decide which characters and levels return in sequels, and which don't? Which qualities do either need to make the cut? (As a blanket question to cover all character/level questions)
After gathering thousands of hours of data regarding player preferences and usage we took one look at it all and decided sod it, if we like them we keep them!

17. What are some ideas for challenges that never made it
There are no ideas for challenges that never made it.

18. If there was enough interest would you guys ever consider re-releasing any TimeSplitters games in HD for Xbox Live or PSN?
Stay tuned...

19. What drew you guys in to want to work on Homefront 2?
Well such a light hearted and fun filled universe is a natural fit with TimeSplitters isn't it?

20. Since you can't comment on the possible existence of TimeSplitters 4, we will simply ask, is it something you would like to do, or, would the team be more interested in working on a new franchise?
We'd love it! Why not crowdfund TS4? Who's got £50?

Genki:
This answers everything. And it's good to see longer answers and some explanations for some plot holes in TS:FP.

And...


--- Quote from: FezzyBear on April 09, 2012, 11:38:55 AM ---18. If there was enough interest would you guys ever consider re-releasing any TimeSplitters games in HD for Xbox Live or PSN?
Stay tuned...

--- End quote ---

I shat bricks

larenzo177:
18 <3

Didn't Crytek say their new project was the best kind of that particular project they've ever done? Could well be an HD collection :]

Drifting:
If you don't mind my asking, who was answering these questions? I'm guessing it was Graeme Norgate, but just to be sure.

Also:


--- Quote ---19. What drew you guys in to want to work on Homefront 2?
Well such a light hearted and fun filled universe is a natural fit with TimeSplitters isn't it?
--- End quote ---

I absolutely love the not-so-subtle sarcasm here. :D

FezzyBear:
No idea who answered them - that was just the way they appeared.
And just to remind everyone, Graeme Norgate tweeted to somebody saying that they had big plans for the TS2 soundtrack on its anniversary. (Or something to that effect. Can't be bothered finding the post at the moment.)

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