An interview with Cliff Bleszinski
We recently got the chance to sit down with Cliff Bleszinski, Lead Designer on Gears of War 2, to ask him a few questions about his upcoming blockbuster. Read on to find out what he thinks of host advantage, Unreal Engine licensees and…the PS3 controller?
The original Gears of War was massive, and when a sequel comes along people expect it to be doubly awesome. Where do you start with it? Do you just take it and make it bigger and better?
Yeah, we were originally saying the bigger, better, more badass thing which was marketing speak, and ultimately became a parody of itself which is why we want to reinforce that the game is more epic, yet more intimate. We all kind of got together and went through a process of working out what would be new in Gears 2, what would be better than the original, and we came up with a huge list and talked about it for a week. Maybe the campaign would be a little longer, and we knew that we had a better story and would have new weapons, different multiplayer modes and Horde.
I think getting Josh Ortega on board helped a lot in having a fresh perspective on existing characters, and smaller things like having Steve Jablonsky who did an excellent job on scoring, not only on the battle music, but the in-game music as well. We got a very talented writer and composer, and hopefully we’ve built a package that people will play for years to come.
What was the most important thing you wanted to improve upon from the original Gears?
Well in regards to doing something that has a little bit of heart in there, the campaign and the story were the obvious ones. At the same time though I was dying to get back in and tweak the cover system. When I played the first game I thought we did a really good job, but then there were so many little problems with it too. You’d be running and accidently slam into a wall, or you’d dive towards cover or launch a swat turn and you couldn’t interrupt it, whereas you can now. And when you got knocked down I wanted to crawl around and all that stuff. We’ve tweaked all of those things to a very high level and that’s what I‘m really happy with.
Back to the script writing and the directions that the plot took. How much control did Josh have and what was the direction he took with the universe you created?
Basically the way we do the process is, I come up with a two page treatment and then Rod and Mike tear it to shreds, and then I do another treatment and another until we have something that feels like a solid outline of the game. So we have a two page outline of all of the levels and then Josh comes in and that’s the way that Gears 2 panned out. We’re all just learning as we go, the process is continuing to evolve but, erm…Josh is a very charismatic guy, he’s a force of nature. You know he’d battle and push so that we got the product and, more specifically, the best narrative in the end.
Is there anything particular that he pushed for that was maybe a challenge?
I can’t answer that without spoiling any of it to be honest. You know, narrative-wise we’ve taken some risks and we’re doing some things that I haven’t ever seen in a video game before.
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Cliff fucking hates the PS3 controller, lol.
SONY take note, your analogue sticks are rubbish and the triggers suck.
I’m not entirely convinced on his line to sell the game to us though.
Great stuff guys.
ps3 is better than 360 controller
PS3 controler is either a SUCKSaxis or a Dualshittyness3.
Either are made of Fail.
ps3 is better
“Because I think it’s really a perfect example of playing through an interactive movie.”
Confirmed: single player reduced to 2.5 hours of gameplay.
HAHA!!!! He HATES the ps3. take that sony, take your GARBAGE controller and bury it somewhere.
Go CLIFFY!!!!!
cliffy is an idiot.
You all make me laugh… fighting over consoles & controllers? What your immature small minded fanboy minds don’t seem to comprehend is that both consoles need each other like Batman needs the Joker, without each other, gaming technology would stagnate! They drive each other to make your gaming experience better on both sides of the fence!
Why can’t you all just accept that everyone (like Cliffy B & Ted Price) have the right to chose a favorite console/controller! But NO, it’s much easier to flame others for not making the same choice as you or your hero!
As for Cliff, the controller comment was very unprofessional, but I expect no less from an individual that thinks of himself as a rock star! I will say that he is a very talented developer.
hey “noob”, are you saying a console is better than a controller? yeh, i went there.
The PS3 controller is what 11 years old… come on we don’t see Nintendo sticking with the square NES controller do we… It’s clear that the PS3 controller is not ergonomical. The controller doesn’t sit naturally in your hand like the Xbox360.
Dandiego is right it’s never been really changed and it didn’t evolve. It is the thing that is holding me back of buying the system. Every system has always changed their Controller exept Sony. This is because they want to do more cash on your backs because the cost to produce them is lower and lower.
People on blogs are always PS3 maybe they don’t play their machines all that much…
The PS3 controller, should have gotten a face lift, by now, but oh well.
Cliffy B is a loser
do the opposite of what he says and you’ll feel good inside
I’m sorry, but you guys are crazy in my opinion. There’s a good reason the PlayStation controller design hasn’t changed. And that is that it’s perfect. The person who said the PS controller isn’t ergonomic, obviously doesn’t know the meaning of ergonomic, or perhaps doesn’t understand the ergonomics of the human hand. The PS desgin controller can NOT be improved upon. Both sided are pefectly ergonomic. The 360 controller, while a HUGE improvment over the Xbox controller, is NOT ergonomic on the left side. If the analog stick and d-pad were switched, and had a halfway decent d-pad, I’d like it. But it would just be pretty much the same as that 12 year old PlayStation controller. And I MUCH prefer the PS shoulder buttons to triggers. The PS3 now has triggers for L and R 2, but I would NEVER look at those as triggers, because anyone who like the PS controller, and has for years knows that R1 should always be primary fire anyway in shooter games. Devs that use R2 and L2 for fire are stupid. I’d never buy a game that did that. Those new triggers shouldn’t be called triggers, but they make great gas and brakes in driving games.
And to be honest, I’m really surprized that Cliffy doesn’t like the PlayStation controller. Mabey he just hasn’t used the 6 axis or DualShock 3. The PS2 admitedly didn’t have great analog sticks for FPS games, but the PS3 controller, while it looks the same on the outside, has been totally reworked on the inside. The PS3’s analog stick are incredible, not only that but now are the best FPS sticks in gaming. And I have PROOF of that. The proof is one of EPIC’s own games. Unreat Tournament 3. Being used to the PS2 sticks in FPS games, I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that UT3 would handle well on PS3. Well, myself or anyone else that’s played UT3 on PS3, even the PC crowd were all amazed at how well the new PS controller handled UT3. Even with Speed Freak on the game NEVER get out of control with the PS3 controller. I’ve played both version extensively, and I honestly think the new PS controller handles UT3 better than the 360 controller does. MUCH better. Not to mention the game looks and runs better on PS3, mods too. Though honestly split-screen is nice on 360. My advice to Cliffy, and other gamers that are judging the PS3 controller based on your experience with the PS2 controller, is to give the PS3’s controller a try. The sticks are lightyears beyond the PS2 sticks. And the controller is SO much more comfortable than the 360 controller. Your hands will thank you.
Cheers.
Cliffy B did Gears of Wars and BarryDong did… a really smart posting on a blog full of arguments and logic.
Dude he said he didn’t like a controller did we miss something.
Lotta fanboys here
@Stevie: Seriously?
Dude The Xbox did not change it’s controller from Original Xbox to 360. Oh what, they moved two horribly placed buttons where? Where the L1 and R1 buttons are on the Playstaion Controllers? And how is having 2 joysticks placed asymmetrically “Natural?” Look at your hands. Is one thumb placed higher than the other?
I’m not saying the PS3 controller is perfect, because its not. L2 and R2, Wtf was Sony thinking? But the Symmetry is what is needed, or something Close enough to it. Gtfo off the internet if you’re going to make Stupid arguments.
I think it’s interesting how people keep bringing up the limitations of the XBox 360. It’s not like the PS3 has proven it can blow the XBox 360 out of the water with graphics. Even if the PS3 is more powerful, which I suspect it is, it’s not like the XBox 360’s power is a major hindrance for allowing developers to express themselves through their games. In fact at this juncture it seems as if difficulties related to developing games for the PS3 may be more of a hindrance. Don’t get me wrong there are some great looking PS3 games, but the ones that really stand out such as Kill Zone 2 have been in development for a very long time. It seems that in the interest of making a profit many game companies may scale back their projects in order to get them working on the PS3. Of course as developer tools for the PS3 improve this hindrance may be mitigated, but I don’t think it will ever be eliminated.
The ps3 controller OWNS the 360 CONTROLLER!!!
U cant Compare the 2
The 360 controller is slightly better in First psn shooters, but other then that PS3 owns in every category!!!!
360 fan boys dont got nothing to do since there scared to play there 360 to much or it WILL BREAK LOLOLOL
I have to agree about the PS3 controller, it’s the sticks I hate mainly.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a multi-platform owner (Wii too) but if I had the choice I’d use my 360 controller on my PS3.
And LMAO at the dumbass fanboy comments on both sides. All systems are worth owning for one reason or another.
If you are a 360 owner who shuns the PS3 completely, or a PS3 owner who spouts rubbish like the guy above my first comment it just shows your ignorance.
People, wtf. Its a controller.. if you cant get used to a controller within an hour or two, then your a n00b and shouldnt be playing the damn thing. Get a life people, and compare what the consoles actual strenghts and weaknesses are within the software, not the damn controller!! Btw i own a ps3, and i dont mind the 360, i just think the ps3 has alot more going for it in the future compared to the 360.
the ps3 controller is much better enough said, also the D-pad on the 360 sucks
The D-Pad sucks. Analogue sticks came out to replace the D-Pad. It’s precision vs estimation. Grow up, slick.
I judge controllers through logic. When I want to push the joystick ‘up’, I move my thumb ‘up’ on the 360. I move it sideways on the PS3. My brain doesn’t like that connection and therefore I find the PS3 controller to be useless.
Really people say ps3 is better don’t have many arguments. I have all three consoles as well and every one i know that is not on a blog but playing games say the 360 controller is better… arguments go here: because it’s designed to be ergonomical for long sessions… PS3 you have to stretch your hand to touch both analogs… try it I’m not making this up. It’s funny how people are fanboys I don’t care who wins the console war and who has the better Controler.
Seriously in life you have to be critical it forces companies to make stuff better. Reality is the PS3 controller is outdated! I would be so happy if they changed it but as long as people defend it they will keep it the way it is. COD4 is much easier to play on 360 in my opinion but ever easier on PC… Once again this is not to diss playstation 3 but their Controller!!!
Fanboys are like republicans they will love George Bush if he blows the planet up and say hes the best president ever.
For people that think I’m a Fanboy I’ll say something negative about 360… service is horrible and Halo sucks… nough said?
Rickey approves of this interview! Strong work, cupcake.
wow, he hates the PS3 controller? It’s awesome and atleast it doesn’t need a fucking battery box in it. All the SuXbox360 fanboys here have probably never touched a ps3 controller
PS3 analogue sticks are very poor. As were the PS1 and the original PS ones. To me its the biggest problem with the system. That and its online play it quite poor. All this is why I play my Wii and Xbox 360 far more than my PS3.
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