Inside the Developers Studio: Julian Eggebrecht

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Lair
1. What game do you have at E3 this year?
LAIR. And if it isn’t there I am not there.

2. Describe it in five words or less.
Dragons. Combat. Flight. Fight. Done.

3. Tell us more about your game. What’s the story?
The story is about Rohn, a dragon pilot and elite member of the military. The world is being thrown into chaos by natural disasters, the government is taken over by fanatics who exploit this, and Rohn has to fight a war that makes him question his moral stance. The story starts out very black and white, but it becomes grey and triggers a lot of questions, both for the hero as well as, we hope, the player. It’s not your typical video game story.

4. What did you do on this game that you couldn’t do on another platform?
The combination of traditional controls and radical new usage of motion control is certainly something only possible with the Sixaxis. That then combined with the 1080p graphics and 7.1 hi-def sound, I wouldn’t know of any other platform offering that combination. The PS3 and Lair complement each other rather perfectly.

5. Do you have any “firsts” in this game that have never been done before?
A lot, actually. There never has been an action game that goes seamlessly from the 10000 foot point of action to the very intimate on the-ground battles. There has never been a game that uses motion control and classic controls to bring visceral combat to life – and that in many different gameplay mechanics. And I think even in terms of story we are breaking new ground for video games as a more sophisticated
storytelling device with larger and very contemporary themes.

6. What do you think is the coolest aspect of this game?
The control of the dragon. All these new things to experience that no game has done before. Well, that and the epic feeling of everything. Epic vs. controls, I am torn which one is cooler.

7. If you could sit one person in front of your game for an hour, who would it be?
My Mom. The last thing we played together on a TV was Warlords on the Atari 2600 so she needs to catch up.

8. What game do you most want an hour to sit in front of yourself (besides your own)?
Least of all my own. I hope to spend some quality time with Uncharted and Ratchet, especially since my kids are the biggest Ratchet fans on the planet. And let’s see how far Kojima-san’s newest Metal Gear has come. Outside of all things PlayStation I am a sucker for Mario Galaxy.

9. How many E3’s does E3 2007 mark for you?
All of them. I am so old that I attended CES before E3 came about.

10. Describe the pre-2007 E3 experience in five words or less.
Finishing Lair. Lot’s of sleep.

11. Most over used phrase or expression during E3 season.
“Do you have a ticket for the Sony party?”

12. You are asked to make suggestions for an E3 survival kit- what three items HAVE to be included?
A ticket for the Sony party. Something for headaches. A friendly cab-driver

13. What advice would you have for someone who has never experienced E3?
It’s much better experiencing it now than it was before. Less bare flesh and more quality game time.

14. Describe what you anticipate from 2007’s newly formatted E3 in five words or less.
Less Crowds. More Focus.

15. What’s your favorite part about developing games for a living?
Sharing the results with my children. They recently got into some of my older games and it’s so cool experiencing the games again through the eyes of my kids. And that would be a close tie with the perks of the workplace here at Factor 5, most of all fresh imported German beer on tap!

Also See
Lair Nears the Finish Line, Full Speed Ahead!

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155 Comments

  • Lair runs at 1080p and Madden 2008 runs at 720p. I hate math. Either way Lair gets my money. This is the first time since 1995 that I will not buy Madden . And Sony, you are partly to blame. You must support the developers. Thank you.

  • Been waiting for Lair a long time now… still pretty excited. I’m especially glad you guys stuck to your guns and got it working at 1080p, unlike a lot of other lazy (lying?) devs.
    Where’s the demo we all were told to expect in June?

  • Sony needs to pay Konami whatever it takes to keep MGS4 exclusive to the PS3. Because if this happens, then I may have to consider choosing between a 360 elite and a PS3. And trust me, I won’t be the only one, as thousands of more people will not buy the PS3 if MGS4 goes on the 360….

    Sony, please pay them for exclusivity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @stennex : You seem to forget ( or was never taught ) that the Moors/Saracens controlled southern Europe for about 700 years. So it would be very likely that non-whites existed around and before those times, though probably not in great numbers.

  • The game is basically finished…you hear that Sony??
    Where are the demos?

  • Sony DOSE NOT need to pay Konami.

    They need to employ Kojima!

    Kojima is the only reason I care about Konami.

    MGS4 will sell better on PS3 than it will on 360. One MGS game came out for the XBOX and it sold like crap.

  • Where is the Killzone 2 interview??

  • I HOPE TO FCUK THAT EA GETS THE SUPPORT THEY DESERVE FROM SONY, THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING US PS LOYALISTS WITH MADDEN AND FIFA SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID AND NOW I HEAR THAT YOU ARE NOT GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT TO HELP DEVELOP FRO THE PS3… WELL IF THIS IS TRUE I WILL JUST GET A 360 WHEN FIFA 08 IS RELEASED AND YOU CAN KISS MY @SS GOODBYE AND THE £45-90 A WEEK I SPEND ON GAMES. I RECKON A LOT OF FIFA FANS WILL FEEL THE SAME WAY.

  • MOTHER LICKERS

  • hey i just saw a screen on killzone and it looks like poo. WTF? better look better than that or else ill pee on my ps3

  • @ KONAMI

    Why would you sell such a story driven game (MGS4) to people (360 owners) who dont know the story?

    Out of the 3.5 million early PS3 buyers Im willing to bet at least 2.5 million of these people are your Metal Gear fan base.

    I understand recouping dev cost, yet it would still only make limited sense to make the move to the 360.

    Look at your previous sales trends; GC and Xbox, compared to PSone, PS2, and PSP.

    Who buys your games? WE DO!

    Sorry Sony for the of topic convo. we all still love LAIR!

  • @HALDALISH. that is some funny sh..it!!

  • i think we should all pee on our ps3’s if killzone is not up to scratch… i might even do a big curly shizzle on mine if fifa 08 is not up to scratch!!!

    if both games turn out to be very good i will continue dust my ps3 and keep it pristine.

    does sony really want people to poo on their consoles???

  • Can’t wait to see this game at E3!

    Been waiting for this game for a long while and it looks like it has more action and intensity than ever before.

    A must get!

  • Grow up kids. This is about LAIR. Go [DELETED] and moan about metal gear rumors in the forums.

    GG Factor 5…can’t wait for this game…please get us a demo ASAP.

  • Well Sony if the rumor is true about MGS4. Then if Konami wants another Price drop give it to them this Holiday Season.

    Make the 600 dollar system Sell for 500.

    Then make the 500 dollar one Sell for 400.

    This way Konami can make there money back on the PS3.

    Also I heard you do not pay money to keep a game on your System. I say do that for MGS4 and FFXIII.

  • its getting harder and harder to hold my bladder. oh snaps i think a droplet just ran down my leg. hurry up sony or my ps3 is gonna be very smelly

  • Sheesh. I thought this blog was about LAIR. Grow up kids. Go moan about Killzone and MGS rumors in the forums.

    GG Factor 5…..can’t wait…please get us a demo ASAP.

  • i can moan where i want too. there is no blog for killzone so im gonna do it here. dont like it? blow me

    btw lair looks fantastic

  • I AGREE 100% WITH 116 – CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE A BIG NAME EXCLUSIVE AT THIS POINT – LET’S BE REALISTIC

  • PLEASE RE – READ 116!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Sony you gotta KEEP MGS4 on the PS3, no matter what, just pay em!

    Do you know how much this game means to the PS3?

  • Are the rumors true about MGS4 going to the 360? Going to be a lot of po’d people if it’s true!

  • I’m bragging to all of my co-workers about how Lair looks so good and is going to rock! Make them eat it, Julian!

    And on a sidenote (sorry, Julian, I know it’s not fair to you but I need to voice this too) Sony most definitely needs to ward off any MGS4 ports! I don’t want to eat that! Please save us!

  • hopefully the game play is good.

  • @ahh bisto

    Thanks for understanding what I was doing in this blog. I love PS brand and I want it to be as kick ass as possible lol. I know rumble is possibly most likely coming. But I just hope it’s in time for MGS4 atleast. Speaking of that I hope Sony knows that keeping MGS4 exclusive is deff worth it! Most of people got the PS3 for that game to start with. Sony, atleast keep it 6 month time exclusive. U need exclusives to sell. Though u have Lair and Uncharted, all eyes are on MGS4.

    I’m glad the price drop has boosted up PS3 sells so I heard. I hope they keep it up. PS3 is very Awesome and I’m lookin foward to games like Lair, HEavenly sword, Ect!

  • @CitizenInsane27

    Are you actually completely legally insane?

    Clearly; No.

    Press two buttons, cinematic?

    That’s exactly what we said when we played a popular square-enix game on the ps2 some years ago. We couldn’t believe it and have never played or rented a square-enix game since. I’m getting the same vibe from the sales hype of this game.

    Factor5 has been known for delivering quality games, filled to the brim with great gameplay

    Maybe so, maybe so. Still, I’ve never heard of them, nor played any of their games. This tells me the type of games they develop or have thus far, are not the type of games that I regularly play or even interest me. That’s a big caveat emptor flag for me.

    To doubt them, and for that matter, to doubt a new original IP for the PS3, on a PS3 forum, are you kidding me?

    No. There’s a reason F@H is still the most downloaded and played game on the ps3. In case you haven’t noticed, everything that’s been developed for the ps3, with the notable exceptions of Resistance, flOw, and blast factor, so far is all crapulence. But that’s just my opinion. I’ve rented many ps3 games and so far they aren’t any better than ten year old PS games. Again, that’s just my opinion.

    I’m all for criticisms when it comes to things we want for the system and whatnot,

    Clearly you’re not.

    but that is just straight out hating, on something you’ve never even played.

    Wrong again Jr. You’ve incorrectly assumed that I’m somehow emotionally invested in a game that hasn’t been released nor have I played. All I did was express my concern that this game looked like it was all cinematic and very little actual game play. So, get mommy to up your dose of ritalin and calm down Francis, and try easing up on the SONY kool-aid.

    Blah, Blah, Blah, innovative, yada, Sixaxis, yada, cell processor, blah, blah, regurgitated sales spew.

    You forgot to say “next gen”, “take it to the next level”, and “blu-ray”. You’ve sold Amway before; haven’t you? You need to cut WAY back on the SONY Kool-aid, you sound like a used car salesman.

  • I just can’t hardly wait for this one. Sony with all the third party support you are loosing it will be inevitable that you get more games out like this one. So, I hope you are making another killer follow-up since I am hearing you are now also loosing MGS4.

  • I will probably give this one a rent.

  • Lair is almost here. I cant wait, the screenshot looks amazing i love the textures on the dragon, not to mention the sky.
    =)

  • I have loved all the other factor5 games that ive had. GO Rogue squadron =D..brilliant games, love it! This is a must game for me on ps3 ^^

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  • I dunno… Sixaxis only makes me weary… It’s like it’s gonna be one big gimmick with tacked on controls. I feel motion sensor anything is just garbage, though. I’ll buy the game… I’m sure I will, but I’ll still wish they had normal controls, like Warhawk.

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  • Can’t wait! other games that i want are killzone 2, little big planet and of course final fantasy.

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  • Whats with EGM Lair ratings. Is it true that LAIR scored a 5 out 0f 10.

    http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-55680.aspx

    http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?t=88918

    Does EGM hate SOny. I mean ever since Dan Hsu wrote that article it has been one negative spat after another. Yow Sony step up and shake out the MS rat over there.

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  • september 4th, can’t wait till I get to play it

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