STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY DOE
LEAD COMBAT DESIGNER/SCRIPTER, THE COLLECTIVE


Q: What was it like having Hayden Christensen and Nick Gillard there to assist in your development of the game? Just how much did their input affect the final result?

Anthony Doe: It was one of those true highlights in making the game. A great experience. From the beginning, Nick showed us the basics of Jedi combat: the stances, attacks, defenses, and philosophies. It was a kind of modern-day Jedi training. The best part was that it was really all geared toward us, the game developers, to create the most authentic Jedi action experience yet seen in a videogame. It's the reason why Nick brought in his good friend, Hayden Christensen, to work with us.

Hayden had trained a considerable time with Nick for Episode III. It definitely showed. He impressed us all by showing some serious talent with the practice saber (much more so than in the previous films). Together they showed us not only some of the brilliant Episode III fight choreography, but also acted out custom content for the game! All of this will show in the final product. The influence of Nick and Hayden will be seen in every swing of the player's lightsaber. You can?t help but feel it when you play the game.


Nick says you guys had some pretty elaborate lightsaber fights of your own.

There was a video we put together that he was impressed by. That's the thing?as combat designers at The Collective, we act out fights. It's part of our daily routine?our bread and butter. A lot of us are martial artists, so it comes naturally. In researching for Episode III, we poured over all the movies, looked at previous Star Wars games, and even some of the early Episode III fight choreography. We took that to heart, acted out the moves and captured it on video. It's really for our own sake to make better fighting characters for the game. Although, I will admit, it's pretty fun to do also.


Any funny stories from Nick and Hayden?s clinic that you can share?

One of the days, Nick was showing us some advanced lightsaber stuff. He just finished demonstrating a really wicked saber combo, stepping through in a blur of practice-saber trails, spinning in 360s and powerful imaginary killing blows. "And now," he said, "for something really dangerous."

?What could that be?? we all imagined. ?An even deadlier saber technique??

He paused, stepped forward, and then....broke out into a back spin. It was Jedi breakdancing!

The next thing you know, our director is doing the moonwalk...which was, umm....strange. All in all, it was pretty hilarious. I guess you had to be there.


What?s the hardest part about making the combat system for the Episode III video game?

With Nick directing us, it was a piece of cake! Really, it was great to have worked with him and Hayden. The hardest part was taking that all in, digesting the many dozens of moves they showed, and making it live and breathe in the game. So you will see over a hundred unique player character abilities, from swinging the saber through seemingly countless combos, to delivering some deadly Force powers, to engaging the Episode III characters themselves in saber-lock battles. You'll see this minted in the different styles of Anakin, Obi-Wan, Dooku, Mace and all the other Jedi you'll be able to play as.

Getting all that to work with that "Star Wars feeling" we all know and love was the challenge. We faced that as our everyday goal for over a year. It has always been our goal to create "the ultimate Jedi action experience.? Will we deliver on this? Well, let?s just say I'm very proud of what will hit the shelves in May....


How does the Force come into play in the game?

The Force is your special sauce in combat?your personal can of whoop-ass. Whether you are good or evil, you'll be able to use the Force in fun and destructive ways. Imagine whimsically knocking over a squad of droids with just a hand gesture. Or grabbing that explosive canister from afar, and hurling it at Count Dooku! Feeling a little injured? You can Force heal yourself, too. Then again, if you just want to destroy more efficiently, the Force is there for you?giving you the ability to saber throw, cast lightning to fry your foes, or mind trick them into fighting on your side!

The Force is also part of the player's development as a character in the game. Whether playing as Anakin or Obi-Wan, the player will constantly gain experience and upgrade his library of Force powers. In addition, the player will unlock some really destructive special abilities and signature moves which also use Force power. The amount you have is measured in a Force power bar that constantly regenerates over time.


How different are the fighting styles of Anakin and Obi-Wan?

They are as different as their personalities. Anakin is the raw talent, unrefined, passionate and strong. He's got that cocky assuredness of someone who knows he's the best. You see this in Anakin's style: flashy yet efficient, direct and powerful, arrogant, unrestrained. He has a certain brooding demeanor. As Anakin turns to the dark side, his style will also become increasingly dark, and this will be seen in the "fury" moves that the player unlocks throughout the game.

By contrast, Obi-Wan is calm, focused, and controlled; he's the epitome of the classically trained Jedi Master. There's a certain gracefulness and constant flow to his moves. Whereas Anakin is more direct and "to the point," Obi-Wan swings with sweeping, controlled arcs. He "glides," as Nick described. In contrast to Anakin's power "fury? moves, Obi-Wan's unlockables we call his "focus" powers, which are all about speed and precision.