In the next few weeks, RS-232 Modem support will be added to the game. We hope it goes off without a hitch, but that remains to be seen. There is little hope of using the Voice Modem, because it uses a proprietary command set, and is only 9600 baud. Atari has shown little interest in getting us to support it, and has not provided any prototypes for us to use. We want to complete this title soon, so I don't think that the voice modem will be a part of the game.

Are the controls in the game set up similar to, say, a flight simulator (up=dive, down=climb, right/left=bank right/left), or do they include factors that exist in space? (things like positioning and air currents wouldn't effect your direction in space.)

The control works very much like a modern "fly-by-wire" jet. We also allow the user to customize the joypad and buttons to several logical arrangements, depending on their preferences (i.e. up = climb, down = dive). There's no air currents to worry about.

Does Battlesphere support the Pro Controller? If so, to what degree? (i.e. Ruiner Pinball supports it, but not extensively. Missile Command 3D supports the same buttons as Ruiner, but their use is much more integral to gameplay.)

BattleSphere will run with either Jaguar controller. Owners of the Pro Controller will have the advantage of easier access to some of the less used functions. The added buttons will allow for easier weapons selections or easuer targeting computer operations, that sort of thing. Also, the Pro Controller seems to have a much nicer feel to the directional pad, which causes lass fatigue for me when I play. The standard controller has keypad keys for all operations, so you can still use one to play.

How many ships can a player choose from?

Any one of a total of 21 known ships (3 ships from each of the 7 known races). (emphasis on "known.")

How do they differ? Do they just have differences in their speed, armor, and power, or do they include unique characteristics such as handling differences and different weapons?

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

Graphically, are we talking about polygons, pre-rendering, or what?

Gouraud-shaded polygons with texture-mapped detail (insignias, damage, etc.)

What kind of color depth, resolution, and frame rate are we talking about?

16-bit color at 320x240 resolution. Runs as high is 60 frames per second, but usually sits at around 30 fps. Up to 256 3-D objects (ships, projectiles, mines, etc) can be on-screen at any time.

Will there be a soundtrack during gameplay? If so, what style music?

Stephanie is composing the music, and it differs in style, depending on the race you have chosen to represent. The music is quite powerful, and we all like it a lot.

With the new crop of software coming up, Battlesphere will be up against some hefty competition. How do you think it will stand up to the likes of Phase Zero and Zero 5?

We're pretty good friends with the guys from Hyper Image, and we've even exchanged ideas from time to time. We don't think that their Phase Zero is really the same kind of game as ours, so we don't think of them as "competition". I'm looking forward to playing that one myself. As for Zero 5, we don't know much about it. I haven't seen much written about it anywhere. We did download the Falcon version, which sort of left us wondering what all the fuss was about this game. However, that could be mainly due to the lack of power in the Falcon. The Jag version could be much improved. We network, and Zero 5 doesn't, so I think we've got something big in our favor.

What about Tempest 2000, Missile Command 3-D and Defender 2000? (I know those games aren't even in the same genre, but people are expecting alot out of Battlesphere.)

I can't wait to play D2K and MC3D... Remember, that Jag titles don't come out 10 at a time, so people will be more inclined to buy all of the above, if the time between them gives them a chance to desire a 'new' game.

Estimated release dates for Battlesphere, at least on the 'net, say first quarter 1996. Is this when we can realistically expect it? (that gives us 'til around March or April.)

Remember that we all are working part-time on this because we are not getting paid to do this. It's a labor of love for us. We're really trying our best to get it out. People have been really great and understanding about this. Often, they are amazed that anyone could devote this much effort to something without any compensation. We hope to be done before the end of January, and that would put us on shelves in March. Keep your fingers crossed.

We really don't want to compromise the game, just to meet some date.

A lot of popular magazines (I'll leave out names. We all know the ones I'm talking about anyway.) have been saying, lately, things like the Jag is dead. How do you guys feel about that? What's your opinion on the future of Jaguar? (feel free to be as broad as you desire on this one.)

I think that Atari knows that dropping the Jaguar is a bad idea, and would ruin their credibility in the industry entirely. They're probably planning on hedging their bets with PC games, because it looks like the whole 32-bit "Next Generation" is primed for a big fallout. In the best scenario, the industry has a huge fallout and Atari (being small) makes it through to the other side, they'll be in the same position Nintendo was in 1984-5 with their NES.

I've just read that there's Jag projects coming all through 1996, which is a good sign, and I've even heard of some new projects they are starting up for the Jaguar.

I'm pretty sure they are just not going after licensing existing "hit" titles, because of the huge amounts of cash they have to put up front. They'll continue to contract for inexpensive 3rd party titles, and hope to have a hit.

My barometer for the Jaguar is Jeff Minter. If Yak starts another Jaguar project, then Atari is behind the Jaguar. if not, uh-oh....

What plans or ideas are in store for 4-Play after Battlesphere, and do they include the Atari Jaguar?

Of course, a lot of this all depends on how well this title does on the Jaguar, and what Atari's level of support of the Jaguar is at the time. We'd love to do a sequel to BattleSphere, because all of the intensive work (polygon engines, networking, etc) will be done. We could put all our efforts into new gameplay variations and play modes. We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

I know we're all looking forward to this game. I would like to take this time to sincerely thank all of you (especially Doug) for this opportunity. I do appreciate it.

Thanks!

I appreciate the time you've taken to write about our game.

Now back to programming BattleSphere.