24 is easily one of the more entertaining shows on TV if you
like fast paced action, convoluted plots, and Keifer Sutherland's raspy voice. Now working it’s way through
it’s fifth season the show chronicles one day in the life of Counter Terrorist
Unit (CTU) agent Jack Bauer. These aren’t
your standard go to work, surf the net in your cube for eigh hour kinds of days
either, these days Jack saving the US from one terrorist threat or
another. Over the span of five seasons
Jack has saved the president, stopped a killer virus from being unleashed,
prevented a nuclear missile from hitting LA, and he’s currently at work trying
to prevent Russian terrorists from release nerve gas in a major US city.
Given the success of the show it was only a matter of time
before someone turned the show into a video game. Today we talk with Tim
Hall the producer of the game about how the transition from television show to
Playstation 2 game.
GamingNexus: Can you
introduce yourself and describe your role on the project? How long have you been in the gaming industry
and why did you get into game development?
I’m Tim Hall and I am 2K’s producer for 24: The
Game. I’ve been in the gaming industry
for 11 years and got into it completely by accident by starting as a
tester. It was so much fun I just never
left.
GamingNexus: Where
in the 24 time continuum does the game take place? Did the fate of certain characters in the
current season (season 5) impact development at all?
Tim Hall: The game takes place between seasons 2
and 3 and, even though we were working closely with the writers, we had no idea
about what would/has happened in Season 5.
GamingNexus: Can
you talk a little bit about the plot of the game? Who does Jack Bauer/CTU have to stop this
time?
Tim Hall: Well just like the show we don’t want to
give too much away. Let’s just say that
Jack is going to be having a very busy day in Los Angeles.
GamingNexus: The
TV series has a very distinct look and feel to it (the clock, split panel
graphics, etc), which of these elements did you incorporate into the game?
Tim Hall: All of those elements appear in the
game. We felt it was essential to give
the player a real 24 experience but we also didn’t want to just tack things on
so when you have situations that call for the split panel, we worked them into
gameplay. Security cameras appear in the
split panel as does important information and updates as to what else is
happening in the level.
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