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Martiniere is currently working on Stranglehold for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Obviously due in part to the graphical disparity between these systems and Nintendo's upcoming console, a Wii version is not currently in development. The Wii, as we all know, is not meant to be the graphical powerhouse that these other systems are, but instead is meant to give the user a new way to play games. "It takes a little while to get used to [the Wii controller] and it's definitely fun. I also see it as a very different way to immerse the player into a game. I come from a visual and story background. It will be interesting to see if this technology combined with compelling visuals and story will enhance not only the game-play but also enhance the emotional experience of the player as well. These are the things that I love to bring to [game development]. There is still a huge percentage of the population that play games just for the fun of it. It's not necessarily about compelling visuals or complex narrative. It's up to the companies to find their niche. Games are about all kinds of experiences."
Is the Wii just fun? Or can we have the same cinematic experience as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3?
According to Martiniere, the challenge is to create a game that offers exciting gameplay with great visuals and to have both the gameplay and the visual experience supporting a compelling story. The group behind Stranglehold is striving for a good mix of all of these, with an obvious big step into the world of massive destruction. The title was started with the premise of creating a real interactive cinematic experience, and Martiniere expects it to shine on all accounts. Stranglehold, a third person action/adventure game set in Hong Kong and Chicago, is being developed in collaboration with world renowned film director John Woo. Featuring international action star Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector Tequila, Stranglehold will feature much of the hyper-kinetic, choreographed action and freeze framed sequences that Woo is known for.
Strangleholds visual experience is expected to move above and beyond the age of interactive cinematics.
Of course games, like movies, don't need to look hyper realistic to bring a great experience for fans. "For me, I can watch a Pixar movie and be as immersed in the story and in the universe as I would be watching Star Wars. Both are drastically visually different." Martiniere wants to continue to give these great experiences to gamers all over the world, as he will be staying with the video game industry for some time. "I think it's a good place to be right now. I think there are exciting possibilities, and I like the challenge the same way I liked the challenge when I was in the animation industry. The potential is really wide open, and I would like to be there to make that happen and make a difference."
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