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| SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 |
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Schizoid hands on...
Gritskrieg gets his dirty paws on Schizoid and gets
the lowdown from Jamie Fristrom, Torpex Games’
Technical Director
Gritskrieg gets his dirty paws on Schizoid and gets
the lowdown from Jamie Fristrom, Torpex Games’
Technical Director
Among the PAX 10, there were a lot of
innovative and unusual concepts. And yet it’s
still hard to believe that a game concept could
come from looking at the Xbox 360’s controller
innovative and unusual concepts. And yet it’s
still hard to believe that a game concept could
come from looking at the Xbox 360’s controller
but Jamie Fristrom, technical director of Torpex Games (the company that created Schizoid),
did just that. Jamie came up with the original idea of controlling two individual ships, one with
each stick on the controller, and was called a “mutant” for his trouble… And for his ability to
actually control two ships with one controller (I witnessed it first hand, he is a mutant). But
what came from that wacky idea is the equally wacky product known as Schizoid.
It’s a relatively simple concept… There’s a red ship and a blue ship. Neither ship has
weapons but is instead a weapon unto itself. The blue ship destroys any creature or object
that is blue while the red ship does the same to red creatures and objects.
did just that. Jamie came up with the original idea of controlling two individual ships, one with
each stick on the controller, and was called a “mutant” for his trouble… And for his ability to
actually control two ships with one controller (I witnessed it first hand, he is a mutant). But
what came from that wacky idea is the equally wacky product known as Schizoid.
It’s a relatively simple concept… There’s a red ship and a blue ship. Neither ship has
weapons but is instead a weapon unto itself. The blue ship destroys any creature or object
that is blue while the red ship does the same to red creatures and objects.
The catch is that the blue ship is completely
vulnerable to the red enemies while the red
ship has the same problem with the blue
enemies. Still with me?
This requires an increasing amount of
teamwork between the two crafts as the player
(or players in two player mode) progresses
through the levels. Playing fast and loose or
getting too far from one another eventually
results in defeat on some levels while staying
too bunched up leads to certain doom on
others. The key is quick reflexes and the ability
to play well with others.
vulnerable to the red enemies while the red
ship has the same problem with the blue
enemies. Still with me?
This requires an increasing amount of
teamwork between the two crafts as the player
(or players in two player mode) progresses
through the levels. Playing fast and loose or
getting too far from one another eventually
results in defeat on some levels while staying
too bunched up leads to certain doom on
others. The key is quick reflexes and the ability
to play well with others.
As the game speeds up, enemies must be destroyed more and more quickly before turning
into dreaded yellow enemies. Yellow enemies are completely immune to both ships and
running into them results in death for either the red or blue player. Levels come in all shapes
and sizes, varying from mazes to open fields of combat. Enemies are just as varied and
come in all shapes, sizes, and speeds and offer a constant challenge as players progress
through the game’s impressive 120 plus levels of play.
Single player modes include teaming up an AI driven ship or for the mutants like Jamie,
UberSchizoid mode which allows one player to control both ships with one controller. The
two player mode is available locally or on the Xbox’s Live service and is sure to thrill anyone
who likes to combine action games and puzzles. A PC version may be on the horizon
and patches to the co-op mode in regards to what levels are available to novice players
teamed up with more veteran Schizoids looks to be in the works as well. [read more]
into dreaded yellow enemies. Yellow enemies are completely immune to both ships and
running into them results in death for either the red or blue player. Levels come in all shapes
and sizes, varying from mazes to open fields of combat. Enemies are just as varied and
come in all shapes, sizes, and speeds and offer a constant challenge as players progress
through the game’s impressive 120 plus levels of play.
Single player modes include teaming up an AI driven ship or for the mutants like Jamie,
UberSchizoid mode which allows one player to control both ships with one controller. The
two player mode is available locally or on the Xbox’s Live service and is sure to thrill anyone
who likes to combine action games and puzzles. A PC version may be on the horizon
and patches to the co-op mode in regards to what levels are available to novice players
teamed up with more veteran Schizoids looks to be in the works as well. [read more]
Jamie Fristrom, Torpex Games' Technical Director