DINO ISLAND Development team interview

                   Taken from their site

1.  How would you describe DINO ISLAND in a few words?

DINO ISLAND is a theme park management game, in which you
transform dinosaurs on a genetic level in order to show them off
to the public in spectacular attractions. Our references for the
game come from the "Jurassic Park" trilogy, the documentary
"Walking with Dinosaurs", the Walt Disney film "Dinosaur"..and
many more.

2.  When did the development team begin work on DINO ISLAND ?

The pre-production phase began in April 2001.

3.  What is the difference between DINO ISLAND and other
Dinosaur/Theme park games ?

DINO ISLAND deals with the Dinosaur theme through two areas, up
until now, ignored : the modification of Dinosaurs on a genetic
level and the total customisation of park attractions.

Using genetics, you can cross-breed dinosaurs at will ; you can
give them a dose of radiation, clone them, as well as modify their
physical condition : you can add horns or a shell etc..  certain
results are very surprising and unexpected. These transformations
are represented by changes of the 3D mesh and the textures, and
not by a sort of patchwork of 2D images like in other games.

As well as this, in DINO ISLAND, the player is able to create
their own attractions with which they may show off the dinosaurs
they have created in their laboratory. Many items are at your
disposal : fences, public stands, obstacles and squares placed on
the ground which the dinosaurs walk on with differing effects
(invincibility, invisibility, endurance boost, speed boost, holes,
traps..) . Basically, there are no limits. You can hold obstacle
courses, fights, team games, Capture the flag. The attractions
will be much more successful if the dinosaurs are well adapted to
them: fast dinosaurs for the races, aggressive ones for the
fights, and so on.

DINO ISLAND includes many "ready made" attractions that you
normally find in theme parks, house of horrors, dino bumper cars.

4.  Can you tell us about the graphical style?

Graphically, the game is very colourful, bright and warm. The
Dinosaurs are caricaturised: all forms that stand out have been
accentuated (ex : the T-Rex has enormous feet and an oversized
head). We have really tried to work on the heads as well so that
the carnivorous dinosaurs have a real "nasty" appearance and the
herbivorous dinosaurs a "docile" one. There was also lots of work
done on the creation of textures and extra objects that can be
added to the dinosaurs to enrich their appearance (stripes,
protective shells, horns, and even feathers !).

5.  Can you tell us a little more about the gameplay and the
Artificial Intelligence ?

Each dinosaur has its own genetic code, composed of genes which
influence their physical appearance (shape, horns, shell), as well
as its abilities (aggression, endurance). In mixing dinosaurs, you
combine the genes of the parents and can get the best elements of
both of them in the new creature. Be warned though, there is not
an "Ultimate" dinosaur, but simply dinosaurs which become better
adapted to certain attractions.

The dinosaurs are driven by their needs (food, violence, security,
rest, etc.). A special display allows the visualisation of the
current needs of the dinosaur, in order to understand its current
actions.  The different squares placed on the ground generally
respond to these needs: the goat placed at the finish line of a
race course encourages the dinosaurs to get there first to devour
it, whereas a wrecked car in ® Destruction Derby ¯ mode responds
to their need for violence.

The park visitors also have needs and, according to their
character, will prefer either tame, violent or spectacular
attractions. The aim of the game is to satisfy the needs of all of
the visitors, by creating dinosaurs and attractions that are
adapted to them.

The main point of the AI was to have tried to create an artificial
life, to let the dinosaurs become their own boss with a free will,
rather than behaving in a manner forced upon them.

6.  What, for you, are the strong points of the game DINO ISLAND ?

The game has two strong points :  the transformation at a genetic
level allowing for billions of different looking dinosaurs the
depth of customisation of the park attractions

In turn, these two points are linked by the management of the park
and the different scenarios and campaigns.

7.  Do you have any interesting stories about the game and its
development ?

Well, we got some of the team working on the animations for the
game. Noteworthy is the T-Rex that dances, an animation inspired
by Yanik, that we all can't wait to see. Working on the game's
intro movie is Fran‡ois, a big fan of the Matrix.  This shows in
the movie : a fight scene with two dinosaurs with a real Matrix
camera style and feel.













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