Bioware Talks Sonic Chronicles in New Interview

ComputerAndVideoGames.com has recently posted their new interview with CEO Ray Muzyka of Bioware, developing company responsible for the upcoming Nintendo DS RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Though the interview is mostly intended for a discussion on the PC version of Mass Effect (originally released on the Xbox 360 console), Muzyka is asked a few questions related to Sonic Chronicles. Check below for the Sonic Chronicles section of the interview and check out the full version over at ComputerAndVideoGames.com.

Sonic Chronicles on DS is certainly a step outside of the usual high-end Bioware production…

Muzyka: It’s still recognisable as a BioWare game. It’s got story and characters, using the Sonic universe, but it’s really designed for DS, a younger audience.

As a result it’s going to appeal to all ages but it’s also going to be appropriate for younger people and as a result it’s going to play differently. But that’s really just being aware of who your audience is and Wii is not different. Different kinds of people bought the system; they deserve to get the kind of content that they want.

How’s Sonic coming along then?working out for you? We normally associate you guys with working on the high-end kind of stuff?

Muzyka: It’s really fun. I’m a huge fan of Sonic. My Genesis has been signed by Yuji Naka. I’ve had it for years and years – it wasn’t because of this deal, it’s like way before that. Sonic is one of my favourite games on the Genesis.

I actually think it’s going to be one of best handheld games when it comes out, from an RPG experience.

But we’re not abandoning our traditional market. Mass Effect is an example of where we’re trying to innovate and do some different things in terms of digital actors and we’re continuing that with games like Dragon Age.

We haven’t announced much about that recently but we have big plans to talk about that a lot more later in the year. It’s sitting in BioWare’s sweet spot. It’s delivering this epic, aspirational fantasy experience that the fans of Baldur’s Gate will love, Neverwinter Nights, and it’s going to be equally rich.

You think Sonic can be made to fit a universe where he isn’t constantly running at speed?

Muzyka: You know, there’s a surprising amount of depth in that universe when you explore the TV shows and the comics and all the novels and all the games.

It’s got a lot of very action-orientated elements – you’d expect that with Sonic. You’d expect the characters to move really fast, and they do, but they also interact and have a little dialogue. You can get as much or as little into that as you want.

There’s back-story for the characters you can find out and there’s also this really compelling quest that takes you around the world so you get to explore some of the Sonic universe. It’s kind of a mix of different elements and it’s going to be really fun for Sonic fans, but it’s also going to be fun for people that just want a great experience on the DS.