Ed Boon Discusses Injustice: Gods Among Us’ Accessibility and Competitive Merit; “We’re definitely aware of the EVO guys and we’re going to put things in the game to accommodate them…”

Ed Boon Discusses Injustice: Gods Among Us’ Accessibility and Competitive Merit; “We’re definitely aware of the EVO guys and we’re going to put things in the game to accommodate them…”
iantothemax by on July 17th, 2012 at 9:46 pm

The Verge’s Michael McWhertor recently had a chance to sit down with creative director Ed Boon and discuss NetherRealm Studios’ upcoming DC Comics fighter, Injustice: Gods Among Us. Boon describes Injustice as a game that’s readily accessible for casual fighting game players, but also deep and varied enough to be enjoyed on the tournament circuit. While many have decried the game’s liberal use of environment-based attacks that differ from stage to stage, the team plans to implement at least one “traditional” arena to bypass any issue the game may face when placed in a competitive environment.

One concession NetherRealm might make for the EVO crowd is related to its interactive stages, unique in their ability to inflict damage on players.

“I think anytime you do something as, I guess, bold or out of the box as that, you’re going to have people that question it,” Boon said. “Especially, how does that come into play in a tournament situation? If you play in the Batcave, you have a different strategy than if you play in the Fortress of Solitude. My guess is we will certainly offer at least one stage that is traditional, because you never know what’s going to be banned in tournaments. We’re definitely aware of the EVO guys and we’re going to put things in the game to accommodate them with a more stripped down version.”

They also move on to cover topics like tweaks to the Clash system, possible options for downloadable content distribution, and how the game will utilize the unique Wii U controller. It’s a pretty solid read, so be sure to head on over to The Verge to read the entire article.

Source: The Verge via Test Your Might

  • TheBasedEngel

    Injustice needs FINAL DESTINATION

    • NyuBomber

      Flash only.
      No items.
      Smallville.

    • http://twitter.com/HooliganCombo James Reilly

      Final Destination being the only tourney legal stage would kill any possible hype this game had going since so much promotion was character unique stage hazard interactions as part of its core gameplay

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Gathings/100000335381553 Brett Gathings

        gems

        • http://handsomefatman.com/ Carlos Alexandre

          There’s a huge difference between SFxT’s monstrously horrendous gem system and Injustice’s stage interactivity.

          The former makes character selection tedious and (poorly) attempts to “fix” a non-issue (mirror matches) by adding “customizability” already available in the form of a character select screen. It also withheld some of that customizability for real money.

          The latter can be planned around, involves little to no tedium (though a tourney will have to decide who gets to pick the stage), and is overall discreet and elegant.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gethoff-Mahfacebuk/558552166 Gethoff Mahfacebuk

             As long as none of the stage hazards are broken, it should be random select.  Stages influence 3D fighters much more than most 2D fighters, and the way it’s always been done for Tekken, Calibur, etc is random select.  If you want to switch stage after a loss, it’s STILL random select.

            I know MK has different sized stages already, and to my knowledge outside of MLG’s different rules, they also used random select.  Kratos stage was banned because of issues with the stage shaking, but otherwise everything was legal I believe.

  • http://twitter.com/emezie Emezie Okorafor

    The environment is part of the game.

    VF5 stages are all different (some have ring outs some don’t, short walls, tall walls, etc)
    Tekken stages are different.  It’s part of the game.

    This is the bad precedent we’re setting.  Thanks to gems, any time something slightly out of the box shows up in a new game, developers are going to get scared and make “stripped down versions” so that the tourney audience doesn’t have to *GASP* adapt to something new.  Or people start tossing around the B word…

    Screw that.  Embrace some innovation.

    • http://twitter.com/samael789 samael789

       That’s what bugs me. People are always bemoaning that shit is the same all the time. As soon as ANYTHING differs from the norm, though, they freak out and threaten to boycott or whatever.

      If you were in an ACTUAL fight, would you be like “hold on, there’s a tree there that one of us can use to our advantage? Let’s move to a field?” Fuck no.

    • http://twitter.com/itz_kdawg 家寶

       I would have to agree with you. The community should play the game as is….see if there’s anything broken about the stages first before we raise pitchforks. If there are, I’m sure Ed Boon can just include an option to Turn OFF stage interactions. That would be a hell of alot better than just playing on a boring training stage all the time for tournaments. -__-

      • spectaa

        Marvel says hi.

        • http://twitter.com/HooliganCombo James Reilly

          You don’t even notice the stage in marvel with all the crap and bright lights going on

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Gathings/100000335381553 Brett Gathings

          wonderland

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jaden-Macey/100003595817216 Jaden Macey

        He said he would include an option to turn it off and the arenas you usually have to get knocked into you can choose from the start.

    • RollenceElloydChiusinco

      I’m actually very interested in how they could implement this in a way that IS balanced.

      Indeed, imagine that every map HAD its own strategic elements due to environmental features, but that each character would equally benefit from having a solid plan about how to go about these elements (some would make a bee-line for them, while others seek to keep opponents AWAY from them). 

      Yes, there would be an “imbalance” in terms of the properties of characters and the maps they work in, but keeping an eye on the strategic balance of the game would ensure that competitive gameplay is full of variety and flavor. 

      I agree with you that people throw out the “B” word too profligately, especially when we realize that there is a rhyme and reason to why a tier list is not the absolute end of all fighting games, despite the fact that most fighting games out there have some degree of character imbalance.

  • http://twitter.com/raz0rw0rk Ramon

    I’m excited.

  • RLT4LIFE

    Personally, I don’t understand why people are freaking out over interactive stage elements. They aren’t random stage hazard’s like in SSB, you have to be in a specific position to utilize them, and that’s even if it’s worth going for, seeing as how each different type of character uses them differently and calls for different strategy.

    At the best, players will find unique and useful tech with these elements, and at the worst, the feature just won’t be utilized often by the more hardcore crowd. I seriously doubt it’s going to severely impact the game in a negative way, but it’s still too early to tell.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=163000345 Antwan A.J. Ragland

    Agreed, lets play the game before they nerf it. Now if they would just change Flashes fighting stance to less johnny cage. I envision him in some kind of low runner like stance always ready to take off. what he’s got now is a bit to, I don’t know, bruce lee? Either way can now WAIT for this game.

    • http://twitter.com/Raidanzoup Adrrrn A. E.

      Oh god, you call that Bruce Lee? He walks like a total goofball, it’s painful to watch! Poor Barry.

    • robjarv

      My beef with Flash is that because they don’t call him a “power character” he is a “gadget character”… the fuck kind of gadgets does the Flash use? Last I checked, running around the world to punch you in the face qualifies as power.

      I know what they’re trying to mean, it just seems silly.

      • http://www.facebook.com/AL.x.and.her Alexander ‘Al King’ Clay

        i think it will eventually translate to “Light” and “Heavy” character.

        • shadow111431

          I wouldn’t call WonderWoman particularly “heavy”.

  • captaincommerce

    dont play it at tournaments then, simple as that. if its a solid game developers dont need to make a less fun version just so a couple hundred people can play it at evo

  • http://www.portalversus.com.br/ Azis Rafael

    Glad to see they at least respect us and the competitive idea, giving the concern. It is a positive attitude along with hearing community feedbacks which may result in a better product as outcome. Thumbs up for now.

  • http://twitter.com/Kannarm Lennart Falgren

    I see nothing wrong with uniq stage interactions.. L2P with em or stay away… If people can learn 10000 hit combos in Marvel they sure as hell can learn how to avoid Batmobil rockets.

    • TheBasedEngel

      wtf the combos only go up to 999 way to exaggerate <@:)

  • http://twitter.com/Jiikae Jiikae

    what’s sad is that i haven’t heard anyone in the community talk about balancing stage interaction. people have just been saying take it out. fgc is so afraid of change it’s sickening. i say we should at least allow the stages to be counterpicks for loser.

    • http://handsomefatman.com/ Carlos Alexandre

      Sweeping assertions are still sweeping, even if there are negative elements at play.

  • kingsharkboi

    well i do know soul calibur stages make some significant differences in match play.  Nothing wrong with Injustice stages.  I say if they aren’t the stage’s actual shape, then give an option to turn hazards off, but preserve the basic stage parameter.  I’m not sure how “difficult” it is to program a little off switch for stage hazards, but it’ll make a world of difference when tournaments decide what to ban or what is balanced enough, because people still like background variety.  Here’s hoping the next Smash Bros game has this too.  I’d like to finally have the option to play on the Great Fox ship without Arwings shooting at me.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/N4SQBK53AKHP6FFDHQHS4I7E5Y man

    i think they are having some kind of competition with game developers to see who can get away with making the grayest fucking game ever

    GRAY

    i think interactive stages are cool, i think the best implementation was One Must Fall 2097. they had this one desert stage with fighter jets that would come and do a shooting run, a lightning cage, and a triggerable fire pit…the thing i find retarded with Injustice is that you shoot a guy a mile away through multiple buildings, and then suddenly teleport there to fight. It just seems ridiculous to me. The breakaway stages in MK were way more believable.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brett-Gathings/100000335381553 Brett Gathings

      Player 1 wins always

  • Adrian Eriksson

    One concession NetherRealm might make for the EVO crowd is related to
    its interactive stages, unique in their ability to inflict damage on
    players.

    “I think anytime you do something as, I guess, bold or out of the box
    as that, you’re going to have people that question it,” Boon said.

    This literally made me laugh myself to tears.

    OUT OF THE BOX? BOLD?

    Hasn’t that rubbish been in your previous MK games? And COUNTLESS other fighting games?

    I wouldn’t call an SF ripoff with gimmicky bloodbath attacks bold or out of the box.

     

    • Edson Silva

      His assertion is perfectly fine, he spoke in a general way, and this game do bring some new stuff to the table, nothing is 100% new, stage interactions are not new, but how those interactions happen it’s another story, specially because only 2 stages have been fully revealed so far, there are many stuff to be shown yet.

      You should get hold of yourself a little because your overraction to that comment, is…wierd to say at least.

      And btw, this isn’t even about MK, and yet you are talking about MK being SF ripoff out of nowhere, even if the topic has nothing to do with it.

    • http://handsomefatman.com/ Carlos Alexandre

      You’re an idiot.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jaden-Macey/100003595817216 Jaden Macey

      Injustice is it’s own game. Its not MK so why the hell would u bring it up and say :               “I wouldn’t call an SF ripoff with gimmicky bloodbath attacks bold or out of the box”
      ur a retard.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001743622547 Zane Hayden

    The sad thing is I’d love if stage interaction was some way of being toggled, where we could turn off hazards, expanding the stage, etc, and still have a way of playing on the stage and it’s expansions. I’d rather not play the old tried-and-tired block training room when the stages in this game are so great to look at.

  • Zonder88

    There’s honestly nothing wrong with the stage interactions. They are part of the game and definitely opens the door to new tactics instead of your typical fighter. Its not even game breaking for god sake. Oh boohoo Superman can slam a car on your head that he couldnt do in other stages! Game is now broken! Not. This aint like that gems BS. Everyone has the same advantage in the stage depending on your character archetype.

    Nobody cares about SCV ringouts and chose the infinite stage 100% of the time. They know its part of the game strategy. Read: Ring Out = instant win. Car on head = minor damage. This is hardly as serious as people make it out to be.

    I actually dont care all that much if this game will turn out to be a tournament fighter, from everything I’ve read and seen so far, this game looks like it will be mad fun and I’m definitely buying this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Blink-Masterson/578039135 Blink Masterson

    My biggest issue is that the stages are asymmetrical.  It’s kinda dumb when one player starts out with an advantage because his opponent’s side of the stage has more hazards.

    • http://handsomefatman.com/ Carlos Alexandre

      This is a legitimate concern. I hope Ed Boon reads this. Forward it to him anyway.

      • http://handsomefatman.com/ Carlos Alexandre

        MY POST IS NOW A GUEST POST FOR SOME REASON

        filler

      • TheBasedEngel

        this is a great tweet and i hope they take that into account

    • RollenceElloydChiusinco

      Agreed. No matter how different the stages looked in Tekken – you were always sure that each character started out with the exact same distance to the nearest wall – thus ensuring that everyone had the same “chance” at them.

  • Mabans

    Just like MK9.. Right..
     

  • Carlos Ferrara

    Ugh. He thinks he’s doing a service to the tournament community, but he’s catering to the conservative side of the community which is a disservice.

    • http://www.facebook.com/AL.x.and.her Alexander ‘Al King’ Clay

      I disagree. Catering to the casual side has been their forte from quite sometime now, it’s really 2nd nature for Boon to make sure a their games are fun and appeal to a broad audience first and foremost. Take the Dragon King saga for instance; between the 3 of those games, we had the opportunity to experience the MK Universe through several genres. Mortal Kart Racing, Chess Kombat, Puzzle Kombat, Armageddon’s God Of War-esque beat-em-up really contributed to a lot of the replay value in those games; not to mention the numerous Krypt unlockables, create-a-Kombatant, and the standard Arcade and Versus.

      While numerous modes and unlockables for casual gamers kept these games at the top of the sales charts during their tenure, game balancing for a near flawless fighting engine however, will not come from casual gamers; that’s where the FGC is needed, that’s how MK9 was able to make it’s 2nd EVO appearance this year. Every fighter that strives to make a mark competitively will need feedback from competitive gamers whether it’s tourney entrants, game testers or just people that understand good ol’ fashion fighting game theory. I think working on MK9 taught the development team a lot more than they used to know about FG theory and how fighters are supposed to work. I have faith in this game

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/J3BHHFO2N7DVPJ4U4EJK5524O4 Joshua

    This shit better not be at evo…

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