Designer Interview

One of the most intriguing titles premiering during Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays is Cloning Clyde, from innovative developers NinjaBee, creators of Outpost Kaloki X. In anticipation of the game's release, we sat down with John Nielson, the Designer and Development Lead for Cloning Clyde.

Xbox.com: How does your long history as a game developer for console and PC games inform and impact your work on games for Xbox Live® Arcade?

John: It makes a big difference! Having gone through things like certifications for other systems gave us a great idea of what we'd be up against in creating Cloning Clyde. Experience from having worked on Outpost Kaloki X helped a ton, too.

The game has a unique visual style.

Xbox.com: Will NinjaBee focus exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade games in the future, or do you plan to work on other types of games as well?

John: The contract side of our company continues to do traditional work for hire of various kinds, but we love Xbox Live Arcade and it has become a huge focus for us. We intend to keep making unique Arcade games for as long as they let us!

Xbox.com: The storyline of this game is pretty unique. Tell us something about Clyde's story.

John: There's a guy named Clyde with limited brain resources, who happily volunteers for a scientific experiment where he is cloned hundreds of times. He and his clones are held captive by an enormous corporation who is performing illegal experiments not only on Clyde, but other animals as well. Clyde and his clones will need to escape by using the cloning technology and mixing their DNA with the other animals around.

In multiplayer mode, you can kick and throw
around your teammates sometimes to help
solve puzzles, and sometimes just for fun.

Xbox.com: You used a lot of humor in your game Outpost Kaloki X. Can we expect the same from Cloning Clyde?

John: Absolutely. Cloning Clyde is full of wacky humor, from Clyde's dorky antics to levels filled with crazy animals to the notes left behind by less-than-brilliant Clyde clones.

Xbox.com: When you were developing Clyde, which came first, the story or the gameplay? How did the design of one affect the design of the other?

John: Design on this game came easy. The story and gameplay both really came pretty much at the same time and were very intertwined. I was just sitting there thinking about something unrelated and … Ba-a-mmmm! It all came to me, and I thought, "I have to make that game!" Of course after that there were a lot of little details to work out.

Xbox.com: Can you describe the primary challenges and goals players will face in Cloning Clyde?

John: You'll be trying to destroy all of the evil security systems placed throughout the levels, rescue all of the clones out of ventilation shafts, and collect all of the Killer Kenn action figures which were cloned along with him. There is lots of action and short puzzles along the way.

Clyde (and his clones) are ready for action.

Xbox.com: What kinds of puzzles are there?

John: In a lot of the puzzles, you need to use at least a few clones to progress. Something like … stand one Clyde on a button that opens a gate and then switch to another Clyde. Run through the gate and jump on to a moving platform to get up to a lever. Pull the lever and watch it dispense another Clyde along with a chicken onto a massive DNA-combining machine. Turn into a chicken-Clyde and fly your way to freedom.

Xbox.com: How deep does the game go? How many levels are there?

John: There is plenty! There are about 36 single player/co-op levels, plus 10 single-player/co-op super challenge levels that were originally intended to be extra downloadable content, but will instead be included with full game for no extra cost. Also, there are six vs. levels.

Xbox.com: In what ways do the single player and multiplayer modes differ?

John: Well, the single player mode is somewhat similar to the multiplayer mode in that even one player can switch between and control multiple Clyde-clones. The big difference with playing multi-player is that you can cooperate to solve puzzles faster or split up to complete different sections of the level. I should also mention that in multiplayer mode, you can kick and throw around your teammates sometimes to help solve puzzles, and sometimes just for fun.

Xbox.com: It sounds like a fun game targeted at a pretty wide audience.

John: I'd say the humor is a pretty big draw. We put a lot of Clyde morphing where you can become a sheep-Clyde, a chicken-Clyde, an explosive barrel-Clyde, and more. Each of these Clyde types comes with special abilities. We kept the controls easy to pick up and familiar to anyone who's played a side-scroller before. We tried to come up with a unique look that would appeal to audiences young and old.

Xbox.com: How many achievements will the game have? Can you list a few of them for us?

John: We offer the standard 12 achievements allowed to an Xbox 360™ title. The achievements range from easy to challenging. You get one achievement from turning into a chicken-Clyde and one from rescuing a bunch of Clyde's clones.

Xbox.com: It sounds like a blast. We can't wait to start cloning! Thanks, John!