PlanetXbox360: The original Gears used Gary Jules’ Mad World for the TV spot. Gears 2 uses the same juxtaposition of content against a song called How it Ends by DeVotchKa. Was there any debate over whether or not to use the same style of advertising tactic, or was it a case of it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
Cliff Bleszinski: The ad agency came to us, had this pitch and we were like, ‘That works. Let’s do that.’ I think Mad World in many ways, to toot our own horn, did kind of redefine what video game advertising could be about. And to do that, yet again, it’s like, good luck. So ultimately they decided to kind of continue with a similar theme of juxtaposing some sort of interesting war-related image with a very, very sad song. Ultimately I think it’s something that is very visually compelling and also emotionally arresting.
PlanetXbox360: After playing through the first couple chapters of Gears 2 it kind of struck me-the fact that the Locust have dog tags like the Gears, that the Gears are now attacking the Locust coming at them from holes in the ceiling rather than Locust popping out of the ground. Did you go out of your way to try and get gamers to sympathize with the Locust?
Cliff Bleszinski: I would never use the phrase, ‘sympathize with the Locust.’ I would absolutely say that they are very, very much mean, evil bastards and that you are on the verge of finding out why as you continue to play through the game. But at the same time, you know, even the craziest bastard thinks he’s right. And if you play through the game you’ll learn a little bit more about the Locust motivation or why they’re trying to boil up on the surface. That’s all I can say without spoiling too much.
PlanetXbox360: What was the biggest challenge over the last few weeks of bug testing before you shipped?
Cliff Bleszinski: Well when you get down to the wire it’s all about figuring out memory issues. Our artists make things that are extremely detailed and very, very high resolution. And then we have to figure out a way to find the right areas where we can massage everything texturally to make them all fit in memory.
PlanetXbox360: When are you going to crank up Gears of War 3?
Cliff Bleszinski: Uhm, honestly…I can’t really say what we’re working on right now. Just give it a few weeks and we’ll see how Gears 2 does and we’ll put our heads together and consider maybe working on something else.
PlanetXbox360: Would you ever put together a small pet project for Xbox Live?
Cliff Bleszinski: We get asked that a lot man. And we don’t have any spare cycles. There’s nobody hanging around sitting on their thumbs…everyone is all hands on deck, cranking all the time.
PlanetXbox360: Thanks for taking the time. Congrats on giving birth to this little Locust killing chainsaw.
Cliff Bleszinski: Thanks. I hope you like the campaign mode and enjoy how Gears of War 2 (in stores now) ends.
