Transformers, the Game

Hi, everyone! Thanks for checking out our latest entry. If you’re new here, I’m Chris Tremmel and I am the creative director @ Luxoflux Studios working on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen for Xbox360 and PS3.

We’re really excited for the game to get into your hands on June 23. We’re especially excited to finally have some competition in multiplayer!

Speaking of which, I wanted to take this opportunity to give you guys a look inside the development of our all-new multiplayer modes, so I sat down for a chat with multiplayer designer Sean Madigan. Sean is a great designer with fantastic attention to detail, and one heck of a nice guy to boot, but we try not to boot him – he bruises easily.

CT: Hiya Sean! Can you please state your name and position on the team?
SM: Sean Madigan. I’m the multiplayer designer.

CT: When you think of Transformers 2 RotF Multiplayer, what are the 1st (or the best) five words that come to mind?
SM: Explosive, fast, acrobatic, unpredictable, and don’t forget explosive.

CT: Alright. First things third. Is Megan Fox playable in Multiplayer?
SM: No. Not that you know of. Except by me. I mean, no! Absolutely not. As far as you know.
CT: What can you tell us about Multiplayer in TF2:RotF? How many characters can I play as? Is it Autobots VS Decepticons? Can I take the fight around the globe as seen in the single player campaign?
SM: There are 15 playable characters to start out, with additional unlockable characters you can get access to by playing the Single Player campaigns. TF2 Multiplayer is definitely about Autobots vs Decepticons! We’ve worked hard to make every game mode based around the faction war, and to make the two factions play differently but remain balanced. And yes, we have levels based all over the world, representing all the locations of the Single Player campaigns, and five different game modes to battle it out in.

CT: The Multiplayer space right now along with it’s player base is pretty hardcore. What is the learning curve on entry for TF2 MP? What is going to make me want to play and keep playing TF2:RotF multiplayer.
SM: The barrier for entry to TF2 multiplayer is really low. The Single Player tutorials are more than enough to get you transforming, shooting, and blowing things up. But there is a LOT of depth that won’t be apparent at first. You can continue getting better at the game, finding new tricks and new strategies, and improving your game. After over a year working on the project, I continue to have fun and get better every day. Right now my favorite trick is to powerslide around a corner when I’m being chased, advanced jump onto the wall, then spring away from the wall and shoot down at the guy chasing me as he passes below. It gets ‘em every time, especially when I’m playing Ironhide.

CT: Like previously mentioned, the multiplayer world can get pretty competitive out there. Will you guys be tracking stats or allowing other players to rank themselves against each other to see who truly is the greatest Transformer of all time?
SM: We have more stats being tracked than you can shake a Cybertronian stick at. First we have leaderboards that are tracking and comparing things like score, kills and deaths, and accuracy. But we also have an extensive Stats tracking system for every player where they can see how much time they’ve been playing, how much they win or lose on each map and mode, which characters they’ve killed or died to the most, and more. We tried to get a good mix of really interesting stats and just crazy nonsense stats that should keep everyone entertained.

CT: Who is your favorite creative director on the team?
SM: My favorite creative director ever is Chris Tremmel. And not just because he can fire me on a whim. Or because he’s asking the questions here. Really!

CT: Alright! Last question. It’s a-two-in-one. Who is your favorite MP character to play, and who is the best MP player on the Transformers 2 team?
SM: Wait! I’m going to bend the rules because we have two very different factions. My favorite Autobot to play is Ironhide, and he’s the character I’m best with. My favorite Decepticon is Grindor: he turns into an awesome military helicopter, he has a chain gun, a deployable turret, and he has the best, craziest dialog in the game: “Look, robots in disguise. Decimate the Autobots!” And are you kidding? I’m the best MP player on the team. Although I have to defend my title every day; we definitely have some people hot on my heels. Hot on my tailpipe? I don’t know, I’m not good at making robot jokes.

CT: Thanks Sean! Can’t wait to get online with everyone and get the crud kicked out of me!


Ok everyone, I hope you enjoyed this inside look at the development of our multiplayer modes. Get the game on June 23 and come find Sean and me on Xbox live!

Chris Tremmel = Oscarhobs
Sean Madigan = Madadh

Chris Tremmel
Creative Director, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Luxoflux/Activision Santa Monica

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