Draft:MediEvil EU site
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| MediEvil EU site | ||
|---|---|---|
| [[Image:File:MediEvil EU site.png|250px]] | ||
| URL | http://www.playstation-europe.com/medievil/gs_index.html | |
| Commercial | Yes | |
| Language(s) | English | |
| Registration | N/A | |
| Owner(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| Status | Defunct | |
| Type | Video game | |
| Launched | c. 1998 | |
The MediEvil site was a website created to promote the original MediEvil game in Europe. The website featured various information about the game and its world, as well interviews with the developers themselves.
Content
The Quest Begins. . .
"In a time long ago there lived in the kingdom of Gallowmere a sorcerer named Zarok. This arrogant, pitiless man hated his fellow citizens for their simple and peaceful ways, so he raised an army of demons and set out to take the realm for his own.
"The King's champion, Sir Daniel Fortesque, led the militia into battle against this unholy horde. Songs are still sung of how he spearheaded the charge deep into the accursed multitude, how demons fells before him like wheat before the scythe, and how at last, though mortally wounded, he destroyed the sorcerer utterly.
"Fortesque went down in history that day as the Hero of Gallowmere, and a time of peace began which was to last for a hundred years.
And then the sorcerer returned... "
The Quest
MediEvil begins in Sir Dan's crypt - where he has been lying dead gathering dust and spider's webs over the years. You take a look around, pick up your (t)rusty sword and get on with it. The quest has begun.
Outside is darkness, and then out of the gloom emerge figures walking towards you like puppet dolls, only slightly more menacing. . . These are best run through sword-first as you'll soon find out what happens if you let them approach you for a friendly chat.
Rune Stones
You start, spookily enough, in the graveyard, and must explore each level, finding rune stones, treasure, energy and life bottles to help you on the way.
Gallowmere has strong magical forces flowing through it; and the ancients were able to harness this power inside rune stones. The stones could then be used to open locked gates and doorways, but only if the correct stone was placed in the lock. Collecting the right rune stones will give you access to doors elsewhere in each level. . . but there are different types of stones for different doors.
Treasure
Gallowmere is strewn with treasure (one of the perks of the Sorcerer Hunter's job). Becoming fabulously wealthy might have to be put on hold, though, whilst you buy equipment, or refresh your already hanging-by-a-thread life with the odd life potion or two.
Find a merchant gargoyle and you will be able to buy items you might be running short of. Learn to spend wisely though, there may be items you can get for free that will cost you dearly if bought from a Gargoyle.
Weapons
As Sir Dan starts his quest the only weapons available to him are his rusty old sword and some throwing daggers. You will soon discover that the size of your sword is directly proportional to how easy it is to kill your enemies, and therefore getting a bigger one is a good idea.
As you progress through the game, you will come across new weapons that can be used more effectively than the sword in certain situations. Some of these might be found on specific levels, others are offered as rewards by the champions in the Hall of Heroes when you complete a mission. Here are just a few of the many weapons Sir Dan might find:
Broadsword
Much stronger than the Short Sword that Sir Dan picks in the crypt at the beginning, the Broadsword gives you a wider arc of attack. You can enchant the sword - for a small fee - to double its power!
Club
Excellent for bludgeoners, the club can smash rocks and weak areas of walls - but beware, being made of wood it can wear down quite quickly.
Throwing Daggers
Good for attacking enemies that you might need to keep your distance from or who are too high up to attack from the ground. Sometimes, having daggers in your pockets will be absolutely essential if you're to beat your enemies. . .
Crossbow
Like the throwing daggers, these can be very useful when you need to keep as far away as you can from enemies.
Hammer
The hammer has the strength of the club meaning you can hit just about anything with it, but (unlike the club) it will not wear down into the shape of a useless twig. A special shock-wave attack can be used to damage enemies over a wider area!
Gargoyles
Gallowmere is full of gargoyles, sinister effigies with magical powers. These powers allow them to make malicious, enigmatic or sarcastic comments, or simply exploit the misfortunes of passing travelers. . . like you.
The apparent madness of the gargoyles, however, hides a certain intelligence and it is quite possible that they will provide you with useful information or that you can use them to get you out of dangerous situations. Watching over the world since the dawn of time, motionless and silent, the gargoyles are very observant creatures who seem to know a lot about Sir Dan. Unfortunately, they do not particularly like Sir Dan, as they know how much of a failure he was when he was alive. But they don't bear grudges and can be of great help in your quest if used correctly.
Information Gargoyles
These ugly fellows are often overlooked by all but the wisest of heroes. Though they look like mere stone carvings, they sit silently, observe everything and seem to share a collective consciousness. Scary.
Fortunately, Gargoyles can't resist showing off how clever they are and will often give you handy hints and clues that can aid you in your quest. But take care - the gargoyles are a mischievous lot and look down on mere mortals like Sir Dan. Their clues will often be as cryptic as they are informative.
Merchant Gargoyles
You can tell from their miserly faces that these are miserable creatures whose only purpose is to drain brave heroes of their treasure. However, they must always offer something in return. You can use these gargoyles to enchant your Broadsword, patch up your shield or replenish the weapons you have gained from the Hall of Heroes. If you've run out of ammunition, you can also buy extra arrows, spears, daggers and other items to ensure you're fully stocked up and prepared for any enemy.
It is rumoured that merchant gargoyles will sometimes work with Gallowmere's more unscrupulous characters to trade in stolen goods!
The Truth? - The Legend of Sir Daniel Fortesque
Gallowmere used to be a peaceful place - quiet villages with rosy-cheeked people never too busy to lend you a hand. But then Zarok waved his bony fingers in the air and turned everyone into deadly zombies their sole aim being to serve the evil Z. There aren't many people who have the good fortune to come back from the dead, but such individuals, when they do return, must surely be the greatest of heroes. . .
Sir Daniel Fortesque is, shall we say, a somewhat unlikely hero; rumours abound that he never was a hero at all, and his original death on the battlefield has had some doubt poured onto it by historians. But now YOU have returned from the dead, and as Sir Dan, you must save Gallowmere from Zarok's evil clutches, returning it to the peace and tranquillity of yore.
The history books of Gallowmere tell of a hero, Sir Daniel Fortesque, who single-handedly halted an invasion by the zombie hoards of Zarok the Sorcerer. . .
. . . but then, history books are often known to lie.
For years, Daniel Fortesque had regaled the nobles of Gallowmere with wild tales of slain dragons and vanquished legions. The King was so impressed that he made Daniel a knight and appointed him head of the Royal Battalion. Of course it was only an honorary post - Gallowmere had not seen a war in many centuries - but the King liked stories, and Dan was an excellent storyteller.
But then the evil Zarok the mad magician returned from years in exile. Embittered and filled with wrath, he threatened to unleash an army of zombies that he had built using the darkest of magic. The King was in desperate need of a hero and knew exactly who he wanted.
Sir Daniel was dragged from his bed and thrust at the front of the King's army to face a monstrous enemy. The battle commenced and within seconds Sir Dan fell to the ground, struck in the eye with the very first arrow fired. His wound was fatal and the army was left to fight on without him.
Zarok's legions were defeated, but Zarok himself was never found. Embarassed by Dan's poor show, and realising his subjects needed to feel safe, King Peregrin declared that Sir Daniel Fortesque had died in mortal combat, seconds after killing the sinister wizard. A hero's tomb was erected to Dan, the history books inscribed with tales of his valour.
Zarok was soon forgotten, a lost character in history's plays. But Zarok himself never forgot, he lay in hiding, creating a bigger, stronger army of mutated monsters.
100 years later, his scheming complete, Zarok returned...
Heroes & Villains
Sir Daniel Fortesque
Warrior or Faker?
Hero or Coward?
Back from the dead, the King's Champion must vanquish his old enemy - the evil sorcerer Zarok, save the name of 'Fortesque', and his place in history.
But is his place in history deserved?
Zarok
Zarok, the evil sorcerer was thwarted in his first plan to conquer the land of Gallowmere and has spent 100 years in exile.
He plans to get 'medievil with Fortesque's bony behind'.
Favourite Spells:
'Raising the Dead',
'Robbing People of their Free Will'.
Jack of the Green
The master of riddles, keeper of the maze. No-one has ever solved his riddles, so no-one has ever left the maze.
The Pumpkin Witch
The stepmother of the pumpkins. This witch promises to reward those who help her to instill discipline in her children.
The Boatman
The boatman transports the lost souls on their final journey to the Land of the Dead. He is fed up with rude zombies, but always enjoys a familiar face when someone uses his service several times.
Ravenhooves the Archer
A centaur, and last prince of his people. Famous for:
- hunting,
- story telling,
- winning the derby three times.
Dirk Steadfast
One of the departed heroes, he was a fearsome wielder of a magic sword.
Philosophy: 'only women defend themselves - really men are always on the attack'.
The Forest Witch
Fond of rubies, sapphires, diamonds, amber, she will offer rewards for gems.
Keen on ants nests and likes to give abuse to cowards.
Karl Sturnguard
Gone but not forgotten, he lived his life largely behind an impregnable magic shield. Died due to sausage mismanagement.
Motto: 'the best form of attack is defence'.
Bloodmonath Skull Cleaver
Born a humble peasant to one of the nomadic tribes from the Eastlands, Bloodmonath Skull Cleaver became rich and powerful due to his success as a warrior. He died attempting a single handed attack on a garrison while armed only with the spike on top of his helmet.
The Dragon
Keeper of the dragon potion and a very heavy sleeper. He doesn't like to be woken while snoozing in his lair.
Sorcerers
Here the PlayStation Web site talks to the people who designed and built Medievil...
Katie Lea - Level Mapper
- Education: Art Foundation & Art at Cardiff University
- Joined Sony/Millennium: 1993
- Favorite Drink: Black Currant Juice
- Previous Jobs: Mapping with Vectordean
- Favorite Task: Texturing
LEVEL MAPPING
What is a Level Mapper?
It's quite a vague title but it means that I position all the enemies, energy pickups, money pickups etc. I also set up quite a lot of the spy cameras, chase cameras. . . various different types of cameras. I also place collision perimeters which govern where the player is allowed to walk and also keeps enemies out of places they're not supposed to go. . .
So it kind of moulds the level together?
Yes, the artist's actually responsible for building the level models and I place the things that go in it, under guidance from Jason who actually designed the individual levels. I get input from everyone in the team about where characters and items in the game should actually go.
Where do you put them physically?
We have a great graphic interface. I use a Silicon Graphics machine for plotting and use an internal plotting tool called "Mappy". I load the model and I have small markers to place them. For example, I have the model of a small zombie and I change the additional settings that need calibration, such as cell doors, which could present some requirements to open. . . that kind of things.
Is it a reusable software tool?
Yes. It was used in Frogger and in Beast Wars. It is the basic interface, but it has different types of connections for different projects. It does different things for different projects, and I think it is also used by some of the SCEE London's internal teams.
Was it difficult for you to be only a level mapper, between teams of artists and teams of programmers?
Actually I am part of both teams. I have to work a lot with the artists because I do model texturing. I must also collaborate with the programmers when placing the items they have programmed. I am a kind of bridge between the two.
ARTIST OR PROGRAMMER?
So what is your background? Artist? Programmer? Marketing?
Well, actually I have an artistic background. It started off at school where art was my strongest, then I went on to do an art foundation course and I started off doing an art degree at Cardiff but left halfway through. And then I just kind of fell into the games industry.
I was friends with Chris [Sorrell, Producer of MediEvil] and one evening I was just sitting around waiting for Chris to finish, I'd played all of the games in the office, so he suggested I had a go at level mapping and off I went. This was at Vectordean. I started on a 3-month contract working on James Pond 3 doing the level mapping.
What did you start working on?
Well, at the beginning, I was working on some projects from home, and I worked internally on Deadline, Silverload and Scroll.
Level mapping?
For Scroll, I was working on the script. It was a role playing game where the graphics were very important. I did basic programming: "the player goes here and here's what happens". I was a "development assistant", which meant I had to do many different things. On Deadline I was setting up, on Silverload I was helping one of the programmers, Gary Richards, in the basic installation of the different elements. That meant using C, but I did not know it very well. . . It was just about cutting and pasting, and installing the animations and the rooms in the game.
DOWN ON THE FARM
What do you do when you aren't level mapping?
Play games. At the moment I'm playing Alundra. I can't wait for the next one. Another favourite is Castlevania.
What's the first one you really got into?
I first started getting into games when my brother got an Amiga. I think the game was Rodland or something like that. I really liked it. It was just funny little fairies going round.
Did you fight each other to get on the machine?
We used to have a lot of 2-player games so it wasn't too bad. My brothers were younger then me so it wasn't too bad! I didn't get into games as early as a lot of other people seem to have done though.
So, if you stopped level mapping what would you do for a job?
Maybe something on the Internet, web page stuff, I like that. I like things that have got a slightly artistic bent but have also got quite a lot of technical knowledge as well, so you can combine the two. This is why games are perfect for me. Anything else has got to be something that is quite changeable so I'm not doing the same thing over and over again. When I was little I used to want to be a farmer.
Did you look at someone on a tractor and think 'that could be me'?
No, I think it was that I used to like cows. . .
Are you a country girl?
I grew up in Chesterfield, England, which is an industrial city, but I spent my holidays on the farm, where my parents rented a little house.
MEDIEVIL
So it's pretty good then?
I've done so many little bits and pieces so on the whole I'm really quite proud of the game. One of my favourite parts of the game is actually the last level coz I think we've got some really cool looking enemies and it's really fun to play and funny too. . . it's really, really funny.
Which bit was the worst - the one that you had to keep re-doing to get right?
Probably setting up the cameras. You can never make everybody happy so you do one version and that's cool until someone turns round and says 'oh I don't like that'. So I guess I go round in a circle a lot of the time trying to keep everyone happy and not keeping everyone happy.
Don't they beat you up?
Oh, they beat me up a lot. People always arrive and say "Oh, Katie, you can do this, you can do the other." My monitor is always covered with sticky notes.
Do you sometimes refuse to do something?
Only when it's too late, I'm dead from sleep and want to go home.
How long does it take you to map a level in MediEvil?
Initially, it takes about a week to install the cameras, create the collisions and position the enemies but it gets redone so often that it is difficult to say.
So are you still working on it?
Oh yes, we fix things, we change things all the time.
Do you work on multiple levels simultaneously?
Yes and it's pretty hectic. For artists, it's clearer: they know when a task is finished, but for programmers and myself, it's a lot less accurate.
But it seems to be worth it.
The comments were good. We hope critics will like it. We can never be sure of that, either they like a game, or they hate it.
CROSS-DRESSING
Somebody was telling us about Matt doing weird stuff?
You mean the cross dressing? He only does it for a laugh - he doesn't do it every time he goes out somewhere.
What is it, a stockings thing?
Well he's got striped stockings, he's got various skirts and dresses. He recently bought a long silver dress. You can imagine how he looks with his hair as he's not a petite boy is he?
PINHEAD
What's your favourite genre?
I like a lot of different types of games - probably some kind of action game, but I like platform-type things and puzzle games. My favourite game of late has been Resident Evil 2. Really cool. I am a big horror fan.
So you like horror films as well?
Oh yeah. I love horror films. Hellraiser is my all-time favourite film.
I've never seen that.
It's about a magic puzzle box. It's gory. It's had quite a lot of sequels but the first one is the best; Cenovites and Pinhead. I'd love to play a puzzle game head to head against Pinhead.
Jason Riley - FMV Artist
- Education: Art at Farnmouth College, UK
- Joined Sony/Millennium: 1993
- Born: Hinkley, Leicestershire, UK
- Previous Jobs: Digger (Amiga Game), Creatures, Silverload
CAMEL NIGHTS
What did you do before working here?
I was a book illustrator, I had just finished college in Farnmouth and I was just trying to make a living but couldn't, because there are so many illustrators out there. So I tried computers. At Farnmouth we did technical drawing and life science - taking animals apart, drawing the insides, looking at butterflies.
Ripping their insides out? Are you the one that takes the team's cuddly toy camel apart? I heard that someone cut the tail off at a Christmas party.
That's right. They dismembered Calvin the Camel. People have done all sorts to him. He survived it though. I've taken him on holiday. He had a good time.
Where did you take him?
I have been to Madeira and Greece with him. He was already in South Africa. Camels should travel.
And not to stay still and have their tail ripped off?
Exactly. He has big soft shoes, they are not there for nothing.
And what is this story about a monkey?
That was the programmers. I have nothing to do with that. I christened him Chunky the Monkey, and it stuck.
DRAWING
How did you get here?
I arrived with my portfolio: I had no computer experience and I relied only on my portfolio. And the managers told me, "OK, you have two weeks to learn how to use D Paint". I had never touched a computer in my life. We had Apple Macs in college but we hated them.
You thought drawing with computers was not really "drawing"?
Yes, but then I realized were the way forward, that they were doing the simplest work. That's why we did not like them, but now we know why: it's a production tool that works incredibly fast. It is also less expensive. So I had to learn.
So you had to put the paint down?
Yeah, I haven't put paint to canvas in two to three years.
So you haven't got this creative urge to. . .
All the creative juices get taken out during the day.
Do you rush around being a dramatic artist or are you down to earth?
I'm pretty down to earth. If I get uptight I take it out during kickboxing.
Have you always drawn?
Yes, almost since the age of six. I did not fit any standard. The teachers said "oh, Jason, his mind wanders in the classroom." But, I am an artist, I am different. I did not think I was going to work on games or these kind of animations. But I fell in love with the animation. It allows me to really see my images move while before they remained static. They become something else, it gives them life. I wanted to illustrate children's books, but now I just want to stay where I am. I am much happier as well.
MEDIEVIL
Has MediEvil got a lot of FMV?
It's got about fifteen minutes of it. And there are a couple of scenes that I would have liked to put in but as a last minute decision we decided not to because they didn't quite link in with the story. So we took them out. But it doesn't matter as the story is told better. The FMV is throughout the whole game. There's is a two-and-a-half minute intro that tells you what happens at the beginning. And within the next four to five levels there are about fifteen seconds of animation each. Then the story builds and the timeline of the FMV gets longer and longer and longer telling you more and more of the storyline and getting more exciting.
So there is a piece at the end too?
Yes, there is an outro as a reward that continues for about two minutes. You don't get any FMV if Dan dies. If you finish the game, there is another reward.
What is your favorite part of the game?
I like the ghost ship. I have always loved galleons, ships and stuff like that.
While you're coming from Leicestershire, right in the middle of the UK!
Yes. It's something you do not see often in the area I come from. This is my favorite part. The galleon. The ghost ship. This part takes place almost at the end. It is a ship in the mist and you can also play on it.
Did you find that working in a creative team was restrictive?
It's good to get other people's opinions. I do not mind that at all. It's good to have the opinion of others, it does not bother me at all. It's sometimes frustrating, but in the end we all have the same goal. If you only have your own opinion, it does not work. Many people would probably disagree with me about it.
GAMES
So do you play games as an artist or a gamer?
Both really. I kinda like Crash Bandicoot 2. I like a lot of racing games, I like a fast game. I like the look of Command and Conquer, but my mind span just can't hack a computer game that lasts longer than fifteen minutes. It has to end in fifteen minutes.
Do you find that because you are a creative person , you can't just get on and enjoy playing them because you are always looking at them with a creative eye?
Precisely, I just look for the inspiration from films, books, comics. I do like to look at a wide variety of visual material.
TOOLS
What tools do you use for graphics?
Alias and Matador. I've got about three years knowledge of Alias. I would like to try some more software packages out, but Alias seems to be the main thing to use for development suites and stuff like that.
Have you not used Softimage?
I would love to have a go, because it has a better rendering engine. I am pretty impressed by the other tools on Softimage like the ray tracing. This means that you can have a suitable amount of reflections and refractions. And you can also have motion blur. Whereas in Alias, you can't get motion blur from ray tracer. You have to go into a ray caster, which is a cheaper rendering system.
BRANDY
What else do you do besides taking camels on holiday?
I do Thai boxing and circuit training. The circuit training I've only done over the past two years. When I first started, I didn't do any exercise and I thought "my body's losing it". So I decided to do some exercising. It clears my mind a little bit. And then I can come back and work better.
So you are Mr Healthy?
No. I still eat dodgy food, drink coffee but I don't smoke or drink too much. I only drink on special occasions. Every now and then. I drink shorts mostly. Brandy. No ice. Straight.
What kind of Brandy? Metaxa?
I drank a lot in Greece. It's like a medicine. I don't care about the brand, as long as it's pure Brandy. My father brought me cheap Spanish Brandy and I didn't like it.
Chat : MediEvil Team On-line Interview
NOW FINISHED
On Thursday 8th October 1998, Sony Computer Entertainment's Chris Sorrell and Jason Wilson answered your questions on all things MediEvil.