Interview: Insomniac Talks Ratchet: All 4 One

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Last year, we approached Insomniac with some questions concerning their new project, Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One. This was before Resistance 3 was officially announced and in due time, we'll try to get the studio to answer our questions regarding the hotly anticipated shooter.

But we promised to give you this interview - especially because we took reader questions and presented them to Insomniac - and here it is. As clarified before, they asked that we wait to run this interview, simply because they didn't want it overshadowed by Call of Duty: Black Ops and the rest of the holiday hype. That's perfectly understandable but now, we have the green light to go with this. Chad Dezern, Studio Director at Insomniac North Caroline, was nice enough to respond to our/your questions:

PSXE: Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One is sort of a departure for the series in its four-player team style. Will the next Ratchet installment be something different, too, or will it return to its standard roots?

Dezern: "Heeeyyy, is this one of those trick questions I've heard about? We're completely focused on Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One right now, and it's a long ways away! We haven't announced what we're doing next (but when we do, you'll be among the first to know)."

Video Games | Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One | GC 10: Debut Trailer

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

PSXE: Will the game boast local offline co-op as well as online co-op play? If not, would you consider adding it in the future?

Dezern: "Oh yeah! Offline coop from day 1. We're making a game that makes it easy to get together and play. Your friends can be next to you on the couch, halfway across the world, or any combination of the two.

We love offline coop. There's just something great about playing through the game with friends--it's so much easier to smack them when they're right next to you (though we would never do that when playing in the office, that would be unprofessional. Instead we throw each other off a cliff in-game.)"

PSXE: Can you talk a bit about the gameplay mechanics? We have questions from fans like, "how will we buy weapons and how will bolts be collected?" and "how will the camera work?"

Dezern: "Sure thing.

Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One

First, I'll talk about bolts. The system isn't a big departure from the economy of previous Ratchet titles; you collect bolts and use them to buy weapons (and other things). Everyone purchases their own weapons during breaks in the action, and those weapons live in the player profile so they're portable between game sessions. We'll reveal more about this system in the coming months.

Now for the camera. The camera in All 4 One keeps all players on the same screen regardless of player count or online/offline mode. It gets as close as possible when players are next to each other and moves out when players move apart. That way every player gets the entire big screen, and everyone is focused on the action. We've had a lot of fun working with this new camera type, it opens up endless possibilities for improved visuals and big events."

Continued on Next Page »

2/1/2011 Ben Dutka

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Comments (51 posts)

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frylock25
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 3:46:49 PM
Reply

im not sure how i feel about this one yet. i love all the ratchet and clank games but this one seems a little goofy. either way i will play it and most likely i will end up liking it. i have liked all their other games and so does my kid so i can see this being a good family thing for the 2 of us. that being said i am glad there is local and online co-op. i also did not know about the comics and now i will be looking into that. overall insomniac makes quality games and i will support them like i always have.

good interview.

4 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 3:57:00 PM
Reply

Great interview, I love reading these. Props to Mr Dezern as he sounds like a go-getter. There is a lot of doom and gloom out there in development-land these days but Insomniac seems to be having fun. It's too bad they couldn't drop PSXE a tiny little crumb concerning that multiplat title cuz I'm way interested and I'd like to see them branch out once Ratchet and Resistance are through.

3 up, 0 down

NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 4:09:28 PM
Reply

Woohoo, one of my questions was in there!

I'm feeling better about the game, but i'm still not 100%. Its an Insomniac game, so its going to be tons of fun, but i just dont know if i like the "hey we can do 4-player co-op too!" kind of thing.

Who am i kidding, ill probably pick it up the week it is released.

4 up, 0 down

tes37
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 4:15:14 PM
Reply

I'm pretty sure I'll like this as much as the other Ratchet and Clank games I've played before. This series has a free pass with me until they disappoint, so it's a day one purchase.

I like the approach they're taking with the camera system. Split screen has always annoyed me when playing with others. A shared screen is the best way to get me into co-op.

3 up, 1 down

Highlander
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 4:25:22 PM
Reply

Nice interview Ben. This game looks like it will be fun for the family, which is a *good* thing.

There's only one other question I'd have loved an answer to.

Is there any reality to the rumor of an HD remastering of the PS2 Ratchet & Clank games?

4 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 4:53:31 PM

I can't comment on that now, but I'd definitely say it's a possibility.

Btw, the script issue has been fixed, I think. Any more problems on your end, Highlander? Seems back to normal for me.

6 up, 0 down

frylock25
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 5:10:30 PM

all normal here thanks Ben

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 6:28:30 PM

No hiccups in my World.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:17:20 PM

Everything seems A-OK right now Ben. Thanks!

As for Insomniac, those guys are development heroes and legends.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:45:24 PM

Crap, now Firefox crashes after I try to skip that massive ad.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:06:42 PM

I would love to get my hands on a R&C HD remix for the ps2 AND psp games (or just ps2).

Seriously, long awesome series with a lot entries in the series so it would be great for those of us who missed on some of those to get a HD remix of them.

Thanks for fixing the site issues Ben and staff, it was freezing my browser...

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:17:32 PM

They could do a regular and premium version. The premium one could include Deadlocked, and the regular one just R&C, R&C Going Commando and R&C Up Yer Arsenal.

2 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 1:49:41 AM

oh please let it be true, i would do ANYTHING to get a HD collection of R&C 1,2,3,gladiator.
O, and throw in the PSP games, and R&C quest for booty while your at it!

2 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 9:13:43 PM

Ben,
It's still hic-cupping, doing 20 to 30 second freeze-ups, and won't release my mouse so I can try to leave & re-boot this site.
I'm using Mozilla Firefox w/ AdBlock Plus enabled & never had a problems since they've been installed, until around 4 PM today.

Hmmm, it's strange now that I think about, just because I had no problems during the times everyone else did, and now that it's working correctly for everyone else, it's whacking out on me.

0 up, 0 down

godsman
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 4:47:43 PM
Reply

One thing I dont particularly like about LBP is that it requires 2-4 players to reach a certain areas. I prefer to play the first play through by myself. It would suck to require a secondary player.

It's a good thing that All 4 one allows me to do so.

Last edited by godsman on 2/1/2011 4:48:16 PM

5 up, 0 down

NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 5:26:00 PM

That was one of my main concerns. Some times i just want to play alone. Co-op is great, but it shouldnt be required, imo.

2 up, 0 down

godsman
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 5:38:01 PM
Reply

These interviews are very informative. Ben, you should do these more often.

Btw who came up with the questions? I like how the question doesn't become too aggressive when it comes to getting information out of developers. You give them a chance to say no.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 6:30:40 PM

He did kinda sneak that one with Jesse Divnich in.

0 up, 0 down

NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 9:38:15 PM

Ben let the community post questions a while ago and he picked the best ones to ask Insomniac.
The fans know what they want more than anyone else, so its cool that Ben and the crew actually get involved with us and stuff.

1 up, 0 down

Shams
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 6:14:45 PM
Reply

I was just thinking about the expected interview, yesterday. Glad to see it was in safe-keeping. I'm a big Ratchet fan, and am excited about getting the chance to play coop with other Ratchet fans. Glad to see they've designed the game to be intact with any number of players, too, even if it's only 1.

0 up, 0 down

Shams
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 6:19:19 PM
Reply

I also assume that by being "a ways off", that was news from a ways back. Is All-4-1 due for release anytime, soon?

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 7:09:02 PM

Says at the end of the interview Fall 2011.

1 up, 0 down

Shams
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 9:25:58 PM

Aye, my bad.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 6:50:30 PM
Reply

Have you guys seen the new resistance 3 trailer? It's swangentational.

0 up, 0 down

Shams
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 7:07:50 PM

Lol! Yet, another coinage by World.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 8:39:35 PM

You know how I represent.

0 up, 0 down

Shams
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 9:27:23 PM

Quite swangentationally! Gonna have to add it the spell-check dictionary.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 12:00:18 AM

And the new 2011 dictionary: "Historically, an amalgam of 'Sweet' and 'tangent' something is 'swangent' when it is sweet in it's own kinda way thus leading to the descriptor 'Swangentational' which ecompasses and co-opts 'sensational' in order to take on another descriptor to allow for full representation of the overall coolness that IS 'Swangentationalism'" You dig?

Then there's Swangentationlization, but we can get into that later.

2 up, 0 down

Shams
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 9:33:00 AM

Haha, believe it or not, I was seeing "tangent" in the word...as in going off, but not too far off (as we were still talking of things Insomniac-related).

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 7:19:35 PM
Reply

Yay! Been waiting for this interview, and as always, it is informative, and entertaining to read, in its own way. Very cool, I may have to get All 4 One, but Fall 2011 is September - November? They're releasing two games in three months?

More power to them, I guess. They haven't disappointed me yet, so all systems go.

Peace, and pray for me PSXE. We've got one hell of a storm heading straight for home.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:20:08 PM

Lawless, head inland and take a boat with you just in fast. They were saying the storm could reach 600 miles inland, and bring up to 3ft of rain in the worst locations - of course I'm sure you know all that that already. That storm is a beast.

Just take care of yourself.

1 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:49:58 PM

I would, but it's too late to go anywhere. The winds are blowing like mad and you'd have to be an idiot to be on the road. But we live in the direct path of it, not twenty kilometres from the coast. Tonight is going to be insanity. I'm just thanking God that this house is solidly built.

Anyway, thanks for the concern Highlander. We're ready as can be. All that's left is to wait it out.

2 up, 0 down

Shams
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:59:48 PM

Wow! How did you fair the last one? Good to see you're still connected. Please, let us know how it pans out. Prayers and best wishes.

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:16:54 PM

The last one earlier this week was nothing. If you mean Larry five years ago, that was a bit north of us, but we still got hit by a lot of it. I'll keep popping back online until I lose the connection, and when that happens, I'll get back to you all when the power and reception comes back. I'm actually worried that I'll be out of work at the end of all this, so that's not good.

Anyway, thanks Shams.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:19:45 PM

We'll keep the lights burning for you Lawless. Seriously, I'll be mindful of you and yours until we hear from you again.

I have folks in Oz, they're further south, so no direct impact, but still....

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:21:18 PM

Take your PS3 to the basement!

0 up, 0 down

frylock25
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:37:11 PM

dude let us know that you are ok when it is over. be smart and safe. good luck

1 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:47:49 PM

We don't have a basement, World.

Anyway, thank you all for the kind words. Every little bit helps when things start to get like this. I may be back on a little later.
Until then: Peace.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 7:18:01 AM

Dig a basement!

0 up, 0 down

Shams
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 9:39:17 AM

Lawless, why would you be out of work? Because your place of work/source of business would be destroyed, or because natural disasters aren't counted as national crises, nor even at least a valid excuse for not making it to work?

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 6:50:37 PM

I work on a horticultural farm, and odds are all the trees have been blown down. So, they'll likely only keep a skeleton workforce, and I don't imagine I'll be a part of it. You never know though.

Now the cyclone was magnificent. It's impossible to describe. The front yard is a mess, there's trees snapped to pieces. It was intense.

0 up, 0 down

frylock25
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 7:02:26 PM

glad to see your ok. hope its all over with down there

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 7:14:47 PM

It's headed inland, so it's over for me. Just the clean up to do.

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 8:03:59 PM
Reply

Giving the goods to the PSXE crowd. Thanks Dezern. Love these games.

0 up, 0 down

Dustinwp
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 9:05:11 PM
Reply

Super stoked for both All 4 One and R3! The co-op play is a big deal for me so, I'm quite thrilled with what I've heard. Thank you for being the voice of your readers Ben and getting our questions answered. Thank you Chad Dezern for answering our questions.

Last edited by Dustinwp on 2/1/2011 9:05:53 PM

2 up, 0 down

sirbob6
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 9:21:28 PM
Reply

The last question change me from a maybe I'll look at it to a "heck ya!" D1P for me. Can't wait for the more info on the story and obscene weapon.

1 up, 0 down

PasteNuggs
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:30:10 PM
Reply

D*mn, I shouldn't have read the interview. I haven't thought about the multiplat title for a while and now I'm all curious again.

0 up, 0 down

SonyPuppy
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 10:52:09 PM
Reply

Really looking forward to this one. Love the fact that Insomniac understands that local/offline multiplayer is important to their fans. It's definitely more fun when your buddies are right there with you, just like the titular heroes.

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Tuesday, February 01, 2011 @ 11:08:50 PM
Reply

Day 1

Dynamic, so much platforming (A BIG EFFING PLUS! Mario would be proud). The co-op looks great, it actually matters to co-op in this game.

In some games you can leave your friends behind, but in All 4 One, it TRULY is All 4 one.

Great interview psxe and Imsoniac, the offline co-op really does it for me.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 1:54:15 AM
Reply

still a little iffy on this.
im just about the biggest R&C fan out there, but this looks too different for me.
hopefully im wrong, and it feels like just another R&C game just with 3 other players.
hopefully they will resume normal program after this, i seriously started crying when i thought R&C were going to break up.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, i cant live without this series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 up, 1 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, February 02, 2011 @ 9:29:09 PM
Reply

Another great interview!
My thanks to all those who were involved in bringing it off, both at PSXE, and at Inmomniac.
Plus those posters who asked the questions.

0 up, 0 down

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