Wes Yanagi on DC Universe Online

Feature

DC Universe Online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing game based on the DC Universe. We got in contact with Wes Yanagi, Senior Producer at Sony and asked him a couple of questions about this exiting game.

March 8th, 2010 by Ingvi Sn�dal

Hooked Gamers: Will any characters from imprints like Vertigo make an appearance in the game?

Wes Yanagi: Nope, just the DCU.

Hooked Gamers: It has been previously cited that Radical Entertainment's 2005 game The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction serves as one of the sources of inspiration for the gameplay of DC Universe Online. However, another recent DC hero has received an excellent showing in Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham Asylum. Did Rocksteady's outstanding outing have any link to DC Universe Online in terms of development or inspiration?

Wes Yanagi: The main inspiration was the fact that they built an amazing game. They did a great job conveying the essence of the Batman fantasy. While we are vastly different games, delivering on that action superhero fantasy is something we both share.

Hooked Gamers: Empowering the player while making sure they can't exceed the limits placed on them is a hard thing to do. How does the DC Universe Online team make sure that a player feels super without making them as powerful as Superman?

Wes Yanagi: Internally, we think of it as starting at 11. From day one, you have meaningful powers, and you won�t have to wait until level 20 to fly or run up the side of a building. You definitely won�t start out killing any rats� unless they happen to be 800 lb mutant ones with lasers. As you build up your powers through the game, you might actually get a chance to test them against someone like Superman.

Hooked Gamers: Do we get to kick Superman's ass?

Wes Yanagi: Definitely, provided you reach a sufficient level of bad-assery� and maybe some powerful friends� and a chunk of kryptonite wouldn�t hurt.

Hooked Gamers: One of the great things about superheroes and villains is that not all of them have superpowers. Will players be able to create characters like Batman or Deathstroke wherein their strength is in the tools they develop instead of inherited powers?

Wes Yanagi: Yes. We have a specific �gadget� power set built just for this.

Hooked Gamers: What subscription method have you chosen for the game? Will you be going with the standard monthly subscription or something along the lines of the expansion-pack business model?

Wes Yanagi: We don�t have a final decision on this yet.

Hooked Gamers: It is our tradition to give developers a chance to say something about the game that they are desperate to get out. Is there anything burning on your lips?

Wes Yanagi: The Next Legend Is You!!! Ok, that wasn�t me. The marketing director stole the keyboard from me. :) I wanted to mention that we had Luchadors in the game. How cool is that??

Hooked Gamers: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.