BioWare talks DS deal

Dan Tudge, head honcho in BioWare's recently announced handheld arm, has been speaking about the developer's DS project currently underway in an interview with Next-Gen.biz.

Huge, monstrous beans spilled were not when it came to details on the DS title - an RPG - Tudge remaining somewhat coy on the info issue, but he did drop a few hints. He said that the handheld team is "planning a lot of big things" for the game, talking about a strong, story-driven experience and that the team will be taking advantage of DS's touchscreen, microphone and wi-fi features.

Tudge additionally spoke of how the "size and scope of a BioWare game is something that will have to be carefully thought of" when questioned on challenges of developing the game for the DS, suggesting that whatever's being cooked up will be a typical BioWare epic - even if it is being squeezed onto handheld.

But whether the DS game is based on an existing BioWare property or a brand new IP remains a mystery, although with the project apparently around a year away from completion it can't be too long before we find out. When it finally materialises, we can expect "the same hallmarks of quality and a well-written story... a lot of innovation in a lot of key areas within the BioWare methodology, as well as with the DS", Tudge promised.

In the interview, he also explained why BioWare has opted to focus on DS for its handheld venture, saying the machine "really presented the first sort of opportunity to really be innovative, and conducive to the very classic BioWare innovation in the RPG handheld space."

However, the PSP, and indeed other handheld devices, are not being ruled out for future handheld BioWare projects.

"Any handheld platform is open to us. It's really [about] what handheld platform fits our goals for the product. Really, that's what it's about... I certainly can't say 'no' to anything", Tudge revealed. "All I can tell you right now is that we'll be focusing on the DS for our first title."