E3 06: The Sopranos Preshow Q&A

Announced for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox 360 earlier this week, The Sopranos is a story-driven action game closely based on the popular HBO show of the same name. Very little information about the game has been released at this time, but we were able to convince 7 Studios' producer, Elizabeth Dahm to spill the beans during a recent interrogation.

GameSpot: How did you get the gig for The Sopranos?

Elizabeth Dahm: We submitted the pitch to THQ in a mob-style briefcase. When the briefcase was brought to THQ, it was left with a receptionist, who felt alarmed by its appearance. She passed it on to an executive at THQ, and between the method of delivery and the pitch itself, it made a strong impression.

GS: How are you approaching development on the game?

ED: Realism is important to the Sopranos series, and we have tried to capture that sense of brutal, down-and-dirty combat in the game. We have focused on combining weapons, intimidation, grappling, and guns into the game's combat mechanic. When you walk through the office, sometimes it sounds as though people are fighting in the corridors, or you hear them slamming into the walls. But that is just our animators, trying to understand "what would really happen."

GS: What do you think are the elements of The Sopranos that you need to be mindful of when developing the game?

ED: Collaborating with David Chase to create an original story that fits with the Sopranos series has been a fundamental part of the game's development process. We have been extremely excited to have James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) and other key members of the mob "Family" lending their talents to the game. Creating a strong sense of emotion, and making the violence feel real and raw in combat, has been a key focus. Great music is important to the series, and the game includes a compelling mix of past and contemporary artists.

GS: What are the challenges in developing a game based on this property?

ED: One of the primary challenges has been to develop an original story that fits into the Sopranos universe. We worked on the story concept in close collaboration with David Chase, Allen Rucker (author of several books on The Sopranos), and HBO, and also had it reviewed by a district attorney of organized crime. It has been important to strike the right balance of drama, realism, violence, and situational humor in a plot that weaves the lives of the Sopranos characters together like the television series.

GS: What do you feel The Sopranos has to have to work as a game?

ED: It is important for the game to have a clear tie-in between the main character and the established Sopranos cast. Working in collaboration with David Chase, we developed a new character, Joey LaRocca, who is the illegitimate son of Big Pussy. He is modeled on, and will be voiced by, Christian Maelen, an actor who David Chase was interested in having play the lead role in the game. Joey is about the same age as AJ--they are friends in the game, and Joey sometimes has to balance his friendship against the demands of the mob "Family."

GS: How much are you able to collaborate with HBO and the Sopranos creative team?

ED: We have worked in close collaboration with David Chase and HBO Interactive on the story, sets, and character models. They really opened doors for us. For example, we went on a photo shoot to the New Jersey area and worked with HBO to obtain access to some of the docks areas. One of our artists taking the shots strayed away from the HBO folks to take some pictures and ran into some union workers who wanted to know what he was doing. When they told them that they were with The Sopranos, their tone went from confrontational to completely friendly, thanks to HBO!

GS: How much of the show cast will you be able to get involved with the game?

ED: The key members of the crew are integral to the game: Tony, Christopher, Paulie, Silvio, and Vito. Sometimes you will be working for them, sometimes you will be working with them, and sometimes you will be hanging out together at the Bing playing a game of poker in the back office. AJ is your friend, and so you and he run some missions together, too.

GS: How are you going to take advantage of the Xbox 360 hardware?

ED: The Xbox 360 version of the game will have greatly enhanced graphics--we will use specular mapping, bump mapping, and post-processing effects such as motion blur, depth of field, and bloom. The character models will have much higher poly counts and will look very realistic. Players will be able to see all of the detail on the faces of their favorite Sopranos characters and enjoy realistic animations on secondary characters, such as the dancers in the Bing.

GS: What can you tell us about the game's story? Where will it fit in with the continuity of the show?

ED: The game is set between seasons 5 and 6. You are Joey LaRocca, the illegitimate son of Big Pussy (who was killed for being a rat). Your challenge is to earn your way from being a guy whom no one trusts to being a respected member of the crew. You will use intimidation, brutal violence, and weapons of convenience to advance the interests of the Sopranos crew.

GS: What would you tell people expecting some kind of Grand Theft Auto clone with a license?

ED: This is not a GTA clone. It is a unique, intimate experience that is set in the Sopranos universe. The game highlights compelling aspects of the series such as plot, character development, and brutal, modern-day violence to cater to fans of the series.

GS: Thanks for your time.