On April 10 and 11, 2019, Focus Home Interactive received the press during its annual What's Next event during which it is possible to meet the teams of the different games of the French publisher. On this occasion we were able to ask a few questions to the Giants Software team.
You've unveiled the Anderson DLC, wonderful work, but you seem to have some difficulty validating the mods that are arriving. Aside from the number, are there many low quality mods?
Giants Software: “Calling them 'bad' might not be the right term, but many actually have the same issues, so we need to send them back to modders and ask for adjustments. Just to name a few common mistakes:
- Bad descVersion
- modIcon does not have the white model background
- HUD visible in screenshots
- The second screenshot of the maps is not a preview of the map
- Wrong textual format. DXT / 3 is not allowed
- Shader, Shared and BaseGame textures are not linked to $ data »
The Berthoud mods have been unveiled… then more news. Yet at Sima, the manufacturer told us that other equipment was planned, in particular the Bruin self-propelled machine. Will this equipment be delivered individually, or via a pack?
Giants: “The cooperation with Berthoud is a long-term cooperation. We might show more of them in a preview in the near future, but don't expect them to be released this year. I can't say more at this point though. "
Isn't this crazy pace of work a problem due to the 2-year cycle?
Giants: “To be honest, I don't think changing the cycle to 4 years would make mod validation any faster. Maybe in the last few years, when people have a better idea of what pitfalls to avoid, but not right after the game is launched. ”
Are you going to maintain this cycle? Can we reserve FS 21 domain names 🙂?
Giants: "We will see 😉"
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this cycle?
Giants: “With a shorter cycle, you have less time to implement and perfect features. If the cycle is too long, you end up depleting resources or even making team members wait until they can finally be fully operational. DLC can help with this, so that in the design phase for the next game, the vehicle team can already add something to the current game. "
Theoretically, we should have a mobile version in 2020. Are you already working on it?
Giants: “We're working on a mobile version and a Switch version, but we'll provide you with more details on that later this year. "
Tell us about the remarkable management of workers in the mobile version. They know how to deliver the trailers to the various points of sale. Why not have added this function on FS 19, when the workers were advertised as “improved”?
Giants: “The current version of the mobile game does not allow you to create new fields and change the environment. It also does not support mod maps. This allows you to set fixed routes that the AI can find, and then take them. In FS19, for example, you can edit a lot, even more now with landscaping and placeable items. It would be very easy to destroy or block these roads. If workers are to be able, for example, to deliver goods then you have to keep all of this in mind and they should be running all the time. We need to find a solution that is easy for the player to use but still works under all circumstances. "
What about a Nintendo Switch version? The console still holds the road in terms of power according to you?
Giants: “We are working on a Switch version, but similar to the last version (the 17) on this platform. We need to figure out what will work well with this console and what its limitations are. We can not make it 100% the same. "
Let's talk a bit about esports. Giants Software surprised by announcing a league for FS. What are your ambitions ? Would you like to expand the popularity of the game? Or just give it a more fun side?
Giants: “We would like to add an extra layer of gameplay to Farming Simulator, emphasizing the activities that already exist in the game. I think you can compare it to the actual farming competitions that also exist. Now is the time to encourage your favorite team, or better yet, to compete as a team. After launching a new game, we often don't have a lot of new things to show our fans, who already own the game. With competitions, we have a way of interacting with them in a different way. "
Let's talk a little about the competition. We talked about Cattle and Crops together 2 years ago. The title should be released at the end of the year. Do you think that some demanding players in terms of simulation could switch to this title?
Giants: “I would say it's good if people have a choice and there is a variety of games out there. If you look at other genres, like shooting games or racing games, some people play more than one title, some stick with one title, but overall it broadens the market to a wider audience. More people than ever are playing Farming Simulator and we are also committed to developing it even more in the future. "
Do you work hand in hand with their developer, who also edit the CoursePlay mod?
Giants: “We are in regular contact with the guys from CoursePlay to make sure everything goes well, yes. "
At the Giants Software development studio, at noon, are we more like bugers or pizzas? 😀 (If you have a photo of the team ...)
Giants: “We actually have 'Pizza Mondays' twice a month. So I think it's fair to say that pizza wins this victory. However, some burger fanatics rate every burger in the area. But that's more for dinner. "
Thanks to Martin Rabl, Marketing & PR Manager, at GIANTS Software