EXCLUSIVE! THQ-GAMES.COM INTERVIEWS DISNEY•PIXAR’S RATATOUILLE DEVELOPER HEAVY IRON
Senior producer Brian Wiklem talks rats, Remy and reasons to look out for the game!
THQ-Games.com recently trawled through the sewers of Paris to get a glimpse of what life could have been like for Remy, the star of Disney•Pixar's Ratatouille. Once we had emerged from the depths (and shaken off any lingering odours) we caught up with Brian Wiklem, senior producer at Heavy Iron Studios, who told us about the Disney•Pixar Ratatouille videogame.
THQ-Games.com: What is the premise behind the Disney•Pixar Ratatouille videogame?
Brian Wiklem: The premise is our hero, Remy, trying to reunite himself with his family, as well as pursuing his dream of becoming a great chef. He feels responsible for making his family homeless and wants to do right by them but also wants to follow his dreams.
THQ-Games.com: How closely does the game reflect the film, and how does it differ?
Brian Wiklem: The game hits the major plot points of the film and expands on the back-story. As for differences, the market place is not in the film at all and key moments, such as when Remy is on the top of the kitchen roof, feature in the game. You'll see a lot more locations in the game.
THQ-Games.com: Did you work with the voice actors from the movie?
Brian Wiklem: We used all of the voice actors from the film in the game. Many of the key actors are gamers and Patton Oswald (the voice of Remy) has done voice-over work for videogames before. Everyone was very enthusiastic and came up with a lot of soundbytes which suited the game perfectly.
THQ-Games.com: How do the locations and setting lend themselves to Disney•Pixar's Ratatouille?
Brian Wiklem: The streets of Paris offer so much artistic beauty and other areas, like the kitchen, are reflected exactly as they are in the film, as they are prominent locations in the movie.
THQ-Games.com: Can you tell us about the mini-games?
Brian Wiklem: When Remy smells and tastes food it puts him in a trance-like state; it's such a visceral experience for him, so we created mini-games which reflect this. For the current-generation versions, we designed them to be challenging but not threatening. The next-gen versions of game feature mini-games which are nightmarish scenarios, which Remy must escape. The mini-games can be played completely separately from the main game, offering players a taste of the bizarre, yet food-centric, elements of Remy's imagination.
THQ-Games.com: How will the Wii version differ from other versions of the game?
Brian Wiklem: We have integrated the Wii controls into the game, so a tail swipe can be performed by whipping your hand around, for example. Also, some mini-games have been designed exclusively for the Wii.
THQ-Games.com: What is Remy's appeal as a character and how did you capture this in Disney•Pixar's Ratatouille?
Brian Wiklem: We kept two rats (Bishop and Perry) in the studio, which we studied to see how they moved and how they approached things. For Remy, of course, his character comes through unlike any other rat - he is obsessed with food and cleanliness. He's got a dry witty banter and wants to fit in and please everyone, but he also wants to follow his dreams.
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