First Backbreaker Dev Diary

by pastapadre
Posted February 5th, 2010 at 7:32 pm

With a firm release date of May 18th finally established it looks like the promotion for Backbreaker is finally starting to gear up. Earlier today the first in the line of video developer diaries made its way out via Gamespot. This one concentrates on the Euphoria engine as well as the third person camera system that is unique to Backbreaker.

The game has clearly advanced quite a bit since seeing it at E3 last year. On the topic of the camera though the most troublesome aspect comes from playing over the shoulder on defense, so hopefully a future dev diary addresses how they’ve overcome some of the issues inherent with that. Continue on to check out the video and leave your thoughts in the comments!

Tags: Videos

Mike

so is this game like blitz or is it just real football with fake players?
http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

Its something in between. It won't be over the top but it also isn't intended to be a pure simulation.
yancy

there is a bunch of examples of horrible defensive back AI in this video.
turftickler

Sometimes when people think it's something in between, they think it will not be real football. On the contrary. And simulation in Backbreaker will be what we make it. pastapadre said the game has advanced since the last time he saw it, so maybe that has changed as well. There for sure will be a way to adjust the game to your liking. There is an arcade mode and a mode for the more seasoned football fans.
NoFro904

The tackling and player animations look really nice.
BUT
i just cant a football game serious with fake teams and players.

Looks like its gonna be fun to play though
turftickler

Backbreaker definitely looks like fun. Even though NaturalMotion is not competing with the Madden NFL series, people will still be talking about how cool that Dev Diary is. The part about the O-line and D-line battle being different every time is definitely cool as well. Every play in Backbreaker will be different; a brand new experience.
o 99 PROBL3MS o

I agree. This game really sounds refreshing and should have some replay value. Every year with Madden and NCAA, after a week you have seen all of the new animations that were added and its just the SOS after that lol. I will definitely check this game out.
Mt. Cody

NCAA Football 11 updates. Anytime soooooon?
okafor43

Is it me or the developers speak with a british accent…like they know anything about american football..and the game actually looks good but can anybody take a game with no real players and teams seriously.
Rudy

British dudes making a football game? Excuse me while I have no faith in this game. And that camera angle will fail as a playable angle.
lolwat

I thought they were Aussie.
James

I like the way they started this game off… looks very promising, the problem is they need to make enough $$$ of this game to justify making another. And it doesn't look like this game is going to be a blockbuster hit…
RonJustice

this game is gonna flop like nobodies business – but i don't think they care. they just want to sell this engine to EA SPORTS and ride off into the sunset…
Ian Cummings Jr.

Bingo. They're just setting the bait for EA…and it just might work.
http://twitter.com/DaveDQ David D.

It's a shame that a site like Pasta's, one that does a great job on updating sports gaming content, has such an ignorant comment base. This game is about doing something that hasn't been done. Just looking at some of those tackles and line interactions shows this game far beyond anything Madden has done.

I could care less if the game doesn't have the NFL. If anything, Backbreaker is going to make us wish EA's Madden franchise didn't. They are doing what we all wanted to see, something different than the same old dated Madden engine.
David D. Jr.

What gives you the right to call others ignorant? jeez.
http://twitter.com/DaveDQ David D.

Well, Jr., I referenced the comments as ignorant. Whether the actual person is ignorant is up to debate, but I think one side has a stronger argument than the other.
zuludude

I might still be playing Madden at that point, but I'm interested in this game. If word on this is positive I may have to convince a few of my friends to pick it up. (I'm assuming this has an online component, if not then there will be no point.)
alex

EA will buy these people out soon, they hate competition. I just hope Tiburon will implement Backbreaker's physics engine in Madden. I think these guys have the right idea by skipping the mo-cap sequences and making the interactions a lot more dynamic.
Scott

Just sell the Euphoria technology to EA so they can use it in Madden…please!
Ron

I would not pay $50 for a non-NFL football game, but if the game is good enough, I would wait for prices to come down and then maybe get it. The thing is, I don't see what other game modes they could make with essentially nameless players other than an exhibition or season mode
stlaw420

Ea sport games sucks…they thrive off of other games like 2k.the highlight stick, the hit stick, truck stick and the weather factors came from the 2k franchise.and i believe they got the fight for the fumble from backbreaker and the gang tackle from them also…….
stlaw420

Ea sport games sucks…they thrive off of other games like 2k.the highlight stick, the hit stick, truck stick and the weather factors came from the 2k franchise.and i believe they got the fight for the fumble from backbreaker and the gang tackle from them also….Madden needs a lot of work and they need to stop depending on the presentation of the game and focus on “REAL FOOTBALL”….cause what they got now is so arcadish…and enough is enough…..
the wiz

i'll be happy if they do. that way we'll finally get a good madden game
Lee

2K never had hit stick or highlight stick. EA annnounced fight for the fumble and pro-tak before backbreaker.
David D.

I'm sorry Jr. I'm such an idiot.
budsticky

I've been skeptical about this game, but now that I see some actual gameplay footage I'm starting to have some hope for it. If the devs make the game a true football sim and not just a tech demo for the Euphoria engine this could be amazing. The stuff they showed was all big play type stuff, so hopefully it's not too arcadey. I realize big sacks and long catches and runs are sexier than 3 yards and a cloud of dust, so hopefully they're just showing those plays for that sexy factor.

If the game gets the football down and adds a robust franchise mode it will be heaven. If they open it up for user customization the community will have great roster sets within days of the game's release. Even so, I don't mind playing with fictional players if all my above mentioned points end up coming to fruition. After a few years of your franchise you will have fictional players in Madden anyway.
budsticky

Nobody would have thought a German could make an incredibly deep and realistic baseball text sim, but that's what Markus over at OOTP did. Don't count these guys out just because they aren't American.
GeorgeCostanza

yea just like madden
GeorgeCostanza

madden is dead! the maddenbots are about to be pissed.
reek816

If this game have Sideline Catch Awareness and a deep franchise mode that have mini games specifically for building your attributes for each position Im getting this game. And it looks like it supposed to be Next Gen. The interactions is great and I cant wait.
sheredia

wow…this looks interesting. somewhat promising. but british guys making a football game? or should i say an “american” football game? sounds like more player control with the controller (which i like..) and different animations every time you play. nice. at least they are trying something different. as long as the game is FUN is all that matters. forget about roster updates. my suggestion would be for this game to come out a lower price ($39.99) to generate even more of a buzz.
gamerk2

Looks good; some questions on DB AI [that being said, its nice to see them NOT jump every route the second the ball is thrown...], but looking solid.

If BB hits the gameplay, then everything else should fall into place
gomagic

if that was their plan then why would they blow money on a game that doesnt sell? If there really want to do that, then they show off the engine to EA using tech demos and sell it and make a pretty penny. By doing this, they will lose millions and EA doesnt seem like the type of company to admit their competitor's tech is better.

if this game flops, EA will laugh at them.
stlaw420

That's where you are wrong…..2k had the shimmy, the truck wasn't on the stick, it was a the button, they had the highlight stick also….play 2k5 and then play any madden after 2005………everything 2k5 had in it madden has now put it in there game…….You Must Like Arcadie ass Madden
RonJustice

i could be wrong, but I thought initially they pitched this engine to EA and EA didn't want to pay them enough money…

also keep in mind this is the same technology (and company) used in GTA 4, metal gear solid 4, and in the latest Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies..this company is not exactly hurting for money.
…..

THE BALL SPINS!!! lol
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THE BALL SPINS!!! lol