Warframe: 1999 Devs Talk Creating A New, Arcade-Style Minigame

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the Caliber Chicks 2 minigame in Warframe 1999 is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. It’s rare to see such a well-crafted and nostalgic throwback to the golden age of arcade gaming in a modern AAA title, especially one as expansive as Warframe.

Warframe is about to receive a fresh update, titled “Warframe: 1999“. Alongside an abundance of new material for the primary game, Warframe will also introduce a brand-new mini-game: Caliber Chicks 2.

In the upcoming expansion for the popular game “Warframe”, players will journey back to the year 1999. The creators of the game are going to great lengths to make this experience feel authentically nostalgic for fans. A significant aspect of this update is the introduction of the Caliber Chicks 2 minigame, a feature that has been hinted at within the game’s universe for some time. For a comprehensive look at this playable, arcade-style minigame (modeled after classic run-and-gun titles), Game Rant spoke with “Warframe” creative director Rebecca Ford and Caliber Chicks 2 design director Nic Cusworth.

Devs Reveal New Insight On Warframe 1999’s Upcoming Arcade Minigame

Q: What was the impetus behind creating a new arcade minigame?

Ford: The primary story setting for the game Warframe: 1999 is the Höllvania Central Mall, which being a mall from the ’90s, naturally includes an arcade. We’ve incorporated elements of this decade in numerous ways throughout this narrative section for Warframe, such as music, fashion, tech designs, online relationships, and undoubtedly, we had to reflect it in gaming as well. The team at Sumo Digital, led by Nic, is incredibly skilled at creating diverse gameplay designs, making them a delightful collaborator in developing Caliber Chicks and reimagining some of our beloved shoot-’em-up characters!

Question: How much time would it take to complete the mini-game, approximately in hours?

In a more casual tone: Caliber Chicks 2 closely resembles traditional arcade games as its main gameplay cycle lasts about 15 minutes, divided across three extensive and diverse stages. Yet, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Without giving away too many details, the game concludes with an occurrence that forces you to restart from the beginning, but things aren’t quite the same anymore. With each replay, the world grows increasingly strange, and the obstacles become more intricate.

What’s the difference in design approach between Caliber Chicks 2 and earlier Warframe mini-games, such as Frame Fighter?

In the ’90s setting, it’s delightful to re-explore one of the most popular subgenres from that era – the run-and-gun platformers! The year 1999 in our story is filled with intense Warframe action, but we provide players multiple opportunities to step away from that intensity if they wish. In contrast to a game like Frame Fighter, Caliber Chicks 2 offers more assets and intricate background systems due to its endless challenge nature.

As you progress deeper into the game and conquer additional levels, the challenge intensifies significantly. This intricate mini-game within Warframe is arguably our most complex addition thus far, and we couldn’t have accomplished it without the collaboration of Sumo Digital.

In 1999, when Digital Extremes asked us to create a mini-game for their arcade, it was as if we’d stumbled upon an extraordinary chance that doesn’t present itself frequently.

To put it simply, we got a bit carried away with the storyline. We not only crafted an elaborate history for our game but also dreamt up a fictional company behind its creation. Our aim was to make it seem genuine to the era, so we decided on 1995 as the setting, despite the actual update being in 1999. The reasoning behind this was that by 1999, 3D games were widespread in arcades, and we wanted our creation to resemble a well-used, beloved classic from four years prior, still drawing coins from players.

In our endeavor, we set out to create within the confines of the technology available during that time. From the screen resolution and color palettes, to restrictions such as using dithering sprites instead of transparencies, and even the music and sound effects tailored to the NeoGeo sound chip’s specifications, we embarked on a journey where we weren’t sure if it could be done. However, Digital Extremes and Sumo Digital were determined and embraced the vision, effectively making it a reality. I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished together.

Question: What role does Caliber Chicks 2 play within Warframe: 1999? Is there any aspect of the game that contributes to the broader storyline or the main objectives of the update?

Ford: Essentially, Caliber Chicks 2 is designed to enhance the vibrancy of Höllvania Central Mall’s mission hub. The simple act of approaching an arcade cabinet and observing it glow evokes a particular nostalgic sentiment, predominantly for those who have fond memories of arcades. On the gaming front, there will be worldwide leaderboards where players can compete to reach the highest rank. Perhaps you’ll witness groups of players gathered around Caliber Chick machines, much like we did at our local hangouts when we were young.

How Warframe’s New Minigame Was Built

Q: Why was the run-and-gun genre chosen and what specific games inspired it?

At Sumo, we were tasked with deciding the direction for DE’s game featuring the Caliber Chicks, which they had initially designed and envisioned as a run-and-gun title. To determine the game’s style, I turned to the games that were popular during the era we wanted to set it in. This included quite a bit of “Contra 3” on the SNES and “Gunstar Heroes” on the Megadrive. In fact, “Gunstar Heroes” was my go-to game for relaxation.

After wrapping up work, I’d usually spend my time playing it back then. Unfortunately, with age, my reaction speed isn’t as quick as before, making it difficult to enjoy now. As for “Metal Slug”, it was a significant influence and served as a beacon for the pinnacle of 2D arcade games during its era.

Q: Where did the game’s own narrative and art direction come from?

Cusworth: Rebecca’s passion for all things British, or her self-admitted anglophilia, sparked our imagination. We wondered, “What kind of arcade game would a British manufacturer produce in 1995?” Looking back at the culture of that era, The Prodigy were making punk music, and the sound of groups like The Chemical Brothers and Meat Beat Manifesto, characterized by ‘big beat,’ was gaining prominence.

That really set the template of this story of Anna Ki and her Anarchist terrorist group, the Genesis of Bedlam kidnapping the President of the Unified Kingdoms brings about a future of chaotic nihilism. Of course, the Caliber Chicks—Lillian and Gillian—are there to take chase and stop Anna Ki’s plans.

The entire cultural milieu and history served as inspiration for the visual style of the game, with the artists skillfully transforming it into a stunning 2D universe. Many team members were new to creating 2D games, while those who had in the past, it was quite some time ago. Consequently, we needed to innovate new methods and workflows that enabled the art team to leverage their 3D skills to construct fundamental assets, followed by establishing a sophisticated post-processing system for these assets, resulting in an authentic-looking 2D game.

Q: Are there any rewards or accolades players can expect from playing Caliber Chicks 2?

Ford: Absolutely! Those who put time and energy into creating side content deserve some sort of recognition. If players progress far enough in Caliber Chicks, they’ll be able to gather a few glyphs and an emblem as rewards, which can be used anywhere within the Origin System. Furthermore, as you advance in The Hex Syndicate with the Protoframes, Aoi will begin offering tracks from Caliber Chicks for you to unlock through the Somachord.

As a devoted fan, I’m curious about the design process behind Warframe 1999’s minigames. Since many games incorporate mini-games that often require a shift in genre, did this potential source of frustration for fans ever concern the developers when integrating these mini-games into Warframe 1999?

As a devoted Warframe fan, I’ve always appreciated how Ford ensures that the main gameplay remains consistent while offering plenty of delightful detours. Mini-games like Frame Fighter, Happy Zephyr, Wyrmius, the Shawzin rhythm game, and now Caliber Chicks, are all enjoyable side quests that don’t affect my Warframe progression. Caliber Chicks is just another fun diversion in this expansive universe.

Absolutely, within our mini-game, there are minor cosmetic rewards hidden. We strive to ensure that those who engage with these additional experiences feel justly compensated. Given the vastness of Warframe, we cater to a wide range of players and always aim to recognize and reward those who choose to explore its optional nooks and crannies more thoroughly.

Question: Last year, some enthusiasts spotted arcade machines for the game ‘Caliber Chicks’. Did the idea for this mini-game originate during that time, or has the development of the current mini-game stemmed from that earlier detail in the background?

Ford: It was part of our strategy all along! We thought up numerous concepts for ’90s-style mini-games, one of which was Caliber Chicks. We might be working on additional features for our upcoming “Echoes Update,” where we’ll add more content to our last major update. The title is yet to be decided, but rest assured, there will be some exciting surprises coming next year.

Q: Do you see Caliber Chicks 2 being updated/expanded in the future?

Ford: Ultimately, it boils down to what the Warframe community prefers following the update. The direction for additional content like this and our investment in it are entirely shaped by the community’s feedback after they have tried it. If they enjoy “Caliber Chicks” as a brief respite between missions, we might keep it as is. However, if we find that players are intensely competing against each other on leaderboards for extended periods and have created a dedicated subreddit for optimization strategies, then we would certainly consider expanding it further to see what possibilities could arise!

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2024-12-15 14:56