Ve3tro.com Interview: Tropico 3 with Timo Thomas, Kalypso Media Product Manager

We have covered a lot of news on Tropico 3 and we know that you (much like ourselves), can’t get enough of this game.

So we’ve decided to interview Timo Thomas, Kalypso Media Product Manager for Tropico 3.

Being such a cult-classic franchise, is it intimidating bringing out a new Tropico iteration?

Everyone at Haemimont are big fans of the series so it was quite an honor and a thrill for us to bring such a beloved classic back to the fans and re-imagine and build on the great gameplay in a way that will reintroduce the game to new players as well. We understood when we started this project that the original Tropico was regarded as a gem by the computer gaming community, and our priority was to really build on that foundation.
One of the challenges we faced was that we had to please the die-hard fans of the original, but we also had to find a way to make the third installment just as popular with people who are unfamiliar with the first.

This was one of the most important factors from the start, and we’ve done a great job of addressing that by retaining the elements that made the original Tropico a cult classic, as well as improving the graphics and adding new features that are sure to garner attention from gamers who are new to the franchise.

What has been done to innovate or improve the series since we have last seen it?

Part of what made the original Tropico such a success was that you could create an open-ended experience where your players could build and rule in a variety of different ways in this incredibly fun, vibrant Caribbean setting. Our goal was to build on these factors, but we’ve also added some exciting new features. Upgrading the visuals was obviously a necessity, and we’ve put a lot of effort into making Tropico 3 a truly aesthetically astounding game.
There are dynamic changes in weather, the water is clear and blue, and the jungles are lush; we wanted the visuals to really add to the experience. Some key gameplay features have been added as well, like the avatar feature. In the past, El Presidente didn’t have any customizable options and couldn’t leave the palace. In Tropico 3 you get to decide who El Presidente is; you can choose from well-known dictators such as Fidel Castro and Che Guevara to name a few, or you can create your own custom dictator.

Every dictator has positive and negative traits as well as a ‘rise to power’ option that will affect the respect levels of the different factions in Tropico. There are also online features, new buildings, new economy options and more, unfortunately it would take too long to give all the details. I will mention that the soundtrack is just as charming as the first.

Since the game is coming out on the Xbox 360 as well as the PC, has the fact that the game is dual platforms hinder the games experience?

Not at all. We’ve spent a lot of time making both versions stand out on their respective platforms. Most people are under the impression that a typhoon/civ game can’t succeed on a console, mostly because of controller issues and the popular demand for first person shooters/action/adventure games, but we’ve put a lot of time and effort into making the 360 controller scheme easy to handle and the gameplay is addicting, regardless of the platform.
We’re hoping to break the mold when it comes to this genre of game in the console world and between the graphics, control scheme and gameplay, we feel very confident in our ability to do so.

Will each version play similar (360 and PC), or will each have its own and quirks and differences?

The core gameplay is intact for the 360 version, and all the features and content from the PC version will also be on the 360. The interface is obviously reworked to fit the controller – Tropico 3 is suited to the console due to the player being able to play at his or her own pace, even pausing the game while still issuing build commands etc if necessary. The pace is adjustable, compared to the hectic real-time strategy games that don’t usually work well on consoles.
The Timeline editor (which is basically a powerful scripting tool for user generated content) is not present in the Xbox version due to its complex nature. The random map generator still allows for an unlimited number of challenges on the console.

What is the main thing you want people to think when they launch Tropico 3?

We want them to think about their friends and loved ones, because they probably won’t be seeing them for a while.

Now that Tropico has been brought back to us, what can we expect from the future?

The series has such a loyal fanbase that we still have plenty of fan feedback and suggestions that we can incorporate into future expansions or versions of the game. And, we hope that Tropico 3 will continue to generate good ideas and feedback from fans.
And, of course we have quite a few good ideas of our own for the series! So expect to see some innovative expansions coming soon!

We would like to give a big thank you to Timo for his time and wonderful answers.