LEGO Rock Raiders (PlayStation video game): Difference between revisions

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== Development ==
== Development ==
<!--Development on the PlayStation version of ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' began in July 1998. Like the Windows version, it was developed by the [[Wikipedia:Halesowen|Halesowen]]-based video game company [[Data Design Interactive]].{{R|WC memo|p=2}}
The PlayStation version of ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' was initially intended to be a [[Wikipedia:Real-time strategy|real-time strategy]] like the Windows version. In early 1999, however, LEGO Media's worldwide managing director Mark Livingstone decided that a real-time strategy game would not work well on the PlayStation. Despite having only six months before the game was due to be submitted to Sony for evaluation, Data Design was ordered to rework it to be an [[Wikipedia:Action game|action game]]. As Tomas Gillo, the project's senior producer, insisted he did not have time to rework the PlayStation game while finishing work on the Windows version, David Upchurch was made the PlayStation version's producer in March 1999.<ref name="Upchurch Rock"/> Upchurch had previously worked for LEGO Media as a producer for ''[[LEGO Chess]]'' and [[LEGO Fantasy|early versions]] of what would eventually become ''[[LEGO Island 2]]'',<ref name="Upchurch Chess"/><ref name="Upchurch Fantasy"/> and had visited Data Design to playtest the Windows version of ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' several times.{{r|BNB 28|p=10}}
 
In early 1999, six months before the PlayStation version of ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' was supposed to be submitted to Sony, the head of LEGO Media International decided that a real-time strategy game would not sell on the PlayStation. Data Design was ordered to change the game to be an [[Wikipedia:Action game|action game]]. As senior producer Tomas Gillo{{R|credits EU producer}} did not have time to rework the PlayStation game while finishing the Windows version, David Upchurch was made the producer for the PlayStation version in March 1999.<ref name="Upchurch LRR"/> Upchurch had previously worked for LEGO Media as a producer for ''[[LEGO Chess]]'' and early versions of what would later become ''[[LEGO Island 2]]'',<ref name="Upchurch LC"/><ref name="Upchurch LI2"/> and had visited Data Design to playtest ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' several times.{{r|BNB28|p=10}} He later described his assignment as being handed "the poison chalice," and hypothesised that LEGO Media's desire to drastically change the game was due to poor sales of [[Wikipedia:Command & Conquer (1995 video game)|''Command & Conquer'']] on PlayStation.<ref name="Upchurch LRR"/>


{{quote box
{{quote box
|quote = ...every night I’d retire to my hotel room, exhausted, thinking to myself “That was a good day, we made good progress… but the game’s still going to crap.” All in all, it was a depressing and demoralising experience that soured my attitude towards working at LEGO Media.
|quote = ...every night I'd retire to my hotel room, exhausted, thinking to myself "That was a good day, we made good progress... but the game’s still going to crap." All in all, it was a depressing and demoralising experience that soured my attitude towards working at LEGO Media.
|author = David Upchurch<ref name="Upchurch LRR"/>
|author = David Upchurch<ref name="Upchurch Rock"/>
|width  = 40%}}
|width  = 40%}}
After many strategy-focused elements were removed from the PlayStation game, the developers were left with a 3D engine that could render deformable terrain, some LEGO vehicle models, and small [[minifigure]] [[Wikipedia:Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]. Upchurch enjoyed controlling the vehicles and drilling through walls, and suggested making the game play like a hybrid between [[Wikipedia:Gauntlet (1985 video game)|''Gauntlet'']] and [[Wikipedia:Blast Corps|''Blast Corps'']].<ref name="Upchurch Rock"/>
As the game's submission date approached, Upchurch spent nearly two months living in [[Wikipedia:Birmingham|Birmingham]] while he worked on it with Data Design Interactive, designing levels and playtesting it. After finishing work on ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' in August 1999, Upchurch left LEGO Media, going on to launch the magazine [[Wikipedia:PlayStation World|''PlayStation World'']] for Computec Media in 2000.<ref name="Upchurch Rock"/><ref name="Upchurch PSW"/> Upchurch later wrote about his experience on his website, where he described his assignment as being handed "the poison chalice" and cited his negative experience producing ''Rock Raiders'' as a major reason for leaving LEGO Media. He also hypothesised that Livingstone's desire to drastically change the game was due to poor sales of [[Wikipedia:Command & Conquer (1995 video game)|''Command & Conquer'']] on PlayStation.<ref name="Upchurch Rock"/>


After many strategy-focussed elements were removed from the PlayStation game, the developers were left with a 3D rendering engine that could render and deform terrain, some LEGO vehicle models, and small minifigure [[Wikipedia:Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]. Upchurch enjoyed controlling the vehicles and suggested making the game play like a hybrid between [[Wikipedia:Gauntlet (1985 video game)|''Gauntlet'']] and [[Wikipedia:Blast Corps|''Blast Corps'']], where the player could complete missions either on-foot or in vehicles, and could construct vehicles and decide how to best use them to traverse caverns.<ref name="Upchurch LRR"/>
<!--Development on the PlayStation version of ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' began in July 1998. Like the Windows version, it was developed by the [[Wikipedia:Halesowen|Halesowen]]-based video game company [[Data Design Interactive]].{{R|WC memo|p=2}}


As the game's submission date approached, Upchurch spent nearly two months living in Birmingham while he worked on it with Data Design Interactive, playtesting and designing levels for it. After finishing work on ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' in August 1999, Upchurch left LEGO Media, going on to launch [[Wikipedia:PlayStation World|''PlayStation World'']] magazine for Computec Media in 2000. He later cited his negative experience producing this game as a major reason for leaving.<ref name="Upchurch LRR"/><ref name="Upchurch PSW"/>
, where the player could complete missions either on-foot or in vehicles, and could construct vehicles and decide how to best use them to traverse caverns.<ref name="Upchurch LRR"/>
-->{{R|BNB 28}}<ref name="Upchurch Chess"/><ref name="Upchurch Fantasy"/><ref name="Upchurch Rock"/><ref name="Upchurch PSW"/>
-->{{R|BNB 28}}<ref name="Upchurch Chess"/><ref name="Upchurch Fantasy"/><ref name="Upchurch Rock"/><ref name="Upchurch PSW"/>


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<ref name="GRPS">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197778-lego-rock-raiders/index.html |title=LEGO Rock Raiders for PlayStation |website=[[Wikipedia:GameRankings|GameRankings]] |publisher=[[Wikipedia:CBS Interactive|CBS Interactive]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501070507/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197778-lego-rock-raiders/index.html |archive-date=1 May 2019 |access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="GRPS">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197778-lego-rock-raiders/index.html |title=LEGO Rock Raiders for PlayStation |website=[[Wikipedia:GameRankings|GameRankings]] |publisher=[[Wikipedia:CBS Interactive|CBS Interactive]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501070507/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197778-lego-rock-raiders/index.html |archive-date=1 May 2019 |access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>


<ref name="Ashe">{{cite web |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=3037&full=1 |title=LEGO Rock Raiders (PS) |last=Ashe |first=Suzanne |date=30 August 2000 |website=[[Wikipedia:EP Daily|The Electric Playground]] |publisher=Elecplay.com Productions, Inc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031114022132/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=3037&full=1 |archive-date=14 November 2003 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Ashe">{{cite web |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=3037&full=1 |title=LEGO Rock Raiders (PS) |last=Ashe |first=Suzanne |date=30 August 2000 |website=[[Wikipedia:EP Daily|The Electric Playground]] |publisher=Elecplay.com Productions, Inc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031114022132/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=3037&full=1 |archive-date=14 November 2003 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>


<ref name="Cleveland">{{cite web |url=http://psx.ign.com/reviews/11740.html |title=Who knew playing with Lego's on your PlayStation could be fun? We sure were surprised |last=Cleveland |first=Adam |date=16 August 2000 |website=[[Wikipedia:IGN|IGN PSX]] |publisher=Snowball.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001215041100/http://psx.ign.com/reviews/11740.html |archive-date=15 December 2000 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Cleveland">{{cite web |url=http://psx.ign.com/reviews/11740.html |title=Who knew playing with Lego's on your PlayStation could be fun? We sure were surprised |last=Cleveland |first=Adam |date=16 August 2000 |website=[[Wikipedia:IGN|IGN PSX]] |publisher=Snowball.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001215041100/http://psx.ign.com/reviews/11740.html |archive-date=15 December 2000 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
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<!-- devs -->
<!-- devs -->


<ref name="BNB 28">{{cite web |url=https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blt91b7459c7d4a7c4f/bits_n_bricks_s02e28_feature_and_transcript.pdf |title=Episode 28 – The Fans, Devs, and Remake of RTS Classic LEGO Rock Raiders |last1=Crecente |first1=Brian |last2=Vincent |first2=Ethan |others=Participants: Simon Eriksson, Ferdinand Köstler, Alan Sokol, and Karl White |date=14 July 2021 |work=[[Bits N' Bricks]] |type=Podcast |publisher=The LEGO Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119070931/https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blt91b7459c7d4a7c4f/bits_n_bricks_s02e28_feature_and_transcript.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2023 |access-date=30 May 2024 |url-status=live}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDGAJObpSAA Audio version] via YouTube.</ref>
<ref name="BNB 28">{{cite web |url=https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blt91b7459c7d4a7c4f/bits_n_bricks_s02e28_feature_and_transcript.pdf |title=Episode 28 – The Fans, Devs, and Remake of RTS Classic LEGO Rock Raiders |last1=Crecente |first1=Brian |last2=Vincent |first2=Ethan |others=Participants: Simon Eriksson, Ferdinand Köstler, Alan Sokol, and Karl White |date=14 July 2021 |work=[[Bits N' Bricks]] |type=Podcast |publisher=[[The LEGO Group]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119070931/https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blt91b7459c7d4a7c4f/bits_n_bricks_s02e28_feature_and_transcript.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2023 |access-date=30 May 2024 |url-status=live}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDGAJObpSAA Audio version] via YouTube.</ref>


<ref name="Upchurch Chess">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-chess-pc |title=LEGO Chess (PC) |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821013515/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-chess-pc |archive-date=21 August 2018 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Upchurch Chess">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-chess-pc |title=LEGO Chess (PC) |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821013515/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-chess-pc |archive-date=21 August 2018 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>


<ref name="Upchurch Fantasy">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-island-2-various |title=LEGO Island 2 (Various) |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821005113/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-island-2-various |archive-date=21 August 2018 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Upchurch Fantasy">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-island-2-various |title=LEGO Island 2 (Various) |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821005113/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-island-2-various |archive-date=21 August 2018 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>


<ref name="Upchurch PSW">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=psw-playstation-world |title=PSW: Playstation World |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821015608/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=psw-playstation-world |archive-date=21 August 2018 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Upchurch PSW">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=psw-playstation-world |title=PSW: Playstation World |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821015608/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=psw-playstation-world |archive-date=21 August 2018 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>


<ref name="Upchurch Rock">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-rock-raiders-ps1 |title=LEGO Rock Raiders (PS1) |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118171620/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-rock-raiders-ps1 |archive-date=18 January 2019 |access-date=30 May 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Upchurch Rock">{{cite web |url=http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-rock-raiders-ps1 |title=LEGO Rock Raiders (PS1) |last=Upchurch |first=David |year=2012 |website=DUpchurch.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118171620/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-rock-raiders-ps1 |archive-date=18 January 2019 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>
}}
}}


Revision as of 06:53, 31 May 2024

LEGO Rock Raiders
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)LEGO Media International
Producer(s)
  • Tomas Gillo
  • David Upchurch
  • Stewart Green
Programmer(s)
  • Tony Stoddart
  • Steve Deacon
Artist(s)
  • Rob Dorney
  • Dave Garbett
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • EU: November 1999
  • NA: August 15, 2000[1]
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

LEGO Rock Raiders is a 1999 action and strategy game developed by Data Design Interactive and published by LEGO Media International for PlayStation. The game is based on and was developed alongside the LEGO theme of the same name. Like the Windows version of LEGO Rock Raiders, it features a team of space explorers mining for energy crystals on a hostile alien planet. Rather than managing a team of Rock Raiders, however, the player directly controls one character in each level, traversing challenges using their chosen character's skills and any vehicles they find.

Initially conceived as a strategy game akin to its Windows counterpart, development on the PlayStation version of Rock Raiders started over in early 1999 at the behest of LEGO Media International. Developers were given only six months to complete the new version of the game, which eventually became an action game similar to Blast Corps. It released in Europe in late 1999 alongside the Windows version; however, the game was initially rejected by Sony's North American branch. The North American version went through a further period of development, receiving many adjustments and a new set of levels by GameWorld 7, before eventually releasing in August 2000. Though the game was reworked due to concerns that strategy games would not be successful on PlayStation, it ended up receiving mixed reviews.

Gameplay

Characters

Vehicles

Alien lifeforms

Other stuff like geysers and webs.

Missions

In total, the two versions of the game have fifty unique missions between them, and sixty-three total missions, listed below:

Europe (PAL) North America (NTSC-U/C)
Level One-player Two-player One-player Two-player
1
2
–
3
–
4
–
–
–

Development

The PlayStation version of LEGO Rock Raiders was initially intended to be a real-time strategy like the Windows version. In early 1999, however, LEGO Media's worldwide managing director Mark Livingstone decided that a real-time strategy game would not work well on the PlayStation. Despite having only six months before the game was due to be submitted to Sony for evaluation, Data Design was ordered to rework it to be an action game. As Tomas Gillo, the project's senior producer, insisted he did not have time to rework the PlayStation game while finishing work on the Windows version, David Upchurch was made the PlayStation version's producer in March 1999.[2] Upchurch had previously worked for LEGO Media as a producer for LEGO Chess and early versions of what would eventually become LEGO Island 2,[3][4] and had visited Data Design to playtest the Windows version of LEGO Rock Raiders several times.[5]: 10 

...every night I'd retire to my hotel room, exhausted, thinking to myself "That was a good day, we made good progress... but the game’s still going to crap." All in all, it was a depressing and demoralising experience that soured my attitude towards working at LEGO Media.

David Upchurch[2]

After many strategy-focused elements were removed from the PlayStation game, the developers were left with a 3D engine that could render deformable terrain, some LEGO vehicle models, and small minifigure sprites. Upchurch enjoyed controlling the vehicles and drilling through walls, and suggested making the game play like a hybrid between Gauntlet and Blast Corps.[2]

As the game's submission date approached, Upchurch spent nearly two months living in Birmingham while he worked on it with Data Design Interactive, designing levels and playtesting it. After finishing work on LEGO Rock Raiders in August 1999, Upchurch left LEGO Media, going on to launch the magazine PlayStation World for Computec Media in 2000.[2][6] Upchurch later wrote about his experience on his website, where he described his assignment as being handed "the poison chalice" and cited his negative experience producing Rock Raiders as a major reason for leaving LEGO Media. He also hypothesised that Livingstone's desire to drastically change the game was due to poor sales of Command & Conquer on PlayStation.[2]

[5][3][4][2][6]

Release

LEGO Media announced that LEGO Rock Raiders for PlayStation had shipped in North America on 15 August 2000. Its suggested retail price was initially US$19.95. LEGO Media's global director Mark Livingstone stated enthusiasm for the game's success, citing the reception that LEGO Racers received on PlayStation.[1] According to IGN, the North American version of LEGO Rock Raiders was officially available two days later on 17 August 2000.[7]

Reception

LEGO Rock Raiders received mixed reviews on PlayStation according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gamespot Staff (15 August 2000). "Lego Rock Riders Ship". GameSpot. CNET Networks, Inc. Archived from the original on 4 October 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Upchurch, David (2012). "LEGO Rock Raiders (PS1)". DUpchurch.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Upchurch, David (2012). "LEGO Chess (PC)". DUpchurch.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Upchurch, David (2012). "LEGO Island 2 (Various)". DUpchurch.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Crecente, Brian; Vincent, Ethan (14 July 2021). "Episode 28 – The Fans, Devs, and Remake of RTS Classic LEGO Rock Raiders" (PDF). Bits N' Bricks (Podcast). Participants: Simon Eriksson, Ferdinand Köstler, Alan Sokol, and Karl White. The LEGO Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024. Audio version via YouTube.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Upchurch, David (2012). "PSW: Playstation World". DUpchurch.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cleveland, Adam (16 August 2000). "Who knew playing with Lego's on your PlayStation could be fun? We sure were surprised". IGN PSX. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2000. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "LEGO Rock Raiders for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Green, Earl (August 2000). "LEGO Rock Raiders (PS) - Review". All Game Guide. AEC One Stop Group, Inc. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Ashe, Suzanne (30 August 2000). "LEGO Rock Raiders (PS)". The Electric Playground. Elecplay.com Productions, Inc. Archived from the original on 14 November 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ Satterfield, Shane (24 August 2000). "Lego Rock Raiders Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. CNET Networks, Inc. Archived from the original on 26 June 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Soropos, George (January 2000). "Lego Rockraiders". Official Australian PlayStation Magazine. No. 30. Sydney: APC Publishing. p. 72.
  13. ↑ Steinman, Gary (October 2000). "Reviews: Lego Rock Raiders". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 37. Oak Brook: Ziff Davis Media. p. 133.

External Links

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