The folks over at GameSpot recently took the time to talk to Mortal Kombat co-creator and development lead Ed Boon concerning the upcoming port of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the Nintendo Wii. Several tidbits of new information were revealed about the Wii version of MK:A during this brief one-page interview. For example, one of the first questions asked was about how feedback from the already-released versions of MK:A affected the development of the Wii version. From the interview:

GS: Did any of the user feedback on the released versions of Armageddon affect development of the Wii game?

EB: Yes; MK fans will notice some additional features and tweaks to the kombat. For example, we have implemented and are tuning some new kombat centered around the "laying down" actions in the game. We listen closely to feedback on the game and like to make things better where we can.

In addition, Ed goes into some detail about the control scheme in MK: Armageddon, revealing that the game can be played with the Wiimote and the classic controllers (the classic Wii gamepad or the GameCube contoller).

GS: How did you approach control in the game? Did you feel like you had to use the Wii Remote and motion sensing? How did you implement it?

EB: Using the Wii-mote for MK: Armageddon was a must for us. We felt there would be no point in doing this game for the Wii if we did not support the Wii-mote for all modes and features. We didn't want to just support it, though--we wanted to utilize it and customize the gameplay experience. When you play it, you will notice that every single super move in the game is controlled by a Wii gesture system; also, the fatality systems will use the gesture system. For example, to do a move like throw Scorpion's spear, you will swing the Wii-mote away from your enemy and then bring it back toward your enemy, as if you are throwing the spear yourself toward the enemy, in an "away-toward" motion. It makes all of the moves feel more visceral, and it feels like you are more directly doing the action over just button presses. We want the controls of MK: Armageddon to be the biggest feature of this game on top of all of the content it already has.

GS: Did you implement alternative control methods to make sure longtime MK vets weren't alienated?

EB: Yes! To make sure we stayed true to our fans and people who like the other controllers, we are also supporting the Wii's Classic Controller as well as the GameCube controller for use in MK: Armageddon for the Wii. You could be playing Mortal Kombat with one person using a Wii-mote and Nunchuk, one person with just the Wii-mote, one person on the GameCube controller, and one person on a Classic Controller. We wanted the player to have as many options as possible.

Finally, Ed does mention the two changes made to the game from the XBox/PS2 versions, and the one thing that had to be removed.

GS: How much Wii-exclusive original content is in the game?

EB: There are two main things that we are bringing to the Wii exclusively over the PS2 and Xbox versions. As we've talked about, we have focused a lot on the controls and how we'll use those in the game as creatively as possible.

Additionally, we have implemented a new mode called "Endurance mode" for the Wii. We wanted to enhance the single-player experience on the Wii. In this mode you will fight a series of opponents one round at a time, without getting any additional health after each enemy. How many can you beat? Can you beat all 20 in Endurance mode?

GS: Is there any online functionality in the game?

EB: No. The online components of the Wii were not ready for us when we would have needed them in the development cycle.

In addition to the text interview, there is also a video of Ed demonstrating the Wiimote control system for MK: Armageddon. However, it should be noted that all of the demonstrated moves were for special moves and kreate-a-fatality, and not of actual normal fighting or chain combos.

To read the interview with Ed in its entirety, click here. To watch the video demonstrating playing MK: Armageddon using a Wiimote, click here and choose Official Movie 11.

Our thanks to forum member for letting us know about this important interview!