NowGamer talks to GRiN co-founder Bo Andersson, on his upcoming video game adaption of Terminator Salvation

So, how closely does Terminator Salvation follow the upcoming movie?

The game is actually based on the universe and not a re iteration of the movie. You will be playing Connor as he rises through the ranks of the resistance. These are the early days and the fight is open. You are in for a ride that leads up to the movie. This makes Terminator Salvation the game the first chapter in the new story of Connor and his efforts to defeat Skynet. GRIN is hard at work to make Skynet the best opponent ever - who knows we might succeed way beyond what we thought possible.

Can you explain how the arrangement to develop Terminator Salvation come about? What attracted you to the project?   

We have been sniffing around Terminator for a few years and when Halcyon acquired it planets aligned. Halcyon came to us at GRIN with the suggestion to do the game. We flew over to their LA office and got to read the early script sitting at a café overlooked by a lawyer - we had 2 hours to read it and then make up our mind if we thought the movie was cool and if the new universe would be suitable for a game. Coming in as old hardcore fans to T1 and T2 you have a lot of 90's nostalgia and other things clouding your judgment. But when reading the script we saw a new world open up - there is a very strong backbone in this story and we decided there and then to do it. With our previous experience with military shooters and 3rd person action games we felt we could start a very cool games universe. Plus I always wanted to write the AI for Skynet...

What’s the relationship been like with Halcyon? Have they been hands-on with the development at all?    

Halcyon is the license holder and has sign off on what we do with the license. Their president of the game section – Cos Lazouras is hands on involved with the game and act as a executive producer. Halcyon is hands on with the movie as well and has been a great help for us - getting us on the movie set seeing the environments, props and terminators first hand. That has been great for our guys getting into the universe. We took it one step further even. Our two lead concept artist and our art manager actually got in early at the Warner lot and participated in creating concept art for the movie for a month. This way we got to not only see and learn about the style and vision but also create it first hand - this has led to us having a unprecedented likeness in light and environment with the movie. I'm extremely excited to show this to gamers - we will be introducing a new Terminator universe that we helped create. This is a unique approach with embedded artist in the movie and I really foresee this as the future of how games and movie work together on franchises like this.  

So why did you decide to go down the ‘third person action’ route? Were there any other genres that you had in mind for the game?

We were going between FPS and 3rd person of course. In the end we decided 3rd person was the most suitable for what we wanted to do. We want to show a lot of movement and use of cover. Also the squad set up of the resistance fighters we have came out better in 3rd person.   Video games based on movies don’t have a great reputation, as I’m sure you know.

Why do you think so many movie games fail? And are you worried that people will instinctively have a negative reaction to Terminator?   

People love Terminator and want to get into that universe - how many games are not a spin- off of the terminator brand? I think "movie" games come across as less good because the people doing them don’t put their heart into it. We have heart and the Terminator world has all the depth a game should have. At GRIN we have taken it upon us to refine the art of turning great movie IP into games - it is often harder than doing things from scratch. I think Terminator and Wanted will prove that to gamers. Also don’t forget brands like Indy or Starwars... all "movie" games.      

So I’m guessing you guys have been watching a lot of Terminator movies to get in the mood? What do you like most about the films, and which is your favourite?   

I like the fact that it is a believable future. We can all imagine this happening and then imagine how we would try to cope and endure. The two first movies are also built on a love story and a drama - with action attached. I think this is what makes them so genuine. You don’t see that bold move much any longer. Arnold is of course also a favorite - how he could portray a machine in such a stone cold way - actually quite a hard role to play if you think about it. My favorite one is T2 - it is so refined and combines talent in a way never seen before - Cameron, Arnold and Guns n Roses.   

Is it intimidating working with such a well-recognised IP?  

Sure is, I grew up on Terminator with Guns n Roses blasting at full effect. This is a brand I respect deeply and what Cameron did back then was genius. Finally getting to visualize his tale of the future is a daunting task. At the same time it gives you adrenaline every day - a pressure to perform that I like.  

What kind of research have you been doing into the Terminator universe, and what sort of access do you have to the film assets?

We grew up on it! We got to feedback on the evolving movie script. We were on set to see the creation, we got footage from the day to day shoots and as I mentioned we had embedded concept artist on the project - that was fantastic.   

Can you talk about the gameplay at all? What’s the combat system going to be like?

The action is all about the resistance fighting the onslaught of Skynet. Terminators are new to this world and come in a number of iterations - Skynet is trying different things to get rid of you. You as a resistance fighter will have to team up with your comrades and find ways to take down these machines on your way to Salvation. Trying to get metal and stone in between you and the Terminators is a good idea - also working together with your teammates is key to taking down the opponent. The game is a action oriented one with almost a puzzle approach to the combat situations.   

Now you guys are wrapping up on Bionic Commando, will we see any Terminators swinging around with bionic arms…?

Skynet would love to get some of that action I'm sure... but for now we stick to Endo Skeletons stomping down skulls and marching into your living room the old fashioned way.