Apologies if this has been asked, but I was wondering about how the two screens will be used in OW2.

It looks like they're able to show two completely different parts of the map. Does this mean the top screen shows your currently selected worm and the bottom screen is user controlled via the stylus, allowing you to scroll around the screen for aiming purposes?

If so, yay! Great solution to the limited screen space on the DS.

Both screens use in-game view (it scrolls between the both of them). You can move with the stylus and when pressing START you get stats and a full map overview on the top screen.

I just want to say that the usage of both screens is excellent, exactly what I asked for a while back when playing WOW1 and thinking, the bottom screen is wasted!

Well, its great you're implementing solutions to my complaints. :)

Secondly, I looked at some pre-release screenshots from IGN, and have to say, the graphical improvement is exactly what I expected WOW2 to be. I just can't wait to play it. It was obvious that the poor sprites and image quality on WOW1 was not down to hardware, and simply "not enough time" spent developing.

I know you have deadlines, and just want to say, you have given me back confidence in the T17 brand.

I just pray that there is no flickering issues and AI improvement. With that, I cant wait to rope race online!.

ps. are there mines? I dont see any in the screenshots posted on the official site. Come to think of it, I didn't see any hats in the DS screenshots either. Are these planned for the ds release, or will the DS will be cut down in content?

I don't think either version is "cut down in content". They both have a couple of exclusive things depending on the platform (the PSP version is obviously graphically superior, but lacks a minigame and flag-drawing).

Looking at it, it seems safe to assume that there's no code (or at least, very little code) in common between the two DS versions. So any bugs from the old one would return only by coincidence.

I'd stake large amounts of money on there being mines. My limit on that bet would be roughly equal to Team17's expected profits from the game, since then they'd just take the bet and quietly comment out the mine code.

There are mines in the DS, of course.

The DS version doesn't have hats due to the resolution really, there's not enough to really make them look good. The DS has other exclusives though (minigames using DS feature-set).

I just want to say that the usage of both screens is excellent, exactly what I asked for a while back when playing WOW1 and thinking, the bottom screen is wasted!

Well, its great you're implementing solutions to my complaints. :)

Secondly, I looked at some pre-release screenshots from IGN, and have to say, the graphical improvement is exactly what I expected WOW2 to be. I just can't wait to play it. It was obvious that the poor sprites and image quality on WOW1 was not down to hardware, and simply "not enough time" spent developing.

I know you have deadlines, and just want to say, you have given me back confidence in the T17 brand.

I just pray that there is no flickering issues and AI improvement. With that, I cant wait to rope race online!.

ps. are there mines? I dont see any in the screenshots posted on the official site. Come to think of it, I didn't see any hats in the DS screenshots either. Are these planned for the ds release, or will the DS will be cut down in content?

Thanks for your feedback, although I'd like to say that we'd obviously always like to develop the best game we can, it's just that sometimes the opportunity doesn't always occur (a mixture of time, budget and availability of good people).

With the sequel to WOW, we were able to take our time with the feature-set, engage with good people to help us deliver a great DS edition (hence Two Tribes involvement) and take enough time to develop it.

Of course there has been some critique of the original game and we took that on board, although most of the design and direction for WOW2 was discussed in 2005 during the latter stages of the first game.

As the animator I would have to say I'm delighted with the look of the WOW2 worm on the DS. Working with Two Tribes allowed us to find some excellent solutions to the hardware restrictions. It's amazing what you can achieve if everybody does their best. I've been playing a build of WOW2 on the DS for the last couple of days and its been a real pleasure (even though I'm rubbish at it).

[bonz joke]I hope you're not just saying that so you get more money for beers from people buying it when it's actually crap... http://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/beer.pnghttp://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/beer.pnghttp://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/beer.pnghttp://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/beer.pnghttp://www.nanacide.com/images/Emoticons/beer.png[/bonz joke]



And if the [bonz joke] tags didn't give you the hint, this whole post except this bit is j/k

Ive had a look at the Two Tribes Developers website, and I think WOW2 is in pretty safe hands (to my relief:o ).

However, I would like to know that if you T17 aren't happy with it, please don't put your names to it until you are. Since its cartridge any significant issues won't be fixable unlike the PSP, where downloadable content allows the use of patches etc...

I was just wondering, WWP looks excellently rendered on the n gage, is it a more powerful system than the NDS? Or is its screen resolution better to develop for?
Im pretty sad about the hats.
I mean Mario Bros has Mario wearing a hat which is clearly defined in Mario Bros. Hey, why not make the worms 3d sprites like in mario bros? Those graphics are excellent.

I agree that Worms has a longer perspective camera than Mario Bros but it would be great if there was a way to work hats into the game. But regardless, it should be an amazing game I can wait for.

Darkspark, you're talking about two completely different games with completely different game engines. Spadge said that hats aren't in the DS version because they don't look good - the DS has very minimal antialiasing capabilities, and absolutely no texture filtering. The PSP has both in abundance, so rotating a pre-rendered sprite of a deep-sea diver's helmet is far easier and looks much prettier. Using realtime-rendered hats, as Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros. quite obviously do, would just confuse matters. And it's not necessary.

Ive had a look at the Two Tribes Developers website, and I think WOW2 is in pretty safe hands (to my relief:o ).

However, I would like to know that if you T17 aren't happy with it, please don't put your names to it until you are. Since its cartridge any significant issues won't be fixable unlike the PSP, where downloadable content allows the use of patches etc...

I was just wondering, WWP looks excellently rendered on the n gage, is it a more powerful system than the NDS? Or is its screen resolution better to develop for?
Im pretty sad about the hats.
I mean Mario Bros has Mario wearing a hat which is clearly defined in Mario Bros. Hey, why not make the worms 3d sprites like in mario bros? Those graphics are excellent.

I agree that Worms has a longer perspective camera than Mario Bros but it would be great if there was a way to work hats into the game. But regardless, it should be an amazing game I can wait for.

It wasn't so much a technical issue, more of a scale/art problem due to the DS's resolution and texture filtering etc. Its possible to do, but if they look indistinct, why bother. Mario and Worms are entirely different beasts.

We're more than happy with the new DS version, I can assure you.

I was just wondering, WWP looks excellently rendered on the n gage, is it a more powerful system than the NDS? Or is its screen resolution better to develop for?

That's a question for me I guess ;)

The NGage version of WWP is a port of the Dreamcast/PSX version, which we scaled and enhanced to look as good on the NGage screen as possible. WOW2 for DS is going to blow that version out of the water (or into it, if we're using Worms metaphors ;)) on both the audiovisual as the gameplay department.

The NGage version of WWP is a port of the Dreamcast/PSX version, which we scaled and enhanced to look as good on the NGage screen as possible.

Is it? Blimey. It looks better than the PSone version, in my opinion (yes, smaller and more blocky for obvious reasons, but with richer effects than its home console cousin). I've yet to play it, mind...