jean-charles-gaudechon
Latest
Return to DUST 514, get free dropsuits
CCP wants you to know that it's made a bunch of changes to its EVE-universe DUST 514 shooter. The company has a new "welcome back" page on its official DUST website that features a promotion for players with that have been inactive for more than 60 days. Gifts include 100 copies of the Black Eagles Scout dropsuit and 100 copies of the Quafe Scout dropsuit. The blurb also mentions various in-game improvements since last May's Uprising 1.0 patch. In other DUST news, Polygon interviewed new executive producer Jean-Charles Gaudechon, who says his first order of business is to amp up the new player experience. "If I would want to push the game somewhere right now," he explained, "it would be to really focus on that kind of visceral gameplay -- that intense first few hours, first few days of playing the game -- and making sure that we can engage more people into that world, into that fiction, and show you how deep and rich that universe is."
CCP recruits new executive producer into Dust 514 ranks
CCP has tapped Jean-Charles Gaudechon to be the new executive producer on Dust 514. Gaudechon will oversee all ongoing development of the free-to-play PS3 shooter from CCP's Shanghai studio. Gaudechon has a strong background in free-to-play. Previously, he led development on and launched Need for Speed World, but most recently Gaudechon wrapped up a stint at EA Stockholm where he worked on Battlefield: Play4Free and Battlefield Heroes. Dust 514 is CCP's free-to-play shooter, available exclusively on PS3, set within the EVE universe. A new update called "Uprising" was outlined earlier this month, which will aim to streamline tutorials and better introduce players to Dust 514's mechanics and customization options.
CCP hires new Executive Producer for DUST 514, Jean-Charles Gaudechon
It makes sense to hire people based on what they've already proven capable of doing. That's obvious. If someone has built seven houses that have all stood up to hurricanes, you're probably going to hire that guy to build your hurricane shelter. And if someone's familiar with making multiplayer first-person shooters work in the free-to-play market, well, you'll hire him to manage DUST 514. That's what CCP Games did with their newest Executive Producer for the game. Jean-Charles Gaudechon previously worked for Electronic Arts in Stockholm, Sweden, where he worked on both Battlefield: Play4free and Battlefield Heroes. He also worked on Need for Speed World, which is less of a shooter but still an online title with similar needs to DUST 514. Gaudechon will be responsible for overseeing further development of the title at CCP's Shanghai studio and will report directly to senior VP of product development Sean Decker. [Source: CCP Games press release]
Need for Speed World goes free-to-play
Need for Speed World launched at the end of July with a business model that many MMO fans like to call "free-to-try." Players could zoom around for as long as they wanted at no cost, but with a level cap of 10. Paid players could reach level 50. The NFSW team members have had some time to settle in, watch player reaction, and discuss where they want the game to go from here, and today they announced their decision: the level cap is off and Need for Speed World is free-to-play! We chatted with Producer Jean-Charles Gaudechon about the change shortly before it happened, and he had some exciting things to tell us. Follow along after the jump for all the details and a first look at some of the new content.
E3 2010: Revving up Need For Speed World
"This is Need for Speed World. It is a Massively Multiplayer Action Racing Game. This is the first time for the franchise to go on the Massively Multi[player] Online market, so that is really exciting for us," Producer Jean-Charles Gaudechon announces to Massively at E3 as he gives us a tour of this brand new step into the MMO world. He could not wait to show of the innovative and (dare it be said) powerful features of this, yes, free-to-play game. How does someone transform one of the best-selling console racing franchises into an online living world that players expect from an MMOG? The producers at EA make it seem simple. It actually seems as if this game should have been an online world the whole time. From customizable cars to character leveling and achievements to exportable leaderboards -- this game is any MMO without even thinking. All you need now is a couple thousand friends for you to race against. "The world is the biggest we've ever done, it's a seamless open world that you can explore." Well, that sounds like an invitation from Mister Gaudechon. Follow the break, and we will explore!
New producer interview video zooms in on Need for Speed World
Recently, EA held their super-shiny EA Showcase event across the pond, showing off -- among many other well-known upcoming EA titles -- their auto-racing MMO, Need for Speed World. While we sadly weren't able to make it there to catch all the tire-screeching action in person, EA has put out a video today offering those of us who couldn't make it a brief interview with the game's producer Jean-Charles Gaudechon. Not only are we treated to some information on what their plans are, (hint: they're in closed beta now with the intent to launch this summer), but there is also quite a bit of in-game eyecandy footage for those who are curious to see more. With the ability to race with "thousands" of other people in the world, this could well prove a crazy addictive game for those road warriors in the Massively crew. If it sounds like your idea of awesome, you can sign up for the beta over on the official Need for Speed World site, and check out the video behind the break.
