How Milestone is Bringing Monster Trucks to Life in Monster Jam Showdown
Category: Games
How Milestone is Bringing Monster Trucks to Life in Monster Jam Showdown
Published
July 11, 2024
Summary
Learn how the team at Milestone blends off-road arcade racing with iconic Monster Jam trucks for Monster Jam Showdown.Iconic racing locations include Death Valley, Colorado, and Alaska featuring a variety of original modes where things will get bigger and even more extreme.Monster Jam Showdown will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One as of August 29, 2024, with Early Access available from August 26, 2024. Digital pre-order opens today on the Xbox Store.
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When I got the news that we were going to develop a game about Monster Jam trucks, I was filled with a mix of emotions — I was both excited and a bit lost. This would be my first title as Game Director but also Milestone’s first project with these kinds of vehicles. I was already aware Monster Jam had a huge and passionate fanbase all over the world, and all the elements were there for us embark on a unique and interesting journey.
The word ‘unique’ is intrinsically linked to the Monster Jam world. We’re talking about 10.5-feet-tall, 12.5-feet-wide, and 17-feet-long trucks that weigh 12,000 pounds and generate 1,500 horsepower. Only a few people in the world get the chance to get behind the wheel of such giants, and this was the first big challenge we had to face. When you develop a racing game with bikes or cars, at least you have an initial idea of the feelings you want convey. With Monster Jam trucks, you don’t have the starting base that you need to identify key elements for a successful gameplay.
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The team and myself took a flight to Sweden to watch in-person my first Monster Jam event — this was probably the wisest decision I could have made. What quickly captured my attention was the sense of massive power that those behemoths convey, which immediately became the core of Monster Jam Showdown gameplay. The handling we developed will deliver all the key elements of driving a Monster Jam truck, but at the same time, we tailored the gaming experience to suit everybody’s needs, making the game as enjoyable as possible from the very first races.
In this regard, the work we did on the suspensions was fundamental, as these are one of the most crucial mechanical elements of a Monster Jam truck, and the reason why most of the maneuvers we see are possible. Importantly, we also added both a single-steering option, which controls the front and rear wheels at the same time from one stick, and a double steering option. The double-steering option allows you to control the front and rear wheels separately with both sticks, which mimics the set-up in a real Monster Jam truck.
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However, this was not the biggest learning I took back with me to Italy. The whole atmosphere of the event and the general feeling of “being part of something” remained stuck in my head, lighting up the final spark I was looking for. Monster Jam Showdown would not just be a racing game with trucks, but would offer players a one-of-a-kind gaming experience, mirroring the real-life events. This became our mission, and we worked hard to offer the same combination of competition and spectacle in the game that you see lives.
On one side, we did that by giving you the opportunity to compete in the most beloved official competitions, such as Freestyle and Racing. On the other side, we put a lot of effort to recreate vehicles and objects destructibility and added some cool arcade elements like boost and combos. The final and probably boldest step was broadening the entertainment beyond official locations and competitions.
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In Monster Jam Showdown, we give you the chance to drive your favorite trucks in some of the most iconic places on Earth. The barren desert of Death Valley, the stunning forests and crystal rivers of Colorado, and the wintry, wild mountains of Alaska will host a bunch of original game modes where things will get bigger, and even more extreme. Here, our design team crafted dramatic tracks that will immerse you into unprecedented scenarios, allowing you to race side-by-side with the other trucks looking for the smartest shortcut to gain the first position or even to fly over the opponents, leveraging the verticality of the layouts. This is something that will also help when performing the most difficult stunts in the open-air arenas hosting Freestyle events within those three original environments.
Learning about the Monster Jam world has been an exciting journey for us, and we combined such discovery with Milestone’s expertise in racing games to create a diverse arcade package where fans will become the protagonists of the most action-packed motorsports event on four wheels.
Monster Jam Showdown will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One as of August 29, 2024, with Early Access available from August 26, 2024. Digital pre-order opens today on the Xbox Store. For more information, please visit MonsterJamVideogame.com.
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Monster Jam
Showdown
Milestone S.r.l.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$49.99
Pre-order
Wait no more! Pre-order Monster Jam Showdown now. In addition to the full game, you'll get Law & Disorder DLC, including 2 vehicles: Maximum Destruction and New Earth Authority Police!
MASTER THE MOST ICONIC TRUCKS
The excitement of real-life Monster Jam events is ready to explode, thanks to the franchise's most recognizable icons: the trucks. Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon and many others… Drive the hottest rides in Monster Jam racing the current fleet, the legendary history-making trucks, and the wildest fictional beasts from the toy universe. Unlock dozens of trucks and collect countless different liveries!
OFF-ROAD ARCADE RACING FUN
Dive into a unique arcade racing experience made of thrilling off-road races and cool tricks. Squeeze your boost to demolish your opponents, then crash, twist, and distress the environment to gain even more power. Whether you're a hardcore Monster Jam fan or an arcade game enthusiast, this title is primed to deliver immediate driving sensations and an accessible dual-steering racing experience.
FREESTYLE WITH STYLE
Balance your truck with the perfect wheelie, eat some dirt doing crisp donuts, or reach the sky performing the greatest big air ever. The bottom line is: get ready to defy gravity in freestyle mode! Launch yourself into insane jumps, flips & stunts, ruling the leaderboards and becoming a trick master!
SHOW WHO'S THE BOSS IN THE SHOWDOWN TOUR
Start your career in the Showdown Tour! A non-linear adventure that will take you racing across various game modes, both in sport venues and wild nature. Beat your opponents and unlock new trucks, liveries, and perks. Who's the boss now?
RACE THE WILDERNESS
Racing and jumping in stadiums and arenas is cool, but sometimes you just want to go a bit off-track, right? So, get ready to drive through the most spectacular untamed environments. Racing through the Death Valley's dust, the forests of Colorado and the Alaskan ice. But watch out, Mother Nature is always lurking: sandstorms, thunderstorms and blizzards are going to make things even wilder!
TONS OF GAME MODES
Monster Jam Showdown lets you unleash your sickest tricks and your off-road racing skills among several game modes! Play the original events in the official Monster Jam's inspired stadiums, or go beyond reality with stunts and maneuvers that push the boundaries of what's possible, even for the most skilled driver. Racing on circuits, avoiding crashes on Figure 8 tracks, or surviving Horde races. But also performing in the Best Trick or the Extreme Freestyle mode!
It's time to master them all: to kick off your career and challenge with your friends, even in split screen mode.
Monster Jam Showdown – Big Air Edition
Milestone S.r.l.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$69.99
Pre-order
Feel the adrenaline rush with Monster Jam Showdown – Big Air Edition! Pre-order now and get:
– Full game
– Season Pass
– Law & Disorder DLC, including 2 vehicles: Maximum Destruction e New Earth Authority Police
– Odd Couple DLC, including 2 vehicles: Backwards Bob e Big Kahuna
– 3 days of early access
MASTER THE MOST ICONIC TRUCKS
The excitement of real-life Monster Jam events is ready to explode, thanks to the franchise's most recognizable icons: the trucks. Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon and many others… Drive the hottest rides in Monster Jam racing the current fleet, the legendary history-making trucks, and the wildest fictional beasts from the toy universe. Unlock dozens of trucks and collect countless different liveries!
OFF-ROAD ARCADE RACING FUN
Dive into a unique arcade racing experience made of thrilling off-road races and cool tricks. Squeeze your boost to demolish your opponents, then crash, twist, and distress the environment to gain even more power. Whether you're a hardcore Monster Jam fan or an arcade game enthusiast, this title is primed to deliver immediate driving sensations and an accessible dual-steering racing experience.
FREESTYLE WITH STYLE
Balance your truck with the perfect wheelie, eat some dirt doing crisp donuts, or reach the sky performing the greatest big air ever. The bottom line is: get ready to defy gravity in freestyle mode! Launch yourself into insane jumps, flips & stunts, ruling the leaderboards and becoming a trick master!
SHOW WHO'S THE BOSS IN THE SHOWDOWN TOUR
Start your career in the Showdown Tour! A non-linear adventure that will take you racing across various game modes, both in sport venues and wild nature. Beat your opponents and unlock new trucks, liveries, and perks. Who's the boss now?
RACE THE WILDERNESS
Racing and jumping in stadiums and arenas is cool, but sometimes you just want to go a bit off-track, right? So, get ready to drive through the most spectacular untamed environments. Racing through the Death Valley's dust, the forests of Colorado and the Alaskan ice. But watch out, Mother Nature is always lurking: sandstorms, thunderstorms and blizzards are going to make things even wilder!
TONS OF GAME MODES
Monster Jam Showdown lets you unleash your sickest tricks and your off-road racing skills among several game modes! Play the original events in the official Monster Jam's inspired stadiums, or go beyond reality with stunts and maneuvers that push the boundaries of what's possible, even for the most skilled driver. Racing on circuits, avoiding crashes on Figure 8 tracks, or surviving Horde races. But also performing in the Best Trick or the Extreme Freestyle mode!
It's time to master them all: to kick off your career and challenge with your friends, even in split screen mode.
All content included in Season Pass will be released by February 2025.
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The post How Milestone is Bringing Monster Trucks to Life in Monster Jam Showdown appeared first on Xbox Wire.
