Auto Assault

The End of Tabula Rasa - The Conclusion to the Exclusive Interview - Ten Ton Hammer

Cody Bye — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:36:30 -0500

You don't get restarts in MMO launches.As we draw ever nearer to the eventual closure of NCsoft’s Tabula Rasa,

The End of Tabula Rasa - An Interview with Auto Assault's Scott Brown - Ten Ton Hammer

Cody Bye — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:37:17 -0500

What do you do when something you've worked on for four years goes up in smoke?When the news of Tabula Rasa’s imminent demise hit the internet, the social gamers of our MMO industry

Auto Assault: NetDevil Reacts to Closure - Ten Ton Hammer

Aelryn — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:36:40 -0400

Who'd have thought that an MMO about cars would be a hot potato?

Auto Assault CEO Scott Brown discusses the game's closure and indicates that the company has no plans to salvage it.

Earlier this week, NCSoft announced that they would cease operation of Auto Assault on August 31st, 2007 and we then spoke to David Swofford about the announcement. Now, in an exclusive interview with NetDevil CEO Scott Brown we learn that the developer has no plans to purchase the game back from its publisher, which effectively spells an end to Auto Assault.

David Swofford on Auto Assault's Closure - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:58:07 -0400

Closing the garage doors...

MMORPG's Jon Wood tracks down NCSoft's David Swofford for comment on AA's cancellation:

I think David summed it up best when he said, "What we were putting in, we weren't getting back". In the end, while they may be games to us, MMORPGs like Auto Assault are a business and a business that loses money just doesn't make any sense.

Read the brief interview at MMORPG.com.

Auto Assault: Adam Maxwell Interview - Ten Ton Hammer

LadySirse — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:55:10 -0400

Behind The Wheel: Former Lead Designer Adam "Snipehunter" Maxwell Interview

Auto Assault: Update 4 Q&A - Ten Ton Hammer

LadySirse — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 08:41:39 -0500

Andrew "Zzyn" Wagner and Chris Sherland Talk About Update 4

Yesterday saw an updated to the WarCry site with this Q&A that digs into the upcoming Update 4.

WarCry: Can you talk to us a bit about the Auction system and why it is the headline feature of this update? What does it add to the game?

Andrew Wagner: The auction system adds a much needed means for players to easily buy and sell goods to one another even when the seller may be offline. This will help players at all levels and regardless of their play style and interests. For some it will be a way to acquire needed equipment upgrades.

Get clicking to read more.

Auto Assault: Update 3 Interview - Ten Ton Hammer

LadySirse — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:53:13 -0500

Will Update 3 Change The Course of Auto Assault?

MMORPG.com interviews NetDevil Co-Project Lead Matt Shaffer to find out...

MMORPG.com: What will players see in update 3? Can we get a quick rundown?

Shaffer: We've included a number of high-level and intermediate-level mission instances, as well a couple of extremely tough bosses in Ground Zero. We've also revised the Outpost Token system, which is now oriented more towards PvP play than just capturing Outposts, and have integrated a new set of weapons and items to buy with the Tokens. We've also instituted the start of our skill system pass, which will help balance out skills across the classes quite a bit while eliminating the repetitive or little-used ones.

Get clicking to read the rest of the interview then head over to our Auto Assault Ten Ton Hammer Community site to learn more!

Exclusive Auto Assault Interview with Hermann Peterscheck - Ten Ton Hammer

LadySirse — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:53:04 -0400

Exploding Into the Future: An Auto Assault Q&A with Project Lead Hermann Peterscheck

It's been sour timers for the folks behind the self-proclaimed "most destructive MMO ever" - Auto Assault. While reviewers lambasted the game (mostly for age-old niggles that can be found in any other MMORPG, including that one- I can't remember the name, honest - that has a subscriber base of over 6 million), it soon became obvious that Auto Assault's biggest problem was neither the faux physics jumping behavior in the first-person city perspective nor an arduous crafting system. Put succinctly by Hermann Peterscheck, Auto Assault Project Lead, below: "Nobody's playing because nobody's playing."

Why the MMO market, proportedly as obsessed with destruction and "face melting" as it is, in reality, hooked on orcs and elves, didn't initially take to Auto Assault's brand of online carnage is anyone's guess. Though (fanboy pallor aside) this is one clone-spurning MMO we at Ten Ton Hammer especially wanted to see take off, the past is in the past. We're not here to put nails in coffins or eulogize NetDevil's strong continuing efforts, and Hermann was kind enough to talk to us about Auto Assault's future.

"Peterscheck - 'What we see over and over again in reviews are comments such as "the missions are boring and repetitive" or "the game has so much potential" which are generally comments that revolve around the same problem which is, the game is not what people expect it to be. As a developer it's very easy to get defensive about this and shrug it off as people "playing the game wrong" or rationalizing "but all other mmps just have kill, collect, deliver" and so on. This attitude may make you feel better but it doesn't change the fact that customers are complaining about it, and if they are complaining they are right. What we did is take a lot of time and conversation both internally, with customers, and with our publisher to decode what this means. One of things I think is a big issue is that we are a car game but do not emphasize enough the fact that you are in a car. Where are the races? Where are the crazy jump and stunt tracks?'"

Get clicking and head over to Auto Assault Ten Ton Hammer to read the rest of this interview!

Auto Assault: Q & A with Hermann Peterscheck - Ten Ton Hammer

LadySirse — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 11:24:18 -0400

Strategy Informer has posted a short Q & A with Auto Assault's Hermann Peterscheck, Project Lead for Auto Assault.

Strategy Informer: Can you tell us about the latest update? What new content has been added?

Hermann Peterscheck: The first update was primarily the addition of content. Filling in mission gaps, adding creatures, items and so on. There were also some significant features such as loot linkingand character respec which our community was asking for. We're really trying to make an effort to listen to our players and give them what they want. We are starting to conduct poles in the patcher to try and help this effort and, of course, the message board is an excellent resource for this.

Read the rest of this interview and then head over to Auto Assault Ten Ton Hammer and let us know what you think! You can always count on the team at Auto Assault Ten Ton Hammer to bring you the latest news, interviews and information.

New AA Community Interview - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:35:50 -0400

Nice shootin', Tex!

This month, Auto Assault - TenTonHammer brings you a community interview featuring a clan that you might know about, the Backseat Drivers. We pull up next to their leader, Tex Johnson, and discuss Auto Assault, the guild, and the guild’s goals.

I had the pleasure this week to interview Tex Johnson, of the Backseat Drivers. If you frequent the official forums then you will probably see plenty of insightful posts from this fine fellow. He's a college student by day and a freelancer by night – patrolling the vast wasteland of Auto Assault with his friends and clan mates.

Join us as we discuss the game at Auto Assault - TenTonHammer!

Denver Post Talks Auto Assault - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:57:44 -0400

Mini-vans with mortars.
The Denver Post has delivered an interview with Scott Brown of NetDevil discussing the vehicular mayhem of Auto Assault.

"We were developing our game and we'd go to a conference like GDC (the Game Developers Conference) and there's a panel and they're like, 'This cannot be done.' They're on this panel telling us you cannot do this, this is impossible," Brown said, explaining the reaction to his company's plans to create a huge world filled with battling cars. "So we did it!""

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at The Denver Post.

Visit Ten Ton Hammer's Auto Assault Community
Official Auto Assault Site
More Auto Assault News

AA Interview at OGaming - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 05:59:30 -0500

Mustangs with missle launchers.
OGaming has posted an Auto Assault Interview featuring Scott Brown, president of NetDevil. Nothing new is disclosed in this romp through the Auto Assault world, but it might serve as either a refresher or a first look for those of you just hearing about the game.

" Got road rage? Join the club; Scott Brown, president of NetDevil and project lead on NCSoft’s Auto Assault (AA), is convinced millions can sympathize. "

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at OGaming.
Still yearning for more?

Auto Assault Interview at NextGen - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 05:52:28 -0400

Toyotas With Tasers.
Next Generation has posted an Auto Assault interview featuring Ryan Seabury. A driver went into a fit of road rage after we cut him off, slammed on the brakes and flipped on our cell phone. His ranting went somthing like this:

" NCSoft is trying to drag the kicking and screaming MMOG genre, away from its fantasy comfort zone into the mainstream. Auto Assault, developed by NetDevil, is a different kind of persistent online world. Design director Ryan Seabury told us the plan… "

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at Next Generation.
Related Links:

Auto Assault Community at TenTonHammer.com
Other Auto Assault News

Auto Assault Interview at WorthPlaying - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 07:46:51 -0400

A Mercury with a Mortar.
Worthplaying has posted an Auto Assault Q&A with Scott Brown. We're happy to inform you that the following was never uttered in either the RoboCop movie or the television show:

" Auto Assault combines vehicular combat with role-playing elements. Players explore a post-apocalyptic future in customizable cars, motorcycles, semis and even tanks. Players battle other players both in arenas and in epic race vs. race wars for control of the regions in a devastated Earth. In this lenghty pre-canned Q&A, NetDevil's President Scott Brown, producer Steve Snow, and Design Director Ryan Seabury tells us about the game's final stages... "

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at WorthPlaying.

MMORPG "AA Dev Profile" Features Art Director - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 07:14:44 -0400

Auto Artsy-Fartsy

MMORPG.COM sat down for a Q&A with Peter Grundy, Art Director for Auto Assault. They contemplate the bigger questions, as artists like to do:

MMORPG.com: One of the catch phrases often thrown about the industry is that many bemoan a lack of innovation in MMORPGs. Auto Assault and Jumpgate have both strayed from the beaten path. How do you see the industry breaking out of its current rut of class based fantasy RPGs? Or do you?
Peter Grundy:

It’s going to be hard. We suffer from the same problems the movie industry does. Is it really worth the risk, breaking a mold that works when so much is riding on the success? Who has the confidence to risk it? These games take so long to make and if you’re wrong there aren’t many second chances. Both Auto Assault and Jumpgate have strayed from the current mold or genre that most MMO’s are taking, but we did this out of conviction on what we think an online game should be, not what they currently are. The verdict is still out as to whether this is what other people want too.

But to know what an artist like Peter Grundy really means you'll have to stare at his work for hours, then go to college to have other people explain it to you. Or, you could just read the rest of the MMORPG.COM Auto Assault art interview!

Boomtown Sports AA Interviews in "Rush Hour 4" - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 09:48:47 -0400

Rush Hour, sans Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan
The last installment of this Auto Assault interview series focuses on why the release date was pushed to 2006, PvP action, backstory, and what AA has to offer in the way of high-end content.

" Can we have a few words on the recent news that Auto Assault has decided to extend the beta, and the improvements they are working towards?

Scott Brown: We evaluated the state of the current game after rushing to get LOTS of content into the game and realized it was not ready for prime time. So we are taking some time to go through every inch of the games content now and making sure it is fun, looks great, and brings a new experience to the game. Specifically, this also gives us more time to get class balances right and make sure PvP is everything we want it to be for the initial release. It is giving us an opportunity that we are all very excited about, and lets us make Auto Assault the best game it can be. "

Beat the traffic! Visit Auto Assault's Rush Hour 4 at Boomtown tout de suite!

TTH: Interview with AA's Scott Brown - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 07:04:07 -0400

Henry Ford might turn over in his grave...

But he wasn't the only inspiration behind the motive MMOG Auto Assault! Learn how Auto Assault evolved conceptually and what it draws from the legends of the MMOG genre in this new sit-down session with Auto Assault Project Lead Scott Brown!

Q : Apart from the obvious, what would you say influenced you in the development of Auto Assault? Not just in a broad sense either - were there any games, movies, or what-have-you that had a direct bearing on some aspect of the game?

Scott Brown : I don't know that there is a direct influence on the game - so many different people's ideas and backgrounds have shaped the game into what it is today. We have wanted to do a car combat MMO for a long time and setting it in a post-apocalyptic universe just makes sense thanks to movies like Mad Max and games like Wasteland and Fallout.

Check out the rest of the interview on theTTH Auto Assault site!

Auto Assault Interview at Boomtown - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 06:34:56 -0400

Corvettes With Cannons.
Boomtown has posted an Auto Assault interview featuring, loot, items and crafting. Vin Diesel once saw a ghost, and it was so scared of him that it turned white. After, he mumbled something that sounded nothing like this:

" The third in a series of in-depth Q&As with the Auto Assault dev-team, discusses Loot, Items and Crafting... "

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at Boomtown.
The most Auto Assault information anywhere - AutoAssault.TenTonHammer.com

Auto Assault Interview at Eurogamer - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 06:54:03 -0400

Gremlins With Grenade Launchers
EuroGamer has an Auto Assault Interview posted featuring NetDevil president, Scott Browm. Keanu Reeves strolled into our offices dressed as Constantine, or Neo, or some other character just like that and professed:

" Games like Guild Wars and World of Warcraft have shown that it's possible and very desirable to make a game accessible and rewarding for both hardcore gamers and the average Joe Bloggs on the street with a couple of hours a week to spend on his PC. Does Auto Assault have similar aspirations? And what is it that determines your approach in this regard - resources, time, commercial obligations, etc? "

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at EuroGamer.
More AA Interviews at AutoAssault.TenTonHammer.com.

Auto Assault Interview at MMORPG - Ten Ton Hammer

Boomjack — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 06:37:29 -0400

Rivieras with Rail-guns.
MMORPG has posted an Auto Assault Interview with Ryan Seabury. Bo Bice has never sung to Ryan Seabury. It's also unlikely he has ever sung the following:

" Ryan Seabury is the Design Director for Auto Assault, the second MMORPG from NetDevil who were also responsible for Jumpgate. Now published by NCSoft, NetDevil faces some tall challenges on their second title and have entrusted the direction of their title to this man. We use this chance to see who he is and where he is going. "

You can read the entire Auto Assault Interview at MMORPG.
More interviews. More screenshots. More Auto Assault. AutoAssault.TenTonHammer.com.