Golden Compass Game now available

[Brian G Turner]

A game version of The Golden Compass for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360
is now available, allowing fans to play Lyra through the world's of Phillip Pullman.

While I can't find any reviews at present online, the graphics do look well constructed - but at nearly £40 a game, I should hope so.

Here to introduce Lyra in the game are the two main game developers at Shiny, SEGA’s studio in Los Angeles.

David Msika, game director, says, “On the design front, we were faced with some interesting challenges in regards to putting Lyra into the game. The obvious game mechanic that we thought about was to use her shape-shifting daemon as a “tool belt” that extends her traversal abilities, but there are two other attributes of her character that we couldn’t ignore: she’s good at deceiving people and she owns a golden compass that tells the truth.”

“How do you make a game about a liar and design a “Golden Compass” mechanic that’s pivotal to the story but so very complex to understand?” asks Ken Lee, lead designer. “The keyword was “focus”; whether Lyra conjures up a convoluted lie or stares intently at the golden compass, she always “focuses” on her thoughts. That “focus” is translated in a series of mini-games that symbolize her ability to clear her mind and come up with the solution.”

Now to hear what Dakota has to say about acting and the game.

• Tell us about acting to a green screen and not really being able to work out the action all that much (either in the game or film)?

Green screen work is quite hard, especially with Pan. A person is meant to love their daemons beyond life and whilst your filming it’s just a green sack! Doing green screen you have to think double about everything, you have to imagine what the daemon for example would be doing then have to think how you would react to it.

• Is there a part of the game or a level which is your favourite?

Jordan college is my favourite setting and I think its Lyra’s also.

• Do you think your video game character looks like you?

Yes! I think it does! I wish I was as brave as her though!

• Have they captured your mannerisms?

Yes, we did body scanning for the game, and head scans so I think Lyra is like me.

• Is it a weird thought that people are moving ‘you’ around like a puppet?!

We got invited to SEGA play the game when it was in development, it is very weird to see yourself in the game, it’s strange hearing your voice giving yourself instructions!

• Have you got a copy of the game yet or will you be running to the post box to collect your one from SEGA?

I’ll definitely be getting a copy as soon as it is out, I’ve really enjoyed playing it!