We recently did a Q&A with Kolbe Launchbaugh of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Producer on Jet X20, SCEA's PS2 jet-skiing extravaganza. Check out what he had to say.

KOLBE: We started the pre-production of Jet X2O in November of 2000, working out the game design, character designs, level layouts, engine spec, etc. The actual engine and art production started a few months later. I got involved with Jet X2O right from the beginning – the team at Killer Game and I wanted to make a game that suited our desire for racing, speed, tricks, and beautiful landscapes while displaying the most realistic water possible.

KOLBE: Jet X2O is all about racing down enormous branching A to B courses while pulling off insane tricks off of huge waterfalls and jumps. There are 8 characters from all over the world each with his/her own personality and attitude as well as 8 of the longest levels ever in a water based racing game. The goal is not only to win the race, but also to put up the biggest point total while doing so.

KOLBE: When we started work on Jet X2O, there were no games like it for any system. In this industry, when you make any new game, the goal is always to innovate and fill a genre that doesn't have anyone in it, while at the same time giving the gamer compelling gameplay to sink their teeth into. Jet X2O fills that niche by offering some of the fastest and most competitive racing available on water, along with levels that are massive, breathtaking, and littered with more shortcuts than you can shake a stick at.

KOLBE: We took inspiration from many games. It's obvious the effect that CoolBoarders and SSX had on us with regards to tricks and environments. However, much of what we have done with the game is new and innovative derived from the challenges that arose while trying to make an extreme racing, trick based game with powered craft – there was little to draw from.

KOLBE: The characters in Jet X2O are all very unique and interesting. They all have quirks and a style that lends to their racing and trick style. For example Luc, our French character, is insane (actually, he's hanging on to a tiny thread of sanity) and will stop at nothing to get in your way and knock you around. Conversely Vito, our Italian character, is focused on the race. His craft is tailored to go fast – and that's just what he does.

KOLBE: You bet I have. I've been riding watercrafts since I was 12 years old. My family owns 4 of them ranging from old school stand-up crafts, to newer sit down crafts – and my favorite of all time (the one I own) the Kawasaki X2 – a hybrid stand-up sit down craft. We also spent a few hours each on different types of watercrafts during the project to really get a feel for how they handle under all kinds of situations. (We never did find a 300-meter waterfall to jump off of…)

KOLBE: The levels in Jet X2O are quite varied. They range from a pristine lake with a light morning fog, to the lost city of Atlantis under the water in the middle of the sea. We worked very hard to make each level as different as possible without sacrificing any gameplay while doing so.

KOLBE: Each and every race in Jet X2O will last between 3 and 6 minutes (more if you are terrible :). You are traveling more than 3 miles each and every race.

PSi: Lastly, if Jet X2O catches on, would you like to continue in the watercraft direction, or branch out and delve into other activities?

KOLBE: If people love Jet X2O as much as we do, we would love to continue and expand the game into a sequel. However, we are always looking to set out to make a new genre, or redefine one that has grown stale. There are many different ways to approach what we do next.

Thanks for talking with us Kolbe!

Interview by Snow Chainz
(AKA Andrew Horwitz )

Check out our preview of
Jet X20 HERE