YAAA!! Oh, sorry, you scared me, sneaking up on me like that. Oh, me? What am I doing in this haunted... website? Why I'm just checking out this here interview we recently conducted with Scooby Doo! First Frights' Associate producer Justin Woods about the upcoming mystery game!

And we would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids...

...taking my mask...

...mumble mumble...

Oh, and we have some exclusive screenshots as well, check them out!


1. Is it based on any specific part of Scooby-Doo history? 

Scooby-Doo! First Frights takes place just after the Mystery Inc. gang forms. These are some of the first mysteries they solve as a team.

2. Will the actual art be focused on the cartoons or the film characters? 

Since the characters are younger, the art has a unique look that is not tied to any specific cartoon or film. However, we did loosely base these younger versions off of the look of the original cartoon.

3. Scooby-Doo has fallen out of the public spotlight in a lot of ways. Why make this game now? 

Actually, Scooby-Doo is a very strong and popular franchise still today. While there isn’t a current TV series, the DVDs continue to show strong sales indicating that people still love Scooby and the gang. Since the original show came out in the 60’s, every generation has found a place in their heart for Scooby whether it be re-runs of the classic TV show, or newer offerings such as the live action films and recent direct-to-DVD releases. Suffice it to say, if we make quality Scooby products, people will be eager to check them out.

4. What will the gameplay be like? 

Scooby Doo! First Frights focuses on a mixture of puzzle solving, platforming and action. Each level allows two members of Mystery, Inc. to work together to solve puzzles, combat enemies and collect clues before unmasking each episode’s mysterious villain. Each character has unique puzzle-solving and combat abilities. There are also loads of unlockable costumes that give new abilities that make it a lot of fun to go back to levels you’ve already finished just to find each of the hidden areas.

5. Were there any inspirations outside of Scooby-Doo material used for the title? 

Not really. We wanted to make a game that Scooby fans, new and old, would enjoy. But even if this is your first Scooby-Doo experience you won’t feel left out. After all, these are their very first mysteries!
 
6. When is it due for release, and what systems will it be out for? 

The game will be released in North America on September 22nd and Europe on October 9th. It will be available for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and Sony Playstation 2.

7. How will the different versions differ?

The DS version features touch-screen minigames, while the Wii version features some simple motion control at times. Otherwise they are all very similar.

8. Will Scrappy or Scooby-Dumb make appearances? 

We decided to go with the original cast of characters for this game. Therefore you will not see any characters from the franchise outside of the core Mystery Inc. crew.

9. Will there be any references made to Scooby-Doo's future escapades with celebrities such as the Harlem Globetrotters or Batman? 

Haha, no, but that’s a great idea.

Thanks Justin! I'm a bit sad we won't be seeing any Scooby-Dumb, but I suppose I need to respect their choice at leaving him out. Not even mentioning Batman, though? Nearly unforgivable.

We'll have more on the game next month.