TVGB: Why did you choose Xbox LIVE to release the game over and what have been the benefits/drawbacks of the service for you as a developer?

CS: In terms of why we went with LIVE is that the 360 has the largest install base around. It’s a proven format and a proven platform where it is actually going to make money. At the time the only other available downloadable service was PC and PSN was in its infancy. 360 is stable and its network infrastructure is perfect for this sort of game. We promote teamwork and multiplayer and 360 has that built right in.

In terms of challenge and difficulties we didn’t really have that many. We’re working with a limited amount of space that we could use. At the time we were starting Microsoft hadn’t bumped it up to 150 MB. The other challenges are the ones other developers have: the certification and the sort of the pains that everyone goes through. We’re still waiting for certification right now. Other than that we really didn’t have that much of a problem. We just got off of working on Saints Row so doing a LIVE Arcade game was a breath of fresh air.

TVGB: Can we look forward to any downloadable content for Pirates vs. Ninjas?

CS: There’s going to be another team and two extra levels slated. In the end we’re talking 20 characters with 20 unique special abilities. It’s quite a complex and fairly deep game actually. I would put it in almost the realm of fighting games in terms of the balancing aspects of the game, with balancing the abilities and actions of the teams. It was quite a challenge for a LIVE Arcade game with such a short development cycle.

TVGB: Any clue as to what the new team will be?

CS: Not really yet but it will be another staple of gaming that everyone knows.

TVGB: Damn. So what will the difficulty for the game be like?

CS: I think initially you’ll be able to tear through the early matches. We designed it for that but as you get further on and start playing with some more of the difficult teams it gets far more challenging. Initially you’ll be able to breeze through the matches. I think a hardcore gamer will find challenge here and not be able to just breeze through it.

The real bread and butter though is the online multiplayer. That’s definitely where the game is going to get its legs I think. There’s just nothing like playing real players. The AI is certainly serviceable but there’s nothing like playing against real people talking trash.

TVGB: The Pirates vs. Ninja meme is kind of waning now. Don’t you think that whole meme has died out by now and if so why jump on the bandwagon so late in its life cycle?

CS: It’s certainly calmed down I guess since the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It certainly would have been awesome if it came out in that hey day but really it’s just funny in general and great. It still has recognition and people still get a kick out of it. It’s just a fun little dodgeball game that has a few sort of gaming icons in it. I don’t think people will ever really care about the argument so I hope that people will just laugh. So what I’m saying is that I don’t think it’ll ever really die out.

TVGB: So we’ll be seeing more PVN games in the future?

CS: There will be more games in the future for sure. We’re thinking of anything or everything. We’re not going to milk this thing though. We won’t be releasing a PVN game every sixth months or even every year but we set out to create a franchise and create a fun series so there will definitely be future PVN games. As to what I don’t know, but whatever sounds fun and like a good time. It will definitely be multiplayer too. So make of that what you will.

[See also: Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball gallery]