Developer Spotlight: Ancient

**Nick** · 11 Mar 2003, 04:13 AM

We were worried. Ali really wanted the key to the executive vending machine, and he seemed able to meet any task we threw at him. Normally, Bahn and I get along great with him, but we weren't going to share our assortment of chips, gum, and . . . er, lady pleasers without a fight. Hell, there was barely enough Tato Skins for just us two!

"What more do you want?" Ali pleaded incredulously. "You asked for an AM2 interview - I delivered. You said, talk to the project leader of Panzer Dragoon Orta, and I did. Then you ordered me, between fits of laughter, to crash Nintendo and bring you a hands-on of the new Game Boy Advance - and, hell, I did that, too!"

He had a point. We thought Nintendo would swallow him alive, but he not only got in and got his hands on the SP, he managed to snap a pic with the head of security as he was being ordered out!

"Okay, okay. Just one more thing. If you do this, you're in."

Ali turned the full brunt of his gaze on me.

"Get me Yuzo Koshiro's signature on this Mega Drive cart and we have a deal."

He took a step forward, I took three in the other direction. After a second, I extended my hand, and he relieved the clamshell case from my grasp.

Well, that was a month ago. Now, Ali is back, happily opening a bag of Flaming Hot Chee-tos with his teeth. Bahn used the signed Bare Knuckle III to pay off a nagging Street Fighter debt. And me? Well, I'm the happiest of us all, because I get to present to you our very first Developer Spotlight.

The first two pages, written by Sqoon, detail the rise of Ancient and list all the games it has developed. On the third page is Ali's interview with the legendary Yuzo Koshiro. Somewhere in there is some rare footage of Streets of Rage 4, a Dreamcast game that has never seen the light of day anywhere in the world.

Our next Spotlight will be on Treasure, makers of . . . oh, you already know, huh? :)

Spotlight on Ancient

**Almaci** · 11 Mar 2003, 08:36 AM

Now all I need is the key to the executive bathroom.

And I do mean NEED and FAST.

**Andy** · 11 Mar 2003, 10:56 AM

Holy Jeez, amazing work yet again, Almaci.

And, hot damn, I didn't know Car Battler Joe was by Acient, now I've gotta pick that up sooner than I had planned!

**Master** · 11 Mar 2003, 01:01 PM

Great stuff.

**NeoZeedeater** · 11 Mar 2003, 02:59 PM

That was great. I'm looking forward to more developer spotlights.

I knew Yuzo did the music for Game Gear Sonic but I didn't know it was the first game Ancient developed. That was interesting to find out.