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NPuzzles: As Product Manager, what exactly is your responsibility over at Titus as it concerns Virtual Kasparov?

Olivier Girard: The role of a product manager is to totally manage the release of a new game, from development to the release date, and after that until the end of the game's life in stores. We are supposed to watch closely how the game is going to turn out, maybe adjust it to meet customers' demands. We then come up with the best strategy, retail price, marketing, and communication in order for the game to have the most awareness and impact upon the special category of customers that it is originally made for (kids, pre-teens, teens, young-adults, adults....).

So, for Virtual Kasparov GBA, for example, right now I'm creating the packaging and the manual to the US version of the game. Very soon I will think about all the different actions in the press, on the net, and in stores I can do to make this game popular within a certain budget I initially calculated. Then I will launch production of the game through the Nintendo factories, and deliver it to stores normally at the same time my ads hit the press and the net. Et voila...

NP: Virtual Kasparov looks to reach several platforms. What is the time frame for releases on each system?

OG: Virtual Kasparov for Playstation hit store shelves around last June and remains in shops at this very moment.

The GBA version of the game should hit stores in February.

NP: Real quick, what can you tell us about the game? Who is Kasparov, for example?

OG: Are you serious?? If you don't know who Kasparov is, then maybe you shouldn't write anything about a chess game! After all, he is only the greatest chess player ever; he's so famous he makes Pepsi ads!! Look him up in any dictionary; you'll find something, I assure it.

About the game I can tell you this: it's the Chess Bible! The engine is the same from Virtual Chess N64; it's a monster of power. Add to that a tutorial by Garry [Kasparov] himself, bios of the all-time greatest players, all of Garry's favorite openings (and there are a lot), and archives of historic chess matches.

NP: How far along is the game?

OG: It's in approval stage from Kasparov and Nintendo.

NP: Will the Gameboy Advance version be any different than the others, and if so, how?

OG: The GBA version has a story mode with different players around the world whom you can play against or meet.

NP: Fantastic. One more; what are Titus' current plans for Gameboy Advance?

OG: GBA? Prehistorik Man, Planet Monsters, and KAO The Kangaroo are all planned for release in November/December 2001.

A special NPuzzles thanks to Mr. Girard for taking the time to chat with us.