obviously this is an old interview, but it is i new to me. the english release date is actually scheduled for november 2008.
Andrzej "Klecha" Klimczuk (Gry.o2.pl): Welcome. Thanks for find some time to give us answers. Let's start with something specific - how would you describe the gameplay of The Tomorrow War?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): The gameplay is mass oriented. The style of the game can be easily configured from hardcore space sim to a near arcade game. From measured and contemplative to active and aggressive. The key feature of the game is the chance to lead the battle operations in distant space, in low orbits and in the atmosphere at any heights without any video interruptions (no additional loading screens). Protagonist is driving a flugger (an aero spaceship) and combats with huge military ships and spaceships that are similar to his own. Ground-based objects can be attacked too. This is all possible because of great diversity of ships and armor.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What can you tell us about the storyline in The Tomorrow War?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): The storyline is based on on the sci-fi trilogy by a famous Russian duet of authors known as "Alexander Zorich".
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): How big will be the gameworld in this game?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): The world of the game includes more than ten star systems comprising plenty of planets and other space objects. Each planet is a very complicated and interesting system with an actually accessible surface and unique landscape, flora, buildings and over objects.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What kinds of locations and settings will be seen in The Tomorrow War?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): Locations can be divided to two types: "indoor" (when the main character is traveling on foot) and "outdoor" (when he is driving his spaceship). There is a great diversity of "outdoor" locations in The Tomorrow War. You can travel in space and sometimes if it is possible make a landing. Main character sees different planets and asteroids, the atmosphere of each specific planet differs one from another.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): How will the combat in the game be handled?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): The range of operations is very wide. There are research operations, there are missions when your aim is to get some resource, but don't forget that your main occupation is the space wars. Combats can be group or single. There are also intensive battles between the entire armadas. You have to destruct enemy's fighters, enormous battleships, even an aircraft carrier!
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What are some of your favorite weapons in the game?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): That depends on the player and the specific mission. For example, when two fluggers are fighting I prefer guided missiles. When the opponent is a starprobe vehicle - it is better to use a torpedo. When shooting the grounded objects I choose automatic guns and cluster bombs!
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What enemies will be a part of the single player game and how are you developing the AI for the enemies?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): There are several types of enemies' AI: ground-based tanks, antiaircraft guns, air defense that are based on starprobe vehicles and the AI of enemies' fluggers. We have developed an original algorithm of behavior that provides exiting gameplay. You will never consider your opponent to be foolish or slow. He is really smart and versatile, sometimes he performs so intricate pirouettes that it gives the impression that his flugger is about to fall to pieces. But he stays alive!
Nevertheless, practice makes perfect, and it is quite possible to learn how to make such tricks on your own!
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Can you discuss some of the combat vehicles that exist in the game?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): There are missions where your purpose is to destroy the enemy tanks, tanks can defend themselves and the antiaircraft guns (some of them are self-propelled) also protect them. Different groups of fluggers have different tasks. The player's aim can be either to crush or protect them.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): And what about friendly NPCs and their roles in The Tomorrow War?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): Friendly NPC can assist you or execute their own aim - they also have a lot of things to do. Anyway, you can manage them in the add-on where the tactics play a great role.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What kinds of options will there be for customizing gameplay?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): There are three types of "physics" to choose from: the arcade, the simulation and the intervening type.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What other unique gameplay elements will the game have?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): Well, for example you are able to land on a planet without even stopping attacking enemies.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Approximately how many hours of play will the single player take?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): About 30-40 hours.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Are you developing your own graphics engine for the new game or are you using an existing graphics engine?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): We created our own engine that allowed us to accomplish everything needed to perform a perfect space action.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Let's talk about the sound and music portion of The Tomorrow War. What were the goals for those areas of the game?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): Sounds and music are a very important part of our game because they create a proper atmosphere. It took a lot of time to record everything and it looks like we have reached a proper result. Gamers do not switch the sounds off after a minute of playing as it sometimes happens with other projects.
Voice over is significant too. The plotline of The Tomorrow War is based on a book, that is why it appeared to be very captivating. There are a lot of dialogs in the so called "indoor" part of the game and you can get much information needed for the walkthrough of the game there.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What are the system requirements likely to be?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): The recommended system requirements are: processor Pentium 4 3000 or similar AMD, video card nVidia 6 series or ATI 9600 (256 Mb), DirectX 9.0c.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Are there any plans to release a demo before the game goes to stores?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): Yes, there are.
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): Currently what is the status of the game's progress and when will it be released?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): Russian version of the game was recently released. The English version of the game is scheduled for a Q4 2007 release.
A space sim in which you can fly around killing stuff and then walk around you mothership. Wing Commander anyone? Hope so, its been ages since a good, no any space sim came out. On "To Play" list to be sure.
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: the tomorrow war (space sim space sim!!!!)
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
Klecha (Gry.o2.pl): What are the system requirements likely to be?
Yury Nekrasov (Crioland): The recommended system requirements are: processor Pentium 4 3000 or similar AMD, video card nVidia 6 series or ATI 9600 (256 Mb), DirectX 9.0c.
