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Fireglow Games Announced Today the First Part of an Off-Line interview Developers of Stranger With Game Sites, Press, Publishers and Users about Stranger
Company: Fireglow Games
Date: 16 Aug 2006
August 15, 2006. Fireglow announces the first part of an off-line interview. The questions from game sites, press and publishers were answered by developers of "Stranger"
Offline interview about "Stranger" (Part I) at http://www.fireglowgames.com/index.php?uid=27966 and at http://www.strangergame.com
CENEGA: Why is Stranger such a special game? Why should RTS fans play it?
Fireglow team: Stranger is actually a special game. We took all standard elements of RTS and reexamined each of them in such a way that strategic component would be well combined with the RPG part of the game. It is understandable that in RPG characters and plot are much detailed than in typical strategy. In other strategies, role elements rather interfere with player. As it seems to us, we created the valuable hybrid of two genres, with interesting game play for the fans of RPG as well as strategies. If this it is not possible to name it new genre, then, at least, game substantially anticipates the nearest competitors, who became obsolete moreover. We succeeded in creating dynamic strategy with the full developed characters, but preserving sufficiently scale of battle scenes. The plot of campaign to the quite last moment holds player in the stress and it actually influences game play. Furthermore, the fans of strategies will obtain at their disposal an enormous quantity of tactical, economic, diplomatic and magic possibilities. Multiplayer will be good training before the release of the full scale online version of Stranger.
CENEGA: We’ve heard there’ll be two worlds – underworld and surface. How do these two worlds interact between each other?
Fireglow team: As any respectable world, the Stranger’s world consists of several layers, surface and underground caves, tunnels, labyrinths. It is historically developed, that underground part of the world was filled by the most valuable substance - by magic crystals. Any being, which populates world of Stranger, is instinctive, or with the application of reason, attempting to take possession of these crystals. It is not surprising that the caves are inhabited. There are no sunlight and most fierce battles. These battles are less scaled then the surface ones, it is complicated to keep formations in the narrow tunnels. There, in the cave almost no conditions for the life, all its inhabitants either hunters or scavengers, who temporarily went downward. From the point of game play, there can be one or several underground maps in a single mission. It is possible to reach underground levels with the aid of the special tunnels, or the elevators. Sometimes this can be magical teleports. The plot of several missions lies under the earth's surface completely. In other missions it is necessary to get down and then climb up again.
CENEGA: Why such a strange title for the game? Who’s the Stranger?
Fireglow team: At the very beginning of game, main heroes are banished to the world that is completely new for them. There are three heroes, and each of them - stranger here. They forced to adapt and to fight. On the course of the plot, the player is switched between the main heroes and only in the second-half of game they unite their efforts. Possibly, they will forever remain strangers in this world and only at the quite last moment, they will be solve the riddle, which gradually appearing in each following mission.
CENEGA: Tell us something about RPG elements. Are RPG fans entitled to enjoy Stranger?
Fireglow team: Undoubtedly they will be pleased. We paid the closest attention to RPG component of Stranger. First of all this is plot. For creating the epic plot we drew professional writer in this genre. Each character was equipped by history, personality and unique special features. Enormous work was accomplished with creation and balancing of combat and magic system. We connected together the resources, usual for strategies and mana (magic energy) for creating spells. All characters are developing in the course of game and obtain new skills and powers. As a result the tactics of battles constantly changes. We already described role aspects, combat and magic system on our site (www.stranger-game.com). There you can find the descriptions of characters and much of other. Site is constantly updated.
CENEGA: What about graphics engine? How advanced is it?
Fireglow team: For Stranger we created completely new graphics engine. It contains all contemporary graphic technologies, which can be used for creating the necessary game atmosphere. For example, this dynamic lighting, shadows, reflections, specials-effect, several versions of shaders for different video cards, from the simplest to the top of the market. Engine supports detailed landscapes, complex map objects, characters and animations. Recommended configuration is DirectX 9 level video card with the support of the second shader model and CPU of approximately 2 GHz. The same engine with the updated special effects, or its version for DirectX 10/Vista will be used for Stranger Online.
CENEGA: Is multiplayer mode in Stranger going to be extremely popular among players? Why?
Fireglow team: Multiplayer is very important part in the contemporary game, especially in strategy. Stranger is not exception. We placed enough quantity of diverse to the tactics and tricks in the game. Even more can be unlocked in mods. As it seems to us, Stranger has good potential as a multiplayer game. Furthermore, after a certain time we plan to release full scale MMORTS on Stranger’s base. So that multiplayer is the first step in our plans. We plan to carry out tournaments with the valuable prizes, keep reading the news on our site (www.stranger-game.com).
CENEGA: Is Stranger inspired by any classics?
Fireglow team: Our company deal with the development of strategies for many years. First of all we used our own experience. Besides our experience, we love classical literature computer games. We tried further to distance itself from such games as Warcraft. We highly valuate the work of famous studies, but we prefer different approach to the games.
CENEGA: Do you plan any enhancements or expansion packs for Stranger already?
Fireglow team: Yes, moreover simultaneously in several directions. One part of the team will pass on the support to the existing version and it will interact with the community, deal with bug fixes and by additional balancing, help enthusiasts to develop mods. Another part of the team will work at “Stranger 2â€, with the completely new campaign and the additional features. The third part of the team already works at MMORTS game on Stranger’s base. Naturally, game play will differ, plus there will appear many elements, specific for online games.
CENEGA: What about quests? Any surprises here?
Fireglow team: Certainly. Besides main quest, there will many be small and secondary quests. The fulfillment of these quests these can facilitate the passage of some missions, obtain additional equipment either skills or to entertain player. As we already spoke, intrigue in the main quest will hold player in the stress of up to the quite last moment.
CENEGA: Tell us something about graphical ‘feel’ of the game.
Fireglow team: Perfect picture, this that for what we strove and how it seems to us, reached in Stranger. Each mission and each corner of map was made maximally thoroughly in order to contribute to sinking into the game world and creating different mood. The vivid colors of river valley are changed by gloomy caves with the moving shadows and flickering arches, dazzling of snow and snow-storm overflow into the urban view. The inhabitants of world can brag by whimsical appearance. It would be possible to examine each of them and to admire, if they not were so mobile and fatal. The magic effects and the scatterings of crystals, which generate fields, weather effects, day, night, twilight views change each other and do not manage to bore the eye. You will look and will be convinced themselves.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: Based on your personal playing style, what are the most enjoyable aspects in the single-player mode of "Stranger"?
Fireglow team: As it seems to us, our magic system is the most enjoyable moment of singlå as well as multiplayer. We already described it in the other interviews and on our site (www.stranger-game.com). Briefly, we forewent the direct control over incantations. Instead of this, the system is built on the probabilities, which influence many factors. Player must build these factors in such a way to obtain the necessary picture of the battle.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: As for the weapons, what do you feel that players will enjoy most?
Fireglow team: It is difficult to imagine battle in Stranger without magic. By the opinions of our testers, the most interesting weapon is magic. If we do not mention rare artifacts, then battle with the application of enormous sledge hammers appears to look very striking.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: Does the "Stranger" feature any boss-sections?
Fireglow team: Naturally, there are not only bosses, but also entire associating them hierarchy. On our site (www.stranger-game.com) we have already described sects. Besides sects, in the presence are the most classical bosses - monsters. And certainly bosses - adventurers.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: Any plans to bring any innovations to the RTS genre?
Fireglow team: Perhaps, that our economic model appears to be an innovation. We do not have traditional resource mining. Entire gathering is tightly connected with combat interactions. Those resources obtained in combat can be used immediately and moreover resources are pool for casting of incantations. Thus, we have a very uncommon combination of game play elements.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: What is the biggest challenge you've run? Into so far and how did you deal with it?
Fireglow team: Our budget was too overstated. Because of this we immersed into the research work too deeply and then we created numerous prototypes. As a result it was then complicated to select an optimal minimum of features from the mass of the remarkable results to produce the ideal game.
Users: Is there any demo version of Stranger to try out?
Fireglow team: The official demo version of Stranger will be available for public download on www.fireglowgames.com in about a week. It includes a short campaign of two missions from the real single player campaign and shows the player all the special features of Stranger.
Users: I would be glad to participate in beta-testing of Stranger, how can I apply for a beta-tester account?
Fireglow team: There will be no public beta-testing of Stranger, but you could send us your feedback about the demo version of Stranger to support_st@fireglowgames.com
Users: What is the release date of Stranger?
Fireglow team: Q4 2006
Much more about "Stranger" at http://www.strangergame.com
About Fireglow
Fireglow (http://www.fireglowgames.com) is a developer and a publisher of PC games.
Fireglow developed the hugely popular Sudden Strike, Sudden Strike Forever, Sudden Strike 2, Sudden Strike:Resource War.
Fireglow games in development include: Stranger 1, Stranger 2 , MMORTS Stranger (http://www.stranger-game.com)
Sudden Strike3:Arms For Victory, Sudden Strike 4. (http://www.suddenstrike.com )
Offline interview about "Stranger" (Part I) at http://www.fireglowgames.com/index.php?uid=27966 and at http://www.strangergame.com
CENEGA: Why is Stranger such a special game? Why should RTS fans play it?
Fireglow team: Stranger is actually a special game. We took all standard elements of RTS and reexamined each of them in such a way that strategic component would be well combined with the RPG part of the game. It is understandable that in RPG characters and plot are much detailed than in typical strategy. In other strategies, role elements rather interfere with player. As it seems to us, we created the valuable hybrid of two genres, with interesting game play for the fans of RPG as well as strategies. If this it is not possible to name it new genre, then, at least, game substantially anticipates the nearest competitors, who became obsolete moreover. We succeeded in creating dynamic strategy with the full developed characters, but preserving sufficiently scale of battle scenes. The plot of campaign to the quite last moment holds player in the stress and it actually influences game play. Furthermore, the fans of strategies will obtain at their disposal an enormous quantity of tactical, economic, diplomatic and magic possibilities. Multiplayer will be good training before the release of the full scale online version of Stranger.
CENEGA: We’ve heard there’ll be two worlds – underworld and surface. How do these two worlds interact between each other?
Fireglow team: As any respectable world, the Stranger’s world consists of several layers, surface and underground caves, tunnels, labyrinths. It is historically developed, that underground part of the world was filled by the most valuable substance - by magic crystals. Any being, which populates world of Stranger, is instinctive, or with the application of reason, attempting to take possession of these crystals. It is not surprising that the caves are inhabited. There are no sunlight and most fierce battles. These battles are less scaled then the surface ones, it is complicated to keep formations in the narrow tunnels. There, in the cave almost no conditions for the life, all its inhabitants either hunters or scavengers, who temporarily went downward. From the point of game play, there can be one or several underground maps in a single mission. It is possible to reach underground levels with the aid of the special tunnels, or the elevators. Sometimes this can be magical teleports. The plot of several missions lies under the earth's surface completely. In other missions it is necessary to get down and then climb up again.
CENEGA: Why such a strange title for the game? Who’s the Stranger?
Fireglow team: At the very beginning of game, main heroes are banished to the world that is completely new for them. There are three heroes, and each of them - stranger here. They forced to adapt and to fight. On the course of the plot, the player is switched between the main heroes and only in the second-half of game they unite their efforts. Possibly, they will forever remain strangers in this world and only at the quite last moment, they will be solve the riddle, which gradually appearing in each following mission.
CENEGA: Tell us something about RPG elements. Are RPG fans entitled to enjoy Stranger?
Fireglow team: Undoubtedly they will be pleased. We paid the closest attention to RPG component of Stranger. First of all this is plot. For creating the epic plot we drew professional writer in this genre. Each character was equipped by history, personality and unique special features. Enormous work was accomplished with creation and balancing of combat and magic system. We connected together the resources, usual for strategies and mana (magic energy) for creating spells. All characters are developing in the course of game and obtain new skills and powers. As a result the tactics of battles constantly changes. We already described role aspects, combat and magic system on our site (www.stranger-game.com). There you can find the descriptions of characters and much of other. Site is constantly updated.
CENEGA: What about graphics engine? How advanced is it?
Fireglow team: For Stranger we created completely new graphics engine. It contains all contemporary graphic technologies, which can be used for creating the necessary game atmosphere. For example, this dynamic lighting, shadows, reflections, specials-effect, several versions of shaders for different video cards, from the simplest to the top of the market. Engine supports detailed landscapes, complex map objects, characters and animations. Recommended configuration is DirectX 9 level video card with the support of the second shader model and CPU of approximately 2 GHz. The same engine with the updated special effects, or its version for DirectX 10/Vista will be used for Stranger Online.
CENEGA: Is multiplayer mode in Stranger going to be extremely popular among players? Why?
Fireglow team: Multiplayer is very important part in the contemporary game, especially in strategy. Stranger is not exception. We placed enough quantity of diverse to the tactics and tricks in the game. Even more can be unlocked in mods. As it seems to us, Stranger has good potential as a multiplayer game. Furthermore, after a certain time we plan to release full scale MMORTS on Stranger’s base. So that multiplayer is the first step in our plans. We plan to carry out tournaments with the valuable prizes, keep reading the news on our site (www.stranger-game.com).
CENEGA: Is Stranger inspired by any classics?
Fireglow team: Our company deal with the development of strategies for many years. First of all we used our own experience. Besides our experience, we love classical literature computer games. We tried further to distance itself from such games as Warcraft. We highly valuate the work of famous studies, but we prefer different approach to the games.
CENEGA: Do you plan any enhancements or expansion packs for Stranger already?
Fireglow team: Yes, moreover simultaneously in several directions. One part of the team will pass on the support to the existing version and it will interact with the community, deal with bug fixes and by additional balancing, help enthusiasts to develop mods. Another part of the team will work at “Stranger 2â€, with the completely new campaign and the additional features. The third part of the team already works at MMORTS game on Stranger’s base. Naturally, game play will differ, plus there will appear many elements, specific for online games.
CENEGA: What about quests? Any surprises here?
Fireglow team: Certainly. Besides main quest, there will many be small and secondary quests. The fulfillment of these quests these can facilitate the passage of some missions, obtain additional equipment either skills or to entertain player. As we already spoke, intrigue in the main quest will hold player in the stress of up to the quite last moment.
CENEGA: Tell us something about graphical ‘feel’ of the game.
Fireglow team: Perfect picture, this that for what we strove and how it seems to us, reached in Stranger. Each mission and each corner of map was made maximally thoroughly in order to contribute to sinking into the game world and creating different mood. The vivid colors of river valley are changed by gloomy caves with the moving shadows and flickering arches, dazzling of snow and snow-storm overflow into the urban view. The inhabitants of world can brag by whimsical appearance. It would be possible to examine each of them and to admire, if they not were so mobile and fatal. The magic effects and the scatterings of crystals, which generate fields, weather effects, day, night, twilight views change each other and do not manage to bore the eye. You will look and will be convinced themselves.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: Based on your personal playing style, what are the most enjoyable aspects in the single-player mode of "Stranger"?
Fireglow team: As it seems to us, our magic system is the most enjoyable moment of singlå as well as multiplayer. We already described it in the other interviews and on our site (www.stranger-game.com). Briefly, we forewent the direct control over incantations. Instead of this, the system is built on the probabilities, which influence many factors. Player must build these factors in such a way to obtain the necessary picture of the battle.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: As for the weapons, what do you feel that players will enjoy most?
Fireglow team: It is difficult to imagine battle in Stranger without magic. By the opinions of our testers, the most interesting weapon is magic. If we do not mention rare artifacts, then battle with the application of enormous sledge hammers appears to look very striking.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: Does the "Stranger" feature any boss-sections?
Fireglow team: Naturally, there are not only bosses, but also entire associating them hierarchy. On our site (www.stranger-game.com) we have already described sects. Besides sects, in the presence are the most classical bosses - monsters. And certainly bosses - adventurers.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: Any plans to bring any innovations to the RTS genre?
Fireglow team: Perhaps, that our economic model appears to be an innovation. We do not have traditional resource mining. Entire gathering is tightly connected with combat interactions. Those resources obtained in combat can be used immediately and moreover resources are pool for casting of incantations. Thus, we have a very uncommon combination of game play elements.
Klecha/Gry komputerowe gry.o2.pl: What is the biggest challenge you've run? Into so far and how did you deal with it?
Fireglow team: Our budget was too overstated. Because of this we immersed into the research work too deeply and then we created numerous prototypes. As a result it was then complicated to select an optimal minimum of features from the mass of the remarkable results to produce the ideal game.
Users: Is there any demo version of Stranger to try out?
Fireglow team: The official demo version of Stranger will be available for public download on www.fireglowgames.com in about a week. It includes a short campaign of two missions from the real single player campaign and shows the player all the special features of Stranger.
Users: I would be glad to participate in beta-testing of Stranger, how can I apply for a beta-tester account?
Fireglow team: There will be no public beta-testing of Stranger, but you could send us your feedback about the demo version of Stranger to support_st@fireglowgames.com
Users: What is the release date of Stranger?
Fireglow team: Q4 2006
Much more about "Stranger" at http://www.strangergame.com
About Fireglow
Fireglow (http://www.fireglowgames.com) is a developer and a publisher of PC games.
Fireglow developed the hugely popular Sudden Strike, Sudden Strike Forever, Sudden Strike 2, Sudden Strike:Resource War.
Fireglow games in development include: Stranger 1, Stranger 2 , MMORTS Stranger (http://www.stranger-game.com)
Sudden Strike3:Arms For Victory, Sudden Strike 4. (http://www.suddenstrike.com )
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