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05-12-2006, 02:19 PM
The RPG Vault at IGN has posted a Gothic 3 Interview (http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/705/705884p1.html) where Piranha Bytes' Kai Rosenkranz answers questions about the next title in his team's widely acclaimed RPG series.
Jonric: To provide some perspective, what are the Gothic series' defining strengths? How does Gothic 3 connect to its predecessors, and when is your target North American ship date?
Kai Rosenkranz: The Gothic series has been a smashing success in Germany and Europe since its first installment. It has been in the top five of the most wanted games list for four consecutive years. One thing that has been a hallmark from the beginning of the series is the open world and freedom of play. The storyline does not force you down a linear path, yet is much more present than just a couple of quests strung together by a flimsy standard fantasy framework.
Another important aspect is the gritty realism of the world. The world of Gothic is much closer to reality - the way people talk, their motivations and surroundings, even down to the color palette we choose is all about creating a world that is a step away from the high fantasy fare that we see so often in the genre. Instead of elves, the forest is filled with giant lizards that are much less hospitable. ;) Thus, the usual duality of good and evil is also not quite so apparent - Gothic is a complex and distinct world with believable protagonists and goals.
Gothic 3 moves the story of our hero from his native island to the mainland, where the Orcs have overrun the human kingdom. You will see it on shelves before the end of the year.
Jonric: To provide some perspective, what are the Gothic series' defining strengths? How does Gothic 3 connect to its predecessors, and when is your target North American ship date?
Kai Rosenkranz: The Gothic series has been a smashing success in Germany and Europe since its first installment. It has been in the top five of the most wanted games list for four consecutive years. One thing that has been a hallmark from the beginning of the series is the open world and freedom of play. The storyline does not force you down a linear path, yet is much more present than just a couple of quests strung together by a flimsy standard fantasy framework.
Another important aspect is the gritty realism of the world. The world of Gothic is much closer to reality - the way people talk, their motivations and surroundings, even down to the color palette we choose is all about creating a world that is a step away from the high fantasy fare that we see so often in the genre. Instead of elves, the forest is filled with giant lizards that are much less hospitable. ;) Thus, the usual duality of good and evil is also not quite so apparent - Gothic is a complex and distinct world with believable protagonists and goals.
Gothic 3 moves the story of our hero from his native island to the mainland, where the Orcs have overrun the human kingdom. You will see it on shelves before the end of the year.