Ultima Underworld Interview

 Conducted by Garrett of RPGdot.com on the 4th December 2001
            Taken from the Twister Software site

Almost 10 years after The Stygian Abyss and The Labyrinth of
Worlds have revolutionized the gaming world, English company
Twister Software is remaking these two games to run under modern
Windows environments - in addition, the company just announced
Ultima Underworld 3, which shall take place 125 years after the
events that concluded the Avatar storyline in Ultima 9 ... We had
the chance to conduct an interview with James Lewis from Twister
Software to learn more about these projects:

RPGDot: Hi James, please introduce Twister Software to our
readers. Who is in the team? What's your position?

James Lewis: Twister Software is a small (but getting bigger)
programming company that makes freeware/adware games using the
latest technology available. The team is made up of 4 of us at the
moment but is set to get bigger, there is me (James Lewis), Tim
Bocek (Music remixing and composing), Sebastian Riemer (2D
Interface Graphics) and Joseph Williams (Speech Extraction and
Script Programming). My Position is Project Leader and Head
Programmer at Twister Software.

RPGDot: Let's start with the remakes first: Are you simply
remaking UW1 & 2 for Windows or are you changing things? I heard
something of a multiplayer mode? Are you updating grafx, sound,
music or maybe even gameplay and story?

James Lewis: No, we are not just remaking UW 1 & 2, we plan to add
lots of new features, bug fixes, cheats, items, spells, etc.  Yes,
there will be a multiplayer mode, mainly a Quake-like Deathmatch
game in the areas in The Pits of Carnage in UW2.  There is a quest
type where you and your friends explore the Abyss/Worlds and do
certain quests. Yes we are updating gfx, sfx, music and the
gameplay.


RPGDot: How far into development are these remakes? When do you
expect them to be ready? How will you distribute them, via
download or in a box?

James Lewis: The remakes are about 11% done. I would expect them
to be ready late 2002. They will be available via a download from
our website and users will be able to order the game on a CD, with
manual and maps.

RPGDot: Ultima Underworld 3: Will you use the same engine as for
the remakes? Please tell us all about the project you can do so
far.

James Lewis: Yes we will use the same engine, with some
alterations. We will have a new Avatar, because the game fits in
just after Ultima 9, and Britannia faces a new evil. This evil
kills Lord British, but just before his death he summons a new
Avatar and Ruler (Lord Wicca from Earth - Me), and a shocking
discovery is made, Lord British has a child. Then the Avatar
fights this new evil.

RPGDot: Will UW3 conclude the System the original UWs introduced,
i.e. Rune Magic System, Real Time Combat etc?

James Lewis: No, we do not plan to use Rune Magic in UW3, we are
going to release a new magic system which is controlled by using
telepathic powers that people have recently discovered. We will
keep Real Time Combat though.

RPGDot: What if EA vetoes all these projects? Will you continue
them with a different name or simply stop them?

James Lewis: We will not give up these projects, so we will
probably rename them.

RPGDot: Thank you and good luck with your projects!



                              - o -