Interview with Vortex.
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Author: VorteX
Website: Razorwind Bastion
Add-on: Darkmaster
DorKwolf: Why did you decide to use Quake instead of a newer game?
VorteX: Because I love Quake and I don’t have enough experience and team members to make a totally new game. Quake was also closest to our concept. So it was a good compromise.
DorKwolf: You have a very interesting backstory. What gave you the idea for it?
VorteX: Initial idea is to show two different worlds, different in visual plane, but similar in matter. Our world is lighty and mild in conception. Netherworld is chaotic and spiteful. But it is similar since we have made our world awful (in 26 century). During reflections we have taken away many moral factors as they suit the book more than a game and came to idea to try to sate Quake with those new elements of concept, that we thought out, creating the Netherworld. We have thought, that not bad was to issue it as Opposing Force for Quake, so you begin game as summoned demon.
DorKwolf: I saw that you are using the Darkplaces engine. Have you made any new modifications to the engine, if so, can you tell us about them?
VorteX: There is no big changes, just a few utils for QC implementation of our ideas (extension to get tag position in worldspace for md3’s for example). Currently we only have pathfinding algorithm in developing that will be used by monster AI.
DorKwolf: What can you tell us about the new enemies we will be facing?
VorteX: There will be servants of Hurr-varh and shal-varh empires (new knights, necromancers in different sorts, new types of undeads), khartorians (a human-like race lived in Netherworld) which will own all weapons that we see in quake, apparently this is expanded state of grunts and enforcers. There will also be new monsters from Ostyonix swamps zone (marsh-style monsters). Of course, there will be some new enemies from the Earth dimension as well.
DorKwolf: Will we get our hands on some new weapons as well?
VorteX: Yes, it is empire weapons which is mostly magical devices. A few new guns from Khartor. We going to add weapon modificators to game.
DorKwolf: Is it multiplayer compatible? If so, what about co-op?
VorteX: Darkmaster is multiplayer-compatible. But i cannot say about co-op support yet because singleplayer mode is in early stage of developing. There will be another cooperative mode like Keeping where players defend castle from monsters attacks.
DorKwolf: Will Darkmaster have a custom soundtrack?
VorteX: I would like it. But it is not expected yet. If we receive a chance (composer teammate) it can appear.
DorKwolf: What made you change the name from Netherworld to Darkmaster?
VorteX: There is already a game with named Netherworld. Darkmaster’s name comes from the storyline.
DorKwolf: Is there a release date scheduled for Darkmaster?
VorteX: No, currently we do not have a stable enough team to name a date.
DorKwolf: Could you give us a rundown on what we will be seeing from you at this years QExpo?
VorteX: Darkmaster will arrive on QExpo this year as netplay test version. It includes standart player-vs-player multiplayer modes, just like Qtest.
DorKwolf: What has been your biggest influence as far as styling and gameplay for this mod?
VorteX: The storyline.
DorKwolf: What are some of your favorite mods and maps? Have they inspired you in your work on your current mod?
VorteX: My favourite Quake addons are Scourge of Armagon and Nehahra. Also I like the Shrak TC as best “another Quake” thing. We pretty much like modern Quake maps like Vondur’s “Adamantine cruelty”, Kinn’s “Marcher Fortress”. We look back at Quake community activity. Quake was released 9 years ago and it still alive, thats a great inspiration. Of course a mod we like will affect thing we create.
DorKwolf: What are your views on the Quake community as a whole?
VorteX: It is pleasant to me, I like to communicate to the interesting people in it. That’s great.
DorKwolf: How are you feeling about the upcoming Quake4 and Quake Wars?
VorteX: I guess they will be very different from ” the roots “. I’m pretty much interested by the upcoming Quake 4 because all Raven software games are just cool. I have mixed feeling relating to Quake Wars, I shall wait for the further information on it.
DorKwolf: Is there anything else you would like to add?
VorteX: I understand that our concept rather strongly leaves in novelty. We try to make gameplay of Darkmaster maximally closest to Quake. Netplay test that will be released at Qexpo 2005 will show how we coped with this.
DorKwolf: Sounds great and we can’t wait to play it! I appreciate your time today.
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