HC.Gamer: According to the official press release, Gene Troopers is a game taking place in the far future where players can explore various alien lifeforms and exotic places. We really like this kind of softwares but we've seen a lot so far. Could you tell us what's going to make your program unique?

Marian Holler: Vehicle control, advanced interaction with physical object (solving puzzles or use them in fight), mount and use a stationary weapon system, run to avoid a cannonade, collect DNA balls before the enemies get them, bosses with self-regeneration, skills enabling you to enter slow motion, activate a bio energy shield, release a powerful wave knocking down the enemies. We have a rag-doll implemented, you'll be able to cut body parts and also a body split effect after a powerful hit, you can also manipulate with objects...

HCG: Please tell us about the story and the background of the game and introduce the main hero!

MH: The universe is in the greatest conflict it ever witnessed. There is a massive and global mobilization executed by the terrifying elite battle forces called the Gene Troopers (GT). They violently fulfill their task: finding, securing and gathering of life forms. The gene material is the new strategic resource. The gene transformation technology changes suitable individuals into loyal and powerful GTs. You didn't know anything about this. Nobody in your part of universe had.

The player plays a role of a human lost in an alien universe, trying to find and save his lost daughter.

HCG: Which author's works or movies inspired you to create Gene Troopers?

MH: Gene Troopers is child of the whole team. The decision was clear: keep the action, the fast paced combat, great graphics, focus on weapons and captivating storyline, as in Chaser. Plus take the challenge to create a modern FPS, with advanced physics, vehicles and top graphics. We choose the hard path of creating an entirely unique universe, to deliver a new feeling to the player. We felt that Chaser had a captivating and strong storyline, but we wanted to give more freedom to the player. We wanted him to create his own story.

HCG: How many universes can we explore in the program? How deeply can we discover these worlds? Can we meet aliens apart from the actions? Is there any chance to talk with them?

MH: Gene Troopers have unique universe with 6 different worlds each with it's own races, diverse creatures, environment rules, space ships vehicles... Missions are mainly story based and include base assault, infiltrations, car driving, rescuing, exploration etc. with a lot of action, shooting but also situation that require a not-shoot-them-all solution.

HCG: How would you describe your game? Is Gene Troopers a hardcore FPS with a lot of action scenes or is this an FPS with RPG and adventure elements? Will there be any non-fighting sequences when we could walk freely between the areas and talk with anybody?

MH: Gene Troopers is a story driven modern FPS with RPG elements set in a unique sci-fi universe. We emphasized the unique look and feel of the universe. We decided pretty early on to use a bright colorful visualization, very different from classic dark grey corridors seen in other games. A unique universe means also new creatures, technologies, vehicles, weapons. Some of the planet systems have their own laws, like the deadly sun beams on the Asteroid Belt system.

The goal was to create a FPS that would meet all the expectations of the FPS players, plus surprises them with innovations and focus onto player's freedom.

HCG: Could you introduce some missions and situations to help us imagine and feel the world and atmosphere of Gene Troopers?

MH: The missions are story based. Just to mention a few of them: The player will find himself imprisoned in a Gene Troopers laboratory. He has to find a way to escape. He will have to disable security cams, avoid raising the alarm, defeat all guards in his way and reach the platform. Later on his only chance to leave the planet and continue in his search of his lost daughter is a spaceport full of enemies. The ship is held by a tractor beam so he has to first turn off the juice powering the tractor beam and then storm the hangars. Traversing a thick jungle, a river with waterfalls, full of hunters and jungle beasts is a mission with a very strong ambience.

Gene Troopers features a surprisingly deep and emotionally engaging storyline. The player can express himself freely in the interactive dialogs that let him shape his own story, bringing him to dramatically different endings.

HCG: Can our protagonist gain experience points and make level-ups? Has he/she got any skills or attributes? If yes, will these things be available at the beginning of the game or will we earn them later?

MH: The player collects gene material from slain opponents. But beware as also your opponents can pick up the DNA ball that pops up afterwards an enemy is killed. If an enemy collects a DNA ball he becomes more powerful and harder to kill. You have 10 GT skills where you can invest the collected gene material. This includes passive skills like Health regeneration; 2 vision modes and 5 special abilities (slow motion, bio energy shield, power wave, Battle Rush mode and Healing) and one possibility to enhance the use of the Grip Gloves to use it also to kill enemies. All skills give the player an advantage in the fight.

HCG: Can we drive vehicles in the game?

MH: You'll be able to drive car, to quicker explore the planet and have some fun while driving in new world.

HCG: We saw a lot of interesting weapons in the first official trailer of the game. How many can we have and what can they do in the field?

MH: Gene Troopers offer all good classic weapons like rocket launcher, rotating machine gun, with a new design of course. The Grip Gloves is a special weapon enabling you to manipulate with physical objects (and enemies :-)). Using it can be a very useful an effective way how to gain advantage in battle. Unusual weapons like a frost gun or an acid based gun with special secondary attacks that give the player the possibility to use more tactics in combat.

HCG: According to the video mentioned before and the screenshots, the game engine is quite good. We like it's colorful places and the special effects. Is this the same, but improved engine what you used on Chaser or is it a completely new one? Could you tell us about the main features?

MH: The engine is improved CloakNT engine, developed for each platform separately, and features: quick rendering, bump mapping, refraction, advanced particle system, glow, dynamic lights, soft shadows... What gives the final kick in many situations is the HAVOK physics system, we use it to handle all physics aspects of a modern FPS: rag-doll effect, realistic vehicle control, dynamic object manipulation, team cooperation...

HCG: What can we expect concerning the multiplayer modes?

MH: Multiplayer will offer modes like death match, team deathmatch, CTF ... with voice communication for Xbox LIVE. There are currently 9 multiplayer maps each designed for a specific game mode.

HCG: When will Gene Troopers be released?

MH: We are now testing, bug fixing, balancing the difficulty setting and abilities, also fine tuning levels. So pretty lot of work behind us.

It'll be released in Q4 2005.

HCG: Finally, is there anything you would like to say to our readers?

MH: We wish you quick reflexes and enjoy the game ;)