Starpoint Gemini Retail Version Goes Gold, Interview
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1) Who are you and what is your job at Little Green Men Games?
Greetings. My name is Mario Mihokovic. I'Ÿm one of three brothers and co-founders of Little Green Men Games.
2) How and when was LGM Games founded?
LGM was founded almost three and a half years ago, back in 2007 when the core team assembled at our first brainstorm meeting. I remember it was almost like a forum, where we all gathered to talk about what kind of game we would like to do and could do. The realization of Starpoint Gemini, our debut title, actually started that same day as the first drafts of Starpoint Gemini'Ÿs design were made.
3) What has inspired you to develop Starpoint Gemini?
All of us little green guys are great fans of Sci-fi in any form: movies, TV shows, video games. Space battles are a feast to us, especially battles that involve large ships flashing their energy cannons, gracefully passing each other preparing for a massive assault. Priceless. We wanted to command our own large spaceships and experience the kind of battles that require tactics to win. So we thought: (Let'Ÿs do that. Let'Ÿs make that kind of game.)
Role-playing elements came into play only a few days after that, when we delved deeper into the design: without experience and skills, Starpoint Gemini would not be what it is. Battles wouldn'Ÿt be nearly as challenging or rewarding.
4) The Gemini Star System has been shut off of the rest of the universe for over 20 years and players return to it after being stuck in an anomaly for all of that time. Tell us more!
The story of Starpoint Gemini revolves around the so called Starpoint incident that took place 20 years prior to the game'Ÿs campaign. Forces of the weakened Colonial Directorate (Gemini authority) detonated a strange device near the Gateway, the main entry point into the star system, when they realized that they could not hold the rebellious Gemini population. This destabilized the entire system and created a vast number of anomalies.
One such anomaly is a stasis rift that abducted unsuspecting ships outside of normal space, where they experience no time flow. The player is one of the unlucky captains involved. At the beginning of the game, he is rescued by a science vessel, the Archimedes, and that'Ÿs where his adventure begins; an adventure that takes him across the entire Gemini star system, fighting epic battles against large fleets, taking on missions, researching anomalies, assaulting battle stations, hunting for pirates and much, much more.
5) What about Starpoint Gemini absorb players into the game?
Starpoint Gemini is about tactical battles; maneuvering your ship in a fight, planning your next move, firing your weapons at the right time, retreating if necessary and returning for another attack run. Add gaining experience and new skills to this mix, as well as ship upgrading to fit individual playing styles, and you'Ÿve got yourself a big bundle of possibilities. Starpoint Gemini lets you turn any ship into a powerful tool of destruction. There'Ÿs also the RPG gameplay in a space game that is rarely seen. Players can explore, trade, take on missions and quests, upgrade their ship or buy new ships, and upgrade their character. Not a lot of games let you do all that. The amount of things players can do in Starpoint Gemini is immense the game'Ÿs strongest element.
6) In Starpoint Gemini, how does the combination of tactical RPG/simulation gameplay and the space setting work?
SPG has a classical RPG approach placed in a unusual setting. The RPG elements are especially emphasized in the combat gameplay. My favorite part is combining the combat maneuvers; imagine a large hostile ship approaching you. Overpowered, classical simulation would have you running for cover, but SPG lets you take that ship head on. How? By using maneuvers to level the playing field. For example, shred that hostile brute to pieces by activating two maneuvers: making your weapons pass through shields and firing multiple missiles from a single missile launcher. Voila! You'Ÿll see the ship retreat crippled in a few moments. Possibilities are endless; just think like a starship captain and you'Ÿll do wonders.
7) How long do you estimate the gameplay time of Starpoint Gemini to be?
This is a large game. If you play it 'žby the book'Ÿ and solve only the main storyline, then it can be completed in 30 hours. However, if you take advantage of the freedom Starpoint Gemini has to offer, you could be playing it for hours and hours; at least 50. After finishing the main story, the game can be continued as a free-roaming game. A free-roam scenario is also available from the beginning, for those who want to be completely free when they start playing before getting their hands on the campaign story.
8) You have already had some feedback on the game. Has this led to any changes in the gameplay up until now?
Absolutely. Gamers'Ÿ requests are very high on our priority list and we'Ÿre doing our best to implement these as quickly as we can. Rotation camera, active pause and keyboard turning are just a few examples of the improvements and changes that have been implemented at gamers'Ÿ request so far.
9) Do you have plans for any add-ons to expand the Gemini Star System?
The turbulent Gemini star system has so much more to offer. Many stories remain to be told and secrets to be explored. We are planning to release additional content as free DLC to expand Gemini. We'Ÿre also hoping that gamers will be happy to learn that it is also in our plan to release modding tools, so they can create their own worlds and unleash their full creativity in Starpoint Gemini.
10) And lastly, do you believe in Little Green Men? ;-)
The truth is out there. ;-)
