Risen 2: Dark Waters Interview
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There were a few criticisms of Risen, especially the console version, but as a brand it seems to have potential. How are you planning to move the franchise on?
One thing we are very proud of in Risen 2 is that we managed to extend the Risen universe with a pirate story which snaps into the plot of the first game and picks up loose ends to bring them to a surprising conclusion. We moved from one central island to an archipelago and also made sure that the player will meet characters who are familiar from the first game.
One big challenge for us was that we also had to keep in mind that some console players didn't play the first game, so we made sure to include several cool '˜lore'-characters in the game who will give you the bigger picture of what has happened in Risen 1 and what the legacy of the hero character has been so far.
As for new elements in the game let's just say, you can become one of the most notorious pirate captains in the southern seas and attack people with dirty tricks such as with a trained parrot, hit them unconscious with coconuts, or transform into a pet monkey to ransack ancient ruins. It's a love story for anarchy.
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You said recently that there is a technology gap between platforms between Xbox 360 and PC, for example, but that it was important to create the optimum experience for each one. That must be a challenge.
Although the technology on PC is constantly evolving, the question you have to ask yourself is whether that means that you have to move at the same pace.
In the case of Risen 2 we are very fortunate that we don't have to lead in the technology race. Risen 2 already looks stunning in DirectX 9 because better technology doesn't necessarily allow for a better RPG experience.
Although Risen 2 features fluid animations, advanced lighting, particle effects, 3D soundscapes and very cool water shaders with real time caustics and refractions and all those bells and whistles, it's the living and breathing world that is the star. In the end, it's not about the brush that paints the picture, but the artist.
