We decide to have word with Deep Shadows about their new game Xenus, which is a mix of RPG and action surely two gaming elements that were supposed to be mixed. Here is what the sript and dialog writer Alexander Khrutsky had to say.

1. Okay first up about tell me little about Deep-Shadows?

In 2001 Sergey Zabaryanskiy and Roman Lut had finished working on Codename: Outbreak. They used their own game engine - Vital Engine 1. After that they found Deep Shadows company and started working on Xenus, using the second iteration of Vital Engine. Now they are the main body of out team. Today, Xenus team consists of ten persons - each with experience in game developing.

2. Give me a description about what we should be expecting to see in Xenus?

First of all, Xenus is not another 3D action game with some elements of RPG. It is really both RPG and action. Killing is not the goal of the game. If you will be on the right side on the right time you may finish Xenus not shooting much. Your goal is to find your lost sister, so you need to talk with many people to gather necessary information. And these people will not
be always friendly to you. There are no predefined enemies in the game. There are a lot of characters but almost all of them are neutral to you at start. There are counter forced in Xenus, such as officials, guerrilla, CIA, etc. When you help to one of the side you inevitably spoil your relations with others. In the world of Xenus everything costs money. Therefore you have to purchase weapons, ammo, armament take a car for a rent. In other word the world we create is really close to notion "virtual world".

3. Xenus is both 3D action and RPG how do you manage to balance off these two elements within the game?

Everything is simple - we try to take best from these two genres. You will take a lot of fights like in FPS, but without speaking with people you will not come the game through. Every player can choose his own way to came through Xenus, so you will be able to find that way of deciding problems that you like best.

4. Tell me about the world in which the gamer will find him/herself?

Game will take action in huge territory of more than 650 sq. km. There are no "locations" in Xenus. You may freely move on the territory. You will lay your way thought jungles, towns, mountains, swamps, river banks, military bases, rail stations, hidden plants and airports, Indian villages, ancient ruins and some others. All types of environment is full interactive and
realistic - you can meet birds in jungles, lizards in mountains, rats in towns, etc. Especially, we draw attention to environment sounds and music themes to every type of environment. Players will be exited, we hope.