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Homeworld Q&A
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A sketch of the Somtaaw mining ship |
Developer Barking Dog has a very ambitious plan for Homeworld: Cataclysm, which it's calling a spin-off rather than a traditional expansion pack. We sat down with designer Michael Gyori to get the scoop on just what Barking Dog's plans are with the follow-up to Homeworld.
GameSpot: What has Barking Dog worked on in the past and what does the design team bring to the expansion pack project?
Michael Gyori: Just so there isn't any confusion, Cataclysm is not actually an expansion pack. It is a stand-alone product with many new features that push it well past being just an add-on. Cataclysm is more of a spin-off. Members of the Barking Dog team have many years of experience in the industry and have worked on such titles as Homeworld, Half-Life, Counterstrike Beta 5, Power Play '96 and '98, and ESPN X-Games Pro Boarder. [Working on a Homeworld game], we became very familiar with its universe and ensured that Cataclysm stayed true to its vision. Cataclysm is our first major project as a company.
GS: What input does Relic have on Homeworld: Cataclysm?
MG: Throughout most of the development of Cataclysm, Barking Dog Studios shared office space with Relic. We were able to interact at any time with its designers, programmers, or artists. They were able to give us advice and opinions on many aspects of Cataclysm.
GS: What is the reason behind calling it Cataclysm? What catastrophe rocks the Homeworld universe?
MG: The main enemy in Cataclysm is "The Beast." It is a very powerful foe that threatens to destroy all life unless stopped by the player.
GS: We understand that you play as a new faction. What is the history behind this faction? What are its goals and abilities?
Somtaaw leeches attached to a ship hull |
MG: Players begin Cataclysm commanding a Somtaaw mining vessel gathering resources in deep space. The Somtaaw are a Kiith (or clan) that had been marginalized after the victory that returned the Kushan to Hiigara at the conclusion of Homeworld. Due to this Kiith's low status, they are forced to base most of their ship designs on the various races they encounter. As the game progresses, the player turns this mining vessel into a command vessel capable of research and construction. Some of the unique abilities of certain ships will include: linking together into more powerful ships, latching on to enemies to spy or damage them, holographically imitating enemy ships, and shielding friendly ships from enemy fire.
GS: What new ships will this new group have? Will they have an entirely new mothership as well?
MG: Yes, the player will have an entirely new command ship, as well as an entirely new fleet to compliment it, with abilities like the ones mentioned above.
Next: More on the new ships and enemies
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