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With MechWarrior 4, Microsoft is going back to the series' roots. The game is being designed and developed by the same team that had worked on the original BattleTech linked-arcade cabinets that debuted back in the late 1980s. This, coupled with the game's character-driven plot, will give MechWarrior 4 a heightened sense of believability, making its single-player campaign much more interactive and robust than any of the previous MechWarrior games. We recently had a chance to sit down with MechWarrior 4's lead designer, TJ Wagner, to talk in detail about the game's progress and features.

A roaming Cougar.

GameSpot: Even in the game's pre-alpha stage, the graphics look impressive. Does MechWarrior 4 use an enhanced version of the MechWarrior 3 engine or an all-new one built from the ground up?

TJ Wagner: MechWarrior 4 uses a unique engine based on libraries from when we programmed the BattleTech Tesla 4.0 system pods (we call it MUNGA). We've created a new particle-generator effects tool, a natural-terrain generation system, a custom animation-blending system, a custom renderer, and tons more to bring you BattleMechs in all their 80-ton glory. Explosion and weapon effects will be brilliantly detailed. You'll see rolling realistic terrains with fluid Mech animations to match.

A Thor opens fire.

GS: What is the plot of MechWarrior 4? Does it tie into MechWarrior 3 at all?

TJ: In MechWarrior 3 you defeated the Clans and are returning home victoriously. In MechWarrior 4, the player returns to find the Inner Sphere in turmoil, his planet under siege, and his family slaughtered by the occupying forces. You will have to round up old friends and rebel forces to take back what is rightfully yours.

GS: Describe the character-driven gameplay of MechWarrior 4. How is the game being designed to feel like an interactive BattleTech novel?

A high-flying Shadowcat.

TJ: You'll receive all of your information from characters in the game that you will actually see and talk to. No more faceless voices barking out orders at you. By utilizing these characters and in-engine cinema scenes, we will be able to bring the BattleTech Universe and our story to life for the player.

GS: In the game, the player's wingmen will have varying degrees of experience. Will they be able to attain higher levels by gaining more experience? What advantages are there to having an experienced wingman?

TJ: Yes, their skills will grow from gaining in-mission experience. You'll want to take Lancemates with abilities in the areas that match your needs for the mission. Going on a recon mission? Then you'll want a pilot that can handle a light Mech well and has good sensor skills.

Next: More on MechWarrior 4's gameplay