Denis Dyack on Too Human
Too Human is the epic action game for Xbox 360™ from famed developer Silicon Knights®. As the Cybernetic God Baldur, you get thrust into the midst of an ongoing battle that threatens the existence of humankind.
We recently caught up with Denis Dyack, president of Silicon Knights, and got in a few questions about this upcoming next-gen title. He was really excited about the game and the development possibilities the Xbox 360 hardware provides. Early glimpses of this game have been intriguing, and he was able to give us some details.
Xbox.com: Too Human has been years in the making now. What was the initial impetus for the game, and how has it changed over the years?
Denis Dyack: The initial impetus for Too Human was to create a game that commented on technology and its effects on society. By in large, technology is generally misunderstood by society. This really has never changed since the game's inception around 1994. People often feel that technology will save them time and/or money. In the end, these statements and beliefs are generally false. We wanted to make meaningful commentary on these issues.
Xbox.com: Prior interviews have alluded to Norse mythology influencing Too Human's themes. Can you offer an example to give us a better idea of how Too Human uses these concepts?
Dyack: Too Human has some very strong ties to Norse mythology. Saying how exactly would be a story spoiler, but those who are interested in digging into the Norse Mythologies will get an interesting and deeper perspective while playing Too Human. Without giving too much away, I can tell you that those gamers looking for Thor, Loki, and other gods in the pantheon will not be disappointed.
The most exciting thing about Xbox 360
thus far is that we are finally able to
create content at a fidelity level that is
competitive with film.
Xbox.com: Can you give us a taste of the story's setup as the game begins?
Dyack: The world has been in an endless winter for 3,000 years. As if the harsh climate was not enough, humankind is under siege by armies of machines that seem bent on human annihilation. You play the role of Baldur, a cybernetic god, charged with the defense of humankind against this menacing army. Despite your cybernetic enhancements, many gods feel that you are "too human" and that you need to cybernetically enhance yourself further to deal with the growing machine menace.
Xbox.com: Will your actions influence the story or take you down different paths?
Dyack: Yes, the story and the content are definitely influenced by what you do. Different story paths are definitely planned, but, at the same time, we have a story that will be told and the overall arc will be consistent for the trilogy.
Xbox.com: Will you be able to increase the skills or abilities of your character throughout the game, and, if so, how does the mechanic work?
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