GamesRelay: Could you please expand a little on that mode, where we can destroy a whole building? Is it a sort of Counter Strike- bomb detonation?
Mårten Stormdal: You mean Powderkeg, that's Similar, but not quite. There are a couple twists, which makes this a highly explosive and action packed game mode indeed. In fact, our maps are dynamic in many ways; those kegs can be used to blow up some strategic secondary objectives, pieces of architecture, which will make it easier for your team. Or harder for your enemies.
GamesRelay: Isn't this just a kind of Team Fortress 2 in the Wild West?
Mårten Stormdal: No, not really. We have obviously looked at the Team fortress to see what we can use from it in our game since it is an excellent multiplayer game. But we would be well off target if we just tried to clone their concept. We have a different take on the game modes, the pacing of the games and the role of the player class. Besides that, we are a third person shooter.
GamesRelay: Do we have any kind of background story for all these gunfights, or is it more like Team Fortress 2 jump-and-play style?
Mårten Stormdal: The game is mainly about jumping in a play easy set-up games with and
versus your friends online. Story and background is therefore mainly there to enhance the mood and setting of the game. There are no lengthy campaigns as such in the main game release.
GamesRelay: If I understand correctly, you have chosen Digital Distribution. Pro/cons? What formats will the game be released on?
Mårten Stormdal: We believe digital distribution is the way of the future, mainly because it allows for games to be less expensive for the customer. It is also a convenient way to adjust games after testing and come up with a more finished project because of the limited scope of the game. The game runs on PC, PlayStation® 3 and Xbox 360 right now. Then again, it is too early to comment on which platforms we will actually release the game on and when it will happen.
GamesRelay: What audience are you hoping to tap into with Lead and Gold?
Mårten Stormdal: Gamers playing above mentioned games for a start (or multiplayer games in general), but also a perhaps another type of player that find the Wild West setting enticing. We also hope to attract players not normally playing versus multiplayer games with our strong focus on team cooperation.
GamesRelay: What is your role at Fatshark?
Mårten Stormdal: Lead Designer for Lead and Gold - Gangs of the Wild West
GamesRelay: What do you do?
Mårten Stormdal: Responsible for the overall level and game design.
GamesRelay: Previous experiences?
Mårten Stormdal: Started out working with set design Amuze in '99 with Headhunter and continued to level design for Headhunter 2, moved on to Avalanche Studios as Lead level designer for Just cause and Just cause 2 and finally to Fatshark with Terminator salvation and now Lead and Gold – Gangs of the Wild West.
GamesRelay: What are you playing now?
Mårten Stormdal: Call of Duty MW2 and Star Trek online.
Thanks to Mårten Stormdal over at Fatshark for answering some questions on the game, you'll be able to play Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West sometime in the future.
