GamersInfo.net: Can you give us a brief but meaningful idea of what makes the Kingdom Under Fire series special?
Dee Lee: I think what makes the KUF series special is its near-perfect blend of two unique genres, "Action" and "RTS." The game's fast pacing and exciting action really help gamers get a first hand experience of medieval war.
GamersInfo.net: Will KUF: Heroes have two opposing sides like the last game? There will be 7 Heroes, which is an odd number; if there are only two sides, who gets the extra story?
Dee Lee: The structure will be a lot like the previous version, but instead of having a clear line between two opposing sides, KUF: Heroes will bring things more up close and personal by depicting a personal story for each warrior.
GamersInfo.net: Will the storyline once again revolve around the Ancient Heart or will we be tackling a different subject?
Dee Lee: KUF: Heroes is a prequel, but the events aren't just limited to one point in time. Heroes actually goes back to the time when Gerald first met with Ellen by an act of fate, and then it jumps to several different times closer to the events depicted in KUF: the Crusaders.
GamersInfo.net: The first press release mentioned that hero is going to be someone new, will we get any cameo appearances from the heroes in The Crusaders?
Dee Lee: Yes. There will be frequent appearances of the heroes from KUF: The Crusaders, which will help gamers understand the storyline better. The new lineup of heroes featured in KUF: Heroes is in fact not totally new, since they all had a role as sub-heroes in the older version. In addition to being able to play with 7 warriors in both single-player campaign and multi-play modes, you will be able to play as one of the 4 older heroes throughout various Xbox Live game modes.
GamersInfo.net: Can you tip your hand as to the new land features that will be in the maps? We all know the last one really only had two land types (open and forest: Though I am unclear still on if fighting in water gave me a disadvantage since I never did it) and a little bit of elevation. Will we be seeing more land types? New features like bridges, more elevation?
Dee Lee: Yes, most definitely. From random terrain elevations to the addition of numerous structures and weather conditions, you will be able to enjoy not only a more dynamic combat experience, but also a greater variety of scenery. Of course, they aren't just visual features, since every environmental factor can significantly impact your battle strategy.
GamersInfo.net: Along the lines of new, what new units can we expect to see in this game? I want wizards or dragons! Any chance I could get a few of those?
Dee Lee: Read you loud and clear :. We already had plenty of wizards and dragons in the previous version, so we decided to throw in more "fascinating" hybrid species available for your troop selection.
GamersInfo.net: Will players be able to command multiple heroes at once in battle, or will you once again control only a single man or woman and command the rest of your troops?
Dee Lee: KUF: Heroes preserves the basic design and gameplay mechanics of KUF: The Crusaders. You'll still be able to control a single character, and at the same time command other troops assigned to you. But we have added an exciting new twist: All new hero characters will be equipped with cool combo attack skills and abilities that will definitely get players' attention.
GamersInfo.net: Are there going to be any major graphical or effect improvements? Any chance that the camera angles will be improved? Sometimes KUF: Crusaders was a little challenging to figure out where you were supposed to be fighting (though that never stopped me from lopping enemies in half).
Dee Lee: Everything you just mentioned happens to be the most frequently requested demands from our fans, as well. And the answer is yes on both counts. We've added new animation for all new characters appearing in Heroes, with lots of special effects tweaks to increase the sense of action. Plus, you will have more flexibility in adjusting the camera views by simply moving around the right thumbstick during game play. We take all feedback from fans seriously.
GamersInfo.net: I read about the ability to make custom missions. Will these be available to download or upload to a server on Xbox Live so others can play against you on them?
Dee Lee: We will allow custom missions with a "Skirmish mode." It will allow you to create and customize a mission of your liking in the single-player mode and take advantage of earning gold and experience points aside from the campaign mission. We're still working on our plans for downloadable content, and we're not quite ready to announce them yet.
GamersInfo.net: Also on the subject of Xbox Live… How is Co-Op mode going to work? I often wished greatly that I could have someone else helping me command the hordes of allied units, will co-op mode make my dream come true?
Dee Lee: Let's say we managed to make your dream come true. Throughout various Xbox Live game modes with up to 6-player support, you will be able to team up with other friends online and call out for help whenever you find yourself in trouble. Co-op mode in KUF: Heroes would be somewhat different from what you anticipated, but we will have a new "Cooperative" Live game mode called "Invasion" that allows you to again team up with your friends and protect the castle together from an endless invasion of orcs.
GamersInfo.net: Last question on the Xbox Live: Tell us something about Troop and Hero battles and how that will work.
Dee Lee: Troop battle mode is something you are already familiar with if you played KUF: The Crusaders. The concept is: you pick a main character, a number of troops, get deployed on the battlefield and take out other online opponents. The key to victory will be combining the strength of a hero with a tactical strategy appropriate for your troops.
Hero Battle mode is totally new. If you ever got tired of long RTS games and just wanted to have a fast-paced hack-and-slash online, this new Xbox Live game mode is ideal. It lets you quickly select a hero and a map (no troops), so you can dive into a quick, "Last man standing"-type game of pure online action.
GamersInfo.net: Ok now that the easy questions are out of the way, lets get down to some company philosophy: What made you guys move away from the RTS style of the original Kingdom Under Fire?
Dee Lee: Actually, the very first Kingdom Under Fire (PC) wasn't that different from the newer KUF series. Apart from the platform and graphical differences, which was in 2D on the PC, it was still a blend of action, RTS and RPG elements.
GamersInfo.net: Anything else about the KUF: Heroes that I may have missed and you were hoping I would bring up?
Dee Lee: I just want to mention, for those who may not be aware, that KUF: Heroes will have 50 new campaign missions that will take you on a long, thrilling ride of medieval fantasy! I think you've brought up all the other things we wanted to cover.
GamersInfo.net: To wrap it up: If you were any character from KUF: The Crusaders, who would you be, what weapon would you use, and why?
Dee Lee: Rupert and his war-hammer. Why? Because…he has a wide shoulder? (You can consider yourself a true KUF maniac if you remember where this line originated.)
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