Any forum members probably know that Im creating a mod for Penumbra Black Plague, titled The Shaft. Since Ive put a lot of work into it so far, I have some questions on the new modding features you noted on in one of your interviews.
Question 1: Weve also made a ton of changes that have sped up the development of the game, such as new ways to create complicated in-game entities without having to script every detail. Does this mean that the engine can create objects that dont have entity files?
Question 2: The most noticeable feature for the user will be the refractions, which add nice water, air and glass effects to the game. How are you planning on creating reflective surfaces in gases? Or is this effect a heat blurring effect?
Question 3: What major HPL script features will be added?
Question 4: Are there any new features that mod the main players abilities? (night vision, injured limp)
Question 5: Will there be any improvements to the HPL Helper?
Now, onto the storyline. As you guys have said before, there will be a much more dense storyline, filled with more voice actors than overture.
Question 1: [Obviously dont spoil major things, just vague stuff here] Will the player have a companion similar to Overtures Tom Red Redwood throughout this game? Will there be a major antagonist?
Question 2: The writing in Penumbra Overture from level to level seems to indicate that you are playing a memory in Philips mind; does this continue in Black Plague, or is everything you experience in the game the real thing for Philip?
Question 4: Will we learn more about Tom Red Redwoods past?
Question 5: Players really enjoyed reading old notes from various people in Penumbra Overture; can we expect the same amount of notes, or an even more detailed past of the complex?
Question 6: Will the game lean towards more unpredictable level layouts, or will it use the same style of levels as Overture?
Question 7: Will we see unnatural things, such as animals that dont exist (The Roach from tech demo, as an example)
Question 8: When your lead artist had to leave, did this effect Penumbras quality, or set it back?
Lastly, here are the questions about your plans after Penumbra Black Plague is finished.
Question 1: What do you devs wish to do after Black Plague is finished, besides spending time with us on the forum?
Question 2: Will Frictional Games stay as a team, or will its members break apart and join different companies?
Question 3: If you do stay as a team, what game styles (action, adventure, horror) do you guys want to dive into?