Benoit Sokol Interview

Interviews

JA Interview with Benoit Sokal
Conducted by Robert Freese

First of all, Mr. Sokal, thank you very much for your time. I know you must be very busy now on the finishing touches of your new PC game, Syberia. I know our readers would be very interested in your background, your insight into the PC gaming business, and especially, some information on your upcoming release.

Well I’m very happy to take a few moments with you to inform your readers about Syberia.

I understand you have a number of published books, and are a renowned comic strip creator. What spurred your interest in these areas and how did you get started?

Renowned? One sure thing, not in North America though… Seriously, I’ve been in the comic series writing and illustration for the past 20 years. In 1995, my editor, Casterman, as all the books editors across the world, feared that the emergence of the CD-Rom and the whole multimedia frenzy trend would kill the paper. All books and comics would disappear from the earth surface and CD-Roms would rule from now on. What a laugh isn’t it now?

So, Casterman asked us to develop new mediums to express our talent. I took the videogame route and here I am now, four years after finishing the Amerzone and almost done with Syberia.

You authored the book L’Amerizone which was published in 1989?

Affirmative Roger! (But it is spelled Amerzone and it was published in 1986)

How did the collaboration between Microids and you begin with regards to the production of the PC game Amerzone? Who approached whom?

Well, it was a pretty natural association. I was looking for an experienced gaming company; they were looking for some game ideas. We met, we got along very well and here we are almost five years later, still working together.

Did you have a crew of artists assist you in graphics and animation production? Were you in the “front lines” of the process, or did you manage the overall artwork?

Obviously, I could not do all this work alone. There was a pretty big artist team working on this project. The team was made of 12 talented artists who worked from the sketches I was giving them to the final images you’ll be seeing in the game.

I was engaged in all the production process, validating every image, asking for some rework on some of them and so on.

I’ve played Amerzone twice and besides the lush graphics and immersive environments, I particularly enjoyed operating the “vehicle” used to navigate throughout the game. Was this multipurpose vehicle part of your book, or added to the game for it’s “puzzle” challenges?

Well, this concept will once again be present in Syberia. The main character, Kate Walker is traveling between each of the worlds using an automaton train.

The vehicle concept was not in the original comic book.

I’ve downloaded and watched the Syberia trailer. I’ve got to tell you that, as an inveterate adventurer, I’m pumped. Could you please tell us how the project is faring – what development phases are still being worked on?

With just over two months before the release of the game, the core of the efforts is invested in the integrating process. All elements (graphics, animations, game design) are integrated in the game engine. It really is an assembling process requiring a lot of attention to details.

The team has shrunk down a bit over the past weeks, as most of the artistic work is completed, same with the animation work.

We have also begun the beta testing process with our internal testing team.

Our web page has various press releases and screenshots of your new game. I understand it involves a New York attorney’s quest to find the sole heir to an automaton factory, and she must travel through distinctly different worlds in order to do so. Could you please briefly describe these four worlds and the manner in which she travels?

The four worlds in Syberia are primarily an East to West traveling across Europe on a time line that ranges from the beginning of the last century to the actual days.

The first one, Valadilene, is a typical alpine village and the hometown of Anna and Hans Voralberg. As the location of the Toy Factory, this is where Kate lands to conclude its acquisition.

The second one, Barrockstadt serves as a renowned University City specialized in Botanic and Paleontology.

This is where Hans Voralberg has studied a long time ago. As Kate explores this world, she’ll find many traces of Hans presence in this very East German education establishment.

The third world, Khomkozgrad is a forgotten space station guarded by a drunken ex-cosmonaut, a former star of the soviet space program of the Cold War.

Finally, the last world is called Aralbad. Imagine a Club Med with no sea. An aquatic vacation complex on the shore of a sea that just disappeared.

Traveling between each of these worlds is quite of an important part of Syberia. Kate, with some external help, will be using an automaton train. I can’t say much more though cause I’d be revealing some aspect of the game…

Without giving too much away, could you please tell us just who “Oscar” is, and how he relates to the story?

You know Oscar?

Oscar will be accompanying Kate all along her quest to find Hans. He’s the last automaton built by Hans and probably the most sophisticated. Some of his reactions are almost human-liked.

Are you using the same game engine (360 degree 3D game play) and essentially the same user interface as were employed in Amerzone?

No, for Syberia we basically built a completely new versatile 3D engine. The biggest thing about his tool is that it could as well be used for an action game or an adventure game, allowing us to explore some completely new avenues for this genre.

As for examples, lets mention dynamic lightning, full 3D high polygons characters and objects, particles, projected shadows…

As for the interface, it is also a completely different one than the one you saw in the Amerzone, but it’s a secret.

Will your new game be played in first or third person perspective?

Third-person perspective with a few switches to 1st person in some occasions.

Lastly, the biggie – does Microids have a fairly solid estimate on when we might see Syberia on the shelves in North America and Europe?

Apart from major upsets, the release date is set for the first half of June.

Very best wishes on your latest project, Mr. Sokal, and thanks again for spending
some time with us!

Interviewer’s note: the Syberia trailer may be downloaded at www.microids.com.