I managed to catch up with Lori Cole the designer and writer for the Quest for Glory Series. She was kind enough to answer some questions I had for her on Quest for Glory 5. Q: Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role in this project? A: I am Lori Cole, designer and writer of the Quest for Glory series. I've been working on this series for ten years in practically every aspect except the programming. Although for Dragon Fire, I've even had to learn a lot about C++ over the course of the project. Q:What part of the Quest for Glory 5 experience are you most proud of, and what are you looking forward to players discovering? A:I think I am proudest of the re-playability and variability of the Dragon Fire game. There is so much to do and discover over the course of playing the Fighter, Wizard, Thief, Magic User or Paladin. Each character requires a different playing style, and this alters the feel of the game considerably. The best part of this replayability is that it isn't repetitious like some RPG's - "Ho, hum, another monster to fight." There are things to do, friends to make, enemies to thwart, even romance... Any player who gets this game will have more than his money's worth of fun. Q: What kind of hack protection is being implemented into the game? A: We've encoded some of the information about the game, but we're not too concerned about solo games. I figure that the game is for the player's enjoyment, and if he gets his kicks from hacking this game, then he's having fun. That is the purpose of the game, after all. Multiplayer games require more careful protection. However, we control what characters go into the game, and know what is appropriate for them. Thus, we have serious customs inspection when players try to import characters into the MP game, and we don't allow characters to start out with things like Stats too high or certain objects. Multiplayer games must be fun for all the players, not just the Hackers. Q: Have there been any significant gameplay changes from the last edition to the Quest for Glory series ? A: The biggest change in Dragon Fire from the rest of the QFG series is that this one is more of what I consider a true RPG. Combat has always been an aspect of the series. However, in Dragon Fire, it is carried to the excitement level and thrill of a real-time action game. The monsters are all uniquely programmed with sophisticated AI. Each one presents interesting challenges to the player. In addition, you have a wide range of strategies to employ against them. A Wizard can blow the minor monsters away with a series of damaging spells, or calm them and safely avoid them, or charm them and trap this monsters. Fighters have a range of weapons and armor to use. Thieves live by their wits and their ready blackjack. You really feel the difference between the characters, and need to discover new methods and techniques to deal with every monster. On the other hand, the player has full control of the skill level required to play this game. If a player really hates fighting monsters, but wants a game with story, characters, and adventure, he can set his Skill level to the lowest setting. This means that the monsters are all wimps, and the player has the satisfaction of blowing them all away without worrying about the combat in the game. However, for the action player, set the difficulty level to max, and experience the death-defying thrill of trying to keep your character alive. The game allows players of all levels and skills to really have fun playing the game the way they like it. Q: Should gamers expect to see another edition to the series in the near future ? A: With the addition of the Multiplayer Aspects of the game downloaded from the Website, the players will have to satisfy their cravings with endless variations of Dragon Fire for a while. Q: Whats your favorite character in the game to play as? A: My favorite character for testing the game was a Paladin with Magic and Thief skills. You couldn't find a more rounded character that offered greater flexability. I would be able to test and retest combat situations to make certain there were ways for each type of character to use a different strategy. However, I already knew the plot lines, so all I was testing was variation in game play. If I were really playing this game, I would stick to the straight character types, so that I could experience all the variations in the story that the pure characters have. Q: How do you feel about the new multiplayer aspect that has been added into QG5? A:The Multiplayer Aspects of the game concentrate on Player/player interaction rather than Player/game. Since everyone is different, it means the game will be wildly different each time you play with new people. Thus, we have virtually infinite opportunities to replay this game, and never be tired of it. Q: How will this affect the Quest for Glory community? A:The Quest for Glory community of fans is one of the greatest groups of people worldwide. The websites devoted to this game span almost worldwide - from Finland to Croatia to South Africa to Brazil to all across the USA. The multiplayer game will allow them to communicate and experience the thrill of this game with friends they've never met before this. Q: Are there any things that you wish you could have done with the game that you didn't ? A:Oh, we made our share of mistakes along the way trying to create the technical sophistication of this game. Some of the best art in the game had to be altered to fit with the needs of the technology. Some of the puzzles had to be altered or cut along the way because of time or art considerations. These are only minor regrets, compared to what we actually accomplished. This game reflects the talents and skills of everyone on the team, and is definitely something to be very proud of! Q: Were there parts you wished you left out? A:I would have loved to have left out the mistakes. :-) Q: What are the future plans of Yosemite Entertainment? A:Babylon 5, Middle Earth, Navy Seals, all sorts of games are now in theworks here. Q: Is there anything you would like to tell the community? A: I am very proud of this game. Dragon Fire is very fun to play again and again and that is, after all, the mark of a great RPG.