Massively^™

Are avatars that you create for the 2D experience be able to step into the 3D version of the game?

CB: That's exactly what we're planning for. We're showing it a little bit at this show, we'll be able to show you some of it in Austin at AGDC. We really want to make sure to show this game to people. One thing that I worry about is backlash from Firefly. We announced that so long ago, and people are going "crap, guys, where is it?" It was really important to us that we not announce Buffy before we were already working on it. Once bitten, twice shy.

Believe me, nobody could beat us up that we beat ourselves up about this. We're not at fault, but there are a lot of dashed hopes here. I wanted us to be in a public beta of Firefly here by now!

Will there be a public beta for Buffy?

CB: We'd actually like to jump into that really soon. I'd love to get that out to players by the end of the year.

That would be the 2D iteration, right?

CB: Yes, the 2D version. But the interesting thing is that a lot of the gameplay works in both 2D and 3D, so it will be a really good look at the game. In fact, that's the tactic we're using for graphic assets right now. They're the same assets in 2D and 3D. We take the 3D assets and we 'shoot' em from a locked-down isometric point of view, then we turn those assets into 2D sprites. It looks very similar between the two formats.

"I'd rather just release it and have people say, "oh, cool." The more I talk the more I sound like a guy that only talks. I'm dying to let the game speak for itself."

You mentioned the game's art assets; what look are you going for there? Are you basing any of that of the work done in the Dark Horse 'Season Eight' comic book series, or is it more of a realistic interpretation directly from the show?

CB: I'll be able to tell you more about that soon. We're looking forward to showing some of those assets, being able to share that information, and show you what we have soon.

Can you talk a little bit about the gameplay? Can you talk sort of generally about what we'll be doing?

CB: Nah, I can't really get into specifically what you'll be doing in the game right now. I'd rather just release it and have people say, "oh, cool." The more I talk the more I sound like a guy that only talks. I'm dying to let the game speak for itself.

Definitely understood, sir. Thanks for your time.