"Gamepro: What's the style of the new universe you're working in? Will it have the "softer" look of Mythos, or do you think it'll lean towards the darker, gorier look of Diablo? Are you forming any seeds for a storyline?

Max Schaefer: It will have a more light-hearted look and feel than Diablo, and be like Mythos in that respect but with a very different style. We have a rough storyline worked out, one that will have your character adventuring in all kinds of cool places. We'll fill in the story details as we go, however.

Gamepro: Do you expect to follow the same basic gameplay guidelines that you laid out in the Diablo games and Mythos? Action-RPG, multiple character classes, skill trees?

Max Schaefer:Yes. We're constantly tweaking this formula, but it's one that works and it's one that people are familiar with. Plus, it's what we're good at.


Gamepro:Many team members at Runic, including yourself, played a big role in creation of the Diablo universe. What do you think of Blizzard's direction for Diablo 3, speaking as a fan and as a co-creator? Are you excited to play D3? How will your project carve out its own audience to be unique from D3?

Max Schaefer: From what we've seen, it looks great! Everything Blizzard does is top notch, and I have no doubt this game will do the franchise justice. The production values look to be top notch, and the Diablo spirit is there. Of course, with the new crew making the game, the designers will put their own individual stamp on it, and that's the way it should be. They shouldn't live in the past, or try to emulate the style we forged when we were at Blizzard. It seems they're doing a good job of keeping the spirit of the franchise, while giving it a new and different style. And of course, we can't wait to play it!

I think our game will be a lot different than D3. For one thing, we'll be making a true MMO. The art styles will be radically different, and the economic model is, of course, completely different. Now, if we can just beat them to market..."