JT: The player will encounter a wide assortment of enemies in Red Faction. The Ultor Corporation has several classifications of guards in their employ, each equipped and trained in their various specialization. The mercenary army that is brought in to assist with stopping the rebellion offers quite a few different characters as well. There?s also a good deal of non-human opposition as well, such as robots or alien life, to make life difficult for gamers.

The AI in Red Faction is designed to maximize the action and keep the player immersed in the story. You can expect to see enemies using Geo-Mods of their own to try and take Parker out, as well as utilize cover and different weapons in the appropriate situation. For instance, the wall that players hide behind might get blasted to pieces by the turret a few yards away, or the groups of guards may wind up outflanking Parker if he advances too quickly. Enemies will also react realistically depending on how and where they are shot. Those hit in the legs, arm, head, or torso will flinch and spin accordingly, falling in a manner consistent with the impact power of the weapon.


GO: The debate about violence in computer games rages on and on, and first-person shooters always seem to attract the most attention. What do you think about the whole issue of violence and censorship? How realistic will the violence in Red Faction be? Will there be a lot of blood and gore? What rating will it have? Will there be any content control options?

JT: I think video games are going to face scrutiny for violent content for quite some time. Like any other aspect of the entertainment industry, there is a very wide and diverse audience that makes up the consumer population we are trying to reach. What may be appropriate content for some gamers certainly may not be appropriate for others, and exercising discretion in what titles you choose to buy is still the best measure for preventing unwanted exposure to violent content.

Red Faction will have a gore-toggle option for players and parents who would rather not deal with the blood in the game. The violence in Red Faction won?t be gratuitous - you won?t see characters clutching spilled intestines or jumping around in misery with bleeding stumps where their limbs used to be. Rather than go with an unrealistic or over-the-top presentation style that would detract from the game, we chose to make the action in Red Faction dramatic and reflective of the gravity and depth of the story. We are expecting to receive a ?Mature? rating from the ESRB.


GO: It wouldn?t be much of a shooter without things to shoot with. What implements of destruction are you putting in the hands of the player? Silenced weapons? Explosives? Will there be a limit to the number of weapons that can be carried? How did you decide on which weapons to include? Were there any weapons you really liked that didn?t make the cut?

JT: A lot of the weapons in Red Faction have their roots in conventional firearms, but there are several imaginative changes we?ve made that should delight the player; each weapon has both a standard firing mode and an additional alternate firing mode. Silenced weapons, high-powered assault rifles, and remote explosives are all included, as well as some nasty rocket based weapons that will really help the player clean house. We will limit ammunition storage but will allow players to carry as many weapons as they can pick up so the action stays brisk and balanced.

The weapons included in the game are the results of research and collaboration - when deciding what we would include in the arsenal we wrote up several ideas and everyone on the team got the opportunity to comment and provide feedback. From there, we decided on the best ways to implement these weapons and their functionality.