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Interview with e.p.i.c. interactive

Editor: Anton Preinsack










Mr. Steiding, could you introduce yourselves and the company "e.p.i.c."?

"e.p.i.c. interactive entertainment GmbH" with seat in Tübingen was founded in December 2000. Currently the company has four constant employees and some free workers.

Do you use/have used an Amiga at home?

Currently I use no Amiga privately, because since the installation of OS 3.9 the computer is very unstable. In the office we have some Amigas for test-purposes. However, developments run mostly on PC and/or Mac.

What do you like at Amiga?

I have always liked the efficient OS.

I think, this question will be interesting for many readers: Will "The Feeble files" appear for the Amiga? How many pre-orders arrived up to now?

Currently we got 350 pre-orders from dealers and final customers, which is unfortunately not enough to be able to finance an Amiga version. We need at least 400 pre-orders.

What happened to the planned "The Feeble Files"-conversion for MorphOS?

A MorphOS version of " The Feeble files " was announced by us and we didn´t change this plan. The MorphOS version of this game will come together with the "Pegasos" computer/mainboard of the company "bplan". We have also plans to convert further (MacOS)games for Pegasos/MorphOS.

Are there any plans for further Classic-Amiga-conversions?

No. We think about the possibility, to start pre-orders campaigns for other games. But since we didn´t even got 400 pre-orders for "Feeble Files", I doubt seriously that there will be further Amiga-conversions, for example for the "Siedler"-clone "Knights&Merchants". In this case ("Knights&Merchants") there are more than 400 pre-orders necessary to cover the costs. The (Amiga)market shrank simply too strongly.

Isn´t it possible to start such pre-order campaigns for other Amiga-conversions in general?

Maybe, but only if "The Feeble files" gets really enough preorders. But currently it doesn´t seems so.

Is it possible to earn money with Amiga conversions?

Quite clearly: No! With "Earth 2140" we made a bad loss, "thanks" to the crackers, too. Therefore we support the Amiga only if we know that at least our costs are covered. You can´t really earn money with the present Amiga games-market. However also the arrangement with pre-order campaigns isn´t a concept for the future, because for a company it´s better to put free resources into a project, in which you will have gain.

How much costs a Amiga license in approximately (for example " Earth 2140 ")?

That is very different from title to title. Starting at DM 10.000,- you are on board. (only for the license, without a single line programmed or something produced).

"e.p.i.c." does also conversions for the Macintosh. Are you paying for the licenses for Amiga and Mac seperately?

The contracts are different here, too. But in gerneral you pay a due for every platform.

Will "e.p.i.c." also support Amiga One and Amiga OS 4.0?

We decided for the support of the "Pegasos". If Amiga Inc. is able to operate with bplan together, then we will support the Amiga One automatically.

Recently Amiga Inc. officially admits that "e.p.i.c." will develop games for the AmigaDE. What plans do you have? What does it mean for "e.p.i.c."?

Incomes:) The advantage of PDA-games is that the development-time is very small, very briefly and thus the risk. It is a market in growth and it is very interesting to be "on board" relatively early.

What do you think of the current plans of Amiga Inc.? Do you believe that they are with AmigaOne and OS 4,0 on the right way or should they focus only the AmigaDE?

NO COMMENT.

What is in your opinion for Amiga Inc. necessarily, to bring the Amiga One on the "right way"?

First of all a plan, which has a lifetime of more than 6 months. It would be beautiful to experience times a fair to which again perfectly new plans do not come on the desk. The Eyetech boards should be delivered first in January to developers. Till today the board does not run. As a developer you get informations neither from Amiga Inc. nor from Eyetech. In this way we aren´t able to plan and operate. Because the co-operation with bplan is more simple and much better, we decided to support this system. Particularly it is a system, which will become surely finished and contains real new technology. It is a system, for which Amiga users are waiting for almost 5 years.

Which games do you play in your spare time?

Strategy-games ala "C&C" and "AoE", good sport-games like "John Madden NFL" or nice Adventures.

Which Amiga-Games impressed you in the last time?

"Earth 2140 " , "Wipeout 2097 " and above all Pauls "Foundation ", because it is a complete self-development. But also "Payback" , although the game does not please me so much. But all respect to the developer for finishing this project.

Do you believe that there could be a comeback for the Amiga as "Game-Computer "?

No, the Amiga will never dominate the market, as it did 10 years ago. I hope, the Amiga will be able to fight in a market, which is as large as today's Apple games-market, in the future to come. But even up to then it will be a long and hard way.

What do you do in your sparetime?

Much sport (Fitness, jogging).