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Interview with Sylvio Kurze

Editor: Anton Preinsack - Translate by: Marek Suchowski

A recently started poll on the website of the ADA team decides what kind of game will be build, based on the 3D Engine used for SOMS3D:
A 3D RPG, a GTA3 clone or a Silent Hill style game.
I talked to Sylvio Kurze about the future plans for the SOMS-engine and used the opportunity for some general questions.

Hello Sylvio, please introduce yourself.

My name is Sylvio Kurze, I am the team leader of "ADA" (Anime Developement Amiga).

What is your actual Amiga setup ?

Right now a LC40/25, besides a PPC603e+/166 Mhz and 96Megs of RAM and an orginal Commodore A1200

What do you like most about the Amiga and why do you still develop for it ?

There are more than one reason, but mainly because of the OS and the community of users.

When was ADA founded and what is the general idea behind it ?

Well...we needed a name and "Anime Development for Amiga" aka ADA wasn´t one of the worst.

"ADA" was founded with SOMS3D, "Deepsilence" died with SOMS2D.

Our aim is to develop manga/anime style games for the Amiga.

How comes you dropped your name "Deepsilence" ?

Well, during some restructurations we saw there is already a band called "Deepsilence" which would have led into trouble undoubtly , so we changed to "ADA"

Lets talk about your most recent project, SOMS 3D. What became of the original SOMS ?

The programmer of SOMS decided to leave, no programmer - no SOMS, so the project was frozen.

What about the Gameboy Advance version ?

It´s been canceled, because our last programmer, Andre Crowe, was overestimated himself a little, private stuff made him unavailable, so he quitted.

How did you get the idea of making SOMS a 3D RPG ?

The idea was still there, we wanted to make a RPG, with Frank Menzel we finally found a programmer with special 3D skills, which we used to start a 3D version.

Who was involved in developing the engine and how long took it to finish?

We are still developing and Frank Menzel does excellent work.

What does the engine right now ?

Implementing complete 3D objects (no matter if C4D, monzoom, imagine...)
heightmapping with shading, variable, colorchanging fog, simpletexturing, skyboxes, windowed mode, high resolutions, MiniGL-Warp3D support (Mesa Gl later for 68k ) and many little developer gimmicks.
A poll on your website wants the users to decide about the future use of the engine, there is "silent hill"-like, RPG or "GTA3"-clone listed as possible options.

What made you change your RPG plans ?

We recieved a lot of mails suggesting we should do this and that...which caused some doubts, why making a game nobody wants ?

Right now "Silent Hill" is in front, your favourite as well ?

No comment, but I had the idea some time ago, so the story is up to 30 % ready.

Any thoughts about the features of a horror adventure ?

Of course, it´ll all be more exciting and shocking than it was in "Silent Hill", but with less effort.

How long would it take to make such a game from the SOMS3D engine ?

I cant tell, all I can say is that its a lot easier than a GTA3 clone or a RPG.

Will you support the Classic Amiga ?

We try to make 68k versions for UAE and Amithlon after the PPC versions.

Bur I cant promise that they will be as smooth as the PPC versions are.

Will you support MOS ?

Yes.

Are you going to support Amiga OS 4 ?

Yes, defenitly.

Is AmigaDE of any interest for you ?

Not right now, but time will show if its worth going for it.

Will you buy an AmigaONE or Pegesos ?

OS 4 first, otherwise I´d have no money at all.

Which of both systems has better chances for the future ?

Hard to tell, but concerning the Amiga scene its more likely the A1 makes it. Pegasos will be interesting for MAC users as well.

Which system has more of the "Amiga spirit" ?

Both, because both use AOS4, but the A1 has an Amiga name in addition, which makes it my favourite.

What do you think about the actual Amiga situation and the plans of Amiga INc and its partners (Eyetech, Hyperion)?

Any progress is good, even if it means a change in your customs.

What do you think about the recent death of Amithlon ?

I never had Amithlon, its sad, but I cant say that I regret the death of an emulator. The end for the x86 port of the AmigaOS would be something I regret.

Are there other projects besides SOMS3D in pipeline ?

2nd place of our voting...right now a RPG.

What are your favourite Amiga games ?

Quake, Hexen, Heretic....and there´s my PS2

Other hobbies of yours ?

Besides Amiga ? television, mangas..uhmmmm

Thank you and all the best for your future.

No problem, thank you .