November 30, 2004 - Noran is a fantasy realm where the human, dwarf, elf and gnome races dwell in a region of farms and forests. While it hasn't always been so, they now live in harmony and prosperity, joined in an alliance known as the Empire. To the west, beyond a mountain range, nomadic beasts such as trolls and ogres inhabit the Howling Plains. It's said by some that a network of underground passages provides a route between the two areas. If so, war may loom on the horizon. Unbeknownst to either of these factions, they are not alone. In the murkiness of the unexplored depths far below the surface, a new threat has arisen. The dark forces of The Fallen stand poised to strike, waiting for just the right moment to strike and to seize control of the world from their unsuspecting enemies.

Slated to ship today, Black Hole's Armies of Exigo is a real-time strategy title that takes place in this setting. Single-player comprises a 12-mission mini-campaign for each of the three sides plus a skirmish option, while multiplayer will comprise a total of four modes. Each of the three sides has its own selection of units that support a different play style. A dual-layered map system allows for an intriguing and unusual combat system in which battles can occur on and below the surface at the same time. The environments will be interactive, allowing you to destroy bridges, use avalanches against your enemies, dig tunnels and change the landscape with spells like Earthquake and Volcano. Of course, these are merely the highlights. Knowing this, we set out to learn a lot more from the Matt McKnight, the Producer for publisher EA.

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Jonric: To start off, how would you introduce Armies of Exigo, the kind of real-time strategy game it is and the key elements that help differentiate it?

Matt McKnight: Armies of Exigo is a traditional RTS with an emphasis on massive amounts of units and features that cater to the hardcore fan. However, to give Exigo a unique twist, we added a new design feature that allows for battles to take place simultaneously on the surface and underground. Not only that, there is interaction between the two levels so that both units and spells can be cast through the surface and end up impacting the other level of the game.

Our goal was to go back to the old days of RTS games and have massive battles with hundreds of units that can be individually controlled.

Jonric: When and where does the game take place, and what is the situation leading up to the start of play?

Matt McKnight: Armies of Exigo takes place in a fantasy setting where the story begins in the land of Noran. It is a region that has seen much conflict over the centuries. It is an area known for its magical forests and peaceful farming communities. To the west, there are mountains that protect this area from the Howling Plains, known to be home to the Beast race. One of the big secrets / rumors of these lands are the intricate catacomb and cave systems below the ground. Few have entered these areas, but the future prospects of war force the exploration of them.

Jonric: What primary goals drove the design of the world? To what extent will different types of terrain, weather et al affect the gameplay?

Matt McKnight: By simply having two different playing surfaces - above and below the surface - we doubled the possibilities for map environments. So on the surface, you have your traditional forests, deserts, broken down cities and towns. Underground, we have an extensive catacomb and cave system with many different looks. Weather also plays a factor in the visuals of the game with many snow-layered maps. Snow can slow down units, as can rain.

Jonric: What kind of combat system can we expect, what are its key features, and how do other types of RTS gameplay like resource gathering, and construction fit in?

Matt McKnight: Most everything about combat is a key element in our game. Our goal was to go back to the old days of RTS games and have massive battles with hundreds of units that can be individually controlled. Massive battles have to be financed through effective resource management. Our game has three types - gold, wood and gems.

Additionally, you have to manage the head count of your troops. This is done through building farms, as an example from The Empire race. There are plenty of resources on all maps. We encourage exploring for additional resources, as that is where conflict starts. This is especially true when lots of additional resources are located on a different level.