As you mentioned, the Unreal 3 engine drives the game, but the effects are all custom-built. Can you explain to our readers what that means and why it’s important?

We have an FX guru on the Turning Point: Fall of Liberty team by the name of Sean Applegate. This fine young man is by far one of the most talented FX guys I have worked with in gaming. To create Turning Point: Fall of Liberty’s mood, we needed certain FX that the U3 engine just didn’t have in stock, or had in stock but was just ok at best. So Sean decided to make them custom, and after he did those and we reviewed them, we just had to let the guy do everything custom because the work was too good not to show off. This is important because you don’t want people to look at your product and say, “Wow, they took that texture right from XXX,” or, “They stole that fire directly from XXX.” I play a lot of games and do that all the time when I see ones that use the same engine. You need to set yourself apart from the other talented teams and studios we have in our industry. It’s also good bragging rights for the guys and gals who do the work, they earn the right to talk up what they do and I believe everyone in our industry should have that ability.

Can you share any multiplayer information at this time?

We haven’t revealed too much on Turning Point: Fall of Liberty’s multiplayer aside of the fact that we’ve got it and it’s in there. For the shipped game we are sending it with MP, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch with a nice selection of maps. Then there’s the downloadable content stuff we’re working out too, ooops, I’ve said too much already. Now hide me, they’re coming…

Is the game still on track for its November release – and what are the PC system specs?

We just released information in a press announcement stating that Turning Point: Fall of Liberty has been pushed out to be an early 2008 launch. We don’t have the final PC system specs in just yet, and I’d rather give those out than just tell people what I think they’d need. The most obvious answer I can give is that if you’re a PC gamer who enjoys shooters, then you probably have a ridiculously strong PC and should be okay.

Is there anything else you think out readers should know about Turning Point: Fall of Liberty?

Well, I think one thing that everybody should know is that the team is working really hard on this game. We had a bit of unforeseen problems (as you always do when you start on a new console with an unfinished engine) but we’ve fought through it. We are gamers first and foremost so we really take it to heart when people do or don’t like what we have worked really hard for. I just hope you all check it out and write us when you do. Turning Point: Fall of Liberty is a really fun title that’s simple enough for everyone to enjoy and is fun enough that we think everyone will play through it so they can see the surprise ending (and yes, that’s a bit of a spoiler there and that’s all I will ever say about the ending). We all hope you like it.

We appreciate Dean taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with us about the game. As he said, expect to see Turning Point: Fall of Liberty in early 2008 on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.