Introduction

UbiSoft bought the Might and Magic game franchise rights from the now defunct 3D0 some time ago but it's only been in 2006 that they have used it for all new games. Earlier this year the publisher released the turn based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic V but this fall the publisher, working with developers Arkane Studios and Kuju, take the franchise in an all new direction with the first person action-RPG Dark Messiah of Might and Magic. FiringSquad got a chance to chat with UbiSoft producer Waubert de Genlis to find out more about their plans for Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

FiringSquad: First, how did the idea behind Dark Messiah of Might and Magic come about?

Waubert de Genlis: Dark Messiah of Might and Magic was born from the meeting of several factors/ideas. First Arkane Studios was working on a new game after Arx Fatalis, and they were looking for a technology and a publisher. They got in touch with Valve and soon they had an agreement with them to use the Source engine. In the meantime, Ubisoft had bought the Might and Magic brand and was looking for original titles to revive the franchise. Ubisoft and Arkane Studios eventually got in touch and found a mutual interest in giving birth to Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

FiringSquad: How did Arkane Studios get the gig to actually develop the game?

Waubert de Genlis: It didn’t really happen like that. Arkane Studios already had a concept, and Ubisoft had a brand and a will to promote it with high quality projects. This is how the game was born.

FiringSquad: How hard was it to create a first person action-RPG that still retained the Might and Magic content and themes?

Waubert de Genlis: Dark Messiah of Might and Magic does not really retain the content from old Might and Magic titles, as the universe has been totally reworked. There are still some elements, such as factions and the importance of dragons in the world’s mythology, but the rest of the universe is much more mature in tone and more cohesive.
The universe was created keeping in mind that it should be useable for all kind of games: strategy, action, RPG… Because of this, creating Dark Messiah of Might and Magic and making it fit into this universe was actually fairly easy.

FiringSquad: What can you tell us about the storyline for the game and how it fits into the Might and Magic universe?

Waubert de Genlis: The story of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic starts 20 years after the conclusion of the events described in the Heroes of Might and Magic V campaign, which revealed the first steps towards the realization of the Demon Messiah’s prophecy.
In Dark Messiah of Might and Magic you will see the prophecy begin to come true, and you will have to take steps in order to prevent the rise of the demon messiah.