Almost 10 years after The Stygian Abyss & The Labyrinth of Worlds have revolutionized the gaming world, english company Twister Software is remaking these two games to run under modern Windows environments - in addition, the company just announced Ultima Underworld 3, which shall take place 125 after the events that concluded the Avatar storyline in Ultima 9...We had the chance to conduct an interview with James Lewis from Twister Software to learn more about these projects:

RPGDot: Hi James, please introduce Twister Software to our readers. Who is in the team? What's your position?

James Lewis: Twister Software is a small (but getting biger) programming company that makes freeware/adware games using the latest tecnology available. In the team is made up of 4 of us at the moment but is set to get bigger, there is me (James Lewis), Tim Bocek (Music remixing and composing), Sebastian Riemer (2D Interface Grahpics) and Joseph Williams (Speech Extraction and Script Programming). My Position is Project Leader and Head Programmer at Twister Software.

RPGDot: Let's start with the remakes first: Are you simply reamking UW1 & 2 for windows or are you changing things? I heard something of a multiplayer mode? Are you updating grafx, sound, music or maybe even gameplay & story? 

James Lewis: No, we are not just remaking UW 1 & 2, we plan to add lots of new features, bug fixes, cheats, items, spells, ect. Yes there will be a muiltiplayer mode, mainly a Quake-like Deathmatch game in the areans in The Pits of Carnge in UW2. There is a quest type where you and your friends explorer the Abyss/Worlds and do certion quests. Yes we are updating gfx, sfx, music and the gameplay.

RPGDot: How far into development are these remakes? When do you expect them to be ready? How will you distribute them, via download or in a box?

James Lewis: The remakes are about 11% done. I would expect them to be ready late 2002. They will be available via a download from our website and users will be able to order the game on a CD, with manual and maps.

RPGDot: Ultima Underworld 3: Will you use the same engine as for the remakes? Please tell us all about the project you can do sofar.

James Lewis: Yes we will use the same engine, with some alterations. We will have a new Avatar, because the game fits in just after Ultima 9, and Britannia faces a new evil. This evil kills Lord British, but just before his death he summons a new Avatar and Ruler (Lord Wicca from Earth - Me), and a shocking discovery is made, Lord British has a child. Then the Avatar fights this new evil.

RPGDot: Will UW3 conclude the System the original UW's introduced, i.e. Rune Mmagic System, Real Time Combat etc?

James Lewis: No, we do not plan to use Rune Magic in UW3, we are going to release a new magic system which is controlled by using telepathic powers that people have recently discovered. We will keep Real Time Combat though.

RPGDot: What if EA vetos all these projects? Will you continue them with a different name or simply stop them?

James Lewis: We will not give up these projects, so we will proable rename them.

RPGDot: Thank you and good luck with your projects!