In spite of the departure of Peter Molyneux, Bullfrog seems well to go. Populous: The Beginning is the first game to be appeared since this rupture. We met Stuart Whyte, the executive producer of the game, within the framework of Electronic Entertainment Expo, which was held in Atlanta in Georgia World Congress Center, from the 28 to May 30, 1998.

ZM: What type of game is this and how is distinguished it from the other populous games?

Stuart Whyte: It is a game in which you can become God. It is a prelude to both Populous games, since in these games one incarnait is already God. This series contributed to popularize the concept of the "god game" in Europe and America. The player, a mortal, evolves/moves this time in a three-dimensional universe, it will be able to acquire several capacities during the game, in order to become God.

ZM: The graphics engine geomorphic allows an extremely clear total sight since your celestial throne, as well as a ground of action and evolutionary and dynamic combat. Any Comments on the Playability of the game now?

Stuart Whyte: The player must first of all deal with the brave men who form his tribe in their building a village. During this time, the enemy carries out the same objective. You must overcome the enemy Shaman who also aspires to becoming God. It is thus a game of conquest. Possibly, you will become God and conquer a whole solar system.

ZM: To finish the game you have to conquer 25 planets of your corner of the galaxy your Shaman will also have to raise his skills. The various structures which your followers can build in your village are huts, temples, guard towers, etc. In addition to being excellent builders, your braves can involve themselves in order to become warriors, preachers, spies and fire warriors. Your followers will grow, and your Shaman will have mana, at the base of his magic power. To fight the other tribes, your Shaman will have to use various fates of magic, it will be able to to call upon the lightning and the tornadoes, to cause earthquakes, to cause a storm of fire and floods, about thirty in all. He will have to acquire certain fates by requesting with the foot old statues, while entering temples, prisons, sometimes kept by the enemy. Which players will appreciate Populous: The Beginning?

Stuart Whyte: All those who appreciated the games of Bullfrog just as the amateurs of games in real time strategy.

ZM: The amateurs of games online will appreciate the experiment of the fight for the supremacy in confrontations in multiplayer on the free lobby Populous.net, by modem or in local area network. Useless to say to you that when four tribes clash simultaneously, that the armies fight, that the Shamans practice the magic on remote mountains, it will be difficult to overcome. The fate of Armageddon is particularly spectacular since it confronts all the tribes in a decisive combat. We now asked Stuart Whyte to point out to us the log book of Bullfrog up to now.

Stuart Whyte: Bullfrog has existed for ten years. We conceived games during this period like Syndicate, Populous, Magic Carpet, Theme Park and Dungeon Keeper.

ZM: What is the future of Bullfrog? What games are in store for us?

Stuart Whyte: We have two or three projects under development, after Populous: The Beginning, we will work extremely hard on Dungeon Keeper 2

ZM: While finishing, you will notice that there are as many ways of playing Populous: The Beginning. The tacticians will immediately use their skills to create balanced armies and will post them at forums and website's on the internet. Those who prefer to use the magic will know that hordes of warriors can destroy the face of the world because of their terrifying power. The amateurs will make use to be able to them of dissimulation and their intelligence to obtain results that neither the fire warriors, nor the destroying fates could reach. Of course, the best players will combine all three elements and one will not be able to stop them unless someone finds a weakness in them. We had asked Stuart Whyte when Populous: The Beginning would be available, you will notice that the release date has not been delayed.

Stuart Whyte: Populous:The Beginning should be available for Christmas.

ZM: Thank you Mr Whyte!

Stuart Whyte: Pleased to meet you!

© bart5986 and Stuart Whyte 2004