As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for history and a soft spot for retro gaming, I found myself captivated by the charming Tobi Stolz-Zwilling, the affable German bearded wonder who serves as the public face of Warhorse Studios. Standing in the heart of medieval Czechia, surrounded by the remnants of a 16th-century army battalion, I was eager to delve into the mind of this man who breathed life into Kingdom Come Deliverance II.
Today’s temperature is delightful at 33 degrees in picturesque rural Czechia, and we’ve just disembarked from a bus in front of an imposing, historical-looking church in the quaint town of Kuttenberg. Two heavily armored guards, reminiscent of a 16th-century Bohemian army, stand guard outside this structure. Perched high above on the church’s grand architecture is none other than Tobi Stolz-Zwilling – a friendly, bearded German who has been with Warhorse Studios for over a decade following a fortunate turn of events that led him to live next door to Creative Director Daniel Vavra while working as a journalist. The ensuing years have become history. And at the extravagant press event for Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Tobi graciously spared some of his valuable time for a few questions about the game. Naturally, I couldn’t resist steering the conversation towards some nostalgic gaming elements as well.
My first question for Tobi was to ask how he was doing, given the humidity and knackering schedule.
“I’m absolutely drained! We still have a long way to go, but I’m equally thrilled because we get to reveal the game to you soon!”
Interested in understanding the origins of the idea known as “Kingdom Come” and the role that Czechia and its past have played in shaping it, I was eager to explore these topics considering our surroundings.
The concept for the game predates the establishment of the studio. Daniel Vavra, serving as Creative Director, is a Czech national with a fondness for knights, castles, and similar themes. His vision was to narrate an actual historical account, focusing on castles and history, while avoiding elements of fantasy and maintaining a high degree of authenticity.
In other words, what you were about to ask next was going to be about the distinctive quality of KCD, which sets it apart from most RPG games due to its lack of traditional fantasy elements. This game reminds me of the early days when I used to play role-playing games on 8-bit home computers.
In his introductory speech before the initial showcase, Tobi outlined that Kingdom Come Deliverance II is an immense project compared to its predecessor. I was eager to learn the extent of the change in magnitude the studio would experience.
Initially, our team consisted of around 35 individuals in a small studio. Fast forward, we’ve grown exponentially to a team of 250! This expansion has brought more people on board, which is fantastic for the quality of our game, but it also means that I’m not as familiar with most of the staff names anymore – it’s quite a large group! However, this growth comes with advantages. For instance, due to the success of KCD1, we can tackle larger projects now. A prime example is the introduction of a massive medieval city in our upcoming game, which was unthinkable for KCD1 as the largest element was a village back then. This expansion is made possible by our growth, advancements in technology, and the ambition to create an even bigger and better game.
Inquired about Tobi’s personal gaming influences and experience within the video game sector, he eagerly shared his affection for classic or retro games.
“I began my video game journey a decade ago with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 1, and since then, I’ve worked on a few other games under Plaion. However, as I grow older, I play less. Yet, my gaming roots trace back to the Atari 2600.”
I mentioned that it appeared to me that Tobi was too young to have been gripping the one-button joystick on the vintage Atari with its wooden facade.
“I’ve had quite a few gaming consoles over the years, but my cousin’s and the fake Vietnamese consoles with their 9999 games on one cartridge were nothing compared to the impact the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) had on me. Even today, I remain an ardent fan of this classic console. Unfortunately, the SNES didn’t reach the Czech Republic during communist times due to the Iron Curtain’s restrictions. But once the curtain fell in the early 1990s, the floodgates opened, and consoles like the SNES finally found their way into our region, enriching my gaming life.”
Favourite Super NES game?
“That is a super hard question! But the one game I am able to return to over and over and over again is The Legend of Zelda A Link To The Past. It is a masterpiece. The music, oh my God. 16 bit music, dude, when I hear the Hyrule overworld theme, dude, I get the chills. I heard the London Symphony Orchestra playing a medley of these tunes. Donkey Kong Country is another one. It looks like it was made for another console; it looks so much better than the other games at the time, the rain effects, the monkeys jumping around, a graphical next step.”
As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the impressive work coming from studios like those in Czechia, and I’m eagerly waiting to see what’s next on the horizon, particularly as we approach the launch of Kingdom Come Deliverance II. Could you share some insights?
As someone who has been in the gaming industry for quite some time now, I can confidently say that the anticipation surrounding KCDII is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. The hype around the first game was palpable, but this time around, it feels like a tidal wave. With Gamescom just around the corner, we are gearing up for an exciting promotional tour that will take us to key gaming events in Tokyo, Seattle, and beyond.
Ultimately, being a British individual with a propensity for finding humor in profanity, especially traditional English cursing, I couldn’t help but wonder about the voice acting in Kingdom Come Deliverance II.
“The majority of our cast are exceptionally gifted actors, hailing from either Britain or America residing in Prague – a vibrant community of thespians calls this city home. Consequently, we’ve had no trouble finding talented individuals to collaborate with us. Additionally, Brian Blessed is part of the project, and I can’t reveal any details, but rest assured it’s something worth anticipating!”
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2024-08-21 11:47