Dmitry Glukhovsky

the author's official Russian website:
http://www.m-e-t-r-o.ru
http://www.s-u-m-e-r-k-i.ru

Russian publisher's website:
http://www.sumerki.ru

Computer game preview
http://www.4a-games.com/

Glukhovsky, Metro 2033, SK published in April 2010
http://www.martinus.sk/knihy/najpredavanejsie/

leseprobe-widget: www.randomhouse.de


METRO 2033 by DMITRY GLUKHOVSKY
Interview about the developing computer game based on the novel.

Q;Not much is known about Metro 2033. Could you give us a brief summary of the game? Could you possibly outline the story as well?

A;In short, the game represents the following combination: Classic Shooter/Stealth/Survival (with ability to choose and combine these gameplay styles) with elements of roleplay, on a background of generally horror atmosphere. All that together will create a great adventure.

The idea of apocalypse, (nuclear war, alien invasion, etc.) will always disturb peoples’ minds. What the life will be – The life on the next day? Would one survive? Would there be enough strength to fight, defend relatives? How to cope with post-apocalypse life? How to create a dwelling, where to get food, weapons?

After nuclear war the remains of living find themselves captured within Moscow metro. There are only several tens of thousands of them, without knowing whether there are any more survivors or they are the only people left in this world. They live in Moscow metro, the largest anti-nuclear shelter ever built, for more than 20 years now. In the last refuge of humanity.

The central government system has fallen apart long time ago, and metro absorbed by chaos and anarchy. Stations turned into mini states with own tyrants and fighters for peace, cults and political parties, leaders and armies. Worn out filter clean water and ait, machines build by skilled workers produce electricity, underground farmers grow mushrooms and breed pigs. Sealed valves protect the humans against radiation and monsters, every of which could easily upset Darwin, mismatching every possible laws of evolution. How did they appear? During the war, besides atomic and neuron weapons, bacteriological and biological weapons has been used. The mixture of all of them has twisted human and animal DNA inside out. What’s came up? Humans and Animals distantly reminding of past times heavily mutated and hardly recognized.

VDNH – last northern underground station of its line. It is known as north fort of humanity and civilization. Only few hundred strong men survived, treating the station as their own home. It was one of the best in metro system, still remaining save. But now the stations is being invaded by hordes of mysterious creatures, which called by the population on VDNH as “the dark ones”. Occupants of the station are still holding them, but day after day it becomes more difficult. If the station falls black avalanche could flood all Metro.

Artem, a young man, who lives in VDNH, has a mission – he must reach the Heart of Metro, legendary Polis, to inform everyone of horrible danger and ask for help. In the hand of one man lies the fate of all humanity.

Q;How do the remaining humans survive the radioactive conditions above the metro?

A;Different parts of the city above have various amounts of destruction. In remaining shops, pharmacies, storehouses and military arsenals etc. lots of things left, that are vitally important for underground “cities”. Scouts from all stations go to the surface, where often get into fight with each other and with new inhabitants of the city – mutated animals and human-mutants. The surface is radioactive, additionally, during the day the solar radiation is greatly increased due to disappearance of ozone layer of the Earth. Therefore raids to the surface are usually accomplished at night. Besides it is impossible to survive there without special equipment (air cylinders, complex filters in respirator, etc.). During the game, player will have plotline tasks that involve going to the surface, additionally, it would be possible to take extra missions for certain stations.