The developer John Williams was interviewed about his new game "Rome Gone Dark" which is set during the Roman Republic period. He chose this setting because of the high level of interest in Roman history and it was a pivotal point as the Republic transitioned to an Empire. The game allows the player to experience an alternate history where Caesar survives and the player can influence how events unfold after his death. The developer hopes to provide new perspectives on how the Roman Empire was viewed by outsiders and those opposed to its expansion.

1. Magazine Interview Copy (FMP)
We talked with one of the creators last month and got incite to how they see the world they
are building. Sarah Matthews (Gaming Journalist) interviewed John Williams (Developer at
Time Point Games).
*Start of interview*
Sarah: “First of all, I just want to say how eager me and my colleagues are to see your
concept become a reality, we truly can’t wait.”
John: “Thank you for those kind words, all of us at Time Point Games are too. It’s been
rough at times, but now we have hope that this concept will make it, no doubt down to all
the support from your readers.”
Sarah: “So now onto the concept itself. Why do you think you opted for this period to set
the game in?”
John: “Good question, I think it mainly came down to the fact of how much interest there is
in the period. We saw it as a sort of crossroads from which to start the choice-orientated
game in.”
Sarah: “I see, why do you think so many people are interested in that period?”
John: “The Roman Republic, as the well-known empire it becomes. Any period with it’s
influences and likeness is one of interest.”
Sarah: “How come the Republic, and later empire, gathers so much attention?”
John: “I think for many reasons really, but specifically how ahead of it’s time it was. They
had a true sense of developed civilization, society and democracy. The latter is one that has
been so hard to produce after Caesar’s took over the republic. Maybe it was it’s ability to
conquer much of the then known world, or maybe it was just their aesthetic which they
held to their last breath.”
Sarah: “You raise some great points; I can see why they gather lots of interest and intrigue.
Why Specifically did you want the game to start in the aftermath of Caesars death?”
John: “We see Caesar as a walking oxymoron, he was seemingly both fair and ruthless. Any
leader of the empire needed to be; it certainly was nowhere near easy to hold together. We
wanted to have his legacy be more than just a ruthless conqueror. We do realise that not all
see him as a man of much more than that, and to be revered. Maybe they’re right, but
through this game’s fiction we can. In our alternate history he was a great man, more than
anyone after him. Having the game start with his death is a chance to write the aftermath
differently, give it a chance for remembrance.”
Sarah: “I can see that you have a certain respect for him, or at least his alternate self.”

2. John: “I do, I believe he could have done so much more.”
Sarah: “Can I ask, why the name ‘Rome Gone Dark’?”
John: “Sure. We wanted to have the empire be seen as the oppressive and toxic
conglomerate that some saw it as. In addition, we wanted to show it from an outsider’s
perspective, as that isn’t something you always think about, how they were seen by those
who stood in it’s way. We think that ‘Rome Gone Bad’ gives a sense of everything gone to
****.”
Sarah: “Great decision, I think it’s something that isn’t explored enough, how something is
seen by those aligned against it intentionally or non-intentionally. Now, thank you for your
time, do you have some closing words for our readers?”
John: “Couldn’t agree more. No, thank you, it’s been a pleasure. Sure do, always think
carefully before you act, you never know what will transpire.”
Sarah: Well, that’s a wrap. A big thank you to John for his incite into ‘Rome Gone Dark’, a
game we hope reaches a store near you.”
*End of interview*
We quoted them saying “The Lore is the best way to explore our concept for now, as our skills
at illustration aren’t all that great, through words we are able to pour that world out onto the
page.