Every once in a while, a game comes along with the potential to break new ground and revitalize a genre.  Human Head’s upcoming Viking game, Rune, may be just the breath of fresh air the third-person action genre needs.  With design influences ranging from the paintings of Frank Frazetta to Soul Caliber, this light-hearted romp through the vast world of Norse mythology is one part Unreal, two parts Viking legend, and three parts action.

To find out more about what will make Rune stand out from other third-person games, we went straight to the source, Tim Gerritsen of Human Head Studios.  He helped clear up some rumors about Rune while offering some additional insight into the process of running an independent game development company.  Tim also gave us a look at the founding of Human Head and how he came to join the group of ex-Raven developers.

Between a growing collaboration with Epic and a Blair Witch game in the works, Human Head is poised to make its mark.  Will this relative newcomer to the gaming scene succeed at changing the way we play action games?  It looks like Human Head may be able to pull it off, and with Rune about to enter alpha, we will soon find out.

GameSlice:  Rune appears to draw heavily on the Norse mythology right from the outset.  How much does actual history contribute to the game?

Tim:  The game is deeply imbued with Norse mythology, but it is not in a way that will make it difficult for someone who is unfamiliar with it to enjoy.  If you know your mythology, you will hopefully enjoy it when it arises, but if you don't, you'll just learn new faces and characters and hopefully get into the epic feel of the game.  However, this is an action game, and we have no intention of releasing a docudrama on the history and lives of Vikings.  You won't stop to farm and raise sheep, and there is no siege of Paris or raids on monasteries.  This is a game about a singular hero who just happens to be a Viking.  That means we err on the side of fun and making a good game.  We also don't want the game to be mired in pompous seriousness.  Rune definitely has a sense of humor, and the humorous elements are there to remind you that its about fun, not somber sagas of death and dismay.