GameSpot: Could you give us an overview of the three major combat systems in The Matrix Online? How have they changed over time, and how will they relate to one another in-game? A rock-paper-scissors balance scheme, perhaps?

Monolith Productions: The three major systems are: close combat (or interlock), free fire, and hacker combat. Interlock is our system for having two or more opponents in a tightly coupled combat exchange with all of the great wire fu-style visuals of the Matrix films. Free fire is a mode where opponents can move around while only stopping to use abilities or to fire guns. Hacker combat occurs mostly outside of interlock, with some of the most powerful programs requiring only a few uninterrupted seconds to launch.

The easiest way to see their relationship is to look at each combat specialist to see where he or she can use special abilities. Soldiers who focus on martial arts, such as aikido or kung fu, have many interlock special abilities. But soldiers who focus on rifles or submachine guns have special abilities that work best in free fire. The trick is to figure out a way to attack someone when he or she is out of his or her element. The exciting thing about the ability system in the Matrix Online is that because you can specialize in a number of different things, you will be keeping your opponent guessing as to what your element really is. Imagine disarming a soldier in close combat only to discover that he is actually an aikido grand master!

Combat in The Matrix Online has been evolving throughout development. We started with the core gameplay of interlock, because that allowed us to do the exciting moves, with visually connecting hits, throws, counters, traps and everything that a player would expect to see in Matrix combat. Then we brought in free fire and hacker modes to bring more flexibility in targeting, area-effect attacks, spy sneak attacks, and other elements to balance the different ability sets.