Master Creating enters Restricted Area

Hamburg, Germany-based independent developer Master Creating has announced that the firm's team of nine is currently working on Restricted Area, a Diablo II-style action RPG with real time combat, a dark future scenario, and tactical shooter elements.

Restricted Area gives players the choice of four characters; John Johnson, a former taskforce agent who can handle most weapons and looks a bit like JC Denton from Deus Ex, a beautiful PSI sorceress, an Asian martial arts specialist and a female computer expert (guarded by a flying drone!). The game sees you following your own interests as a mercenary - but of course things blossom into a compelling and epic storyline.

On the tech side, the game's IRIS engine (developed specifically for the task) will be able to dole out dynamic lighting and shadow effects, whilst generating levels and sub quests as the game wears on. The visual look reminds us a lot of Shadowrun on the Super Nintendo, which is no bad thing. Restricted Area will also benefit from a soundtrack written by international sci-fi composers.

Master Creating tells us that Restricted Area is due out in late 2003. A company spokesman told Eurogamer earlier today that no publishers are currently in line, but they are confident that the game will elicit one very soon.