The links won't work as this is a straight copy and paste from the old forum, but maybe has some historical interest.
. : Unofficial FAQ Precursors and WhiteGold : .
UNOFFICIAL FAQ: White Gold/Precursors
UPDATED 23 JAN 2011
=================================== RELEASE DATES: ===================================
White Gold : 24 OCTOBER 2008 (Russian Language only). English Version mid-2009. (Probably not. No progress or news this year.)
The Precursors: Q2 2009. (Probably not. No news of an English version this year.
Using information from the Russian DS forum, this quote from Anders at B2BFF forum on 10MAR2009:
"All we can do is speculate about release i would say it comes with precursor at spring or in autumm what I read on Russian Deep Shadows forum was that most of devs where on vacation...well that said kertis when there was bugging with technical issues about white gold so who knows if they dont take vacation we get spring or summer relese if vacation its sept relese or who ever knows?"
====================================RECENT NEWS:====================================
<17NOV2009 Precursors will be released in Russian language on 04DEC2009. link
<28JUN2009 Clayton's News: Members at the B2BFF site have emailed DeepShadows direct, with no response. Also a regular, active devs representative at the Russian DS forum (Kertis)has been contacted in the hope that he would give us some sort of update. Sadly there has been no response from him either.
<13JUN2009 Here's a link to a post on the B2BFF Forum by a visitor to the Russian DS forum.
He is very careful to emphasize that he is just speculating.
See post dated 12JUNE2009, 7.28pm here.
With the lack of any official information on release dates and English localisations, this is as good a guess as any.
< 10JUN2009
Any news from the Russian DS Forum would be welcome. Anyone??
I'm wondering if it's time to call it a day.
Apart from some screen shots for Precursors (Russian), no news at all this year.
The only new Precursors interview is in Russian.
No news about Western Publisher, or English localisation for White Gold.
No contact from devs.
Most of the recent posts have been from Russian porn or Viagra sites.
Other recent posts I find baffling.
Perhaps Precursors and White Gold WILL be released simultaneously in English late in 2009.
Probably not, imo.
I respectfully suggest to the devs that a news update in the near future would be timely.
Otherwise I'm wondering...is it time to call it a day?
< 25MAR2009 New The Precursor screenshots here, thanks ShadowMoses.
< 04DEC2008 List of Main Missions (English Translation) here.
< 04DEC2008 Some reviews of the Russian release of Xenus 2.
They are in Russian, here's a link to the Yahoo Translator
StopGame
Megaobzor Magazine
Best Gamer Magazine
Game Guru
<24 OCT2008 White Gold video (115Mb) showing combat system here.
Youtube version, and links to all White Gold videos on Youtube here.
< 24 OCT2008 White Gold Release (CIS Countries)
<14OCT2008 White Gold release date in CIS countries is now officially 24 OCT 2008.
<14 OCT2008 White Gold Soundtrack demos here.
<10 OCT2008 Precursors Russian language interview, partial translation from Zone of Games magazine here.
<25 SEP2008 WOW...new official "diary video" of Soul Mayers/WhiteGold!!!!!
< 25 SEP2008 Another WhiteGold fan video, with nice sunset. There's a Youtube link, the Sendspace server is currently out of action. Thnx Jonelo and SM.
< 24 SEPT2008 Precursors screenshots from the CPU Threading competition here and here.
< 24 SEPT2008 Ika puts Russian release of WhiteGold at NOV2008, which is in Q4 2008 as previously stated.
< 24 SEPT2008 Youtube video of WhiteGold 'closed demo' here. THNX Lifelover for link.
< 23 SEPT2008 Download the video of the demo here. THNX Jonelo. (It's on Sendspace so get it quick before it's gone!)
< 23 SEPT2008 WhiteGold Screenshots from the demo: here, here, and here.
< 23 SEPT2008 Jonelo reports a WhiteGold demo tape in Russian language, has won 2nd place in a competition. Core2 Duo capabilities are utilised. This is a tape of the demo only, not a playable download.
< 03 SEPT2008 Huge 24 minute White Gold video/interview on Russian Youtube. "vadimnk" has kindly done an English transcript here.
< 06 AUG2008: latest The Precursors magazine article here. This article is Russian language, but there are screenshots. Ika describes the article as a true representation of progress so far, with no new material. The writer wonders if the project is "too ambitious" and if the planets will be monotonous. What would he know!
> Three new WhiteGold screenshots in the gallery.
> WhiteGold system requirements upgraded here.
> Latest version of The Precursors Trailer is available on these links:- 350Mb High res. and Medium res.
> Publicity release for WG/Prec on the XBox here and here.
> White Gold: July PC Gamer Article. September release date is firming up!
> Original WhiteGold nine planets down to five.
> The Precursors (1) downsized and will be released in two (2) parts.
> World publisher for White Gold and The Precursors will be Play-Ten. Russobit is publisher for CIS countries.
> RPGVault article on The Precursors (Part Two) here including MORE new screenshots.
> RPGVault article on The Precursors (Part One)here including some new screenshots.
> CVG article on WhiteGold here.
>Magazine article on WG/Prec/DS. Nice to see that WhiteGold is as heavily researched as Boiling Point, and the "Skinning" perk has made it into the final game.
> Latest on Two-Part release of The Precursors here.
> WG release date:
QUOTE (Ika @ May 7 2008, 07:34 PM) *
I think with third WG trailer will be announced (by Russobit-M) a release date for WG too.
> Russobit-M are currently working on WhiteGold Trailer #3, which will have "innovative video conception." On this page.
> WhiteGold world now comprises 5 main islands, down from the original eight..
> English interview with DS regarding White Gold by Unconscious here.
> The Precursors trailer here: here.
> "Xenus H-Q.net" is reincarnated as Born to Be Freeform
=========================================LINKS:=======================================
DeepShadows Forum here. LOL.
Born to Be FreeForm (formerly Xenus-HQ.net) here.
White Gold website here.
Precursors website here.
Precursors Wikipedia entry here.
White Gold Wikipedia entry here.
WhiteGold screenshots gallery here.
The Precursors screenshots Gallery here.
The Precursors news here
WhiteGold Video #1 [42Mb] here.
WhiteGold Video #2 [119Mb] here.
Official ThePrecursors FAQ is here.
The Precursors Video #3 is on YouTube, or at 350Mb High res. and Medium res.
The official WhiteGold FAQ is here.
World Publisher Play Ten Interactive for all the latest on marketing, localisation, news and development. Not.
Video trailers for WhiteGold and The Precursors can be easily found with a quick search on YouTube.
==================================GAME DESCRIPTIONS:================================
Precursors is a multiple quest RPG with 3D space combat and ground FPS action.
White Gold is a huge freeroam FPS/RPG hybrid with emphasis on RPG. Drugs and death in the islands of the Caribbean.
Both games have a core of main missions plus side missions, and a strong faction/reputation/perks system, similar to the DeepShadows game Boiling Point: Road to Hell.
===================================UNOFFICIAL FAQ:=================================
Q01: Where can I find out more about Precursors and White Gold: War in Paradise?
A01: See "Links" section above. Some of these are updated regularly, eg the screenshots galleries. The Precursors Official FAQ had a new question added this month.
Q02 What are the release dates for WG and Precursors for PC and consoles?
A02: Quote Geheme: “We are PC gamers. We know what “coming soon” means.
See "Release Dates" at top of this FAQ. Warning: every release date so far has been superseded.
Q03: Who are the publishers?
A03: Russobit-M for CIS countries. PlayTen Interactive for the rest of the world.
Q04: What are system requirements?
A04:These were updated here on 18JULY2008.
Minimum:CPU: Athlon 3000, 1Gb RAM ,GeForce 6600GS 128MB or similar.
Average: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2, 1Gb RAM, GeForce 8600GS 256MB or similar.
High: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4G (E6600), 2Gb RAM, GeForce 8800 512MB or similar.
O.S. supported: Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 32/64 bit, Windows Vista 32/64 bit.
And couple more words:
Video card must support pixel and vertex 2.0 shaders or 3.0 better
Minimum screen resolution: 1024x768
Supported screen ratios 16:9, 16:10, 4:3.
"Live For Windows" service will be not supported.
Q05: Is White Gold the sequel to Boiling Point?
A05: No. There is a completely new main character. The new location is a group of islands in the Caribbean. There will be a strong resemblance to BP, especially the faction system. WG will allow more development of the player's role. Because of the island setting there will be more amphibious vehicles. The pole dancer is gone but there will be other er.... 'ladies'.
Q06: What platforms?
A06: PC and XBox 360.
Q08: Will we be able to have our own house in WG and store all our stuff?
A08: Yes.
Quote Double"O" Agent:
"X360 = console
console = console fanboys
console fanboys = GTA = immediately compares any freeroam game to GTA
GTA = Houses/Garages
If Prec/WG = no Houses/Garages
Then Console Fanboys = COMPLAINCOMPLAINCOMPLAINCOMPLAINFLAMEFLAMEFLAMEBURNBURNBURN
else they just wont buy it
end if"
Q09: Will there be iron sights in White Gold?
A09: Probably not. (The mounted gun on the patrol boat has iron sites.)
Q10: Play time?
A10: "Precursors" is freeplay RPG, so you can explore the game world for as long as you like after the main quest/plot line is complete. Lots of sub-missions.
Quote Ika:"there are more than 100 quests of main story." which will be of varying complexity.
White Gold will take approximately 20 hours for a quick run through the main missions.
There will be enough side missions and free roam for heaps of play and exploration.
Q11: What news of weapons in WG?
A11: Stealth weapons include a crossbow and a silenced water pistol for underwater and possibly land use. Close combat weapons include the knife and possibly 'found' items. There won't be any silencers, just silent ammo.
Q12:Main Hero?
A12: Precursors has a young pilot of the Armanian race. You cannot pick name, sex, personal characteristics.
For White Gold the artwork and biography are complete but no name/nationality yet.
Q13: Will there be bugs?
A14: As the game release has been delayed from 2007, they are unlikely to be anywhere near as buggy as Boiling Point.
Q15: Are people happy The Precursors is now a two game series?
A15: NO! The people want one dirty great humungous universe with dozens of life-supporting planets the size of Saturn, 5 intergalactic empires, naked chicks, 3D cabin views, female main character option, pick name/haircolour/eye colour/clothing/personality of main character, naked aliens, perks that level up to 150, customisable spacecraft, magicka, New/Used spaceship Salesrooms, Russian voice acting Chinese voice acting, they want to build a house to stow their loot and pick the colours of the curtains and the bedspreads....and that's just for starters. All delivered a week before Christmas.
----oooOooo----
UPDATE 20JULY2010
I finally got a fully legal, playable in English, flicker-free on ATI version of XENUS 2 up and running. yahoo.gif
It's been a long journey for the forum. We had a great time in the early days, but the delay of a Western release just became too much and a lot of good people faded from the scene. Luckily, more good people came! I'd like to mention a few:
Wesp5, myers90 and badmofo for the English translation patch. They achieved what the DS devs could not. Thanks guys! mrhtml16 and nick-ol-teen did early work on a translation, with feedback and help from guenthar and overwightninja. Pandur, working on the German translation patch, also assisted weps5.
Thanks to Homerpepsi for clear instructions on purchasing a legal copy of the game from Russia.
Thanks to malik22 and badmofo on cures for the ATI video card screen flickering.
Please someone let me know as I'm sure to have forgotten someone's important contribution.
----oooOooo----
This site, DeepShadows Forum, has sadly become unworkable. Being able to connect to the site at all is problematic, and once connected it is hard to locate genuine posts amongst the spam. It is a stupid virus that kills its host, but that's what these Russian spambots have achieved.
Thanks to Tarash, wesp5, badmofo, bradleypariah, player1, Niadley, sq paradox and others for being proactive in finding us another forum.
Looks like RPG Watch is the best choice for Precursors, WhiteGold AND Boiling Point boards, if they will host them for us.
I would be very happy to see you guys over at RPG Watch and maintain our interest in these fantastic DeepShadows games.
Keep your eyes open to see if the new boards at RPG Watch are eventually created, because as at 23JAN2011 this has not yet happened.
----oooOooo----