We posed seven questions to the brains behind the imminent sex-em-up 7 Sins. Jean-Philippe Depotte of Monte Cristo Games spills the beans:

The seven sins are of course: pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth. How do they tie in with the game?

The player commits sins to calm down his three weaknesses (fear, sex and violence) but also to earn some advantages: money, relationship, etc. Each sin starts a mini-game the player must win to gain the bonuses. There are 7 kinds of sins:

Pride sins are actions you use to calm down all your three gauges by boasting, bragging or slandering.

Envy sins are actions you use to earn money by stealing objects.

Greed sins are begging, deceiving or stealing (pickpocket, for example) actions you use to earn easy money.

Anger sins are actions you use to calm down your violence gauge with violent actions.

Lust sins are actions you use to calm down your sex gauge with ‘stolen’ sensual actions (actions where the NPC is not aware of the player’s action – voyeur-like actions or tamper).

Gluttony sins are actions you use to calm down all your three gauges by over-eating or drinking.

Sloth sins are actions you use to calm down all your three gauges by sleeping for long duration. Every time you sleep, you dream. But you must play a mini-game to avoid awakening.

What is the player’s ultimate objective in 7 Sins?

To become the most powerful person in Apple City. That means to become rich, famous, to know the best hidden secrets of Apple City’s most distinguished persons, and to learn how to defend himself against the jealousies…

So how do you go about achieving that?

Through 7 chapters that will teach you the way to be a perfect sinner. When you start you don’t know anyone in Apple City. You’re a perfect stranger with no money and your ultimate goal seems so far away. Starting as a modest sales attendant at a luxury shop in Apple City, you will quickly understand the power of your personal charm and glibness.

Then you will become responsible for a TV reality show, a gigolo in a very secret club, a trainee at the dreaded Kombat Klub, a top manager, and so on. Higher and higher on the social ladder, you can try yourself at all the possible social roles but you always keep your true nature - you’re a sinner after all. And what is the ultimate goal for the king of the sinners in Apple City? You will have to play to know that…

We are promised ‘non-linear gameplay’. How freeform actually is that? Are your actions really going to have a significant difference on the way the game pans out?

In each chapter your goal is global. It’s up to you to decide how you will achieve it. In chapter one, for example, your goal is to earn money, a lot of money. How? It’s your own choice. You can sell items to customers (common), you can seduce a rich customer and sell her all you can find in the shop (more funny), you can play with your customer in the fitting room and ask her a little present (more sexy). And what if you rob your boss or pickpocket the cute customer you just seduced, eh? You’re a sinner, so don’t forget it!

Which feature of the game are you most proud of?

The atmosphere. It was difficult to focus but I’m proud of the result. The action is often sexy but never falls into vulgarity. The language is often libertine but never crude. The story is definitely for adults but never (never!) pornographic nor violent.

It’s like American Pie in a videogame. Fun, free, young, slightly insolent, with a pinch of sex…

I’m also proud of the positioning of the game in the industry. It’s not The Sims because it is not a management game; it’s an action-adventure game. It’s not Larry because it’s not a mini-game feast. Mini-games are here just to support the action and always fit in the game play. It is 7 Sins, that’s all.

Loaded question: What did you think of Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude?

I played Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude a lot because I liked the previous opus of the game. But several times I looked over my shoulder to verify my wife was not watching! :) Larry is crude, sometimes too much. I think that some words or images sometimes break the fun and we tried not to use them in 7 Sins.

We also made the choice for 7 Sins be set in a realistic, adult world. It was more work for us because it implies realistic lights, textures, animations and so on. But I prefer our look and feel. Looking at a sexy girl is better when she looks like Paris Hilton or Angelina Jolie than if she looks like Minnie or Daisy.

Any pearls of wisdom for wannabe hedonists?

If you want a long and rich life in Apple City:

- “Always listen first to your (basic) instincts”

- “Listen, watch, touch, taste”

- “If you want to know it, try it!” (That works with the Viper’s special bondage equipment, with Master De France’s magical potions, and so on)

- And finally, “Keep an eye on Alfredo Gomez…”

Click below for some taster screenshots: