XQ's Deus Ex Zone has posted an interview with Warren Spector, grilling the lead designer about his 3D action RPG currently under construction at ION Storm. Thanks Vault Network. A variety of topics are covered, including this bit on the overall story and plot of the game:

How important to the overall story of the game will be the path of enhancements and skills, chosen by the player, be?

If enhancements (or augmentations, as we call them) and skills aren't vital to the way Deus Ex unfolds we've done something very, very wrong! But, remember, there's a distinction (in my mind at least) between "story" and "plot." The Deus Ex plot -- the sequence of major events in the game -- is going to be the same for all players. Skills and augmentations won't affect that at all. The story -- the specific, minute-to-minute events that lead to the major plot points -- that will differ radically, I hope, from player to player. And the skills and augmentations are two powerful tools for ensuring story differences.