At the Games Convention in Leipzig we had the chance to exchange thoughts and ideas with some team members from developer Blizzard Entertainment. We spoke with Jay Wilson, Tom Chilton and Jay Allen Brack, Diablo 3 and the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft.
Jay Wilson is the lead designer of the team that Diablo 3 develops, the role-playing game that Blizzard at the end of June, announced at the Worldwide Invitational 2008 event in Paris. We asked Wilson to comment on the controversy about the absence of the Necromancer in the game. At the presentation in Paris, he told him that in the new Diablo the Barbarian will be returning as a playable class, and Wilson also announced a new class, the Witch Doctor. Diablo fans want, however, not only the Barbarian but also the Necromancer. That is, according to Wilson. “It was right from the start, intended to be five playable classes in Diablo 3. To have more freedom during the design of the game, we wanted five completely new classes to introduce. One of the new classes seemed to be more and more on the Barbarian from Diablo, which I have said that we are the creature, but just by his name they call it. This reverses the Barbarian so back in the game. Although three of the five classes have not yet announced, is for us to identify that, and there’s the Necromancer, not between. However, We believe that all be careful after about a expansion of Diablo 3, and there would be the Necromancer for once in return.”
We want Wilson also like to hear why Blizzard in Diablo 3 sticks to the classic isometric cameravoering. Almost every modern rpg is switched to a third-persoonperspectief. Why Diablo 3 not? Wilson is here positive. “The isometric viewpoint is characteristic for Diablo. It is part of the series. We have never considered a third-persoonperspectief to choose. The isometric camera has great advantages. We want that Diablo 3 looks good and that the graphics and textures also reflected on a mediocre pc. Through an isometric camera, it is possible. By the fixed camera position we know for sure that the player never to the horizon can look. Outside the small field of view we have, therefore, nothing to render. Because only the immediate surroundings of the picture, we can that there is a very detailed description. We can all focus our attention on what from the limited camera view is visible. And because the camera can’t move, we don’t need solid objects do not even have a back cover to give.”
Video (WorldOfWarcraftWrathOfTheLichKing.flv)
Also Tom Chilton and Jay Allen Brack were at the Games Convention. They are part of the Blizzard team that Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion for World of Warcraft. Chilton is the lead game designer and Brack was the production director. Big news in Leipzig was the release of a video of Wrath of the Lich King. In the video, are the images visible which you see when the game for the first time. They are, according to tradition, by Blizzard themselves made. Most studios outsource the making of such an introductory video.
Luckily the gentlemen had time to answer some questions. We asked to use the new class with Wrath of the Lich King ge, lwa introduced, the Death Knight. Now the b lwa ta-test of the extension is started, the development team is also the first feedback returned to you. What are the lessons that the creators learn from that? Chilton: “there are lots of these! What is especially striking is that players are the difference between the use of Runes and Runic Powers are not well understood. It has come to our attention that many players the meter that the Runic Powers indicates not have even seen, so we definitely have to do something.”
We noticed when playing Wrath of the Lich King, that on the new continent of Northrend, no use may be made of the Flying Mount, which can be bought by players with level 70. Why is that? Chilton: “That was a deliberate choice from us. Fly with your own Mount is of course very nice, but it is also what makes it easy. With a Flying Mount, some quests will be very simple. Therefore, you can be in Northrend’t fly until level 77. From then on, you can get a quest to perform, which teaches you to be in the new continent to fly. That way, we want the player to force in order to get started with the quests in the first zones of Northrend to be found.”
Further, we wanted the designers to know how the new Death Knight class professions can learn. Every class in the game can have two professions to learn and normally grows the skill in those professions approximately parallel to the levelling of the character. The new Death Knight begins at level 55. From the b lwa ta-test that right now, it appears that new Death Knights are a great introduction, from level 55 to level 58. In the first training teaches the Death Knight all skills, which is normally between level 10 and level 55 to be earned. The professions, however, remain behind. The Death Knight that is a profession you want to learn, start without any experience and will be need to gain. That will cause the player to return to areas where novice characters walking around. Although Chilton’s frustration understand that this system can deliver, it is a conscious choice, according to the game designer. As a beginner Death Knights immediately experience to be in a profession of your choice, every player is a Death Knight and start to have professional skills to continue with this class to play. Blizzard is still looking for opportunities to active Death Knights faster experience by the player chosen professions.
Finally, wanted Chilton have to say that the team maybe changes will bring in the opportunities offered by the various races in the game. The attention in the last few years especially given to the classes in the game and not to the small bonus that each race has. Now, however, so that the advantages of one breed are much larger than that of the other, and especially in Player versus Player can be that much difference. According to Chilton is adjusting to this ‘racial abilities’ are high on the wish list of his team, but he could not indicate whether already in Wrath of the Lich King, an adjustment will be made.