The robotic war is entering the massively multiplayer sphere. We’ve got an exclusive interview with the team at Jagex about the upcoming project.
At long last, the Transformers franchise has found success in the video game sphere in recent years, thanks to the work of High Moon Studios, and their War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron games. Simultaneously, another developer, Jagex, has been hard at work crafting a different vision for the Transformers – this one entering the MMO world with a browser-based game that looks to buck the trend and compete with high-end client-based MMOs.
We put some questions to the development team at Jagex about the new game, and this is what they had to share.
The Transformers franchise exists across a number of different storylines and timelines, from the original cartoon, through any number of comic continuities, and on through today’s linked timeline of the Prime cartoon and the War for Cybertron games. Where does Transformers Universe fit in?
Alex Horton, Chief Creative Officer: There’s an incredibly rich lore and history surrounding the Transformers property starting with the original cartoon, and the 1986 movie right through to the Michael Bay films and Prime series that we’ve been able to draw inspiration from for Transformers Universe. As a game we sit within ‘the Prime continuity’, so we’re working within the overall Transformers story. We’ve a style and tone that’s our own but we’re still part of the overall Transformers’ universe. Transformers Universe is being built for online gamers – something to play and be part of.
Can you offer some details about the overall storyline you’re exploring in the game?
Horton: I don’t want to talk about story specifics too much but we’re about to enter a new chapter in the age-old wars between the Autobots and Decepticons. You can join up with either side so we have to bring you both sides of the war. Your side’s performance in the ongoing battle will shape how the story evolves, who’s giving the orders and where the battle is going to take you in the Transformers universe.
We’ve heard that Transformers Universe veers more towards action and away from traditional MMO questing mechanics. Is that a fair characterization? How would you describe the hour-to-hour gameplay experience, as compared to a traditional MMO like World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2?
Horton: A traditional RPG setting doesn’t feel right for the Transformers brand, especially with where games are going in general. I could see it working as a collaborative/synchronous adventure but we want to do something more multiplayer with a broader reach, where you’re part of a massive, interconnected army that’s fighting wars on multiple battlefronts, facing and dealing wave after wave of attacks. Go into the game and do your bit for the faction! There is a strategic element to the game that’s more than your average action game; you’re collecting and maintaining your custom squad of Transformers characters to take into battle, for freedom or tyranny.
Tim Coupe, Executive Producer: To add to what Alex has said, we’re an MMO in that we’re persistent and players will be playing together but we’re more aligned to session based, very action orientated PVP games. I think we’re several steps away from MMORPGs, especially in the minute-to-minute gameplay, but we do carry across some of the themes you see in those games. We are story driven; player actions will have a direct impact on where our story moves, there are some PVE aspects to the game especially in the early stages as players go through tutorials and familiarize themselves with the game, but at our core I think we’ve really built a game that is different from what’s out there and takes full advantage of the opportunities offered up by the Transformers license.
Even though it’s clear that the game aims for more action than many MMOs, are there any other genre fundamentals that the game does include?
Coupe: What we’re aiming for with Transformers Universe is something that takes advantage of the world presented by the Transformers license. If you look at where the market’s going, the games that players seem to be excited by at the moment are focused on short-session, highly competitive gameplay. Players can expect a degree of familiarity when they first experience Transformers Universe, but they’ll also experience something that’s pretty new and unique.
In what ways can you create and customize your character? Do you play a single Transformer, or multiple characters?
Horton: Full character customization like you see in MMORPG’s can’t really be all that varied for a car that has to transform into a robot smoothly and also perform as a game character flawlessly, making a Transformers character that performs its duty a challenge before you add any really worthwhile customization. Picking bits of headgear, tunic colors or adding body kits to a vehicle aren’t that straightforward in a robot-vehicle character. We have customization, but the ultimate dream of creating your own custom bot from a car of your choice is a massive undertaking that doesn’t really enhance the game that much. It’s not as cool when you compare it to having your own collection of purpose-built bots with different play-styles, handling, weaponry, and specialties. It’s in the Transformers brand DNA as a toy, something that captures your imagination as you take it on adventures, not to mention the collectability, having a cool selection of Transformers characters. Its game art imitating life.
Coupe: Absolutely – I think players will really enjoy learning more about the new characters that we’re introducing to the Transformers’ Universe. These are genuinely brand new characters that people won’t have encountered, all with their own abilities, weapons and personalities, some Bots compliment other characters, some don’t and players are going to have to learn which combinations work best together. You’ll also be able to add elements of personalization to the members of your squad, so you won’t be completely without character personalization. The most obvious version of this is the personalization seen within weapons, you’ll be able to adjust modules within these weapons to give you multiple combinations that will be unique to your bot.
Can you tell us about some of the weapons and other equipment that players will get to try out in the game?
Ben Skelly, Lead Game Designer: There’s obviously a wide range of weapons that players will be able to access when playing the game; each Transformers character will feature its own equipment set that fits with its character type. There’s the standard weapon sets; direct damage, AOE, Melee, lock-on weapons and damage over time weapons, but on top of that we’ve got equipment that builds on each Transformers character’s personal strengths. This includes active and passive abilities. For example, if you’re a digger you’re naturally going to be pretty tough and well armored so you’ll get an armor bonus. We’ve also got Transformers characters that range in difficulty, and part of this is embodied by the equipment they come with, equipment that’s not as simple as seen on some of the other robots. For example, your ability might be damage over time, but when it’s first activated it damages you and you need to transfer it to an enemy before it winds up killing you. So this adds a more tactical element to how you manage your equipment. Players are definitely going to be exposed to an exciting range of weaponry within the game, and there’s some scope to go ahead and play around with it to see how it pairs up against or alongside other Transformers characters.
What is the balance between solo and team opportunities in the game? What else can you tell me about the PvP and PvE opportunities in the game?
Horton: We’re striking a balance between the two, the front lines are straight-up, team-based PvP – what else could it be? Transformers Universe leans heavily towards persistent PVP combat – it’s a game that’s built to let you take your squad of Transformers warriors into battle and blow the crap out the opposition, but in this tactical and strategic framework coupled with a persistent story. However, there’s more to the war. There are PVE aspects of the game that you can pursue alongside your career as a front line bot-slayer, you could build a cool collection of bots without ever going to the front lines. By definition this game will evolve with the war.
How you approach the game is up to you, there will be multiple battlefields and game modes for players to play across but combat has been built to emphasize team work. Characters haven’t been designed to work in isolation – all the characters have their strengths and weaknesses and it’s that strategic balance that players will need to think about. If I’ve died in the game, who should I bring out next? How will they work alongside the other characters that players have deployed?
Transformers as a brand has a broad demographic of fans, from adults who have fond memories of the 80s toys and cartoons, to young kids who love Rescue Bots. How is Transformers Universe aiming to appeal to such different tastes?
Horton: The Transformers brand means something to a massive portion of the world today; it’s staggering just how many people know what a Transformers character is. What that image of what the Transformers brand means depends on where you experienced them, be it the playground, your console, or the movies. We’re striving to create an atmosphere for the game that comes straight from the Transformers brand heritage but supports a game with our subject matter and an active online community made up of people who all have very different ideas about what a Transformers character is. The common theme is they’re all gamers and want to put their time into a fun game with online friends. We’re fortunate that people who like the Transformers toys and games are into cool entertainment in whatever form – games, graphic novels etc. There are a few different Batmen out there – they’re all cool. We’re not carving out ‘our’ version, but the audience and the game demand something original that provides a truly new way to experience the Transformers story. We’re trying to get that right.
Are there compromises that need to be made to enable Transformers Universe to run in a browser?
Coupe: Jagex is one of the pioneers in free-to-play, browser gaming and over the last 12+ years we’ve built up a great deal of expertise on how to build games that work in the browser, and we’ve applied that expertise to Transformers Universe. The entire game runs on a brand new, proprietary engine that we’ve built from the ground up to ensure that Transformers Universe looks best in class. We really feel it’s a step beyond most of the games out there that don’t require a client. All players will need to do to play the game is visit the website, click play and then you’ll be into the game.
How are you planning to monetize Transformers Universe?
Skelly: Transformers Universe is a fully free to play title with microtransactions. We’re conscious to avoid models that tease players by only giving them X, but in order to progress or get anything meaningful out of the game you need to spend money. You will be able to play Transformers Universe entirely for free, if you want to, as long as you’ve got the time to dedicate to it you’ll be able to get the same items as those that choose to pay. You’ll have no ability to buy game play advantages that affect the pay vs. free balance.
When are you hoping to release Transformers Universe?
Horton: We’re in closed Beta at the moment. People can sign-up to take part at the website: www.transformersuniverse.com the game its self will be launched in 2013 but if readers want to be in with a chance of experiencing the game before it’s full release they should sign-up for the Beta program.
Finally, above and beyond what we’ve already discussed, what new info can you share with Game Informer and its readers that is not yet known about the game?
Horton: One thing that we’ve not talked about yet is the importance that Energon will play in the game. Energon is the life blood of a Transformers character. The acquisition and management of this essential commodity is at the heart of game. It’s what powers the Transformers characters and their war machine. Our intention is to reflect this dependence in some really innovative and interesting ways throughout the game world. It’s not going to be some boring resource management element, but it is something you need to think about how you consume and what you use it for – are you a team player playing for the greater good, or is it all about you and your pursuit of glory. Your superiors are watching your every move.
Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/03/04/transformers-universe-interview.aspx
