Breaking into the lucrative hero shooter market isn’t an easy feat, especially with established players like and dominating the landscape, making it increasingly challenging for new games to find an audience. Yet, NetEase Games is poised to defy the odds. The forthcoming free-to-play multiplayer game benefits significantly from its connection to a massive, well-known intellectual property, while the gameplay itself appears increasingly impressive based on what we’ve witnessed so far.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with NetEase Games’ development team to learn more about their upcoming hero shooter, featuring iconic Marvel characters and villains, and how they’re working together with Marvel to bring this experience to life. The following article contains a summary of our recent interview.
Exploring the vast expanse of the Marvel multiverse to curate a diverse array of characters has proven to be an extensive and complex endeavour. Drawing on their passion for the Marvel universe, our staff embarked on a comprehensive exploration of its various mediums – comics, films, television shows, and video games.
Exploring the vast expanse of the Marvel multiverse to curate a diverse selection of characters has proven to be a comprehensive and complex endeavor. Our team embarked on a thorough exploration of the vast Marvel universe, drawing from an array of sources including comic books, films, television shows, and video games to spark creativity. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources, our designs are rooted in comic book heritage, with many character creations directly influenced by their original comic depictions. Collaborations with Marvel video games have been pivotal. We believe their mastery of the Marvel IP relies heavily on our expertise in recreation design and manufacturing capabilities. Marvel Games prioritizes authenticity of its iconic intellectual properties, focusing on concept development, design, and production to maintain exceptional game quality.
Mastering the delicate balance between aggressive playstyles and enjoyable gaming experiences for enthusiasts is a daunting task, particularly when dealing with the diverse array of abilities possessed by Marvel characters, ranging from realistic to fantastical. The challenge lies in successfully translating these powers into functional gameplay mechanics that reconcile concerns around realism and stability. Notwithstanding the challenge, our team has successfully adapted. Through meticulous evaluation and fine-tuning of every talent through rigorous internal and external testing, we have ensured a stable foundation in diverse environments.
While maintaining a stable level of aggression is crucial, we also ensure that the heroes’ abilities are accurately represented to maximize player engagement. Physician Strange’s Sling Ring enables rapid spatial repositioning, while Loki’s mastery of illusions and cloning introduces an element of disorientation, confounding adversaries with unpredictable realities. His ultimate talent allows him to transform into another hero, leveraging their abilities, and enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Designing and successfully bringing to life a diverse array of iconic melee-based superheroes like the Hulk, Venom, Magik, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Thor has been one of our greatest challenges.
While each individual has unique strengths, their collective struggle against a formidable opponent presented a significant challenge to overcome. As a team-based fight game, failing to balance melee interactions can lead to shallow battles that devolve into chaos, ultimately becoming less satisfying.
Notwithstanding the vast potential of Marvel’s iconic characters, we were presented with a plethora of opportunities for creative expression and practical application. By emulating the Hulk’s remarkable jumping ability, we’ve crafted a feature that allows him to dispatch aerial foes with devastating effect, solidifying his reputation as a formidable foe against flying adversaries and introducing a fresh dynamic to his combat style.
Venom’s symbiotic abilities have been enhanced to provide him with mid-range combat skills, augmenting his primary reliance on close-quarters melee attacks. By leveraging Spider-Man’s renowned agility, players can execute fluid combat maneuvers across varied distances, effortlessly switching between close-quarters and long-range tactics as the situation demands.
This approach guarantees each character is mechanically well-rounded and provides a captivating gaming experience.
“One of our greatest challenges has been crafting and effectively conveying a diverse array of primarily melee-focused Super Heroes.”
When creating maps for a project, our process involves close coordination among the narrative, stage design, and artwork teams.
The narrative team launches the map design process by crafting a compelling narrative framework that sets the stage for the conflict between rival factions, with the mysterious Chronovium serving as a key driving force behind the action.
We collaborate closely with the content, design, and artistic teams to establish core information foundations and develop a comprehensive outline structure. Once we’ve laid the foundation, we’ll focus on crafting several Easter eggs that bring our narrative to vivid life. This comprehensive process involves harmonious fusion of textual elements, original artwork, custom mannequins, and specific outcomes, necessitating utmost attention to detail to ensure seamless synchronization with the initial conceptual vision. Our goal is to immerse current gamers in a richly detailed map that weaves a captivating narrative.
Despite conventional approaches, we revolutionize interactive storytelling by seamlessly integrating intellectual property narratives throughout every aspect of gameplay – from loading screens to character selection, animation sequences, and concluding chapters – ensuring a deeply immersive experience that transcends static presentation.
In Yggsgard’s iconic loading display, a pivotal moment unfolds: Loki’s cunning usurpation of the throne and the sacred sap harvesting from Yggdrasill’s ancient trunk, cleverly establishing the narrative foundation for the vast and storied world to come. In a captivating display, the hero choice and entrance animation fully immerse gamers within the story, as attackers select their characters at the fabled Observatory of Heimdall before crossing the legendary Bifrost Bridge into the map’s fray, while defenders choose theirs under the watchful gaze of a mysterious crow. Perceptive players may notice a striking similarity between the bird perched on Loki’s shoulder during the game’s loading screen and the crow that has taken up residence there, raising intriguing questions about its significance in the narrative.
As the game unfolds, Thor’s chariot receives robust protection from the attacking aspect, sheltering within it the mighty Jarnbjorn battle-axe that has been by his side since his youth. As the assault force nears Yggdrasill’s ancient trunk, the once-vibrant luminescence of Yggsgard begins to wane, a haunting portent of Loki’s faltering sorcery.
When Jarnbjorn emerges victorious, Loki’s sap extraction system is brutally destroyed; conversely, if defeat befalls Jarnbjorn, he succumbs to the crushing force of Loki’s wrath.
The story of Tokyo 2099 is infinitely more captivating. In Shin-Shibuya’s spawn level, gamers converge at the laboratory of enigmatic Spider-Zero, where they can collaborate and heed her urgent appeals for aid.
As the attacking force breaches the objective zone, they come across Spider-Zero imprisoned within a secure enclosure. As the Spider-Zero’s attacking forces converge on Budokan, a wave of digital warnings from the enigmatic Grasp Weaver floods Shin-Shibuya’s billboards, broadcasting a stern ultimatum: “Halt your advance, Spider-Zero.”
As Spider-Zero emerges triumphant from the Budokan arena, he finds himself suddenly whisked away to the mystical realm of Spider-Islands.
The narrative for Spider-Islands, integrated into the Comprehensive Battle Plan (CBT), necessitates the attacking party to provide an escort for Spider-Zero as it makes its way to the enigmatic Shrine of the Weaver. If the attackers prevail, fans will observe Spider-Zero meticulously mending the fissures in Tokyo 2099’s perpetually darkened skyline; conversely, a triumph for the defenders would see the enigmatic Grasp Weaver restore the celestial expanse to its former glory.
Our maps seamlessly integrate narrative and gameplay elements, providing an immersive experience that combines expertise with high-speed combat.
Gaming enthusiasts can leverage environmental devastation to gain a strategic advantage.
This characteristic goes beyond simply detonating the world, as it also enables strategic utilization of terrain modifications to influence the flow of combat and gameplay. Gaming enthusiasts can strategically dismantle partition barriers to engineer a flanking opportunity, unleash devastating aerial assaults by shattering glass surfaces, and explore additional tactics.
This innovative design tweak enables the manipulation of overall gameplay dynamics, potentially yielding novel opportunities for dramatic turnarounds that can transform loss into triumph. When facing a retreating enemy force on the front line, consider exploiting vulnerabilities by breaching a defensive position, launching a surprise attack from an unconventional direction, and unleashing maximum firepower to annihilate the opposition.
“In creating maps for , a collaborative approach is taken by the narrative, stage design, and artwork teams to ensure seamless integration.”
Gaming enthusiasts can expect an array of tailored objectives catering to diverse playstyles, striking a balance between enjoyment and rewards. Regardless of whether participants are aggressive, informal, or focused on accumulating, our game offers opportunities for each type of player to discover their own goals and accomplishments.
We will harmonize our post-launch strategy by implementing a seasonal framework, featuring premium gaming content such as narrative-driven storylines, special events, fresh map designs, and the introduction of new playable heroes, among other enhancements. We’re dedicated to delivering exceptional products and fostering meaningful relationships with our community of gamers by actively seeking and implementing feedback, ensuring that every player has an outstanding experience.
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Each season will feature a unique, themed map that immerses players in an unfolding narrative, complete with a compelling storyline and character development within the dynamic Marvel Universe.
- New Heroes: As the season unfolds, fresh faces will join the battle lineup, their arrival driven by the narrative’s progression. These newcomers will bring innovative Crew-Up Skills to the table, revolutionizing combat scenarios with their unique abilities, elevating gameplay to new heights of excitement and challenge.
- New Modes: Get ready to experience a fresh take on Marvel gaming, as we introduce new gameplay modes that unlock limitless possibilities within the vast Marvel Universe, featuring novel combat mechanics and victory conditions. After all, rigorous testing and quality assurance measures will be conducted beforehand to ensure a seamless and exceptional gaming experience.
