A new interview has popped up at Gameinformer.com with Blizzard designer Dustin Browder. This is a very lengthy interview which covers topics ranging from early design goals down to specific unit discussion and imbalances. It is most definitely worth a read. Here’s a small excerpt:
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How do you plan to introduce newer players to hardcore competitive play?
We’re definitely going to be looking at Achievements and other tools to encourage our players, once they graduate from cooperative vs. AI to move into team play before they move into 1v1. We’re going to offer 4v4 and 3v3 to encourage them to get into a team play environment, get with a team. It’s a much more casual environment than the 1v1; you’ve got somebody to help you play with, you’ve got allies who can come to your rescue if you get into a little bit of trouble. We really consider the 1v1 the final endgame arena-style gameplay that we hope players will only get to after 30, 40, 50, 60 hours played depending on their enthusiasm for it. That’s my hope as a designer, but whether any of that works out is anyone’s guess. We’re going to try to do anything we can with the UI and with the Achievements to encourage players to follow some kind of arc like that so that by the time they get to 1v1 hopefully they’re feeling very comfortable with the game and they’re ready for it—they’re not just thrown into the deep end.
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