Exclusive interview with Matt Ryder, Community Manager of the sandbox MMO shooter Brick-Force

February 23, 2012 15:22 ( F2P News ) 0

Enjoy this exclusive interview about the sandbox MMO shooter Brick-Force with its community manager, Matt Ryder.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to interview you about Brick-Force.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our new title with you and discuss our future plans for Brick-Force.

First of all, could you introduce yourself to our readers?

I'm Matt Rider, Community Manager for Brick-Force at Infernum Productions. I've spent over a decade playing online games, from MMO's to team-based shooters. My main role here is to work together with the community in every respect. Brick-Force is very much a community driven game with many social aspects.

Heading into beta, I'm focused on giving everyone who plays the game a voice and a chance to be part of the ongoing development process.

I try to have a hand in most aspects of the project and to communicate to our growing fanbase transparently. I am responsible for all of our community communication via Facebook, Twitter and our blog, and I speak to the rest of the team at Infernum Productions on a daily basis.

How would you describe Brick Force to someone who has never heard about it before?

The world's first cross-platform, sandbox shooter. We’ve managed to combine various different elements to create a game that is engaging, creative, accessible and social. It’s a highly unique package. We hope to expose a whole new audience to map-building and team-based shooters.

In the first images we saw of Brick Force, we’ve noticed that it’s a bit similar to another Minecraft-like, Ace of Spades, but with graphics that are a bit easier on the eye. So, what distinguish Brick Force from this other title?

Brick-Force is completely unique in the sense that it’s the first cross-platform sandbox shooter. Although it’s a voxel based game, the higher resolution textures and the art-style really give the game its own personality. There’s a lot more to be excited about gameplay wise; such as the integrated social features, such as the clan/guild system, the opportunity to rate maps and the incentives for building- you can be rewarded for your creativity.

The shooter mode is action-packed, with a range of familiar team-based modes which we will continue to expand upon in the future as Brick-Force expands further as a gaming platform.

Could you give us some details about the map building system? Building a map is it as easy as a mouse click?

Sandbox mode is incredibly easy and satisfying. Players can work together with their friends, building maps for fun or competition. The controls are very accessible, left click to build, right click to remove. Players will have the chance to also choose the placement of key gameplay elements such as bombsites, spawning points or flags. In Brick-Force, you’re not simply a builder, you’re also a game designer.

Could you also give us more information about the shooter features? For instance, what game modes (team, solo, deathmatch, territory control, etc.) can we expect in Brick Force?

Classic modes such as Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Bomb Defusion (like in Counter-Strike) are all in place. We have discussed bringing in further modes and new bricks with different themes such as sci-fi or fantasy. We hope to use community feedback to develop the game further with future updates that will keep the game fresh, varied and creative. New weapons and armor will definitely be added. There’s a lot of potential to expand upon the existing game world.

What can you tell us about PVE and PVP? How is it going to work in Brick Force?

Currently the game features the sandbox and shooter elements. You could consider sandbox as a cooperative “PvE” mode, and shooter mode as the “PvP” part of the game.
Currently up to 8 players can work together in the map building mode. Shooter mode works very much like traditional team-based shooters, but is unique in the sense that most content will be user-generated. We have discussed the possibility of adding shooter PvE modes too, such as tower defense, and perhaps this is something to look forward to in the future.

What kind of customization options will the game offer for players’ characters and weapons?

There will be a wide selection of different gear and weapons available, some armor may be cosmetic while others will have stats. Players will be able to work towards acquiring their favorite items depending on their personal preferences or playstyle. All armor will be interchangeable, enabling you to develop your own personal identity within the game world. Weapons in particular will be an important tactical choice and feature a vast array of different stats.

Brick Force is supposed to be a cross-platform MMO. Could you develop this point for our readers?

The Sandbox mode can be played on various mobile devices and tablets. You’ll be able to design maps with your friends while riding the bus to school, taking the train to work or chilling out on the sofa.

We believe that shooter mode is more suited to being played with a mouse and keyboard, because of the quick reactions needed when playing a team-based shooter. Sandbox, on the other hand, can be played at your own pace, and therefore works seamlessly on devices with a touch screen.

Brick Force has been announced as a Free to Play MMO but could you reveal any details on the monetization system? Will it be necessary to buy items to be powerful in the game?

Yes, Brick-Force is Free-To-Play.

We do need a source of income to keep the development going, the servers running and the coffee machine flowing! There are plans to implement a cash or currency shop where users can purchase items or currency ingame.

Such items need to be balanced and not give players too strong of an advantage. There is NO plan to make Brick-Force a “Play-to-Win” game. There will be other points/currency that can be acquired through building maps or winning games.

From your point of view, what makes this game more fun than others?

Brick-Force encourages players to be imaginative and come up with creative strategies to succeed. The social element is a core ingredient. There are rewards and incentives for the best and most creative maps and for voting for your favorites too.

The cross-platform features will make it highly accessible for a broad audience. The shooter modes are action packed and will continue to evolve throughout the development process. You can read our development blog for the latest news and updates from our team.

In what languages are you planning to launch Brick Force and do you already have an approximate date to communicate for the closed beta?

Brick-Force will be published in English, German, Spanish, French, Polish, and Turkish. More languages, such a Russian may be launched in the near future, depending on the demand from the community.

Would you like to add something?

I mentioned earlier that in sandbox mode players can choose the placement of key interactive elements like bomb sites or flags, and I don’t think that this feature has been reported before. It’s particularly interesting aspect which can add a whole element of surprise or strategy. Essentially, players are not just architects of their maps but also game designers.

Open beta will be coming in a matter of weeks. We’d encourage everyone to register as soon as possible if they want to be one of the first to play the game.
Also, keep an eye on our Facebook page and our Twitter feed for a chance to pick up some early-access beta keys, along with news, updates and more.

---

Top