Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

As a seasoned gamer and card game enthusiast, I must say that the Marvel Snap team has truly outdone themselves with their approach to Bounties and Alliances. The balance they strive for between challenge and reward is commendable, especially considering the intricacies of each deck archetype.


The “Marvel Snap” game is a swift, engaging deck builder that skillfully leverages Marvel’s famous roster of characters, both heroes and villains. This free-to-play game often concludes in three minutes or less, making it popular among genre enthusiasts, particularly on mobile devices. However, there’s always scope for refinement, and the developers at Second Dinner are continually seeking ways to enhance the Marvel Snap experience.

In a recent conversation with game designers Jozie Brajkovich and Safwaan Khan from Marvel Snap, they shared insights about the alliance bounty system in the game. This system is designed to encourage alliances and diversity in playstyles by offering rewards. They discussed updates to the system, their approach towards player data analysis for decision making, and future enhancements planned for the alliance bounties in Marvel Snap. (Note: This interview has been condensed for conciseness and clarity.)

How Marvel Snap is Making Bounties More Accessible

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

Question: In their efforts to enhance the enjoyment and accessibility of Alliance Bounties for every player, has Marvel Snap identified specific challenges they wished to tackle? Can you describe the types of adjustments that could potentially resolve these issues?

We’ve been putting a lot of effort into perfecting the rewards system, ensuring they provide enjoyable and worthwhile challenges or missions. Our aim is to tackle those that are lagging first since we want to deal with any underperformance promptly.

Q: Has there been any specific player feedback that has guided the team’s approach to the Alliance and Alliance Bounty systems? How does player feedback typically factor into your process?

We make it a point to search for and review as much feedback on game rewards as possible! This player input not only tells us how the feature is being perceived but also influences its development in the future. Qualitative feedback allows us to pinpoint any negative experiences, which we can then verify with the data we gather, leading us towards creating practical solutions.

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

A: In what way does the team decide on the equilibrium of systems such as Alliance Bounties? It appears tricky to set bounties that are both engaging yet rewarding enough. How do they manage this balance?

Initially, without players knowing about it, we created an initial model for the bounty system by analyzing player behavior patterns and making baseline estimates. This model aimed to strike a balance between the necessary conditions to complete a bounty, the frequency of different types of bounties, and the points awarded upon completion. Now that bounties have been active for a couple of months, we’ve gained valuable insights into how long it takes to complete them, which ones are most frequently abandoned, and overall player engagement levels with bounties. These observations help us make necessary adjustments to the system as needed.

A: Can you share any thoughts about potential modifications to the Alliance system we might see in the future? Are there specific objectives you aim to accomplish through Alliances?

A: We’ve come up with numerous improvements and modifications for the Alliance system that we’re really thrilled about! Some changes, such as tweaking bounties, can be implemented more easily, while others demand extensive development and should be allocated appropriate resources. Our primary aim is to make Alliances a place where players can collaborate and celebrate their Snap experiences by exchanging victories, deck setups, and strategies. We believe this fosters a sense of camaraderie within the community.

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

Q: Did you consider any modifications for these systems but eventually opted out? Could you elaborate on the process of making such decisions?

To ensure that a game is entertaining, any potential elements need to pass a specific level of fun. Some rewards were excluded because their tasks were overly restrictive and failed to offer a pleasurable gaming experience.

A: What’s the strategy behind organizing events like the current Bounty Boost event by Marvel Snap, which is celebrating Agatha All Along on Disney+? Is it about choosing the event’s subject, deciding on the rewards, or setting the event’s duration?

As an enthusiast, I yearn for Snap to seamlessly blend into the vibrant tapestry of the Marvel universe. I view Bounty events as a delightful method to infuse those lively festivities within Snap, and I’m constantly scouting for such chances when envisioning our upcoming content. Bounties operate on a weekly basis, similar to other in-game content, but we’re open to trying out shorter weekend bonuses as well. If a thematic reward aligns, we’ll strive to incorporate it thoughtfully.

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

Have you found specific categories of rewards to be more or less preferred among players? Does this type of data influence your own decisions in any way?

In our analysis, we discovered that game bounties demanding the elimination or displacement of a specific number of cards in a single match were tougher than anticipated. Consequently, we adjusted those conditions to make them more manageable. The Move deck type still poses a challenge – it’s fun and rewarding for players to experiment with, but mastering it can be tricky. Our aim is to strike the ideal balance between requirements, frequency, and rewards so that each deck archetype offers an equally satisfying gaming experience.

How the Marvel Snap Team Approaches Changes to Bounties and Alliances

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

Reflecting on the past, can you share some of the major transformations that stand out in the evolution of the Alliance and the Alliance Bounty system?

One significant improvement we were thrilled about was boosting the starting values of all rewards. Although our initial plan seemed robust on paper, it didn’t work as effectively in reality, so we made the required modifications to ensure players are appropriately compensated for their hard work. We have more such updates lined up for the future, and our aim is to become increasingly accurate with each change.

A: When considering whether a feature in Marvel Snap requires modifications, what specific measurements do you typically examine? Are there particular trends that trigger warning signs within your team?

Instead of relying solely on one type of information, we strive to gather both numerical (quantitative) and descriptive (qualitative) data to get a comprehensive understanding. Each aspect’s effectiveness is assessed uniquely, yet our primary objective remains to deliver an engaging and enjoyable gaming experience for the users. Although there may be obvious warning signs that necessitate immediate action, we usually endeavor to make thoughtful decisions based on as much information as available before implementing any adjustments.

Interview: Marvel Snap Devs Talk Bounty System Changes

A: Are there any updates on Alliances or Bounties that you should know about or have a sense of?

As a passionate player, I can’t contain my enthusiasm for the upcoming additions to the game! We’re working tirelessly to broaden the variety of playable archetypes, and characters like Silver Surfer, Mr. Negative, and even Bounce are on our list. Our goal is to create an experience that’s not just enjoyable but also enriches the game without compromising other aspects. To keep bounties feeling fresh and engaging, we’re also enhancing our technology to roll out changes more swiftly.

Furthermore, we’re excited to roll out customized challenge levels for our bounty system. Instead of universal scaling across rarity levels, we can now establish unique completion targets for each tier. This should lead to a more evenly paced progression, particularly for higher-level bounties that will see their requirements lessen slightly.

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2024-10-15 16:04