Unlocking Chaos: How FragPunk’s Shard Cards Redefine Hero Shooter Gameplay!

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The game titled “Fragpunk” will shortly appear on digital storefronts, diving headlong into the cutthroat world of hero shooters. To make an impact in such a crowded market, the unique feature of “FragPunk,” its Shard Cards, is a significant advantage.

As a die-hard gamer, I’ve got to say that what sets FragPunk apart from other games is its unique Shard Card system. Each round in FragPunk gives players a chance to collect Shards by scoring kills, getting assists, or winning rounds, among other things. During the breaks between rounds, these Shards can be used to activate Shard Cards, which are dealt randomly to each team during this phase. These cards can have a significant impact on gameplay, making enemies easier to hit, adding elemental damage to attacks, and more. Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with FragPunk‘s creative director and producer, Xin Chang, who shared some fascinating insights into how this system is being developed.

Fragpunk Creative Director Explains Shard Cards

The Importance Of Shard Cards

Chang emphasized Shard Cards as a crucial component of FragPunk, what sets it apart most notably. He pointed out that the dramatic shifts they introduce in a game are unparalleled, offering an experience that no other game besides FragPunk can deliver.

In the game “FragPunk,” the Shard Cards add an element of unruliness and surprise, setting it apart from traditional demolition games. Normally, players follow a set procedure: they scout locations, search for a site to destroy, and plant bombs there. But in “FragPunk,” you have more freedom: you can toss the bomb onto a site, carry a site with you, or even convert the entire map into potential sites—all due to the Shard Cards’ influence. Each round of “FragPunk” doesn’t adhere to the same rules as the last.

In his analysis, Chang drew a parallel between the central aspect of FragPunk and various sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball, along with F1 racing, boxing, and WWE. He observed that in these sports, there’s a consistent adjustment in rules to deter fixed strategies from making the games too predictable. This unpredictability keeps viewers engaged and intrigued. The team at Bad Guitar noticed that the absence of such rule revisions in popular FPS games resulted in gameplay that grew progressively rigid and formulaic, with mastering tactical execution becoming crucial for advancement. Shard Cards in FragPunk are intended to prevent a single strategy from remaining dominant.

How New Cards Will Be Rolled Out

Furthermore, Chang delved into the methodology behind crafting fresh cards, emphasizing how they are harmonized with the other game elements in FragPunk. As new cards are slated to drop with FragPunk’s periodic updates, maintaining balance between these and the existing deck components is essential.

During the early planning phase of our Shard Cards, we collaborate with our game designers who oversee distinct aspects to evaluate if a card could potentially upset the equilibrium of combat, levels, and Lancers. Our objective is to maintain control over the card’s rule-bending capabilities during development. Furthermore, our Quality Assurance (QA) team will run tests on each card prior to its launch to prevent any disruptions in game balance. Post FragPunk‘s official release, we will carefully monitor card balance and make necessary adjustments promptly as needed.

Given the tough competition, it’s crucial that FragPunk gets its Shard Cards just right, and it’s encouraging to know they’re putting a lot of effort into their balance. Bad Guitar is also working on balancing the randomness aspect of FragPunk’s Shard Cards, but those who aren’t fond of this unpredictable feature should not anticipate any changes in that regard.

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2025-01-26 22:26