Created and launched by Omeda Studios, the game titled Predecessor presents a novel twist on the much-loved Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre. It merges the thrill of third-person shooter action with the strategic depth of MOBA games, encouraging players to aim accurately, keep an eye on their surroundings, and work together with their team. Predecessor stands out as a user-friendly MOBA due to its clearly defined roles, intuitive third-person shooter combat mechanics, and helpful features like auto-buying items, which make it easier for new players to grasp the gameplay.
Wrapping up its inaugural year on the web, ‘Predecessor’ is preparing a significant revamp in version 1.8, which will significantly alter both the game’s strategic layers and real-world settings. Dubbed World Shift, this new feature triggers a map transformation mid-game. This mechanic ensures that players must constantly adapt their strategies due to the unexpected terrain changes. The upcoming update also introduces Akeron, a new playable character who can scale walls vertically in the game’s freshly dynamic landscape. In an exclusive chat with Game Rant, Omeda Studios CEO Robbie Singh, Lead Designer Luke Betterton, and Senior Designer Alexandra Lerman delved into the key aspects of this revamp, insights from ‘Predecessor’s first year, and more (interview has been condensed for brevity and clarity).
How Predecessor’s World Shift Evolves Player Strategy
As a devoted cinema-goer immersed in the world of video games, I’ve got to say that the introduction of the “World Shift” mechanism in the game truly stands out as groundbreaking! It’s clear that the creative minds behind this masterpiece drew inspiration from the dynamic and evolving landscapes often seen in epic films. They sought to bring that same sense of awe-inspiring transformation into our gaming experience, allowing battlefields to dramatically change throughout a match – an ingenious move that has certainly left its mark on the world of video games!
The concept behind World Shift emerged from a blend of design objectives and an eagerness to respond to player suggestions. While Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs) excel at numerous aspects, the variety they offer is greatly influenced by their extensive hero roster and the roles these heroes can assume. In line with the Augments system we implemented in June, our aim was to introduce another facet that would improve gameplay and increase the fun factor by introducing a fresh layer of replayability. Essentially, this feature needed to align with the genre’s core qualities: the sense of accomplishment and the interplay between technical and strategic proficiency.
Another crucial aspect was refining our map, Sanctuary. This is a concern we often hear from our players, as creating maps for Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA) can be incredibly difficult to perfect. Over countless games played on the current version, adjustments, no matter how minor, can result in unforeseen outcomes or imbalances.
During this stage, as we’re working on a comprehensive, long-term upgrade for our base map, World Shift serves as an avenue for us to share some of our exciting developments with players ahead of time. By doing so, we can carry out both projects concurrently, thereby enriching the game immediately and also setting the stage for Sanctuary’s future evolution.
Discussion on Game Rant: In what way did the developers manage to maintain an equilibrium between surprise elements and fairness within World Shift, particularly for competitive gameplay?
A key focus for us has been achieving the right balance. Our ultimate goal is to offer multiple World Shift variations, each featuring unique visuals and gameplay mechanics. During playtesting, we discovered that overly rapid implementation of too many changes was perplexing for players and negatively impacted their gaming experience.
To kick things off, we’ve opted for a more straightforward approach. For our first version, we’re unveiling a single World Transformation. While it may appear visually stunning, the effects are understated yet significantly influential. We’ve added new routes, strategically placed rocks that function as choke points and alter viewpoints, and Geysers that propel you skyward, granting access to areas previously unexplored. Additionally, there are Gold Plants, which can help savvy players amass more gold in the jungle.
In our upcoming World Shift update, we’ve got some planned enhancements lined up, with an entirely fresh one scheduled for November. However, we’re being cautious to ensure a seamless and enjoyable player experience. Although playtesting provides us valuable insights, nothing quite matches the data we gather when hundreds of thousands of people engage in live gameplay. In the upcoming weeks, we will be closely monitoring player feedback and making minor tweaks as needed. Larger changes will be implemented in future updates.
The focus here is on maintaining a smooth and positive experience for players while emphasizing the importance of player feedback in guiding the development process.
Discussion: Let’s delve into how the World Shift impacts players’ game strategies as the map undergoes transformations.
Betterton: The World Shift in our game alters the strategy for players as a match unfolds, significantly influencing a large portion of the map. This unique event introduces fresh strategic opportunities and routes. It’s fascinating for us to observe how players adapt to these changes, discovering new tactics and counter-strategies. A location that was once considered safe might become vulnerable to flanking, but if used wisely, it could also be a clever trap to lure your opponent. As players grow more accustomed to the evolving strategies, we can’t wait to see how they adapt and change once everyone gets their hands on this update.
One major motivation for choosing this path was to bring freshness and novelty, challenging conventional knowledge while teaching something new to all participants. This enriches each gaming experience, as mastery extends beyond character skills to include the ability to adapt and navigate a dynamic and intricate game environment.
Instead of just being physical transformations, the Shaper and their offspring serve as fresh, significant targets during combat. Capturing one of these seedlings (alongside the rewards of gold and experience points for your team) could prove decisive in establishing a strong advantage or disrupting an aggressive offensive push.
Game Rant: How might the broader MOBA genre benefit from exploring ideas similar to World Shift?
Singh: As avid lifelong players and enthusiastic followers of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games, we hold them in high regard, along with the developers responsible for their creation. Given that several of these development studios have been in the game for a considerable length of time and operate on a much grander scale than ours, we feel it’s not our position to provide suggestions or offer general opinions about the entire MOBA genre.
We’re devoted solely to crafting our desired game, which centers around Predecessor, with a unique selling point being the chance to elevate the combination of action and strategy to greater heights.
In our approach, we aim to integrate the map as a living component within the game mechanics itself. This initial move represents just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we envision for this project. We’re beyond thrilled about bringing substantial enhancements to Word Shift and other Predecessor features in upcoming updates.
In a more conversational style, “Game Rant wants to know, when developing Akeron’s character, what difficulties were encountered in creating his vertical traversal abilities?
Lerman: While other characters in Predecessor make use of verticality in their play styles in unique ways, Akeron stands out by engaging with the game’s walls and map layouts extensively, in a manner that is immediately apparent to players. This was an exceptionally tough task due to Akeron’s unconventional appearance as a twisted demonic figure with spider-like limbs, rather than a standard humanoid hero.
Working on Akeron, our most complex hero yet, required an unprecedented combined force from various teams within Omeda.
Akeron significantly transformed the game, with meticulous attention given to aligning his spider lower half with various surfaces and matching his torso’s rotation to the player camera movement. Furthermore, the team developed innovative technology for movement and positioning that breathed life into the fearsome Demon King in a spectacular manner.
In game lore news, Akeron isn’t just another playable character, he’s a significant story development. What role does a well-crafted narrative play in the introduction of new heroes or other game features?
Maintaining a consistent storyline is vital for the future of our game. Initially, we worked hard on perfecting the basic game mechanics and ensuring new players could easily join in. Now that those elements are well-established, we can think more broadly. We believe that having an engaging story and coherent lore will help Predecessor become a game people will continue to play for a long time, which is our main objective.
In our latest projects, you’ll find a strong dedication to the universe’s lore. Many team members in the studio are deeply enthusiastic about this intricate universe, and we’ve been brainstorming numerous ideas that we can’t wait to unveil in due time. Our website has recently undergone an upgrade, featuring a comprehensive “Universe” section where you can delve into the backstories of each character, enjoy captivating short tales, and journey through the worlds that make up the Predecessor universe. Notably, our latest three heroes, Yurei, Renna, and Akeron, are all part of an extended narrative arc.
Moving ahead, our aim is to delve deeper into a central theme to ensure all elements in the game – characters (heroes), visual aspects like map cosmetics and skins, battle passes, and game modes – share a common thread. We’re currently developing these concepts, and we’re optimistic that this strategy will breathe new life and consistency into the world of Predecessor like never before.
In a more conversational style,
Game Rant: How did you decide on the different paths that players can choose for Akeron, allowing his abilities to be tailored to various playstyles?
When designing Akeron, we wanted to give players a chance to customize their gameplay experience by building him differently for each match. This personalization primarily comes from his unique scaling system, where investing more in certain stats enhances specific effects, offering additional layers of strategy and excitement.
Are you more at ease amidst the chaos? If you prefer close-quarters combat and endurance, boost your Physical Strength and Maximum Health for higher melee damage output and durability. But if long-range spells are more your style, increase your Magical Power and Ability Haste to excel as a mid-range caster. Regardless of the route you take, Akeron is built to accommodate it, so feel free to explore various builds and playstyles!
In the upcoming ranked season, there’s going to be a fresh start, often referred to as a “soft reset.” Reflecting on the previous split, can you share what insights you gathered and put into practice for this new beginning?
The Ranked mode in our game is highly valued and an aspect we’re particularly careful with. We understand that a solid Ranked mode is crucial, and we’re being meticulous to ensure it remains stable.
Currently, we’re making several improvements under the hood while deciding on our future direction. A significant amount of work is being put into enhancing our ranked system, which will result in exciting new features as the season continues to unfold.
This division aims to tackle many of the concerns expressed by the community regarding our initial separation. The most significant modifications encompass:
1. Improvement A: Addressing feedback point 1…
2. Enhancement B: Responding to feedback point 2…
3. Modification C: Addressing concern pointed out in feedback point 3…
4. Adjustment D: Taking care of feedback highlighted at point 4…
5. Correction E: Rectifying the issue mentioned under feedback point 5…
6. Update F: Implementing feedback-related changes at point 6…
7. Alteration G: Amending the aspects pointed out in feedback point 7…
8. Overhaul H: Revamping the elements criticized under feedback point 8…To ensure a fairer and more precise evaluation, we’ve revamped the system to better represent a player’s genuine skill level. Earlier, highly-skilled players often had to struggle through a prolonged ascension, resulting in disheartening matches that kept them at a rank lower than they merited. Now, upon a player’s promotion to a new tier, we conduct an extra assessment to decide if their rank needs a significant boost. If it does, they could leapfrog over one or even two tiers simultaneously. This adjustment also helps minimize the annoyance of players who were being pitted against mismatched opponents due to incorrect rankings.
We’ve made significant adjustments to the manner in which your rank progression becomes more dynamic and swift. Previously, we were careful to avoid abrupt changes in rank for a better gaming experience. However, after thorough preseason testing and an entire split of data collection, we can now introduce more daring alterations and remove certain safeguards. This means that winning games will propel your rank forward more predictably, while losing games will cause a quicker descent. In essence, this should make the gameplay experience more exhilarating, although we’ll keep monitoring closely to ensure it remains balanced and enjoyable.
As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share one significant modification we introduced for the initial split – enabling players to team up with friends during game queues! This was a highly anticipated feature among our community, but not everyone welcomed it with open arms due to concerns over fair matchmaking and potential imbalances.
However, after careful monitoring and data collection, I can confidently say that we’re delighted with the results! The changes have brought about a more engaging and enjoyable gaming experience for many, and we look forward to continuing to refine this feature moving forward.
We plan to evaluate this scenario, but we’re confident that we can maintain a high standard of matches while allowing players to queue with friends who are either one rank above or below them, without limiting their division within that rank.
In a natural and easy-to-read manner,
Game Rant: A lot of fans who love the Predecessor game are now playing in their second split of the ranked season one. What makes this game so popular among the community?
Singh: We think it’s all about collaborating with our community to create the game, rather than just for them. Since day one, we’ve maintained an ongoing conversation with our players, taking their suggestions into account while continually refining and enhancing the game together. Their enthusiasm and insights are invaluable in guiding our development efforts.
Apart from its distinct features, the gameplay of Predecessor stands out uniquely within the MOBA genre. As a third-person perspective MOBA game, it offers a different playing experience compared to others in the field. The harmonious combination of intense third-person action sequences, strategic team play, and mechanical skill expression creates an unparalleled feeling that sets it apart from other MOBAs available today.
Lastly, we’ve been designed specifically to be played using a controller. This fundamental aspect greatly defines who we are and has revolutionized the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre on consoles like never before. Playing Predecessor with a controller feels seamless and instinctive, providing an enhanced sense of comfort and immersion for players. It also offers a sense of familiarity to both action game enthusiasts and MOBA fans alike.
By blending a community-focused mindset with a gaming experience that is both reminiscent yet uniquely innovative, we believe we’ve created something truly extraordinary.
The Future of Predecessor
Game Rant: How do you anticipate World Shift influencing competitive play long-term?
We anticipate that World Shift will bring about substantial and enduring changes to competitive gameplay by adding a novel, evolving dimension of strategy. With multiple possible Shifts, it will call for heightened adaptability and strategic acumen from players. The top-tier teams won’t merely respond to the shifts as they unfold, but will grasp how each shift influences the map’s structure, objectives, and lines of sight. This emphasis on adaptability fosters diversity in games and their outcomes. Rather than each game on the same map feeling routine, the shifting landscapes, new routes, and varying choke points will compel teams to frequently reassess their strategies. We expect this to result in a wider array of effective Heroes and combinations, as certain characters might become stronger or more versatile during a particular Shift. In the end, this additional layer of complexity should keep the competitive scene vibrant and engaging.
In World Shift, fresh objectives and trade-offs are presented, demanding teams to strategize on whether to battle for newly available resources, protect current assets, or exploit the dynamic landscape to their advantage in innovative ways. This ongoing decision-making process, coupled with the necessity to adapt swiftly, will escalate the strategic depth needed to excel, offering accolades to players who can accurately navigate this rapidly evolving competitive arena.
Game Rant Review: Reflecting on the game’s inaugural year, what significant insights have been gathered to guide the team’s future strategies and developments?
This past year has been nothing short of remarkable for us. We’ve witnessed significant expansion in various sectors, and it’s been an enriching learning journey that has greatly influenced our future strategies.
Initially, Lab tools have shown tremendous significance in our work, enabling us to assess key features and collect feedback under controlled conditions. For instance, our Legacy mode served as a prime example. We were thrilled to present our version of Legacy to the community, even though we had predicted some of the challenges it faced during its Paragon phase. However, it was frequently requested by our community, which prompted us to introduce it for players to gain insights.
First off, the initial reaction was phenomenal, attracting both old players who returned, and a highly engaged group of enthusiastic fans providing detailed feedback. Despite a drop in the mode’s popularity later on, moving it to Labs proved beneficial because it revealed that while there is a dedicated niche audience, the wider appeal wasn’t enough to sustain it as a long-term fixture, providing us with essential data for our main map update. Everything we do brings valuable insights, and now we have a more defined roadmap to strengthen the game’s future for all players.
In the time since we unveiled our alternate gaming mode, Nitro, its success has been nothing short of astonishing. Despite the fact that we’re still in the early stages of fully realizing its potential, it has garnered widespread appeal. What truly took us aback was its adoption among high-level gamers, such as competitive players and streamers, even when they’re not engaged in ranked play. In November, we have a significant upgrade lined up for Nitro, and given that it’s part of our experimental Labs, we feel emboldened to take risks and experiment with more daring ideas than we might with our primary game mode.
This year’s outcomes underscore the fact that our game is enjoyable for many, and our primary aim is to expand this fan base without losing or neglecting the devoted community who have been part of our journey. We are confident about the direction of the game, and when we strike the right balance, we will find ourselves in a market that is vast yet distinctively ours, captivating both seasoned and novice players.
We’ve realized that it’s not always possible to please everyone, but luckily, our community appreciates our efforts to listen, adapt, and make long-lasting improvements for the benefit of the game. Additionally, they value our transparency in sharing the information and reasoning behind our decisions.
In the vast realm of video gaming, even established powerhouses often face challenges. The constant growth of our supportive community, as we continuously inject our enthusiasm and skills into the games we adore, is both humbling and inspiring. We never forget how fortunate we are and never take anything for granted.
[END]
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