As a long-time fan of Warhammer 40k and an avid player of the Rogue Trader RPG, I was thrilled to learn about the upcoming expansion, Void Shadows. Having sunk countless hours into the base game, I’ve grown fond of its rich lore and intricate mechanics. So, when I heard that we’d be encountering Genestealers in a side quest, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement.
2023 saw one of my top picks among video games, being Owlcat Games’ debut title set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. However, it was unfortunately marred by a high number of bugs during gameplay.
As a researcher studying the tabletop role-playing game Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, I observed that the writing and gameplay created an engaging and enjoyable experience for me. However, I encountered bugs with alarming frequency during my games, which forced me to revert to earlier saves in order to continue playing.
After its launch several months ago, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader has significantly improved with large-scale updates that addressed concerns raised by players, including myself. With this valuable experience gained, I was privileged to have a conversation with Anatoly Shestov, the game’s executive producer. He shared their perspective on the team’s response, development process, and even hinted at some exciting features to anticipate in the upcoming major expansion for the game.
Reacting to a tsunami of feedback
Shestov holds the role of “managing the antics” at Owlcat Games, ensuring the team adheres to deadlines, budget limitations, and maintains player satisfaction standards. In his own account, he disclosed that during the game’s release, they anticipated encountering some bugs – a common occurrence in most games. However, they were taken by surprise with the excessive amount of reported bugs.
He was among those responsible for declaring that the game was ripe for release, he shares. The team had also addressed a substantial number of minor adjustments in preparation for the launch. Moreover, they are currently addressing the errors we made.
In the same vein as Owlcat’s past projects, Rogue Trader represents an expansive role-playing experience, where players could easily dedicate over 100 hours to uncovering every quest and hidden detail without exhausting the game’s content. Shestov posits that due to the extensive nature of these games, some bugs may elude detection during internal testing.
In a different approach, one might choose to postpone commitment until every single aspect has been thoroughly tested and everything falls perfectly into place – similar to making a game this way, though it would offer significantly less playtime, fewer choices, and limited options. This method can sometimes lead to disappointment, but occasionally, it fosters affection because our games possess a distinctive charm. We engage in these practices as we genuinely believe they are significant.
Occasionally, it may lead to unfavorable outcomes, but at other times, it can result in affection due to the singular emotion experienced within our playful engagements.
Moving forward, Owlcat Studios will continue producing the same genres of games, but they aim to enhance their development processes based on their recent experiences to ensure a more seamless production in the future.
“Shestov acknowledges the significant risks involved, yet remains unfaltering in his decision to press on. However, he assures that extra resources will be dedicated towards Quality Assurance (QA), stricter scheduling will be implemented, and the player experience will be enhanced through improved content quality and a more refined finish.”
Owlcat Games were surprised by the large number of players who preferred to rush through the game with character builds that were intentionally broken, causing numerous issues and requiring them to restart saves to complete quests.
It was unexpected yet beneficial insight that one fundamental emotion our audience desires is the sensation of dominance through an immersive power fantasy. Features such as broken builds capable of instantly defeating bosses were met with enthusiasm, he points out. Interestingly, when certain options related to this were modified or removed during some updates, it sparked a strong backlash from users, who felt their cherished fantasy had been shattered, using terms like “uproar” and “outcry.”
An unexpectedly charming addition to the squad for the team is Marazhai, a Drukhari officer who may join under specific conditions. His allure has exceeded Owlcat’s anticipation, with Shestov declaring that Marazhai is “extremely popular” as a romantic choice.
Transitioning topics, I posed inquiries to Shestov regarding the imminent release of Void Shadows, our initial significant paid expansion for Rogue Trader. Void Shadows promises approximately 15 hours of fresh narrative and missions that seamlessly integrate with the core gameplay experience. Notably, this upcoming expansion focuses on the intricacies of life aboard a voidship, as the title suggests.
As a tech-savvy gamer, I must admit that we couldn’t delve as deeply into the colossal interstellar ships in our game as we initially intended. However, with this DLC expansion, we’ve been able to infuse more layers and complexity into the exploration of these cosmic vessels, making the gaming experience even richer!
“I admit, we didn’t get our hands on every stone that required attention. But let me tell you, a voidship is an astonishing metropolis brimming with its own distinct factions, nations, and inhabitants.”
One of the pivotal enigmas in Void Shadows revolves around the imminent danger posed by a Genestealer Cult, a malevolent entity that aims to corrupt and assimilate. These sinister entities are typically discovered on heavily populated Hive Worlds, and their presence here is intentional.
Indeed, it remains enigmatic how a Genestealer cult managed to inhabit a voidship rather than a specific planet, according to Shestov, though he prefers to refrain from elaborating further to preserve plot details. In the main game, Genestealers can be encountered in one side quest, but they were initially intended to have a more prominent role. Shestov clarifies that as development advanced, certain quests and locations had to be eliminated to enhance the overall quality of the game, resulting in all but one Genestealer-related quest being taken out.
As a seasoned game developer with years of experience under my belt, I can attest to the challenge of striking the right balance between creativity and efficiency when it comes to game development. While there are certainly elements within our games that are engaging and captivating, they often only occur once. This approach, in my opinion, can be questioned by any developer as an ineffective use of resources, both time and money. However, I understand the necessity of such decisions during the development process. There comes a point when we need to take the plunge, press the button, and move forward with our vision, even if it means taking a risk. It’s all part of the creative journey and learning experience that game development offers.
In the game Void Shadows, a new character is presented – Kibellah, an assassin from a Death Cult, who could potentially become your ally and even a romantic interest. When I inquired about the reasoning behind choosing this specific type of character to be the latest companion, Shestov remained elusive to avoid spoilers; however, he did mention that the team aimed to create someone fitting for the expansion’s atmosphere based on its setting.
“As we imagined the tale we wanted to share, the question then became: what sort of character would naturally arise from this narrative?” He jokes lightly, explaining that they hadn’t initially planned to include a new character due to their fondness for the miniatures.
1. Inquired whether the team was okay with delving further into complexities within the game environment, instead of focusing on making it user-friendly for beginners. However, it turns out that their policy is to design games that cater to both novices and experienced players. (Shorter version)
As a dedicated tech enthusiast and ardent follower of gaming news, I’d like to clarify something regarding our latest project. It’s not about the DLC or the main game we’re discussing here; it’s about our studio policy. Our internal approval team, composed of individuals who are well-versed in Warhammer universe and those who are newcomers, make the final call on whether our work is ready for the players. Within our development team, a whopping 99% are familiar with Warhammer, with over half being avid fans who play different games or read books related to it.
Taking such a step is often an act of trust, but when you’ve got a dedicated team of 100 people backing you up and a massive fanbase at your side, the risk multiplies significantly, making this endeavor a substantially larger act of faith.
The internal approval team is intentionally composed of a mix of individuals, including some seasoned role-playing game veterans and others new to the genre. This diverse group ensures that those more inclined towards the narrative can still have a satisfying experience at a lower game difficulty.
“For over five years, we’ve been creating role-playing games (RPGs). So far, we’ve released three such titles. Recognizing the diverse preferences within the RPG community, we strive to cater to each segment of our audience.”
As our chat draws to a close, I couldn’t help but wonder aloud if there were any intriguing tidbits he could spill about the impending release of Void Shadows? After all, being a tech enthusiast, I simply can’t wait to get my hands on it!
He expresses that they chose to delve into a slightly ominous and exhilarating atmosphere. He also notes that this is essentially an innovative endeavor for their studio, and he eagerly anticipates responses from the players.
As a researcher immersed in this project, I can’t help but feel the weight of responsibility that comes with leading a team of 100 individuals. When you factor in our dedicated fanbase, the stakes become even higher. It’s not just a step into the unknown, it feels like a giant leap of faith, multiplied by two.
1. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader can be played on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Mac, and PlayStation 5 as of now. The expansion pack, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader – Void Shadows, is expected to launch on September 24, 2024, but it requires the base game to be installed first to play.
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2024-07-30 13:09