Gamescom 2012: Matt Higby sheds light on PlanetSide 2's factions and design
PlanetSide engendered some fierce faction loyalty, which carries over quite naturally to PlanetSide 2. According to Matt Higby in a new interview at Gamescom 2012, every faction's players feel like their faction needs more attention in the early release material. The main challenge of design is keeping all three factions balanced while ensuring that all three are different enough to feel distinct. Higby stresses that the team is trying to push the differences as far as possible without creating balance problems.
Another major issue that Higby brings up is ensuring that new players can get into the game without removing anything that old players enjoyed about the original. That means new mechanics to help players drop in if they've never played before, but the same core design of gathering hundreds of players to accomplish sweeping tactical objectives. Check out the full video after the break for more of Higby's insights into design; the video starts off in German, but the interview itself is in English.
Every summer, the gaming industry descends on Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom, the world's largest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. Massively's on the scene in 2012, bringing you all the best scoops, impressions, and interviews from the MMOs at the show!
