That sense of synergy with Marvel is one thing that’s existed in Contest of Champions for the reason that starting, with roster additions and in-game occasions reflecting main developments for Marvel’s different tasks in movie, tv, and comedian books. However the significance of the neighborhood constructed up across the recreation, always driving its renewed success with each replace is one thing that its builders preserve clear sight of. If there’s any secret to why we’re nonetheless speaking about and taking part in Contest of Champions greater than the overwhelming majority of different cell video games, it’s how large a job the neighborhood performs within the ongoing developments surrounding the sport’s updates.
“The neighborhood itself is a recreation workforce member,” explains principal artistic author Tyler Nicol. “The truth that they’re there’s the rationale why we will hold constructing, rising, and establishing this 11-year profession of a recreation. It’s as a result of they’re there cheering and serving to with us. That hand-in-hand relationship is exclusive.”
A Thriving and Rising Group
Group actually is the secret with regards to Marvel Contest of Champions, and the sturdy and excited attendance at this 12 months’s Summoners Fest is evident proof of that. There’s a familiarity and real friendship between lots of the attendees and the builders, one thing that’s grown and deepened over time. A number of individuals presently working at Kabam began out as Contest of Champions gamers and followers, together with Sim who began taking part in the sport when it first launched.
“I’ve labored in different firms and know many alternative trade individuals, however the precise neighborhood leaders come be a part of our firm and we work collectively,” Sim shares. “Me and the Kabam workforce worth the neighborhood lots. Even internally, we’ve got day by day neighborhood sentiments shared. Weekly, we evaluation what the neighborhood sentiments are – is it getting higher or worse, why it’s getting higher or worse, which elements they like. That is one in all our crucial processes.”
Extra than simply the possibility to rejoice Contest of Champions, occasions like Summoners Fest additionally give the builders the possibility to see the sport in an in-depth perspective that playtesting may by no means fairly present. Seeing devoted followers who’ve mastered the gameplay mechanics in ingenious methods from hours upon hours of observe helps the builders see the nuances of the sport in a brand new mild. This helps the builders plan the way to construct new Champions for the roster and different refinements that, in flip, supply contemporary surprises to longtime gamers.
“Our gamers have taught us a lot in regards to the recreation,” admits RPG designer Stuart Urquhart. “Our gamers are chargeable for so many interactions that they’ve found and that we’ve codified into precise guidelines. As that’s gone on, we’ve realized the way to make extra enjoyable Champions. We additionally notice that our current Champions nonetheless really feel nice, so we’ll go make and revisit them.”
