Thanks to Xbox's invitation, we participated in the Minecraft: Legends press conference and interviewed the game's executive producer, Dennis Ries. During the interview, we asked players about the gameplay details and other issues that players were concerned about.
"Minecraft: Legends" is an action strategy game developed by Mojang based on the "Minecraft" IP, players have to defend villages in a world attacked by pig spirits, collect resources, recruit troops, build bases, and maintain world peace in various ways. The game supports both campaign mode and PvP mode. Minecraft: Legends will be released on April 18 and will be available on all platforms.
Here's what the questions and answers are:
Q: Can you tell the player about the story of the campaign mode? How did the production team conceive the story in a game world like Minecraft, which has no plot?
A: It's like the name we gave the game. Minecraft: Legends is a well-thought-out name because we see the whole game as a saga that grown-ups tell to children from generation to generation. These stories may or may not have happened. That's how we think about the story told in this game, and we believe that the stories in Minecraft come from our players, each of whom has their own story. What we want to do is keep them. That's how we tell stories in Minecraft: Legends.
Q: Is Minecraft: Legends part of the series?
A: No, as mentioned earlier, we see it more as a myth, a legend that may or may not have happened.
Q: How long is the process of a game campaign? How long does it take to clear customs.
A: It depends on the way the player plays the game, everyone plays the game differently, you can defeat all the bosses on the map, you can also choose to explore on the map, different difficulty brings different game experience. On average, people on our team think the whole process is around 18-25 hours.
Q: How does the production team ensure that the fun does not diminish with the time of play? How replayable is the game?
A: The replayability of the game is excellent. Progression-generated campaigns give players a different experience for each game. In the game, players encounter battles that unfold in many very different environments. For example, on the slopes of the mountains, in the desert, this will bring a very unique experience. In addition to this, we also covered a lot of post-launch content plans. The market will open on the first day of the game's launch, and we've added a monthly challenge called The Lost Saga. It also offers hours of fresh experiences that let you experience the game in different ways. If you successfully complete the challenge, you'll also get some rewards. Of course, we will also maintain the game's playability in various ways after it is released.
Q: How long is a PvP round, and how many players can be supported against each other?
A: Support up to 4v4. Typically, each game lasts around 20 minutes. Of course, longer matches may also occur. We also have a number of mechanics in place to ensure that the game is not too long. For example, over time, the damage of weapons in the player's hands will increase and so on. We don't think a game lasts more than 45 minutes.
Q: Can players choose to fight against AI in PvP mode, just like teaming up to challenge bosses? Or do you have to play against players?
A: You have to play against other players. There is a practice mode where you can attack the base without enemies. This mode just lets you practice different strategies for attacking your base. The game's map will have content that provides some PvE elements such as the pig spirit, but the real confrontation can only be between players.
Q: Is there any benefit to exploring the world instead of doing the main quest in campaign mode? Or should we focus more on the development of the main story?
A: There are many benefits to exploring the world. For example, you can discover new mounts that can directly change your gaming experience. For example, if you find a clever beetle, you can climb walls, which makes it easier for you to attack in different ways. Or you can move faster on the water. There are also many large golems waiting to be discovered by the player, and once discovered, they can be summoned by leveling up. There are also many towers scattered around the world that can help players defend bases and villages. And the only way to find these things is to explore on a map.
Q: The voicework in Minecraft: Dungeons is excellent in different languages. Will the same be true for Minecraft: Legends?
A: Yes, Minecraft: Legends is now being localized. We have localized content in 31 languages and dubbed in 15 languages. We put a lot of effort into the localization of the game and are proud of it.
Q: Will the pig spirits in the battle return to the villages that have been captured by them? Or is it safe as long as you clear the enemy village?
A: The pig spirits will come back. We have set up a complex invasion system, where the pig spirit will choose villages to attack, or may re-attack villages that have already been attacked. Therefore, you need to always be on the lookout for pig spirits attacking the village, which will be a protracted battle.
Q: Are there enough quest types in the campaign? Is it just defending the growing village and attacking the increasingly powerful pig spirit base?
A: You can do a lot of things. In the beginning, we will provide guidance for new players. Once the game is on track, how it unfolds is entirely up to the player. Players are always invaded by pigs, so you'll have to defend different areas, such as defeating bosses in the area or preventing new bases from appearing. Depending on how quickly you destroy enemy bases, there are many variables. For example, if you advance slowly, more bases may appear.
Q: How far can a player leave their unit during a battle? Can you let them do their own thing and then the player do something else on their own?
A: Battles between units are controlled by AI, and you can order them to fight and leave on their own, and by the time they come back they may have defeated the enemy. But without your command, your men will often lose to the enemy.
Q: Is there an editor in the game that allows players to create their own adventures? Like the creation mode of Minecraft?
A: No, there is no such editor in the game. You can create incredibly unique bases, and we've provided a range of elements like railings, gates, walls, and more that you can use to build your own base. But there is no map editor in the game.
Q: Are there any special upgrades that I can only get through side quests and battles?
A: The more resources you get in the game, the more structures you can unlock, and resources are often obtained through missions and battles.
Q: A big part of Minecraft revolves around digging and underground exploration. Does such content exist in Minecraft: Legends?
A: All gameplay takes place on the ground, so there is no need to dig into the Nether.
Q: Does the player have the ability to change other parts of the world outside of building a base?
A: When you collect resources, the corresponding items disappear from the world. For example, if you cut down a tree, it disappears.
Q: Can players communicate with each other in PvP? If so, in what form?
A: There is no chat function in the game, and players can send some preset messages after a match. As for communication between teammates, you can of course use various communication software outside of the game. There are also features in the game, such as the ability to send your teammates the type and number of resources you need when you go to the building page but don't have enough resources.
Q: What will be the form of subsequent updates to the game? Is it a seasonal update like Minecraft: Dungeons, or a monthly event like the aforementioned Lost Legends?
A: We don't currently have plans to update seasonally like Minecraft: Dungeons. But we will definitely prepare more new content, such as new mounts, new pig spirits, new building structures, etc. In addition, because the game is also based on the Bedrock engine, creators may also create their own content in Minecraft: Legends, but there is not much to reveal about this part yet.
Q: In PvP mode, players can play different characters, so are there some team strategies between these characters?
A: Of course, different teams have different strategies. For us, we often have two people go out to find resources in 4-player games, one person attacks the base of the pig spirit to get sea crystals, and the last person builds the base with the collected resources. This way, the four of them can really work together to level up and fight enemies with maximum efficiency. I love to explore, so I'll be the one who gathers resources and looks for new mounts and structures on the map.
Q: Will the game generate worlds have seeds like Minecraft so I can share them with other friends?
A: No, the current map does not provide the corresponding seed.
Q: Can players create their own skins?
A: Players can buy or get some skins for free, but they can't create their own, at least not yet.
Q: After winning in a previous match, is there anything that can be carried over to future matches?
A: No, every game is like a blank slate. There are hidden matchmaking mechanics that match players of similar strength together, and there is no such thing as ladder ranking. That's exactly what we want, because we want to make the gameplay experience a little more casual and enjoy playing together.