Interview with Dragonica Europe’s Max Stolberg

In our most recent interview Jeffery talked to Max Stolberg, Dragonica’s European producer. Hit the jump to learn more about this sidescrolling MMORPG.

The MMO Gamer: Hi can you start by introducing yourself and telling us what you do?

Max Stolberg: Hi there. My name is Max Stolberg and I’m the Producer of Dragonica for the European market. My job is to plan and coordinate the market entry of Dragonica. This includes the localisation, testing and launch of Dragonica and successively its EU operation. As publisher of Dragonica for the European market we communicate closely with the developer Barunson and provide suggestions that fit our market needs so that Dragonica can be properly adapted to EU tastes.

Gala Networks Europe already has quite some expertise in the free to play MMO market as publisher. Even though having only been established since 2006, we already are one of the market leaders in this sector with over 1.5 million registered users in France and Germany. Dragonica will be our first English language title we are publishing.

The MMO Gamer: Dragonica online, when I first viewed it, instantly triggered memories of games I loved while growing up. It took me a moment to figure out why. It’s a side-scrolling MMO. Why has Dragonica taken this style of game and incorporated it into Dragonica using modern technology and MMO game play?

Max Stolberg: Let me quote our developer Barunson on that as I’ve asked the very same question before: “We tried to make a game that everyone can easily enjoy and thus we chose a side scroll action game” (Barunson). They wanted their game to be different from other side-scrolling games on the market.

They chose a 2D side-scrolling system with a 3D depth and turn concept while transforming the whole action oriented jump and run experience into a proper MMO with all the up to date community features. It’s just brilliantly unique. And it’s free to play.

The MMO Gamer: What is your target audience for your game? Surely hardcore fans of classic RPG games like myself, but who else do you feel this game will appeal to?

Max Stolberg: Dragonica targets a really broad audience addressing older and younger players alike combining a retro style of gameplay with up to date graphics. Due to the many fun quests and humorous skills like the fart attack, airstrike or Bruce Lee jump, we believe parents can enjoy Dragonica as much as kids can, and gamers who have been playing games since the 1980’s or 1990’s will instantly know how to play.

Dragonica truly isn’t another me-too fantasy MMORPG but takes a unique approach in itself. Its graphic style isn’t overly Asian but rather sets its own unique style but does feature SD characters in a vibrant 3D world. Its quality will stand out, and it will not age for years to come. Also, all the controls are keyboard based so if you choose to use a different interface, e.g. any console pad with a USB adapter, this of course will also work. Just imagine a console-style free to play MMO on a PC. I find that quite interesting.

The MMO Gamer: The game is free to play, but what kind of things will players who pay have access to? How has Dragonica addressed possible balance issues of these things?

Max Stolberg: Gala Networks Europe only publishes free to play games on its gPotato.eu gaming portal. We developed a considerable expertise in this area already and our developer Barunson is not new to this business model either.

First, please consider that the vast majority of items are tradable so even though your neighbour buys a particular item, you’ll still be able to acquire it from him by using in-game gold. Also, most of the items are fashion items that serve the purpose of individualizing your character and while there are a good few functional items in the game, they only help you speed up the process of advancing your character, e.g. level a bit faster or save your weapon of getting downgraded should the enchanting fail at some stage.

To sum this up, all players can see all content in the game, upgrade all their weapons and armour to the maximum possible extent and kill all boss monsters.

The MMO Gamer: Is Dragonica online a safe game to let children experience online? How has Dragonica online ensured that it is a safe experience even for your youngest fans?

Max Stolberg: It is safe. First, you’ll never find yourself killing any human being or even only a cartoon like human. There’s a lot of humour but nothing is really vulgar and you’ll never encounter any nudity. Instead there are cute pets, there’s a marriage system and a couple system that gives you bonuses which you lose if you split up.

Dragonica is a fast paced MMO with a lot of action in it and kids will not only practice their reaction time and social skills but also tactical skills when fighting boss monster or optimizing their combo bonus when playing in a group. Personally, I’d love to play Dragonica with my kids.

The MMO Gamer: Will there be forums for the game?

Max Stolberg: Of course. Our official website will be launched next month and shortly after that we’ll open our official forum.

The MMO Gamer: How does character creation work in Dragonica? What kind of customization is there when creating your character?

Max Stolberg: All the standards you would expect in a MMO: male/female selection, different eyes, hair styles and colours and facial features.

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