In a recent interview with PCGamer, the CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios revealed a fun piece of trivia regarding their latest game’s objective structure: the entire thing is run by a single Helldivers 2 game master, and his name is Joel. In the same interview, they also discussed their methodology for keeping the game’s fight for Super Earth interesting and how they’re taking in player feedback.
For the uninitiated, let us briefly explain how Helldivers 2’s mission structure works. The entire game is played on a large galactic map loaded with planets and moons all divided into sectors. Each planet has several randomly generated sets of drops to complete with a variety of objectives, but the overarching goals change each week. For example, the first week asked Helldivers to conquer planets on the Terminid front to push the bugs back. In week two, the Automatons launched a surprise attack, compelling Super Earth soldiers to run to the other side of the galaxy to defend against encroaching forces and evacuate civilians.
Prior to the game’s launch, Arrowhead made it clear that these global objectives would change dynamically based on player activity and insinuated they’d have a heavy hand in how those objectives change over time. According to CEO Johan Pilestedt, however, all of the input on Arrowhead’s side is handled by one man: a guy named Joel.
We have an actual person with the job title of Game Master. His name is Joel, and he takes his job very seriously.
We have a lot of systems built into the game where the Game Master has a lot of control over the play experience. It’s something that we’re continuously evolving based on what’s happening in the game. And as part of the roadmap, there are things that we want to keep secret because we want to surprise and delight.
—Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt
The system is largely influenced by tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons. The Game Master watches how players interact with the game world and responds accordingly by either making enemy forces stronger or more forgiving depending on objective progress and occasionally providing unique stratagems or disadvantages to aid in making the experience feel earned. According to Pilestedt, Joel’s even gotten up in the middle of the night to adjust enemy forces when players were clearing planets too quickly.
The team’s also been paying close attention to how attached players have grown to specific locales. Malevelon Creek, an Automaton planet affectionately dubbed “Space Jungle Vietnam” by avid Helldivers, is a standout, with players taking to the internet to mourn its loss following a total planetary takeover by the Automatons earlier this week.
We look at the individual planets as, ‘There was a planet that we made, that was good fun,’ and we have made so many of them. But the community’s attachment to each other is significant… So one of the things we’re looking at internally is how can we reconsider these planets to become more of a character going forward?
Arrowhead seems very committed to making Helldivers 2 an enriching game for committed members of the community. We’ve also seen some leaks earlier this week of planned content including mechs, buggies, and entirely new stratagems that have got us excited for the game’s future.
We can’t wait to see what Arrowhead brings to the game next. To stay up to date with Helldivers 2, be sure to stay tuned in to us here at MP1st.
Source: PCGamer
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