BioWare’s upcoming game Anthem is still in the planning stages and we haven’t gotten any gameplay other than last year’s E3, but combat apparently looks good and BioWare is mulling over the possibility of Anthem and APIs to make it easier for players to customize their gear in the game. The suggestion came from the game’s subreddit, where a user suggested that BioWare use open API in order to allow players to customize their inventory and loadouts, without ever having to access any sort of in-game vault before a mission. Considering how Anthem’s most likely competitor Destiny handles that (players only have a certain amount of inventory space and have to store the rest in vaults, making sure they have the “right” weapons before they undertake a raid or a Nightfall), Anthem and APIs being emphasized as a significant feature might lure in crowds from Destiny who want a less finicky (or at least more streamlined) method of gear-swapping. … [Read more...] about BioWare Talks About Anthem And APIs, And The Combat Is In Good Hands
Anthem
Bioware Job Listing Suggests Anthem will be Around for Years
BioWare is actively searching for a Live Service Executive Producer for its upcoming title Anthem, and the position details reveal that BioWare plans on keeping Anthem around for years after launch. The main job in the listing is to “ensure that the game design, systems, and economies of our games are built to maintain player engagement and our business for years of successful live game service,” which could include designing new events to keep players engaged, and planning new content to hook players in long-term. The listing is possibly referring to the supposed 10-year plan that EA has in store for Anthem. The job posting appeared on EA’s career opportunities page last week and detailed plans about content for the upcoming sci-fi RPG. This seems to confirm the comments about Anthem having a 10-year plan, and furthered the comparison between Anthem and Destiny. Anthem made its debut at E3 2017, where BioWare showed off a trailer and some gameplay footage for the … [Read more...] about Bioware Job Listing Suggests Anthem will be Around for Years
Bioware: Anthem Will Be Bigger Compared To Destiny
Bioware’s Anthem is nowhere near release but fans are already eager to know more about the game. According to EA, the game will be a Destiny killer and now Bioware has revealed that Anthem will bigger than Destiny. This is according to Technical Design Director Brenon Holmes, who revealed it over Reddit while talking to a fan that Anthem will be bigger compared to Destiny. However, he added that because of the very reason the game will not be free of loading screens. We’re taking a different approach (we have different tech) [from Destiny], so our areas are a fair bit larger. But there will likely be some loads between some of the areas. We’re still figuring out the exact details on a lot of this stuff. Bioware is known for developing the popular Mass Effect franchise, however, the studio has admitted that Anthem has more in common with Star Wars than Mass Effect. It’s in a genre we call science fantasy. Very much like Star Wars, very much like the Marvel … [Read more...] about Bioware: Anthem Will Be Bigger Compared To Destiny
Anthem Will Not Feature Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment
Last week it came to light that EA has been granted a patent that would allow it to use matchmaking in order to keep players engaged for longer and, potentially, sell them more microtransactions. Many feared that the technology would be used in upcoming sci-fi RPG Anthem as that game is being published by EA too. On Reddit, one fan warned others off the game, suggesting that EA could “adjust difficulty on the fly” or pair players “with players we have no business being paired with” as part of the patent. This strategy, often called dynamic difficulty adjustment, is designed to make players feel a certain way and can involve letting AI cheat or boosting AI stats in order to give players a more significant challenge. This seems to fit in with what EA’s patent does and so it’s understandable why many were concerned. The conversation saw Anthem‘s technical design director Brenon Holmes get involved. In a succinct reply, Holmes said that … [Read more...] about Anthem Will Not Feature Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment
EA Files Matchmaking Patent; Could it Be Used for Anthem?
Last year, Activision caught flack when it was revealed that the company had filed a patent that uses matchmaking to encourage players to push microtransactions. But it seems that Activision is not the only company researching new ways to increase microtransaction revenue, as new reports of a similar EA patent have caused concern. In September 2017, Electronic Arts was granted a new patent for a Multiplayer Video Game Matchmaking Optimization algorithm. The algorithm is called Engagement Optimized Matchmaking (EOMM) and aims to use matchmaking in order to keep players engaged in a game for longer. Playstyle, sportsmanship, skills, and a willingness to spend money are just some of the factors that this algorithm takes into account. Although the patent filing discusses engagement, many fans have raised eyebrows at this, saying that it is a way for EA to push players towards microtransactions. After all, a willingness to spend money has no bearing on a person’s engagement in a game … [Read more...] about EA Files Matchmaking Patent; Could it Be Used for Anthem?