Realm of the Titans w/ Gameogre.com

Realm of the Titans Interview was answered by:

Travis Hawk – Associate Producer at Aeria Games

Stephanie Cox – Release Associate at Aeria Games

Gameogre: For those who are unfamiliar with this title tell us a about Realm of the Titans, how did the concept come about and what is the backstory? What made Aeria games decide to publish Realm of the Titans?

RotT: Realm of the Titans is a DotA-inspired action strategy game. The original Defense of the Ancients game was published as a custom mod in Warcraft III in early 2003. This new take on an action strategy game brought together the simple yet addicting elements of 5v5 battles for control on a dynamic map. The original DotA game was so popular that the game style eventually developed into its own action strategy sub-genre.  Aeria Games strives to bring the latest trends of online computer games to our players in the popular free-to-play model, and Realm of the Titans will continue this mission.

Gameogre: Realm of the Titans was developed by pro DOTA players. What is the influence of DOTA in this game and how will DOTA fans be able to relate to Realm of the Titans?

RotT: The developers of Realm of the Titans have been closely involved with the growth of the MOBA / DotA sub-genre since the original DotA release, giving them valuable insights into what elements are central to the spirit of this passionate gaming community.

Gameogre: Realm of the Titans also offers a Return of Key DotA Features. Can you tell us about these features and how much of an impact they make in Realm of the Titans?

RotT: One popular feature that RotT resurrects is the “deny” tactic. With this strategy, players can eliminate weakened minions in order to deny the other team the ability to obtain their XP and gold. This feature heightens the competitive nature of the game.

Gameogre: Realm of the Titans features some of the most sophisticated AI around. Can you tell us more about this and how it affects players gameplay?

RotT: Computer Controlled characters and NPCs are able to seemingly strategize and quickly readjust according to the players’ tactics, which will certainly keep players on their toes. Our players will likely find themselves coordinating new attacks and re-strategizing gameplay as if they were fighting real players.

Gameogre: Realm of the Titans will feature Persistent profiles that allow you to track in-game stats such as kill to death ratio, number of wins, heroes played and more. How does this profile tie in to your gameplay and what is its importance?

RotT: The persistent player profile allows you to track your gameplay success. You can analyze what battle strategies worked or failed and also see how you stack up against your friends.  As you level up your player profile you unlock additional utility skills that players can use in game.

Gameogre: How will the characters work in Realm of the Titans and how many choices will players have when it comes to their characters?

RotT: The detailed backstory and varied attributes of each hero is central to what makes Realm of the Titans so fun.  Each hero is equipped with a unique skill set, which will be ideal for certain battle circumstances. For instance, one hero might be better equipped for range attacks, while another will be highly skilled in melee. Our set of playable heroes ensures that a diverse and balanced team with plenty of strategic cooperation is essential for victory in Realm of the Titans. We will be releasing more detailed hero showcases in the upcoming weeks.

Gameogre: Players will also have dozens of skills and spells to choose from. Can you give us some examples of the skills and spells? Will any character be able to use any skill or spell or will there be limitations?

RotT: Each hero begins with 4 skills that are unique only to that hero. Players can then unlock skills from a selection of utility skills available for all heroes as they progress. Examples of these unlockable skills are Increased Attack Speed, where you can boost attach speed for a brief duration, and Life Steal, where you can drain hit points from an enemy and then add them to your own health.

Gameogre: You can also Unlock achievements to boost your rank and earn bonus content. How important is rank in Realm of the Titans and what kinds of bonus content can you earn? How difficult is it to unlock achievements?

RotT: Rank is important for player matchmaking, since players are matched according to similar rank and skill. Rank is boosted through our matchmaking system. Players will also be able to unlock in-game achievements for points. We are currently still developing our achievement reward system.

Gameogre: Realm of the Titans has an advanced Matchmaking system to get you into matches quickly. Tell us about this Matchmaking system and how it works. What benefits does it offer to players?

RotT: Our matchmaking system quickly matches players with similar skills and ranks. The system also will replace a disconnected player with a computer-controlled bot. The bot will disappear if that player chooses to reconnect. This ensures that a team can continue battling for victory without worry should a teammate leave early. Our system also ensures that solo players can get in quickly and start playing with other players of similar skill.

Gameogre: Is there any options for solo play or 1vs 1 matches if team play isn’t your thing?

RotT: Yes, you can battle an AI team with all AI teammates. Or create a PvP match with 1-5 friends.

Gameogre: Dynamic gameplay elements can change the course of a battle. Can you tell us a little more about these Dynamic elements and give us some examples?

RotT: The battlefield is an essential asset to any DotA-style game. The developers of Realm of the Titans put a new twist on this element by allowing for NPC control points. These control points can be captured by a team and used to send waves of NPCs at enemy players. Players can also defeat and capture NPC bosses to use against the enemy.

Gameogre: Realm of the Titans will also have a Revamped Item Purchasing System. Can you tell us about this and what items will be available for purchase?

RotT: Our game features a Recommended Item system for our in-game item mall. This system will recommend items for purchase based on your hero. The in-game item mall will feature activateable items for skills, similar to the blink dagger from the original DotA.

Gameogre: For players interested in being in the Realm of the Titans closed beta how can they have a chance to participate?

RotT: Visit http://realmofthetitans.aeriagames.com to sign up for closed beta. We will notify beta participants via email when the time comes.

Gameogre: What is your favorite thing to do in Realm of the Titans and why?

RotT: Strategizing how to take down the enemy boss so we can push the middle lane – that’s my favorite part of the game. It involves a lot of teamwork and focus, and, once complete, sets the path for victory!

Gameogre: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about Realm of the Titans?

RotT: We will have an alpha testing phase for a limited number of players sometime later this month. To learn more, sign up for beta testing then visit our forums.