Artifact will have an in-depth story about the world of Dota

Months have passed since its announcement, and Artifact is making a comeback as the global beta draws to a close. Creative director Richard Garfield and programmer Jeep Barnett gave an interview to Eurogamer. Garfield, the creator of Magic: the Gathering, says the idea of ​​a digital (virtual) card game has been around for a long time in his mind; “I started thinking about card games as soon as Magic came out and we realized the game wasn’t good enough to go digital.” Since then, this idea has been brewed for many years. In the early stages of development — which Garfield says is at his best — he visited Valve quite often, but now he comes on average once a week.

Although the plot of Dota is not actively exploited in the MOBA version, Artifact will delve into the world that takes place in Dota. Barnett further explains:

In the first phase, we will explore the three-way war between the sides. There will be Bronze Legion, Red Mist and Vhouls. What the results will be told after that period.

This is what attracts a large number of gamers who love to learn the world of the game. Games like Hearthstone, GWENT and The Elder Scrolls: Legends all build on existing worlds and attract a lot of players because of this.

Speaking of direct competitors to Artifact, Garfield and Barnett shared some thoughts on their game with Hearthstone. While acknowledging Hearthstone’s strengths, the two were quick to point out differences.

“One of the things we’re doing with Artifact is creating a broader, open-ended experience.” Garfield added that those transitioning from Magic: the Gathering to Hearthstone often recall the variety of the old games, so Artifact’s design will aim to be as expansive as possible. For example, you can have an unlimited amount of monsters on the table if you want.

Barnett also points to the interactivity in Artifact: “We play turn-based. I play a card, you play a card.” Randomness, something Hearthstone is often criticized for, will also appear in the game as Artifact, and Garfield thinks it is also a test of skill. Barnett tries to calm scared fans with the word “RNG”:

With anything random, there’s always a way for you to create a deck to interact with or manipulate

However, it also has its own price. Random reducers take the place of potentially stronger cards.

One part of card games that is often criticized is the cost of accumulating enough cards to create a decent deck. Magic’s most famous card, Black Lotus, is estimated to cost between $16,000 and $20,000. If in Artifact, a card was of such importance, its price on the Steam Marketplace would be dizzyingly high. Garfield compares it to the sport of golf and views the golf club as a “pay-to-win,” but he further explains:

We understand the cost of creating winning decks. We don’t want them to be too expensive. This means we want lots of commonly used Common cards, and then Rares to give it its own unique properties.

In addition, Garfield also said that exchanging cards helps players save money when switching from one deck to another. “You have to avoid the fact that you just spend your money and then get a higher chance of winning. That’s how a well-designed game should do, I think.” The more cards you own, the more flexibility you have, but in the end you can still get the cards you want by trading them, and it’s all down to your skill.

You can watch the full interview below.

Source: Cybersport