In the zombie MMO H1Z1, the “Hunger Games”-like battle royale mode has only been in development since just before Christmas, but that shouldn’t scare anyone: The guy who is responsible for it has already implemented it in DayZ and Arma 3. If everything goes perfectly, it should bring the mod to eSports.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Brendan Greene, better known as “PlayerUnknown,” talks about his baby, the battle royale mode. He initially designed it for DayZ, later for Arma 3, and now the mode is supposed to become one of the central aspects of SOE’s survival MMO “H1Z1”.
The mode is a kind of ruthless elimination tournament with a constantly shrinking map. And everywhere the mod has run so far, it has enjoyed infectious popularity.
We Should Talk
Greene explains in the interview that he followed the development of H1Z1 and then heard in a stream how SOE’s head John Smedley said something like, “I really like this battle royale mode. What the guys are doing there pleases me!” Greene felt a bit flattered. The next day, in the following stream, it was again about him and how much these battle royale events would fit H1Z1.
The next day, Greene received a message: “We should talk. I am John Smedley, the president of SOE.”
This was still before Christmas and since then Greene has been working to transfer the battle royale mode from Arma 3 to H1Z1: “I probably don’t need to say that the last month has been quite stressful.”
At the moment, they have an “early access” version that one can live (and die) with, but the goals are bigger.
Seeing eSports potential – a mix of shooter and poker game
For Greene, who has been fine-tuning and working on the mode for a year and a half, the battle royale mode is an ideal format for players for whom the typical professional eSports scene is a bit too reflex-heavy. For him, the battle royale mode has a lot of a poker game: When you sit at the final table and there are only nine left and then one goes out… that is the moment when the adrenaline starts to flow.
Unlike a shooter, his mode is not just about quick reflexes, but also about strategic skill. Moreover, the map is huge, and that constantly challenges even the professional players.
The Hunger Games scenario in XXL at H1Z1
Greene can easily imagine bringing the mode to greater heights and holding huge tournaments. The elimination mode in such a tournament couldn’t be clearer: Those who die are out. Those who stay alive are still in.
The battle royale mode works pretty much the same as in the “Hunger Games”: A map that becomes smaller with time. Limited murder tools and resources: And “there can be only one.” Compared to Arma 3, they now have a toxic fog wall that ensures the battlefield gets narrower, making the confrontation between players increasingly likely.
Next, they plan a hardcore mode with zombies that can only be stopped with headshots.
More about SOE’s ambitious zombie MMO on our H1Z1 topic page.
