In an interview, H1Z1 developer Jimmy Whisenhunt discussed some aspects of the gameplay, especially the combat system in the zombie MMO, which is set to be released in early access. While weapons should provide an advantage, they should not make the player immortal. Even a machine gun does not protect against taking a deadly arrow.
In the interview with the YouTuber itmeJP, who was fortunate enough to be invited to the SOE headquarters, Jimmy Whisenhunt, Senior Game Designer at H1Z1, shared some of the game philosophies behind the upcoming zombie MMO H1Z1. Since he is primarily responsible for the combat mechanics, the discussion included weapons and how powerful they make the player.
He was asked whether there would be a weapon, like the rocket launcher, that would be so powerful it could decide any fight right from the start. The short answer: “No.” The longer answer: Even with a bow, players should have the chance to win against an opponent with a machine gun. A lot of emphasis is placed on making combat “skill-based” and focusing on how skillfully one approaches an opponent. More like in a “deathmatch.”
No amount of skill can help against a lucky shot
The goal is to ensure that H1Z1 has a high “skill ceiling” so that truly good players can significantly benefit from their skills. However, this does not make them invulnerable. Even the best players might take an arrow from a blind spot to the head, and then no amount of skill will help.
The combat system is given high priority, which means that other aspects are being sidelined at least for the start. There will likely be a relatively simple character creation, similar to Planetside 2. Whisenhunt, as a combat expert, provides a rational justification: “You are faced with the choice of whether to introduce an option or to bring 50 additional weapons into the game.” For him, there is no question how to decide in this matter.
H1Z1 is ready for reddit
Otherwise, SOE aims to remain flexible in their design ideas and adapt to players’ behaviors. So far, according to Whisenhunt, players have never played a game as they had previously imagined. Therefore, it is not very useful to make plans. That is why they are prepared to come up with something when, for instance, a Zerg forms, and a clan of players roams the server together, ruining the experience for everyone else. “We can’t wait to see what a Reddit community or any other group does with the game,” Whisenhunt said.
H1Z1 is currently set to release in early access. Access will be paid initially, but will be free upon release. A date is still not known.
