We conducted an interview with the developers of the upcoming shooter MMORPG Escape from Tarkov and learned a lot of interesting things about the game.
Mein-MMO: Escape from Tarkov is a game that focuses on realism. How far does this go in the game?
Battlestate Games: There will be enough realism to make the game stand out compared to others. Of course, it can’t be completely omnipresent, but everything regarding the combat system will be there in the right amount.
Mein-MMO: Aren’t you worried that the strong realism could make the game too hard, causing casual gamers to hesitate?
Battlestate Games: Primarily, the game is basically not designed for casual gamers. And we try to convey this from the first impression. The success and effectiveness of the combat system will depend heavily on the player’s knowledge of the game and understanding of modern combat.
Mein-MMO: Some people are beginning to compare Escape from Tarkov (EFT) with The Division. Can these two games even be compared? What do you think are the biggest differences?
Battlestate Games: It doesn’t make sense to compare EFT and The Division. They are two completely different games. The Division is an arcade-like MMO action RPG without realistic hardcore elements. There are no advanced weapon mechanics, their modifications, nor an extensive inventory. However, the game does offer a solid quest system, but EFT also has enough to offer in that area.
Mein-MMO: The Division gives its players the option to take on missions alone, much like in a single-player game. Will EFT offer something similar?
Battlestate Games: EFT can be played solo; this means you do not necessarily have to play with your friends, but it still requires a constant internet connection because it is an online game.
Mein-MMO: The game will be released chapter by chapter, right? Each episode will reveal a new area of the city. Will the world ultimately be a unified open map?
Battlestate Games: This is how we will release the game: The initial release will showcase several completed locations. Following that, we will continually add new areas through updates (no separate DLCs, but voluntary updates) that will complete the main story of the game and unlock the entire freely navigable world. From there, we will transition to DLCs that will again add new locations, tasks, and content.
Mein-MMO: Can you give an example of what quests might look like and how teamwork affects these?
Battlestate Games: There will be various types of quests in the game; from straightforward ones like “Find 10 car batteries” or “Clear the lighthouse of scavengers” to more intuitive tasks. Here the player receives small pieces of information that he can find and decides on his own whether to follow the clues. Sometimes the game also gives no tips at all on what to do next. For example, you might receive a memo from the factory guard stating that he has forgotten his locker keys at home. The player then searches for his address, goes to his apartment in the city, and randomly finds the keys in an abandoned car stuck in traffic in another area. Then he returns to the apartment, and so on. A pure adventure quest. Working together as a group improves the chances of solving such quests and surviving longer. Because nothing beats helpful friends who might have enhanced lockpicking skills to make the search for important items easier.
Mein-MMO: PvP plays a major role in EFT. How will you handle player death? Are you planning to incorporate a permadeath system?
Battlestate Games: If you die during a raid, you lose everything you were carrying or found during that time. No exceptions. However, we are considering a way for the partner, provided he survives, to carry the lifeless body out of the area to keep the loot and equipment. But, dying does not mean losing everything. The character’s belongings remain intact, he gains experience, and advancements in skill areas are also saved. The game offers a certain degree of protection against team killers. If the area has rules against killing members of one’s own PMC or any PMC, but the player still kills them, he will receive a negative karma point. This will affect trading chances and even put him on the bounty list, which makes his life significantly harder.
Mein-MMO: What are the special features of the game; elements that entice players to want to buy EFT?
Battlestate Games: First of all, it’s the weapons, and everything that comes with them. The handling, shooting, ballistics, the details of the levels, and the modifications. A large number of realistic weapons, ammunition, and special modifications, components, and accessories. Second, the high degree of reality and the fact that everything can happen on the screen. Third, the numerous small elements and mechanisms that differ from modern shooters. This significantly expands the basic mechanisms and tactical opportunities, allowing the player to identify with their character. This represents our concept of the “high-risk environmental combat simulator” in EFT. Of course, the game also offers other interesting additions such as the backdrop, sound effects, and sound design, and so forth.
Just recently, more than an hour of gameplay footage of the game was shown. Does this make you more excited about the shooter MMORPG Escape from Tarkov?
