Greg “Ghostcrawler” Street is the head of the new LoL MMORPG. In an extensive interview, he spoke about his preferences in the genre. He received much praise for the discontinued MMORPG Wildstar and the imported Korean MMORPG hit Lost Ark, both of which bring strong raids in the endgame. Raids are also expected to play a role in the new LoL MMORPG.
What kind of interview was that?
- YouTuber Kanon spoke with Ghostcrawler for almost 90 minutes about MMORPGs. The topics included raids, dailies, classes, and preferred combat systems. In an article, we have already reported on the topic of monetization and its importance for the LoL MMORPG.
- Especially interesting are the statements of the developer regarding Lost Ark and Wildstar. He appreciates both MMORPGs mainly for their crisp raid instances.
- Ghostcrawler emphasizes that the statements in the interview are only his own opinion. For the new MMORPG in development, this may not mean anything, but it becomes clear how important dungeons and raids are to him.
You can watch the complete interview here:
“Large raids offer an experience that no other video game can provide”
What types of raids does Ghostcrawler prefer? The really large and difficult ones. Raids have a unique appeal for him. He loves it when you have to work on them for a long time. What skills do I need, which classes are useful, where can I get the best gear? These are the questions he enjoys asking himself.
He personally favors instances with many players, such as 20, 30, or 40 people, but he also acknowledges that many players prefer to play in small groups. He believes a good MMORPG must find a balance to cater to both interest groups.
He himself always works quickly towards reaching the raids, as that content is what he enjoys the most:
I like large raids, I love that epic feeling. They offer an experience that no other video game can provide.
What does he, as a designer, appreciate about large raids? Ghostcrawler explains that large raid groups offer many advantages. For example, you can incorporate mechanics where players are deliberately sacrificed or killed, which can have a tactical aspect with 40 players.
However, with 4 players, you cannot sacrifice anyone because the group would fall apart immediately.
Too hard and large raids can be a problem
What does Ghostcrawler think about Wildstar? The interviewer shifts the conversation to Wildstar, an MMORPG that was released in 2014 and discontinued in 2018. WildStar advertised that it offered really hard raids and wanted to capture and engage the old WoW veterans who had found the MMORPG too boring.
However, there was also criticism at the time that many players found the raids too difficult and time-consuming. Moreover, one had to go through a longer process to even access all instances. Another point of criticism was the lack of new instances.
Ghostcrawler emphasizes that, in his view, Wildstar was “awesome.” It was the game he always wished for regarding instances. Nonetheless, the game failed:
Was it the somewhat unusual setting? Was the timing not right? Did the players back then just focus too much on other genres? That is hard to say. Did the raids kill it? I don’t know, in the end, they simply didn’t have enough players to survive.
Lost Ark as a positive example for instances
Which current game does Ghostcrawler praise for its instances? In the interview, Lost Ark was also discussed. According to Ghostcrawler, many developers of the LoL MMORPG played it very intensively. He praises the raid bosses and the complex mechanics, even though he himself has not made it to the full endgame due to the gear grind.
This topic is also revisited later in the interview. Ghostcrawler is torn between special random drops and the constant upgrading of his gear, as in Lost Ark:
I love the moment of defeating a dragon, opening a chest, and seeing what’s inside. And it’s boring when it’s just crafting materials […].
On the other hand, thinking of famous fantasy characters, King Arthur has always been associated with Excalibur, and Aragorn with Anduril. It’s not like Aragorn kills an orc, picks up his dropped sword, and then sells Anduril at the vendor. I like the idea that I identify with my sword and constantly upgrade it.
By the way, he and his team also appreciate the classes in Lost Ark. The design is very strong, the abilities elicit reactions from enemies, and you really feel like a warrior when playing a warrior class.
New LoL MMORPG focuses on dungeons and raids in the endgame
What does this mean for the new MMORPG? First of all, nothing at all. Because Ghostcrawler was mainly speaking here as a player rather than as the head of the LoL MMORPG. However, months before the interview, he confirmed that dungeons and raids would be an important part of the PvE endgame.
His statements show that he is intensely engaged with the subject and has tried various MMORPGs. From these, he will likely take the best aspects and try to create something of his own. There is a chance that raids will partially focus on a larger number of players – 20 to 40 – and not just on 8 to 12 players, as is currently the case especially with Guild Wars 2, Lost Ark, and ESO.
More about the content of the new MMORPG, such as the combat system, PvP, and the use of LoL champions, can be found here:
Everything we know about the new MMORPG related to LoL in 2022
