As we put the final touches on the June issue of our magazine and ready ourselves to head to L.A. for E3, we got an interview for the pending Blizzard game Overwatch. While we will have the full interview in the magazine, here are a few segments for you
Is it true the game sprung from development of the recently cancelled MMORPG?
We cancelled Titan, the project just didn’t come together. Overwatch is its own completely different game. We’ll pull good ideas from anywhere when we’re working on our games, including stuff we’ve worked on in the past, and Overwatch is no different, but it stands alone fully as its own game
What platforms will the game be released on?
The game will be released for PC. We don’t have any other platform-related plans to announce at this time. Our focus for any platform that we release on is to make sure the game delivers an awesome experience for that platform.
What can you tell us about the different roles in the game and do you have a favorite?
There are four different roles in the game: Offense, Defense, Tank and Support. Each team will have to work together in defending or attacking the objective. Using abilities alongside your teammates is also crucial to victory. Tanks are great at soaking damage and pair well with offensive heroes to push checkpoints on the map. Support roles help buff team health and defense to sustain the action. Defensive heroes are great for holding choke points and prevent movement from oncoming attackers. As a developer I love all the various roles but currently I’m really enjoying playing the offensive role with heroes like McCree or Tracer.
What would you say separates Overwatch from other team based games and shooters?Each hero is formidable, but orchestrating your abilities with your team can turn the tide in any battle.
This is Blizzard’s take on a shooter, with over-the-top action, epic heroes, and a highly stylized game world. We’re developing the game to be easy and fun to pick up and play, with depth for players to dig into. It’s also a shooter with heart—you’re not just a nameless soldier. You’ll be able to choose from dozens of bold, vibrant heroes with cool abilities that will push your geek meter into overdrive. Gameplay is ability-driven, and each battlefield is custom-designed to allow the heroes’ signature abilities to shine.
