Developer Three Rings recently announced their latest free-to-play MMO, Whirled. Unlike their pirate-themed Puzzle Pirates and cowboy-centric Bang! Howdy titles, Whirled willও have a more freeform feel and rely heavily on user created content and minigames. We got a cha൲nce to chat with Three Rings' CEO, Daniel James about their latest creation.
GamesRadar: We understand that you've been an avid fan of text-based multi-user dungeons. What influences has this had on your games?
Daniel James: Text MUDs are the backbone of the entire MMO industry; WoW is little more, gameplay-wise, than a sophisticated graphical MUD. I love text games and🎉 would like to make another, but it wouldn't be a hack 'n slash MUD.
In terms of Three Rings' games we've actually spent a lot of time trying to escape some of the influences of traditional MUDs. For example by not including an overall level [for your character], avoiding the fantasy genre, etc. Whether this was wise or not is highly de🌟batable; games about whacking m🐻onsters with big swords seem to do very well!
GR: Do you think the MMO genre is stuck in a rut?
DJ: Yes, but not for long. I think that there are a lot of very derivative, expensive MMORPG projects in dev🐭elopment, and there ♛will be carnage in that marketplace over the next few years as most of them fail. Incremental improvements to the established formula are unlikely to differentiate a game from the juggernaut.
However, I think there are lots of signs of impending change, with Korean titles making waves and folks with alternative dist🌄ribution, business models, funding and design ideas coming to market. The combination of this MMORPG crater and spurt of MMO in𓃲novation will be auger in a new era of exciting games.
GR: Why should MMO fans be excited about Whirled?
DJ: Whirled is a fun game world designed for ease of self-expression and creativity. If you've ever hankered to make an avatar, or decorate your room with your favorite artist's work, or collaborate with a college friend to make a game, Whirled enables you to do so. Of course, it also encourages you to enjoy the creations of others; a spread of content that hopefully over time will be unrivalled by any c൲ommercial MMO. For MMO players this offers what is a hopefully welcome respite from gri🌳nding away towards the next uber-monster of doom.
