Dragonwilds Creative Director Claims Survival Crafting Shares More Similarities with MMOs Than Expected: "It Seems as If the Survival Crafting Genre Emerged from MMOs"
'RuneScape' Goes Survival Crafting: An Unusual, Yet Fruitful Crossover
I must admit, when Jagex announced they were crafting a survival game in the vein of RuneScape called 'Dragonwilds', my curiosity was piqued, to say the least. As I sat with its creative director, Rick Turek, I couldn't help but ponder how certain aspects would fare in this unexpected blend. Thankfully, the initial results are quite promising.
In typical Jagex style, the decision to dive into the survival crafting genre wasn't made in a vacuum. Turek divulged that there had long been discussions about such a game, given the overlap between survival crafting and MMOs. "You'll see a good bit of commonality between the two genres," Turek explained, citing Conan Exiles as an example of an MMO-survival crafting hybrid that was born from these shared gameplay elements.
Jagex, being the community-focused studio they are, took the RuneScape community's feedback into account when deciding on the game's direction. According to Turek, "we ran surveys with players to get insight, and it turns out, the audience was interested in a survival crafting game." In light of this, they seized the opportunity to create a new RuneScape experience within the burgeoning yet not overly crowded survival crafting scene.
What emerged from this blend of MMO magic and survival crafting is, in my opinion, a wonderful melding of classic RuneScape mechanics and innovative crafting elements. I, for one, am impressed with the way Dragonwilds incorporates RuneScape's unique magic and rune system, adding a touch of nostalgia to the new survival gameplay. Kara Phillips also had a blast exploring the various crafting and skill-based activities in Dragonwilds.
This isn't the first time we've seen such a genre mashup; games like Conan Exiles and the soon-to-release Dune: Awakening are striking a balance between the two genres, though opinions vary on the success of this cross-pollination among the gaming world. Josh Wolens, for instance, can't get enough of the mashup, while Chris Livingstone isn't fully convinced of the MMO elements just yet.
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Mollie TaylorWith her roots in games like Killer Instinct, Toontown, and Audition Online, Mollie Taylor is no stranger to the virtual world. She joined PC Gamer in 2020 as a news writer, sharing her expertise in features, guides, and reviews with a dash of humor. You'll often find her causing mischief in Final Fantasy XIV, channeling her escapades into fascinating articles about her favorite MMOs. When she's not chasing after her bunny-themed alter ego, she's sweating it out in rhythm games, claiming victory in fighting games, or spending an outrageous amount on arcade tickets.
In the realm of survival crafting games, one upcoming title, 'Dragonwilds', has managed to infuse elements from classic RuneScape, creating a unique blend of MMO magic and innovative crafting mechanics. It's intriguing to see how this PS4 survival crafting game, set to release sooner rather than later, will utilize RuneScape's signature magic and rune system. As the gaming world witnesses an increase in genre mashups, such as Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening, it's fascinating to consider the potential of these games, with 'Dragonwilds' being the latest addition to this list. In light of this new generation of games, one can't help but ponder the potential horizons of survival crafting, and whether these forays into uncharted waters will lead to exhilarating rewards or daunting risks, much like a high-stakes bet in a season's worth of virtual fights.
