Talking Grand Cross: Age of Titans with Netmarble’s CEO and Project Director
South Korean mobile game developer, Netmarble, recently launched its highly anticipated strategy game called Grand Cross: Age of Titan. We had the privilege of sitting down with Netmarble’s CEO, Woo Won Seo, and Project Director, Min Suk Kang, to learn more about the game’s development, challenges faced, and future plans for the title.
The Genesis of Grand Cross: Age of Titans
Min Suk Kang: Netmarble F&C has a strong track record in creating successful global strategy games like Iron Throne and The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. Inspired by this success, we aimed to develop a strategy game that would appeal to a broader audience while incorporating the knowledge and expertise gained from our previous titles.
As avid strategy game players ourselves, we believed that there was a gap in the market for strategy games with the same level of excitement and engagement as RPGs. Thus, the concept of Grand Cross: Age of Titans was born.
Many people have poured their hearts into this project and are still working hard to improve the game.
Min Suk Kang
Years of Dedication and a Strong Team
Min Suk Kang: Developing Grand Cross: Age of Titans has been a three-year endeavor. Our team, consisting of approximately 200 talented individuals, has poured their heart and soul into this project. The dedication and hard work continue as we strive to enhance the game further.
Overcoming Challenges in Development
Min Suk Kang: A significant challenge we faced was to integrate Korean webtoon/anime-style graphics into the core features of strategy games seamlessly. Achieving the perfect balance required numerous iterations and testing to ensure players could enjoy the game without any hindrances. We successfully increased the fun factor by improving unit control autonomy, adjusting unit relationships, and balancing special units like the Titan.
An Exciting Launch and Engaging Gameplay
Woo Won Seo: We are thrilled by the positive feedback received from veteran players and newcomers during the early access period and the grand launch. We have just scratched the surface of what this game can achieve, and we are tirelessly working to exceed player expectations, enhancing their gaming experience, and delivering exciting new content.
With fewer strategy games in the market, seasoned fans scrutinize each new release closely.
Woo Won Seo
Unlike other genres, strategy games have a smaller pool of releases, leading to greater scrutiny by experienced players. We have also noticed an influx of RPG, CCG, and subculture game enthusiasts exploring the strategy genre through our game. We have made it our goal to make their transition seamless, and the positive feedback indicates that they are enjoying the experience.
Embracing Live Ops and Future Updates
Min Suk Kang: Engaging with our player community is of utmost importance to us. We actively gather feedback from various channels like our official forum, Discord, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, which allows us to continuously improve the game. Keeping our game fun and captivating is our primary focus, and updating based on player expectations is crucial. This approach ensures Grand Cross: Age of Titans continuously evolves, thanks to our live ops strategy.
Since the grand launch, we have already released numerous updates, including the highly anticipated Cross Dimension, where players can form factions to cooperate and compete across kingdoms. Additionally, we are diligently developing the first KvK (Kingdom vs. Kingdom) content, which will be introduced in Season Two. Exciting content updates are on the horizon, so stay tuned.
What to Expect in the Future?
Min Suk Kang: Grand Cross: Age of Titans will operate on a seasonal basis, with new servers (kingdoms) being opened regularly to maintain motivation for new players and avoid power imbalances. Each season will bring upgrades to special troops like catapults and air bombers, introducing new meta dynamics to overcome changing terrains and conquer objectives. These updates aim to provide a fresh gaming experience alongside the existing troop choices.