Bloodline Champions

What is Bloodline Champions? Bloodline Champions is an arena-based game where players can compete for top stats and prizes. This game is made by Stunlock Studios and published by Funcom. With the Funcom name under their belt, Stunlock Studios can actually go a long way with this. What is so unique about this game is that not only does it hold value to the e–sport type of game-play style, but it’s made specifically for that!

Now, as with my other reviews, we always know it comes down to the game mechanics. Well, I can safely say that this game has a lot of the mechanics that players have been wanting, from the common “W,A,S,D” keyboard movement to a free look. This game provides not only skill, but knowledge as well. Seeing as how I can’t really get too deep into the game mechanics due to NDA reasons – I know for sure that this game is going to provide for a fan base larger than we think- here is a brief interview between myself, Smunchy, and one of the developers, Tau, from Bloodline Champions.

Smunchy: Do you think there will be an MLG circuit similar to the e-sports or HoN style of tournaments?

Tau: As you might have noticed, we’re working on getting the competitive feel into Bloodline Champions, and it all started with the Beta Championship announcement last Friday. You can read that here: http://www.bloodlinechampions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=3913
As the amount of players grows, we do, of course, hope to be a part of the e-sport scene in the future.

Smunchy: What exactly are the goals of Stunlock Studios with Bloodline Champions?

Tau: We don’t have an exact goal. We’ve been working on the game for quite some time now, and we hope people enjoy it as much as we do! The goal right now is to get done so we can release; what comes after that, only time will tell.

Smunchy: I see that this game is heavily player-motivated. It looks as though so far, the players’ suggestions are being heard and responded to. For the future, could there be other possible suggestions for the game, such as a living-world environment?

Tau: Right now we’re just focusing on the game as-is- an arena game. And most of our players seem to appreciate that it’s stripped down to being just an arena game. If we get enough players playing the game, and it seems to be what they want it to be, there’s a chance that the world of Bloodline Champions will expand in different ways. A living-world environment is a very big step from where we’re at right now, though, and it would take a lot before we’d add such a big feature to the game.

Smunchy: This game goes off of pure skill- although, if players want items to enhance their stats, would this be something to consider putting into the game?

Tau: We’ve experimented a bit with different ways to alternate the characters in the beginning of the game’s development. But in the end, we’ve come to the conclusion that we don’t think it fits Bloodline Champions. We want every player to know what he’s up against when he sees a bloodline in the arena- adding things like items would ruin that.

Although I wasn’t able to get all of my questions answered due to beta NDA purposes, these questions are very important to the fan base of the game. There will be much more information on the game available when the NDA does lift. The beta is only open on the weekends (Friday through Monday) and you can try to get yourself a beta key at http://www.bloodlinechampions.com If you are that hardcore multiplayer PvP player, I would seriously check this game out. I will be doing another preview later on into the beta with anything that has been updated, so keep a look out! For those of you in the beta, enjoy the game and make new friends! I’m off to kick some more tail in the arena. Smunchy out.

Games: Bloodline Champions, Platforms: PC, Genres: Action Arena, Publishers: Funcom, Developers: Stunlock Studios