September 4, 2009

Mytheon's Peter Cesario Discusses the Merging of Game Genres; Exclusive Screens Inside
By Louis Bedigian

"Mytheon is developed utilizing core techniques and proven mechanics from action, strategy and RPGs, but what we believe will make the game really stand out to players is how they chose to incorporate those three mechanics together to fit their own play style preferences."

These days, existing game genres have been so exhausted with sequels and rehashes that smart developers are constantly looking for a way to stand out. One way is to combine two or more genres for an unlikely and innovative mix of gameplay. While that is far from an easy thing to accomplish, when done correctly, it can produce some of the most entertaining content of the generation. Petroglyph, the developer behind Mytheon, is hoping to achieve just that by combining elements of the action, strategy and RPG genres.

"We wanted to push the action/RPG genre further than other games and provide a unique fun-factor to gamers worldwide," said Peter Cesario, Product Development Director. "We spent a lot of time working with Petroglyph and developing core game mechanics that not only separates Mytheon from other games, but also, provides an immersive world and endless replayability. Mytheon is developed utilizing core techniques and proven mechanics from action, strategy and role-playing games, but what we believe will make the game really stand out to players is how they chose to incorporate those three mechanics together to fit their own play style preferences. We definitely have been conscious not to force players or dictate to them how they should play, but rather blended these three mechanics successfully into a system that allows the player to decide just how much RPG, strategy or action they want to utilize."

  
An exclusive look at new screens from Mytheon.

Collectability is one of the touted features of Mytheon. What can you collect and how do you obtain these items?

PC: The collectability aspect of Mytheon revolves around what we call “Power Stones”. These Power Stones are gifts from the Fates themselves to help provide humanity a fighting chance against the Gods. Each Power Stone that a player can collect provides a unique power, whether in the form of a summonable creature, such as a Minotaur King, a structure perhaps in the form of a Catapult, or even a spell such as an Ice Storm or Fire Wall. Again, our intent here was to provide players endless combinations when creating the battle system for Mytheon. Rather than create a standard Skill Tree often found in RPG’s, we wanted to give players a reason to collect and therefore created a Power Stone system that allows the player to customize their battle techniques based on the Power Stones they collect, create or purchase. By creating a unique power behind each stone, adding rarity and randomization to drops and loot and then adding some special abilities created by collecting and utilizing specific stone powers, we have created an extremely rewarding collection process.

More and more PC games are using micro-transactions. Tell us why this was the right move for Mytheon.

PC: From inception True Games was established to bring the highest level of quality to the micro-transaction space. We have many exciting projects in the works currently and we believe Mytheon has something really special about it. We knew Petroglyph was excited about the micro-transaction space and we appreciated their reputation for making quality, fun to play games, so working with them and creating Mytheon in this genre was really a no brainer. Because Mytheon was conceived as a micro-transaction game – we set out to create a gameplay experience that is naturally enhanced by micro transactions – though have been careful to be sure such transactions do not affect the balance of the game.

What can you tell us about the customization features?

PC: Customization is a key component of Mytheon and we are developing the game with this in mind. Sure we have incorporated many traditional customization options revolving around your character and equipment, but then we went one step further and allow players to essentially customize their battle system. Our hope is that no two players will play the game the same way or have the same battle experience. The customization and uniquely customizable battle system is what really sets Mytheon apart from other games.

Reportedly, players "will first embark on a rousing journey through the extensive lore of ancient Greece," with ongoing expansions to follow. I take it this means you plan to expand on Mytheon's world over time?

PC: Absolutely – the story of Mytheon only begins with Greece, however the Fates are represented in some form in nearly every culture, so the storyline naturally lends itself to incorporating just about any mythology from around the world. We thought about how to make something different and what would inspire people to play globally, and that’s when we realized that Mythology is not only cool in the United States, but is cool and fun in all regions of the world. I don’t want to give too much away too soon – but we are already concepting and developing our future Mythological settings based on Eastern philosophies. Because we are developing a global, online experience, we are excited to see some of the great myths from around the world take part in our gameplay experiences.

Do you plan to use outside social networks to promote Mytheon?

PC: Definitely – in fact we plan on doing more than just promoting Mytheon in these networks! In parallel to Mytheon’s primary game development, we have been working on social expansions of the game that will appear on everything from mobile phones to very well established social networks. Our goal is to make Mytheon available to players in one form or another whenever and however they chose to play it. The exciting part of creating any online game is the social aspect it brings to gamers. We want Mytheon to embrace this social opportunity for gamers and therefore expect to see plenty of opportunities to experience Mytheon from Social sites and phone applications.

Anything else we should know about the world of Mytheon?

PC: There’s so much more to say – but perhaps I should save some of this for our next interview! Petroglyph is truly an amazing developer and the content and quality of this game is unlike anything out there today. Mytheon is not simply a game based on Greek Mythology, but rather, is an ever-expanding and evolving game based on the Mythologies from around the world. The game is being made for players to enjoy their experience and each new expansion and development will be based on player feedback and their actions within the game.

Thank you for your time.

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