The World in Your Hands: An Exclusive Wakfu Interview

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Updated Mon, Jun 09, 2008 by Ralsu

Questions by Danny "Ralsu" Gourley
Answers by Sérgio dos Santos, International Marketing Assistant; Cedric Gerard, International Marketing Manager; and Joris Bébin, Community Project Manager

Ankama Games started a new round of Closed Beta testing for Wakfu, the spiritual successor to their popular tactical game called Dofus, on June 3, 2008. In addition to launching a Wakfu beta giveaway, Ten Ton Hammer was able to interview three members of the Ankama team to get a feel for the features of Wakfu.

Q: Please describe the target audience for Wakfu.

A: Our core audience for Wakfu is 12-16 years old. The Wakfu TV series will start a bit younger, with an audience from 9 years old.

The art in Wakfu displays the anime connection.

Q: Will Wakfu be flash-based like Dofus? With click-to-move controls?

A: Wakfu will be encoded in Java. We wanted to provide a new game experience and the Java technology allowed us to create a great environment where players could walk around in a Multidirectional Scrolling Isometric 3D Universe. We decided to keep the “click-to-move” controls but shortcuts are available through the keyboard.

Q: Will gamers truly be able to experience Wakfu for free, or will it be a subscription-based game? I ask because the free form of Dofus seems like a demo with its limits on what players can do.

A: The free form of Dofus represents nearly 40 hours of gaming to finish all the quests. It is more than just a demo; it’s a free to play version to which players can always come back and still chat with their friends and play in the free zone. We’re looking to do the something similar with Wakfu. We want people to be able to enjoy the game without absolutely having to pay.

Q: Wakfu is a game. Wakfu is an anime show. Can we enjoy one without the other?

A: We wanted to give players a unique experience, and the opportunity to be immersed in the Wakfu world by using a cross-media concept. The game will evolve alongside the TV series; changes in the series will impact on the game. It will be the opportunity for players to discover new faces of their world, and also convert animation fans into MMO players. There will be more info on the series and other secrets in the coming weeks!

Of course players will be able to enjoy the game without the TV series and vice versa, but linking the two will enhance their experience.

Q: Wakfu will not have non-player characters? Did I read that right? How are we supposed to know what to do? Tell us more about this innovative feature.

A: You read it right. We wanted a game focused on the players. The game will revolve around players and their actions, and give them entire freedom and control over their world. Every action a player will make will shift the balance toward destruction and creation, life and death. Judging on the Wakfu status at any moment, the team will be able to get the meta plot moving, going from one great piece of the storyline to another, and reacting on whatever the player will do.

Q: Wakfu is using a system where skills can increase in level but characters never do. How will players increase hit points and skill points to take on tougher battles?

A: Wakfu has a turn-based tactical fight system. The experience you gain fighting tofus, gobballs or any monster will [raise] your skills. That way, the more you use a skill, the more powerful it will become.

Q: How many players can form a group? And will there be raid groups?

A: Sorry but we can’t answer that right now. That feature is still under development.

Q: How much can a player expect to solo in Wakfu?

A: The first hours of the game can be played solo. The player will learn the specific features of his character when totally immersed in the story of Wakfu. Once the player will have been introduced to the fighting system and the magic, he'll be able to start the adventure along with other players. You can also craft your items by yourself, but as every MMORPG, you’ll have to interact with others players to progress.

A party and some wildlife mingle near a bridge.

Q: Wakfu proposes a delicate ecosystem where players can harvest an area until it's barren. Will it be possible to deplete the entire playable world of a natural resource?

A: The ecology will be very important in Wakfu. Plants will die if left out without water or constantly harvested, players will have to reseed, plant trees. The weather will also be a very important element of the game play.

Players will be able to virtually burn forests down or decimate whole populations of monsters. Depending on their actions they will be able to unlock (on re-lock) dungeons or whole areas of game play. We want them to be responsible for all of Wakfu’s world.

Q: If a given resource can be completely harvested into oblivion, does Ankama fear that this could be a new form of griefing where elitist guilds move quickly to obtain all of the goods for themselves and create a monolopy?

A: The game will have a complex political system where elected players will act as governors on the different islands, and will have to decide for the future of their islands, and seek the well being of their citizens. Wakfu’s world is divided into 5 islands, so it would be great and interesting if a guild could reign on an island. However, having control of the whole world will be impossible.

Q: Conversely, can players replenish too much of a resource and create a new kind of problem? If so, what kind?

A: Resources replenish themselves at a certain rate and auto regulate. For example, forests will naturally spread in the game but we developed a density degree for each forest.

Q: Wakfu just ended the Closed Beta testing for French-speaking gamers only. How did that go?

A: It [went] really well. We have fixed the most important bugs and we are progressively implementing remaining features.

Q: Based on Wakfu's innovation and projected features, and the experience of the Ankama team, I've ranked it among the Top Ten Free-to-Play Games for seven consecutive weeks. Tell readers why I'm right to do so with a game that is not even finished yet.

A: First of all, Wakfu’s original universe is up to 12 highly customizable characters. Furthermore, Wakfu has a unique turn-based tactical fight system to suit tactics lovers. Then, Wakfu is a unique cross media concept and it’s the only MMORPG with a storyline this much successfully completed.

Finally, it will have no NPCs. The game will revolve around players and their actions, and give them entire freedom and control over their world. This will provide a new community experience, involving the organization of a real society.

Q: Anything else you'd like readers to know about Wakfu?

A: We just want to tell them that we’re working hard on Wakfu to provide a great game they’ll enjoy and thank everyone for supporting us.

Thanks!