Overwatch and Gigantic are two games that have been on my radar since they were announced. Both games are attempting to tap into the eSports scene and both games share many similarities. They are team games, utilise control points as the focus of map objective and there are a variety of Heroes that fulfil different roles. The premise is for both teams to defeat the other using a combination of these Heroes, alongside a healthy dollop of teamwork. It’s simple enough and like DOTA2 or League of Legends, the allure of games such as Gigantic or Overwatch is not only the teamwork but the personal satisfaction at getting better. I wouldn’t call Overwatch or Gigantic a MOBA but I have heard them referred to as such and even though they lack creeps and itemisation, many of the principles of play still stand.

Having said all that, Overwatch and Gigantic appeal to me for different reasons and it primarily boils down to the developers. Gigantic developer, Motiga, have gone out of their way to already begin forming positive relationships with their community. Active responses in Reddit, engagement at gaming events above simply having a booth and a Twitter account that genuinely encourages community projects is a brilliant start. Coupled with the game offering fast and competitive gameplay with a unique artstyle, it’s a great platform to start from. My concern however and because of Overwatch and Gigantic are vying for the same slice of the pie is the fact that Motiga is going up against the might of Blizzard. Overwatch might not be third person and it might lack the additional objective of Gigantic’s Guardians but my concern is that won’t matter when it boils down to the refined play that Overwatch is offering.

Team Fortress 2 has survived for so long because of its core gameplay -- something Overwatch is likely to tap into. As Blizzard have always done by re envisioning popular games, Overwatch will undoubtedly attract huge player numbers and will be ripe for competitive coverage. Where Gigantic is concerned, Motiga are a development studio of seasoned developers but there’s three things that concern me:

1. Can Gigantic, as a free to play team based game, compete against the might of Blizzard?
2. Are Motiga capable of balancing Gigantic’s array of Heroes?
3. Can players realistically play both?

To address the first issue, I think it’s fair to say that anything Blizzard creates tends to attract millions of players. Besides Diablo III which was awful at launch, it still sold millions of copies and eventually found its feet. Heroes of the Storm, Starcraft II and even World of Warcraft have all carved out incredibly popular player versus player scenes. To suggest Overwatch will be anything other than a smash hit would be absurd. In contrast and despite being brilliant, I think Gigantic is still struggling to find traction despite showcasing at many gaming events. Even its recent partnership with Microsoft failed to significantly boost Motiga’s presence on social media or on its official sub-Reddit. Admittedly Motiga are a much smaller developer who have yet to earn a reputation as global as Blizzard, but there’s a real risk here that Gigantic will always be underneath Overwatch’s shadow.

Where point two is concerned, from the hands-on time I’ve had with Gigantic at gaming events it’s in a very good place. Although the roster of Heroes isn’t huge and will continue to grow, Motiga have a firm grasp on what’s working and what isn’t. There are a few things that I’d question, but that’s only natural when a game is in Alpha and when perfect balance isn’t the focus (building the game is).

Lastly and something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is whether or not it’s feasible for players to play multiple competitive games. I don’t hear of many people playing both DOTA 2 or League of Legends and if I do, they tend to only dabble lightly in both, while simultaneously being bad at both (maybe I’m hanging around with the wrong people). I’ve often tried to play SMITE and Team Fortress 2 because I enjoy both games, but it’s just not viable if you want to reach a skill level the games require. I don’t see it as feasible that players will choose Gigantic and Overwatch and play both. They’ll instead choose one and with the marketing blitz Blizzard will no doubt put on to promote Overwatch, I’m worried that Gigantic won’t get a look in.

If Motiga are doing anything right, it’s making their presence known to the community early. Unlike Blizzard that’s a giant organisation that seldom has the time to interact so personally. This type of grass-roots interaction is breeding a positive and loyal community that Gigantic is going to need. I suspect word of mouth will bring many players to Gigantic and like a loyalist, I’m sending as many friends as possible Motiga’s way.

Deciding whether to play Overwatch or Gigantic has been a difficult choice, but I suspect that I’ll settle permanently in Gigantic. I love both games art style and I’ve no doubt Overwatch would keep me occupied for many hours. However, I think the tipping point for me are the Guardian's that Gigantic offers and how wounding them and the tactics behind that plays out. It feels just that bit deeper than Overwatch because of the additional gameplay. I’m not suggesting Overwatch is simplistic and I appreciate there are a variety of game modes, but what Gigantic is offering is entirely unique. I guess that makes me team Gigantic, then.

Which game are you looking forward to or have you already decided which side you fall on?