Scott Martins is the President of Dire Wolf Digital.
Paul Dennen is the Creative Director of Dire Wolf Digital, and Lead Designer on The Elder Scrolls: Legends.
Q - Open Beta is available since August 2016. Do you have an official release day for the game on PC ? Same question for the iPad version ?
SM: The PC Version launces today! The iPad version will launch worldwide on 23rd March and we’ll also be launching on Android tablets in April.
Q - How work the PC and iPad version together ?
SM: We’re big believers in cross-platform play. You’ve got one Legends account, and that collection travels with you to whatever device you play on. So you could be playing on a PC against somebody on a tablet, and you’d never know you’re using different devices. (And then you could be playing with your same cards and account on your tablet on your train ride home!)
Q - Do you intend to do a mobile version ? If yes, do you already have an idea of development to make it accessible ?
PD: Legends will be available on both iPhones and Android phones this Summer. The biggest challenge in bringing Legends to mobile phones is how everything fits together into a small screen. We’ve got some really exciting approaches there that we think will make for a great mobile experience. We’ll share more details, including the launch date, at E3 in June.
Q - What are the differences between PC and other versions ?
SM: There are no differences between PC and tablet play. Choose your weapon!
Q - Have you already planned some extensions for the future ? If yes, how often will they be released?
PD: Yes! Adventures in Tamriel are just beginning, and there’s a lot more to come. We’ll be releasing multiple pieces of new content each year, with the first content update being The Fall of The Dark Brotherhood, releasing on 5th April. This is a new PvE story that introduces more than 25 missions and 40 new cards to Legends. We’ll also have our first major expansion this Summer – we’ll reveal more about this at E3 in June.
Q - Do you have a TES Legends dedicated team ? Will they take care of the community and perhaps correct some things after its feedback ?
SM: Dire Wolf Digital is the studio that designs Legends, and the community is handled by Bethesda. We work closely together every day to make sure that the Legends community is listened to and their feedback is heard.
Q - Chaos Arena mode is very particular and totally unique. Will it be always available after the release ?
PD: Sheogorath thrives on unpredictability, and so do game developers! Players have loved Chaos Arena, and it will definitely be a recurring feature of Legends. But it will only be available upon the whims of the Daedric Prince of Madness.
Q - Do you intend to work harder on Chaos Arena which makes your game apart of the competition ? I mean regular updates and improvements ?
PD: We work hard on every aspect of Legends, but Chaos Arena is definitely one area where there’s a lot left to explore. We’re looking forward to evolving the game mode as new cards and abilities enter the game.
Q - Prophecy and Runes mechanics are very good innovations. They give more solutions against aggressive decks. Is it a way to point Hearthstone his weakness out ?
PD: We certainly pay attention to how other games work – we’re gamers ourselves, and card games are in our DNA. But we design the games that we want to play, not as commentary on other games. The Prophecy mechanic and Runes are one way to inject a bit of interactivity and excitement during attacks, and yes, they also provide an opportunity for players to counteract aggression.
Q - What is your main target ? TESO’s universe players or a wider and new audience ?
PD: Both, for sure. Card games have a huge potential audience, but the connection to The Elder Scrolls world, characters, and stories is a huge part of what makes Legends special. Our hope is that Legends can bring card game fans into the adventures of The Elder Scrolls, and give existing fans of the series a new way to engage with the world they love.
Q - Do you wish your game to be on LAN tournaments ? Will you contribute to push an eventual eSport visibility ? With some events online and offline with maybe some money into it ?
SM: eSports is the future, and Legends is really well-positioned to be a part of it. There are a lot of pieces that have to come together, both in-game features and community organization, but competitive play is definitely on the roadmap.
Q - There are more TCG and CCG games since a few years. Like Hearthstone, Gwent, Krosmaga or different games on smartphones. Are you afraid of the concurrence on this type of games ?
SM: We love it, and we’re proud to be a part of it and part of the history of the genre! Our core team has been making digital CCGs for nearly 15 years. We look around and see that there are more players discovering strategy card games than at any other point in the genre’s history.
Q - Last question, do you think TES Legends will know how to find his place this year and what news and announcements the players can expect ?
SM: There’s a lot coming to Legends in the next few months, both in terms of new features, new content and previews of future plans. New platforms, new ways to play (and watch), and of course new cards will make 2017 a big year for Legends players.
