We have previously reported about the collaboration of Netmarble Games and Wizards of the Coast to develop the recently released mobile title --
Magic: ManaStrike. The game allows players to build decks around numerous Planeswalkers and sees many of the cards that fans of
Magic: the Gathering know and love digitalized into the title.
Thanks to Netmarble, we were able to set up an interview with Netmarble Games' Lead Product Manager, Kay Kim. She and I discussed the mobile game in great detail and she also pulls back the curtain on what the team is focusing on as well as what they hope to implement in the future.
We've included our full conversation for you below along with several images from the game to give you an idea of what
Magic: ManaStrike is like and to keep things flowing smoothly. Take a look through Kim's comments and see what you make of them for yourself!
Joe: First things first, how would you compare your experience working on Magic: ManaStrike against other game titles your company has put out?
Kay Kim: Working on Magic: ManaStrike has been an exceptional experience so far. The best part is the close collaboration with Wizards of the Coast. Our goal was to bring all Planeswalkers, creatures, and popular spell cards into life. We hope Magic fans enjoy the experience of controlling Planeswalkers in battlefields that Magic: ManaStrike offers.
Joe: With Magic: ManaStrike, was the entire process entirely done hand-in-hand with Wizards of the Coast or was it mostly handled by your team?
Kay Kim: Overall, the entire process was done in close collaboration with the Wizards of the Coast. However, the game development was mostly driven by Netmarble Monster, which is the development studio responsible for Magic: ManaStrike.
Joe: There is a nice selection of Planeswalkers in the game - can you tell us if there will be more to come down the road to keep the game interesting?
Kay Kim: Absolutely yes. We are developing a release plan in conjunction with Wizards of the Coast, and there will be a variety of new Planeswalkers in the months ahead.
Joe: Speaking of additions, are there plans for any other battlefields to come or is the team focused on what is in the game at the moment right now?
Kay Kim: Right now, we are currently monitoring the game’s performance and focusing on the players’ sentiments and feedback. Our main goal is to address the issues players are experiencing now. Of course, there will be new contents in future updates, which will include new Planeswalkers and battlefields.
Joe: Was anyone on your team big fans of Magic before this game came about, or was it something that you had to familiarize yourself with prior to the development of Magic: ManaStrike?
Kay Kim: I cannot speak for everyone else, but many of the team members were big fans of Magic before working for Magic: ManaStrike. However, I had limited knowledge of Magic, so I had to really dig in and familiarize myself with the IP prior to the development of Magic: ManaStrike.
Joe: Technically, Magic: ManaStrike takes place in another dimension. Does that mean that Nicol Bolas and the universe he created are not canon to the general Magic: The Gathering universe?
Kay Kim: Magic: ManaStrike takes place in the Meditation Realm, which is like a pocket dimension in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. Players are invited into this unique dimension by Nicol Bolas to help gather data on battling with Planeswalkers. You can check this out in the intro of the game.
Joe: Do you hope to produce other Magic games in the future?
Kay Kim: We are always on the lookout for future collaborations. Working on Magic: ManaStrike was an excellent adventure, and we would love to continue our journey with Wizards of the Coast in the future.
Joe: Can you share any interesting facts or trivia about the development of Magic: ManaStrike?
Kay Kim: It was when we showed Magic: ManaStrike at G-Star 2019, which is the biggest game show in Korea. It was the first time we demonstrated Magic: ManaStrike to Korean players, and we received great feedback. Also, I cannot forget my first visit to Seattle to meet with Wizards of the Coast with the prototype of the game.
Joe: Are there any future projects that you can tell us about?
Kay Kim: We just announced the launch of The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross and we plan to have some exciting updates in Magic: ManaStrike. We are always working to bring the best game experiences to Netmarble games. Please stay tuned!
Joe: Lastly, do you have a favorite Planeswalker in the game? Who is it?
Kay Kim: Tezzeret is my favorite because of his high versatility in attacks. His basic attack is a huge AoE damage to ground units; when deployed, he can summons an additional aerial unit which does an AoE attack as well. Tezzeret’s Gravity Sphere skill is great because it will pull enemies close to an area and stun them for a second. His general appearance is unique and looks awesome in my opinion.
What do you guys make of Kim's comments? Will you be downloading
Magic: ManaStrike to give it a shot? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Magic: Mana Strike is a mobile combat game that brings spells inspired by Magic: The Gathering's cards and characters to life in a new genre. After losing a war with the Planeswalkers, Magic: The Gathering's most powerful villain Nicol Bolas creates a parallel universe to find the Planeswalkers' weaknesses.
Magic: Mana Strike is now available to download on Android and iOS.