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Paragon (video game)

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Paragon
File:Paragon logo.jpg
Developer(s)Epic Games
Publisher(s)Epic Games
Director(s)Steve Superville
Producer(s)John Wasilczyk
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release
  • Q2/Q3 2016
Genre(s)Multiplayer online battle arena
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Paragon is an upcoming free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game developed and published by Epic Games. It is set to be released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 in mid 2016. Powered by Epic's own Unreal Engine 4, the game entered early access in March 2016.

Gameplay

Paragon is a third-person multiplayer online battle arena video game. The maps featured in the game are symmetrical, and bases are located at the two opposite ends of a map.[1] Players are tasked to defeat their opponents and destroy the core in their base.[2] They can reach their opponents' bases through the three lanes featured in each map. Each lane is protected by defensive towers that protect the bases by attacking any incoming enemies that stand within its range automatically.[1] The lanes are surrounded by jungles. Inside the jungle, players can find additional resources for their teams, at the risk of encountering monsters. There are also shadow pads which temporarily hide the players or teleport them back to their base.[3]

In a match, 10 players are divided into two teams. The player assumes control of a "hero". Each hero has their own major attack and possesses five sets of ability,[4] with one of them being the ultimate ability.[1] Different heroes have different skills and weapons. For instance, Grux, an offensive character, has the ability to smash enemies, while Muriel, a defensive character, can aid his allies with a shield.[5] Both teams have minions, which slowly march towards their opponents' bases and support the heroes.[1]

When players kill an enemy hero or destroy an enemy tower, they will gain experience and card points. Before a match is about to start, players can utilize a deck, which allows players to use these card points to purchase upgrades such as health boosts and strength-enhancing artifacts for their heroes and customize them.[6] Characters and cards are divided into five different affinities. A character from one affinity cannot use the cards from other affinities.[3] Card packs can be purchased by reputation points, which are earned through completing a match. Players can also use real-world currency to boost their reputation points and experience points.[5] According to Epic, the game is not pay-to-win. As a result, players can only purchase cosmetic items with real-life currency.[7] The game also features a replay system, which allows players to observe the match as a spectator.[8]

Development

With years of experience creating beautiful and immersive action games, we knew we had something fresh to bring to the MOBA genre. In Paragon, we put you in the middle of the action with direct control over your hero. At the same time, we made the decision to preserve what makes MOBAs great. Paragon is not a hybrid. It is clearly and faithfully a MOBA, brought to life with explosive action.

— Steve Superville, creative director of Paragon

Paragon is currently being developed by Epic Games. According to executive producer John Wasilczyk, the team was given the chance to "make anything", and had a lot of creative freedom when they started the project.[9] One of the main goals for developing the game is to introduce action elements into the genre. To achieve this, the game features gameplay similar to a third-person shooter, and the in-game characters were designed to possess mobility skills. For example, some of the characters have the ability to leap and strike.[10] The team focused on verticality while developing the game's maps. Such approach allowed them to turn the moments shown in MOBA CGI's trailers into an actual gameplay experience.[9] According to Steve Superville, the game's creative director, the maps were designed to "[shape] like a bowl" so that players can look across the map easily when they respawn, observe the battle situation and plan their attacks strategically. The card system was designed to make the game more accessible for new players, to simplify the traditional item system and create more strategic choices. According to Epic, it is a feature that can help the game to differentiate itself from its competitors.[3] Epic also transferred some of the resources for making Fortnite to Paragon's development.[11] ESports is currently under consideration, with Wasilczyk saying that it will depend on the demand of the community and the game's popularity.[12]

Paragon is set to be the a non-boxed game released by Epic. According to Superville, the team were excited about the change as this format allows them to receive responses from the community and make adjustments at once.[13] The game was officially announced on November 3, 2015, and the first gameplay trailer debuted at PlayStation Experience 2015.[14][15] The game entered early access on March 18, 2016 for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows. Cross-platform play between the two platforms is supported. While the final product is free-to-play, players need to pay to gain access to the early access version. The early access version of the game has three versions: Founder's Pack, Challenger Packs and Master Packs. All of them feature cosmetic items, additional boosts and upgrades.[16] In the early access version, the game contains 13 characters. Epic promised that new characters would be added to the game for free one by one and that they did not fix the roster size.[3] An open beta for the game is set to begin in the second quarter of the year.[17] A retail version, titled Essentials Edition, which adds multiple in-game items, is also set to be release alongside the game's digital free-to-play version.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Clements, Ryan (February 18, 2016). "Paragon Will Change the Way You Compete on PS4". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  2. ^ Buchholz, Jon (February 18, 2015). "Watch Heroes Rush The Core In This New Paragon Gameplay Trailer". Game Informer. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Warr, Philippa (February 18, 2016). "Paragon: What You Need To Know About Epic's MOBA". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  4. ^ Jagneaux, David (February 18, 2016). "Paragon First Hands-On Gameplay Impression (PS4/PC)". IGN. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Tan, Nick (February 18, 2016). "Paragon preview". Game Revolution. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  6. ^ Stubbsy, Mike (February 18, 2016). "Paragon preview: Epic Games re-energises the MOBA with classic shooter elements and unique twists". International Business Times. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Williams, Mike (March 3, 2016). "Epic's Paragon is Free-To-Play, But Early Access Will Cost You". USgamer. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  8. ^ Warr, Phillipa (February 22, 2016). "Paragon Interview: Why Epic Are Making A MOBA & More". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Paget, Mat (December 9, 2016). "Epic Talks Moving From Gears of War to MOBAs with Paragon". GameSpot. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  10. ^ Shea, Brian (December 6, 2015). "We Talk With Epic Games To Find Out What Makes This MOBA Different". Game Informer. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  11. ^ Campbell, Spencer (March 18, 2016). "Epic Games still working on Fortnite, though Paragon takes priority". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  12. ^ Mahardy, Mike (February 18, 2016). "How Gears of War and Unreal Have Shaped Epic's Next Game: Paragon<". GameSpot. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  13. ^ Thursten, Chris (December 22, 2016). "Paragon devs talk MOBAs, map design, and more". PC Gamer. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  14. ^ Nakamura, Darren (November 3, 2016). "Epic announces Paragon, teases a beefy dude with metal arms". Destructoid. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  15. ^ Silva, Marty (December 5, 2016). "PSX 2015: Epic's Paragon Is Coming To PlayStation 4". IGN. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  16. ^ Gies, Arthur (March 3, 2016). "Paragon will be totally free-to-play — but not in early access". Polygon. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  17. ^ Saed, Sherif (January 15, 2016). "PS4 owners will soon get to test out Epic's MOBA Paragon". VG 247. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  18. ^ Bertz, Matt (April 25, 2016). "Epic Games Announces Paragon Essentials Edition For PS4". Game Informer. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
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