For many players, a game is more than just a way to pass the time—it’s a lifestyle. And no one understands this better than Yaoqi Guo, CEO of Top Games Inc., the creators of Evony: The King’s Return. Guo has long emphasized the importance of the social elements in gaming, stating:
“For gamers, a game is not just a hobby or entertainment but a way of life. It allows players to forge friendships and become part of gaming communities.”
Yaoqi Guo believes that real-time strategic exchanges or casual chats are crucial factors in cultivating a harmonious community. Based on the emphasis on online communication between players, Mr Guo has developed many design ideas for in-game chat channels in Evony.
Highlighting Independent Channels and Private Communication
Battle-Specific Independent Communication Channels
- Feature: Evony: the King’s Return provides independent communication channels during major in-game events like battlefields or large campaigns.
- Design Logic: This design prevents players from being distracted by other chats during intense battles. With separate channels, those involved in combat can focus on communicating about collaborative victory. This reflects Yaoqi Guo’s design logic of providing clear and dedicated spaces for different themes, ensuring players’ combat experience in strategy MMO games.
Private Mail System for Discreet Communication
- Feature: The mail system allows players to contact non-friend others individually.
- Design Logic: Yaoqi Guo believes that even in games, users’ chat privacy still needs to be maintained. Although the original chat system had a “Whisper” group, this feature usually only allowed players to communicate privately with friends. The mail system in Evony: the King’s Return supports communication between unfamiliar players, thus greatly improving the social aspect of the game.
Casual Mode Message Board for Social Interaction
- Feature: In the casual mode, Ideal Land, there is a Message Board where players can post and receive messages.
- Design Logic: This function enhances the social nature of the secondary gameplay in the game and avoids the gap between the secondary gameplay and the core mechanism. Yaoqi Guo hopes that the Top Games Inc. R&D teams can break the loneliness of stand-alone copies. Based on this design concept, Ideal Land allows players to share and receive feedback, realizing the interactivity of casual dungeons.
One of the key reasons behind Evony’s success is its strong alliance system, designed with social interaction at its core. Many players have said, “If I ever leave the game, I’d miss the joy of working with my alliance, sharing strategies, and collaborating with others.” Social features like these have always been a major factor in keeping players engaged. While Evony follows the general approach of other real-time strategy games, it stands out for doing an exceptional job with its alliance system, making it a driving force for sharing and socializing in the game.
Nowadays, during holidays or downtime, many players pull in friends and family to join the same alliance. They exchange gifts, share strategies, and tackle challenges together, creating a sense of achievement and making the game even more enjoyable and engaging.
