ALL ABOUT MINGDA
Like many people, I have loved watching and playing video games since I was little. I have always been intrigued by the ability of a good game to transport the player into a special world, a world like the one available in Immortal Paradise.
Like others in the industry, I have come to game design through an unusual but logical avenue. My academic background is in architecture, and I hold a relevant degree from the University of Kansas. After getting my Masters's degree in Architecture, I practiced at one of the top commercial architecture firms (CRTKL) in the world. After completing several projects over a number of years, I found that the construction industry did not align with my personal ideals of enriching people's spiritual world. From my perspective, the spiritual home is often far more meaningful than the physical home for people. This education and professional experience provided me with qualities – the ability to conceptualize space, understand the flow of people, and imagine interactions between people and place – that made game design a natural choice. This spurred me to enter the gaming industry, where I can leverage my passion for design and years of game systems examination and combat system thought. For me, a well-designed game is truly a piece of art.
Indeed, as the ninth art form of mankind, games have greatly enriched the spiritual world of human beings. In a game, players can explore lost civilizations, participate in unseen history, predict the future development of mankind, and make ethical choices between morality and interest. The options for cognitive exploration are truly endless.The depth of knowledge and experience that can be gained from a game is beyond what is possible with traditional textbooks and reading. Books simply cannot provide the same immersive experience that allows people to contemplate how to play the role of formation in a cold weapon war; how to play the role of a forward in a soccer match, to move and cut into the right position or; how to use hope to appease teammates who are emotionally broken. A good game develops a different suite of skills through rapid practice in a way that makes learning almost sublime. The experience, understanding, and practice that players obtain from a well-designed game is a shortcut to life experiences, improved perception, deep learning, and the conversion of information into skills.
The most critical part of core gameplay, game mechanics, especially combat systems, is my professional niche and personal passion. To me, good game mechanics are far more important than any intriguing story, any elegant artistic modeling, or any advanced graphics. Game mechanics provide players with challenges, opportunities, and rewards, and include important components like strategy, tactics, operations, competition, psychological engagement, and the use of environmental terrain.
My personal background has further influenced my professional work. I was born in suburban northern China, in a place with wild local culture. The mentality was one of competition and conflict, often physical in nature. I was further inspired by the popularity of action movies, and my teenage memories are full of fighting activities. More than 100 actual fighting tournaments at school and professional training as a teenager have given me a deep understanding of what a person is thinking and feeling in battle.
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I have played the entire array of action games on the market, but each fighting system leaves something to be desired; none of the experiences are truly fulfilling. Although I was really impressed by the action and visual effects of many popular games, I started to conceptualize and build my own game mechanics in the pursuit of the perfect gaming experience. This new world I have created includes a unique fighting system, complex storylines, an array of champions with associated abilities and balanced design, a revenue-generating top-up system, etc.
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The first and perhaps most unique component I completed was the fighting system. I call it å·¥-shape game mechanics which is based on my deep understanding of fighting systems. The champions’ abilities, team champions’ choices, team strategies, and support functions are all designed around the å·¥-shape game mechanics. I have spent 3 years immersed in this world of conceptualization, and now have more than 20 champions developed with complete abilities that align with these mechanics. I know their abilities, balance, and strategic importance as if they are my closest friends.
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In terms of gameplay and storyline, Immortal Paradise places players inside a world where the human future is awash in technology, where AI robots coexist with humans and have mastered the technology of uploading consciousness to a central computer. This a world where the melding of souls has created humans with an amalgamation of animal, human and god-like characteristics. Players compete to survive and avoid losing their own souls to the central computer – fighting robots and each other along the way. This multiplayer team PVP survival game builds on the components of existing survival games to provide a one-stop shop for popular game elements.
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There is something for everyone in this game. Players who enjoy playing action games can take on a variety of player types: tank fighters, output fighters, assassins, etc. Players who like shooting games can embody similar approaches. Players who like team battles can choose their roles according to past experience. Players who like strategy can get lots in the unending gaming possibilities. In this way, there will not be the “next best thing.”
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For now, the prototype game Immortal Paradise is a work-in-progress. I have finished the Defensive Warrior (Evan Wang) and Berserker (Alex Wang) from the 20 plus champions listed in my game mechanics. At present, Immortal Paradise is still a prototype and functions in a single-player model. So far, the game mechanics are basically completed, with all the mechanisms mentioned. Each champion has 30-40 offensive moves and 8 defense methods, with each methodically chosen. There are more than100+ fighting details against AI in the current Immortal Paradise prototype. Building out multiplayer online PVP will be the next step – as the popularity of such games offers excellent market opportunities. Easy to learn and difficult to master. I wish you all a good time.
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