Thirteen1

Earlier this year, the lovely folks at WeMade brought us Digimon Battle for the PC, a pretty unique 2D MMORPG based on, you guessed it, the well known Digimon series. You play as a Digimon tamer and you team up with good Digimon to save the world from the bad Digimon.

We were able to talk to Estelle Kim, the product manager over at WeMade, about Digimon Battle to learn more about how the game works, what there is in the game, and really what the game is all about.

Who are you targeting with Digimon Battle?

Digimon Battle is meant to be enjoyed by Digimon fans of all ages. Players can participate in battles without intense violent actions or graphics, so it’s appropriate for young players as well. The game was created to be a turn-based format so players of all skill levels can play at their own pace and still find gameplay engaging, all in a safe environment that encourages respect and collaboration among players.

Digimon Battle is currently a client-download. Are there plans to move to a Flash version in the future?

The game was developed originally as a downloadable game in order to provide the full experience of a full-featured virtual world. With that said, we haven’t announced any plans to create a Flash version of Digimon Battle nor do we have plans to do so in the near future.

How faithful have you been to the original anime TV series?

In developing the game we tried to be as faithful to the original, beloved TV series as possible. We wanted to preserve the “Digimon spirit” while still creating a challenging and exciting gameplay experience. Digimon Battle gives fans the chance to become a hero as they take on the role of a Tamer like the characters from the series. Staying true to the show, Tamers must guide their Digimon in intense training and difficult battles in order to nurture them and push them to the next level. In particular, the game was inspired by the third Digimon season.

Card Digivolution System sounds intense. Can you describe it in 20 words or less?

It’s a new way to upgrade Digimon partners and enhance their battle skills by acquiring items from the Digishop (20 words. Not bad, huh?).

Who would win in a battle to the death: Pokemon Blue or a Digimon Tamer?

Easy: Digimon Tamer all the way!

Just how evil is the evil digimon?

Seriously? Have you seen them? They have sharp nails, ferocious looks, and dreadful smiles. They are not just evil, they are frightening! Evil Digimon believe that true Digimon shouldn’t pair up with humans. In the third animated series, upon which the game Digimon Battle was based, evil Digimon entered the human world to capture Calumon and take him back to the Digital World, so that they could use his power of Digivolution. Isn’t it this the essence of malignity? It takes a skilled Tamer to conquer these evil forces but the challenge adds to the fun!

What is at root of the animosity between evil digimon and the tamers?

At the very beginning of the first Digimon animated series – Digimon Adventure – the young human protagonists are carried out to a parallel dimension called Digital World. They are chosen to become DigiDestined, the children that would save the Digital World from the evil forces that threatened to destroy it. From that moment on, Tamers have fought against evil Digimon who want to rule the Digital World.

Players love customization and yet there isn’t much on offer in the game. Why?

Since the game’s launch we have continued to introduce new features and updates to provide players with a gaming environment that is always fresh and exciting. To this effect, we opened the Digishop to allow fans to purchase new items and further personalize the experience. We have a very enthusiastic and vocal fan base who have constantly shared their feedback since the beta began in March, and customization is something that we’ve heard and are working hard to improve. We hope to introduce more items to the Digishop and provide new ways to customize the game for all of our players in the future. Stay tuned to our social media channels for new announcements!

What is the value of the rarest item in the DigiShop?

I guess it depends on your definition of “rare.” If by that you mean “most expensive,” the rarest item in the DigiShop is Digimon Battle Pack for Heroes (2790 WeCash). However, if you mean “most desirable,” fans would probably answer either Monodramon T.F.U., Dorimon T.F.U. or Demiveemon T.F.U. (1990 WeCash).

How long would it take to travel around the whole Digimon universe? And is there a quick way of doing it?

The best way to figure it out is to jump in the game and see for yourself! . If there was a quick way of doing it, the game wouldn’t be so fun and exciting. Our fans are very resourceful and interactive, often sharing tips and tricks with each other on our forum or social media sites. So we recommend checking there for advice on how to travel the Digimon universe efficiently.

If you could play a tune with Gummymon’s horn what would it be?

I would probably play the English opening theme song of Digimon Tamers (the third season). It’s personally my favorite Digimon song. It goes like this, “Digimon. Digital Monsters. Digimon are the champions.”(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNPQU_HTPmw). However, I think it’s fascinating that every country has its own opening theme in its own language. So, maybe, if I had Gummymon’s horn, I would also play a multi-lingual version of the Digimon opening theme. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDhLnxq8Ph8&feature=related)

No game is perfect. If you could make one improvement to the game, what would it be?

I’d have to say that customization is probably the one area that we wish we could easily and quickly expand on. It’s really tough to create and introduce new customization features, and we want to make sure that everything is balanced in the game when those items are introduced. We’re working really hard to improve customization and are pretty excited about releasing some new stuff for players soon!

Does the game feature a digital badger (we’d love to see one if there isn’t already)?

A digital badger? That sure would be an interesting Digimon creature and probably would be sort of cute! Of course we are considering adding in characters and new Digimon in future updates. We are constantly updating and improving the game. You never know…maybe your badger might show up and…digivolve!

[View with PicLens]