Blue Protocol : localisation internationale, monétisation... Mike Zadorojny d'Amazon Games répond à nos questions

• Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Yeah, so my name is Mike Zadorojny, I'm the Franchise Leader for Amazon Games working on Blue Protocol.

• What exactly does your job consist of on a daily basis?

(laugh) Guys, a complicate question. At a high level, my job is responsible for everything for Amazon needs to do to bring this game to the West. So... [searching his words] I try to add answers at your "daily" question. A lot of it is just like following the teams, making sure that we're hitting the quality from a QA perspective, from a localization perspective, from a marketing and PR perspective, from an infrastructure perspective. So it's reaching out to all of the teams within the Amazon ecosystem. So that when this game finally comes out, it's the best that it can be, that players feel like it was designed for them, while still respecting the anime rich culture and design behind it, and that we are also compliant legally and regulatorily with each of the countries groups.

• Blue Protocol launched on PC in Japan on June 14th, but won't arrive worldwide until 2024, following a delay. Can you explain to us the reason behind such a decision?

Yeah, there were a couple of things. One is that we were dependent on the japanese version being finalized and so they went through a number of delays on themselves. Most recently, after their final network test, because they saw the players' feedback, they internalize it and actually made some design changes based on that and so that knocked everybody slightly over.

The other side is the work that we're doing right now is really about making sure that, like I said, the Amazon ecosystem is ready to support Blue Protocol. So on day one, if you have a problem, Amazon support is right there, that our community, you know, channels are all set up and that we're providing the collection of the player feedback and providing it to Bandai Namco. So there's a number of things, including localization, that are part of this work, that needs to get done before we can launch the game on the West.

• The following of this question. Was it also a desire to launch simultaneously the PS5 on Xbox Series X versions or is it due to the localization?

That's a very good question. I mean, obviously the thing that we're trying to do is bring the game to the western players as fast as we can, but we need to make sure that, when the game is released, it's the best possible version of the game. So, whether there are other factors that go into that, like that's all in support of: "let's make sure the game is right for the western players".

• Post-launch content will be delivered with a major scenario update every 4 months in addition to monthly patches. So in terms of content, what will be the gap between the japanese build and the international one? For example, will the Blitz Lancer (the 6th class) be playable at launch for us?

That's a really good question. We'll have a lot more of this information to share as we are closer to his launch. Right now, we just want to make sure that you had a chance to kind of play, to be one of the first people to play the western version. Right around the corner is closed beta test. And as we gear up towards there, a lot more of this is going to be unfolding. Our goal is to make sure that the western version of the game is as close as possible to the japanese version, but there's obviously some logistical challenges associate with that, and so we need to work through those as well.

• Since Blue Protocol is a free-to-play, what should we expect for in-game monetization? I saw the mention of Season Passes in the menu. Can you tell us more?

So a lot of this lines up directly with what's going on in Japan, but with some changes. So one of the biggest ones for us is that we will do be doing Founders Packs. So if you follow like Lost Ark it can be very similar, that there's gonna be some unique customization options for people who are early adopters that we want to reward for that.

The second is you saw the Season Pass, Yep, we are doing that. That's the same as the japanese version. So there was a free version for players who are just naturally playing the game, but if you want some to opt in a system that has a little bit more rewards more often, there is the paid version Pass.

You can take a look at the monetization... the gacha mechanic they actually have in Japan for cosmetics. We are going to be doing something similar for us, but not exact. So one of the big changes that we're doing for our territory specifically is that there is a... a cap. So after X number of purchases you are guaranteed a top-rank item, to make sure that you aren't necessarily... you can't be unlucky enough to, you know, spend hundreds of, you know purchases and still not getting on that many orbs. So there will be a cap.

Also, but this is very similar to the japanese version, there's a secondary catch mechanic, so if you get cosmetics that you don't want, you can convert them into a secondary currency called BPP and there's a unique store where everything in there you can choose what you want out of that based on that currency.

• Is it because of the loot boxes legislation changes?

I mean that obviously plays a factor in it, but I think the thing that we look at is we want our monetization system to be fun and fair. Fun in that you're opt in in if you want to. It's not a requirement. And fair in that like if you're purchasing and I'm not, you're not having that much bigger of a power differential than I am. You are not gonna beat that boss because you bought something and I can't beat it because I didn’t. It’s gonna come down to the skill of the players to show they're coming down beyond to defeat the balance.

• Will the world of Regnas be expanded with new regions like Lost Ark and other MMORPG? Can you tease what the team planned?

(Laugh) I can't really. I think you're already well informed in terms of the stuff that the japanese development team has already announced and all that stuff is going to be coming to the West as well, so... You know, obviously Chapter 4 is gonna be a big update and there's gonna be more things that coming with it.

• Will the console versions have their own features? Above all, I have in mind the possibilities of the DualSense with the adaptative triggers. And also, can we plug in a keyboard and a mouse on consoles?

So that's a really good question. We're not talking about console yet. Soon we'll have a lot more of those details. But yeah, right now the only thing I can say is... Bandai Namco Studios, which is one of the co-development teams working on this project, they're an established console maker. You know, the Tales series is one of their flagship titles, so you can expect a lot of the same kind of dedication to console support that you see them doing right now.

• If you had to pick one element of the game that you can't wait for players to experience, it would be...

There's not one, I think. The thing I love about this game is that it is easy to get into, but there's a depth behind it, right? Like the combat system is fairly easy to get into, plus the world is amazing to explore. But if you want to really get go, dive in in terms of what the options are for your individual character, you can start mixing matching skills, you can change your play style based on the build that you were creating, so you're not locked into a particular play style and then on top of that I mean the story is amazing. So it's really exciting and this is just the beginning of it. It's a live service game, which means once the game comes out... you're already seeing the updates that start coming from Japan and we get to have all those in the West as well.

• And the gap between the Japanese and the worldwide version... [We groped for words.]

Our goal is... I think I understand the question, so let me answer and then you can tell me. Our goal is to make the gap between release in Japan and the release in the West as short as possible. So there are logistical challenges, right, to making sure from platform certification to localization to legal and regulatory things that we need to be compliant with. So our goal is as close as possible, but like I said, there are logistical challenges, we're working through all that, we're going to make it like our duty is to make this game as fun as possible, as fast as possible for the western players.

• That was it. And finally, what would you like to read as a tagline for your game when it comes out?

Mike Zadorojny : (Lengthy silence) No one is asking me this question. This is great, I love this question.

His assistant in the same time : (It made her laugh) A unique question, I love it.

Mike Zadorojny : A tagline when the game comes out... That Blue Protocol is an epic anime adventure that was worth the wait.

His assistant : Good answer.

• Thank you for your time.

Mike Zadorojny : Yeah, thank you.

His assistant : Thank you so much.

Alexandre SAMSON (Omega Law) Rédacteur
Accro à Assassin's Creed et Destiny, grand amateur de RPG et passionné d'expériences vidéoludiques en général. Lecteur de comics (DC) et de divers mangas (One Piece !). Chimiste de formation et Whovian dans l'âme.
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