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This website has reviewed Moyu's classic masterpiece "Galaxy on Fire 2". However, with the release of the Chinese version of Galaxy on Fire 2 and other Chinese games, this 3D mobile game developer has officially begun to integrate into the Chinese market. Let us get to know the guests from Germany through this exclusive interview.
The following is an excerpt from an exclusive interview with Fishlabs. The person interviewed on behalf of Fishlabs is Kai Hitzer (the handsome guy on the left), Fishlabs' Marketing Director.
Q: Please introduce your company and the games you have developed in the past to the players.
A: Fishlabs is a mobile game developer headquartered in Hamburg, northern Germany. The company was founded in 2004 and mainly develops high-quality 3D games for mobile devices.
Next we will introduce to you our flagship product "Galaxy on Fire 2", which is an epic space adventure 3D game that has been widely praised by many players. Last year we optimized it for iPhone 4S and iPad 2 as well as some Android devices. The latest version is a high-definition version for the Mac platform. We are especially proud of this because this is the first time that Galaxy on Fire has landed on a non-mobile device platform.
At present, we are mainly investing our resources in the production of the new expansion pack "Supernova" for "Galaxy on Fire 2". This expansion pack includes many updates on spaceships, weapons, galaxies, mission categories, characters, etc. I can guarantee that the old players of "Galaxy on Fire 2" will love it to death!
In addition, we have also custom-developed games for international brands such as Volkswagen (China) and Barclaycard. Among them, a 3D racing game "Super Racing" recently developed for Volkswagen has been widely praised. The game has been downloaded more than 1.6 million times since its launch, half of which came from Greater China.
Q: Moyu began to focus on the field of 3D mobile games in the Java era. This seemed a bit ahead of its time at the time. Are there any special factors?
A: It is not an easy task to make mobile games have the effect of console games, even now with smartphones and tablets. At first, everyone thought we were crazy, and they told us that it was unreliable to play 3D effects on mobile phones, but we still insisted on our belief that the times are progressing, and history has proved this. The new generation of smartphones and tablets will become substitutes for consoles and handheld game consoles.
Q: Now that Moyu's main focus has been put on the smartphone platform, what do you think of various mobile operating systems?
A: For us, AppStore is still the best and most mature platform. Users and developers are very popular with Apple, and users have good paying habits. Although the latest Android flagship models launched by major companies can reach the level of iPhone 4S in performance, Google Play (formerly AndroidMarket) still has high piracy rates and adaptation problems, which also makes many developers doubtful. When it comes to expanding our games to every different platform we can, the App Store remains our first choice. Q: When did Moyu start developing iOS games? Can you reveal other game development plans for this year?
We have been developing games on iOS since its launch. Our first game on the App Store was called Toy Tanks 3D, which was launched in December 2008. In 2012, in addition to the expansion pack "Supernova" for "Galaxy on Fire 2", we will also release our first multiplayer game, but it is too early to talk about it now. Once more detailed information is available, we will inform Lei Feng.com as soon as possible.
Q: "Galaxy on Fire 2" is currently the most successful game launched by your company. What factors make this game so popular?
Answer: "Galaxy on Fire 2" is a game deeply loved by science fiction game players. Moreover, every employee on its development team is a super science fiction enthusiast, so everyone does their best to improve the sound quality, picture quality and gaming experience of this game.
Q: "Galaxy on Fire 2: Supernova" is about to be released. Compared with the previous game, what are the major improvements in this version?
A: First of all, compared to "Valkyrie", "Supernova" has a complete storyline. You must know that in our plan, the time required to complete "Supernova" is not less than the game itself. In addition to the storyline, "Supernova" also contains a large number of updates, including new mission types, spaceships, weapon systems and game characters. Please forgive us that we cannot list them all here, but you can see a more detailed introduction from our two recent development diaries (the first of which is about the new logo design of "Supernova", and the second is about the new storyline and characters).
Q: Your company currently prices "Galaxy on Fire 2" at US$9.99 (RMB 68), and has never conducted any promotions such as limited exemptions. Why did your company adopt a special pricing strategy for this game?
A: As a first-class paid game developer, our company firmly believes that the game products developed are definitely worth the money. In terms of the game's graphics, sound, game operability, playability, and game complexity, "Galaxy on Fire 2" is not even inferior to current console games. We often encounter players on game forums who have played "Galaxy on Fire" for dozens or even hundreds of hours without feeling bored at all. If you think about it from this point of view, then the price of $9.99 is nothing at all. However, we often carry out price reduction promotions, and now our standard definition version of "Galaxy on Fire 2" is only $4.99 (68 yuan). Question: There are very few games on mobile game platforms with complete stories, complete world views, and diverse systems like Galaxy on Fire 2. What made Moyu develop a masterpiece game like Galaxy on Fire 2 on a mobile platform that is obsessed with the concept of "fragmented time"?
It's nice to be able to play a relaxing casual game that you can stop at any time, but for users this is far from being comparable to the feeling of playing an epic game like "Galaxy on Fire 2" and being immersed in it. We grew up with classic games like Freelancer and Wing Commander, which have complete storylines, complex game mechanics, and iconic characters, and were attracted by the culture behind the games; similarly, we also hope to follow these classic masterpieces and, like them, create a game that makes players lose track of time as soon as they play it, rather than a game that can be put down casually.
Q: What is the follow-up plot of the "Galaxy on Fire" series?
Keith T. Maxwell will continue to be the protagonist of the Galaxy on Fire series for years to come, and we certainly won't let him retire so soon. The future of our favorite space hero is as bright as the name of the new expansion pack, "Supernova." Please stay tuned for more information as we announce it in the future.
Q: Many mobile games have begun to launch online versions. Does Moyu have any plans in this regard? Should we launch a dedicated new game, or consider adding online battle capabilities to the game?
We are already developing the first multiplayer version of Galaxy on Fire, and we have very high expectations for this version. Sorry I can't reveal too much news here, but we will have many new attempts in this version, and we hope players will be satisfied with this change.
Q: What does Moyu think of the free-to-play model?
This is a tough question. In Shangyanshang, it is difficult for us to make the decision to make the game free and rely on selling props to recover costs. After all, our development costs are too high. But another way of thinking, for example, on some platforms (such as Android) where the piracy rate is high and good profits cannot be obtained through paid downloads, the free value-added model is also an option. Of course, this depends on how comfortable we are with this model and whether this strategy is profitable for us.Kaixin.com: http://www. kaixin001. com/fishlabs
Renren: http://www. renren. com/fishlabs
Sina Weibo: http://weibo. com/fishlabs
Tencent Weibo: http://t. qq. com/fishlabsgames
In addition, at the beginning of this year, we also updated the language pack for Asian fans of "Galaxy on Fire 2", adding Chinese, Korean and Japanese versions. Judging from the feedback we have received so far, Chinese players seem to be particularly keen on Fishlabs's Chinese translation of "Galaxy on Fire 2". Now they can play the game in their familiar native language, thus increasing the fun of the game.
We know that we still have a long way to go in the Chinese market. We have taken the first step, and we will do our best to serve our fans. We are surprised by the enthusiasm of Chinese players for Galaxy on Fire 2, and we hope to get more opinions and feedback from players through social media! Question: How does Moyu plan to solve the localization problem of the game? Are you considering establishing a branch in China?
Moyu currently has more than 60 employees. It is too early for us to talk about opening a branch in China. In terms of localization, we choose to cooperate with a group of experienced and skilled translators, who effectively solve problems such as language and cultural differences in translation for us.
Q: Do you have any understanding of the so-called proliferation of "black cards" in Chinese iOS games? How to deal with it?
The extreme examples reported by the media are just isolated cases, but they do exist. In a thriving field like mobile gaming, where there are many business opportunities, there will always be people who try to make their own profits through illegal means. For us, the best strategy is still to provide high-quality games to our users and give them the most complete support. If we allow players to fully experience the fun of the game and create a chemical reaction with us, we don't need to worry too much about the rest. As long as we still have a group of loyal players who love our games, we will be able to continue to operate and continue to release eye-catching works. Q: What is your final message to the Chinese fans of Moyu?
Chinese players are great! Many players contacted us through Renren, Kaixin, Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo, and we were surprised by their enthusiasm. We are specially here to pay tribute to the Chinese players and express our most heartfelt thanks. In 2012, Moyu will launch many great works. Welcome to continue to follow us. We also thank the Chinese players for their support. We look forward to meeting next time!
