This PAX West 2023 interview with Wizard101 developers is featured in its entirety at the audio player below or on your own podcast player.
MMOs are all about longevity, and Wizard101 knows that. Since its 2008 launch date, the MMO has amassed a player base of over 50 million players, and the developers at Kingsisle have focused on building a community that spans age demographics and has grown with its users. A free-to-play MMO, Wizard101 is a game that allows the players to step into the role of a wizarding student as they grow to save Wizard City in collective card magic, duels, and explore expansive far-off worlds.
At PAX West 2023, we got the chance to talk to Design Director Artie Rogers and Narrative Director Sam Johnson, developers on Wizard101 and Pirate101. In this interview, the duo discusses the importance of building an MMO that is driven by the community and how Wizard101 has been able to evolve over time to offer players the ability to play how they want to. The game allows players to collect, style their avatars, run raids, and so much more, allowing those who want to play with little pressure or those who want to challenge their own avenues to do so, exploring different elements of gameplay to find what speaks to them the most.
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The developers also discuss the importance of community management and building communication systems for players of all ages, specifically making communication a safe space for children to get into their first MMO. By discussing how they build a safe community first, Rogers and Johnson also explain the roads they’ve taken to keep progressing the game forward, building it larger, embracing new elements of communal play that the community asks for, and investing time in building strategies that put players first.
Hit play on the interview below to hear our full 40-minute interview with Design Director Artie Rogers and Narrative Director Sam Johnson from Kingsisle Entertainment.
Wizard101 and Pirate101 are available to play now on Steam for no cost.
