[Dalgemseu] Flash of Archeon Ideas While Climbing

XL Games Developer Jeon Seongjin

DalGames stands for 'Sweet Stories of Game Developers.' It offers a glimpse into the everyday lives and personal stories of game developers.

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] The frustration when the update date approaches but no story ideas come to mind is a nightmare every game developer experiences. Sitting at the desk and racking your brain only tangles your thoughts further. Seongjin Jeon, a second-year developer at XL Games, chose rock climbing as a solution. Climbing up to a 6-meter-high summit by gripping difficult rocks clears his complicated mind and untangles the knotted threads of his thoughts.

XL Games, a subsidiary of Kakao Games, is known for its MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) "ArcheAge." Jeon, the game planner for this title, said, "I started indoor climbing as soon as I joined the company, and it has helped me a lot by organizing my cluttered mind."

He began climbing a year ago. After long hours sitting at his desk, he felt physical limits and found it hard to even play his favorite games after work, so he started climbing for exercise. In fact, after starting climbing, both his body and mind were refreshed, which also helped generate ideas for ArcheAge development.

Climbing is not just about scaling rocks randomly; there is an order to the ascent. Rocks are numbered and divided by difficulty. Even for number 1, some rocks are closer, and others are much higher. The system allows climbers to reach goals according to their level. Jeon applied this principle while developing "Kamaha's Trap," a content within ArcheAge. "Kamaha's Trap" is a feature where players use cannons on a ship to defeat enemies. It allows even novice users to enjoy the game by finding their strengths. Jeon explained, "For beginners, we increased the ship's speed so they can fight enemies up close," adding, "Even if their cannon skills are lacking, they can find alternative strategies, making it easier to play well."

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic making outdoor activities difficult, Jeon and his colleagues at XL Games have become deeply engaged in TRPG (Tabletop Role-Playing Games). They even gather at the company after work to enjoy the game together. TRPG is a game played with dice and writing tools instead of computers, where players interact according to rules. Jeon said, "It’s like a role-playing game where we set scenarios like 'Monster's Lair,'" and added, "Role-playing sparks ideas for characters and has become a source of energy in our work life these days."

Currently, he is extremely busy refining "Summons," which are mounts that characters ride in the game. The outline is expected to be ready for implementation in the game around August to September. Jeon hinted, "The enjoyment of the game will vary depending on the movement speed and difficulty of the summons."

ArcheAge, which has maintained steady popularity for seven years, has a global cumulative subscriber count reaching 20 million and is preparing for a large-scale update this coming July.