Interview with Dragons 2 video game designers

A while back, you submitted questions for the producers of the new How to Train Your Dragon 2 video game ranging from game features and storyline to the process of creating video games. Now you can read the full interview below!

Q: Will the game follow the story of the movie or take place afterwards?

A: The game is set a couple months before the movie picks up; this gives us the opportunity to be creative with our game at the same time not spoil anything about the movie. That way, you can play the game before or after you’ve seen the movie!

Q: How large is the game's world? Will players be able to explore beyond Berk?

A: Players will be staying on Berk – once you play the game, it makes a lot of sense why you’re sticking to the island! Because we’re staying close to home, we’re able to explore a lot of areas on the island: places from both the first and second movie, along with locations on the island found exclusively in the game.

Q: Are there new characters or dragons that don't appear in the film?

A: The second movie expands on the cast of characters and dragons considerably from the first movie; because there’s such a rich number of choices to choose from, there wasn’t a need to create extra characters or dragons to make the line-up feel full. Plus, this way you get to play your favorite from the movie!

Q: How do players interact with dragons? Will players be able to train dragons?

A: Players have the option to select from the different Dragon riding teams, such as Toothless & Hiccup. Before each Tournament, Players will be able to practice in a few training events with their Dragon rider team in order to get them ready to compete in the different Dragon Tournaments that take place throughout the Island of Berk.

Q: Is there a multiplayer part of the game?

A: Absolutely! All of the consoles support local multiplayer, which includes PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo Wii U. Players can explore, train, and compete in Tournaments together as well as complete challenges throughout Berk. There are also 3 multiplayer exclusive mini-games for players to go head-to-head against each other.

Q: Are there customizable characters or dragons?

A: Yes! Each dragon has a special trait that must be unlocked. Once these traits have been revealed, characters and dragons will be able to do something unique to their specific dragon. These are all based on how the dragons perform in the movie.

Q: Does the game involve dragon battling, like the first How to Train Your Dragon game? Or is it focused more on flying, or something else?

A: The game will largely focus on exploration, flying, and the tournament events. Some tournament events allow for combat, so players will be able to use items and of course their dragon’s fiery breath to blast other riders off their dragons!

Q: The first movie's game was focused mostly on dragon battling. Will this game include dragon battling too, or will it have a different focus, such as flying or exploring?

A: We received a lot of feedback from DreamWorks regarding the first game, while battling was fun, there was other activities they’d like to do as well. The second game features plenty of exploration and challenges to partake in, as well as competing in tournaments. Of course, we can’t completely forego a little friendly competition between riders, so there will definitely be opportunities to go head to head in both multiplayer and tournament events.

Q: Are there plans to create a PC game based on the Dragons universe in the future?

A: At this time there are no plans for a PC version of the Dragons universe. However, you never know what the future may bring. Fans can let us know they’d love to see a PC game based on the Dragons universe by tweeting us @littleorbit or visiting our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LittleOrbitGames

Q: What is the biggest challenge in adapting a pre-existing storyline and well-loved film into a game format?

A: The biggest challenge in adapting an awesome storyline and well-loved film in to a game is ensuring that what we create stays true to the How To Train Your Dragon world and at the same time giving the fans and gamers something they will love to play.

Q: What qualifications would someone need to work on a future Dragons game?

A: A willingness to work hard, combined with a love and passion for making games is a great start! A lot of talented people got their start in the Quality Assurance Department testing games, so it's always a good idea to keep an eye out for openings in the gaming industry.

Q: How similar is the process of making a game to making an animated film?

A: The process of making a game compared to making an animated film is very similar in some ways. We both put together an outstanding team of producers, designers, writers, artists, animators, sound engineers and programmers to help bring everything in the game (or film) to life. We all have a love & passion for what we do and are happy to invest our time in making sure the end result is something that everyone will enjoy.

Thanks a lot to Matt Phillips, Jose Gomez, and Alissa Smith for answering our questions! Check out some more information and game screenshots here!