Broken Ranks, the turn-based story-driven MMORPG by Polish developer Whitemoon Games has provided a postmortem of their mobile version test. The first phase for their mobile port was closed testing which involved a mix of developers, dedicated players, and some choice external testers, and has led to their lengthy blog post detailing what needs to be done for the mobile iteration of their game.
According to their blog post, testers were brought in to immerse themselves in the world of Broken Ranks, exploring Haligard and beyond for a period of three days on their mobile device. The primary focus of testing was the game's user interface (UI), particularly in terms of character movement and interactions within the game environment. This testing phase also scrutinized the game’s optimization across various devices, from modern smartphones to six-year-old, outdated phone models.
According to Whitemoon games, the feedback from these tests has been invaluable with testers stating that not only was the game playable, but that they enjoyed the experience. However, the game wasn’t completely flawless either, with plenty of technical challenges. The UI was particularly difficult, as Broken Ranks UI initially wasn’t built for mobile. In order for it to work, the team had to offer two movement options - traditional screen tapping and a joystick control. According to the end result metrics, the two methods were split among testers and developers, which points to the potential that both options will be available in future versions, offering versatility.
Combat, quests, exploration, and gear were also tested, despite only having access to a prototype UI. As Broken Ranks moves towards its next closed testing phase next week, the focus will shift to combat, with tests encompassing both solo and party gameplay across different game stages. With the feedback from these tests, fixing bugs, and implementing missing features will be put in place as the next phase of testing, slated for the first half of 2024, will involve a broader range of players.
With their two year anniversary on the horizon and its focus on storytelling and turn-based play, Broken Ranks is a great candidate for a mobile MMORPG. We look forward to trying it in 2024.
