Trendy Entertainment has just announced the formation of their new “Defense Council” which is a new advisory council that will allow players with a vested interest in the development of the game to provide early, focused feedback directly to the development team. It is not uncommon to see this approach in games development these days and it is a great way for players to voice their wishes.
“We will be involving the whole community in Dungeon Defenders II’s development. Right now we’re taking our first steps toward that goal with the Defense Council,” explained Dave Loyd, Studio Director at Trendy Entertainment. “The Council is an opportunity for dedicated fans to play and provide feedback on the game in its earliest state. As time passes their responsibilities will grow, and we’re excited that their first act as Council members will be raising a large amount of money to improve the lives of children in hospitals around the world.”
Devised in conjunction with gaming industry charity funds Humble Bundle and Child’s Play, the initiative is designed to follow through on the company’s commitment to community engagement and interaction throughout the development process. Entry to the Defense Council will be granted starting November 11 at 6PM EST, to the first 500 participants that raise $30 or more via the Humble Bundle, with contributions donated to Child’s Play, a service delivering invaluable gaming experiences to hospitalized children worldwide. Trendy Entertainment will also open up more Council seats, including but not limited to auctions for 10 seats on eBay, with the resulting proceeds going directly to Child’s Play.
At time of writing, the 500 seats were sold out, but the 10 extra eBay auctions are still available for the taking.
This project will offer participants the opportunity to influence the evolution of Dungeon Defenders II in an early and meaningful way. Defense Council members will have access to bi-weekly gameplay sessions, with frequent and significant opportunities to deliver feedback directly to the development team as select game systems, mechanics, heroes, maps and more are being created and tested. A dedicated developer blog will provide ongoing insight into behind-the-scenes decision-making. In addition, Council members will be forever immortalized in the game’s world as members of the Sunderguard, a faction in the storyline. Members will maintain their seats for the first term of the Council after the game launches, continuing to influence decisions that shape the war against the Old Ones’ invasion of Etheria.
Humble Bundle will oversee the application/donation process.
Thank you Dungeon Defenders II for providing us with this information.
Image courtesy of Dungeon Defenders II.
