Battle in the Beyond: A Designer’s Reflection as Launch Approaches
Article Submitted by:
Kosta Canatselis, UI/UX Designer & Core Contributor at Ethlizards
As one of the product designers for “Battle in the Beyond” (BITB), I wanted to share some thoughts and reflections as we inch closer to our exciting launch.
What Makes BITB Fun?
It’s the community and unpredictability! The exhilarating rush of battling others and making connections, and the joy of unveiling new Illuvitars and Accessories together makes BITB a really fun experience. Not to forget the hours of shit-talking that will be had and the exciting reveal of the origins of the Ethlizards, and their journey across dimensions.
Why BITB is Groundbreaking
The importance of BITB lies in its innovative approach to gaming. We’re pioneering the integration of assets from one game into another. This cross-game asset functionality isn’t just novel; it’s the dawn of a new era in gaming. Imagine a world where your achievements in one game can benefit you in another, almost like a multiverse. That’s the universe we’re delving into with BITB.
Design Challenges with BITB
Every game has its set of challenges, and BITB was no exception. One area we felt had room for improvement was the onboarding and wallet experience. I won’t sugarcoat it — it’s not perfect. But remember, perfection is a journey, not a destination. We’re aware of the limitations and are actively working on refining and enhancing the experience for our players. So, expect a more streamlined flow in the upcoming versions.
What’s on the Horizon?
While I can’t spill all the beans, I can assure you that there’s a lot in store for our players post-launch. We’re actively gathering feedback, plotting new game modes, and looking to continuously evolve the game environment to keep things fresh and engaging. So, even after the MVP phase, BITB will be a living, evolving entity.
A Personal Note
On a more personal front, my journey with BITB was to bring it to its MVP (Minimum Viable Product). While I’ll be stepping away from the project post-MVP (at least for the time being to focus on Illuvium Open Beta), the experience of crafting this game has been nothing short of amazing. The team has worked tirelessly for hours and hours to make it a fun experience for all. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity and look forward to seeing where the team takes it next.
To all our players — thank you for your support, feedback, and enthusiasm. Here’s to countless hours of intergalactic battles in the beyond. See you on the battlefield! 😉
[A Note from Ani, CEO of Ethlizards: As many of you who have worked in a start-up or scale-up know, early contributors often have an outsized impact on the project. On April 28, 2023, I messaged Kosta for the first time and asked if he had capacity to do some initial designs for an Ethlizards project to help us get to a pitch stage. At the time, we had a 3 person team and no one who could help us turn the designs in our heads into reality. He graciously agreed and after just a couple calls with Lu and me, he was able to deliver some fantastic wire frames for Battle in the Beyond over the weekend.
Those early concepts enabled me to sell the vision that we had for the platform to a host of investors, developers, designers, artists, lore writers and community members. Our first Interconnected Gaming Experience was coming to life! Kosta has been an amazing contributor for us and we are so proud of the opportunity he now has to grow further at Illuvium. We would have still gotten to a product launch. But there’s zero chance we get the amazing Battle in the Beyond that we have today if it weren’t for his contributions. #LizGo!!]
