FarmVille 3 has met with players over the past month and is already the darling of millions. So we had a pleasant interview with Alexander Chernykh, Zynga’s FarmVille 3 Artistic Director.
Hi. Before Zynga, you worked at EA Mobile, another mobile giant, just like your colleague Bernard Kim (Zynga Editor). How did your transition from EA Mobile to Zynga come about?
Working for successful companies like Zynga allows you to gain experience in big projects and popular intellectual property and work with great teams/tools. Zynga’s focus is on mobile game development, which is a great opportunity for developers.
What was your first focus after joining Zynga?
Our first focus was FarmVille 3, and the goal of all our graphic artists was to make the game look the most beautiful.
What are your favorite aspects of your job?
Great intellectual property, an exceptional team and a lot of freedom in terms of creativity.
FarmVille 3 will be meeting with the cast at the time of this interview. Are you excited?
Yes. It’s our greatest reward to be able to turn around this iconic series and see the reactions of the millions of players who have tried FarmVille 3.
It’s always hard to work on the next game of a game series, especially when it comes to FarmVille, expectations are even higher. What have you prepared for the players?
Our goal was to deliver a new, exciting experience that remained true to the spirit of FarmVille. From a visual point of view, I think we have achieved this with a new graphics engine, a refurbished art style and a new dynamic air motor.
There’s something we’re curious about in art management. What are the challenges of working on a game like FarmVille 3?
The FarmVille series has long amassed millions of players around the world. Every player wanted FarmVille 3 to stick to its roots while being refurbished, and balancing that was the biggest challenge we faced.
If we made a list of the games that other game makers were most “inspired” by, it would probably be in FarmVille Top-3. Does that make you happy? Or does it make you angry that games like this are raining like a downpour?
I think it’s the greatest proof of your success that someone is starting to be inspired by your products.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected farmville 3’s development process?
Working through the pandemic process was challenging for everyone, but the team showed its strength and dedication to the project. In the end, we managed to make a great game.
Will the FarmVille series always remain a “mobile giant”? For PCs and consoles, how far are we from a FarmVille game that can use the potential of these devices?
FarmVille 3 is available for iOS and Android for mobile devices, as well as Apple laptops and desktops powered by Mac M1 via the AppStore. We are always exploring ways to expand the Farmville experience to more platforms.
How will the world of FarmVille 3 expand in the short to medium term? What are we going to see?
We’re already working on new add-ons. For example, tests are underway on the weather that works according to your location. And pig races are already on the horizon.
There are too many young designers who would like to be you. Do you have any advice for them?
Your passion and endeavour will carry you away. Zynga is always happy to see great game developers join the company.
Thank you for this delightful interview.
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