We had a chance to interview Jason Justice of Ntreev, the Operations Lead from the Games Operation Department.

For the person who doesn't know, what is Pangya?

Pangya can be described as a massively multiplayer online sports game in which players attempt to hit a ball (called a Comet) into the hole in the fewest possible number of strokes, using a variety of clubs such as woods, irons, wedges and putters. Any similarities to sports real or imagined is purely coincidental, this game was designed in honor of the great hero who saved the Island of Pangya. You can read all about it in the game's back-story.

How does the swing interface work?

Pangya's intuitive swing interface makes it easy for new players to come out swinging. Start by "aiming" your character in the direction you'd like to shoot then choosing a club to go the distance, either with the arrow keys or your mouse. Then, if you'd like, you can apply spin or curve to the ball to alter its behavior in flight. Finally, all the action takes place on a sliding "toggle bar". One click of either the mouse or space bar starts the power meter climbing. When you click again, this locks in how hard you're going to hit the ball, and sends that power meter back the other way. At the other end is a white area inside a larger purple area. To hit the most accurate shot, try to stop the meter right inside the white! 

What kind of stat tracking options are available?

In addition to saving more obvious statistics such as the player's average and course records, Pangya also keeps track of some fun stats such as longest putt or total distance traveled. Percentages showing how often the player hits a perfect shot--called a Pangya--as well as putting rate, even going out of bounds are all tracked. Given that this is an online game, we also track "service" statistics such as how often the player quits a match, which can be useful to help other players know what sort of history their opponent may have. We are even thinking of publishing some player statistics on our official webpage to let players see how they stack up to the rest of the field!

Why do you think the interface is so easy to use?

The interface in Pangya has been designed from the ground up to be as intuitive as possible, allowing a player to jump into the action without spending their first session wading through instructions.

Context-sensitive tip windows at the top of the screen show the most common commands, and a full key map can be accessed any time in game by pressing F12.
Additionally, most features can be controlled either by the mouse or keyboard, allowing ultimate flexibility for differing play styles.

Can you explain what "Opponent is not your enemy! You are your enemy!"
means within the scope of the game?

Even though the game is designed to be played with (or against) other players, your performance in Pangya is controlled entirely by you. The other players are not defending against your offense, you are attacking the course individually in an attempt to score better than your opponent. In this way, individual player skill as well as good sportsmanship is emphasized in Pangya.

What kind of club options are there?

Pangya is played with four types of clubs: Woods, Irons, Wedges and Putters. Many different club designs offering their own unique attribute bonuses are available in the game. The benefit to club shoppers is that all clubs are sold as a set, so it isn't necessary (or possible) to hunt down each club separately.

What kind of weather options are there?

Weather in Pangya occurs randomly hole by hole, so it's possible to be stuck in the rain on hole 7 but see the sun shining before you hit the back 9. Certain items exist in the game that can alter the chance of seeing weather appear; since players receive a bonus for shooting in inclement weather, these items are treasured. 

How difficult is it to play the game at a high level?

Pangya follows a traditional gaming slogan of "a minute to learn, a lifetime to master", as anyone can start playing immediately and earn experience no matter how long it takes their ball to reach the hole.

Understanding the basics of the game and coming to a point of skill where the player can score under par is easily accomplished with a little hands-on experience with the courses. However, true Pangya experts who have taken the time to study each hole and the effects of wind and terrain have been known to score more than one Hole In One in a single course!

Where do you see Pangya going in the next few years?

With such an active development team, anything is possible, but I would expect a big push towards player-generated content going forward. Of course everyone can look forward to new items, new characters, and new courses constantly coming out, but any time you can incorporate the creativity of your players into your game, I think you end up with a game that everyone can feel more connected to. Also, as social as the game is, more community management tools would be a welcome addition.

Are there any other sports you might want to tackle at some point in the future?

With a growing trend for games to be played online collaboratively and competitively, I think there's plenty of interest for a association football game. Given the sport's widespread global appeal, players could form competitive international clubs and battle it out on the virtual field in a season-based league system. Of course, more casual players could enjoy "pickup games" arranged from a lobby of waiting footballers, or practice their skills through a variety of "training" mini games.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

The most important thing to take away from Pangya is that it's not just a game. This is a thriving online community and it can be fairly argued that the social interaction is just as important to the experience as what's played on the course. How you play the game is up to you; we hope to offer a unique and enjoyable experience to everyone, no matter where their preferences or skills may be.