We got an exclusive interview with Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos to talk about what goes into creating The Secret World's mysterious setting and locations.

ZAM: You spoke of "flow" being the process by which players are guided through a location. What is, in your mind, a good balance in flow? Should players have equal amounts of hand holding and freeform exploring, or are you leaning toward a more structured experience with a few opportunities to explore?

Joel: If the average player is anything like I am, it depends on the day of the week! Sometimes you want to wander an open world à la Oblivion and sometimes you want to complete something, like a level in a first person shooter.

With that in mind we try to offer something for everyone in The Secret World. There are mechanics which encourage people to look in every corner of the map (not allowed to talk about them yet, sorry!). There are missions which give a definite structure to how you approach an area. 

I've mentioned it before, but I think it is one of the great advantages of a level-free MMO. In games with a massive focus on the rush to endgame, you create a sense of optimal path. And even if it is not your preferred playstyle, you are forced to play that way to compete. Thus flow becomes whatever the optimal path is. The Secret World is really about making sure that the pressure is off. We don't want players to feel like they lose something by playing their own way. 

ZAM: This month you've revealed four new locations: Atlantic Island Park, Innsmouth Academy, the Accursed Woods and Kingsmouth Lighthouse. All three locations are fictional, but their geographical locations are real enough. Do you prefer creating fictional locations like Innsmouth Academy, which gives you a lot of creative freedom, or do you prefer taking iconic locations, like the city of New York, and wondering "how can I use this setting?"

Joel: Tough one to answer, honestly. The location design is similar, but approached from different ends of the spectrum. Innsmouth Academy is fictional, yes, but it could be as real as any Ivy League school. It is eerily similar to real world locations.

And then New York is a real-world location, but with extensive fictional additions. The Labyrinth is something special to behold while the streets above are rather…normal. And it is the contrast that really roots both of these places in The Secret World.

ZAM: To follow up on that, how much of TSW would you say is made of appropriating existing structures and locations, versus how much is being created from scratch?

Joel: It'd be difficult to put a number to. Because, as I mentioned above, even when something is "fictional" it might be based off something very similar in the real world. I can't honestly even guess.

ZAM: Are there any areas that you were really excited to develop? What about areas that have not yet been developed, but you would like to take a look at?

Joel: I really enjoy working with the cities. Nothing conveys the modern setting more than walking around a London that is really familiar and yet completely bizarre. And of course the locations that involve time travel. Those are pretty awesome. As for future locations - I know quite a bit of what is planned but I can't talk about it!

ZAM: And that's it for now! Thanks again, and we're all looking forward to what exciting new locations you'll be revealing next!

Joel: Thanks for listening to me ramble on guys.

Christopher "Pwyff' Tom, Senior Staff Writer