Junghun Kim
Level Designer, Redduck

When we started working on Death Valley, we wanted to create a map that could be enjoyed by both pros and noobs . Because A.V.A is an FPS, individual gamers' skill level has a large impact on who wins and who loses in most match types. For Death Valley, we wanted to create a co-operative mode that recreates the experience of putting in a coin at the arcade machine and being able to just have fun with friends.

To meet that goal, we had to design Death Valley unlike any other map or mode currently available in A.V.A. and lots of additional features of the map had to be created from scratch. It's a big challenge to introduce a totally new dynamic to a game mode because you are always wondering how the users will react to the new features. In the end it was a great learning experience for the development team because it forced us to really dig deeper into what makes a map fun. Personally, I like PvP missions, but I also love co-op gameplay. I tried to remember all of the games that I have really enjoyed playing and thought of ways to incorporate those aspects into A.V.A. In the end, it's all about prioritizing because there were so many great ideas and inspirations.
The Death Valley map has clearly separated zones that require great co-op gameplay and other areas that put more focus on individual skill. Because of this, players will find that they need to follow the leader to clear an area that requires more individual skill, whereas in some other areas, they will need to really work together as a team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

A lot of the action will be focused around the final boss spawn area of each round. Even if you are able to clear other areas relying on your individual skills, you will need to play as a team to beat the bosses. Also, there are areas where you can be killed rather quickly if you're not careful, so it's very important to carefully survey the dangers and risks before proceeding.

To be successful in Death Valley, players will really need to play well as a team. Not to say you need any special advanced skills to play the new map, but it's very important to be mindful of where your teammates are and be ready to give support when needed. Slow down when a team member is left behind. Go give support when a teammate is in danger.

We hope that you enjoy the challenge of Death Valley. We spent a lot of time to create a fresh experience for A.V.A players. This map took more planning and longer development time than any other map or mode we've had so far. We're really excited for this new mode and can't wait to share it with our loyal users. So thank you for always playing A.V.A and have fun!