age-of-reckoning
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Making things massive: worlds we crave
As the holiday season approaches and our favorite videogame genre bulges with new titles, it seems like many of them are intellectual properties (IP) that have been made massive: that is, an IP that somebody, somewhere thought would be cool (or profitable) to turn into an online experience. Past MMOGs based on well-known IPs have had mixed success. Star Wars Galaxies, for instance, converted arguably the world's best known IP into an MMOG but fizzled. The Matrix Online tried to take advantage of a pop-culture phenomenon but that didn't work out either. City of Heroes/Villains cashed in on our love of comic books – not an IP exactly, but close. Lord of the Rings Online has had some success, as well, but not overwhelmingly so. In the near future, Games Workshop's Warhammer IP will be making its MMO debut as Warhammer Online (developed by EA-Mythic), along with Age of Conan (Funcom's ambitious interpretation of Robert E. Howard's barbarous world). Even MMOGs based on other videogames could fit into this 'make-massive' trend: Blizzard Entertainment turned its own real-time strategy Warcraft franchise into an online world, as did Square-Enix with Final Fantasy.That got me thinking: if I had the power to make an MMOG, what would it be? A series of books, or a movie? Personally, I think that Perpetual Entertainment's Star Trek Online has great potential, but that could be due to the fact that I always thought I would look really good in a red and black uniform commanding a starship. Maybe Harry Potter? Though who knows how that one would work. As Matt points out, fans don't always make the best game developers, and it's certainly true that converting a big, complex IP into an MMOG can have its pitfalls. But ideally, in your most secret heart of hearts, which world would you love to see be made massive? Where would your dream MMOG be set?
Waiting for Warhammer Online? Keep waiting
Warhammer Alliance have gotten their hands on the October State of the Game for Warhammer Online, and it contains some news that you may have suspected, but didn't want to believe would come true. Yes, the game has been pushed back, and is now expected in the second quarter of 2008. Okay, so that's really not too bad if we're being honest. If EA Mythic want to take a little extra time to make sure that the game lives up to people's enormous expectations, then that's fine with us. Mark Jacobs, VP and general manager of EA Mythic, said that they could either release the game with fewer than planned features, or push back the release and complete development to their satisfaction.There's also confirmation in the State of the Game that the beta will be reinstated in December, with new content for testers to experience. They are hoping to introduce more people to the test too, so if you haven't signed up yet -- go now!
More details emerge in Warhammer Q & A
Warcry has had a chance to get some more Warhammer Online questions answered from members of the development and community teams. Short of being able to play the blasted thing, we'll take any morsel of information that gets tossed our way.The topics covered in the short Q & A include speed enhancements, crowd control, public quests, item storage and Tactics details. The Server is Down has some commentary on the answers, agreeing with the diminishing returns aspect (after some punishing experiences in Mythic's Dark Age of Camelot no doubt) but lamenting the lack of run-speed buffs. In my own opinion, if it becomes almost a necessity to have a certain buff to be a successful team (like Minstrel's speed song in DAoC) then either make the buff available from a few different classes, or get rid of it. In this case, Mythic has simply given everyone a sprint ability, with a few classes having a slightly more effective version -- all self-only though, from what we know so far.A link to the full Warcry article is below.
Warhammer Online hands-on time at E for All
WanderingGoblin.com has posted their extensive impressions of some time spent with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning whilst at the recent E for All event. Seeing as no one else gets to play Warhammer at the moment, the hands-on may provide a much needed hit for anyone experiencing withdrawal symptoms.The article discusses various aspects of the game. There is a breakdown of some of the standout classes, of which the Warrior Priest sounds quite interesting. It is also noted that the two factions in the game, Destruction and Order (referred to as Chaos and Order in the article), do not simply contain identical classes with different names. This has weighty player-versus-player balance implications, and you can be sure that the game's forums will consist mostly of threads beginning with "___ class is OP!", followed by "It's fine, lrn2play", but it is a bold move nevertheless.Speaking of PvP, it seems that EA Mythic prefers to call it Realm vs Realm or RvR, which hearkens back to Mythic's much earlier MMO Dark Age of Camelot. The article includes a reminder that players will gain leveling experience and loot by killing other players, a concept which should tickle the fancy of anyone fond of PvP. The full article is linked below and contains much more about WanderingGoblin's time with with Warhammer at E for All.
Warhammer maps on Ten Ton Hammer
Seriously, there are so many puns for this one I will just steer clear of them all. Ten Ton Hammer has outdone themselves, publishing a Cartographer's Corner with all the lovely mapage from Warhammer Online that you could ask for, and even some you didn't. The maps themselves seem to be drawn by characters within the game, and give us more than just a sense of the vastness of this landscape. We're shown that this game will definitely have a sense of humor (just check out the sample above to see "wut" I'm talking about.)All told the current number of maps in the corner totals 19, and it looks like they are still expecting a few to fill out their collection. Are they MMO players or what! If you are at all interested in what this world looks like, pop on over to Ten Ton, and tell them Amanda sent you.
Warhammer closed beta going offline until December
If you're lucky enough to be involved in the Warhammer Online closed beta, get ready to not be in it for two months-- TwoTonHammer reports that Mythic is shutting down the reported WoW-killer for an extended period, from October to December.Bad news for WAR fans? Maybe, maybe not. An extended vacation could mean that Mythic isn't happy with what's happening so far (though obviously they haven't given any public indication that that's the case). Or it could mean, as TTH notes, that this is just what the doctor ordered to turn WAR from a good game into a really great game.At any rate, we're not finding out which it is anytime soon-- the servers are reopening in December 2007, and if there is in fact an open beta (there will be, won't there?), it obviously won't happen until after that. More like Waithammer, amirite!?[ via Keen and Graev ]
Rumor: Warhammer online hammers 360
Our seafaring, scurvy ridden, piratical masters at Joystiq are reporting that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR) is heading to consoles -- the Xbox 360 to be specific. According to a recent job posting, EA Mythic is looking for a Warhammer console producer, responsible for leading "production and design on an exciting EAMythic title being developed across next generation console platforms for the online MMORPG market." Of course, it's possible that this job title refers to some other EA Mythic produced Warhammer title, but it's just as likely that the posting refers to WAR. If true, it's nice to see the 360 get some more MMORPG lovin'. Along with Age of Conan, the 360 is developing a solid library of MMOs. Of course, the big question for 360 owners is if and how much these games will cost, especially for those who already pay for Gold Live service. If an MMO was good enough, would you be willing to pay additional fees on top of your Gold subscription?[Via Joystiq]
Warhammer Online updated screens
Games Workshop's Warhammer franchise has provided the setting for multiple PC strategy titles over the past ten years including Shadow of the Horned Rat, Dark Omen, and the recently released Mark of Chaos. Next year, Electronic Arts plans to bring the popular fantasy realm into the MMO market with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Speaking with GameSpot earlier this month, lead designer Steve Marvin said Reckoning will be the "best-looking massively multiplayer RPG out there". See if you agree with him by checking out developer Mythic Entertainment's (Dark Age of Camelot) massive gallery, which was just updated with over a dozen new screen shots.
