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THQ confirms co-op for Space Marine, but may be DLC
We've seen Warhammer 40k: Space Marine a few times now, but the one mode we still haven't heard about is a possible co-op mode. That feature appears to have been outed, however, in a Gamestop promotion that appeared last week. Promised in a pre-order bonus, among a few other things, is a "5-player co-op: Bonus FREE game mode (Day 30 DLC)." The problem is, the game's fanbase isn't quite sure how to take that – does that mean you get co-op only as a DLC mode that's paid for everyone but Gamestop pre-orders, or is it free for everyone? "8 vs 8 online MP" is also listed on the card, and we already know that's included on the game disc. A community manager on the game's official forums posted over the weekend in what appeared to be an attempt to clarify things that the co-op mode had indeed been delayed by 30 days post-launch, but that it would be free to those who purchased the game "brand new." That suggests an online pass-style setup, not a new trick for THQ. But that forum post was itself deleted (cache here), suggesting that it too wasn't the real story. So we went to ask THQ ourselves, and the official word from the company to Joystiq is this: "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine will have co-op. We are looking forward to announcing more details later this month!" There you go. Co-op confirmed. As to how it will be implemented, we'll all have to wait and find out.
Space Marine multiplayer classes trailer takes us to school
The Ork menace requires a cunning, knowledgeable Space Marine. Best you study up on those kill tactics, grunt! Within this communication from the emperor himself, you'll find information on classes and battle strategies essential to any Marine in the field.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine trailer is properly overdramatic
Brothers, the time is almost upon us to die in service of the God-Emperor. Heresy will not be tolerated! Equip extra Space Marine provisions by playing Warhammer 40K: Kill Team and prepare to purge the xenos from the Imperium.
Comic-Con video extravaganza continues with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
Despite being classified as a comic book convention, Comic-Con continues to hemorrhage gaming news, the latest interesting tidbit being this Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine gameplay video. Speaking with Gamespot, THQ's Daniel Isaac outlines how Captain Titus' jump-pack and Thunder Hammer will allow players to effortlessly murder tens of thousands of severely out-classed and under-prepared orcs. Isaac also details the title's class-based multiplayer, which we previewed last week, as well as Space Marine's one-billion possible armor customizations.
Warhammer 40K Space Marine multiplayer preview: Class warfare
We've seen THQ's Warhammer 40K: Space Marine a few times now, and it's shaping up pretty well as a sort of "Gears of Warhammer 40K." The Space Marines are a huge part of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K lore, and Relic Games has placed them into a third-person shooter, skillfully combining run-and-gun and melee combat with lots and lots of Ork killing. Last week, THQ finally showed off the game's multiplayer at an event in Santa Monica, and what we got to see there was an interesting, if a little shallow, class-based shooter. It features some really careful class balancing, and an armor customization system, fittingly called "The Customizer," that should make even the most ardent of Warhammer 40K fans happy. %Gallery-128623%
THQ CEO: Next-gen is 'less about technology and more about service'
"We believe Apple is going to be there, Google is going to be there," THQ head honcho Brian Farrell told an audience at today's GamesBeat conference in San Francisco. He isn't talking about this weekend's killer tech company pool party (you should come!); instead, he's talking about the next generation of game consoles. "Our view is that the next generation of consoles, if there are consoles, are going to be less about technology and more about service orientation of the gamer." Take that, technology! Apple and Google are already changing the video gaming landscape and their Apple TV and Google TV platforms have the potential to be even bigger game-changers. Though as bullish as he is on Apple and Google's mobile offerings, Farrell still sees a future for the PlayStation Vita and 3DS. "The dedicated handheld market is going to find an audience, but it isn't going to be as broad because of the competition from other operating systems. What the market is telling us, is consumers want a very quickly consumable mobile experience; it doesn't necessarily have to be deep." While THQ is still intent on making expensive plays in the AAA console gaming space, like September's Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and November's Saint's Row The Third, it's also working on "better bite-size games," according to GamesBeat, "rather than massive titles with awesome graphics on hand-held consoles like Sony's PlayStation Vita or the Nintendo 3DS." With EA plunking down some serious cash for PopCap, one of iOS's top-earning developers, we're seeing more publishers focus on the new mobile space. Now the question is whether or not gamers have enough time and money to support that many competing mobile platforms. Sorry, Panasonic Jungle.
'Warhammer 40K: Kill Team' rated in Australia
Above: Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II We haven't even made the acquaintance of the beefy battlers in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine yet and our friends in Australia are already getting a peek at the franchise's future. The Australian Classification Board just awarded a release called Warhammer 40K: Kill Team with an "M", presumably since it features a team that kills things. According to the 40K wiki, a kill-team is "a small group of Space Marines, usually no less than five Astartes but no more than a reinforced squad in size, that are tasked with carrying out a specific objective, such as the destruction of a particularly dangerous or strategically important individual, hence the name." The title's being developed by THQ Digital Studios UK, the same house behind Red Faction: Battlegrounds, which leads us to believe we're talking about some sort of downloadable title. We were about to say it also leads us to believe it won't be very good, but who knows? Maybe the studio was working so hard on Kill Team that it forgot to make Battlegrounds good? Today is a holiday after all, the least we can do is to be generous.
Become a space wolf with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine's pre-order bonuses
Though it's possible you've been offered the opportunity to dress like a space wolf at some other point today, we were quite excited to be extended such a chance by the newly announced pre-order bonuses for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. Folks pre-ordering the forthcoming third-person space shooter at GameStop will get the hilariously named armor, as well as the "black templar chapter armor." A variety of other bonuses are available from several other retailers, detailed below the break. Additionally, a "limited run" of the collector's edition seen above will be offered at retailers, going for $79.99 on PC and $89.99 on 360/PS3. Beyond the faux "Purity Seal" and artbook, Space Marine's collector's edition comes bundled in a box (shaped like an old book!) with the soundtrack, a pack of "character information cards" and the game itself. Additionally, among the other ways you can currently get Darksiders for free, PC pre-orders at most retailers -- except THQ's own store, it seems -- will snag a copy of that alongside Space Marine.
OnLive's Space Marine pre-order includes free MicroConsole and Darksiders
Yet again, OnLive and THQ have hooked up to give you a free MicroConsole. And, as avowed free stuff enthusiasts, we greet the mental image of a mighty mountain of MicroConsoles approvingly. The latest offer is for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. If you pre-order the "Full PlayPass" of the streaming game between now and August 22, you'll get a free MicroConsole -- or, if (as is becoming ever more likely) you already have one, you can choose a free game instead (by pre-ordering by May 31). You'll also get $5 off the regular $50 price, and a free copy of Darksiders. We're sure any OnLive execs you meet would also personally hug you, though that bonus isn't explicitly documented.
Space Marine combat system vid goes into blood frenzy
Make no mistake, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine is all about a man's quest to turn his enemies into a bloody puree (and his name ain't even Kratos). If our recent preview didn't impress this fact upon you, check out this new, most violent video.
THQ extends Warhammer 40K licensing deal
THQ and Games Workshop are happy with the sweet war they're making together and have agreed to extend their Warhammer 40,000 license agreement. The "multi-year" extension gives THQ exclusive rights to publish games based on the franchise for all platforms and demographics (core, social and mobile). THQ reiterated that it's currently working on two new IPs based in the futuristic fantasy universe: Warhammer 40K: Space Marine, a third-person shooter, is expected "later this year" (Note: the company previously stated "August"); and then there's the MMO, Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium, which is expected ... sometime in the future. We hope it won't become a contemporary piece for the year 40,000. We've followed up with THQ for a more detailed definition of "multi-year." We figure it's longer than a year but shorter than the amount of time one can safely store an Ork's head in a breadbox.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine preview: Into the fray
Imagine yourself as seven-foot-tall monstrosity of a human being (it helps if you already are one), locked inside an even larger but metallic walking monstrosity. Next, imagine you're sprinting toward a large group of Orks -- you put your shoulders down and plow through the group, turning the smaller beasts into a bloody puree and scattering the larger beasts in every direction, all in spectacular slow-motion. Now you've got an idea of what my time with Warhammer 40K: Space Marine was like. %Gallery-121626%
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine dev diary brings the greenskins
Orcs and goblins, man. It seems like no matter where (or when) you are, they always seem to crop up, ready to barbarically dismantle the human race. Check out the grim objectives and brutal methods of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine's emerald-tinted foes in the dev diary posted after the jump.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine storms retail in August
Previously planned for a vague summer release, THQ has announced that Warhammer 40K: Space Marine will land on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this August. To accompany the news, a fresh batch of screenshots have been released as well. Our best efforts, however, have been unable to spot even one giant shoulder pad. All we're left with is some shots of Chaos and Renegade units. Despite their lack of padding, we suppose you can still check them out. If you can bear the sight of all the cold, unpadded shoulders, that is. %Gallery-119619%
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine still exists, still looks the same
Look, THQ, we understand that you want folks to know that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is still in development. Releasing new screens like you did today is a good idea, but they look just like the ones from our preview in August. How about some shots of the Space Marine in, say, a snow level?
Red Faction: Armageddon coming May 2011; new Saints Row next fall
THQ today published a "core games" release calendar, highlighted by the revised May 2011 date given for Red Faction: Armageddon, which pushes it out of a crowded first quarter -- but just a few months beyond the initially proposed date. The calendar spans the publisher's fiscal 2012 (April 2011 – March 2012) and also includes a Spring 2011 release window for MX vs. ATV Alive, followed by the planned summertime launch of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. A new Saints Row game (or games?) and a WWE iteration are expected next fall. Additionally, an upcoming UFC title has been slated for Winter 2012 (January–March 2012). Of course, all dates are "subject to change," THQ notes.
Preview: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Even at this early point in the game's production, it's probably already clichéd to refer to Relic Entertainment's Warhammer 40,0000: Space Marine as "Gears of Warhammer," but man is it an apt description. Despite its innovative RTS roots (working on the acclaimed Homeworld and Dawn of War series), Relic is diving headfirst into the third-person shooter genre, and all of the conventions are here: Gruff-voiced space marines (literally), big shoulder armor, big guns, huge explosions and production values, and there's even a gosh-darn exploding train. I got to see the game in action for the first time this week at THQ's headquarters in Agoura, California, and while the influences from other shooters are very clear, Relic producer Raphael Van Lierop wants you to know that Space Marine is Relic's big opportunity to step outside the genre they've become known for. "It's about putting our foot down and making a statement," he said. "And saying we're not just really great developers of RTS games, we're great developers of entertainment."%Gallery-99237%
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine also storming PCs next year
A THQ press release has announced that upcoming third-person shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, formerly slated to land only on the PS3 and 360, will also arrive on the PC when the game launches early next year. We'd worry about PC gamers getting this particular installment in the franchise confused with all the other Warhammer titles currently available on their platform. However, considering this one has you mowing down wave after wave of orcs using novelty-sized guns and swords, rather than ... doing strategy game stuff, we don't think you guys will have any problem seeing the distinction.
Warhammer 40K Space Marine baptizes with bullets, 'still a ways out'
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine may have the most generic title this side of the Imperium, but after popping up on our galactic monitoring devices almost two years ago in a leaked video, we've been eager to discover more about it. During E3 we spoke with Morten Haugaard, global brand manager of all things 40K at THQ, who told us that the game had come a long way at Relic since that original leak -- back then, it was a with a different developer. While noting that Space Marine was "still a ways out," Haugaard said that the development team includes Gears and God of War alum. Aha! That might explain why the game appears to be a hybrid of those visceral (lower case "v") franchises. See if you agree after watching the Space Marine trailer after the break. %Gallery-95781%
Darksiders, Saint's Row sequels from THQ in fiscal 2012
THQ's Brian Farrell has revealed on today's investor conference call that the company is planning to revisit some of its most successful franchises as far away as the fiscal year of 2012 (which would be sometime after March 2011), including this year's bestseller Darksiders, and the popular Saint's Row franchise. Farrell says the company is looking to fiscal 2012 for "accelerated growth with three major core game titles scheduled: Warhammer 40k Space Marine, a sequel to Darksiders and the third generation of our popular Saint's Row franchise." Given that these are more than a year away, we don't have any more information besides the fact that they're planned for release (Who will Darksiders ape next? Will Saint's Row finally solve all of those bugs?). But news of sequels for both games will be welcomed by their respective fans.
