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Report: Hollywood interested in doing a Darksiders movie
Apparently Hollywood wouldn't mind tossing Darksiders up on the silver screen, as Vigil's Joe Madureira confirmed to VG247 that THQ's already been contacted for projects outside of the video game realm. "We've gotten some interest from Hollywood, we've talked about doing a comic series," said Madureira. Obviously, a comic wouldn't be much of a stretch for the creative director, given his past experience with the medium. "It's really a THQ thing, but I know they are definitely talking to people and I would be surprised if some of that stuff didn't happen," he added. While we can't really say whether the prospect of either is a good thing at this point -- we're still playing Darksiders for review -- we'll be sure to let you all know either way.
Vigil says no Darksiders DLC, multiplayer nixed 'early on'
For a game based on, well, the end of everything, the fact that Darksiders won't be receiving any DLC isn't exactly a revelation. But it's true -- Vigil Games creative director and famed comic book illustrator behind the game's visual style, Joe Madureira, confirmed in an interview with Eurogamer that DLC and multiplayer weren't part of the developer's plan, nor does it intend to tackle them post-launch. "We were a new team building new tech and a new IP. We had our work cut out for us," Madureira explained when asked about both, adding, "Vigil has a very strong all-or-nothing mentality, and if we're not confident we can pull it off, we're not doing it. So we focused on making the most kick-ass single-player game possible." Not to say that multiplayer was never a possibility -- it was just a short-lived one: "We realized early on that we wouldn't be able to pull off the scope of game we wanted to and have it be multiplayer," he said. Of course, should the game do well, we'll no doubt be seeing the unthinkable: a sequel to the Apocalypse.
Darksiders trailer brings nothing but Ruin
If there's one thing we learned at E3, it's that Ruin, the Hellish steed of Darksiders, is not meant to be ridden by ordinary mortals. While we learned this firsthand, you can be saved the risk of serious bodily harm by simply watching the trailer embedded above. It explains that Ruin is "born of smoke and flame," which really should be the first clue that it's not the horse for you. It is, however, the perfect horse for a horseman of the apocalypse. Watch the trailer for plenty of Ruin, as well as some of the other beasties you'll be riding in Darksiders.
An early look at the Warhammer 40K MMO
We've been hearing about a Warhammer 40k MMO for a very long time, beginning back in March of 2007. We also received some tantalizing general details back in April of 2008 -- It will have an RPG feel, there will be extensive gunplay, and all races important to Warhammer 40k lore will be included. Spring of 2008 continued the information train with several interviews here and there in which Vigil Games offered a few more details and assured fans that development was continuing. After that, all was quiet again until April of this year, when a familiar name popped up on a list of release dates from THQ. Warhammer 40k MMO was given a 2012 release date -- subject to change, of course. Again, all was quiet after that, until now. Yesterday, Kotaku received new concept art for the Warhammer 40k MMO, and while it's not exactly a completed game, it's a step in the right direction. The images include a nice look at character models and weaponry, so follow along after the jump to see for yourself.
Darksiders dev diary contains your daily recommended dose of epicness
There's a lot to absorb in the latest developer diary for THQ's celestial adventure title, Darksiders: Angels fighting demons, demons fighting horsemen of the apocalypse, horsemen fighting angels, giant worm monsters, the Apocalypse and, best of all, a horse that nearly killed Joystiq's own Kevin Kelly. Basically, we're saying that it's going to be tough to top the video you see above at any point today, as we doubt another video will force one of us to flash back to a moment in our lives where we experienced pure mortal terror.
Impressions: Darksiders takes a stab at Portal, Panzer Dragoon
Former X-Men, Battle Chasers and Ultimates artist Joe Madueira and his team at Vigil Games are drawing closer to realizing the celebrated illustrator's dream of making his own video game, Darksiders. We've seen the apocalyptic action-adventure a few times in the past, and its similarities to games such as the 3D Zeldas, God of War and, in some ways, Devil May Cry are still obvious in the latest build.There were some new elements for publisher THQ to show off, though, like War's range of attacks. For instance, the Apocalypse Horseman can throw his cross blade into a source of time-slowing magic energy and have it return, momentarily giving him an advantage over a group of scurrying spider enemies.Undoubtedly, the most interesting new tidbits we saw were obvious tributes to two of gaming's most hallowed franchises: Portal and Panzer Dragoon.%Gallery-77597%
New Darksiders trailer unleashes Mayhem, sore throats
You might become entranced by the grandiose visuals featured in the latest trailer for Darksiders, which we've posted above -- however, don't let your sense of sight get you too distracted from the video's sounds. It might be too soon to say, but it looks like Darksiders could be the most gravelly-voiced video game in the history of the industry. Seriously, even the woman briefly featured in the above trailer makes Solid Snake sound like Dakota Fanning. Check out the trailer, but keep in mind that it comes to us from the mysterious land of Europe, explaining the release date of "08/01/2010" which appears at the end of the video. See, they do dates backwards in that continent. Just like they do democracy.
Darksiders slides release date to Jan. 5, 2010
THQ's Darksiders has shifted its North American release date from New Year's Day to Tuesday, January 5, 2010. The game will ride into Europe and Asia on January 7 and 8, respectively.In preparation for the launch on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Darksiders has revealed a new website. Expect to hear more about the game after the Modern Warfare 2 fallout dissipates a little. We also feel the need to remind you of the key words Darksiders usually evokes: God of War; Legend of Zelda; Evil Horsies.
THQ moving Vigil studios to new office
Along with working on two major current-gen games in Darksiders: Wrath of War and a Warhammer: 40K MMO, THQ-owned Vigil Games is packing up its stuff and moving to a brand new 33,000-square foot studio in another part of Austin, TX. Unsurprisingly, in confirming the move to Kotaku, THQ reiterates its desire to attract new employees as development ramps up on the aforementioned titles.Though the move was likely decided well before UFC 2009 Undisputed hit store shelves -- and quickly went flying right off those same shelves -- the 1.01 million unit sales of the game couldn't hurt the moving situation. Plusher couches at the new offices, perhaps? If it happens, remember: you heard it here first!%Gallery-19839%
Warhammer 40K MMO gets a release date
THQ just unveiled some release dates for their major game titles over the next few years and if you were getting excited for the Warhammer 40k MMO, you might feel a bit deflated after reading this. The above slide shows that WH40K is slated for a 2012 expected release date, which of course is subject to change.We haven't heard much from Vigil Games since May 2008 about this title, but what we know sounds promising so far. The MMO's creative director is none other than comic book artist extraordinaire, Joe Madureira (side bar: my favorite artist of all time). Vigil hopes to stay as true to the tabletop experience as they can while still remaining an MMORPG. Finally, the world's primary weapons will be guns and vehicles may play a large part in combat.While many fans of the Games Workshop miniatures game have found a familiar home in Warhammer Online, many others have complained that Mythic's incarnation of the Warhammer setting is not harsh, gritty, or dark enough. It will be interesting to see if WH40k can capture this or if Vigil will opt for a less mature environment (and rating).
THQ reveals 'Significant Business Realignment'
No, it's not a new game title. It's the real-life struggle of THQ, which made word of internal studio closings and significant layoffs official today, as it reported losses of $115.3 million in its fiscal Q2. In total, five studios will be shuttered and 250 employees released (approximately 17 percent of the publisher's workforce), and the company will reduce its forecasted development spending by $100 million in the fiscal 2010 year. "THQ plans to focus on fewer, higher quality titles, and to align its organization and cost structure accordingly," outlines the quarterly financial report. "We will dominate the fighting category!" added CEO Brian Farrell during today's conference call, plugging upcoming WWE and UFC titles. As for those "higher quality titles," THQ has pushed Volition's Red Faction: Guerrilla into the first quarter of fiscal 2010 (April-June 2009) and Darksiders: Wrath of War into the second quarter (July-September 2009). Also absent in the short term, CFO Colin Slade will be taking an unspecified medical leave of absence. "I'm looking forward to returning to THQ as soon as possible," said Slade before retiring from the call.
Latest Darksiders trailer is artsy, open, adventurous
"There's my steed!" Looks like we'll get to control a god of war War himself and do it with style in Vigil Games' open-world action game, Darksiders: Wrath of War. Considering that Joe "Mad!" Madureira of X-Men and Battle Chasers fame is the developer's creative director, the fact that it's looking smoking hot doesn't surprise us.This new video of Darksiders features Madureira and Vigil's general manager, David Adams, talking about all of the nifty stuff you can see and do thanks to the game's open world nature. It's worth noting that the video is from the upcoming E3 demo of Darksiders, meaning that we'll get our hands on the game's latest milestone later this month to report on all the nitty-gritty (and pretty-pretty) details.%Gallery-26826%
Video: Darksiders developer diary
An open world action-adventure game with some very nice looking graphics? How did we not see this before? Joystiq even wrote a preview, and yet somehow we missed it. Anywho, a new developer diary for DarkSiders has been released and the game is looking pretty nice. As stated above, it's an action adventure game with open areas, slick looking combat, puzzle solving and, of course, character upgrades. In short, it looks hot. The beginning of the video notes that the footage is taken from an E3 demo, so hopefully we'll be getting our hands on it when the show starts later this month.
Vigil Games details Warhammer 40K MMO
While what we know about the game is barely knee-high to a gretchin, PC Gamer magazine recently had the opportunity to speak with a pair of folks behind Vigil Games' upcoming Warhammer 40,000 MMO, specifically general manager David Adams and studio creative director Joe Madureira. Both shed a few details on what we can expect while we wait patiently to kill rats aboard space hulks for the emperor. Says Adams, the game will be "much more intense" and combat-focused than the traditional fantasy MMOs upon which we've cut our teeth, giving us all the more reason to want to trade up our broadsword for a storm bolter. However, the dev notes that the MMO "will be an RPG," adding that "Relic has the RTS angle covered with the awesome Dawn of War series - we are making an RPG." Other interesting tidbits from the article include note that the game will include all of the tabletop game's "important" races, customizable characters, a variety of solo, party-based, and PvP missions, and the possibility of in-game vehicles as well. We can't wait to see how the tabletop war game makes the leap to MMO, but as it stands, in the grim darkness of the far future ... there is only waiting.[Via Massively]
Warhammer 40k MMO info update
The folks at PC Gamer (US) had the chance to sit down with Vigil Games' General Manager David Adams and Studio Creative Director Joe Madureira for a chat about their in-development MMO. The title is a little IP called Warhammer 40k, the gritty guns-and-gremlins sibling to Warhammer Online and the Warhammer fantasy RPG. The Vigil developers offer up a far-distant preview of what they're hoping to offer in 40k once the dust settles. From the sounds of things, the 40k approach to the Warhammer world will be a lot closer to the 'mass combat' style of gameplay we see in the miniatures game.That said, the developers also made it clear that this is going to be a roleplaying game. As they put it, "Relic has the RTS angle covered with the awesome Dawn of War series - we are making an RPG." An RPG, but with a number of twists: guns will be the primary form of combat, incredibly customizable characters, no forced grouping, and the possibility of vehicles playing an important role in the gameworld. So far Vigil is saying all the right things, offering up hope that they're going to polish until they get it right: "We want each and every race to have weight in the game world, and feel distinct. We won't include a race if we can't do them justice." Let's hope that attitude sees them through the long process of bringing an MMO to market.
PC Gamer's Warhammer 40k interview
While many people are eagerly awaiting the release of Warhammer Online, there's another MMO in development with same initial name: Warhammer 40,000 Online. Although the initial difference between the two is obvious -- one's a fantasy RTS, the other is a science fiction RPG -- a recent interview with Vigil Games' General Manager David Adams and Studio Creative Director Joe Madureira offers up more juicy details.Topics covered in the interview include customization options, available classes and NPCs, and how the existing Warhammer 40k universe will be introduced to gamers who may not have ever played the tabletop version. While there are still no beta or release dates on offer, development continues apace. We'll have more on this title as news emerges.
Top 10 MIA MMOs of 2007 - part 1
In the waning weeks of December, we've already started turning our eyes towards the new year. 2008 is already showing a great deal of promise for the MMO community, with the impending release of Pirates of the Burning Sea, Wrath of the Lich King, Age of Conan, and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Though most of these titles are still a good ways away from hitting retailer shelves, we've already got a pretty good idea of what's in store, not just in terms of assets and information that's already been released, but also from hands-on impressions and beta testing. In other words, as excited as we are, there probably won't be terribly many surprises as it concerns these titles. They're practically a given.As luck would have it, those aren't the only titles we'll be drooling over next year – this much we know. There are a number of games in development out there that have shown up on our collective radar screens over the past few months, but only as tiny blips. For the most part, they still represent riddles wrapped up in mysteries with a side of question mark. We've assembled a list of the top 10 MIA MMOs - those mysterious games that represent the future of the MMO... if only we knew what they were.In the first part of this feature, we'll take a look at the first half of the list.
