Warhammer-40K
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Richardsson replacing Caron atop 40K Eternal Crusade
Behaviour Interactive's Miguel Caron is leaving his post atop the Warhammer 40,000 Eternal Crusade dev team. MMOGames reports that Nathan Richardsson, familiar to MMO gamers from his stints on Defiance and as an executive producer for EVE Online, is succeeding Caron. War40k moderator Vigilia Mortis posted his farewell to Caron on Twitter yesterday, telling fans that the switch will be final around Valentine's day.
Warhammer 40K RTS Battlefleet Gothic: Armada announced
Tindalos Interactive is developing Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, a real-time strategy adaptation of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K tabletop series. Publisher Focus Home Interactive's announcement explains that Armada will focus on the Imperial Navy's Battlefleet Gothic and its attempts to spare the galaxy from awful things, spread courtesy of the Chaos Black Crusade of Abaddon the Despoiler. Players will command fleets comprised of ships from Imperial, Chaos, Eldar and Ork forces. Leaders can also customize the weaponry, defense and support sub-systems of ships within their fleet, altering their performance and battle-specific special abilities. Experience and promotions will also be awarded to ships as they survive bouts of war. Armada isn't Tindalos Interactive's first crack at the RTS genre; the studio shared a glimpse of its futuristic, fight-over-precious-resources RTS Etherium early last year. We're still waiting to see how that turns out though – Etherium is currently scheduled to launch its assault on PC sometime in 2015. [Image: Focus Home Interactive]
Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2015
As I've done for 2013 and 2014, I'm going to use the turn of the year as an excuse to look ahead at what MMO releases we may have to look forward to enjoying in the next 12 months. As always, it's a mixture of research, guesswork, and weeks of anguished ranking to come up with 10 titles that I think will define the new year. After the huge launch year we had in 2014, 2015 will most definitely be a smaller year for big-name releases. That doesn't mean it will be a complete write-off, but perhaps it will challenge us to look beyond the heavy hitters to find more diamonds in the rough. A couple of notes before we launch into the list, if you please! First of all, I limited this list to MMOs that at least have a shot of launching in 2015; games that are popular but are definitely not going to make it this year had to be excluded. Second, I am expanding the "honorable mentions" section this year to include more upcoming MMOs and my brief thoughts on them. So you are really getting 50 games for the effort of reading 10! You are welcome.
Space Hulk: Deathwing coming to PS4 in 2015
Streum On Studio revealed that its interstellar first-person shooter Space Hulk: Deathwing will arrive on the PlayStation 4 next year. Based in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Space Hulk: Deathwing charges players with raiding derelict spaceships and fending off the deadly alien creatures that infest their cramped corridors. Developer Full Control produced a strategy-oriented take on the Space Hulk franchise last year for PC and mobile platforms, though Streum On's adaptation instead focuses on frantically paced combat. A specific release date has not been announced. [Video: Streum On Studio]
Space Hulk: Deathwing screenshots make ugly look good
Developer StreumOn Studio has released the first screenshots from its upcoming Unreal Engine 4-powered shooter Space Hulk: Deathwing, and they're as delightfully grim as fans of the Warhammer 40K setting would hope. In this corner, we see a group of Space Marines, decked out in the finest armaments the future can imagine in preparation for a journey into the bombed out hull of a gigantic, derelict spacecraft (the titular Space Hulk). In the opposite corner, we see the Genestealers, a ravenous horde of alien beasts that exist purely to tear the aforementioned Space Marines into tiny, quivering bits. Think of this whole scenario as Aliens with even more hyper-masculinity and you've got the general idea. Though StreumOn is willing to share this handful of screenshots, that's all the developer is saying. The studio has yet to determine a release window for Space Hulk: Deathwing, nor has it determined which platforms the first-person shooter will eventually call home. [Image: Focus Home Interactive]
WAR40K's Miguel Caron on lore, immersion, and cloud computing
Miguel Caron is a passionate man. The former Funcom Canada CEO has moved on from The Secret World to lead the team developing Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade, and he's not shy about showing the world what's happening behind the scenes. In fact, he recently showed off an impromptu video of a fan playing the pre-alpha build at Chicago's Comic & Entertainment Expo. Total transparency was the theme of our two-hour-long Skype chat this week as the Behavior Interactive studio head talked to me about everything from pleasing 40K lore fanatics to avoiding the "public quest curse" that plagued the original Warhammer Online MMO.
Warhammer 40,000: Carnage brings the Rage to iOS
In Warhammer 40,000: Carnage, you're a lone Space Marine tasked with eliminating the disease Rage from the planet Mithra. It's a sidescroller set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and it's out now on iOS for $7. It's coming to Android soon.
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Warhammer 40k: Storm of Vengeance launches on April 3, DLC detailed
After spending a month in the lanes of Early Access, Warhammer 40k: Storm of Vengeance is lining up on iOS and PC users' Steam for an April 3 launch. Details for initial DLC packs have also been shared, outlining three additional unit types for developer Eutechnyx's lane defender. The Ork Stormboy will supply aerial support, made possible by the "rokkit" strapped to its back. The Deathwing Terminator and the Dark Angel Dreadnought will also be available, the latter of which will contribute a "serious extra punch to the Dark Angels arsenal," according to a press release. Ork Clan Skins are also coming, expanding the Oak Warboss' selection of clans to include the Bad Moons and Death Skulls. Each unit will be available at launch for both the iOS and PC versions, but prices have not been offered. [Image: Eutechnyx]
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Warhammer 40K: Storm of Vengeance beta rages on Steam
The PC beta for Warhammer 40k: Storm of Vengeance launched on Steam this week for $9.99, translating the Warhammer universe into a game of defending lanes. Aside from serving as a chance to play the game early, purchasing the Storm of Vengeance beta works as an early purchase of the final build once it's finished. Storm of Vengeance involves a disagreement between Grand Master Belial and Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Tharka on the planet Piscina IV. Players can guide either character's army through its respective group of 50 missions, progressing through a skill tree as they earn victories. As with any beta, the listing reminds us that this isn't representative of the final Storm of Vengeance build, and developer Eutechnyx is welcoming feedback on the game's forum. If you'd rather play this on the go, iOS and Android versions are planned for the first quarter of this year, which the Steam listing notes will be compatible with cross-platform multiplayer against PC players. [Image: Eutechnyx]
Warhammer 40,000 MOBA coming early next year
Still waiting for Warhammer 40,000 to break into the MMO space? Well, how about a MOBA instead? European developer Eutechnyx is hard at work on Storm of Vengeance for an early 2014 release. Storm of Vengeance pits the Dark Angel Space Marines against Orks in classic lane strategy. It looks to be based on the Games Workshop campaign of the same name. The MOBA will be coming to both PC and mobile platforms. Eutechnyx is a UK developer with a history of mostly creating racing games such as Auto Club Revolution and NASCAR The Game 2011.
Free for All: MMORPGs for your new console
Consoles and MMOs do not have the stand-offish relationship that they used to have. In fact, there are so many different MMOs to choose from on consoles that it's seriously tempting to pick up one of the new ones -- the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 -- even though I wasn't planning on it for a long, long time. I enjoy using a controller with MMOs so much that I plan on covering the subject more in the future. So let's get to the list of MMOs that are currently on consoles or that will be coming out on consoles in the near(ish) future. Massively's own Mike Foster put together a fantastic list last summer, but I thought I would update and pass it on. After all, the new consoles are officially here... so be sure to reference the list when you need a new MMO to play on your shiny new console!
Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf is card-based, free-to-play
Following the fan-favored trend of turning established series into social-oriented card games, Games Workshop has lent the Warhammer license to mobile developer HeroCraft for Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf. The free-to-play adaption of the Warhammer series will incorporate cards as a means to advance through turn-based, grid-oriented battles. Example cards included with the press release depict equippable weapons and cards necessary for the movement of units. Winning battles is rewarded with "new weapons, bonuses and tactic cards." Space Wolf's campaign will include branching storylines and focus on battling the Word Bearers and stopping the awakened mechanical Necron race. Players will pick a unit from the Grey Hunter, Wolf Scout, Blood Claw, or Wolf Guard classes depending on their preferred style and tactics. Space Wolf is planned to draw its launch card sometime in 2014 on iOS, Android and PC. Update: The article originally stated that the Word Bearers served the Necron race. It has since been corrected to resemble reality.
Coming soon to a console near you: MMOs
Remember E3 2013? That huge video games conference thing from earlier in the summer? Weeks have passed since Microsoft and Sony squared off in the Los Angeles convention center (while Nintendo posted up at Best Buy and Ouya sulked in the parking lot), but the news made there continues to reverberate through the games industry. One curious trend seems to have been missed amid the clashing of proverbial titans: There sure are a lot of MMOs and online-focused games due on consoles this generation. And since MMOs are the business of Massively, we thought it might be fun to compile a quick list of all the ones we can find that are either already available on our current consoles or set for launch on the next batch. The list, as it turns out, is pretty extensive.
E3 2013: Behaviour announces Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade
"In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war." These are the ominous words that greet visitors of the brand-new website for Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade. The game, announced today and in development at Behaviour Interactive (with the support of Games Workshop, of course), is a third-person action MMORPG set in a persistent world. Details are scant as the title's unveiling has just begun, currently sitting at phase one of nine. The only clear information available on the official site is a targeted release window of late 2015. We'll have more for you tomorrow after we sit down with Behaviour's head of online games, Miguel Caron, at E3, but for now, here's the press release blurby: Montreal, 10th June, 2013 – Behaviour Interactive and Games Workshop® proudly announce a new online game in the Warhammer® 40,000® universe: Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade. Behaviour Interactive has obtained the rights to create a wholly new MMORPG persistent war experience for PC, PS4 and Xbox One set in Games Workshop's universe of the 41st Millennium. In the game, players choose a Warhammer 40,000® race and fight directly as one of their warriors in massive conflicts for territory. It will be up to each faction's community to determine their own destiny as they vie for control of an entire planet. Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 10-13, bringing you all the best news from E3 2013. We're covering everything from WildStar and Elder Scrolls Online and ArcheAge to FFXIV's inbound revamp and TERA's latest update, so stay tuned!
Hordebloods miniatures customizer has WoW in his blood
When we first spotted the evocative Hordeblood series of custom miniatures by Dave from Wargaming Tradecraft (thanks, Joe!), we were suitably impressed. And then we wandered into the wilderness of Dave's seemingly endless how-to resources for miniatures hobbyists. And then we heard about Headshots from the Heart, his online gaming charity event benefiting Child's Play. And then I was like, "Heeey, wait a minute. So who is this Dave guy? And how come he does so much cool stuff?"
Warhammer 40K Armageddon gets details, coming in 2014
There are a couple of Warhammer-related titles on their way to iOS soon, but this is the most interesting yet. Developer Slitherine has revealed that it's working on a title called Warhammer 40K: Armageddon, a turn-based, hex-tiled strategy game coming to PC and iOS next year. The game will set Space Marines against Orks across 35 different scenarios, and feature over 100 units with upgradeable stats and attributes, along with a modding system and a separate set of maps balanced out for multiplayer. Armageddon joins a number of other Warhammer games in progress, including Warhammer Quest and the upcoming Space Hulk adaptation. This is an extremely popular game franchise, and iOS is quickly becoming the home of choice for its games. Unfortunately, we won't get to see Armageddon in action until next year at least, but we'll look forward to seeing it then. Show full PR text Armageddon™ invasion starts in 2014 Warhammer® 40,000® turn-based strategy videogame details are disclosed Slitherine and Games Workshop® are pleased to announce Warhammer® 40,000®: Armageddon™. Having announced an exciting partnership with Games Workshop a few weeks ago, Slitherine are delighted to release further details. Slitherine have acquired the exclusive rights to Games Workshop's "Battle for Armageddon" setting in order to create a series of amazing multiplatform, turn-based, hex-based games. Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon will make full use of Slitherine's expertise in creating compelling and challenging strategy gaming experiences. The initial game is set during the Second War of Armageddon and players will lead the Imperial forces of the Armageddon Steel Legion and Space Marines® from the Ultramarines, Blood Angels and Salamanders Chapters against Ghazghkull Thraka's massive Ork Waaagh! invasion through over 30 scenarios, on the hostile terrain of the planet and its gigantic Hive Cities. "It is very exciting to see a game like this come alive - I just can't wait to play it!", said Iain McNeil, Development Director of the Slitherine Group. "It's been almost 15 years since a turn-based strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe has been released and we think it is now time to deliver that experience to all fans around the world". "The Battle for Armageddon is a classic event in the lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, having been detailed in games, models and novels over the past 20 years." said Jon Gillard, Head of Licensing at Games Workshop. "Slitherine's masterful use of their classic digital wargame style applied to this seminal setting will delight fans of both." The game is currently in development for PC and iOS and will release in the first quarter of 2014. Main features of the game include: The game portrays the Second War for Armageddon™ in great detail, from the initial Ork landings to the final liberation of the planet; It contains a large branching campaign with 30 major scenarios, plus additional 5 tutorial scenarios that explore the story in detail; A complex plot, which can develop during a mission, right in the middle of battle, creating an engaging story line with unexpected twists; Players lead Imperial troops of the Armageddon™ Steel Legion, with supporting assets from a number of Space Marine chapters against the ferocious Orks; Fight alongside Commissar Yarrik and Commander Dante against the cunning Ork Warboss Ghazghkull Thraka; Carry over battle-hardened veterans from scenario to scenario, using their experience and upgrading their equipment; Detailed combat model with terrain, weather and morale effects; Extensive modding options delivered through a powerful and easy-to-use game editor. Some numbers: Over 35 scenarios; Over 100 unit types, with unique roles, stats and special abilities; 20 different units stats; A separate set of maps are designed and balanced specifically for multiplayer via Slitherine's PBEM++ system.
GDC 2013: Space Hulk lurches towards release
Since I'm a huge Warhammer 40k fan, I was very excited to hear that a company named Full Control is planning to port the old Space Hulk board game to iOS, and I was even more excited to find the game up and running on the floor of GDC last week in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Full Control's game has quite a bit of development yet to go. It's definitely working, and the team is moving towards an iOS-playable version of the famous Warhammer board game. But the animations and the balance both need a lot of work yet before the title is set to arrive this fall. If you've never played Space Hulk, it's essentially a very condensed, close-quarters battle simulation set in the Warhammer 40k universe. You play as a crew of Space Marines (big, hulking soldiers equipped with heavy armor) aboard a giant ship, with monstrous creatures called genestealers in between you and certain objectives. Turn by turn, you move your Space Marines tactically down crowded corridors, trying to break through the genestealer lines in a series of scenarios. I saw the game played on a PC, though Full Control says it's hoping to release on PC, Mac and iPad all at the same time, and it's even trying to get an iPhone version done, though the game's controls aren't really viable at the moment for a screen that small. It definitely looked cramped and dingy, which is what you want in a game like this, though lots of the graphical elements weren't done, including the animation of the Space Marines moving around. The team may have a bit of an issue getting the graphics running on the iPad, too: Full Control's rep said a lot of the dynamic lighting might have to be removed to run the game on the tablet. The other major issue with Space Hulk right now is that the game is hard. Really hard. Obviously, a tactical board game shouldn't be a walk in the park, but even in the short demo I saw, the developer got rushed by genestealers very quickly, and only by luck was able to take one or two of them down. His whole party was soon overwhelmed as the Space Marines moved across the grid-based board trying to shore up the lines, and we lost on the very first level. Obviously, the game is a long way out from release, and the team has plenty of time to streamline the title down a bit to make sure that new players can at least figure things out. But Space Hulk looks like a relatively faithful version of the old board game, and Warhammer 40k enthusiasts will undoubtedly be happy to hear the Marines call each other "brother" and stomp around the dark spaceship's hallways. We'll look for a more refined version of the title later on this year.
Warhammer 40K marching to smartphones and tablets
Games Workshop has licensed its Warhammer 40K property to Roadhouse Interactive, a Vancouver-based mobile studio aiming to create a new game for smartphones and tablets. Described as a side-scrolling action game where one space marine takes on hordes of enemies, Roadhouse Interactive's Warhammer 40K game is currently in development for unknown platforms, though we're assured more information will be released in the coming months.Warhammer 40K initially started as a tabletop war game created by UK outfit Games Workshop, set far in the future of an alternate universe inhabited by multiple factions: the militaristic Imperium of Man, the savage Orks, the elf-like Eldar and the Daemons, a malignant race of spiritual beings. Warhammer 40K is no stranger to video game tie-ins, our last taste being Relic Entertainment's Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. [Image is screenshot from Warhammer 40K: Space Marine]
Report: Sega purchases Relic during THQ auction
Update: A letter from THQ CEO Brian Farrell and president Jason Rubin to their employees appears to corroborate the below information, as well as provide further details regarding the results of the auction. Sega may be the proud new owner of Relic Entertainment, based on initial signs coming out of this week's THQ asset auction. Relic developer Kyle Berndt has tweeted that he is now a Sega employee, indicating that the company may have been purchased by Sega during the auction proceedings.No official announcements have been made regarding the fates of THQ's various studios and their respective intellectual property, but we're keeping our collective ears to the ground as more news continues to trickle down.
Steam Holiday Sale Day 3: DOTA 2, Dungeon Defenders, Dead Island and more
Ah, the steady march of time. Just as the electronic transition frequency of an atom can be used to measure the passage of time, so too can the frequency with which money is electronically transitioned out of bank accounts during Valve's Steam Holiday Sale.Today's offerings, which last for the next 45 hours or so, include Dead Island for $6.79, Dungeon Defenders for $3.74, the DOTA 2 Early Access Pack for $15, Train Simulator 2013 for $13.74, 50 to 75 percent off Blood Bowl games and a massive Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War franchise collection for $10.Unfortunately, RailDriver's insane Desktop Train Cab Controller is not on sale, but take it from us, dressing the part goes a long way in creating the illusion of realism. Especially when you're simulating trains on public transit.
