PVP:Yes | Distribution:Download,Retail | Retail Price:$39.99 | Pay Type:Subscription
Desktop Client | System Req:
| ESRB:T
GDC: Games Workshop Interview
News Editor Garrett Fuller caught up with Erik Mogensen and Jon Gillard from Games Workshop to talk about EA Mythic's Warhammer Online as well as the newly announced Warhammer 40K MMORPG.
At GDC this week MMORPG.com was able to spend some time talking with Erik Mogensen and Jon Gillard from Games Workshop. For those who do not know, Games Workshop has been around since the early 1980s. They have developed both RPG and table-top war games over the last twenty five years and remain one of the top companies in gaming. Both Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 (40k) have become very popular games on the table top platform and continue to make their way into the video game market. EA Mythic is currently working on the Warhammer Fantasy MMORPG and just last week, THQ had extended their contract with Games Workshop to include a Warhammer 40K MMO as well. With both of these licenses coming to the MMO market, Erik and Jon definitely have a busy schedule ahead of them. As Jon and Erik have pointed out, Games Workshop certainly has the fan expectations in mind as these games are developed.
;)
When talking about the Warhammer 40K MMO that is being developed. Erik said the first thing that GW wants for players is "a really good MMO at the end of the day." THQ has had success with its Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War series and seem to be working very well with the IP. Vigil Games is the development studio with the task of building the game itself. GW plans to work closely with Vigil to oversee all aspects of the game. In the end GW will have full approval rights over Warhammer 40K. Erik said they do have a veto power, but he never looks at it that way. When working on a game he said that it usually never gets to that point. The developers work closely with GW throughout the process to present the Warhammer worlds in the best way for both teams. Erik mentioned that the development process is almost always a very positive atmosphere.
GW and Vigil hope to make sure every element of the Warhammer 40,000 universe is somehow represented in the game. As many know, this is not an easy task. Obviously some tough choices have to be made in regards to playable races, game interface, setting, and format (first person shooter, or third person RPG style). Both companies seem to have their sights in the right place as far as delivering the best MMO possible. On a side note, THQ also added the rights to Necromunda and Gorka Morka as part of the contract. For those who do not know, they are side games in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Check out the Games Workshop site for details.
Erik and Jon also spoke about the Warhammer Fantasy MMO being developed by EA Mythic. W.A.R. is much further along in their development lifecycle than the 40K version. We have already seen the Greenskins, Dwarves, Chaos, and Empire armies being showcased. So we wanted to ask about the High Elf and Dark Elf races that we have yet to see. Erik said that the work on the Elves continues along but expects it will be a little while before we see a lot from that race. He expects more Empire and Chaos features to be shown first. One of the things that he was looking forward to is the landscape in which the High and Dark Elves inhabit and how that will be presented on screen.
;)
We did speak about possible tie-ins from the MMOs to the table top games and if there would be any? Erik said that any of the miniatures that were made from different game formats happened very "organically." Nothing was ever done out of necessity, it simply became part of the life cycle. GW seems to try and keep their products on separate platforms so as to not interfere with the different styles of game play. Still who knows what we will see in the future.
Games Workshop has really made the leap into the video game platform and continues to drive the content of their Warhammer IP. With Warhammer: Age of Reckoning set to release sometime next winter and the Warhammer 40K MMO now beginning its development cycle, these guys have a lot of work ahead of them. Still with twenty five years in gaming, I think the fans will have a lot to look forward too. I want to thank Erik and Jon for taking time out of their busy schedule at GDC. MMORPG.com will certainly continue our coverage on both Games Workshop titles as they continue development.
Probably somewhere around 2010, but I can wait.
They talk a little about WAR, but most of the emphasis is on the new Warhammer 40K MMO. Maybe they just put it under WAR since there's no category for the 40K game.
I'm wondering with it will be an FPS, RPG or maybe even a MMO strat game. I think any one has potential to be a cool game.
Yeah a great developer that has zero experience building a MMO, I can see that working well. There is a huge difference between RTS games and MMO games as THQ will find out.
Remember they had to boot the prior dev before Mythic because they were in over their heads.
We will have to wait and see how THQ does.
Yeah, but take Blizzard's 1st MMO World of Warcraft. Its the best selling MMO ever!
One problem with 2 Warhammer games will be that they are competeing against each other, each company will lose sales and pretty shortly after one, or both, games may be cancelled. Just my prediction.
(and it's probably the worst that can happen)
Well I think they can venture safely enough into both games since they attract different audiences, so they'll only be competing against each other indirectly. WAR will compete with/against WoW, Vanguard, Age of Conan and so on, while the WH40k game will compete against, I don't know, Planetside, Anarchy Online, and whatnot.
This isn't absolute, of course... probably some people who like Fantasy settings will go play 40k and viceversa.
Well the other thing you have to consider is that it doesnt take many subscribers to keep the game alive. AO and daoc been around with alot less people playing then wow but they are still alive. One reason why wow is such a big hit is that it has a rich history already. Warhammer been around longer then warcraft by far. Wich one has a bigger fan base? My prediction is that both can survive very very easy. Who knows maybe alot of people might play both.
While this is true for most games and/or franchises it is not possible in the case of Warhammer Fantasy Battles and Warhammer 40.000. Why? Because they were not pc games to begin with. They've only been on the pc medium for half a decade or so... The games have a huge fan-base that doesn't play the pc games. They play the tabletop games. The fan-base isn't consisting of a horde of children who jump from game to game as soon as they've experienced a single dull moment in their candy-based lifes. The majority of the fans are adults.
Okay I might have gone too far to demonstrate my point, but I don't see any of the franchises in mention destroyed by a MMO
will be nice to see how they pull off the balance aspect and what races there would be in it,
could turn out ot be a one sided battle or a very interesting mix
eek. Already there's confusion with the name / brand.
Imagine how befuddled the mass-market press / stores / customers will be
This interview reveals absolutely nothing.
I've got mixed feelings about a 40K MMO. First off, whoever has played the actual table-top game can understand this. This is NOT the universe for anything but a FPS. From Space Marines to Tau, and Dark Eldar to Chaos, it's usually all about the shooting. Now obviously you can argue for certain races(Nids, etc), but over all, this game would not work as a rpg. On that note, I'll be really anxious to hear what genre it'll be. Would love to play a Haemonculus, ripping puny Space Marines to shreds.
Actually, 40k pc games have been around since about 1990 (first I played was Space Hulk in 1991 or 1992).
I agree that a (or even two) failed MMOs will not significantly effect the Warhammer Fantasy or 40k franchises but it would be nice to see a pair of good MMOs.
I enjoy both Warhammer tabletop games (40k moreso). However, I don't own any as I massively dislike GW's official rules for events (and most people at most game stores seem to insist on using them) - you must have the correct mini (which is priced based on usefulness and not on cost to manufacture), you must have it painted (and in one of the official paint schemes), etc. Add to that that they fairly frequently intentionally obsolete books/minis and you are on a constant spiral of buying overpriced minis (and painting them).
There have been a few fun non-FPS non-RTS 40k pc games (my favorite being Space Hulk from back around 1990) so it could work.
I would love to play a 40k MMO. However, I hate FPS games so if they go the MMO-FPS route (instead of MMO-RPG), I will not be playing.
Here's hoping they come up with a good MMO-RPG.
im really glad they are doing 40K and i think it will top the other sci fi games
still i reallyed wanted a Star Craft MMO but i guess it wont be happening (i would only pretty much want Mythic to do it cause it would need great PVP)
but again im looking forward to WAR but i will get 40K (hope it turns out well)
THQ have done a really good job with the IP when it comes to Dawn of War. I have never played a finer RTS title, and the multiplayer is fantastic. I hope they can recreate the intensity of an 8v8 battle with hundreds of troops per player.
Every expansion has been a work of art, and although sometimes their stories are a little lacking, the gameplay and especially the all-important multiplayer have been great. Unless you count relying on GameSpy for their hosting.
Only time will tell what they do with the franchise as a MMORPG. Good luck to them.
I can see WH40k being an good MMORPG,taking the orginal WH40k RougeTrader RPG and adding all the newer races (races atm; human {spacemarines, imperialguard, witchhunters, etc...}, Elder, Orcs, Chaos, Genstealers, Dark-Elder, Tau, Necrons and some more from RougeTrader{halflings,Gnom,es, Ogres, Dwarfs,etc...}), equipment and newer combat rules(combat balancing for over 20years). There is great possiblities here.
I'd be interest if there be Titans(epic) and even spacebattles(gothic) added to the mix?
DragoFire
BTW: Nice Interview
Except, it isn't ;)
Me personally i reckon it will have to be a fps/3p view combo, maybe fp for the ranged combat then it will switch views to probably somthing similar to wow, with a target lock on system. Dunno will be a massive task. Cant wait for some more concrete news on it, meanwhile WAR looks like its gonna be good as well.
Dark Angels ftw!!
A small article on the June issue of PC Gamer regarding Warhammer 40k MMO.
As others had stated, the developer has no experience creating MMOs. Hopefully they won't go the way of Perpetual or I see EA Mythic grabbing this one as well