Video game publisher THQ and tabletop game publisher Games Workshop have already enjoyed great success since 2004 with Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, the popular real-time strategy game based on the gritty and brutal Warhammer 40,000 sci-fi universe. The game has given rise to two expansion packs, the most recent of which won GameSpot's award for Best Expansion Pack of 2006 and remains a popular title with strategy enthusiasts.
Heavy is the cyber-crown of the future, apparently.
Today, the two publishers are announcing an extension to their licensing agreement to work together on new projects, including a Warhammer 40,000 massively multiplayer online game. The first hints at such a project came last November, when Relic Entertainment, developer of the Warhammer 40,000 real-time strategy series, posted a want ad for MMOG developers. As it turns out, though, another studio--Austin, Texas-based Vigil Games, will be working on the new project, which should not be confused with the swords-and-sorcery MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.
To find out more about the Warhammer 40,000 MMOG, GameSpot spoke with THQ executive vice president of worldwide publishing Kelly Flock and Andy Jones, Games Workshop's head of group legal and licensing.
THQ's Warhammer 40K MMO, Dark Millennium Online "is going to be a masterpiece," reckons core games VP, Danny Bilson.
This may be my most anticipated game in the coming years...expecting a masterpiece! Only thing that worries me from the article is that they seem to be banking on WoW players migrating over, they should be aiming at bringing the millions of non-mmo/40k fans into their game.
If it's a boring as WoW they can keep it. I like playing the table top 40k, but, Wow is just a huge borefest.
Troy Benedict of GoozerNation recently had the privilege of speaking with Darksiders' lead designer Haydn Dalton about his career, his thoughts on the industry, and some of his upcoming projects like Warhammer 40K Online and Darksiders 2.
As THQ managed a successful turnaround for its most recent fiscal year, the company is keeping a close eye on development costs going forward.
In a Gamasutra-attended conference call after THQ's quarterly results, the publisher said that a relatively low initial investment in the upcoming Warhammer 40,000 MMO means that the game can reach breakeven more easily, as the low-cost Metro 2033 turned profit.
Warhammer 40k's Universe is second to none and if done properly could be the best MMO out there. Unfortunately, I doubt it will be done properly by THQ.