Post by Morreion on Jul 17, 2014 16:53:47 GMT -5
WAR40K devs laid off, game will no longer be an MMO (Massively)
Today, though, our sister site reports that Dark Millennium Online will axe the online portion of its lengthy moniker and the company will be producing the title as a single-player game going forward. A substantial number of jobs have also been cut, with 79 Vigil Games employees and 39 Relic Entertainment employees receiving pink slips.
THQ executive explains WAR40K's new non-MMO direction (Massively)
You'll recall that late last month, THQ announced that DMO would shed its MMO skin and reinvent itself as a single-player title. Bilson says that much of what makes the game unique will remain intact, and most importantly, WAR40K "is still sitting with the people who invented it five years ago, and honestly, they are incredibly excited about the new direction."
While you wouldn't expect anything less than positive spin from a bigwig whose company has seen better days, the interview still manages to make the new title sound pretty intriguing. "If you liked Space Marine, you're gonna love this thing. It's much deeper. Space Marine was designed as a console experience. This one has tremendous multiplayer gameplay, and there is a lot going on in this game that's spectacular," Bilson says.
Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade offers up an Ork-themed newsletter (Massively)
One of the points touched upon is the game's business model. In essence, it appears that free players will be able to enjoy access to all races but not some of the more advanced character options, whilst players who buy the game get access to everything and those who pay more will have an even wider array of options. The game is apparently close to being ready for public display, something that will make all of the soon-to-be-deprived Orks of Warhammer Online happy for the future.
Eternal Crusade says founders program is not a crowdfunding campaign (Massively)
Behaviour Interactive's Miguel Caron penned a Warhammer 40K: Eternal Crusade newsletter today for fans skeptical about the founders program announced last week. The purpose of the program, he explains, is to solicit feedback and provide value to the faithful, not to crowdfund the game, which he says is already fully financed but might see an earlier introduction of content thanks to the founders: "The founders programs might, with your help, move a few unannounced features that are currently planned for after launch... before launch."
WAR40K: Eternal Crusade creates entire planet from scratch (Massively)
Art Director Ghislain Barbe talks about the planet Arkhona in his latest dev diary, saying that it lies smack dab "in the dead center of a void of systems." Arkhona used to be home to the Xenos, but now is ground zero for a five-way tug-of-war when it's not trying to tear itself apart with natural disasters. Or as Barbe puts it, "Death has come to Arkhona and it is ready for a second service." The look of the planet is replete with abandoned structures, shattered chasms, and diverse environments.
WAR40K dev diary details customization and player-driven story (Massively)
"Taking over parts of the Arkhona landmass, each campaign lasts approximately a week and we will augment the usual territory control gameplay with additional goals and mechanics," Chan writes. "Through your accomplishments, campaigns are also where you, your squad and strike force can distinguish yourselves from others – receive peer recognition and look more formidable on the battlefield. Participating in campaigns is the best way to engage in the narrative; and by working together in story campaigns, you'll be able to create history on Arkhona. Imagine being able to point to major battles that took place a long time ago and being able to take credit for it. These will drive the narrative of our game."
E3 2014: Warhammer 40K devs on development and founders packs (Massively)
To illustrate immersion and highlight the intense emotions the devs want the game to elicit, Caron described his own experience when he and his buddies saw a single Ork crest a hill and stare at them. He felt quite overconfident until hundreds more Orks started popping up along the ridge in true Braveheart-style and then charge down the hill screaming. "Seriously, I'm getting goosebumps [just talking about it]," he told us. "When people experience this, they'll be scared. Our video game is about making our players feel intense emotions, ups and downs, to make them forget about their normal life."
Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade base classes announced (Massively)
Space Marines: Tactical, Devastator, Assault, Apothecary
Orks: Shoota, 'Eavy/Loota (final name TBD), Stormboy, Painboy
Chaos: Tactical, Havoc, Raptor, Aspiring Sorcerer
Eldar: Dire Avenger, Fire Dragon, Dark Reaper, Swooping Hawk, Howling Banshee, Striking Scorpion, Warlock
Warhammer 40K: Eternal Crusade's founder program goes live (Massively)
The founder and pre-order program for the upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade MMO is now officially live. Founder tiers available start with the $40 Warrior Pack (which includes the game, early module access, 40,000 game points, and special perks) and run the price scale up to the $450 (and currently on sale) Xenos pack, which includes the game and early access along with 610,000 game points and even more special perks.
Not into forking over your cash just yet? At E3 a few weeks ago, Behavior Online told Massively that at launch (expected in 2016), Eternal Crusade will boast a hybrid model, with a $40 buy-to-play option and a free-to-play option that restricts players to the Ork Boyz faction. The cash shop will sell "pay-to-be-cool" cosmetics and skins, the devs said.
