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My scanner is up the shoot (broken for the non-british) (my edit: the British slang is actually "Up the chute" so not only do Americans have trouble with English, but the British do as well. LOL.) but dont worry i have nothing to do for the next hour or so, i will write it down manually. (ITS A FIVE PAGE SPREAD GOD"$*(!) But anyway  :
WARHAMMER ONLINE
World of Warcraft meets its match
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The time has come to take off the training wheels. Massively multiplayer roleplaying games, from Everquest to World of Warcraft, from Guild Wars to LOTRO and everything inbetween, have become the definitive PC genre. Yet most of the new ones feel like clones; merely the next incremental step. We've yet to see a truly next-gen MMO - a game that binds epic quests, amazing landscapes, deep and rich character developtment - and really funny hats - with the potential for huge battles between opposing factions.
Untill now.
Here comes a game with an incredible licence: a game that looks set to explore the richest, silliest and most entertaining fantasy world that exists. It's going to remain absolutely faithful to the tabletop games, books and comics it descends from, but let players run around their favourite places, meet their favorite characters, kill and crush their most hated enemies. It sounds like an almost certain success.
But the developers of WAR are taking an extraordinary risk: one that could draw players to their game in droves, or scare they away. WAR is about the war at the front of it's name = an unremmiting clash between two factons that impacts absolutely every facet of your time inside its world. The risk: will players brought up on a diet of soft cuddly progress and happy fun dungeoneering parties adapt to unremitting warefare? The draw: if and when they do, they'll never stop playing, never stop competing against each other, never resting. And do you know what? This could be the best thing to happen to MMO gaming since orcs.
To understand what Warhammer Online is bringing to MMO games, you need to understand the history of its developers, EA Mythic. This storied company has masses of experience in developing MMOs: from text based games on early bulletin board systems, through to DAOC, a well-rendered 3D MMO that emphasised castle sieges, massed armies and giant scraps over and above single players punching kobolds in the face.
WAR is Mythic's attempt to match, and better, WoW. It's going to do everything WoW does. Such as quests, for single or group play. Instanced dungeons for up to five players. Big, 40-man raids (Salty Bob: "I can't wait till someone quotes this and argues over the fine differences between WoW and WAR.") Tradeskills and experience points, levels and equipment upgrades. It's not going to mess with a forumla that has proven wildly successful.
It has, however, a very big hammer to wield: it builds on mythics battlefield experience, bringing a sense of meaning and purpose to the endless grind of monkey fingernails, honour badges and equipment upgrades that MMO gaming is so cursed by - via a system dubbed Realm vs Realm.
Warhammer Online's Six races - Empire (Humans), Dwarves (short), Highelves (sexeh!), Greenskins (orcs and goblins), Chaos (madmen), and Dark Elves (dark) - Fall into two factions: order and destruction. Every quest you complete, every battle you win, ever dungeon, every enemy player you stamp on, contributes to your faction's current 'Victory Points' - an overarching persistant battle that ends with the winning side sacking their opponent's captial city.
Josh Drescher is an Associate Producer at Mythic, responsible for day-to-day WAR development. As he explained to us, this RvR system isnt just a cast of pandering to the twitch-addled, aggressive teenagers of online gaming. It's more a way of providing incentive.
"One of the things we wanted to make sure when we started work was that we built a complete player-vs-environment (the typical questing and looting of most MMO games). You can level all the way through the game without engaging in RvR, or if you never want to group on a quest, if all you want to do is kill other players, you can go all the way to level 40 doing nothing but fighting"
So how do mythic plan to entice the **I like to insult carebears because I think I'm cooler** who don't want to enter the open warefare to compete? It's all to do with quests. As with WoW, levelling up in WAR means completing tasks for NPCs. But some quests are public, group quests that cycle little story vignettes through the area you're playing. One lets you get a giant drunk: he wanders into the orc village looking for trouble. If nearby players bring him 20 barrels of booze, he'll join your side instead. Part two of the quests asks you to defend him from squigs. Finally, the giant can be asked to carry a bomb into dwarven lands, blowing open a fortress.
Meanwhile, in those dwarven lands, a competing quest chain sees the dwarves trying to build a giant howitzer to bomb the village with the giant in it. As the orcs run around looking for booze, the dwarf players are searching for ammunition.
Why go to all this trouble? "We want to make sure that the game is accessible to casual players," Says Josh, "so they can show up, take part, and interact with others in large groups without commiting huge amounts of time."
Even more than that, it's the first step in getting players to dip their toes into the wider conflict. "In a realm v realm game, we really need those players to become acclimatised to the place - Yopu're going to have to learn to play with everyone else. By starting with public quests from the very beginning, and giving them a little carrot to help them along, they can become more comfortable with working together. Hopefully, by the time they're involved in RvR they've developed some social bonds."
Other quest chains enable players to dip their toes into hostile territory. 'Yellow quests' require a short hop into enemy lands, while 'red quests' put a bounty on an enemy player's head, and ask you to go claim it (Salty Bob: Sweeet!). As he explains this, Josh laughs: "It's not like your typical MMO experience where for some reason you're able to safely walk around as long as you're 50 feet away from an enemy. There's just an amazing sense of risk and reward. Will there be other players there who are waiting to kill you, or will the zone be controlled by your allies? Our hope is that as players experience some of that they'll be organically drawn to the rvr experience."
Which highlights a bigger question: RvR. It sounds exciting, but what does it actually mean?
Dwaves dont like orcs, humans hat chaos, Dark elves despise high elves. Every zone, from the simplest, early newbie towns to the spiralling and vast capital cities, is twinnign with an area from their competing faction. Progress, in form of quest completion, boss kills, or towers and flags raided, converts to victory points which, eventually lead to one side 'winning the zone'.
The ultimate expression of that comes in the Level 40 PvP endgame, where the factions get to raid each other's capital city. "For instance you'll have the capital city of the Empire on one side. On the other you'll have the Inevitable City of Chaos - And the battlegront moving back and forth between these cities, based not just on the local combat, but on everything in the game. Capital cities become more ornate, more interesting, and more valuable depending on how long ago it was since they were last conquered. High-end dungeons, important vendors, treasures and items only appear if your side has been persistantly successful in all areas of the game."
It's clear that the team has the mechanics down pat: the're building on designs that have worked in their MMOs for half a decade. But they are also building on something more: a fictional world idolised by its fans, and heavily protected by its owners. Is josh enjoying the pressure?
"At the very beggining, there was a lot of collective barganing going on between the fans. You look at the armies available in the Warhammer IP and unless we were going to take 15 years developing the game, it war going to be impossible to do everything right away. So, tehre was excitement... and then soulcrushing dissapointment. But that's part and parcel of trying to adapt something that's had 25 years of history - You're not going to get everything in at once. It's exciting though. There are millions of people with a vested interest in what we're doing, and we have to make sure that we don't let them down."
So is this the game aimed purely at those warhammer fans? Or do the team expect the same breakout success as say, WoW?
"We're really are putting a lot of care into building a world that the warhammer fan s can get excited about... But in the modern gaming world the sheer number of people who play MMOs is several orders of magnitude higher than the Warhammer Fanbase. We want a substantial chucnk of the millions of guys worldwide who play MMOs."
And yes the screenshots resemble WoW. But you know what: Warcraft wasnt exactly original.
Josh makes a thinly veiled jibe at how influential the Warhammer tabletop games have been: "The look is one of those places where we were able to shamelessly steal from our friends at Games Workshop, a proud tradition in this industry. But we're allowed to do it."
The look is still cartoonish, but with a slightly more realistic tint. "Anyone who's familier with Warhammer will know it's a grim fantasy world," explains Josh, "but there's humour in it. When we started making the greenskin territory, it felt relentlessly dark: you would have dwarves hanging from crucifixes. One night, the artist looks at a wall of dwarf bodies, some of which were just desiccated skeletal remains, and put beards on the skeletons."
The big question: When can we play? At the time of writing, a closed, invite-only beta is taking place. A testbed for new features, it comes and goes as the developers receive feedback. It's also massively over-subscribed: over half a million players have signed up.
So it may be better to wait for the full game, although mythic wont pin themselves to a release date. They're aiming for March (  I insert happy face here) but there's still a huge amount of work to do. No MMO survives the first contact with the public, and WAr was no exception. Since the beta, a rewrite of the career and skill system has taken place, as well as the addition of capturable keeps and siege towers, adding a certain amound of persistence to the realm v realm endgame. The earliest the game could be released is probebly early summer, but autumn seems more likely. (Grumble, grumble.... Not happy on reading this.)
It's an exciting time. The breakout success of WoW hasn't deterred the WAR team - It's only encouraged them. "The market that was available to MMO developers prior to the advent of WoW was relatively small, when DAoC first launced, the audience you could expect from the western market topped out at around half a million players. Then WoW came along and threw open the doors to a much broader audience. We're actually really greatful for what they've done for the industry - they've established the MMO as the pre-eminent marquee for PC genre."
Josh firmly believes that Warhammer, thanks to its ultra-competitive focus, can take online gaming further into the mainstream. "I think we're going to see a shift away from online gaming being this underground weird thing that some people do, and it'll become a lot more like what sports are in the western world. RvR can give people that factional rallying point, somethat thats bigger than their individual experience."
He doesn't stop there, "What we're hoping will happen is that we'll see the market shift away from the insolated niche experience into being and overarching hobby; having online gaming become part of the overall fabric of western culture. Our game has the opportunity to be one of the avant garde that moves the industry away from being a repetitive rehash of the same grind-based PvE worlds, (Note: and you know exactly what game he means....  ) into somethat that's a cultural event."
You can tell Josh is excited - as you talk to him, you can feel his passion for the game, and for the future of MMOs. Because of the release of an MMO is just the start of a project: the game will run and run. "I would love, ten years from now, for people to say 'when it came time for the industry to transform into something bigger, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning was there.'"
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SpiritofGame
Member UncommonPosts: 1,332
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:23 am Post subject: PCGamer - Wahammer Online, World of Warcraft meets its match
Comments
Just a quick scan of the info here, who is Salty Bob?
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"The earliest the game could be released is probebly early summer, but autumn seems more likely. "
That's a big statement. I'd put that in bold gold like the capital cities.
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But we're allowed to do it."
Pshaw, there's no veil there.
"Salty Bob" is the nick of the poster on Only-WAR.com message boards who hand-typed the article from his PC Gamer magazine.
His scanner was busted.
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I am not at all happy about the "summer-fall" prediction. I very much hope it is wrong.
My personal guess is not the optimistic "March" but more like "May."
My spycam in the Mythic office was found and destroyed so I really can't guess better than that.
~ Ancient Membership ~
This article just reaffirms my belief that WAR is going to be the game for me for the forseeable future.
Always change your signature.
WAR is Mythic's attempt to match, and better, WoW. It's going to do everything WoW does. Such as quests, for signel or group play. Instanced dungeons for up to five players. Big, 40-man raids (Salty Bob: "I can't wait till someone quotes this and argues over the fine differences between WoW and WAR.") Tradeskills and experience points, levels and equipment upgrades. It's not going to mess with a forumla that has proven wildly successful.
Where the heck did Mythic say theres '40 man raids'? The public quests are ment to be the 'anti-raid' aren't they? Plus didn't Paul say once they're 'Led Zeplin/Batman' at one point so 'matching WoW' isn't techically correct, but it's near impossible not to 'copy' a blender of MMOs anyway
Sorry had to 'quote' it just to nitpick :P
Bring on the WARRRRGGHH!
That is not a Josh quote, but a remark from the article writer.
PvE raids, yes ... but 40-man raids? Don't think they specifically said that. Not sure.
~ Ancient Membership ~
I'm pretty certain they have noted end-game raid content (although not as large as 40-man I believe).
I'm not a big PvE raider so I don't follow this area closely.
Your nitpick is very valid though ^_^, WoW took the blender of previous mmos and improved upon it. It only makes sense for future mmos like WAR to do some of the same.
At first I thought "And yes the screenshots resemble WoW. But you know what: Warcraft wasnt exactly original." might be a JD quote, but thank god it's not. Although he does say it is "cartoonish", I tend to feel it is more on the side of "realistic tint". That may be just me however.
Q3 release seems the most logical.
"Negaholics are people who become addicted to negativity and self-doubt, they find fault in most things and never seem to be satisfied."
^MMORPG.com
i'm just waiting for one of those annoying posters that quote the whole damn post to reiterate on 1 friggen point to find the OP's post
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds
-Solid non level based game
-Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
I have to agree, either a late Q2 or early Q3.
i for one enjoyed reading this article, its a nice change to the crap posts we have been getting on this board lately
thanks for posting and if salty bob ever sees this, thanks for typing that up 
aye nice post
about the release date, im sticking to the officiel "date" Q2. Cant really wait any longer, wow has been to boring for the last 3-4 months. I for one was sad when the date was pushed from late 07 to Q2 08. Ofc they are making the game better, but its still annoying to have to wait this long. If they push the release date further away i fear, that they will lose some of the WAR fans out here
I read something similar to this before, but not in so many words or such great detail. Beforethis I heard that a sacked city would remain damaged (burned buildings etc) for a while after the event and would gradually repair itself over time.This would include dead vendors and citizens sowly respawning until back to normal.
Tis is the first time I have heard that capial cities actualy grow bigger, stronger, and/or more ornate. Sounds very exciting. Especially the part about high end dungeons and important treasure.
Can't wait.
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Mark E. Cooper
AKA Tohrment
Proud member of Damned Souls since 2007.
http://www.damnedsouls.eu
I read something similar to this before, but not in so many words or such great detail. Beforethis I heard that a sacked city would remain damaged (burned buildings etc) for a while after the event and would gradually repair itself over time.This would include dead vendors and citizens sowly respawning until back to normal.
Tis is the first time I have heard that capial cities actualy grow bigger, stronger, and/or more ornate. Sounds very exciting. Especially the part about high end dungeons and important treasure.
Can't wait.
Bigger, stronger ??? What are you talking about, the only one written is ''ornate''.
I read something similar to this before, but not in so many words or such great detail. Beforethis I heard that a sacked city would remain damaged (burned buildings etc) for a while after the event and would gradually repair itself over time.This would include dead vendors and citizens sowly respawning until back to normal.
Tis is the first time I have heard that capial cities actualy grow bigger, stronger, and/or more ornate. Sounds very exciting. Especially the part about high end dungeons and important treasure.
Can't wait.
Bigger, stronger ??? What are you talking about, the only one written is ''ornate''.
I am talking about a sacked city. The day after a sack the city will be weak (opposite of strong OK?) Building will have been destroyed, burned down. As days go by, the buildings will respawn (the city gets bigger again ok?) If the city is not sacked, the buildings get more ornate (prettier, I assume towers get taller, more detailed buildings, just generally more prosprous looking)
The only word is not ornate. It says more ornate, more valuable, more interesting... so chill.
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Mark E. Cooper
AKA Tohrment
Proud member of Damned Souls since 2007.
http://www.damnedsouls.eu
This interview is making me very happy. Sound like pure awesomeness and can't wait for this release.
http://revolutionwar.guildlaunch.com/
I read something similar to this before, but not in so many words or such great detail. Beforethis I heard that a sacked city would remain damaged (burned buildings etc) for a while after the event and would gradually repair itself over time.This would include dead vendors and citizens sowly respawning until back to normal.
Tis is the first time I have heard that capial cities actualy grow bigger, stronger, and/or more ornate. Sounds very exciting. Especially the part about high end dungeons and important treasure.
Can't wait.
Yeah Im with you on this one. I had heard a few rumors of the ruined city but nothing like this. One of the biggest reasons I am looking foward to the game.
Sig by WhiskeyJack1
I read something similar to this before, but not in so many words or such great detail. Beforethis I heard that a sacked city would remain damaged (burned buildings etc) for a while after the event and would gradually repair itself over time.This would include dead vendors and citizens sowly respawning until back to normal.
Tis is the first time I have heard that capial cities actualy grow bigger, stronger, and/or more ornate. Sounds very exciting. Especially the part about high end dungeons and important treasure.
Can't wait.
Yeah Im with you on this one. I had heard a few rumors of the ruined city but nothing like this. One of the biggest reasons I am looking foward to the game.
Nor can I, been waiting for ages and still no beta. I hope it releases on their current set date, but if they have to push it back some more maybe up to 6 months ill be ok with that too, since I played Vanguard and bleh that was ugly, id hate to see warhammer crash like that.
Playing: Not much actively.
Games played: to many to list, been playing MMO's since 2001
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Glad he was bored and/or excited enough to type all that! Were a few things I had not heard of yet in there. Seems to be a good day for War and Aoc. Aoc just had a big post like this too with new infos.
Copyright and Press Material
Who the hell are you, and why should I care?
Congrats! You are a victim of Trollstar!
Thanks for the post! Nice read!
Have to wonder about that date though, Mythic Devs have been saying Q2.
If they can move WoW gameplay one step further, it would be an accomplishment and a reason to buy the game.
It seems that most people don't have a problem with WoW's mechanics in PvP (I could be wrong), but more with the way it is integrated in the surrounding world. You feel more as if you participate in a e-sport than in an epic struggle vs the opposite faction.
If WAR can deliver fluid gameplay and fun classes to play along with a immersful reason to PvP, they'll have a winner for people who want more than play Quake with orcs and elves.
The above is EXACTLY how I feel about it. The arena and BG system is just too divorced from the outside world of warcraft. The news that bliz are adding some outside pvp objectives is only one small part of what Mythic's true rvr is all about. The way I feel about it is that biz can't make warcraft's world into an RVR one at this late date and shouldn't try.
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Mark E. Cooper
AKA Tohrment
Proud member of Damned Souls since 2007.
http://www.damnedsouls.eu
ahh he who is so ignorant....wow ripped off game workshop who based there table top game close to Lord of the rings(the book not the game) WoW is a game for tools and always will be. Yes I played WoW but come on that game is useless and boring and full of children...you try running a raid with only one good healer and the rest a bunch of slack offs. I will make sure people know my name on the alliance side and fear me!
http://www.guildcafe.com/GuildHome.php?guildid=10845
oh yeah! I forgot if there rvr system is anything like DAoC it will still make for an awesome game. If anybody played DAoC before knows what I am talking about, and loathes trebmasa!
http://www.guildcafe.com/GuildHome.php?guildid=10845
So basicly there are still idiots out there like you, who dont realize WoW ripped off from many games before it and the GW tabletop. So WoW takes the best aspects from other games and puts it into theres. Now WAR is taking some aspects that WoW got right and putting it into there game. Why do you WoW idiots think it was ok for blizzard to use older MMO's functions but not ok for newer games to use something you see in WoW?
Even if there was one single aspect of WoW that is new (there isnt but for arguments sake) that a game uses its NO diffrent than what Blizzard did with WoW. Get over yourself, WoW was not ground breaking. WoW took the best of every MMO before it dumbed down.
Edit: Forgot to say, Loved the read.