By Adam Smith on March 18th, 2013 at 3:31 pm.
First there was SPACE HULK SPACE HULK SPACE HULK SPACE HULK SPACE HULK and now there’s, erm, a turn-based Warhammer 40K strategy game of indeterminate nature a turn-based Warhammer 40K strategy game of indeterminate nature a turn-based Warhammer 40K strategy game of indeterminate nature! A few days ago, Games Workshop announced that they had made a deal with the developer but I didn’t expect news of a game to arrive so quickly.
In fairness, there isn’t much to say beyond the fact that the game will definitely be turn-based, will feature PBEM multiplayer, and is coming to PC and iPad. I’m not too worried about the multi-platform info since I’d rather have detailed stats and big maps than extreme close ups of explosions. More details may appear in the announcement thread and hopefully we’ll know more soon.
Have we done ‘waaagh-face’ already, by the way?
18/03/2013 at 15:33 BTAxis says:
Why not, might as well take that first step on the road to disappointment.
18/03/2013 at 15:40 Lars Westergren says:
Turn based, has PBEM, by the people who made Panzer Corps…what about this is that makes you feel you have to prepare for disappointment? I think it sounds pretty promising so far.
18/03/2013 at 15:56 Haplo says:
Exactly. It’s hope.
Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.
18/03/2013 at 16:03 Some_Guy says:
And the dark side.
19/03/2013 at 01:40 Syra says:
Uhh Combo breaker?
I put it to you sirs, that it could be Chaos Gate, or it could be Rites of War. Discuss.
19/03/2013 at 09:48 docjaq says:
Ahh, Chaos Gate! I loved that game. Except for the cultist sound effects.
18/03/2013 at 16:14 Grape says:
Turn based, has PBEM, by the people who made Panzer Corps…what about this is that makes you feel you have to prepare for disappointment? I think it sounds pretty promising so far.
They have also brought us an awful lot of shit, let’s not forget.
18/03/2013 at 17:05 Jools says:
They haven’t really made very many terrible games, though, and their recent releases have been all been good. They’ve certainly generated a bit of good will from me just because of their really fantastic iPad releases.
18/03/2013 at 16:21 killias2 says:
Well, it’s Slitherine, so it’ll probably cost about 60 dollars with a once-a-year opportunity to get it for 45 dollars. There will also be a couple 60 dollar expansion packs for those who want the real experience, so be prepared to take it up the ass. I’d also suggest keeping that initially download installation file. I guess their policies are getting less restrictive, but I get the sense that Matrix/Slitherine still do not look kindly upon re-downloads.
18/03/2013 at 16:51 KDR_11k says:
Sounds cheaper than real world WH40k
18/03/2013 at 20:08 colw00t says:
I’ve had heroin addictions cheaper than WH40K.
18/03/2013 at 21:18 Droopy The Dog says:
There’s been a lot of heroin in the RPS comments of late, I’m feeling out of touch.
18/03/2013 at 21:42 WrenBoy says:
as Joel answered I’m amazed that some people can lose $8157 in one month on overpriced crappy figurines. did you look at this page… http://bit.ly/XV8Qz9
18/03/2013 at 21:57 JFS says:
Comment of the Month ™ !
19/03/2013 at 00:04 Stuka_JU87 says:
“, but I get the sense that Matrix/Slitherine still do not look kindly upon re-downloads.”. I’ve re-downloaded my slitherine games countless times over the years. I’ve also recently had them resend me download links with no problems whatsoever.
18/03/2013 at 22:47 Twirrim says:
“Coming to PC and iPad”. The latter mostly has me cautious.
18/03/2013 at 22:49 iucounu says:
There’s no reason an iPad version of a TBS needs to be a terrible limiting factor – I like TBS games on iPad very much, you don’t need tremendous amounts of hardware oomph – but there’s always the interface to worry about.
19/03/2013 at 03:21 finbikkifin says:
Battle Academy has an excellent iPad version, and yet the PC version is just fine. It also somehow manages to sell well at $20 in the sodding iOS market, which must be some kind of miracle, because barely anything gets over $5 there.
An iOS version in this case is not a red flag!
18/03/2013 at 16:05 Calculon says:
Cant be worse than SimCity – so obviously Im in…..
18/03/2013 at 15:41 Hillbert says:
DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA!
18/03/2013 at 15:42 KikiJiki says:
‘ERE WE GO ‘ERE WE GO ‘ERE WE GO ‘ERE WE GO ‘ERE WE GO ‘ERE WE GO ‘ERE WE GO
18/03/2013 at 15:56 Makariel says:
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!
18/03/2013 at 16:55 Caleb367 says:
SHOW ME WHAT PASSES FOR A MEME AMONG YOUR MISBEGOTTEN KIND
18/03/2013 at 18:44 Salix says:
RED WUNS GO FASTER
19/03/2013 at 01:38 Syra says:
I FEEL THE WAAGHFACE OVERTAKING ME. IT IS A GOOD PAIN.
19/03/2013 at 04:21 Haplo says:
WAR FACE! WAAAAR FACE! OUR ENEMIES HIDE IN METAL WARFACE! THE COWARDS THE FOOLS!
19/03/2013 at 05:02 Geen says:
DRIVE ME CLOSER, I WANT TO HIT THEM WITH MY MEME
18/03/2013 at 15:54 Screwie says:
Wow. I never expected a faithful turn-based version of one of GW’s big two games to happen. This could be the start of something fantastic.
18/03/2013 at 16:06 Ace Rimmer says:
It’s a turn-based strategy game set in the W40k universe, not quite the same thing. Could still be good, though, just don’t expect a full PC version of one of Games Workshop’s main money makers.
18/03/2013 at 16:17 Screwie says:
Yeah, I know I am making a big presumption there. One can hope though!
18/03/2013 at 17:09 Everblue says:
I expect it to be a version of those card-only games they did – wasn’t one of them called Armageddon, or something?
Ah – found it
http://boardgamegeek.com/images/boardgame/3177/battle-for-armageddon
Two players, one was the imperials and the other was orcs. Orcs charge forward and crush all the imperial guard, meanwhile the imperials have to hold out until the marines arrive. Fun game.
18/03/2013 at 21:01 King_Rocket says:
Sounds smiler to the epic scale game, Final liberation.
I remember the card based games but never played them due to the cost of playing the full games, 40k etc.
18/03/2013 at 17:32 wodin says:
You are correct it isn’t going to be like the tabletop game..have it from a very good source. Slitheirne would love to do that..GW are very protective over that side of the business though..even though I don’t think it would cut into their tabletop profits.
18/03/2013 at 17:48 colw00t says:
It won’t be one of their core games, because GW thinks of everything as driving sales towards their miniatures. It will be a version of one of the spinoff games. I’m guessing gorkamorka.
18/03/2013 at 22:50 iucounu says:
GW must be crapping themselves over 3D printing. They have about five years to realign themselves into an IP-based company, or they’re toast.
18/03/2013 at 15:55 P4p3Rc1iP says:
Gork and/or Mork will be pleased!
19/03/2013 at 01:19 Dances to Podcasts says:
Mindy’s nonplussed.
18/03/2013 at 16:01 Makariel says:
May the armour’s shade protect your body.
May the weapon’s hue help slay those that doubt.
May the banner’s livery proceed before you.
May you illuminate the darkness with the Emperor’s light.
18/03/2013 at 17:07 mouton says:
Being a fanatic is such a wonderful fantasy, captured marvelously in W40K.
If only people didn’t try it irl, heh
18/03/2013 at 23:03 Makariel says:
Indeed. Fanatics in 40k: hilarious. Fanatics irl: not funny at all.
18/03/2013 at 16:04 strangeloup says:
Gorkamorka and Battlefleet Gothic and Epic and Necromunda (in ascending order of want) are all technically 40k games, in that they’re part of that universe.
Set
phaserslasguns to cautiously optimistic.18/03/2013 at 16:12 P4p3Rc1iP says:
So… When’s anyone going to do a story driven 40k/Dark Heresy based RPG?
18/03/2013 at 16:57 Caleb367 says:
I’d be willing to enter a swearing contest with an Angry Marine for that.
18/03/2013 at 17:53 colw00t says:
I’d love to see Chris Avellone’s take on it, but GW is waaaay too protective of their franchise to let a good writer at the material. Good licensed RPGs seem to require a pretty hands-off approach from the IP owner, and GW will never do anything of the sort.
Still, one can dream.
18/03/2013 at 16:12 caddyB says:
So, Final Liberation 2?
18/03/2013 at 19:17 JiminyJickers says:
This would be awesome. I would love a new game based on Epic 40k.
18/03/2013 at 16:13 cptgone says:
a “40K Game”? surely no one would charge that much? oh wait it’s Slitherine ;)
18/03/2013 at 16:17 fearghaill says:
I’m honestly surprised by this, I didn’t think GW would license any turn-based 40K games for fear of it cutting into their miniature sales.
That said, I will be similarly surprised if this doesn’t have unit unlock DLC by the bucketload to replace said miniature sales.
18/03/2013 at 16:31 caddyB says:
GW is very smart. I think they are moving on with the times.
19/03/2013 at 08:30 mondomau says:
I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic, or just aren’t very familiar with GW business practices, but this comment is hilarious.
18/03/2013 at 16:32 Haplo says:
It’s been done.
Check out a game in the Nineties called Star Trek: ConQuest Online. It was basically a ‘card game’- the game gave you pregenerated decks and you had to buy new pieces.
I cut my teeth on ST:CO’s chatrooms. Good times.
18/03/2013 at 16:56 KDR_11k says:
There’s a Blood Bowl game already. Sure, not as profitable as full 40k but they licensed it.
18/03/2013 at 17:30 wodin says:
As I said in the last article..it ISN’T going to be like the tabletop game as GW are to protective..this is from a very good source.
18/03/2013 at 16:23 Gurrah says:
For PC and iPad? Yeah, like that’s ever going to be a proper PC-game. When I read about them aquiring the license I thought great, a strategy publisher picks up Warhammer… but this is disheartening at the least.
18/03/2013 at 16:45 GiantPotato says:
I don’t really see how the iPad’s differences from a PC necessarily work to the detriment of a turn-based strategy game. If they were making a corridor shooter then I would see the problem right away, but a TBS doesn’t need precision controls or a complex representation to be good.
18/03/2013 at 16:54 1stGear says:
Panzer Corps is published by Slitherine and currently has an iPad version in development. Its also one of the best TBS games available.
Turns out if you don’t load the game down with a physics engine and bleeding-edge graphics, neither of which strategy games need, they run pretty well on whatever you put them on.
18/03/2013 at 17:10 mouton says:
We will see. It can be done well.
18/03/2013 at 16:39 Runty McTall says:
Am I the only person here who had to look up “PBEM”?
My tutor at uni used to go mental if I used an acronym (or initialism) in an essay without expanding it first.
18/03/2013 at 17:11 mouton says:
While I agree with the general sentiment, we have to live with some level of established acronyms. IMO.
18/03/2013 at 17:13 Kamos says:
At some point in the 90s, it was almost impossible for one to be a gamer and not know what PbEM meant. Very few games support this kind of play now. This is as niche as it gets.
18/03/2013 at 17:29 wodin says:
It’s NOT going to be a PC version of the tabletop game. Iain told me GW are way to protective over it sadly.
SO as a guess I think something along the lines of Chaos Gate.
No doubt there will still be comments below saying “Hopefully like the tabletop game”…
19/03/2013 at 09:47 Snids says:
I just want Chaos Gate but not horrible. Chaos Gate was a bit horrible.
18/03/2013 at 17:38 Kernkraftritter says:
no mention of
- Rites Of War
- Final Liberation
- Chaos Gate?
oh come on. there’s really no need for a 40k strategy game at this time, and I’m pretty sure no sane man would buy one as long as people like our spiritual liege Matt Ward have anything to say…
18/03/2013 at 17:50 Jediben says:
Necromunda turn-based squad-based online only massively multiplayer first person / third person persistant microtransaction fueled strategy shooter. You heard it fabricated here first!
18/03/2013 at 17:48 SkittleDiddler says:
I’m looking forward to whatever it turns out to be, as long as the DLC and microtransactions are kept at a reasonable level. I don’t want a repeat of those abominations Retribution and Space Marine.
18/03/2013 at 18:50 wodin says:
Slitherine don’t do DLC and micro transactions.
18/03/2013 at 18:50 Ender7 says:
I just want another original dow series with updated graphics, that was the best game ever. Dow II was lazy design and sucked bad. Not sure how I feel about this. It probably will be boring human centric which is ok I guess, but I am a necron fan myself. Building the necron pyramid of flying death was the ultimate high.
18/03/2013 at 18:58 Jorum says:
It won’t be a version of main WH40K, so question is will it be adaptation of existing spin-off or something new.
Existing spin-off options are basically Battlefleet , Gorkamorka , Necromunda , Epic
The first three are all too far from main 40K to be goers IMO.
(and as much as I’d love online Necromunda, would be very complex project and doesn’t make enough use of 40K license.)
Epic would seem to fit Slitherine very well, and would be pretty cool option.
18/03/2013 at 21:07 wodin says:
Think we are looking at something like Chaos Gate..which is no bad thing.
18/03/2013 at 22:46 Bloodshot says:
The game may turn out to be similar tof Warhammer 40000: Rites of War (SSI 1999) which was based on the Panzer General 2 engine.
19/03/2013 at 07:53 wodin says:
hmmm…hadn’t thought of that..could well be. I’d prob be disappointed with that though.
18/03/2013 at 19:12 sonson says:
I think I see where this is going.
Stock game comes with 1500 points of a few factions. New squads, characters, vehicles and unlocking new armies will cost ala the tabletop game, just not as much.
18/03/2013 at 21:06 wodin says:
Did you not read my post it isn’t going to be a tabletop conversion.
18/03/2013 at 20:53 Davie says:
I don’t know, I’m still more excited for what the Creative Assembly will do with the Warhammer license.
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19/03/2013 at 04:37 Nick says:
Necromunda please.
Have to say it till it happens.
19/03/2013 at 05:04 Geen says:
Let it be Gorkamorka…
19/03/2013 at 08:13 Kevin says:
I really hope we haven’t seen the last of Dawn of War from Relic. Really want to see Taldeer *SPOILER ALERT* come back as a Wraithseer and duke it out with Davian Thule.
19/03/2013 at 09:46 Snids says:
I wonder if it’ll be a number based, abstracted hex-fest. Surely it won’t be with that licence.