Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade - New Information

[Vedrenne]

I'm not wishing to instigate a fight over this, but it just appeared that you were immediately dismissing this game without looking beyond the front cover.

The thing is, there is nothing beyond the front cover. Heck, there isn't even a front cover at this point. All we have are a few pieces of concept art and some enthusiastic interviews with noting behind them. I'd love to judge the game on its own merits, but there are no merits to judge it by at this point. So I go on what I know so far...

Firstly, who's making it - a dev house with a long tradition of making crap. You mention that they're bringing in people from Funcom. You do understand that that's hardly a shining recommendation, right? Funcom has a long history of delivering unfinished products and underperforming games. So on that front, I am skeptical at best and outright dismissive at worst.

Secondly, it's an MMO. Again, MMOs tend to be bloated, disappointing and waste promising premises. Sure, there are some genuinely good games, but for the most part, they tend to be bad games that people endure from the whole "MM" part. Do we really need this?

And so on and so forth. There is nothing that would tell me "Look, this might be good!" and quite a bit that points to it turning out bad. I0m not trying to pick a fight either, I just haven't seen anything that would make me excited about this game...

I'm with Jandau on this one. There's not much of anything to go on. I haven't heard of it, that's always fishy to me. I'm pretty well tuned in to the games, series, genres and platforms that I like, from AAA to indie titles. Nowhere have I heard anything but rumors about a Warhammer 40K MMO. When I first heard those rumors, it was way back, around the time Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning was being hyped. I'd hazard a guess that those might have been the original devs trying to scrounge up some buzz for a planned game. Never heard anything else, and I guess this is why. Now the license has made it's way into the hands of the guys who brought you WET and the PSP version of Dante's Inferno. Most of their stable of games is made up of social games, including one title I thought was shareware. Do you guys remember Lord of the Rings Conquest? No? What about on the DS? Well don't worry, because the guys that Funcom didn't want are here to help!

Just as an aside, it was the CEO of Funcom who left to head the development for this game and it wasn't that Funcom didn't want him to stay, it was that Funcom wouldn't allow him the resources to make this game, one that he is exceptionally invested in, if his interviews are anything to go by.

 

[INF1NIT3 D00M]

Alright, the BoTD has come back after reading the AMA, but I'm not going to get super excited about any game until I've seen a bit of it. They're making some promises, and they've got some good ideas, but I'm only going to go as far as being reserved as opposed to indifferent.
This is looking less and less like an MMO and more like a large-scale third person shooter. I've been wanting something like that for a while, 40K or otherwise. It's a technical nightmare, one that I've never really seen anyone else tackle, let alone successfully pull off. Battlefield and the like can get us to maybe 128 players, but this game plans to be an MMO-sized affair. We might see something more in line with Planetside 2 or larger, which could be nice.

Here's another link to the AMA, in case you missed the other guy's post: http://www.scribd.com/doc/152029900/Eternal-Crusade-AMA

Again, it's not that I hate this game, or that I'm opposed to it. I'd like to see it succeed for all our sakes, but I've also listed my concerns that prevent me from getting my hopes up. Some have been somewhat assuaged by reading the AMA, but I'd like to actually see the game before I'll change my tune completely.

 

[BQE]

This is looking less and less like an MMO and more like a large-scale third person shooter.

I think that's the point here. I remember hearing/reading something about the fact that more and more games are becoming MMORPG is becoming a word that already invokes a sort of predetermined template. A few people here have commented on doing quests and such. The problem is that as our technology evolves, our dated terms for genres don't seem to follow suit. The OP mentioned it being closer to Planetside 2 and I'm sure that will be the case.

I'll be keeping an eye on this, shame about no Dark Eldar. I play them in the tabletop.

 

[Vedrenne]

Not much new this week, just some confirmation that there will be collision detection and that bullets are a finite resource:

http://www.warcry.com/news/view/125711-Warhammer-40K-Eternal-Crusade-Will-Have-Collision-Detection-and-a-Meta-Game-Like-EVE

http://www.warcry.com/news/view/125639-Warhammer-40K-Eternal-Crusades-Guns-Will-Have-Limited-Bullets

Edit: Oh, the official website now has an FAQ up as well.

http://eternalcrusade.com/#

 

[Jynthor]

I really want it to be good but I'm very sceptical.
Like mentioned before the developers don't exactly have a great list of titles they made.
And quite frankly going by some of their statements, I wonder if they know anything about Warhammer 40k.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Think I'll stick to Dawn of War 2.

 

[Vedrenne]

I really want it to be good but I'm very sceptical.
Like mentioned before the developers don't exactly have a great list of titles they made.
And quite frankly going by some of their statements, I wonder if they know anything about Warhammer 40k.

Again, Behaviour are only subbing it, the actual development is being done by former Funcom guys, specifically those who worked on Age of Conan and The Secret World.

As for the latter statement, the dev team are big 40k fans, evidenced by their 40k: Dark Heresy roleplaying sessions and that they collect the actual models (http://www.warcry.com/news/view/126302-Warhammer-40k-Eternal-Crusade-Lead-Level-Designer-Runs-a-Live-Campaign-in-40ks-Dark-Heresy-Setting). At least they have a somewhat better understanding of the fluff than Relic did (Khorne Sorcerer ftw).

 

[Smeatza]

HERESY
YOU HAVE TO PAY TO FIGHT ON THE SIDE OF OUR GLORIOUS EMPEROR?
XENO SCUM IS FREE TO PLAY? WHILE THE FORCES OF OUR GLORIOUS EMPEROR HIDE BEHIND PRICE TAGS?
THIS WILL NOT STAND, WE SHALL SMITE THIS "Behaviour" FROM THIS UNIVERSE IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR, beloved by all.

OT: My main experience of the Warhammer 40K universe is my collection of Warhammer 40K novels, which I love.
The only Warhammer 40K game I've played is Dawn of War 2 and that did a miserable job of capturing the feel and tone of the Warhammer 40K universe that you get in the books.
I'm not confident that this game will do much better, therefore I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[Elfgore]

Sounds... really bad. Just make a Mag like game or something and don't label it a mmorpg. That title for a game brings more hate then joy. The design sounds really shitty too. Only orks f2p, better join the orcs as a nob then to have plenty of bullet shields.

And release Dawn of War 3 and Warhammer Fantasy total war! We all want them.

 

[Jynthor]

So, I read the FAQ and this seems pretty neat:

What business model will the game use?

Although it?s still under consideration, the current plan is that Eternal Crusade will be ?premium with a free-to-play option.? By purchasing a copy of the game, you will have access to it forever with no need for a subscription. There will be post-launch expansions, as well as a cash shop for customization & convenience items. If you don?t want to buy the box, you can still try the game as a free-to-play version of an Ork character. As opposed to the premium Orks, your progression will be slower and some options will be locked off, but you?ll be able to go anywhere and fight for the Waaagh! If you like it but still don?t want to pay the full price, you can unlock some of the missing options with microtransactions.



Anyway, I hope they'll add Sisters of Battle because all factions besides Eldar are total sausage fests.

 

[kingthrall]

As a fan of Warhammer 40k, I can honestly say I don't see anything even remotely compelling about this game. I'm sorry, I just don't. I don't want a WH40k MMO, I want a proper 40k game (or games), not another Warhammer: Age of Reckoning. That game blew. And I don't have anything remotely approaching high hopes that this might be anything else than an unmitigated disaster.

First of all, we have a dubious developer. Sure, Behaviour has a long line of titles under their belt... 90% of which are shitty movie/cartoon tie-ins. Yeah, that inspires confidence. Best I can say about them is that they did WET, which was mediocre at best, mostly saved by its fairly original grindhouse theme.

Next, the game was tossed around in development hell for quite a while, lost its original devs, at one time it was being retooled as a single-player game... Let's be honest, stories like this tend to turn out badly. VERY badly.

Thirdly, I don't feel that 40k is a good setting for an MMO. The activities that you end up doing in an MMO just don't fit in the setting. Please, don't point out a line in the interview to "prove me wrong" by quoting what the dev said. I don't care. I've heard devs (MMO devs in particular) promise the heavens and usually deliver a shabby WoW clone.

Fourth, I'm just tired of seeing promising games going to shit because "hurr durr! let's make in an MUMMORPUGER!". Secret World, The Old Republic, Age of Reckoning... the list goes on and on. All games that would have been vastly better as normal games instead of MMOs. All that I've seen about this game leads me to believe that at best it's in this category.

All in all, I'm just not seeing anything promising and will assume this will be a gross misuse of a franchise I love. Not because I'm cynical or anything like that, but simply because that is the vastly more likely outcome. Until I see something concrete, I'm calling it - this will suck massive donkey balls.

You are bang on the money, I would rather see a decent stratergy game like Dawn of war Soulstorm which had EVERY RACE and had nearly everything perfect about that game, it took them only 2 expansions to get the game going properly (winter assault + Dark crusade) but in the end it was awesome.

The fact is, I hate MMO ive tried to get interested in MMO and the quality of gameplay is severely depleted catering to the "farming factor" and Player Vs Player action.

If the Warhammer franchise was ever to be done properly and they actually had a brain they should go and do Mordheim as a game as you have limitless choices of creatures and npc's that can be introduced. For those who do not know mordheim I suggest you look it up.

Oh and as for Jynthor I agree that warhammer needs to open up more to having more female characters. There used to be plenty of female characters such as the female commisars, slannesh demonites and female dwarves ect. Its only because Games workshop have been going downhill ever since they screwed over their sculptors and moved onto cheap plastic toys instead of the metal cast miniatures of old.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Until I see how the whole thing plays there just isn't enough information to comment, but in general MMOs aren't my thing anymore because they just lack in every single aspect.

 

[Vedrenne]

The Eternal Crusade website (http://www.eternalcrusade.com/#) has now moved to Phase 3, wherein the team are introduced and it makes somewhat confused as to whether or not I should be optimistic or pessimistic that the design team are all avid table top players, but I suppose I cannot fault their enthusiasm:

Source - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brMfsxMs5F4

 

[Windcaler]

Cant say Im to excited really. As much as I would love to get away from the Imperium of man I really doubt many people know how to write a good story for orks, eldar, or chaos (let alone Tau, necrons, etc). The closest relic got was a neat Ork story with Dawn of war 2 retribution but I wasnt really enthusiastic about the others race stories

The other thing is while 40k makes a good MMO in theory, when put into practice it quickly falls apart. I really dont think you can do a MMO for the setting. For one you would have to do spatial combat similar to raiderz or Tera, two you would have to have vast and detailed worlds with their individual cultures, third space travel would have to be a major part of it. I dont even know how you would balance a race like the Tyranids that are essentially organic borg, one voice and one mind with no individuals. It also takes away the chance to build your own chapter, craft world, hive, etc with unique colors, history, and more. One of my favorite memories about 40k was coming up with crazy color schemes and histories for the various races.

It seems to me that theres just more interesting things you can do with the setting besides an MMO. Space marine was a step in the right direction and to be honest I would love to see a game like that where your an upcoming Nob in an ork warband. Dawn of war 2 is IMO the best RTS Ive ever played. Yet Devs could do so much more. Do a master of orion theme where you take control of one of the races and explore/conquer the galaxy. Do an Omerta theme where you build a new chapter of space marines, Hive fleet of tyranids, etc. Do a game based around an inquisitor investigating a claim of heresy. Do a stealth/spy type game where you play an Eldar decieving the other races into fighting so they dont threaten your craft world. Do anything but another MMO, as much as I want more sci-fi MMOs I just dont think 40k fits for that genre

 

[Vedrenne]

Cant say Im to excited really. As much as I would love to get away from the Imperium of man I really doubt many people know how to write a good story for orks, eldar, or chaos (let alone Tau, necrons, etc). The closest relic got was a neat Ork story with Dawn of war 2 retribution but I wasnt really enthusiastic about the others race stories

The other thing is while 40k makes a good MMO in theory, when put into practice it quickly falls apart. I really dont think you can do a MMO for the setting. For one you would have to do spatial combat similar to raiderz or Tera, two you would have to have vast and detailed worlds with their individual cultures, third space travel would have to be a major part of it. I dont even know how you would balance a race like the Tyranids that are essentially organic borg, one voice and one mind with no individuals. It also takes away the chance to build your own chapter, craft world, hive, etc with unique colors, history, and more. One of my favorite memories about 40k was coming up with crazy color schemes and histories for the various races.

It seems to me that theres just more interesting things you can do with the setting besides an MMO. Space marine was a step in the right direction and to be honest I would love to see a game like that where your an upcoming Nob in an ork warband. Dawn of war 2 is IMO the best RTS Ive ever played. Yet Devs could do so much more. Do a master of orion theme where you take control of one of the races and explore/conquer the galaxy. Do an Omerta theme where you build a new chapter of space marines, Hive fleet of tyranids, etc. Do a game based around an inquisitor investigating a claim of heresy. Do a stealth/spy type game where you play an Eldar decieving the other races into fighting so they dont threaten your craft world. Do anything but another MMO, as much as I want more sci-fi MMOs I just dont think 40k fits for that genre

1) Tyranids won't be playable, they'll be used by the dev team to maintain some form of balance between the factions.
2) The Dev team have said that they have plans for a metric tonne of customisation for players, albeit the majority will be through the game store.
3) This game is being designed to play like Space Marine, but with the other factions being playable. The game is an MMOTPS, not an MMORPG.
4) Although I would sell my left kidney to see Battlefleet Gothic in video game form, especially as GW has stopped stocking all the specialist games, the game that is being worked on right now is being made around "There is only WAR.". If you read some of the interviews in the original post, you can see that the Dev team are trying to create a game that breaks new ground in the MMOTPS genre.

Edit: I feel like I should apply to be their press agent, for all the over-hyping i'm doing for there game.

 

[Vedrenne]

The lead programmer for Eternal Crusade has been/is involved in a Q&A thread on a Warhammer 40k forum, offering an insight into development:

Source - http://www.battle-brothers.net/forum/page/1/m/1897696/viewthread/8203939-questions-get-them-answered-by-devs

 

[Vedrenne]

More news, this time detailing the server tech to be used and a general press release about the game by Behaviour Studios;

Server Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/14/idUSnCCN64ZR2r+1cc+MKW20130814

Press Release Source: http://www.bhvr.com/en/news/2013/06/11/

 

[Vedrenne]

Another Q&A session is ongoing all this week, being chaired by the Lead Level Designer for Eternal Crusade, answering alot of questions already, some of which were raised in this thread:

Source - http://steamcommunity.com/groups/78832/discussions/0/864976115755930454/#p1

 

[Vedrenne]

It's a necro, but a well needed/deserved necro.

MMORPG.com recently had a look at the current state of EC, they've already released a short 1min 30sec video on youtube showing the proof of concept/demo that Behaviour Studio's have been letting publishers have a gander at...

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MumYPtiRaw

...They will be uploading an actual gameplay video at some point today or tomorrow, which looks to be quite promising.

 

[Dragonlayer]

Bumping for the greater good.

XENOS FILTH!

I love 40K and I loved Warhammer Online so this looks like a winning scenario for me BUT I do hope the scenery is much less colourful than that game and I seriously hope the combat at least tries to capture the furious action of the universe instead of the bog-standard "Lets take it in turns to clobber one another!" MMORPG combat. I also demand playable Guard damnit! And NOT bloody Cadians for a change!

But for all that, I still wish there would be a proper and in-depth RPG set in either universe, perhaps as an Inquisitor/Witch Hunter on an ultimate quest to stop some Chaos related evil but in such a way that the story branches out with black and grey moral choices and the freedom to explore a significant chunk of either setting.