E3 2006 Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Interview

Less than a year ago at E3 2005, Mythic Entertainment signed a deal to bring Games Workshop's table top war game Warhammer to the MMORPG genre. Now at E3 2006 they are preparing to show off more of the long awaited game. FiringSquad got a chance to ask some questions of the Warhammer Online team (a joint interview which the team did not want attributed to a single person) to find out more about their plans for the game.

FiringSquad: First, there has already been one attempt to turn Warhammer into an MMORPG. Why do you think that version did not come about and how will Mythic avoid the fate of the first game?
Mythic Entertainment: While we can’t comment on the fate of the Climax game, building MMORPG’s is Mythic’s specialty (it’s all we do!) so the future of this game has never been in question. The company has over ten years of experience building online games, with almost five years having been spent working on Dark Age of Camelot. That’s many years worth of learning that we are applying to the development of WAR. In addition, we have a solid technology base from which to work so we aren’t building completely from scratch. Finally, the team has a clear and realistic vision for the design and scope of the game that was fully fleshed out in pre-production. All of these factors mean we’ll be able to deliver an exciting MMO that is true to the Warhammer universe by Q4 2007
FiringSquad: How much input does Games Workshop give in the development of the game?
Mythic Entertainment: Mythic has licensed the Warhammer property from Games Workshop, and they have been a fantastic partner in the development of WAR. Games Workshop chose to work with Mythic based on our success with Dark Age of Camelot, and because both companies shared a vision of what this game could be. They have given us the freedom to build a next generation MMO based on our own design. They go out of their way to provide us with the necessary guidance and feedback to make sure the game captures the essence of the Warhammer universe. We value their input and ideas because there are some insanely creative individuals at Games Workshop and we’d be crazy not to use them as a resource for the game.
FiringSquad: What will make this game different than all the other MMORPGs out there, including your own Dark Age of Camelot?
Mythic Entertainment: Apart from the Warhammer license, it is the Realm vs. Realm (RvR) game play that sets WAR apart from other MMORPG’s. It truly makes you feel as if you are immersed in the ongoing war that engulfs the land. First introduced in Dark Age of Camelot, RvR is Mythic’s unique take on Player vs. Player (PvP) combat. At its heart, RvR centers on group-based, goal-oriented PvP battles. As a player, you are never fighting on your own, but as part of a larger army. As a result, everything you do in the game not only benefits your character, but also your army and your realm.
In WAR, this includes Player vs. Environment (PvE) missions as well. We are taking Camelot’s RvR game play a step further by integrating PvE content into the system. For the first time, you’ll find PvP combat and PvE missions on the same map and the completion of PvE missions aids your army in the ongoing war. The inclusion of new PvE Public Quests (Army-wide cooperative quests) and Conflict Quests (competitive PvE quests) to RvR really adds to the feeling that you taking part in a massive, ongoing war effort.
FiringSquad: What can you tell us about the game's art style and graphics?
Mythic Entertainment: We have chosen an art direction for the game that we believe best captures the look and feel of the Warhammer universe, a property that is almost 25 years old with an abundance of rich material for us to reference. You get a good amount of detail in the characters and the world without it ever looking too plastic. For our characters, our artists use what we call the 20 ft. rule – you should be able to see everything you need to know about a character, including all the details and customization, from 20 feet away. We are less concerned about customizing the shape of a character’s eyes or chin, and instead focused on differentiating the “silhouette” of the individual character. It is about what you add to the character that makes them unique in the game world. Orcs can adorn their armor with massive spikes, skulls, Dwarf beards, etc. Dwarfs get medallions, ale tankards, pipes, and other trophies. In addition, characters of different ranks will be differentiated from each other in physical ways. Orcs will grow in size and stature, while Dwarfs’ beard will get longer and fuller as they become more powerful. From 20 feet away, you be able to see just how powerful someone is based on their physical appearance. (This is extremely important in an RvR game when you’re hunting around for your next fight!) Combine all of this with customizable armor (in terms of color and configuration) and a visual guild system, and you’ll have a world of truly unique individuals.
FiringSquad: The MMORPG genre has changed and expanded so much in the last few years. Do you think there will be room enough for Warhammer to gain an audience?
Mythic Entertainment: Absolutely. One of the obvious things that we found attractive about the Warhammer license was the quarter century’s worth of current and former players. Many of them are also big computer gamers and would love to experience Warhammer in an entirely new way. In addition, Mythic has a sizeable following of current and former Dark Age of Camelot players that are interested in what we are doing next. They are looking to see how we take RvR to the next level and we hope they all give WAR a try. (They won’t be disappointed!) In addition, with every MMO released, new players are brought into the genre for the first time. Some of them may not stick around, but the majority of them are going to be hooked and keep their eyes open for the next great MMO to come along. When they find it, they’ll play it. There may not be room in the market for every MMO currently in development, but there is certainly room for WAR.
FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning?
Mythic Entertainment: To learn more about the game, please visit our official website: www.warhammeronline.com. It is constantly being updated with new information and materials. More importantly, you can also find out how to get into the beta test (coming this fall)!