Chaos Rises next spring, when THQ releases the next chapter in the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War saga, Chaos Rising. The Chaos Space Marines, a dark mirror to the regular, non-chaotic but sometimes a bit untidy Space Marines, are a new playable army for Dawn of War. Battling the traitorous he traitorous Space Marines of the Black Legion is only the beginning, as THQ's vice president of global brand management Kevin Kraff explains.

"Chaos Rising delivers a tremendous amount of new content, including the powerful Chaos Space Marines, new multiplayer maps and units, a new level cap and a continuation of the Blood Ravens single player campaign. Relic's passion for the Warhammer 40,000 universe and talent in crafting innovative RTS games will ensure Chaos Rising is an engaging experience that will advance the franchise and genre."

Yes, there will be new units across all armies, and the level cap is being upped from 20 to 30. With that much more power on the battlefield, Chaos Rising couldn't be a more appropriate name. THQ is aiming for a spring 2010. Those of you interested in a sneak peek can check out the December issue of PC Gamer, due out in the middle of next month.

The LA Times' Charles Proctor reports that, amidst concerns surrounding China's laws forbidding any reference to the Nazi party, THQ have rebranded the Germans in this new CoH title as "The Federation".

They've also removed any and all instances of the Iron Cross emblem, which fans will know can be found on pretty much every single German vehicle and structure in the game.

Despite these sweeping visual edits, THQ's online boss Steve Dauterman promises the actual game mechanics of the German side will remain untouched.

Now, I'm normally not one to criticise regional edits like this, but...they do know that there already were no references to the Nazi party in the game? And that the Iron Cross is the symbol of the German armed forces, was before the Nazi party, and remains so to this day?

All of Relic's recent RTS titles - Company of Heroes (and all its expansions), Dawn of War (and all its expansions) and Dawn of War II - will be 50% off on Steam from now until the end of the weekend.

The whole thing is to celebrate the release of Dawn of War II's "There is Only War" update (which is included if you pick up DowII), but really, we're pointing this out because you can grab the best game of the bunch - the original Company of Heroes - for a crazy $7.50.

Called the "World Builder", it'll allow you to "create, edit, and play" on your own maps, which you've built from the ground up. Terrain, objects, nodes, weather, the works. The World Builder will ship with a demo map, along with documentation to help get you started.

While you're stuck with the four basic terrain types from the game - jungle, city, desert and Tyranid gloop - this is free. And by the looks of it, pretty damn extensive.

Relic announced today the "There is Only War" update, which sometime "this summer" is going to introduce some new multiplayer features to the game, including eight new multiplayer maps, a spectator mode and a range of balance changes to the game's units.

Sadly, it doesn't appear any of the maps are truly "new" in the sense they feature new environments or terrain, but then, this update will be free. You can't argue with free. To test out the changes, existing DoWII players will be able to enter an open beta for the update, details on which will be released in a few weeks' time.

A few things to note: while the original material suggested that "THQ Australia" were working on the game, the official announcement says that Dawn of War and Company of Heroes developers Relic are behind it. Strange. Also, while the original title was clearly an action game, this one has really upped the number of on-screen enemies (as you can see in the clip below), in line with its apparent shift in genre from brawler to action-RPG.

If you'd like to know anything else about the game, tough: as with IGN's other pre-E3 "exclusives", the announcement consists of an announcement then a whole bunch of "this developer isn't disclosing this information at this time", so we'll have to wait until next week to learn more/anything.

UPDATE 1- A post on Relic's boards says that this title is not the same game that was leaked in that video from last year. That clip was "for an action title Studio Aus was working on. This is a totally different project, though it does share the same name as the leaked video used."

Sounds like the action game in development at THQ Australia may have been binned, then shifted to Relic and cannibalised for parts. We'll look into it, see if the action game is still being worked on or not.

UPDATE 2 - Yup. Sources have told us that the original action title was cancelled, but that THQ thought some parts were worth salvaging, and handed the leftovers over to Relic to turn into this action RPG.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine First Look [IGN]

Included in the update are some new maps, new game options, AI fixes, user interface changes, improvements to the game's replay mode and a whole slew of minor technical repairs.

For the full, exhaustive run-down of what's included, hit the link below.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Update Released [Steam]

Both maps are built for the game's new 2v2 multiplayer mode, and while there's nothing terribly new about them (they're both built using Calderis assets, so no new terrain or buildings), Relic do promise that they've been custom built to take advantage of the new 2v2 gameplay.

The first map, Medean Cliff Mines, is built around a central hub, while the second, Ruins of Argus, is basically an "urban" map offering lots of buildings and cover.

These include an all-new multiplayer mode (2v2), two new maps to support this mode, improved skirmish AI, push-to-talk voice chat, new "squad decorators" and "significant UI improvements". New squad decorators? You know, Relic, being able to paint each squad individually would be awesome.

Those are apparently just some of the additions being made to the game, with Relic to reveal more over the coming days/weeks.

If you head to the game's store page on Steam, you can pick up a copy of the entire soundtrack, which aside from having a lovely cover is in high-quality 320kps quality. Nice touch.

It's available in a 193MB .rar archive file from here.

So it's handy that Relic have released a demo of the game!

It'll let players still on the fence about the whole thing get a feel for the sweeping changes made to the game, without having to risk their hard-earned, recession-riddled cash. If you like your tactics with a healthy dose of RPG, great. If you prefer your strategy a little "straighter", save your cash.

The demo is a well-rounded 333MB, and if you like what you see, you can take advantage of a Steam sale running at the moment whereby Dawn of War II is selling for 25% off.

But while Dawn of War II's changes - namely dropping army sizes and increasing RPG elements - worked wonders for the Warhammer title, it was an all-new game. It could afford to experiment. Company of Heroes, on the other hand, is an existing title. And one of the most loved RTS games of all time at that.

Isn't messing with that formula a little dangerous?

Hated
Direct Fire: One of the expansion's hot new features is something called "direct fire". It means that, for tanks and heavy weapons, you can take direct control of the turret or gun and do the aiming yourself. Sounds great! In reality, it's rubbish. It's used extensively in one of the three new campaigns, but outside of that, it just doesn't work. It's too cumbersome to do both the movement and aiming yourself, and switching between units and control schemes takes far too long in the heat of battle.

Short Stories Of Valor: The game's previous expansion, Opposing Fronts, brought some excellent campaigns and two new factions to the game. Tales of Valor brings nine short missions spread across three short campaigns. It's so short, in fact, that I finished the whole thing in a single sitting. Right between morning tea and lunch. What's more, the missions are not only short, they're simple, mostly involving only a handful of units (only the last campaign really gives you big battles). This worked in Dawn of War II because you swapped units for characters. In ToV, they're still just units. Only, you have less of them.

Cutting Corners: Whether it's because the expansion was rushed, that Relic were busy with Dawn of War II or just don't care about Company of Heroes any more, Tales of Valor feels rough. There are more AI glitches in the campaign than usual. The art and cutscenes - normally a strongpoint of Relic games - aren't up to the company's lofty standards. And the singleplayer scripting and mission design is basic, thin, stripped of the bombast and timing of previous levels.

Oh Relic. Company of Heroes wasn't broke! So you shouldn't have "fixed" it! Because when you consider "fixing" to be removing the complexity, polish and pacing of one of the best tactical RTS games of all time, and replacing it with micro-campaigns and misguided notions of arcade action, it makes us upset.

If you're new to the series, though, don't mind the fact this micro-review is all "hated". It's just this expansion that's not up to scratch. Despite the addition of some new vehicles for multiplayer (which are disappointingly just "replacements" for existing units), some new game modes (including the enjoyable "stonewall", which is basically a Horde mode) and a few new maps, you'd be far better off investing your time and money in the original title and first expansion, which are two of the finest games to ever grace the PC. This release, however, goes straight in the "nice try, but no dice" basket.

Company Of Heroes: Tales Of Valor was developed by Relic Software and published by THQ for the PC, released on April 9. Retails for $29.99 USD. Completed all three campaigns.

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The map is called Tiber Outpost, and is geared towards six-player matches.

As for the patch, you can read a full list of the changes below:

===============================
Patch 1.2.1
===============================

PVP

• New Team Battle map added! "(6p) Tiber Outpost" is now available for play.

PvP Gameplay

• Implemented final fixes for the Population Cap issue as noted in Patch 1.1.3. This included reverting the temporary changes made in Patch 1.1.3.

• Tyranid Warrior Adrenal Gland upgrade damage reduced from 52 to 40

• Energy Shields no longer regenerate while active – This includes the Zoanthrope, Falcon, Hive Tyrant, Warlock, Force Commander, Mekboy and Techmarine

• Energy Shield conversion modifier reduced from .2 to .25

• Energy Shields now have an 8 second toggle on / toggle off time.

• Falcon Energy regeneration reduced from 3 to .5

• Melee damage reduction versus Rippers reduced from .25 to .3

• Zoanthrope Focus Blast now immobilizes vehicles for 12 seconds from 15

• Guardian Battle Equipment cost increased to 50/15 from 40/10

• Carnifex cost increased to 600/135 from 550/125

• Tactical Sergeant's melee special attack reduced to 28 from 50

• "And They Shall Know No Fear" now debuffs Tactical Marine melee damage by .6

• Spore Mines can no longer enter Ravener Tunnels and Webway Gates

• Warp Spider deathspinner damage increased from 20 to 30

• Warp Spider Exarch dual deathspinner damage increased from 30 to 35

Achievements

• Fixed an issue where campaign completion achievements were sometimes not awarded

Ranking and Online Stats

• Fixed an issue where players were awarded a win in Ranked multiplayer matches after modifying local files.

Matchmaking

• Fixed an issue with automatching code to help provide better quality matches based on TrueSkill™ Rankings.

• Fixed an issue allowing players with mismatched data to be grouped together.

Miscellaneous

• Updated BugSplat error reporting to new version.

Relic Entertainment's real-time strategy World War II masterpiece gets a healthy dose of new content with the Men of Valor standalone expansion, now available at retail, on Steam, and any number of digital delivering PC game stores around the internet. The box, be it digital or physical, contains three new single player campaigns, three new multiplayer modes, new units, new maps, and a direct-fire features that allows players to point and fire.

The new Invasion mode sounds particularly interesting, with a small force taking on increasingly powerful waves of enemies. It's like a real-time strategy version of Gears of War 2's Horde mode, only without all the chain sawing.

While every other major publisher on the planet, from Nintendo to Activision to EA are all clamouring to get a piece of this mythical, limitless casual market, THQ believe (Big Beach Sports aside) a different course of action is required.

Speaking at Wedbush Morgan Securities' annual conference earlier today, THQ boss Brian Farrell said:

We've been in this business a long time. [We've had] 13 years of profitable growth in a row... a return to profitability is top of mind to us. How? With the core gamers, it's matter of focus... fewer but higher-quality core.

As an example, Farrell reminds us that the first Dawn of War was only released on PC (no cash-printing console ports), yet has still gone on to sell over four million copies. Throw in THQ's (and by THQ, we mean flagship developer Relic's) other key franchises, Company of Heroes and the recently-purchased Homeworld rights, and that's one hell of a high-quality core.

THQ's Farrell Aims For Core Market [Gamasutra]

Calling upon the same global sales data that we used to get those handy worldwide sales charts from, it's been revealed that upon release, the game went to the top spot in the US, Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Australia.

In case you missed our review, such success is entirely deserved.

Dawn of War II debuts at top of global PC charts [VG247]

One of the expansion's three new campaigns - in which you take command of an SS tank at the Battle of Villers-Bocage - sees you taking direct control of the tank's turret, and over the course of the missions you can "level up" the gunner, driver, etc. A lot like you can in Dawn of War II.

Those upset at the kind of direction Dawn of War II went in, then, may not want to watch the clip below.

Sort of.

Fans of Relic's previous two games will be surprised to find that Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II bears little resemblance to either. Where Dawn of War shot for Warhammer's sense of epic warfare and came up short, this game goes in the opposite direction, forgoing scale for intimacy as you find yourself in command of an army of...eleven men.

Which is tiny. Teeny tiny. Definitely not the sort of thing you expect from a real-time strategy game. Which is lucky, then, because Dawn of War II isn't really a real-time strategy game. Least, not one like you've ever seen before.

Loved
Level Up - You'll only end up commanding between 8-11 men in the game, split over four "squads", and those four squads are led by heroes. Don't think of these heroes as RTS pawns. Think of them as RPG party members. They have names, they never really die, and between missions their attributes can be levelled up to make them more formidable. You'll grow very, very attached to them.

Loot Drop - The RPG similarities continue with loot, which is dropped throughout missions. You'll get better weapons and better armour for killing bad guys, which can then be used in later missions. Because the game is built on such a small scale, these items can actually be seen on your men in battle (oh, look, he's carrying his new Heavy Bolter!), which is a real kick.

Homeless - Unlike previous Relic games, Dawn of War II has no buildings. Your men are dropped into a mission, and that's it. No unit building ,no resource gathering, you don't even need to hold command posts. It's just you, your men and the mission at hand, which is really, really liberating.

Choose Your Own Adventure - Giving RTS players a choice between 1-2 missions is nothing new, but giving you a choice between 2-4 missions on each of 3 planets is. Such choice means if you wake up one day and only want to fight Orks (each enemy army plays a very different game), just fly to a planet with an Ork mission and you're set.

Not One Game, But Two - All this RPG talk of loot and levels applies only to the singleplayer campaign. Multiplayer matches are more like those found in Company of Heroes or Dawn of War, with units to be built, strongholds to be upgraded and command points to be held. This effectively means you're almost getting two games for the price of one.

Rock, Paper, Chainsword - Aside from your "avatar" character, a Space Marine Force Commander, you can only take three of the game's five other squads/heroes into battle with you. And each of these squads have wildly varying strengths and weaknesses, meaning you not only have tough strategic decisions to make when deciding who to take on a mission, but flexible tactical options at your disposal once on it.

Hated
Wash, Rinse, Repeat - Most missions involve you having to fight your way across a map to fight a boss (yes, this game even has boss fights). Actually, 95% of missions have you doing this, and while it's a blast, some more variety would have been nice, especially when the few defensive missions in the game prove to be the game's most enjoyable.

If what you've read above makes the game sound like a rich, creamy Diablo/Warcraft III/Company of Heroes soup, well, that's because that's exactly what it is. One minute you'll be using cover and flanking like Company of Heroes, the next you'll be using special powers to bring down a colossal boss character, the next you'll be collecting loot off its corpse and improving your "party" with it.

Which makes this an amazing game to play. It's like Relic have taken some of the most addictive and endearing elements of both real-time strategy and role-playing genres and smashed them together, the resulting game something that's able to appeal to fans of both genres without alienating either.

Warhammer 40000: Dawn Of War II was developed by Relic and published by THQ for the PC. It was released on February 19, and retails for $50. Played single player campaign to completion, played multiple skirmish battles online. Did not play co-op campaign, which game also features.

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