MMOs aren’t like other games. They’re closer to a lifestyle choice, for a lot of people defining how their spare time is spent, how their lives are lived. So if you criticise the game, you criticise the player. God knows there are plenty of non-MMO games that people treat as though they’re bound to their very souls - witness the pile-on for Eurogamer’s MGS4 review, or even the outrage about various RPS writers being down on Stalker: Clear Sky - but it’s even worse with MMOs. Telling a WAR player that his game is similar to WoW is like telling a goth that he’s emo. No-one wants to be told they’re not unique and interesting, to be dismissed as a stereotype they’re not.

WAR is not WoW. But it is a lot like it in a number of crucial ways, and for one essential reason: money. I suspect Mythic and EA aren’t too concerned about the comparison themselves - they might disagree with the sweeping generalisation, but if they didn’t want to be compared they would have gone for an entirely different interface and art approach. Saying WAR is like WoW is not the same as saying it’s a bad or a lazy game, but unfortunately there are guys who do intentionally make the comparison unfavourably, and that’s perhaps understandably made a lot of WAR fans very touchy.

Personally, I'm fascinated by the fan communities generated by MMOs, popular ones and not — not being much of an MMO player, I find 'people watching' to be more entertaining than the game in a lot of cases. I don't have the patience to wade through the original comment thread, but I'm pretty sure I could rattle off the general reaction with little prompting. Meer's thoughts, however, are deserving of a read.

A Dirty Word [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN OF WAR II - RHINO DIARY 1 [THQ, thanks Mike!]

A few months ago, Kieron Gillen sat down with Paul Barnett, EA Mythic's Creative Director, and has been posting bits and pieces of that interview session ever since; this week, we were treated to one of the best cynical descriptions of GDC ever. Barnett explains why, despite being asked to go, he declined the chance to go to GDC and went to the LIFT futurism festival instead:

I never go to GDC. But I was asked point blank why, as it seemed this year they were quite happy to take me to GDC. Mythic wanted me to go there. And I effectively said “Well, I don’t like GDC”. Which turned out to be the wrong thing to say. Apparently I’ve now learned that if you’re in the games industry, and someone says “GDC” what you’re supposed to do is say lots and lots of lovely things about how wonderful they are.

I went for it from the other point of view - I’m not going to GDC because it’s combative, it’s a peacock display and it’s full of people who do what I do or want to do what I do or are doing what I do and don’t want me to do it anymore. It’s not open-minded. It’s very narrow-minded. We’re all talking about the same thing. We’ve all sharpened our knives for years at it, so we get into… well, not a fight, but it’s always about the same things. We talk about design, mechanics, philosophy of design. All I was going to hear about was: WoW and the Activision merger. Whether Spore is going to be any good. How do I get into the games industry? Would you like a job? You’re going to be fired. Why don’t you start a label? I can get you a lot of money? There’s no money available in the market. What we need to do is form an independent development company. What we need to do is unionise. Is microtransactions really the way? What do you think of INSERT WHATEVER IDEA WAS.

The rest of the interview set currently posted is pretty interesting, and it's worth a read through — and not just for the scathing commentary on one of the premier events in the gaming world.

Barnett On: Why I Don’t Go To GDC [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II First Look [IGN]

Let me say that this game will be an RPG. That needs to be said, because when someone thinks of a Warhammer 40,000 MMO there is definitely some question as to the style of play: will it be an FPS, an RTS, or some other genre altogether? Relic has the RTS angle covered with the awesome Dawn of War series - we are making an RPG.

Got it? It's an RPG. Though, thankfully, not a terribly traditional one, as its combat sounds more Brothers In Arms than World of Warcraft, with the use of ranged weapons meaning you'll have to pay attention to things like cover, suppression fire, etc. Also touched on were the game's races ("...all of the races important to Warhammer 40,000 lore (not to mention the fans) will be represented"), it's setting within 40K's massive storyline and also NPCs and possible vehicle use.

Warhammer 40,000 Online [PC Gamer]

Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning Armies of WAR - High Elves and Dark Elves

The High Elves

"We the Asur are a noble people, our long and proud history stretching back to a time when Men were still fur clad savages. Living in our fair isle of Ulthuan, set in the centre of the Great Ocean, we are far removed from the petty squabbles of the lesser races. Here we are able to practice magic and our arts, perfecting them for no reason other than the sheer joy of it."

The High Elves are an ancient people with a history that spans millennia. While the ancestors of man were little more than cave-dwelling primitives, the Elves built magnificent cities of glittering silver and white marble on their island home of Ulthuan. Elven scholars and explorers were the first to chart the stars and sail the world's oceans. The Elves were also the first race to mount an organized defense against the invading hordes of Chaos, beginning a war that continues to the present day

Early in their struggles against the Ruinous Powers, the Elves discovered that negative emotions such as fear, rage, jealousy and greed serve to fuel and strengthen the power of Chaos. Since that time, the High Elves have struggled to keep their intense passions tightly under control. Though intelligent and enlightened, all Elves have the capacity for savage violence. In order to suppress this dangerous and unpredictable aspect of their psyche, the lords of Ulthuan continually strive to eliminate all extremes of emotion; in High Elf society, to surrender to anger or lust is to show weakness. As a result, the High Elves live by a strict regimen of rules and codes and embrace a way of life that emphasizes harmony, balance and inner peace.

Magic is the lifeblood of the High Elves. With millennia to hone their skills, it is little wonder that the Mages of Ulthuan are among the most powerful practitioners of magic in the world. Their thoughtful, meticulous approach to the study of combat, coupled with their patience and mental discipline makes the High Elves deadly fighters, as well. On the battlefield, High Elf swordsmen are graceful, lithe, and lethal when they detect a weakness in their adversaries.

The High Elves will need all of their wisdom and skill if they are to survive the Age of Reckoning. When Finubar, Phoenix King and ruler of Ulthuan, gathers his finest warriors and sets sail for the Old World to aid the beleaguered Empire, he is unaware that he and his allies are pawns in an elaborate plot designed to leave Ulthuan vulnerable to an invasion. As Finubar's fleet of longships pass beyond the horizon, vast shadows fall across the island of Ulthuan. The skies are darkened by a great swarm of Black Arks laden with hateful Dark Elf warriors seeking to reclaim their ancestral home and destroy forever their despised cousins, the High Elves.

The Dark Elves

"Hear my lord of the Druchii. From the distant Cathy to the usurped lands of our accursed kin, from the cold lands of Norsca to the steaming jungles of the Southlands, our armies are rightfully feared. We alone keep alive the great and noble traditions of our ancestors of Nagarythe. Only we follow the path laid by mighty Aenarion the Defender. Only we follow the true way."

Long ago, when Chaos was first unleashed upon the world, the Elven champion Aenarion drew the dread Sword of Khaine from its altar and used its terrible power to save his people from annihilation. When Aenarion died, his son Malekith was deemed unsuitable for the throne. Although he was a mighty warrior, a great sorcerer, a brilliant general and the rightful heir, many Elves opposed his coronation. They feared he was too focused on war, and potentially a de-stabilizing influence on the High Elf race. In retaliation, over many years Malekith engineered a terrible civil war that divided the race of Elves into two factions.

It was the High Elves who emerged victorious and drove the evil Dark Elves out from the ancestral home of their race. Under the leadership of Malekith the Witch King and his Sorceress mother Morathi, the Dark Elves sailed across the Great Western Ocean and founded for themselves a new kingdom in the northern reaches of the New World. This land they called Naggaroth, meaning 'land of chill'.

Unlike the High Elves, who continually seek to suppress their passions lest they be overcome by them, the Dark Elves willingly embrace their hedonistic nature. Dark Elf society emphasizes individualism, selfishness, and pride. They have little regard for one another and even less for the other races of the world, whom they see as potential slaves and subjects.

In battle, the ruthless warriors of Naggaorth blend Elven discipline with savagery and ferocity, for the patron deity of the Dark Elves is Kaela Mensha Khaine, the bloody-handed God and the Lord of Murder. Nowhere is this more evident that in the beautiful and deadly Witch Elves, who serve in the Temples of Khaine and revel in violence and bloodshed.

Since their expulsion from Ulthuan, the Dark Elves have desired nothing more than to return to Ulthuan and avenge their defeat, reclaiming the land they believe to be theirs by right. In the Age of Reckoning, Malekith learns of an impending Chaos invasion of the Empire and uses this knowledge to set in motion a chain of events that will leave the island home of the Elves defenseless against an invasion. At the Witch King's command, a great fleet of Black Arks - great floating islands laden with soldiers, monsters, and engines of war - sets sail across the sea to conquer the island kingdom of Ulthuan and fulfill the destiny denied the Druchii so long ago.

I love armored priests. One of the main things I think EQ does better than WoW is allow their healers to wear plate mail instead of confining them to frilly dresses. Warhammer not only allows plate mail and skirts, Warrior Priests can dual wield hammers. Hell. Yeah. Michael Fahey

And oh look, they are coming to Atlanta in April evil grin).

What follows is their press release and schedule, which spans the New York Comic-Con later this month all the way to PAX in August. We all know EA is hungry to be number one, so I expect this will just be the tip of the iceberg on what is sure to be a massive push to get Age of Reckoning firmly planted in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. Michael Fahey

WAAAGH! THE ARMIES OF "WARHAMMER(R) ONLINE" MARCH TO GREET FANS AT EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Play the Highly-Anticipated MMO and Get a Chance to Enter the Beta At Events Throughout 2007

EA Mythic today announced the schedule of 2007 events where fans can preview "Warhammer(R) Online: Age of Reckoning(TM)." The highly-anticipated MMORPG will be playable in cities across the United States, and gamers will be given access to the MMO's revolutionary Realm vs. Realm(R) combat. At each event, 50 lucky people will be guaranteed access to the "Warhammer Online" beta.

** 2007 Schedule of Events for "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" **
(Event schedule subject to change)

February 23-25
New York, NY - New York Comic-Con
Jacob Javits Center

April 28
Atlanta, GA - Games Day Atlanta
Georgia International Convention Center

May 5
Toronto, ON - Games Day Canada
Metro Toronto Convention Center

June 23
Baltimore, MD - Games Day Baltimore
Baltimore Convention Center

July 5-8
Columbus, OH - Origins Game Expo
Greater Columbus Convention Center

July 26-29
San Diego, CA - Comic-Con
San Diego Convention Center

July 28
Chicago, IL - Games Day Chicago
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

August 11
Los Angeles, CA - Games Day LA
Ontario Convention Center

August 16-19
Indianapolis, IN - GenCon Indy
Indiana Convention Center

August 24-26
Seattle, WA - The Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)
The Washington State Convention & Trade Center

For complete details on the time and location of each "Warhammer Online" event, please visit: http://www.warhammeronline.com/english/community/eventsCalendar/

Scheduled for release in late 2007, "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" is a Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) based on Games Workshop's popular fantasy universe and table-top game, Warhammer. The game features Realm vs. Realm combat, EA Mythic's unique take on Player vs. Player action, as well an innovative Public Quest System and City Siege Campaign. For more information, please visit www.warhammeronline.com.

Games Workshop, Warhammer, Age of Reckoning and all images, races and characters from the Warhammer universe are either TM and/or Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2007, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. All rights reserved.

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As producer Dylan Jobe explained, the development team knew for awhile to expect something surprising from Sony with the new controller, and it came up with design ideas over a long period of time, but it was only in the past 10 days or so that it was able to actually physically implement the idea and get the game running with the new control scheme.

The wording on this statement is a tad vague, but what Incognito seems to be claiming is that they were warned by Sony ahead of time that there would be some undisclosed change to the controller, then found themselves forced to mock something up at the last minute. Which they did, but apparently it will only be usable within the confines of steering Warhawk's vehicles... there aren't any plans to introduce the motion sensitive controls to out-of-vehicle game play. Probably for the best... it may be intuitive to steer in a given direction by tilting a controller when speeding along in a virtual vehicle, but moving a joystick around feels more natural when you're perambulating along.

Incognito talks up Warhawk [1UP]

The Warhammer guys are really putting Blizzard to shame with their CGI trailers these days. This one for the upcoming PC RTS Warhammer: Mark of Chaos was done by Digic Pictures, who also worked on digitially buffing the abs of a certain pudgy California governor in Terminator 3.