Relic's Next Title Announced! - "Warhammer 40k: Space Marine"

[General Toddster]

Today, infos about Relic news game were released exclusively on IGN, surprisingly it wont be a strategy game and it wont be for PC, it will be an Action-RolePlayingGame based on the 40k universe and for XBox360 and PS3 only. Read more below.
 
From IGN:
 
US, May 27, 2009 - Homeworld. Dawn of War. Company of Heroes. In the world of PC gaming, these are big names. While Relic might not be widely known as a console developer, it's not entirely unfamiliar with the territory. The Outfit, an over-the-top World War II action game focused on multiplayer mayhem, was put out for Microsoft's Xbox 360 very early on in that console's life cycle, and was met with a moderate amount of praise. Now the company is again dipping into Games Workshop's gleefully violent and chaotic Warhammer 40,000 universe and preparing something new, this time only for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Utilizing a proprietary engine and being built by a new console-focused team, Relic is busy putting together Space Marine, a third-person action-RPG. After seeing some early footage, it looks as though it's going to be as bloody as Warhammer 40K fans might expect, filled with large-scale battles, brutal weaponry, and frantic fighting.
 
In Space Marine you play as (surprise!) a Space Marine, a genetically enhanced super soldier engineered specifically to smash the faces of anything that gets in the way. We witnessed in the video a group of four Space Marines landing on an Imperial planet to fend off a massive incursion of Orks. If you have no idea what Warhammer 40,000 is, then you should just know that it's a universe within which numerous alien races are constantly killing each other in a spectacularly gory manner, and generally enjoying the process. Of the races included in the footage, the primary conflict involved a handful of Space Marines against seemingly overwhelming swarms of Orks. Near the end we also spotted a Carnifex, a towering agent of devastation and member of the Tyranid race. Relic would not say anything further about to what degree Tyranids will be in the game, so no word yet on exactly what's going on or what other races, if any, might be included. If you don't know what Tyranids are, they're a somewhat insect-like alien race that overwhelm and decimate whatever they happen upon. To get a better idea of what they're like, check out this feature for Dawn of War II, Relic's recently released PC-only real-time strategy game.
 
Back to the gameplay, the action appears to be fast, brutal, and bloody. It's still pretty early on, so specifics weren't plentiful, but it seems as though as a single Space Marine you'll move through the story and engage in some large-scale conflicts against mobs of enemies. Using power swords, chain swords, hammers, bolters, heavy bolters, and more it appears your Space Marine will have quite a few deadly tools to wipe out the Ork hordes from range or up close in melee. In addition to acquiring a number of types of weaponry, you'll also get some useful items that can help with taking out even bigger groups of baddies. We saw a jump pack that a Space Marine can equip and use to pop up into the air and slam down on the ground, sending Orks tumbling in all directions around the point of impact. There's also the potential to acquire and put to use more devastating items, which might include something like an orbital strike that sears a large swath of a planet's surface with a blast originating at an orbiting Space Marine ship. As for the level of gore, it appears Relic wants to make this game really bloody. Since the camera is right in close to the action, clouds of red will be billowing out from every sword slash or bolter round that makes a successful impact. In one part of the video, we even saw an Ork's head get cut in two after a particularly vicious slash. Relic would not, however, confirm or deny that dismemberment and decapitation was actually in the game, but we're hopeful.
 
Slicing through your enemies and progressing through the game will in some way unlock new armor and improve your statistics. Perhaps we'll see something similar to Relic's item drop system in Dawn of War II, where the occasional enemy and boss encountered in the battle would yield goodies. Or perhaps it'll just be a system where you're awarded with experience or points to boost your statistics after completing a mission. We don't know yet, as it sounds like all that type of thing is still being determined internally at the studio. We did get to see in the video a brief look at a character equip screen, which featured a few slots for inputting weapons, armor, and items, as well as progress bars for different statistics.
 
How exactly the game controls is another thing still under development. We asked whether it'd be a system where there were light and heavy attacks with modifiers for special abilities, or whether specific buttons would be tied to specific limbs, but we'll have to wait and see. Hopping into vehicles might be another option for your Space Marine. We can say we saw a Titan – a gigantic mechanized walker, strolling around toward the end of the video as an Ork warboss charged a group of Space Marines while a shockwave from a massive explosion in the background caused everything to shake and shudder.
 
One of the more interesting aspects of the game is the potential for multiplayer. We saw four Space Marines standing around, so the natural question to ask is if the game will support some kind of co-operative play online or locally. Unfortunately this isn't yet something Relic is yet talking about, though it was mentioned that multiplayer was going to be a major focus of the game.
 
It's still early, but the bits that THQ and Relic showed off of Space Marine definitely looked promising. For those hardcore Warhammer 40,000 fans, it seems like Relic is gearing up to deliver the kind of ferocity Games Workshop's universe is known for, though this time at a much more personal level. Instead of staring down at a battle like you would in Relic's Dawn of War real-time strategy games, this one lets you get right into the action and directly control how you want to tear up the opposition. For anyone who isn't necessarily all that familiar with Relic or Warhammer 40,000, this is still a game worth keeping an eye on, as there's a ton of interesting fiction that could be incorporated and, considering Relic's track record at least on the PC, you've got to at least believe the studio is capable of delivering a high-quality, entertaining experience.
 
There's no set release date right now for Space Marine, as Relic is still busy building the game and will spend the time required to bring it up to a level of polish they deem acceptable. It'll eventually be released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms.

[Maniac]

I really love RPGs, Warhammer is an interesting scenario for it, but why only for consoles? Making it for PC after the XBox isnt very hard...
 
It's disapointing.

[General Toddster]

Here is the first trailer, for those interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgPsiYiAAII

I'm interested in this only because I have a PS3. But it still could turn out bad, and that would put me off, of course. I hope they release some gameplay vids soon.

[Neo]

XBox and PS-3 only.....what makes me waiting for a CoH2 in 2020.

For now I withdraw to play the present CoH and sadly there is no sense full patch coming up. Even I can imagine that the console games are offering a better benefit and it is of course easier to develop games for a static hardware platform I was thinking that Relic is more focused on the PC.

Obvioulsy they are thinking that the DoW series needs a RPG release, leaving the RTS genre and getting new costumers by going that way.
Overall that makes me perplexed.....and it is a big dissapointment, but hey there are other promissing games coming up and there are also existing games with a functional support at the market.

[General Toddster]

I wonder if they have ditched DOW2 for this? Surely a small company like Relic can't be making 2 games at once. I would of thought a DOW2 expansion would be due early next year. What do you guys think?

[Maniac]

Not necessarily, console games are cheaper to produce, as you only need to do it for 2 hardware configurations (PS3 and XBox), that's why more and mor companies go there, fast money for less work. But they probably piss off (even more after the CoH-disaster and DoW2 balance) the old fanbase, dangerous try, me thinks.

[General Toddster]

Not all games are cheaper to produce on console. Killzone 2 was $21 million and it took 4 years to make. But still, I don't think this new game of Relic's will cost anywhere near that amount. You are probably right in the money aspect.

[General Toddster]

Relic has finally done to official blah blah's:

Warhammer 40,000’s Vast Science Fiction Universe To Make Action-RPG Console Debut

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. May 28, 2009 -- THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced Warhammer® 40,000™: Space Marine®, from renowned internal studio Relic® Entertainment, will bring Games Workshop’s (LSE: GAW) Warhammer 40,000 science fiction universe to life on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for the first time. The Action-RPG title will put players in control of individual units throughout a narrative-driven story campaign and in wide-scale online battles.  Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine will be unveiled at E3 2009 in THQ’s booth – number 5300 in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“The Warhammer 40,000 universe has a huge global following and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine will bring that world to life on the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems for the first time ever,” said Kevin Kraff, vice president, global brand management, THQ Inc.  “Relic Entertainment is leveraging years of experience developing games within the universe to create an Action-RPG experience unlike anything seen before.”

“Space Marine is an Action-RPG built from the ground up for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems, and will allow gamers to take control of individual units and fight in epic battles across the Warhammer 40,000 universe,” said Jonathan Dowdeswell, general manager, Relic Entertainment. “Relic has a deep understanding of the license based on our previous projects with Games Workshop, and our goal is to ensure Space Marine delivers the most intimate and brutal Warhammer 40,000 experience to date.”

 

About Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine takes place in the brutal, science fiction setting of Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 universe.  In the 41st Millennium, humanity faces extinction at the hands of horrific aliens and demonic hordes.  Only one force offers salvation, the superhuman Space Marines.  Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine is an intense Action-RPG featuring epic battles where players take direct control of the ultimate defender of humanity, the mighty Space Marine.  Space Marine is currently in development at THQ’s internal studio Relic Entertainment for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems.   In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war™…

 

About Games Workshop

Games Workshop is the world's largest tabletop wargames company.  Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures and distributes its range of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniature soldiers, novels and resin models through more than 330 of its own Hobby centers, mail order, Internet and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide.  Further details on the company can be obtained at www.games-workshop.com. Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000 Device, 40,000, Space Marine, the Double-headed Eagle device and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products, illustrations and images from the Space Marine game and the Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2009, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world, and used under license. All Rights Reserved.

 

About THQ


THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ, Relic Entertainment and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

“PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION”, “PS” Family logo and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Source: http://www.relic.com

[D.Quise]

Im looking forward to this game coming out. I have a 360 which has just sat collecting dust for too long need something worth playing on it

[Unlonge09]

It says GA will be having a make up prerelease at a different location. I called there and the guy said that the prerelease was last week. Was he wrong?