Rumorang: Warhammer Online heading to consoles
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Dec 28th 2006 at 4:25PM }
A recent EA Mythic job listing has renewed speculation that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR) is being co-developed for consoles, likely Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The listing calls for a 'Warhammer Console' producer who will lead the production and design of a "title being developed across next generation console platforms for the online MMORPG market." While WAR is not explicitly named, it's certainly implied.With this revelation, comes a mess of questions: what effect, if any, would console versions have on WAR for PC? Would the projects be wholly separated? Or would bits and pieces from each version be sacrificed to simplify cross-platform development and keep the overall budget down?
[Thanks, Ves]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Franky Digital @ Dec 28th 2006 4:34PM
Given the simplicity of Xbox 360 / PC correlation (especally with Xbox Live Anywhere), I have a feeling that this is going to become more of a regular occurance. With FFXI setting the (somewhat disappointing) precedent and with Conan and Huxley on the way, MMOs are becoming more prominent on the 360. Plus, teh keyboard support is already there. I'd personally buy this game if it was on the 360: just so I could be gaurenteed a solid performance.
Spilt_Milk @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:17PM
Add mouse support and I am so there it's not even funny.
Autocrawler @ Dec 28th 2006 5:48PM
Gah, if WHO is going to be on consoles with controller-based controls and sharing servers with the PC version, I'm definitely not buying it, since all it can mean is that it is being dumbed down. WoW is simplistic enough for a MMORPG, I can't see how MORE simplification is possible.
epobirs @ Dec 28th 2006 5:53PM
Hey, is that dwarf the one who was on 'House' and 'Boston Legal' recently?
Franky Digital @ Dec 28th 2006 5:56PM
@ Autocrawler: "Gah, if WHO is going to be on consoles with controller-based controls and sharing servers with the PC version, I'm definitely not buying it, since all it can mean is that it is being dumbed down. WoW is simplistic enough for a MMORPG, I can't see how MORE simplification is possible."
I guess you haven't played FFXI...
Autocrawler @ Dec 28th 2006 6:09PM
"I guess you haven't played FFXI..."
FFXI doesn't even have a well-done implementation of PVP in it, while WHO claims to have PVP as its main focus, so the comparison between the two is invalid.
Franky Digital @ Dec 28th 2006 6:17PM
@ Autocrawler: "FFXI doesn't even have a well-done implementation of PVP in it, while WHO claims to have PVP as its main focus, so the comparison between the two is invalid."
Except by merit of the controls and the implementation of handheld controller versus keyboard layout, which is what you were complaining about. FFXI successfully meshes a very complex battle system, full of macros and scripts, with the ease-of-use inherent in a controller. It works great with both the PS2 controller and the 360 controller, albeit after a slight learning curve. Moreover, older games like Everquest Online Adventures (PS2) worked just fine with a controller only - though conversation makes a keyboard a necessity. A speech-to-text function for MMOs on the 360 would be nice, though voice chat support is adequate.
And as an icing on the cake, any comparison between MMOs (or any games of an qual genre) is perfectly valid.
Jordan @ Dec 28th 2006 6:35PM
IGN reported this one a long time ago during E3. Why is Joystiq so slow?
Autocrawler @ Dec 28th 2006 6:45PM
"FFXI successfully meshes a very complex battle system, full of macros and scripts, with the ease-of-use inherent in a controller."
In other words, FFXI was specifically designed for a console. The Dualshock has a grand total of 10 buttons+analog sticks. The Keyboard and Mouse controls have about 100 keys plus mouse for orientation and targeting. At this point, WHO seems to be similar to WoW in all aspects. If the developers go along the path of combining console and PC WHO servers, the PC version's complexity and controls will have to suffer to maintain balance. Like having no customizable UI. Or serperate movement and looking. I am not thrilled by that prospect.
"And as an icing on the cake, any comparison between MMOs (or any games of an qual genre) is perfectly valid."
No. You don't compare Operation Flashpoint to Doom because they belong to different subgenres. Neither can you compare EvE Online to WoW because they don't have anything in common besides lots of people playing simultaneously in one game world. Same here, don't compare a designed-for-console-PvE-MMORPG to a PvP-oriented WoW clone.
Franky Digital @ Dec 28th 2006 6:55PM
@ Autocrawler: "No. You don't compare Operation Flashpoint to Doom because they belong to different subgenres. Neither can you compare EvE Online to WoW because they don't have anything in common besides lots of people playing simultaneously in one game world. Same here, don't compare a designed-for-console-PvE-MMORPG to a PvP-oriented WoW clone."
And so, the point was completely by-passed for the second time. I'm just trying to appease your innane worries from your original post. No need to attempt to start a debate you can't possibly finish. Take a second to reread what you wrote and try to compute the discussion again.
The fact of the matter is putting the MMO on the console will surely not affect any game design decisions, as the game is already approaching beta with PC in mind. If this rumour is even true, I'm sure the support for the game will go the same route as FFXI: tacked on 360 control support that really does nothing to obstruct the experience given the fact that a keyboard can be plugged in.
Moreover, it seems obvious that a 360 release would only serve to increase the playerbase, as it just gives more players more options. Some, like myself, who refuse to keep their computer constantly up-to-date would surely rather pick up the 360 version and enjoy the power of the console they already own.
Autocrawler @ Dec 28th 2006 7:11PM
"And so, the point was completely by-passed for the second time.
...
The fact of the matter is putting the MMO on the console will surely not affect any game design decisions, as the game is already approaching beta with PC in mind. If this rumour is even true, I'm sure the support for the game will go the same route as FFXI: tacked on 360 control support that really does nothing to obstruct the experience given the fact that a keyboard can be plugged in."
Ok, one final point before I shut up: as far as I know, Microsoft does not allow XBox game developers to add in keyboard/mouse support.
Franky Digital @ Dec 28th 2006 7:57PM
@ Autocrawler: "Ok, one final point before I shut up: as far as I know, Microsoft does not allow XBox game developers to add in keyboard/mouse support."
PSU works with the keyboard, though not entirely. Plus, the functionality is there: the entire Dashboard can be controlled with a keyboard. I'm sure the drivers are a click away from being patched in, they're just waiting for a reason. At the least, we know typing will be in the games as it already is in both FFXI and PSU.
WAR Developers, really, seriously @ Dec 29th 2006 1:15AM
I am so glad that Autocrawler is arguing so hard, because otherwise we would not have heard of him. Thank God for his comments on Joystiq, or we'd be lost.
We will make sure the game is simplified so much that Autocrawler won't ever play it. Rest assured, Joystiqeers, that you will never have to bother with Autocrawler ever in WAR.
With Autocrawler and Joystiq's permission, we'd like to include that as a selling point on the packaging.