Warhammer-Online posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Warhammer Online's free trial becomes endless, caps level at 10

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 6th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Most MMO players tend to spend significantly more time in their virtual environs than a 10-day free trial could possibly permit -- that's why Mythic Entertainment recently made some drastic changes to its trial program for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. From now on, folks who demo the game for free will have an unlimited amount of time to try it out -- however, their characters can only reach level 10 before they stop accumulating experience.

Sounds like a wise move on Mythic's part to increase interest in the title, but we're worried that it might create a new breed of Warhammer trial players who get treated like second-class citizens by their subscription-paying counterparts. "Keep walking, ten-capper," they'd say without making eye contact, "we don't take kindly to you folks around here."

Warhammer Online jumps to the Mac realm, free for current subscribers

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 28th 2009 at 10:20PM }

Though Mythic's Warhammer Online has been fueling the ceaseless Realm vs. Realm skirmish for more than a year on PCs, a new breed of gamer is about to gain access to the MMO: The guy whose computer is way cooler than yours.

According to a recent Mythic Entertainment press release, the MMO is now available on the Mac platform, and can be digitally purchased from GameTreeOnline for $19.95. Current subscribers to the PC version of the game can get the Mac version for free on the official WAR site. If you're apprehensive about using your sleek multimedia machine to play video games, you can also download a free, 10-day trial of the game. You might just enjoy it as much as you enjoy belittling John Hodgman.

Warhammer Online coming to Mac on Oct. 10, beta playable now

by Randy Nelson { Sep 30th 2009 at 12:30AM }

EA Mythic has chosen the Apple as a healthy alternative to the crazy Warhammer Online cake we told you about last month. By which we mean the developer's fantasy MMO is coming to the Mac -- on October 10, to be exact. That's when the game -- which uses TransGaming's Cider technology to run on OS X -- officially hits, but anyone who has an existing WAR account (or wants to sign up for a 10-day "beta trial") can download the Mac beta client and start playing right now.

Mac players will be given two special titles and an exclusive in-game trophy (an apple with the WAR logo -- how totally unexpected!) when the game leaves beta.

Warhammer cake bites into Food Network

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 26th 2009 at 10:00PM }

A post about a game-related cake can only mean one thing, right? It's a slow news day. Normally, we would agree, but this one is special for a couple of reasons. First of all, Joystiq was actually contacted by a PR company about this cake, so we're guessing it must be a slow PR day, too. Second, this particular cake pretty much leaves all others in the dust.

Modeled after a squig and created for Warhammer Online's Baltimore Games Day booth, the cake is to be featured on Food Network's Ace of Cakes this Thursday, August 27. According to chef Duff Goldman, it's the best cake ever made on the show. Goldman also contributed to the world of strange size comparisons, noting that the cake is "about the size of large sheepdog." Frankly, the cake looks like it could eat a large sheepdog.

Only one question: How do you cut it?

Mark Jacobs explains departure from Mythic and EA

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 26th 2009 at 6:45PM }

Mark Jacobs' unforeseen exit from Warhammer Online developer Mythic, a departure made known during the revelation of the BioWare/Mythic merger, left many fans and colleagues stunned and confused. In a lengthy post on his personal blog, Jacobs explained the reasoning for his evacuation -- he actually left the company early in May, when EA informed him that "they wanted to make some changes within the Games Label." Since that day, he's been out of contact from the rest of the Mythic team.

However, he's not ready to talk smack about the gaming industry juggernaut that forced the changes upon his studio -- Jacobs explained, "Over my 23 years of making games professionally I have refrained from attacking the competition, former and/or current partners, other game developers," and so on. You're a stronger man than us, Mr. Jacobs.

[Via Massively]

Mythic and BioWare rolled into one, Mythic's Mark Jacobs departs

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 24th 2009 at 12:55PM }

EA is mushing up Mythic and BioWare into one team led by BioWare's General Manager, Ray Muzyka. The new "RPG/MMO studio group" will have BioWare's Greg Zeschuk as the "group creative officer." Mythic's General Manager, Mark Jacobs, who oversaw the less-than-successful Warhammer Online, has apparently been shown the door. Rob Denton, who was the chief operating officer at Mythic, will now become general manager and report to Muzyka.

Upon contacting EA, BioWare and Mythic, we were informed that a formal announcement would be made later in the day. We'll update as we hear more.

[Via Massively]

Massively week in review

by Joystiq Staff { Mar 9th 2009 at 11:10PM }

Joystiq's sister site Massively.com has all the news you'll need about MMOs. Here's the best, brightest, and most interesting stuff from the last week, all in one convenient place for your MMO minute.

	10 things I wish I had known before building an MMO Continuing with our countdown to EverQuest's 10th Anniversary, today marks the first of three special articles containing the retrospective thoughts on MMO development from the team that made it so popular. Today's "10 things I wish I had known before building an MMO" starts off with Steve Klug, Lead Programmer for EverQuest.
	Massively's EVE Online Apocrypha expansion hands-on Massively got word that EVE Online lead game designer Noah Ward, aka CCP Hammerhead, would be in New York City last week. We jumped at the chance to find out more about the Apocrypha expansion, and Ward was kind enough to give us our own hands-on demo while answering our questions about where EVE Online is heading.

Continued →

Warhammer Online recruitment bonuses to include in-game items

by Randy Nelson { Mar 9th 2009 at 4:17PM }

There's a battle of epic proportions beings waged -- for MMO memberships. EA Mythic has launched a new salvo of recruitment perks in hopes of bringing more bodies over to its side, and they go beyond the usual "refer a friend, get 30 days free" variety.

Starting today, a new tiered rewards system is rolling out for those who bring their friends into the ranks of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Bring in one friend, you get the usual 30 day account credit. Another? Voila, an "exclusive in-game pet" and a month of playtime.

Refer four new players and you'll get either the "Rod of Service" or "Collar of Servitude," exclusive items that grant a 5% experience and renown bonus to all party members. After that ... just more free playtime. Though, if you stay until the very end, we hear you get a toaster.

Mythic talks Warhammer Online's Land of the Dead

by David Hinkle { Feb 6th 2009 at 5:15PM }

Last week, Mythic unleashed info regarding several "live events" for its MMO, Warhammer Online. One of these live events is titled Land of the Dead, a zone that features new public quests, instances, items and a pyramid housing the Tomb King (the dungeon's focal point). With the event set for a June release, we'd thought Mythic told us everything it possibly could about the upcoming expansion. Well, not the case, as Jeff Hickman and creative director Paul Barnett revealed some new details to the folks at Eurogamer.

We now know that the Land of the Dead will include content from level 25 onto endgame raiding and that the "Land" mentioned in the title is a place where the Order and Destruction factions constantly wage war. Once in, players can find themselves under attack by a rival faction at any time, even when in an instance. Jeff explains that the Land of the Dead will include two areas: The Necropolis and the Tomb of the Vulture Lord, and that since it's RVR-gated, each faction must fight for ownership of the dungeon. He fully expects the dungeon "to change hands nightly," so if you're in there raiding and a different faction gains ownership, you could suddenly find yourself under attack. This place isn't for rookies, however, as Jeff emphasizes this really is for levels 25 and up and "designed to supplement our end game content after Lost Vale."

Before the zone is opened to the public in June, Mythic will hold a race allowing one of the factions early access to the zone for a short while before release.

Warhammer Online reaches 300,000 subscribers

by Justin McElroy { Feb 4th 2009 at 7:23PM }

When that bevy of new content goes live for Warhammer Online later this month, there could be more than 300,000 fans around to enjoy it. That's the word from our sister site Massively, which reports that developer Mythic Entertainment could now boast nearly a third of a million accounts for the game.

That said, let's put the numbers in perspective: If all of WAR's subscribers were a classroom of 30 students, and all World of Warcraft's subscribers were represented by the other students at the school, then there wouldn't be a bully without wedgie arthritis or an unsold tube of acne cream for miles. (Thanks, representative math!)

Rumor: More layoffs at Mythic, senior designers affected [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 4th 2009 at 12:41PM }

Joystiq has learned from several well-placed sources that a second round -- a much more serious round -- of layoffs has struck Mythic Entertainment. These cuts go further and deeper than the last round, which saw several members of the support staff let go. Current estimates indicate that between 60 and 130 people have been let go. These layoffs most certainly affect the development staff, and we've been told extend even to the ranks of senior designers. These rumored layoffs come less than a week after the announcement of a full-scale live event expansion for Warhammer Online.

We've contacted EA for a statement and are awaiting a response. The publisher stated yesterday that it had increased its number of planned layoffs. If you're one of those who Mythic let go, please feel free to contact us.

Update: We've placed EA's statement after the break.

[Thanks to Massively for the assist.]

Continued →

Mythic announces 'live expansion' for Warhammer Online

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 29th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is getting its first major booster shot just six months after its initial launch. Titled A Call to Arms, the changes will come to the game in the form of a number of in-game events held over the course of a few months -- the devs are calling it a "live expansion." Our ninja-looting sister site Massively has all the details about the upcoming events as well as an in-depth interview with WAR executive producer Jeff Hickman, but here's a basic breakdown of the events, and the additions they'll bring:

Call to Arms: Bitter Rivals (Late Feb.) -- The Bitter Rivals event features quests, tasks and RvR activities which will allow players to unlock the once-canceled Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer classes. Players who don't participate in the events will unlock the two classes a week later.

Call to Arms: Beyond the Sands (April) and Rise of the Tomb Kings (May) -- Hickman didn't share many details about these two events, only explaining that they would eventually lead up to the launch of ...

The Land of the Dead (June) -- An internal dungeon (with accompanying external zone) which realms will compete to control. It will feature new public quests, instances, items and a pyramid which houses the Tomb King; the dungeon's focal point which Hickman promises will incite "crazy epic adventures."

Rumor: Mythic layoffs affect QA, customer support

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 19th 2009 at 2:59PM }

On Friday, January 16th, we heard through the tubes that layoffs had struck at EA's Mythic Entertainment, currently riding ~~high~~ acceptably with Warhammer Online. Here's what we were told: 21 customer service employees, half of QA and all of the playtest group were let go. We followed up with EA for a statement regarding the matter.

EA's corporate communications informed us that the publisher already announced a "cost-cutting initiative that includes facility closures and a headcount reduction," impacting about 10% of employees. The company doesn't plan to make any further announcements outside of its scheduled earnings report and can't give particular information about facilities.

Specific questions about the status and future of Warhammer Online were not answered. All the best to the EA employees who still have their jobs -- we'll try to get an EA butcher's bill together if we learn more.

EA games roll onto Steam

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 19th 2008 at 6:30PM }

EA has accepted the warm embrace of Steam and will begin using the digital distribution service. Following reports that Spore was crawling out of the primordial ooze to Steam, Valve announced today that several of the latest EA titles are available now, with many more coming over the next couple weeks.

Available now:

Spore
Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Mass Effect
Need for Speed Undercover
EA Sports' FIFA Manager 2009

Coming Soon:

Mirror's Edge
Red Alert 3
Dead Space

Sister site Big Download contacted EA to find out if older PC games would become available, but the publisher wouldn't comment. Also, in case you're wondering, EA games on Steam apparently don't install or use third-party DRM set-ups. According to Valve "the only DRM it uses is Steam itself."

[Via Big Download]

Warhammer Online patch 1.1a now active

by Justin McElroy { Dec 11th 2008 at 9:00AM }

It may be nothing but a number to you, but to fans of Warhammer Online, patch 1.1a is the sickest, illest patch to come along since Game Update 1.0.6. Just how dope could one patch, which just went live in game, be? How about new careers? How about armor set improvements? Still nothing? Well how about one public quest in each chapter of Tier 1 being easier? How about that business?

Our friends at Massively have all the gruesome details if you're still not convinced of 1.1a's freshness.