Topic: Dawn of War 2 is official; beta for Soulstorm buyers

[idolminds]

THQ and Relic Entertainment Set to Wage War of Epic Scale in Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Dawn of War(R) II

Sequel to Multi-Million Unit Selling Real Time Strategy Series
Features Vicious Frontline Combat, Extensive Co-Op Campaign and
Cinematic Visuals

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2008--THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) today announced that Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Dawn of War(R) II, the highly anticipated sequel from one of the industry's premiere Real-Time Strategy (RTS) developers, Relic Entertainment, is scheduled to bring the 41st Millennium's savage warfare to life like never before in spring 2009. Powered by an enhanced version of Relic's proprietary Essence Engine 2.0(TM), Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II will take players to the brutal frontlines of war where they'll experience intense action and visceral combat through a non-linear single player experience and a fully co-operative multiplayer campaign. Set in Games Workshop's (LSE: GAW) highly popular Warhammer 40,000 science fiction universe, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is being developed exclusively for Windows PC.

In addition, THQ is pleased to announce that gamers purchasing copies of the recently released Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Dawn of War(R) - Soulstorm(TM) will be able to participate in an invitation-only multiplayer beta program for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II set to take place at a future date.

"The original Dawn of War and its subsequent standalone expansions have established the series as one of the industry's leading RTS franchises," said Brad Carraway, vice president, global brand management, THQ. "Dawn of War II will re-define RTS gaming to gamers worldwide, delivering brutal frontline action and tactics, and allowing players to get straight to the action with unprecedented fast-paced RTS gameplay and a full co-op campaign, all in stunning cinematic detail."

"We started with everything fans loved about the original Dawn of War and then added more than they ever could have hoped for in the sequel into Dawn of War II," said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. "Leveraging our critically acclaimed Essence Engine 2.0, gamers will develop and lead an elite strike force through Games Workshop's war-torn universe, engage in devastating combat among the ruins of fully destructible battlefields, and be immersed in an ever-changing single-player and co-op multiplayer campaign."

About Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is set in the grim, war-ravaged world of Games Workshop's (LSE: GAW) Warhammer 40,000 universe - a dark, futuristic, science-fiction setting where armies of technologically advanced warriors, fighting machines and hordes of implacable aliens wage constant war. Developed by critically acclaimed RTS developer Relic Entertainment, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II ushers in a new chapter in the acclaimed RTS series, as ancient races - including the dauntless Space Marines and savage Orks - clash across ruined worlds on a mission to claim the galaxy and preserve their own existence. Powered by the re-vamped Essence Engine 2.0, the next evolution of Relic's proprietary game engine made famous in the award winning Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II will deliver fast-paced RTS action with ferocious melee and ranged combat in fully destructible environments. Immersing players in an in-depth non-linear single-player campaign and a fully-co-operative multiplayer mode, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is set to deliver the most visually-stunning Warhammer 40,000 setting ever created. For more information on Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, please visit www.dawnofwar2.com.

[Quemaqua]

Did he just say full co-op campaign?  Fuck yes!

Also, does this mean I have to register my copy of Soulstorm to get in on the beta?  I guess I may have to actually register something then.  It's been... years.

[idolminds]

Official site

Supposedly has screens and video and stuff. I don't know, haven't loaded it yet.

[Quemaqua]

No video other than a teaser with a little bit of CG, but there are three ultra-beautiful high-res screens.

My short review:

I WANT GIVE ME NOW DAMN YOU RELIC GIVE GIVE GIIIIIIVE

[sirean_syan]

Looks like they're kinda going with the Starcraft model of upgrades. Make it sharp, make it detailed, make it pretty, don't go for photorealism. That's fine with me. Of course, the real test will be making it look good in motion. I can't wait to see that.

Edit: Scratch that a little. Looking at the high-res shots, they're going pretty insane with the bloom there and blood effects. Pretty awesome, even if it's almost too much bloom.

So far, the best news is there's totally a beakie in one of the pictures. I'm so sold.

[MysterD]

Big 3-page Preview from IGN on DoW2

[Quemaqua]

Why did spybot tell me Firefox tried to make a registry change when I visited that link?

Anyway... cool beans.  I'll have to read it later.

[sirean_syan]

Watch the video. The way it moves and looks seems like they're going for a look that makes it seem like tabletop game in motion. It's interesting. I only skimmed the article, but that also seems like the theme in how it'll play too. Less base building, more focus on the actual combat and what you take into a given battle.

[idolminds]

Which will be awesome since I generally suck at base building and unit production. If I can have a pre-defined army type thing and just handle them in battle, that would be really cool.

[PyroMenace]

Ah fuck, thats what a get for not getting Soulstorm.