Warhammer Online Preview

From the moment Games Workshop and Mythic signed the papers, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has been arguably the most anticipated MMORPG in production. Now roughly a year and a half into development, EA Mythic invited a group of press down to their Fairfax, VA studio to debut their third and fourth factions: Empire and Chaos. After multiple presentations, interviews and hands-on time with the game, it is safe to say that the hype is more than deserved. Despite its amazing early stage, the game blew me away. If they can keep on track and tie the parts together, there is no reason WAR won't exceed the hype.

Warhammer Online is the second major MMORPG from the folks at Mythic (Dark Age of Camelot in 2001 was the first), and the first since Electronic Arts bought them and renamed them EA Mythic. The game was designed by EA Mythic General Manager Mark Jacobs and brought to life by Creative Director Paul Barnett, both in close cooperation with Games Workshop. The game features six classic races paired into two opposing factions locked into a three front war. Last year, Mythic introduced the Dwarfs and Greenskins (male Orcs and Goblins, rather than female counterparts) and later this year they'll unveil Dark Elves and High Elves. The Dwarfs, Empire (humans) and High Elves form the armies of Order and are locked in a war against the armies of Destruction (Dark Elves, Greenskins and Chaos).

"Sooner or later we have to stop talking about it, kill it, bake it and eat it," the ever-colorful Paul Barnett said as he explained where they are with the game. They've hit the stage where they know what they want and where they're going. Now is the time when they build it.

The event, held late last week, was a chance for EA Mythic to show some of the building they've done. They unveiled Empire and Chaos, the early game for both realms and some high level Realm vs. Realm (PvP) scenarios.