Why doesn't Games Workshop understand video games?

[Kingslayer]

TBH I wasn't aware of this game's existence until tonight. I've loved playing tabletop Apocalypse and of course am always glad when 40K gets some love in any medium...

...but $39.99? For this game? The background mechanics may well be there, but the presentation in this game is just awful. Let's own up to that. How about some basic animations or heck even high-resolution 2D sprites--this isn't being played on a Sega Genesis, after all.

It's not even about 3D graphics or top-level engine effects or anything...this is a 2014 game that makes WarCraft: Orcs & Humans look amazing.

Is that comparison still a sore spot for Games Workshop? It SHOULD be.

Blizzard's WarCraft effectively began as a video game adaptation (rip-off) of Warhammer. But it was a successfully realized adaptation! I don't know how Games Workshop keeps licensing their IP to such low-quality products in video games and other media. Dawn of War series was fantastic, Space Marine was medium as a shooter/action game, and so on and so on while the failed launch of the GW IPs in video games continue, culminating in this ridiculously pricey but extremely unappealing game.

40K: Apocalypse is some GREAT stuff. With games like Planetary Annihilation and Supreme Commander, we ought to be able to see something in Apocalypse with some basic level of pride and polish--without sacrificing the desire for quality rules and numbers-based gameplay.

The trailers for this game are a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ embarrassment to 40K. GamesWorkshop, we KNOW you have a fantastic game system. We KNOW your IP/Lore is some of THE best out there.

We just want to see it brought to video games with some basic standards of quality in the video game world.

[RAGEDog]

dude the value is there, as far as a strategy game goes i would pay full price for this game. the 2d sprites are some of the best artwork i have ever seen in a 2d game. the single player campaign is engaging and decent, voice acting isnt horrible. i mean this seems more of just whining that this game isn't worth it because of graphics, game mechanics before game graphics particularly in my startegy games.

[Kingslayer]

I'm all about game mechanics, not just graphics. I just don't believe $40 means I have to choose between one or the other.

[CiZerin]

From GW perspective WH40k Video Games purpose is to attract potential customers. So the success of DoW wasn't really profitable for GW. After DoW WH40k Comunity divided into 2 camps: TableTopers and DoWers. And, according to forums, DoWers weren't in a hurry to switch to the desktop of the game.
Moreover, for GW WH40K is not a GAME, it's collecting and modeling Miniatures (just look at the messand chaos in all this Codexes and Game Rules Editions) with some rules to have some fun with your collection.

[ownedXD]

there is just no animation.... i remember the old epic game final liberation who have animation(it was 10 years ago!!!!)

[Slitherine_Iain]

Some people care more about the presentation but we focused on gameplay. We have 350 units in the game which we feel is important to gameplay and that would not be possible if we created all the animations and extra fluff some people are looking for. To get that level of polish would require us to drop the unit count nearer to 50, probably still more than other games, but not what we wanted to do. We feel the presentation is good enough for what we are trying to do and it allows us to create the gameplay we wanted. We didn't want a game that looked great today but with average gameplay and in 2-3 years had neither gameplay or cutting edge graphics. In 2-3 years the graphics wont even get noticed and the gameplay is going to be what carries this game forwards. We are in this for the long haul. We plan to be making these games for a long time! If you like the tabletop game then you should check this out as you are not going to find anything that gets closer.

[F.O.A.D.]

350 units already in the game + years of DLC coming + years of fanmade mods coming...........

Slitherine have FINALLY given us a tabletop worthy experience on PC.

[Ash3n]

The presentation is adequate (safe for PC interface that needs inprovements ***right mouse unit full info***) and the game is AWESOME> The strategic level is very good, scenarios are interesting (also multi scenarios are very well designed) and units' look, purpose and feeling is very true the war40k. I really can't wait for more campaign/armies.

[boatie]

Originally posted by Slitherine_Iain:

Some people care more about the presentation but we focused on gameplay. We have 350 units in the game which we feel is important to gameplay and that would not be possible if we created all the animations and extra fluff some people are looking for. To get that level of polish would require us to drop the unit count nearer to 50, probably still more than other games, but not what we wanted to do. We feel the presentation is good enough for what we are trying to do and it allows us to create the gameplay we wanted. We didn't want a game that looked great today but with average gameplay and in 2-3 years had neither gameplay or cutting edge graphics. In 2-3 years the graphics wont even get noticed and the gameplay is going to be what carries this game forwards. We are in this for the long haul. We plan to be making these games for a long time! If you like the tabletop game then you should check this out as you are not going to find anything that gets closer.

Somebody gets it.

[yjzep]

Originally posted by boatie:

Originally posted by Slitherine_Iain:

Some people care more about the presentation but we focused on gameplay. We have 350 units in the game which we feel is important to gameplay and that would not be possible if we created all the animations and extra fluff some people are looking for. To get that level of polish would require us to drop the unit count nearer to 50, probably still more than other games, but not what we wanted to do. We feel the presentation is good enough for what we are trying to do and it allows us to create the gameplay we wanted. We didn't want a game that looked great today but with average gameplay and in 2-3 years had neither gameplay or cutting edge graphics. In 2-3 years the graphics wont even get noticed and the gameplay is going to be what carries this game forwards. We are in this for the long haul. We plan to be making these games for a long time! If you like the tabletop game then you should check this out as you are not going to find anything that gets closer.

Somebody gets it.

Yeah, the founder of the company that does this for us should lol.. I wish I could give back all the $$ I wasted on AAA graphics fests that I got 12 hour playthrus on for $60.

[boatie]

Originally posted by yjzep:

Originally posted by boatie:

Somebody gets it.

Yeah, the founder of the company that does this for us should lol.. I wish I could give back all the $$ I wasted on AAA graphics fests that I got 12 hour playthrus on for $60.

Look at Total War for a developer that doesn't get it. They have alienated so many of their fans with their money grabs. Their strategy game is barely strategy anymore.

[Coup d' oeil]

I'm more of an audio guy myself. win win

[Redneck Philosopher]

I think the presentation is fine. I haven't bought the title but that is because of other issues IMO regarding campaign control and balance problems (which IMO would be resolved via a army point system rather than all units being equal.

Overall I am glad to see this title (you should be too IMO) because even if you don't dig this specifically, the effort going into this title shows a more serious approach to 40K than we have seen in most of the recent big 40K titles like DoW or Space Marine.

[Sgt. Steiner]

Presentation is fine. They just really need to get an MP replay feature out there, which I hope they'll do in a patch soon. Not seeing what damage your opponent is doing/has done in his/her turn is a huge negative when playing a game people like me don't fully understand yet. Potential is great, though.

[Slitherine_Iain]

There is an army point system in place already - every unit costs different amount of points to recruit. Did you mean this or something else?

With so many units and so many possibilities we know some of the balancing must be off at this point but we're continually tweaking based on feedback.

[Vargas78]

I thought the graphics are fine. It's hardly a messy block of pixels is it. It is a bit retro but the units look fairly sharp.