Dark Millennium Online has conflict of interest with potential Space Marine sequel

If you've been waiting for the upcoming Warhammer 40k MMO Dark Millennium Online, you may have checked out recent single-player title Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. In an interview on the two games with Shacknews last night, THQ's VP of Core Games Danny Bilson described a potential conflict of interest between the upcoming MMO and any potential Space Marine sequel. When asked whether the single-player title deserved a sequel, Bilson described an interesting creative overlap between the game and its upcoming MMO counterpart.

Revealing that the MMO would contain more action-based gameplay than the MMO norm, Bilson painted a picture of Dark Millennium Online as an online spiritual successor to Space Marine but with the other 40k factions similarly explored. "It may be that the next iteration of Space Marine is a much bigger universe, where if you love Space Marines you can play that way," he told Shacknews, adding that "there was a creative overlap going on with Dark Millennium Online's development" and "there's not room in the world for that overlap."

Reader Comments (27)

I don't see how that follows. Even if the combat mechanics are similar, an MMO environment is fundamentally different from a single-player environment. There's plenty of room for both.

If that is the case I'm going to be pretty sad about it personally. I really liked Space Marine and I think they have a lot to keep building from in that product. I really doubt that Dark Millenium will be able to live up to the level of action that was served up in Space Marine, and even if it's comparable I still think the overlap won't be large enough to make the player who don't usually play MMO's suddenly pick up Dark Millenium. They'd probably just move on to another First/Third Person Shooter.

Bullcrap. They're different games with different appeals. Just think about how many players don't play MMOs only because they are MMOs.

For what it seems, Space Marine, though a relatively short game with shallow multiplayer, was still a success. They would be stupid not to make a sequel or a spinoff (considering that the 40k universe is huge and they could do a game on any faction). New titles in the series would have to be bigger and better, but not MMO huge. They could churn out healthy profits exploring 40k lore through various non-MMO titles for years.

@Apakal said: Just think about how many players don't play MMOs only because they are MMOs.
----------------
How many are there? No one knows that.

@real65rcncom

Enough that you see it regularly in game announcements and forum posts. I see it constantly. Someone is a fan of a particular IP, but whatever they post essentially boils down to "too bad I don't play MMOs."

@Apakal

Really??

That's a *strange* attitude IMO. I mean, beyond getting a sub or having a computer with internet access....maybe the "fear of progression with others"?

I come at this hobby as either, "A game is a game as long as it is fun" and I go where the fun is, no matter if it is console, PC, or a little doo-hickey you buy in a store. While I understand the need to create separate media, the ultimate thing is game; it's sorta like movies, why limit yourself to Blu-Ray if it's only available on DVD?

@Space Cobra

It isn't that strange. Most of the people who I see saying "no MMOs for me," generally do so for one of two reasons: The cash shop/subscription, or the grind. Yes, all video game quests generally have the same MMO formula (kill ten rats, destroy five things, defend this spot, kill this boss creature, etc) but a single player game tends to mask the system better.

As long as the sequel is released in 2012, they should be fine. Maybe, just maybe, this will force the mmo to step up and release in 2012 itself

If a single player game conflicts with an mmo, thats probably a sign the single player game isn't focusing on it's strongest features.

I loved Space Marine and hopefully will love DMO too but being a WH40k nut for the past 22 years probably sold me on both of them simply by association. I think the single player Space Marine would need to focus more heavily on the story of its characters to set itself as an experience beyond what the mmo is likely to achieve.

@FrostPaw

They set themselves up for it well enough with the relatively vague Captain Titus story and his potential association with Chaos. However, I don't necessarily want to play 5 games based just around the Ultramarines.

If they do go that route, they need to think of other ways to tell a contiguous story from the aspect of other chapters, all the while expanding on the gameplay. Sawing Orks in half is good fun for 6 hours, but I don't think I could do it for 35 hours through multiple installments.

@Apakal Have the next one be about a squad from another chapter being tasked with going after Titus after his fall.

Screw those big bulky space marines, I want Sisters of Battle!

"Revealing that the MMO would contain more action-based gameplay than the MMO norm,...."

This.

When I read this part earlier: "* Left mouse uses the weapon in your character’s left hand, Right mouse uses the weapon in your character’s right hand", I shuddered.

While that's great for the console it's not so hot with two mouse buttons you've constantly got to mash or hold down.

@real65rcncom

It's surprisingly very fluid and easy to control. Dragon Nest uses very similar controls with a targeting reticule as well and it works just fine. The game offers intense action. If War40k can pull off similar controls and action I see this game becoming insanely popular to a lot of gamers, not just MMOers.

@real65rcncom

This has been the accepted mechanic for gun-based combat in most every PC game for the past decade or more.

I think you're over-thinking it.

@Apakal

it's not about overthinking, lol.

it's about preference of feel. Some will like it, some won't. Just like some liked DCUO action controls and others didn't.

Besides, name a gunbased mmo that has this feature already, not a just typical PC games.

It's not a value system so come off defense mode :)

@real65rcncom The issue will be about ping mostly, what is acceptable in a usual MMO ping wise is brutal in an FPS. If they can handle that it should be a good time.

@real65rcncom

Worked well for me in Space Marine.

@Greyhame
yeah, me too. My xbox360 didnt have a problem with it because of the triggers and not having to use a keyboard. :)

@real65rcncom

Even with the "leaked list" of features, that are being denied by THQ, you see Space Marine mentioned in regards to what they'll probably incorporate into the MMO.

Of course, now the "list" is disproved, but there probably are kernels of truth still in there.

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Dark Millennium Online has conflict of interest with potential Space Marine sequel

Reader Comments (27)

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 7:48PM Eamil said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 7:50PM Lafajet said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:09PM Apakal said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:36PM real65rcncom said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:45PM Apakal said

Posted: Oct 14th 2011 5:45AM Space Cobra said

Posted: Oct 14th 2011 8:14AM Omali said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:14PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:14PM FrostPaw said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:49PM Apakal said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 10:08PM Infestimus said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:24PM Seldra said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:34PM real65rcncom said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:45PM Seldra said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 8:50PM Apakal said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 9:58PM real65rcncom said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 10:11PM Infestimus said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 10:15PM Greyhame said

Posted: Oct 13th 2011 10:42PM real65rcncom said

Posted: Oct 14th 2011 5:47AM Space Cobra said

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