As a fairly avid World of Warcraft player, I was somewhat skeptical about all the pre-release hype surrounding Warhammer Online. The minor tremors in the online gaming world appear to be leading up to a earthquake of major proportions in the weeks following the September 18th release of Warhammer Online. So the big dilemma that I am faced with now is do I buy Warhammer Online or wait to purchase the next World of Warcraft expansion due out in November?
Trust me, unless you have no life besides computer gaming, take your foods and fluids via intravenous injection, and are connected to a waste disposal suit there will not be enough time in a day or night to "fully play" both of these online games! By "fully play" I mean to play an online game such as World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online at an intensity level to fully enjoy and exploit the vast array of experiences each has to offer.
For many reading this article, the game "Warhammer" is not something new. This table top game has been around for a long time, in two basic forms called "Fantasy" and "40 K". The basic theme of both was "good verse evil", only the settings changed. In "Fantasy" you fought to survive in a mythical world of strange creatures, living and undead, using the might of the sword and magic of the supernatural to save your chosen race. The "40" version transported the player into a futuristic world filled with strange beings and wonderous weapons, all fighting for supreme power and eventual annihilation of the enemy
My personal favorite was Warhammer "Fantasy", as I spent hours and hours assembling and painting table top miniatures to create the infamous Tomb Kings skeleton army that rose up out the desert sands to pillage and conquer all race of man or animal that stood in their way. Ironically it was the computer game Warcraft and then later World of Warcraft online that wooed me away from my table top battles and eventually into the world of online gaming. Now with the release of Warhammer Online, perhaps my gaming pendulum will return once again to the world of Warhammer, in an electronic form.
Warhammer Online has piggy-backed on the success of the table top "Fantasy" version of Warhammer to create an electronic version with a multitude of features and twists that are now possible using state of the art game development technology. So this begs the question, "Is Warhammer Online" simply the table top game all decked out in new threads, but nothing significantly different underneath the wrap? I don't think so!
So what then, does Warhammer Online bring to the table, that makes it brazen enough to be considered a worthy challenger to be the next "king of the hill" presently enjoyed by World of Warcraft? The best resource to help answer this question would be someone who was fortunate enough to have played and tested the beta version of Warhammer Online. I found such a valuable resource in the person of Brent Fisher, who wrote an excellent review about Warhammer Online based on his beta testing experiences. (Read Brent's entire review at: http://giantrealm.gameriot.com/gaming/beta-review-warhammer-online) I was particularly interested in Brent's summary of his Warhammer Online beta testing experience.
"I won't say Warhammer will be the next World of Warcraft; it serves a different audience and a different purpose. This game is geared for people who want to smash skulls, siege castles and just outright ruin someone else's day. WoW's battlegrounds are like a kiddie pool to Warhammer's raging, blood-soaked ocean. Mythic has crafted the experience so expertly that you can jump into the deep end or play in the shallows as long as you like, and at the end of the day there's a feeling that you accomplished something and had fun.
In the end, isn't that what really matters?" (Brent Fisher)
Well after reading Brent's very informative review as already mentioned, the decision to buy Warhammer Online is becoming much easier. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up just reading his summary. Just wait until after you read his entire review. This game is sounding awesome!
The next step in my decision making process was to find out just how difficult "fully playing" Warhammer Online was going to be. Even after playing World of Warcraft for several years, having two characters at level 70, I still feel like a "newbie" some days when hearing what others WOW players have seen and done, the weapons and mounts they own, and the amount of gold they have farmed. There is still so much to still see and do in World of Warcraft, and with yet another expansion on the horizon, oh brother!
So what about Warhammer Online? What sort of depth and complexity will it offer to the gamer? Thanks to the beta reviews of Warhammer Online written by Brent Fisher and others, the conclusion I have reached is this. If you want to be able to understand and "fully play" Warhammer Online, be prepared to shell out some additional money for a guide book or two. The learning curve appears to be quite steep if you plan on doing some serious gaming, as opposed to just wasting time "poking around". Presuming you do decide to buy Warhammer Online.
As for me, I can't wait to buy Warhammer Online! It has the makings of a terrific online game that will provide countless hours of exciting game play. I also intend to buy a guide book or two to ensure that I have a good understanding of the game and what it has to offer to "fully play" the game. With this in mind, I have located and posted a number of Warhammer Online guide books on my website, along with additional links and videos that will provide more information about Warhammer Online for those still undecided to buy Warhammer Online or not.
Warhammer Online verses World of Warcraft? Let the battle, err I mean the debate begin!