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I'd like to introduce you all to a new free and totally unofficial hobby project that I'm currently working on called 'Virtual War'. Virtual War is a way to play strategy games like Warhammer 40k online using a web browser and the focus is on the strategic elements of gameplay and so my intention is to add player leagues, tournament ladders and player organized events.

I've developed the "Virtual War" game engine from the bottom up to enabled game play to mimic real life as much as possible by providing complete freedom of movement around the game table, zoom in and out and a host of player tools and widgets such as rulers, laser pointers, game templates, markers and dice.

Visit vw40k.com for more details and take a look at the fully functional online multiplayer alpha that has already been released (web link on vw40k.com)

Here are some screenshots so you can see how developed the game is already:





I want this to be a community driven project and so it's your feedback and input that will help shape the future of this game.

Check out the YouTube videos of Virtual War, from the early initial concept video right through to the multiplayer release and setup guide.

Cheers

BrainByte

Looks very cool

Are the Sororitas in the mix?

Not currently but I do plan to add Sisters of Battle soon along with Chaos

Please add Imperial and Chaos Knight Titans.

Awesome, I've always wanted this.

Never understood why GW didn't make a 40k TT video game like they did with bloodbowl. One might think it would turn people away from the hobby since it would obviously be cheaper but playing games like this on the computer is what got me into games like MtG and 40k (dawn of war on the pc at least)

Hate to be the bearer of bad news bit you will probably get a cease and desist letter from GW any time now. Vassal has been doing it for years and only avoids legalities I'm pretty sure by not having their location known ala pirate bay back in the day. They sued an author because her book was titled spots the space marine, even though starship troopers called their marines space marines years before GW existed. Its too bad it really looks fun.

I see what you're saying but this really is an unofficial free hobby project in support of the great game. I'll make no money from this I'm only doing it for the love of the game.

BrainByte wrote:
I see what you're saying but this really is an unofficial free hobby project in support of the great game. I'll make no money from this I'm only doing it for the love of the game.

GW doesn't care, really. If you are using their IP for games and the like without their permission, they get super pissy even though it should be a good thing for them. Free publicity and the like.

They really don't care if you make profit or not. They care that they do not. They will claim somehow your product prevented sales of their miniatures because why buy when you can play for free. Even though dawn of war was their most popular introduction to the game and was responsible for a lot of new players and interest. Just think of them as uncaring morons, and that will tell you how to act.

Looks cool. Any plans to release source for community effort? Would love to poke around in my free time.

Also, those the DoW models? look spiffy!

In before the c&d. Looks neat. I used vassal to get a few people into the table game, so this would be helpful. Now if only GW would realize that.

No one here is a lawyer working on behalf of Games Workshop, so there's really no reason to comment on the legality of this project.

As for the program itself, it looks promising. Vassal has been pretty much my exclusive go-to for playing 40K since I'll never shell out for the overpriced models- this looks like it'd be a great improvement.

The lack of Tlos has always been a sticking point for Vassal. I look forward to your progress.

 BlaxicanX wrote:
No one here is a lawyer working on behalf of Games Workshop, so there's really no reason to comment on the legality of this project.

As for the program itself, it looks promising. Vassal has been pretty much my exclusive go-to for playing 40K since I'll never shell out for the overpriced models- this looks like it'd be a great improvement.

The lack of Tlos has always been a sticking point for Vassal. I look forward to your progress.

Other than op may not.aware that gw will likely jump down his neck, yeah no point.

Looks good, how long have you been working on it and what assets do you have in game so far?

Will there be modifiable stats/homebrew unit implementation? Maybe even blank textures for all armies so people can make their own!

is Imperial Guard present?

The game engjne is completely seperate from the 40k module and I do plan on working on my own scifi game module in the near future. For now I have the 40k module and it would be great if i could get people involved with project and help with play testing and to shape the games future


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rowboatjellyfanxiii wrote:
Will there be modifiable stats/homebrew unit implementation? Maybe even blank textures for all armies so people can make their own!

Custom game models and textures are going to play a big part of the game engine and is already on the todo list


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 God-Emperor of Mankind wrote:
is Imperial Guard present?

Not currently but I hope to add them soon as they would be a great addition

Uh, I hate to be that guy, especially as this is the kind of product that I've wanted for years and years...

But it looks like you've straight lifted those models from Dawn of War 1. I realize that Relic/THQ no longer exist, but you should be very clear about where you got those models from. Not stating this anywhere (that I could see) on your site makes this project seem... disingenuous.

Now, if you simply forgot to mention it, or I'm totally off base, then I apologize. I'm not saying you should stop this project by any means - it looks great and I hope you can avoid any legal troubles, but please be careful about that fine line between homage and plagiarism.

Legal trouble is something I wish to avoid and if it looks like that's the way this is going to go then I'll just shut everything down and into the dust it will go. As for lifting the models I haven't said anywhere that I own all the models in fact many of them have been donated to the cause and many I have built myself. Like I say the 40k module was just the first module I used to develop the game engine and it may not prevail.

Brain byte, what you can do is remove the WH40k models from your site. Create generic models for Soldiers, tanks, and planes. Make a system so that people can upload their own models and skins. This is a degree of separation you need. If people wanted they can download models and skins and upload on to the game.

Battle Scribe provides the software. People from a community upload the data for the units and rules. Battle Scribe cant be sued because they did not copy wh40k rules.

 Filch wrote:
Brain byte, what you can do is remove the WH40k models from your site. Create generic models for Soldiers, tanks, and planes. Make a system so that people can upload their own models and skins. This is a degree of separation you need. If people wanted they can download models and skins and upload on to the game.

Battle Scribe provides the software. People from a community upload the data for the units and rules. Battle Scribe cant be sued because they did not copy wh40k rules.

Do this^ also if you want to create stats for things name them things, stats, etc. then name them "Not-Space-marine with Heavy Bolt Thrower" and "Episilon Alien Soldier with Pulser Rifle".

Yes - keep at this project, it looks awesome, but follow Filch's suggestions.

Way too many cool projects have been shut down over the years because the authors, while excellent at what they do, did not know how to bob and weave legally.

Thank you for the great ideas. Adding external model packs is something I plan to do so it fits in with my strategy.

Nice! Looking forward to try this, please keep it alive!

Melevolence wrote:

BrainByte wrote:
I see what you're saying but this really is an unofficial free hobby project in support of the great game. I'll make no money from this I'm only doing it for the love of the game.

GW doesn't care, really. If you are using their IP for games and the like without their permission, they get super pissy even though it should be a good thing for them. Free publicity and the like.

Yeah. There was to be a fan-made 40k movie, before The Lord Inquisitor, and they were going to do it for free. GW flipped the feth out about it.

That said, this looks awesome, keep it up. Just be sure to put a big fat disclaimer on it, and don't mention it to GW reps. They're probably contractually required to launch a legal bitchstorm over it.

hmmm, nothing seems to work on your pre-alpha page

Looks mad dude good luck with it


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Looks mad dude good luck with it


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Looks mad dude good luck with it

 Resin Glazed Guardsman wrote:
Awesome, I've always wanted this.

Never understood why GW didn't make a 40k TT video game like they did with bloodbowl. One might think it would turn people away from the hobby since it would obviously be cheaper but playing games like this on the computer is what got me into games like MtG and 40k (dawn of war on the pc at least)

BloodBowl video game, it is like people forget how we got the game. GW sues cyanide for their real time fantasy football style game that other then the look was nothing like BB. After a settlement they got the "right" to pay for license to make BB. GW didn't care about a BB video game, just controlling what the saw as their IP, even when it wasn't their IP. Deja vu, anyone.