Free HoMM MMO apparently

[Chenghiz]

Challenging the notion that web-based games must cater to a casual audience, Ubisoft today announced a massively multiplayer web-based game set in the Heroes of Might and Magic Universe. Titled Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms, the browser-based game will launch this coming spring.

"This is a new type of game for Ubisoft, one that allows you to jump into a rich and complex universe just with your Web browser," said Ubisoft's Serge Hascoët in the announcement.

A true web-based game, the title will require no download to play, with a user login allowing access to a free account from any computer. Beta keys have been bundled with the Heroes of Might and Magic Complete Edition (PC), which retailed today in Europe.

According to the game's new website, buying the Europe-only Heroes of Might and Magic Complete Edition is the only way to receive beta access. The beta will begin in early 2008 and last about three months before the title's launch in the spring, according to the game's website.

Nival Interactive's Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC) producer Fabrice Cambounet is apparently involved in the game's production.

Shacknews article
Game's homepage

MMORTS? Free? Sounds like my kind of game!

[schild]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooh shit

half-staff.

[Draegan]

Looks shiny.

[Nebu]

I want to love RTS, yet I don't.  I think I'm broken. 

[MrHat]

Sweet Mother of All that is Holy.

This game will destroy any chance I had at promotion.

I hope for my sake this gets put on proxy.

[schild]

If you have bought the HOMM Complete Edition you should have found a secret serial number in the box (10 digits serial key containing both numbers and letters).

Keep this serial number safe!

It will allow you to have an exclusive access to the BETA.

whut

[Mrbloodworth]

Real time 3d or pre-renderd?

[Nebu]

If you have bought the HOMM Complete Edition you should have found a secret serial number in the box (10 digits serial key containing both numbers and letters).

Keep this serial number safe!

It will allow you to have an exclusive access to the BETA.

whut

Shhhh.  It's SOOPER SEKRIT!

[SnakeCharmer]

Interesting.

[Chenghiz]

Real time 3d or pre-renderd?

In the video on the game's site there's no real indication, though the lack of evidence for 3d makes me think it will be pre-rendered.

[Sky]

I don't see where it says RTS. HoMaM has always been TBS. Could be cool, I like HoMaM.

[Mrbloodworth]

Real time 3d or pre-renderd?

In the video on the game's site there's no real indication, though the lack of evidence for 3d makes me think it will be pre-rendered.

Thats what i thought, in that case...whats so special again?

[MrHat]

It sounds a bit like travian.

[schild]

Travian with a HOMM gametype is brilliant though.

[Xanthippe]

I seem to remember from years back talk of a multiplayer HOMM or maybe it was just M&M online?

Is this it?  This can't be it.  Maybe I dreamt the whole thing.

[MrHat]

Travian with a HOMM gametype is brilliant though.

Ya, I didn't mean it in a bad way.  Putting a Real-Time clock on doing things makes it about as work friendly as it's ever going to get.

[Murgos]

Real time 3d or pre-renderd?

In the video on the game's site there's no real indication, though the lack of evidence for 3d makes me think it will be pre-rendered.

Thats what i thought, in that case...whats so special again?

Why does the method of deciding where the pixels go determine what's special about a free MMO strategy game based on one of the most popular strategy games there is???

[Tige]

Why does the method of deciding where the pixels go determine what's special about a free MMO strategy game based on one of the most popular strategy games there is???

Where have you been, are you that uncool?  If you don't have to run out and at least have to buy a new vidcard you are not playing a nextgen game.  Everyone knows it all about the graphics, trying to actually introduce anything other than that is cutting out the casual gamer.  Geez.

[geldonyetich2]

This could actually be quite good.  HoMM is one of the better Master of Magic-like games out there, and taking it online into a massive transparent challenge lobby is the formula for awesome.  Roll in a collectible card element or something and you've got yourself a winner.

[JoeTF]

Sorry to break your hype and gloating, but how the hell it's supposed to work?

They're going to scale turns to take 6 hours each, or let everyone pillage your heroes and rape your cities while you sleep?

I bet they're going with b), which means every day you will have to run your hero to castlw, bunker up like crazy and in the end every morning you will find your castle ransacked at least 5 times.

On related note, I wonder if notion of ganging up, allicances, super-alliances and mega-alliances occurred to them and do they have a slightest idea how to deal with it?

[geldonyetich2]

Well, it's not like they don't have an example that the "everybody pillages and rapes you while you sleep" system actually works: Time of Defiance.

However, I'm not really sure how massively multiplayer it's going to be.  I'm expecting something more along the lines of instanced games with the only massively multiplayer thing being a challenge lobby.  But then I look at the top of that screen shot and go, "oh, hey, there's 24 hours strewn across that."

[Cim]

What?

[UnSub]

1) The game will be called HOMMK. That makes me laugh.

2) It's good to know that the beta will be 3 months long and then launch. I hate it when developers delay launch because players raise issues during beta - much better to set the date in stone.

[Soln]

Sounds like Travian with actual fun game play.  Onwards then.

[Rendakor]

So wait, this is like Kings of Chaos with graphics? Awesome!

[Mrbloodworth]

Real time 3d or pre-renderd?

In the video on the game's site there's no real indication, though the lack of evidence for 3d makes me think it will be pre-rendered.

Thats what i thought, in that case...whats so special again?

Why does the method of deciding where the pixels go determine what's special about a free MMO strategy game based on one of the most popular strategy games there is???

I'm simply looking at their feature and marketing points trying to figure out whats so special. Looking at the marketing points, if it was 3d, it would be special, looks like its not..so i'm not seeing what so special about it looking at their selling points. Because there are already games like this.

Other than that, i'm sure ill play it. =)

[Murgos]

Looking at the marketing points, if it was 3d, it would be special, looks like its not..so i'm not seeing what so special about it looking at their selling points.

HoMM.

Free.

Multiplayer.

3D is overrated.  It's a presentation technique, not an end.

[Lietgardis]

I seem to remember from years back talk of a multiplayer HOMM or maybe it was just M&M online?

Is this it?  This can't be it.  Maybe I dreamt the whole thing.

Sort of.  The one you're probably thinking of was being developed by a Chinese company for the Chinese market two or three years ago.

Apparently, that game has morphed into this web game.

[Mrbloodworth]

I seem to remember from years back talk of a multiplayer HOMM or maybe it was just M&M online?

Is this it?  This can't be it.  Maybe I dreamt the whole thing.

Sort of.  The one you're probably thinking of was being developed by a Chinese company for the Chinese market two or three years ago.

Apparently, that game has morphed into this web game.

[/s]

Thats, uhhh, that same game.

Uh huh, sneaky edit.

[Aez]

Mini necropost


I dug some info since schild mentioned the game in a other thread (I missed this one) :

You can play the game for free as long as you want! You can build your city, hire heroes, play every feature, form alliances with other players and enjoy the game. However if you want to develop your kingdom without any limits, enter the rankings and be a part of the story, you will have to subscribe to HOMM Kingdoms at a small cost.

Still a good deal if the game is good and if it lets them update it frequently.

You can use all 7 unit tiers for each races.  The battle will be automatically solved. 

[sam, an eggplant]

Sort of.  The one you're probably thinking of was being developed by a Chinese company for the Chinese market two or three years ago.

No, NWC (with Jon Van Caneghem, not 3DO) was actually working on a M&M (not HOMM) MMO back in the 2000 timeframe or so. It obviously never went anywhere.

[voodoolily]

Did anyone else make a joke about how HoMM MMO sounds like "homo"? No? Okay then.

[MrHat]

Did anyone else make a joke about how HoMM MMO sounds like "homo"? No? Okay then.

Don't think so.

But I'll tell you what: If wanting a HoMM MMo makes me gay, I don't want to be straight.

[UnSub]

Did anyone else make a joke about how HoMM MMO sounds like "homo"? No? Okay then.

I think there's probably a reason why they didn't call it Heroes of Might and Magic Online. It's just to easy.

[Draegan]

Arn't they doing a webbased RTS?  If there ever was a MMO it would just be Heroes-Online or HO!