Operation: Omega Dawn

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We’ve just finished development of our v1.2 patch and our first Booster Pack, Operation: Omega Dawn!…which is very different than “Red Dawn” or “Dawn of the Dead” :-)

omegadawn1

I’d like to give our blog readers a bit of info on our first downloadable content – and I’ll try to keep in away from sounding to much like a sales-pitch filled with shallow marketing-speak. The team and I really wanted the Omega Dawn Booster pack to add a new gameplay experience and to enhance the replay value of the core Warhawk game. Not be some nickel-and-dime upgrade that takes advantage of our player community!!! (That’s my own personal opinion on DLC so I’ll get off my soapbox now)

So without further ado…

The Omega Dawn Booster pack adds 3 key things:

* A night-time battlefield with 6 layouts called the “Omega Factory”. It’s huge btw.
* New 7-player aircraft called the KT-424 Combat Dropship.
* And 5 updated bonus layouts for battlefields from the original game so that you can play using the new Dropship.

First let me ramble on about the new battlefield: Many of you all wanted a night time level so that’s what we did. The battlefield takes place at night well… actually at early dawn. We wanted to make this level a bit more challenging and visually improved than our previous levels. It has more involved building layouts with more vertical structures, platforms and detailed spaces for ground troops.

Here’s the map of the entire battlefield.

omegadawn2

This more advanced layout compliments the dropship really well as there are some places in the level that are only accessible by air. This is especially cool for transporting vehicles! We also added some macro scale color changes to the bases to help players communicate locations within the symmetrically balanced battlefield.

You’ll see all of this more in these screen shots so I’ll stop talking about the new battlefield now :-)

omegadawn3

The Combat Dropship is pretty damn sweet I gotta say. During the entire Omega Dawn dev-cycle I was trying to have us deliver on the crazy notion of a “Multiplayer BOSS”. Something that a team could all work together to control and that would require other players to work as a team to defeat the opposing team’s “BOSS”. We’ve had several just wicked memorable moments playing with our testers that felt like classic BOSS battles … but in a fast-paced multiplayer game!

What else?

Oh yeah…we also integrated the Combat Dropship in the 5 biggest layouts from the original game. It really changes the way those levels play which is good ‘cause it gives them a fresh feel … like an Irish spring!

Ahh…there are 2 things you will all ask immediately I’m sure: “when does it come out?” and “how much does it cost?”

omegadawn4

We are in our final global test phase right now (internally it’s called format testing). Once we pass and go “gold” (which is a pretty odd term given a purely digital distribution but whatever) then I can announce a specific date. But we are still on track for our “December” release.

And as far as pricing goes – the Omega Dawn Booster Pack will sell for $7.99 on the PlayStation Store. Why don’t we just charge $8.00? I mean seriously? Does that one penny really fool anyone? :-)

I’ll probably need to make some follow-up posts once you all have had a chance to comment. So smash this site with questions and I’ll do my best to post a FAQ about the upcoming Booster Pack!

As always … Rock on!

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349 Comments

  • Nice. You guys rule. I’ll send you an extra penny if you like.

  • This will be insanely rad.

    Questions:
    -Will there be night versions of old maps?

    -Can both teams have a dropship at the same time?

    -Can you give us a roundabout estimate as to how much damage a dropship can take before kaboom time?

    -(out of curiosity) What button grabs vehicles, and do you have to keep it held down?

    -Will it be available through the game, like an in-game store, or will we have to back out and go to the PS Store, download it, then go back in?

    Thanks for this guys. PS3 DOES DLC TOO!!!

  • This is gonna be great! I love Warhawk and that drop ship looks like it will add a whole new dynamic into the game.

  • great stuff!
    too bad we – gamers from several countries in LatAmerica- wont be able to get it, as the PS Store is still not available for us :P

    anyway, nice to see you guys working on it, looks pretty cool

    cheers
    Leo
    Brazil

  • Damn thats really really awsome! I am definiely getting this and bring doom upon you all from the skies! Moahaha

    Great Job insomniac, good keeping us updated. But its just one thing. I would like to see some sunny maps you know, like the one in single player were.

    http://www.gamereactor.se/media/big/warhawk_39592.jpg

    Have a good time and keep the updates coming ;)

  • I heard you can play all the original maps at night too, is that true?
    Omega Dawn looks great but $8 is a bit steep for 1 map and 1 ship IMO.

  • I’m still playing COD 4 because it shipped with a party system. Something you guys sorely lack. I need to be able to crash a server with friends, you know, together.

    Also, I need to be able to spawn or have a friend spawn close to me. Having this be a multiplayer only game, I cannot see why this was overlooked. It should be standard, Battlefield 2 had this, why don’t you guys? The maps are so big it is almost necessary for something like this to be included.

    This is just more DLC I won’t be buying.

  • Freaking awesome!!! I do have a question though. I can see how people can be kept out of the new map if they don’t buy it but what about the dropship on the old maps? Will the SCEA, SCEE and other dedicated servers indicate the need to purchase the new content before entering the servers? And finally, how in the hell do I use the binoculars? I know it’s stupid considering I’ve played this game for 60+ hrs.

  • So it’s a “Dollar and Quarter” upgrade that takes advantage of the player community… much better than “nickel and dime-ing”… whatever lets you sleep at night.
    Personally, I think that free “booster packs” would increase sales of the original game and help the community out – more people are going to buy in that way. Because, honestly, now for people who have yet to buy Warhawk, to purchase price of the game just jumped another $8… I mean $7.99.

  • Walmart would sell it at 7.98. Just saying.

    anyways, moving along. [DELETED] that’s a nice map. Nightime air/ground battles? mmmmm sexy. Now I just need to make happy with the Playstation store and my bank again. somehow the PSN Store isn’t recognizing my Credit Card :O

  • Very Very nice!

    I have three questions.

    About this digital distribution. The game is also sold on Blu-Ray for the non CC owners. So how do you guys (or Sony but i’ll guess you cannot comment on the prepaid cards) intent to sell this to those gamers who want to play this new rocking ONLINE ONLY update but don’t have a CC?

    And a question about the different region patches. I’m from the Netherlands but i have imported the game from the US, can i buy and download the dutch/EU version or do i NEED TO buy/download it from the US store? In other words, is the patch completely compatible with all the different full game versions so that there isn’t a problem with the installation if it is downloaded from another store. (if its not make a big red warning comment before purchase !)

    How about v.1.2 i know omega dawn is BIG but i like to know how v1.2 is progressing.

    thanks! rock on!

  • this is really cool…can’t wait for it to come out…love it.

  • Very cool. Now is there away you can get Sony to get the PSN cards out so I can buy it?

  • How will this effect CTF? will the dropship be able to carry someone who has the flag? will it be able to carry a vehicle that is carrying the flag?

    I see more matches where the dropship will just bring a tank and drop it in the middle of the base.

  • @8: just use it like a regular gun. zoom in like a sniper rifle and then hold down the fire button while keeping it still. an artillery strike will land right where you were aiming it.

    it’s basically an artillery strike you can call in that doubles as binoculars. :)

  • Wow, “Awesome” does not do justice to what I feel about this.. It’s just too cool, oh, man. that dropship is UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! That will be SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
    the night battle will most likely become the most popular map online. imagine what a TOW would look like!

    @#8P_tear_griffen

    To use binoculars, just hit R3 to zoom, like the sniper rifle. Then, hold down the “fire” button and you will see a green dot in the center of the view-field. Toward the top, a green bar will grow larger and when it turns red, after like a second, there will be a MASSIVE explosion wherever you aimed the green dot.
    Keep in mind, this will not work with people in bunkers, the explosion will hit the roof of any building.

    (most likely, someone else told you how to do this while I was typing this on my crappy laptop keyboard…)

  • Wow, I figured this would be more. Sounds like I’m going to need to add some cash to the old digital wallet.

  • we need in mexico PLAYSTATION®Network Card or psn network

    =(

  • Ever consider doing a Snow/Mountain Level?

  • $40 initial cost 5 maps 3 vehicles someone divide that and see how much it cost per map.

    1 map 1 vehicle $7.99

    full price game $60

    Nope you’re not nickle and dimeing, your microtransaction anal fundling and not for a prostate.

  • Its pretty simple. if it costs 7.99 and one in 799 people gets “fooled” you have earned your money. And its a big shot your going to fool omer than one in 799 people.

    But it sounds like your’e trying to fool 799 of 799 when you say it like that. :P

  • WooHoo! Thank you! This is great news. I stopped playing months ago; now I have a reason to start playing again.

  • This looks very promising. I need to start playing warhawk again.

  • so can we go 2 our friends list without leaving the game

  • so when is this for? (my nickname is not alex_downloadable content, dlc is my last name initials. theres alays someone that thinks thats funny)

  • fantastic news warhawk devs!, cant wait(well i can coz i got no choice), A dropship i love dropships, has anyone ever played the ps2 dropship game!?(still one of theee hardest games ive played), and a night level too!, now i need to invest in a HDTV for sure(unless you lovely sony girls n boya wanna just give me one(42″ minimum!), and how big is that map! – you mad buggers, i wants it noooooooow!(can you believe im 46 and still talkin like im 20 or something!, anyway, lets get some warhawk love on the go – whoop whoop!

  • This looks absolutely wicked. I like the price point you are putting out for OD. Looks like it will be awesome. Keep up the great work.

  • can;t wait to buy this! also can;t wait for v1.2, warhawk = awesome, Warhawk +V1.2+Omega Dawn = Awesome Pwnage to the extreme!!!! rofl

  • i forgot to add – Will you please stop the silly pricing, 2.99, 4.99 1.99, its just dumb! call it what it really is £2, $2, £3, $3 £10, $10,, dont make us start a petition!

  • great Pack Thanks guys.

  • Wow. Omega Dawn is HUGE. That makes Eucadia seem small. Can’t wait to blow y’all from the (unfriendly) night skies.
    $8 seems like a reasonable price if I’m making an accurate estimation of the map’s size, and I’m willing to pay it. However, I think it would have been a nice gesture by you guys to make all the Warhawk expansion packs free. I mean, if I bought this really REALLY cool game for only $40 (I did get the BD version, but you get the point) and then the company didn’t even charge you for new map packs, I would be bragging to my friends with 360s who shell out the shirt off their back for the crappy M$ map packs.
    Again, I’m not saying you guys don’t have a right to make money on your additional work, and I am definately willing to pay it. But I do think you might have made you even more money by not charging for your add-ons. (More people buy the game)

    @everyone
    if you want to do bold, italic, or bold italic text, just use the standard HTML tags to do so. However, no other html tags work. (I guess Sony doesn’t want us embedding flash movies in our comments…..)

  • That looks amazing!

    The question I have is, will someone(s) be able to be in the vehicle while its being transported by the dropship? That would be amazing to pick up a tank with someone ready on the turret the second you drop it off, or even better, be able to use the turret while in transportation!

    Either way, I’m definitely looking forward to this expansion!

  • That’s awesome news. From day one I’ve been enjoying this title and I’m sure its only going to get better.

  • Awesome work thank you guys for your hard work. By the way I have question:-

    is this pack will be released in all PSN stores at once or it will be available only in the American store?

    keep the great work. :)

  • will we been seeing a world-wide release on this or will Europe have to wait? I would love to get this day one.

  • @ #29 linton
    Kudos. And why stop with the PSN? Let’s take the revolution around the world. (mobs storming Target, McDonald’s, ……) Also, let’s hope they don’t do Walmart-style pricing ($8.33, $64.87)

    Again, awesome map guys!!

  • Oh my god this looks awesome. What a great looking addon!

    I love you Dyaln and your team :P Lol!

    A couple of questions:

    – Do you have any idea how much this will cost in the United KIngdom?

    – How big will the download be? Im running short of HDD space at the moment, and don’t currently have the funds to buy a new one.

    Anyway it is so awesome to see that the Incognito team is doing such great stuff.

    And i loved your post, it made me giggled quite a bit. Like a little 5 year old girl. Haha.

    I’m sure this update will make a awesome and fun game, into an even more awesome and fun game. If only more game companies would make such awesome effort as you guys clearly do :D

    Cheers!

  • @8 sashy….. its incognito not insomniac, nothin like slappin them in the face, insomniac makes resistence

    anyway, stoked, cant wait to get it and rock on with this bad mofo

  • i have to say…
    plz sony we need psn cards :( i can’t buy anything on pstore cuz i dont have any credit card what so ever.
    and i don’t want to buy the retail ver cuz i won’t be able to buy the expansion:(

    plz make it happen.

  • If I purchase this expansion pack, will all users on my PS3 be able to access it or will it be limited to my (Master) account?

    Since I have the Blu-Ray version of the game both my son and I have our own Warhark profiles. I want to be sure that this map will work for both of us.

  • @Dylan: just wanted to say thanks to all the Warhawk team for the 1.1 fix, I was very mad because the original game problems, but I think the wait (a little long) was a good decission, I have had many good entertaining hours with the game. But I am really sorry that I will not be able to experience the new DLC, and this is the first DLC that I am really eager to buy

    @SCEA: The A on SCEA is for America, America is not only USA and Canada. I bought my PS3 on one of my travels to USA, I import all the games that my wallet can afford, but I am unable as a lot of people have previously expressed to buy content from the store. We not only have delayed content like sometimes the European Store has, there is no store for us. Why are there problems with people buying DLC with a non USA credit card, if I can go to an online store and buy a complete game and send it to my country? This is not really about laws or something like that because if that is the reason no online store located in USA would be able to sell the games to me. I really hope SCEA can find a way for us to get this kind of content

  • ANY CHANCE OF ADDING MINIMUM RANK LIMITED SERVERS IN THE BOOSTER OR PATCH INSTEAD OF JUST MAX RANK(sorry about the caps, but you are reading this right now…. ;) ) This would make the game better for the veteran players….

  • @38 Oh snap :P I just forgot, was so happy so I just wrote fast without thinkin :D Because I ment incognito ofcourse ;)

  • Are we going to have Flashlights or something like that? Maybe spot lights to shine in the sky?

  • @ 44 it’s dark but not pitch black… :)

    you will be able to see stuff

  • any news on European pricing/release dates would be nice.

    you are going to make sure the patch/content works on non-NA PS3’s this time, aren’t you? learn from previous mistakes and all that.

    finally, have there been any additional fixes in the 1.2 patch or is it exactly the same stuff which was mentioned before?

  • Wow. Looks like an amazing map, plus I can’t wait to pilot that dropship…
    Well done, Dylan, and ignore the whiners – they’d find something to complain about if you gave it away for free, I’m sure.

  • It’s nice with add-ons to games! I hope this will come out on the same date in Europe, US is always a step before us on PSN =(

    But I’m glad that we pay even numbers on PSN here in Sweden. No “7.99s”. =)

  • Ohhh forgot to ask for a feature, currently each map has different layouts, why not do the same thing to the weapons and vehicle locations, I mean to be able to have a few object location layouts for each map so the game can be more unpredictable. I was thinking on random locations but maybe that can make the game a little unbalanced, but who knows a good random location generator can try to place the objects in a balanced way for all players

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