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” :-)
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.
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 :-)
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?”
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!
not free?
oh well , then bye warhawk
^^ UCIGASU
If you, or any one things that it should be free, then you’re either cheap or don’t believe in paying people for their hard work.
Good game designers, programmers, and artists that work on games should be compensated for their time, effort and energy.
I’m getting really sick and tired of people like you who think that these things are magically pooped out for free.
Darn it. Typed too quickly.
That should should read “thinks that it should be free”, not “things that it should be free”…
@Solace
I think it’s just that most of us feel that paying the initial investment for these games, (usually about $65 after tax) is by far enough-
It seem that these first Ps3 games were rushed out in order to fill the gap of no titles in the PS3 library, and now the developers are actually charging us MORE money for incremental things like horse armor, additional skins for cars, add on single characters to play with, and additional maps for games that shipped obviously light on maps already, is just gouging.
Adding on these prices make most games cost anywhere from $75 to $90…and that IS ridiculous, no matter how you shake it!
I think adding on content should be free because we’ve already payed for the product, and it should be done as fan service, to get MORE people to buy the games, and boost the installed users of PS3’s.
Then people would tell THEIR friends how awesome it is to purchase games for the PS3, because the developers really support he community.
Blindy paying for these add-ons and berating people who actually don’t have parents money is just supporting the price gouging this generation is seeing….
my 2 cents…
flame away.
You can pick up Warhawk for somewhere between 50$ (without mic) and 60$ (with mic)
If you got the bluetooth head set, you’re getting a game PLUS a bluetooth head set for that price.
Since the game, on its own, is 50$, even WITH the add on pack, it’s still cheaper than a full priced game.
They shipped it with less and they charged us less. Am I the only one who sees this?
It’s like people complaining about PAIN – “oh, it’s not a full game”. Yeah, well, you know what, it’s only $10/11$. Wouldn’t you rather pay only a few dollars for something that you had fun with instead of forking out full price for something you might get bored with? And for those that do enjoy the game, *bam* – there’s additional content for you.
I just feel it’s very short sighted for people to think, no, demand, that stuff should be free when it’s required additional time, resources, and man power to make these things. (except for EA charging for unlockable codes – there’s NO EXCUSE for that!).
If you want to ride this ride, you must buy a ticket. That’s how I see it.
*hugs!*
All games and add-ons should be free so that the developers can run out of money and never make games or expansions again.
Yeah… that sounds like a good idea.
Are you willing to work for free? Neither are they. Stop b*tching.
If Warhawk didn’t have $40 worth of value/gameplay/content, then I think you have a point (or $10 in the case of PAIN), but it is easily worth that $40. If you don’t think so, then even if this content was free you wouldn’t think so either.
To me the games were priced right for the experience you got. If you LOVED that experience, then you can pay more to go deeper into the universe they created.
This is the future of gaming. Episodic content. If you are a fanatic of one game and want the experience to feel fresh again, they are taking care of you. If you didn’t care for it that much and it got old, you only invested $40 for admission and can leave for something else.
Is anybody else having this issue with Warhawk? Everytime I launch the game it automatically switch to 720p. On the box, it says the game should play 1080i.
My Playstation 3 is connected via HDMI cables and I’m using Optical Output for my audio. My TV is a Sony full 1080p HDTV.
If you think you can help please let me know. Because when I call Sony, they don’t seem to know what the hell is going on.
@Ghostm
I have that problem with a bunch of games – it’ll default to a setting that’s not the highest possible.
It’s a bit of a pain to do every time, but if you go in to SETTINGS and change your output so that it only displays in 1080i/p, that’ll fix the problem.
‘course, 720 games get thrown down to 480, so don’t forget to re-enable that for those.
Hope this works for you.
@Solace
Is this an issue that Sony is looking at to fix? Or this is going to be ignored. After buying all this expensive stuff, I want to put them to use. This is very disappointing.
Is it possible to stream data (pics, movies, data) to my PS3 from a Mac? Or, am I screwed like all the Mac OS X users?
@Ghostm
I have no idea if Sony is looking in to it. Wish I did, but you might want to call their customer service to find out.
I don’t know if this is a problem with the PS3’s firmware or with the developers optimizing their game for a certain resolution.
If it’s a firmware thing, it’s fixable with an update (like how they fixed upscaling). If it’s a developer thing, then there’s not much they can do about it.
Kinda a pain though, since I want my games to run at the highest res possible.
@Ghostm
If you have a 1080p set like me , it’s better to run the game at it’s native resolution (720p or 1080p). 1080i is mor for TV’s that support 480p,1080i only
”
44444444444444444444444444444444444444444″
I was out running some errands and above is what my cat, Icky, typed while I was gone, of course with my input of the quotes.
I’m glad I’m not the only one having the 720/1080 problem, I’m sure the next firmware patch will fix it.
@ people with resolution problem
perhaps when the game gets installed there are settings loaded in? Try reinstalling warhark or deleting the settings save file in the save files directory while u have an HDTV hooked up. Also for true “full HD” make sure ur tv supports HDCP or its not gunna run at its best
this is like my favorite game ever and this is gonna make it better we needed a new level and vehicle, in the next expansion after this it would be nice to see it pertain mostly to new weapons and vehicles i think we pretty much have enough maps for now but new weapons and more vehicles would be great
Outstanding Job~! Glad to see you guys really do care about us. (^_^)* This has certainly rekindled my Warhawk cravings. Bah enough already with the talk I am going to need some new rank for the new booster pack launch so I’m off~!
Thanks again~
Connoisseur
Sounds good – really looking forward to the night visuals and the dropship :) The cannon should be pretty impressive. I hope the Australian price isn’t horribly expensive.
Now all we need is a turret on rails (to give it limited movement along the top of a tower or something), as well as a secret pogo stick “vehicle” that a solidier can use to move a bit quicker, be harder to hit and also reach those places that are just slightly out of reach of normal jumping ;)
Some night vision goggles should be nice. It’s just a thought!
@244 Huh?? It’s a legit question, I just wanted to know if it was still gonna be addressed with this patch.
720p is actually better quality than 1080i. This has been discussed all over the internet, guys.
In your display menu, you should select 720p and 1080p (if your TV can handle it). Leave any interlaced options (720i/1080i) unchecked.
By automatically selecting 720p, your PS3 is actually giving you the best visuals. You should thank it.
new update plz :)
I don’t know if anyone else has encoutered this yet, probably someone has, but I think a new bug emerged, my medals arent showing up? Ive waited a full day and it stil aint here.
Its the teamwork medal btw, ya Im still a little soldier ;P
@254 – Frito
“now the developers are actually charging us MORE money for incremental things like horse armor”
Sorry, I think you may have your consoles confused. Either that or I’d LOVE to know where you got the horse armour add-on on the PS3 cause I couldn’t find it.
And talking about charging for add-on’s what about the “Knights of the Nine” add-on, I believe it came free with one console and not the other?
And that’s not the only game (remember the Rainbow6 “Oops we charged you” malarky or the GeoW “We were forced to charge” issue?)
And the map pack due soon (11/12) for a “certain” popular game, 800 points for 3 new maps, not even 3 months after the game is released?
So it’s certainly not just a “problem” with the PS3. Or I suppose by your logic Halo is going to end up unpopular because they’re charging for a map pack add-on?
Unfortunately microtransactions are a fact of gaming nowadays. Welcome to the real world, these extra’s take time and money to develop yet some people want charity handouts? Coming from someone who works for a big company (IT but not gaming related, finance not application), whenever I read a comments like that I really doubt the person has left school or has ever worked (particularily as I deal with the financial side of things). Personally I’m not too happy about some microtransactions because some companies release unfinished or bugged games then retrospectively fix it (Motorstorm, PES, AC and [mostly] EA I’m looking at you) but for valid extra’s when the game already provides a great experience then I’m all for it.
I’ve had so much fun on Warhawk it’s certainly more than covered my cost (which is more than I could say about CoD4) so if this little add-on enhances the game I’m more than happy paying £5-£10 for it. Alternatively if you’re not too keen/impressed with the game by now this will probably not convince you otherwise so clearly you won’t get it.
Get it, don’t get it, your feelings on the game now will dictate your choice. However don’t complain about it being priced cause all it does is make you look like an ignorant non-worker (I hesitate to say schoolkid as some of them arent ignorant of how companies work … unlike so many people on the internet).
@ 258 – GhostM
Which TV do you have? I have a Bravia KDL40W2000 connected via HDMI and mine automatically defaults to 720p. I chose the “Automatically pick best resolution”. I tried forcing and upscale to 1080p and I also tried fixing at 1080i and I can say that (to me), the game was much better in 720p than either of those resolutions. IMO from my experiences the PS3 defaulting to 720p is a blessing, not a problem. Just because the number is bigger doesn’t mean it’s better when you’re talking between p’s and i’s.
This looks great. I will be getting this 1 day.
@ 275Scythe and @ 255Solace-
You guys are total tools!!!
LOL!!!
254frito was just saying it was a problem with this next generation of consoles- that we are being charged soooo much for these games!!!
YOU TWO ARE THE PERFECT CUSTOMERS!!!
heck, why not make the games $80 a piece?
they work hard on the games, so we should pay whatever they want, right?
TOOLS!
LOL!!
well we work hard for our money, too..
and @Scythe – calling 254frito ” an ignorant non-worker” is just rude…what a way to debate, by calling names..
so i will do it to you right back for being such a TOOL!
if you would have taken the time to read his other posts, you would have read he said he was 29 and had a job, so next time TRY to not sound as much of a kid yourself.
wiener.
AND TO EVERYONE WHO THINKS PAYING MORE FOR LESS IS OK-
GET A CLUE!!!!!!
@zola
Would you work for free?
If the answer is “no”, then you just proved my point.
If the answer is “yes”, then you are either so financially wealthy that you’re in the minority or are lying.
I spent 60$ on Warhawk, have logged in (conservative estimate) roughly 60 hours. For those that can’t do the math, that’s a dollar for an hours worth of entertainment. Considering that most next gen games are coming in at 5$-10$ per hour of entertainment (and then end), I’d say that this is a steal.
And before you comment back, learn to read. Scythe didn’t call frito an “ignorant non-worker”. What he said was, when you don’t look at it from an informed perspective, it made him sound like he was an ignorant non-worker.
For someone who derides “name-calling debates”, you sure went there in a hurry. Pot, meet kettle.
*hugs*: even trolls need them.
hmm quick count and most comment go like this:
1; What?!! NOT FOR FREE!!!!?????? boooooo!
and
2. WHAT ABOUT THE PS-CARDS! WE NEED PS-CARDS!
and
3. NICE UPDATE…
now how do you think could this become a actual succes.. unlike motorstorm and resistance updates they very much vailed on PSN.. so do ALL PSN games… just like “The Eye” cam i got it but can’t use it at all realy, it’s just a chat cam now. No Eye games on a disc by now is just stupid…
and.. PSP why is sony not releasing HD cables for the Slim? And why only game’s on HD? I got HD but not in Hotels on holiday a missed chance…
Why is there still no RSS feed for my PS3 to get my podcasts?
Why isn’t EA punished for not putting custom tracks in NfS Prostreet.. if PSP can do it…
And for godsake why! why can’t I use my SONY Cybershot film clips on my PS3??? It’s nice i can look at pictures but then having to switch my whole set-up the view the clips i made of my day out is just stupid. Come on! Sony should work on Sony atleast.. give the Cybershot an update or the PS3.
279: how old are you? not to bash but I’m from an age where the custumor got an update to keep them excited for a bit longer till Nr.2 comes out..
So you are gonna leave warhawk1 on your HDD when Warhawk2 comes? hmm are you gonna save the first one forever? let’s say after 2 more updates and spending a sweet total of 80dollar for a game is a bit steap for ONE YEAR worth of gameplay (even shorter for those updates)? or are you not gonna move on when warhawk 2 WILL come in 2008.. it seems smarter to save the update money and get Warhawk2 for a good price, All featureds will be in that version anyway. For now it seems to me we are all beta testers for warhawk 2…. like always.
And please spare me stose sad story’s of poor developers not making any money.. if they (Incognito) didn’t have sush a EXPENSIVE run up of YEARS of development and moving the game from platform to platform and engine up on engine it would not have been as expensibve as it is now… they messed up on production DON”T LET US PAY FOR THAT!
Solace, I completely agree. Developers should get paid something for larger time consuming content.
“You can pick up Warhawk for somewhere between 50$ (without mic) and 60$ (with mic)”
Actually, just to clarify. You can pick up warhawk without the mic for $40.
@Zapruder
How old am I? I’m old enough to be confused by the ramblings you call a post.
Try speaking in coherent sentences and then I’ll be happy to reply.
*kids these days*…
Oh, and for the one comment I think I could understand, I’m not going to not play a game just because a sequel is coming out eventually. If that was the case, you’d never play any game.
@284;for your info.. I’m (THANK GOD) not American.. so bare with me or p*** off. I know understanding and working with other cutures is VERY hard for you in general. So I don’t care if you understand or not I allready made my point.
@zapruder
I’m not American either. Way to stereotype, buddy.
You talk about dealing with other cultures, but then have no respect or tolerance for others.
Again, pot, meet kettle.
And no, you didn’t make your point. If you had, there wouldn’t be any confusion.
Oh, unless your point was that you:
– don’t have a point
– just like being a contentious troll
– or you think that people should work and not get paid for their efforts and, in turn, believe that slavery should be brought back.
You don’t really support slavery now, do you?
who make’s up these prices anyway.. i mean atleast 15 maps in CoD4 and just 5 in Warhawk. So EA staf work harder for less pay? or is incognito just useing more gold toiletpaper and diamond coffeecups?
I’d gladly pay $15 for this expansion. But that’s just me obviously. I love this game. BTW I prefer $8 haha..
Some people haven’t taken any economic classes I can see. Last time I checked inflation is a real word in the dictionary and cost of living (despite what some think here) goes up as time goes on….duh.
oh sorry i meant to say Infinity wards/Activision ;-) not EA.
@zapruder
If you’re not even in the NA territory, you’re not going to be able to buy it for this price if at all, so what’s the point in complaining?
Oh yeah – because you’re obviously nothing more than a troll; complaining about stuff that’s not even a big deal in every single thread.
PSN cards in Twisted Metal thread, price in this one…
Get over it.
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
Quit trolling.
@286; ok then it’s just your arrogance that is a problem…. ‘buddy’.. who’s trolling here? me? now you are making stuff up.. at the fist place i started by posting a question… how old are you revering to a point in time where paying for updates was not done.. now it seems to me you are well ajusted to the microsoft scam but thats not even the point now but the fact that people with a disc version bought that thing for a reason. If you can’t figure out what that is i’m sorry. And are you gonna pay for something that in the end will be deleted? ok i can see that you are, many people are… but allot are not having that for many reasons. and again if you can’t see that i’m sorry.
slaverry.. did you know there is MORE slavery NOW then at anypoint in time? guess not KID! grow up wake up or leave those issues allone please you are going on thin ice my friend.
Your freaking PS3 is mostly made by chinese slaves fool!
who are you my nanny or just on patrol here? jeez man leave me alone will you. you’re not even trying to make a point yourself so please.
“or you think that people should work and not get paid for their efforts and, in turn, believe that slavery should be brought back.”
claiming that developers have it bad and comparing them with slaves (!) in this world is the most absurd thing i’ve ever heard they got a pay check like we all do so if they need more money they can always go and work for Microsoft. It seems to me you are an underpaid pain in the ass.
@zapruder
What point in time do I come from? Let me tell you.
I come from a time where kids respected their elders, because they had wisdom and perspective.
I come from a time where people work, and they get paid for it.
I come from a time where people do not expect and demand that they be given something for free.
I come from a time where people make an attempt to respect other people’s opinions, even if they were different from theirs, and do NOT hurl insults just because their thoughts were contrary.
I come from a time where people do not think that anonymity gives them the rite to be as rude as they want.
I come from a time where people contemplate the validity of what they read, and do not assume that all that is written is gospel.
I come from a time where people, like myself, tried to program games in their own room, and eventually saying, “screw this” because programming is not as simple as baking a cake.
I come from a time where I’ve been able to see online games go from 1-on-1 to now massive multiplayer universes, and appreciate the effort it takes to code for that on both the server and user side.
I come from a in time where I know that nothing is free, everything changes, but in the end, if you aren’t living in the moment, you’re not truly living.
That’s the time where I’m from, and that’s what I stand for.
What, if anything, do you stand for, other than the notion that your childlike behaviour on here is somehow warranted, appreciated, or positively recognized?
ok now you lost me.. I paid full price for warhawk what are you talking about man? I think i found the slave, it’s you. who’s being childish here? is it your tactic to lay blame on the otherside and not reflect on what you’ve been saying here? Why should we agree with you having to pay for a map and not being able to get it for not having PS-Cards or leaving people out that just don’t have the money to keep up with all those updates, so in the end the whole clan or friends idea dies just because some can’t get it is that fair then? really man you started the whole morrality BS by stating that developers end up as slaves if we don’rt pay up for silly updates. come on.
I do like this one;
“I come from a time where people, like myself, tried to program games in their own room, and eventually saying, “screw this” because programming is not as simple as baking a cake.”
oh really Einstein! copying code from a book was too hard… well guess there is always a mail career, what is the point? Are you with those guys saying that programming for ps3 is so much harder then xbox bla bla bla? Well again we had a machine called PS2 and i think they will work things out… that is one reason why Sony provides them with an SDK remember.
@anyone else
Now, since I don’t want to assume the worse, or respond to what I can only assume are his attempts at insults, I put it to anyone out there:
Can someone, ANYONE please translate what zapruder is saying?
He seems to think that programming began with PlayStation, and doesn’t remember the C64 days, or programming in BASIC.
He seems to think that all programming is, is copying code out of a book.
He seems to think that people should work and not get paid for their efforts.
He seems to not understand hyperbole, but that could just be a language barrier.
He seems to think that incoherent posts that don’t address any points are an acceptible response.
Please, can someone please act as a translator?
Dylan, you’re probably not coming back but if you do… What about a Snow map? Or maps with Weather in them that accumulate? Rain, sleet, snow…?? Fog, maybe? What gives here? Also, how about adding bikes and a few more weapons for us to use?
lame
dont know if anyone mentioned this yet but there is some videos of the new map and vehicle out now.looks good.
http://www.gamersyde.com/game_981.html