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Dean Takahashi: Wow, This Warhammer 40K Universe Is Such A Rip Off Of Gears And Halo

N

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
Prominent video game journalist Dean Takahashi recently had a preview of Relic's Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, after which he made some fascinating claims.

After reading the preview, I felt that this amazing gem should be shared with the world.

VentureBeat said:
But the similarities between THQ’s third-person shooter game, developed by its Relic Entertainment studio, and Microsoft’s Gears of War third-person shooter series, developed by Epic Games, are just piling up by the dozen. Start with the over-sized armor and bodybuilder physiques of the marines. When you aim a gun in Space Marine, the target reticle is huge, just like the target reticle in Gears of War. The guns are huge and they feature a chainsaw blade that can be used to slice enemies in half, execution style, similar to the “chainsaw bayonet” of the Gears soldiers.
Click to expand...
VentureBeat said:
The blood spatters are also quite similar. The guns shoot in a similar fashion and the Space Marines wield a big giant hammer that resembles the blasting hammers not from Gears of War but from Microsoft’s other sci-fi franchise, Halo.
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VentureBeat said:
When I asked the THQ folks about this, they immediately pointed out that this game was set in the Warhammer universe, which has its own rich and original lore. In fact, this universe predates the existence of Gears of War, so you might argue that Gears of War copies Warhammer 40,000.

...

Of course, since the THQ guys had a handy explanation of the difference so readily available, it seemed like they knew they were going to get asked that question.
Click to expand...
Well, I don't think the article could get any crazier at this point...

VentureBeat said:
The bad guys are the green Ork enemies from the Warhammer world, and they bear no resemblance to the enemies in Gears of War, except that they make loud grunts. Of course, their very name does bear resemblance to the “orcs” in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, but we’ll ignore that for now.
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Oh dear.

Source: http://venturebeat.com/2011/05/25/how-many-ways-can-thqs-space-marine-game-rip-off-gears-of-war/
 
He also actually commented in the thread, 'backing' his claims up:

deantak, Dean Takahashi is lead writer for digital media at VentureBeat

"I appreciate all of the comments here. I've expressed a strong opinion here and I'll stand by it. I hoped to defuse the reaction a little with a sense of humor and by acknowledging the flaws in my own argument. Critics have to take the same stuff that they dish out. You're all entitled to your opinion.

I actually appreciate people who pay close attention to the whole post. I'm the first one to point out that Warhammer's canon pre-dates Gears of War. But you have to acknowledge that the outstanding third-person shooter game play of Gears of War predates any similar outstanding Warhammer 40k video game. So forgive me if I am cynical about the executive decisions here. Video game company A makes a big hit game. Executives at company B say, "we want some of that and we've got the franchise to do it." So they commission a similar game in a different universe. I'd expect this is the kind of thinking that led EA to create an "original" game like Dante's Inferno, which felt an awful lot like God of War.

Now the proof will be in the actual game play, where I expect the Gears-Space Marine comparison will become more obvious. I've seen that game play in a live demo. Now let's see who wants to step forward and say that Space Marine is the most original game they've seen in a long time. "
 
Warhammer is clearly a rip off of this Lord of the Rings fanfic I wrote about how Aragorn travels through time with orcs chasing after him and............
 
215543608_oPsC3-L-2.jpg


edit: Heh, I knew trying to fix the image wouldn't be worth it :p
edit2: Then again, why not.
 
The Warhammer franchises just keep the ripoffs coming - First World of Warcraft, now Gears! :V
Seriously, would it kill these guys to do even a little research?
 
40k isn't a Gears rip off, it's a Starcraft rip-off!

Templar/Dark Templar --> Eldar / Dark Eldar
Space Marines/Imperial Guard --> Terran
Tyranid --> Zerg
Tau --> Protoss mech.

Orks and Necrons are obviously just stolen Orcs and Undead from Warcraft.

Was Games Workshop even trying when they made this shit? Embarrassing.

is it sarcasm? ;o
 
erragal said:
"I appreciate all of the comments here. I've expressed a strong opinion here and I'll stand by it. I hoped to defuse the reaction a little with a sense of humor and by acknowledging the flaws in my own argument. Critics have to take the same stuff that they dish out. You're all entitled to your opinion.

I actually appreciate people who pay close attention to the whole post. I'm the first one to point out that Warhammer's canon pre-dates Gears of War. But you have to acknowledge that the outstanding third-person shooter game play of Gears of War predates any similar outstanding Warhammer 40k video game. So forgive me if I am cynical about the executive decisions here. Video game company A makes a big hit game. Executives at company B say, "we want some of that and we've got the franchise to do it." So they commission a similar game in a different universe. I'd expect this is the kind of thinking that led EA to create an "original" game like Dante's Inferno, which felt an awful lot like God of War.

Now the proof will be in the actual game play, where I expect the Gears-Space Marine comparison will become more obvious. I've seen that game play in a live demo. Now let's see who wants to step forward and say that Space Marine is the most original game they've seen in a long time. "
Click to expand...

Which would make sense if he made the case for how the game was a ripoff, as opposed to focusing quite so much about lore-elements in the game which predate the series. I mean, it would be entirely possible for there to be a Warhammer game that's a ripoff of Gears of War, but it's not so because of a chainsaw gun or bulky armor :p
 
I love how he says he was addressing gameplay, when he clearly focuses on visual design and lore.

Also, who the hell cares if the gameplay feels similar, as long as it's done well?

gawd, BB plays similarly to GG! thats terrible
 
Stumpokapow said:
Which would make sense if he made the case for how the game was a ripoff, as opposed to focusing quite so much about lore-elements in the game which predate the series. I mean, it would be entirely possible for there to be a Warhammer game that's a ripoff of Gears of War, but it's not so because of a chainsaw gun or bulky armor :p
Click to expand...
Space Marine isn't even a cover shooter.
 
I thought the Space Marines had a melee weapon with a chainsaw blade on it; I didn't think it was on their actual gun.

(I've only put about 30 minutes into Dawn of War, I don't know much about Warhammer at all)
 
Tomat said:
I thought the Space Marines had a melee weapon with a chainsaw blade on it; I didn't think it was on their actual gun.

(I've only put about 30 minutes into Dawn of War, I don't know much about Warhammer at all)
Click to expand...

They usually carry a chainsword and a bolter (pistol) simultaneously.
 
Is he really coming out and saying gears was wholly original when it came out. It was nifty, but not groundbreaking. Not saying 40k is gonna break boundries but anything in that universe done well is welcome.
 
Kalnos said:
They usually carry a chainsword and a bolter (pistol) simultaneously.
Click to expand...

I really need to play these games sometime. They sound like a good bit of fun.
 
Takahashi needs to brace for impact. Wow.
 
EmCeeGramr said:
Yeah, I remember it being a thing that they weren't using cover because it made no sense for WH40k Space Marines to even use cover.
Click to expand...
They've got engineered ceramic bones and armor that can survive anything short of a very large bomb. They are the cover.
 
EmCeeGramr said:
Yeah, I remember it being a thing that they weren't using cover because it made no sense for WH40k Space Marines to even use cover.
Click to expand...

Didn't stop cover from being an important mechanic in the DoW series, though.
 
Of course, since the THQ guys had a handy explanation of the difference so readily available, it seemed like they knew they were going to get asked that question.
Click to expand...

But ... but ... you're ... I'm not even a Warhammer fan and this outrages me.

erragal said:
"I appreciate all of the comments here. I've expressed a strong opinion here and I'll stand by it. I hoped to defuse the reaction a little with a sense of humor and by acknowledging the flaws in my own argument. Critics have to take the same stuff that they dish out. You're all entitled to your opinion.

I actually appreciate people who pay close attention to the whole post. I'm the first one to point out that Warhammer's canon pre-dates Gears of War. But you have to acknowledge that the outstanding third-person shooter game play of Gears of War predates any similar outstanding Warhammer 40k video game. So forgive me if I am cynical about the executive decisions here. Video game company A makes a big hit game. Executives at company B say, "we want some of that and we've got the franchise to do it." So they commission a similar game in a different universe. I'd expect this is the kind of thinking that led EA to create an "original" game like Dante's Inferno, which felt an awful lot like God of War.

Now the proof will be in the actual game play, where I expect the Gears-Space Marine comparison will become more obvious. I've seen that game play in a live demo. Now let's see who wants to step forward and say that Space Marine is the most original game they've seen in a long time. "
Click to expand...

So basically:

Of course, since I had a handy explanation of my stance so readily available, it seemed like I knew I was going to get asked that question.
Click to expand...

Trollin' for hits? I'm voting yes.
 
EmCeeGramr said:
Yeah, I remember it being a thing that they weren't using cover because it made no sense for WH40k Space Marines to even use cover.
Click to expand...
Well they do in the DOW games but that's more tabletop and SPESH MAREEN is more fluffy.
 
Kalnos said:
They usually carry a chainsword and a bolter (pistol) simultaneously.
Click to expand...

I just want to get in some terminator armor and fuck Ork/Chaos/Whatever up. I hope that happens in this game.
 
No wonder this sorry ass industry is in trouble. When a well known and prominent journalist makes this sort of ignorant comment you know there is trouble. His ignorance is rather remarkable...he could have said the game play mechanics mimicked gears of war but to actually say that the warhammer lore copied gears is a bit saddening especially coming from Dean.
 
szaromir said:
Space Marine isn't even a cover shooter.
Click to expand...

Was going to mention this. Granted, I have not seen extensive uncut 10-20 minute walkthroughs of a level, but every piece of media I've seen for this game, including the 2 pretty extensive Dev Diary videos, have shown there's at least as much emphasis on hack n' slash as there is gun play. I don't see how anyone could say it plays like Gears if you've seen more than 5 minutes of it.
 
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