THQ Wireless and Games Workshop Announce Warhammer 40,000 Space Hulk for Mobile Phones

Classic board game goes mobile.

Posted by Staff
THQ Wireless and Games Workshop Announce Warhammer 40,000 Space Hulk for Mobile Phones
THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI), today announced that it has acquired a licence from Games Workshop® to launch a mobile game set in the critically acclaimed Warhammer® 40,000 universe. Titled Warhammer® 40,000 Space Hulk®, the game is set in a dark gothic sci-fi future and is expected to be available through leading carriers worldwide, from Summer 2005.

The deep single player experience is set in a forbidding abandoned space ship teeming with aliens, weapons and mayhem. Space Hulk® is part of the instantly recognisable Warhammer 40,000 brand, and is based on Games Workshop’s classic board game of the same name from the world's largest tabletop wargames company. THQ Wireless’ interactive implementation of the brand will remain true to the existing rules and gameplay systems, whilst also addressing the needs of the ‘quick play’ aspect of mobile handset gaming.

“Space Hulk was the first Warhammer 40,000 computer game back in the early 90’s, so it’s feels very appropriate for it to be the first game we have on this emerging platform” said Jon Gillard, Business Development Manager for Games Workshop. “It also heralds the further extension of our long term relationship with THQ on Warhammer 40,000 products, a relationship which has already generated some great games and we are sure will continue to do so”.

The shadowy Space Hulk setting lends itself well to mobile gaming. The strategic and tactical nuances provide an ongoing gameplay challenge and the ability to play as Space Marine Terminators or the alien Genestealers offers excellent variety to keep players coming back for more. The inimitable visual style that runs through the Warhammer 40,000 universe provides an instant impact that draws players into the game.

The dynamic game environment offers a multiplicity of game modes and scenarios, including tactical, turn based like the classic tabletop game, as well as frenetic real-time action. This makes the game accessible and compelling for as wide a spectrum of handset users as possible.

Adam Comiskey, General Manager at THQ Wireless said “We aim to ensure the appropriate respect is given to the Games Workshop licence, ensuring that the Space Hulk legacy lives on through another generation of gamers with this mobile phone game.”

Games Workshop hobbyists are almost exclusively male, two thirds of whom are below the age of 21, which places them in a similar demographic to mobile phone gamers. There are proven links between the tabletop wargaming Hobby and the video gaming community, as shown in the successes of recent games such as Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War?.