News: Vigil provides first glimpse of Warhammer 40k MMO

There's been a lot of talk and speculation concerning the long-anticipated Warhammer 40k MMO(WH40K), currently in development by Austin-based Vigil Games. While they've leaked a few tidbits about their plans for the game since it was first announced in March 2007, it was only this week that they finally released some concept art to our friends over at Kotaku.

Ultramarines Reprazent!

The art features some very promising images of an Ultramarine, Space Marine Bolter pistol, two different angles of an Ork fighter, what looks like an early render of an Imperial Warhound, a Rhino Troop Transport and several other beautiful example of the Adeptus Astarte's awesome firepower.

Can you say "Orks in SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE?"

The game is set for a release in 2012 and Vigil promises that any race that a 40K fan would find important will be in the game. A statement which sets this gamer's heart aflutter with anticipation. And while there is sure to be heavy gunplay, Vigil has eluded that the game will bear a stronger kinship to an RPG than an FPS.

A Bolter pistol will leave a fist-sized hole clean through you...and that's not even with explosive bolts!

Creative director Joe Madureira stated in an April 2008 interview "there will be "Tons of stuff hanging off your character, weapons, scrolls ... we are going to have the coolest looking characters of any MMO, ever." Anyone who's ever painted a squad of Space Marines or their Chaos adversaries (to name just two likely races) will tell you how important this visual element is to the WH40k universe, and it will be even more important to help differentiate between players that will in theory be wearing mostly identical suits of battle armor most of the time with a few exceptions (Imperial Inquisitors, Orks).

Rest assured as more is revealed about Vigil's plans for their flagship MMO, we'll have all the details for you right here.