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Posted by Cepheus at 16:06, 13 Nov 2010:
Survey and new creatures

This morning, Ubisoft's brand manager sent us an an important consumer survey which is going to remain open until 7pm, 15 November. It's a pretty short series of questions asking for your frank opinions, which will assist in fine-tuning the development priorities of Heroes VI. Absolutely anyone is free to participate, so please join in!

After the survey is complete, we will hopefully be able to promise some exclusive information and new revelations in the following days.

Meanwhile, a slew of new Heroes VI creatures have been revealed since the previous news post, including Cerberi, Succubi, Kreegans Tormentors and Pit Fiends for the Inferno, Celestials and Sun Riders for the Haven, and the Lamasu for Necropolis. There's also a nostalgic Legendary Heroes article from Marzhin.

Following Heroes VI's presentation at Russia's Igromir venue, one of the boss creatures appearing in the campaign was unveiled: the Mother Namtaru. There was a video to accompany it, but we cannot post it around as per Ubisoft's wishes - videotaping was forbidden during the event.

While creature names are being internally revised, if you are dissatisfied with any so far (for instance, the inaccurate two-headed Cerberus), we invite you to post your suggestions in this topic - but please do so quickly, as finalisation is imminent!

In Heroes V mapping and modding, Markkur has asked me to direct people to his work-in-progrees (yet elegant and increasingly useful) Map Making Tips.

Posted by Cepheus at 18:26, 29 Sep 2010:
Uncertain whether composers will return for Heroes VI

Paul Romero is the veteran musical virtuoso and composer for the Heroes of Might and Magic and Might and Magic games since Heroes I: A Strategic Quest (way back in 1995). It seemed certain he would reprise his role and create the music for Heroes VI, but there have been substantial hints that he may not be involved in the project as of yet.

I hope Paul and Rob King will ultimately return for the most recent game in the series. It would be a shame to play a Heroes game without the dynamic duo's ultra-immersive, truly memorable melodies setting the scene in the background! Click on any of the examples at Shyranis' channel and tell me you don't agree.

You can comment on Paul's music or contact him at his YouTube channel. If you love the Heroes soundtracks to date, please let him know - it just might help the situation!

Posted by Cepheus at 18:08, 29 Sep 2010:
Community news roundup

It's been all too long since the last update (sorry for that), so I'll take stock of what's been happening since then before reporting a major piece of recent news. Huge thanks to Alcibiades for diligently collecting many of these updates in the Information thread.

· We now have two dedicated discussion and information threads for efficiency's sake.

· Archangel Castle uploaded a substantial Q&A session with Ubi and Black Hole, or, colloquially, "Ubihole" (thanks to Nelgirith for translating). There are numerous new revelations on various topics, too many to cover here.

· The first brief videos of gameplay footage have been released: Combat and Adventure Map. Please keep in mind that a LOT of the elements present are prototypes, subject to change - hence the heavy editing.

· Xhane posted some of the game's lore backstory on the Facebook page (mirrored here for non-Facebookers), revealing details on the playable protagonists. Beware of minor spoilers. The story seems way more promising than that of Heroes V.

· Today, Xhane also made available the original music from the stunning Gamescom trailer, composed by Tom Salta (not Hans Zimmer, despite minor similarities...).

· Ubi's official Heroes VI site is up. Also, their Might and Magic site has finally been graphically revamped, but the content is mostly the same as before.

· Vitirr from the Spanish Torre de Marfil fansite was one of the fans invited to try an early build of Heroes VI and meet the game's developers at Gamescom. He posted his impressions here.

· Artworks by Olivier Ledroit, most likely created for Heroes VI, have gone public - concepts for the Naga and Faceless among them.

· I, Cepheus, utterly non-dramatically revealed that I'm in Ubi's closed forum alongside Elvin and others, collecting your feedback. You won't be getting any exclusive information out of me yet, though - sorry. :P

Posted by Cepheus at 00:12, 27 Aug 2010:
Heroes Community has at least one insider

Marzhin is on the development team, we've received info direct from the developers, and now this - it looks like the fans really are being involved in Heroes VI.

He may be a few weeks overdue, but Elvin has finally "come out of the closet" and revealed his personal involvement in Ubisoft's classified forum open only to a select group of fans. This probably means that he is responsible for conveying our concerns and wishes to the Heroes VI developers! We're not aware whether any other Heroes Community members are involved - if they are, it looks like they're staying silent.

His involvement can be confirmed by this lengthy list of Heroes VI features he posted (initially by proxy through our friendly neighbourhood DemiMod, Geny) up at HC, offering a hoard of new information. This list was reposted hours later in unrelated fashion at Heroic Corner, so we can be certain Elvin's participation is genuine.

Among the new features mentioned are: revamped creature dwelling mechanics, more variety in combat arenas than ever, advanced classes, the list of tilesets and info on a new creature tier system with three levels instead of seven! Congrats (and envious regards) from the community to Elvin!

Posted by Cepheus at 19:07, 25 Aug 2010:
Some fansite-exclusive gifts from the Heroes VI developers

A couple of hours ago I was kindly sent a package from Xhane (MM community developer) containing a few H6 concept artworks exclusive to the fansites. Many thanks to Ubisoft's team! However, what was arguably more interesting was a blurb we received, straight from the developers, which offers greater detail on the Area of Control concept to be introduced in Heroes VI.

We've been encouraged to discuss the feature, so post your opinions - the H6 developers will be watching and listening. The system currently looks pretty solid and dramatic revisions are not anticipated, but if a certain wish or concern is voiced with unanimity, there's a chance we can compel Ubi's team to address it. Of course, if you just want to drop in a note saying "sounds great", I'm told they'll happily accept that too!

There is also a new, interesting and optimistic preview from Norway which Alcibiades has kindly helped translate. Thanks to Elvin for pointing me towards it, and to torin856.

By the way, apologies to readers for the glitches you've been experiencing with the layout of the Age of Heroes site. The web host mysteriously disabled a scripting feature pivotal to the design. Valeriy has asked them to re-instate it, so we can only wait until it's fixed. Hopefully you can still see the news at least. ;)

Posted by Cepheus at 01:12, 22 Aug 2010:
A warm, reassuring Heroes VI preview from Hooked Gamers

To say the least, many fans have not exactly embraced reports on Heroes VI's features with open arms, vocally expressing widespread puzzlement and discontent. Of course, we haven't had much official word from Ubi yet aside from Marzhin's recent post, but in the wake of all these innovations and alterations and scrappages, will this game really retain the "true Heroes spirit"?

It will indeed, according to Hooked Gamers. Feanorfinwe kindly points us towards a reassuringly enthusiastic preview which abates my rhetoric nicely: the editor opines that "if you are a hardcore fan and some of these changes sound somewhat frightening to you, then let me put your mind at ease: everything is done with the utmost respect to the original Heroes of Might & Magic formula".

Expressing hearty approval of everything to do with the game (aside from the brand rename), the author (Falconer) - fresh from viewing the Gamescom demoes - notes that maps are much larger, battle arenas are going to be more dynamic, the skill tree is bigger than ever, and factions are indeed becoming unprecedentedly unique. Post your thoughts in the usual place!

Posted by Cepheus at 02:03, 21 Aug 2010:
A longtime Might and Magic fan is on the Heroes VI team

Have you heard of the Legends of the Ancients campaign? Have you seen the map of Axeoth? What about the Dark Messiah scenario? If not, you're missing out. Many Heroes Community and Celestial Heavens forumgoers are almost certainly familiar with Marzhin (Julien Pirou), a longtime French fan of all things Might and Magic and Heroes alike, and prolific creator of custom content.

As he reveals in a post at The Heroes Round Table, Ubisoft have inducted him into their team as Heroes VI's level designer. Marking the first official (though informal) contact between fansites and Ubi regarding H6, Marzhin took some time to abate some of the wild rumours and confusions which currently abound. Notably, he clarifies that town screens have not been dropped and are returning, mentions that the Gamescom demo is a pre-alpha, and offers his assurance that "it still feels and plays like Heroes".

I've personally collaborated with Marzhin on Legends of the Ancients and find him to be an extremely amicable, really talented and genuinely great guy with a singular passion for the series and very comprehensive knowledge of its broad history; he has single-handedly written stories and designed campaigns far superior to anything the official, well-paid team could come up with for Heroes V.

Whatever you may think of Ubisoft's recent decisions, I can tell you that this is definitely one that's actually worth celebrating. It's not every day something like this happens.

Posted by Cepheus at 16:01, 19 Aug 2010:
Short Gamescom video interview

Straight from the Gamescom, there's a new video interview with Erwan Le Breton up at GameSpot. It's prefixed by idiotic ads and doesn't unveil too much that we don't already know, but three of the main departures the project is taking from its prequels are revealed:

· "The kind of story we're telling, and how we tell it"
· "RPG elements [...] we really want the player to master their character and development"
· "Added strategy. It may sound strange for a strategy game, but we really wanted all the factions in the game to be strikingly different in how they are played"

Keep checking back for any new developments as they emerge...

Posted by Cepheus at 13:39, 18 Aug 2010:
Interviews with Erwan Le Breton and Necropolis concept art

While we're waiting for a more meaty presentation of the game's features to arrive over the Gamescom, here are two interviews from Ubisoft series producer Erwan Le Breton, which clarify several uncertainties regarding Heroes VI's planned content:

A stock Q&A provided to the press from Ubi, discussing development and lightly skimming over gameplay.

This interview ist auf Deutsch, aber Google Translate should help decipher the details within.

As ever, feel free to discuss the new developments in the usual thread. I'd also like to divert your attention to some very intriguing Necropolis concept art posted by Mitzah. We'll reach out to Ubisoft sometime in the near future and see if we can't get an exclusive of our own!

Posted by Cepheus at 21:30, 17 Aug 2010:
MIGHT AND MAGIC: HEROES VI HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

The press release has arrived! It's official!

DISCUSS!

San Francisco, CA - Today Ubisoft announced the return of the fan beloved Might & Magic franchise with the development of Might & Magic Heroes VI, which will be available worldwide on Windows PC in 2011. Developed by Black Hole Entertainment (Armies of Exigo, Mark of Chaos Battle March), Might & Magic Heroes VI will include all the characters and features that have made this brand a worldwide success, in addition to a wealth of new innovations.

"Might & Magic is a powerful franchise with an amazing 20-year legacy," said Adam Novickas, director of marketing at Ubisoft U.S. "Players will be able to enjoy the Heroes experience like never before. The amazing creative teams at Black Hole Entertainment are keeping the original Heroes spirit, while enhancing the RPG elements."

The Might & Magic Heroes VI adventure starts 400 years before the events in Heroes of Might & Magic V, showcasing a family of heroes in a thrilling, epic story where Angels plot to revive an unfinished war.
v A legendary Archangel general killed during the war of the Elder races returns to life with a vengeance. Under the cover of preparations for an upcoming Demon invasion, he unites the peoples of Ashan to eradicate his ancient enemies. However, he underestimates the power of the all too human dynasty of the Griffin Dukes.

The Griffin heroes' destinies will be written by players. In the game, players will be able to:

- Enjoy the critically acclaimed Heroes gameplay, remasterized with the well-known developer, Black Hole Entertainment, and in close partnership with the game's numerous fans.

- Experience the unique mix of Turn-Based Strategy & RPG: Explore extra-large adventure maps, collect tons of resources and build extraordinary cities. Perfect your tactics to level-up your heroes, recruit troops & ready them for combat on exclusive battle maps

- Shape your destiny: Lead the Heroes of the Griffin dynasty within an intriguing scenario. Choose your path, assume your choices and customize your gaming experience thanks to a brand new reputation system.

- Rediscover the richness of the Might & Magic Universe: Discover fantastic landscapes and creatures from the world of Ashan. Enjoy revisited 3D designs and an exclusive new bestiary.

- Share with the community: Post content & compete with your friends using a new and intelligent, online community interface.