Go-Going To Be Epic: Exodus Wars

Here’s the thing: I’d never heard of Exodus Wars until a couple of hours ago, but having clicked my way through first contact at IGM, the IndieGoGo bid and a quick look at the Steel Crown miniatures that make up the table top version, I’m going to hesitate from my normal derogatory English tone in calling it a rip-off of Epic Warhammer 40K, and instead whoop with unbridled American-style joy that an epic-scale table-top sci-fi computer war game is being made at all. When was the last one, Final Liberation or something? It seems it was a long time ago anyway. Too long.

Exodus Wars: Fractured Empire is a 3D, turn-based strategy game capturing the core gameplay of miniatures wargaming. It will put players in control at a Brigade level, manoeuvring infantry and armour companies, as well as massive super-vehicles like the mighty Marcovian Behemoth, as they jockey for position on the futuristic battlefields of the Exodus Wars universe.

“Fans of miniatures wargames have long lamented the lack of good turn-based strategy computer games,” says Mark Sheppard, producer, Membraine Studios. “It’s incredibly hard to capture the essence of miniatures wargaming: what units to bring to a battle and the tactics that best serve an overarching strategy. Exodus Wars: Fractured Empire will be the game wargamers have always wanted but have never seen made because wargames like this are seen as ‘too niche’ by publishers and big studios alike.”

Exodus Wars is apparently 40% complete, with just $35K needed to push efforts towards completion. Should funding exceed what to me seem almost suspiciously modest goals, Membraine Studios hope to be able to develop a mobile version.

Given that the core of the game will revolve around online matchmaking, it will interesting to find out what plans exist for any kind of single-player campaign. Now that I know of it’s existence, the Exodus Wars universe and lore is something I wouldn’t mind exploring – preferably offline.