I used to play the tabletop version of Warhammer 40,000. It included small plastic and metal figurines, but the set-up and take down time was just too long, and with the major rule changes, I just wasn’t enjoying myself as much. Add to that my love for real time strategy games on the computer, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War was a hit in my opinion.

Now, it looks like THQ is working on the second installment of the popular title. With three expansion packs out on the first game, I continue to wait for the Tyranids, an insect like race, to be added to the mix, but so far, no luck.

If you recently bought the third expansion, Soulstorm, you will be able to participate in the multiplayer beta test of Dawn of War 2, sometime in the future.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is set in the grim, war-ravaged world of Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 universe – a dark, futuristic, science-fiction setting where armies of technologically advanced warriors, fighting machines and hordes of implacable aliens wage constant war. Developed by critically acclaimed RTS developer Relic Entertainment, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II ushers in a new chapter in the acclaimed RTS series, as ancient races – including the dauntless Space Marines and savage Orks - clash across ruined worlds on a mission to claim the galaxy and preserve their own existence.

Powered by the re-vamped Essence Engine 2.0, the next evolution of Relic’s proprietary game engine made famous in the award winning Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II will deliver fast-paced RTS action with ferocious melee and ranged combat in fully destructible environments. Immersing players in an in-depth non-linear single-player campaign and a fully-co-operative multiplayer mode, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is set to deliver the most visually-stunning Warhammer 40,000 setting ever created.

I am looking forward to its release, and hope that they bring about the addition of more of my favourite races. I mean, Dark Eldar before Tyranids? What were they thinking? Expect to see much more of Dawn of War 2, as 2009 gets closer.