Vassal40k: The End Has Come

While more wargaming-related than anything, it's worth noting a post on the Vassal40k website revealing that Games Workshop has issued a cease and desist letter against the fan-supported Warhammer game engine. Since this is the first time we've mentioned the program, here's a snip from the utility's about page:
Vassal is a game engine for building and playing online adaptations of board games and card games. It allows users to play in real time over a live Internet connection. It runs on all platforms, and is free for personal use.

We have developed a module to go along with Game Workshop's game systems using Vassal. The engine uses the internet to function, meaning you can meet people from around the world and discuss your armies/tactics.

The V40k modules are not a substitute to tabletop play, they're missing many of the features that make tabletop play such a great thing, the modules main purposes are to be a battle report image maker, giving you the abilities to easily make battle report pictures like those seen in GW's White Dwarf magazine.

The V40k modules are being developed readily bringing in new sprites and terrain with each release. Many hours are put into creating the highly detailed pieces of artwork that make the module so popular and brilliant to use.
I can't say that I really blame GW, but I think there were better alternatives than to simply shut the project down.