Champions Online: The No-NDA Merged Edition

[UnSub]

I have to wager that - if Spring 2009 is still the launch goal - open beta isn't far off.

[misrossk]

I know, but im craving for some superhero action :D I used to play CoX, but the constant grind gets to ya :D

[UnSub]

I know, but im craving for some superhero action :D I used to play CoX, but the constant grind gets to ya :D

How long ago? A lot has changed.

Also they have sent out a large number of beta keys recently. Make sure you are signed up and check your spam filters.

[misrossk]

Well, I played on and off constantly. I don't have all the vet rewards, but I have alot. Brother plays alot also, so I still see what goes on in CoX :D. Im using gmail, do you know if my filters need to he changed at all be default?

[Jamiko]

At an event taking place in the UK today, Cryptic’s Design Director and Executive Producer, Bill Roper, informed Strategy Informer that Champions Online would be released in the US and Europe on 14th July 2009.

http://www.strategyinformer.com/news/4062/champions-online-dated-releases-14th-july-2009-in-us-and-europe

[Ashamanchill]

Thank fuck.  It feels like we've been wandering around in an mmo wasteland lately, with no no titles at all.  (And no I don't count Dark-I'll charge you twice on your credit card and still not give you play access-fall).

[HaemishM]

Wait until the NDA comes off before rejoicing. I'm not saying one way or the other whether the game is good or bad, but until you actually hear something about the way the game plays, don't get excited.

[Ashamanchill]

I can't help it.  I'm a naive sucker.  I know it's not going to be the saviour of MMOs, and save the market, and stride through the town on a robot raptor proclaiming all will be well.  I just want something to play for three weeks with my buddies where we can meet at the pub afterwards, and discuss it's flaws/virtues (if any).
This came can flop on it's ass in beta, declare Paul Barnett is the new talent director, announce a Lineage 2 style xp curve, and I will still be forced to play it because it has no competetion.

[Malakili]

Yeah, unfortunately there is basically no information out about this game.   It has the ILLUSION of releasing information because every so often they say, oh look, new screenshots of pretty stuff.  But who knows how the game will actually play.  The few videos I have seen on youtube, etc, seem kinda lackluster though.  They keep trumping up this action-oriented combat system, but I don't see it being anything all that new or exciting, then agian, who knows.

[Nebu]

I have a friend that is in the beta.  While he hasn't said anything about the game to me at all, I do notice that he spends most of his free time playing CoH. 

I wonder if he's telling me something without telling me anything.

[Draegan]

I have a friend that is in the beta.  While he hasn't said anything about the game to me at all, I do notice that he spends most of his free time playing CoH. 

I wonder if he's telling me something without telling me anything.

 

I got to play this game briefly at NYCC as I've written in this thread.  I wasn't a big fan of CoH to begin with so I don't think I'd be a fair reviewer with the time I got with the game.

[Ghambit]

If this game follows the IP's tenets, than really it'll mostly be focusing on the aspects of merely CREATING supers and their archvillains and fooling around with their powers.  Gameplay is second fiddle to this, if I had to take a guess as to the design of this sucker.  Even still, it'd be worth playing if they pull it off just for the chargen aspect (just like CoX @ release).  Being able to flesh out a super in a system like Champions, Wild Talents, M&M, etc. and then actually PLAY with that super in a virtual space is worth the price of admission if you asked me.

If they fail in this regard though, the game will be a worse disaster than if the gameplay was good and the chargen was bad imo. Just Let em produce this little ditty and then get on with the real business, which is STO.  I seriously doubt Cryptic desires to tow the line on 2 HUGE MMO titles.  ChampO was never designed to be a big game for this simple fact.  Just a nice, small, fun, superhero character generator and playpen.  When they want big they can turn to the Federation of Planets.

[Ghambit]

I have a friend that is in the beta.  While he hasn't said anything about the game to me at all, I do notice that he spends most of his free time playing CoH. 

I wonder if he's telling me something without telling me anything.

 

I got to play this game briefly at NYCC as I've written in this thread.  I wasn't a big fan of CoH to begin with so I don't think I'd be a fair reviewer with the time I got with the game.

So, you're saying the game sux?

[Draegan]

I wasn't inspired to play more.  Then again I was tossed into a pre made character and fiddled around with it.

[Montague]

Website now gives a release date of July 14th

Gah, read the thread Monty...

Maybe I'm numb after the AOC and WAR failures but there's nothing about this game that is making me want to get it, and I played Champions the RPG for several years. It just screams "salvage project" to me.

[Hawkbit]

AoC and WAR took a lot out of me regarding the MMO genre.  High hopes and dashed dreams, all around.  I suspect the same happened to quite a few others. 

I know I'm very wary of pretty much all the titles coming out in the next couple years.  I'll be reading beta experiences a whole lot closer going here on out. 

[Kageru]

I thought it had been covered earlier in the discussion that they didn't license (or intend to implement) the champions ruleset. The game was already well under development when marvel walked away so what they needed was an IP and the legal protection in brought. I certainly can't think of any other reason they'd buy the champions IP which is unknown and very silly.

[UnSub]

Cryptic bought the Champions IP within a month of losing the Marvel contract.

I'm off to look at the beta board's reaction to this announcement. I can't wait for the NDA to drop.

[Ghambit]

I thought it had been covered earlier in the discussion that they didn't license (or intend to implement) the champions ruleset. The game was already well under development when marvel walked away so what they needed was an IP and the legal protection in brought. I certainly can't think of any other reason they'd buy the champions IP which is unknown and very silly.

I dont look at it as silly, even though the IP itself is mainstream unknown. 
One IP locks your game into specific lore (Marvel) and sends your game down a particular path; probably constrained by the rules of the IP.  Another IP (Champions) is more open and sandboxey.  Even if the game is coded pretty much the same for both, the ideals themselves shape the overall flavor.  Personally, I'd rather not do missions for *insert random marvel toon* in my aspirations to be *insert random marvel toon*.  Flexibility is key here.

And realize this, there's nothing that says they cant do a Marvel version of Champions as an expansion (which is what I'd do if I was cryptic/Marvel), once the engine is proven.  People do it in the pnp game all the time.
I mean, do you know how much extra WORK it'd entailed having the Marvel moniker on their gamebox?  It's kinda like having to deal with the Star Trek IP.  Legions of fans dissecting each and every pixel and character of your game for historical accuracy and relevance, etc.  Quite literally, it'd be like creating TWO games in one.

So silly?  Nope.  I'd say it was pretty smart.  If Champions works well they could possibly parlay it into a Marvel partnership, and Cryptic would be the mecca for all dorkdom.  Even if they didnt intend to use Champions, it's still the smarter choice for now imo.  If they had unlimited time, money, and patience in dealing with Marvel then sure, Marvel: Online might've been a reality... but they didnt.

[UnSub]

It's characters like this that really impress me about the ChampO char creation system:



It's hideous, sure, but it's impressively hideous!

[Ghambit]

It's characters like this that really impress me about the ChampO char creation system:



It's hideous, sure, but it's impressively hideous!

See, if that pic actually shows off the chargen system then why didnt they put it in the trailers?  All the supers in the vids. I've seen are pretty much clones, so the vids have been umimpressive.  They need to show this shyt off.  hmmm, I wonder if we can make vibrating tentacle monsters   

[NiX]

I want in the damn preview! I can't imagine how long I've been signed up. Of course it was based off my old computer, so awhile.

[Modern Angel]

Okay, I have to ask because I'd like for a supers MMO to be decent. Why in the Hell do we think Emmert is going to do a good job with this? Or maybe good's not the word for it... what makes anyone think it's going to be different from CoH? I've seen no indication that Emmert has learned any lessons from City... indeed, most people I know who still check it out think City's done better since he's moved on.

[Trippy]

The combat is different than CoH -- it's much more button mashy, there are no cooldown timers. It's more in the style of console button mashers like X-Men Legends or Marvel Utlimate Alliance.

[AutomaticZen]

Okay, I have to ask because I'd like for a supers MMO to be decent. Why in the Hell do we think Emmert is going to do a good job with this? Or maybe good's not the word for it... what makes anyone think it's going to be different from CoH? I've seen no indication that Emmert has learned any lessons from City... indeed, most people I know who still check it out think City's done better since he's moved on.

For better or for worse, everything good or bad about CoH has been thrown out for Champions Online.  So they say.

[Signe]

Well, the look hasn't been thrown out.  They look just the same to me.

[Jimbo]

I can't say much other than I did play it at Gen Con and got into the beta, but I'm itching to tell all once the NDA stops.

[Ghambit]

I can't say much other than I did play it at Gen Con and got into the beta, but I'm itching to tell all once the NDA stops.

You can say as much as you want as long as it's not anything specific about the game.  Your impressions, etc. dont break NDAs.

[UnSub]

indeed, most people I know who still check it out think City's done better since he's moved on.

To some extent, Emmert got to be the fall guy for every unpopular decision, even after handing control over to Matt Miller. Plus Miller could have reversed any of those unpopular decisions like GDN or ED. He hasn't.

I'm not saying that Emmert didn't make mistakes - he did - but I do like people to try to take a balanced view of things. Yeah, I'm aware this against the rules of the internet. Or that Miller has done the ED equivalent to PvP that, for the time being, gutted that scene, or has made introduced several new systems that keep screwing with CoH/V's in-game economy to a stupid extent.

EDIT: As for Emmert's Cryptic to make ChampO different from CoH/V, the stated intent is much closer to CoH/V v0.5, where there was a much more free-form character creation system. Combat is meant to be faster and a lot more things are meant to be streamlined based on their CoH/V experience plus 5 years of industry progression.

[Kageru]

Trying to connect the designers stated intentions with what actually releases can make an entertaining hobby. They have all these entertaining dreams and then the crunch comes and they all evaporate.

I'd imagine Bill Roper is a bit nervous though, he's accepted being the public front for CO's design and I imagine he'd rather not have another flawed game to his name.

I look forward to the NDA dropping so the truth can come out, always an interesting discussion.

[UnSub]

I'm going to write something and I'm going to link it to what was promised originally and also about how the alpha / beta went.

The First True Action MMORPG

* Hi-Octane Excitement: Champions Online delivers furious, fast-paced encounters previously reserved for action and fighting games. No more boring auto attacks and lengthy recharge times. Champions Online combat is instantaneous — and electrifying!

* Brains required: Every enemy and super-powered threat in Champions Online has its own unique abilities and combat specialties. Use your head — or wind up dead!

* Bring friends, make friends: The Champions Online universe will be jam-packed with thousands of heroes, facing thousands of threats. Join up with other heroes, create your own superteam, and prepare to take on the ultimate threats!

Be the Hero You Want To Be

* Total customization, at your fingertips: Choose from hundreds of different costume pieces, colors and body types to create your character's one-of-a-kind costume and look. There are billions of possible combinations, and in a universe brimming with the fantastic and the unforgettable, you can still be completely unique!

* Your powers, on your terms: There are a multitude of astonishing powers to choose from in Champions Online, and its flexible character creation system gives you total control over your hero's abilities. You can even pick the appearance of your powers. Do you want purple force fields? Green fire blasts? Jet black claws? In Champions Online, you decide!

* Keep your enemies close: Every hero must have an archenemy. In Champions Online, you design your character's supreme adversary, choosing a name, powers and costume for a superpowered foe to bedevil your hero throughout his or her career.

* Bigger and better: Vanquish evil, and your successes will be rewarded with costume pieces to enhance your powers and abilities. Then customize the appearance of those rewards to your vision of your hero's look and abilities!

Vast Universe

* Endless exploration: The battle against evil in Champions Online rages across the world into outer space and alternate dimensions. No other MMOG offers players the chance to explore such diverse realms — from the shining skyscrapers of Millennium City and the frozen wastes of Canada to the interstellar gladiatorial arena on the moon, the hidden underwater city of Lemuria and the foul mystical dimension known as Qliphotic.

* Evil most foul: Battle supervillains, aliens, giant monsters and secret, sinister organizations. Doctor Destroyer is launching new plans to conquer the world. VIPER lurks in the shadows, seeking chances to strike at humanity. The ancient Lemurians are plotting a return to power. And Mechanon won't stop until it has wiped all organic life from the planet. Can you stop these heinous threats to humanity?

* Make your mark: The story of Champions Online is constantly changing, continually evolving. Villains are defeated. Heroes rise and fall. Cities transform. Your actions may decide the future!

[Morfiend]

The First True Action MMORPG

I heard the Phantom is also being released soon.

[NiX]

I think my younger brother still has the Phantom shirt I got at E3 2003.

[Ghambit]

A lot of info. in the DevBlog yesterday:
http://champions-online.com/dev_blog/ask_cryptic_04-27-09

A few new screenies:
http://champions-online.com/screenshots?img=199
(i love how the ingame screenies look like concept art.  should be fun just creating interesting "moments" to post on the web)

I kinda wish powers would scale so we could focus on one distinct ability, rather than having to create an overall "theme" for a character and then being forced to choose powers we might not necessarily be interested in.  Should be interesting how they get around this; I'd expect many of the powers from different tiers, etc. to overlap.  Perhaps different sources for the same power with a slightly different focus?    They say only 1 movement power is available, but that's not to say there may be something movement oriented in another set. 

(sigh)  why didnt they just copy the damned pnp version? 

[UnSub]

(sigh)  why didnt they just copy the damned pnp version? 

Because it is the kind of system that is highly exploitable as well as being highly gimpable.