Two New Videos!

Two new videos have been added to the official Champions Online video gallery.

The newest video, entitled "Elemental", features footage of the various elemental power sets (fire, ice, earth, electricity) in action. The second video, entitled "B.A.S.H.", depicts the B.A.S.H. PvP Mode, which is an outdoor instanced free-for-all PvP area.

Check out the new videos here

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FilePlanet to Exclusively Host Open Beta

FilePlanet is partnering with Atari and Cryptic Studios to host the upcoming Open Beta for Champions Online. Subscribers can pre-load the Champions Online starting Wednesday, August 5th, 2009.

FilePlanet will also be giving out 50,000 open beta keys. The Open Beta will run from August 17th, 2009 to August 26th, 2009. The game is scheduled for a full release on September 1st, 2009.

Keep in mind that the keys will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don’t delay!

Sign up here

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Bill Roper on Brevik’s Marvel MMO

Bill Roper and David Brevik have a storied history. The two helped create Diablo at Blizzard Entertainment, and then went on to partner on Hellgate: London. Now, Bill Roper is at the helm of Champions Online, while David Brevik has been recently announced to helm the Marvel MMO project which has been resuscitated at startup developer Gazillion Entertainment.

What does Bill Roper think of his former colleague working on a competing product? Find out below:

“I’m really glad that he is back in the driver’s seat on a game since it’s really where he does his best work and is also the happiest.” Roper added. On the topic of competition between the two games, Roper is certain that the lengthy period between release dates will prevent direct rivalry.

“David is at the very beginning of his project and we’re launching on 1 September, so I think that things will be fairly well established one way or another by the time we’re in the market together.”

Via IncGamers

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Balancing Melee vs. Ranged

Champions Online Daily News spoke to Cryptic Studio’s senior producer Chris Lena, and PvP designer James Laird regarding the delicate balancing act involved in keeping melee vs. ranged fighters level.

As many MMOG fans know, the issue of melee vs. ranged is an issue in just about any game, but for fans of City of Heroes, this issue was much more pronounced due to the movement options available in that game. Given that Champions Online allows even more freedom, it’s no wonder that fans have been curious as to what Cryptic Studios has planned to make melee viable in an environment that highly favors ranged damage dealers.

With not much information to go on, a recent preview by Kotaku’s AJ Glasser seemed to confirm many fans’ fears:

Ranged Combat Is Cheap: This is actually a plus for a jerk like me – but I think it’s cause for complaint. Emmert says that the tradeoff between a ranged superhero who can just spam a single fireball attack while flying around in a circle is that a melee superhero’s attacks are more powerful. He says that this makes it more rewarding for the melee character if he or she can just get to that fireball-spamming jerk and execute an attack. But if the jerk is me, I’m telling you right now, you’ll never catch me. You’ll die cursing me for the cheap jerk I am.

This comment has caused some hub-bub amongst fans, so Cryptic Studios has taken some time to address the issue in light of recent events. When speaking to Champions Online Daily News, PvP Designer James Laird reassures us that they have taken a number of steps to keep things fair.

For one, melee powers on the whole do 20% more damage than ranged powers, which is helpful, but when you can’t catch your target it can be made moot. To that end, Laird explains that players can pick up and throw objects at other players to knock them down, lunge at them and disable their travel powers, or choose powers that create synergy with their melee abilities, such as abilities that snare or hold.

On the issue of endurance building, Laird explained that they are working on a feature that allows melee users to mark their targets and then consume their mark for a large surge of endurance enabling them to utilize their heavy hitting attacks.

Get the full story at Champions Online Daily News.

What type of character do you prefer to play? Ranged? Melee? A mix of both if  possible? Let us know in the comments!

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No Love For Soloing?

Kotaku’s AJ Glasser sat down for a hands-on preview of Champions Online recently, and aside from the typical preview fare one particular bit stood out: Champions Online may not be solo friendly.

A bullet point at the end of the preview reads:

The biggest criticism Emmert fears hearing is from superhero players who want a purely solo masked avenger experience. That’s just not what Cryptic is out to do with Champions Online – so if any potential reviewers are reading this, think Justice League instead of Dark Knight going into it.

Another problem City of Heroes players will surely recognize (and this tends to be a problem in many MMOGs), and that is the Ranged vs. Melee issue:

Ranged Combat Is Cheap: This is actually a plus for a jerk like me – but I think it’s cause for complaint. Emmert says that the tradeoff between a ranged superhero who can just spam a single fireball attack while flying around in a circle is that a melee superhero’s attacks are more powerful. He says that this makes it more rewarding for the melee character if he or she can just get to that fireball-spamming jerk and execute an attack. But if the jerk is me, I’m telling you right now, you’ll never catch me. You’ll die cursing me for the cheap jerk I am.

Read the full preview over at Kotaku

Are you a solo player in MMOGs? If so, is this a deal breaker for you on Champions Online? Let us know in the comments!

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Ten New Screenshots

Check out these ten new screenshots we’ve got for you of Champions Online. There are some awesome dual pistols shots in this batch.

Though I’m not so sure about the guy in the screenshot above, that’s one interesting pose he’s in!

Check out all ten shots here

Also, be sure to check out our full Champions Online gallery for more screenshots!

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New PvP Video

A new PvP video is now available on the official Champions Online website. The video features players duking it out in close quarters combat in a high-tech UTC arena.

Check out the new video here

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OMEGA System, Microtransactions Unveiled

In this newest State of the Game address posted on the official Champions Online website we get the skinny on the microtransaction system to be available in Champions Online, as well as details on the endgame OMEGA System.

First let’s look at what Microtransactions will mean in Champions Online:

The Skinny on Micro-transactions

Champions Online will support micro-transactions, but contrary to the concerns of some people, the game is not ‘based’ on them. There are the basic tenets for our micro-transactions:

• The vast majority are aesthetic items, such as costume pieces, action figures, emblems, etc.
• A very few are account-level management tools, such as being able to rename a character
• Micro-transactions should never limit your ability to enjoy the game or reach the level cap
• Any micro-transaction that has a game effect can also be earned in the game through play

It’s important to note that all purchases are account wide, so whatever you purchase at the Champions Store will be available to all characters you create.

So what is the OMEGA System all about? The OMEGA System is Champions Online’s answer to end-game content. Each day UNITY will alert heroes to five different global hot spots of criminal activity. These hot spots will require superpowered teams to quell; and once all five areas have been taken care of, a sixth secret mission will be revealed. Upon completing this mission players will receive commendations that allow them access to special upgrades, or even access to certain challenging end-game areas that also contain proportionally awesome rewards.  The address also reveals the that there will be rewards for the Crafting system, PvP, and Perks that can be earned through the OMEGA system.

Also mentioned in the address is the fact you’ll be able to make at least 8 characters, with more earned through play, and likely through the Champions Store as well. A new PvP mode called B.A.S.H. is now available in beta, though no details are provided, and finally the Nemesis system has returned to the beta for players to mess around with.

For the full State of the Game Address, go here

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Monster Island Interview

Cryptic Studios’ Bill Roper recently sat down to answer our questions about Champions Online, discussing Monster Island and more!

MMORPG.com:

Champions Online is obviously set on Earth, but a version of Earth that is different from our own. Could you tell us a little bit about what separates the world of Champions Online from our own?

Bill Roper:

Champions Online is definitely and alternative version of the world we know. That being said, it is firmly grounded in the history of Earth. Key elements of that history we know remain, but the concept and consequences of having super powered beings on the planet have been folded in, making for some distinct differences. Millennium City – one of the major zones in our game – is a perfect example of this. In the Champions Universe, Doctor Destroyer assaulted Detroit on July 23rd, 1992 and in a last ditch effort to defeat the numerous heroes that came to battle him, razed a huge portion of the city with an orbital bombardment cannon. The fires weren’t under control until the next day, and President George Bush declared the city a disaster area. This lead to the creation of the Millennium Project – a joint venture between the federal government and numerous private firms to rebuild and this create a city of the future.

Read Monster Island Interview

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G4 Q Jack Emmert: Nemesis Online?

G4 recently interviewed Cryptic Studios’ Chief Creative Officer, Jack Emmert, on their upcoming game Champions Online. One of the more interesting tidbits to come out of that interview is the possibility of a "Nemesis Online" counterpart to Champions Online.

In the interview, Emmert states:

"Look, if Champions is successful and people want that, heck yea. But, I think that I already have a very different idea in mind for that. I think in City of Villains, we were asked to make the game in about a year, and so we were kind of focused on ‘We gotta get this done.’ So, we just took the template of City of Heroes and copied it. If I were to do it over again, I would create a very different type of gameplay for villain worlds."

What’s Emmerts idea of successful? About 100,000, according to Jack:

G4: Speaking of it being successful, when you’re launching an MMO, like how many subscribers do you need in order to survive or thrive?

JE: Well, I think that number is the number for success is over 100,000 for us. If it’s over 100,000, I’m skipping the light fantastic. The break-even point is somewhere below 100,000. And that’s obviously depending upon – every MMO is different – depending on how much money is spent on it. But, clearly, we mark 100,000 as success.

For more info, check out the full interview over at G4

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Three New Shots

We’ve updated our gallery with three new screenshots of Champions Online. Check out the stylish Firebug, the dual pistols fighter, and what appears to be a shot of the underwater world of Lemuria!

You can find all three shots here

Be sure to also check out our full Champions Online gallery.

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PvP cter Creation Videos

Two new videos are now available for Champions Online. The first video, hosted over at GiantBomb gives us a look at the explosive PvP combat coming in Champions Online. The second video, available at GameSpy, takes us through the process of character creation, as well as the many options that are available.

Check out the new PvP trailer here, and the Character Creation video here

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Hands-On Preview at GameSpy

A new hands-on preview of Champions Online is up at GameSpy.

The preview runs through all the basics of the game from character creation, to player vs. player combat. The writer, Ryan Scott, also mentions PvP EXP as an alternate leveling track though, he does state it is likely quite a bit slower than normal leveling.

Players can also personalize the hue and emanation points of their powers, and he describes the character creation system as having three times as many sliders and pull downs as City of Heroes did, going so far as to wonder if it’s too much (it’s never too much!). The quest system is described as WoW-standard kill and retrieve quests for the most part, but there are some instanced adventures.

Read the full preview here

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Open Beta Begins August 17th

Champions Online will go into full Open Beta on August 17th, 2009, according to a blog post on VG247.

The Open Beta phase will see full 24/7 play windows, while current Closed Beta testers will see their play windows extended to full weekends in the weeks leading up to the beginning of Open Beta.

The full time changes below:

Here are the dates:

* July 17 –20: Friday morning 10:00 a.m. PDT (19.00 CET) to Monday morning 9:00 a.m. PDT (18.00 CET)

* July 24 – 26: Same Times

* July 31 – August 10: Same Times

* August 14 – August 16: Same Times

Get the full story over at VG247

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System Specs Revealed

The minimum and recommend system requirements for Champions Online have been revealed today in an announcement on the official Champions Online website.

You can find the full system specs below:

Minimum System Requirements

•  OS: Windows XP/Vista
•  CPU: 2.5GHz Single Core or 1.8GHz Dual Core
•  Memory: 1GB RAM
•  Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 / ATI Radeon X700 or HD / Intel Graphics with Dual Core
•  Sound: DirectX Compatible Soundcard
•  HDD: 5GB Free Disk Space
•  Network: ADSL / Cable Modem
•  Disc: DVD-ROM
•  Driver: DirectX 9.0c

Recommended System Configuration

• OS: Windows XP/Vista
• CPU: 2GHz Dual Core or Better
• Memory: 2GB RAM or Better
• Video: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or Better / ATI Radeon HD3850 or Better
• Sound: DirectX Compatible Soundcard
• HDD: 5GB Free Disk Space
• Network: ADSL / Cable Modem or Better
• Disc: DVD-ROM
• Driver: DirectX 9.0c

Not sure what your system specifications are? Cryptic Studios has provided some handy instructions to help you find out:

1. Click Start, then Run.

2. In the Open box, enter dxdiag

    1. Vista users will have to click through any approval dialogs which appear due to User Account Control settings

3. Click OK to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

4. Click Yes

5. Review your system specifications by clicking on the related tabs:

• System: Operating system, processor, and RAM. Note that Intel Dual-Core processors are named "Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU"
• Display: Graphics card manufacturer and chip type
• Input: Keyboard and mouse
  
   

Read the full announcement here

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1. Echo of Soul

Echo of Soul is a free-to-play fantasy MMORPG.  Players take control of adventurers, called Soulkeepers, who are tasked by the gods of the world to combat evil. Players have the unique ability to collect souls from the monsters they kill, which they can then use to customize their character.

2. King of Wushu

King of Wushu is a third person action MOBA set in the same martial arts background as previous MMO hit Age of Wushu. In the game, players choose from a variety of martial arts heroes, all modeled after real Kung Fu traditions, in 5v5 matches, with gameplay including AI mobs, lanes, jungles and towers.



3. Skyforge

In Skyforge, you will walk the path from an immortal warrior to a mighty God, gaining followers as you fight to protect your world. Your loyal followers will help you increase your power as you rise to become an Elder God. The best of the best will join the Order of Keepers and shape the fate of the world.