Champions Online

[Dr.Volt]

Let's hope they put capes and wings in as well in time for the launch.  Gotta have capes and wings!

I for one am in no way burnt out on supers as game content.  And again, I excited about the possibility of seeing reinterpretations of old classic Champions stanby NPCs like Dr. Destroyer, Defender, Icicle, Green Dragon, etc.  I heard mention, btw, that Dr. Silverback is going to be a major NPC in the game...which is way cool!!  Well, admittedly I'm biased as a long time paper and dice Champions player.  Many good times were had then I'll tell you!!  And I'm hoping to recapture some of the glory of those by gone days.  And yet, I accept that this game will be only loosely based on the previous game system.  But either way I think it's gonna rock!

[Dr.Volt]

Hey, I think somebody in this thread noted that Cryptic's official CO forum is pretty lame.  Well I found another forum that is semi official (in that it is administrated by the fine folks at Hero Games) and seems decidedly better.  Check it out for youselves if you like:  http://www.herogames.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57

What do you think???

[BatWing]

oh man once this game comes out i'm gonna be busy, dragonball online now this! :thumbup:

[Alaric]

Everyone should read the latest CO Dev Blog.

[Uncle Yuan]

The important bit:

Let's talk about archetypes with regards to evolving game designs in Champions Online. Earlier on in the design of Champions Online we discussed how archetypes such as Brick, Energy Projector, etc., filled certain roles in the Champions universe and how each archetype gained bonuses to powers typical of their role. Power selection wasn't restricted by archetype – archetypes just provided bonuses to certain types of powers. The idea was to break the "class" mold prevalent in so many other MMOs while still providing some guidance for players who were new to the superhero genre or new to gaming. However, when we discussed this briefly in one of the Cryptic Q&A sessions, the prevailing reaction by the community was strongly against any type of archetype bonuses whatsoever, no matter how small. Many people pointed to the "total customization" experience touted for Champions Online, and how making archetype distinctions effectively restricted power choice by creating optimum and non-optimum groupings of powers.

Collectively, the Champions Online community made us re-evaluate our initial game design with regards to archetypes. Considering our open power selection system, did we really need archetype bonuses? One of our vision goals was to provide a very flexible powers system to players that they can play with to their heart's content – why put impediments to this goal by adding in archetypes? We took the community feedback to heart and went back to the drawing board. We asked ourselves, would it be possible to create an open character creation system that still solved the same problems that character classes did? You'll need to stay tuned for the results!

I hope they can make it work w/o archetypes.  A well-designed point-buy system should make character creation a lot of fun, and ultimately encourage good character design - it's really easy to nerf a character by trying to be too much - jack of all trades kind of thing.

[Tortuga]

Could it be? An FF-style power selection in an MMO?!   :thumbup:

[JKCarrier]

Interesting. Certainly, the veterans of pen-and-paper Champions will love it. But will there be some kind of system in place to keep the noobs from totally gimping themselves? I can see a lot of frustrated players quitting early on if there isn't. Not everyone who plays these games is a hardcore min-maxer.

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

Interesting. Certainly, the veterans of pen-and-paper Champions will love it. But will there be some kind of system in place to keep the noobs from totally gimping themselves? I can see a lot of frustrated players quitting early on if there isn't. Not everyone who plays these games is a hardcore min-maxer.

Most likely they will have prebuilt power sets available to players at the start as well. So that if you have no idea what you are doing you can just pick one and go on about your business without getting frustrated or gimped early on. It would also let newer players see how a fully built character power list would look like to get an idea of what they would like to do. I would also imagine you could modify these templates as well, for some characters it might even be quicker to modify a template than to actually start from scratch.

[RTTingle]

Wow.

I have no doubt that CO is going to feature a system with free choice and selection with no bonuses or penalties based on class.  Sure, they may offer sets as a guidance for players so they don't gimp themselves or people who want to make matching stuff easy (like for costumes), but it'll be an option and a choice not a requirement.

In no way can I see them mentioning this for ANY other reason other than it coming to be.  I have little faith in Jack at times, but in no way can him, the devs or the company as a whole even mention or tease this without it coming back to bite them in the tuckus if its not a possibility.  I think they've all learned that lesson long ago when it came to CoX.

While I wouldn't say CO just stole CoX's thunder concerning the release of Issue 12, I think they certainly got people talking about them again.

RTT

[Lionheart]

CO has announced that they will have a playable demo at Gencon Indy in August, as well as at PAX.

[Alaric]

On the CO forums, a member of the Cryptic Studios team just posted, and I quote; "There will indeed be capes and other accessories available at character creation, not just as "unlockables.""

I had a feeling that those who were concerned about the lack of capes in the images that have been released so far were worrying over nothing...

[BentonGrey]

It has been confirmed that weapons and such will also be available at creation, right?  Methinks that the Rogue wouldn't be himself without his trusty saber.  I have to say, this game is still appealing to me....

[UnkoMan]

As I said in the DC online game... without weapons they are pretty much showing themselves to be not quite as good as the competetors. Since they claim high customization it is ridiculous to think there wouldn't be weapons, although the only ones seen so far are shoulder mounted guns and dual light sabres.

They probably won't have chemical filled gumballs though. I do have a couple weapon weilding characters whom I was planning to make but, as with their CoX counterparts, the costumes will probably be incredibly watered down. This makes me wonder if I should bother or just create all new characters to go with this paticular game.

[Tortuga]

My CoH characters are roughly 90% inspired by the game (costumes, powers, etc) and 10% characters I had created for Freedom Force or other projects.  I suspect CO will inspire a whole new wave of characters.

[El Condor]

The more the game engine allows for players to bring their own imagined powers to life (i.e. a believable attack named "Chemical-Filled Gumballs"), the greater CO's success will be.

EC

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

A new gameplay trailer is available along with a preview article from Gamespot

Quick Edit: A lot more coverage of various aspects of the game can be found on the Champions front page with links throughout to each article, along with a quick summation of the the contents of each.

[BentonGrey]

I have to say, I love the idea of a gamepad centered playstyle.  I never really cared for the way that most MMO's handle control of your character.  I would really enjoy playing a game that had a greater element of skill, as well as the standard reliance on strategy.  However, what I really want, and apparently it will be in DC Universe Online, is the ability to interact with the environment in a similar fashion to FF.  In short, I want to throw a car at the bad guys.

[vamp]

http://www.champions-online.com/node/142

BETA!

[UnkoMan]

As pumped as I am... My current computer can't handle this. And I have no idea how to set up that parallel desktop thing on my mac.

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

As pumped as I am... My current computer can't handle this. And I have no idea how to set up that parallel desktop thing on my mac.

In all honesty I would sign up anyway, if you got in you could give away your beta key for fun & prizes! Or something...

plus you'd have nearly a month to figure out the parallel desktop thing on your mac if need be. If memory serves they aren't selecting anyone until November.

[Camma]

In all honesty I would sign up anyway, if you got in you could give away your beta key for fun & prizes! Or something...

The email when you apply specifically states that the invites are not transferable, not that could or would stop anyone.

If anyone gets accepted to the current late stage alpha or the upcoming closed beta, there should already be a Freedom Reborn thread in the forum for meeting up in-game.

[BatWing]

when i saw it, i went BAM. i signed up for it like super speed.

[MJB]

Any word when invites are going to be sent?

-MJB

[Dr.Volt]

If any of you get chosen that would be very exciting!  And if you do, it would be great to hear occasional reports about your experiences with CO. 

[captainspud]

And if you do, it would be great to hear occasional reports about your experiences with CO. 

Anybody accepted into the beta would be under a non-disclosure agreement; they would not be allowed to tell us a single thing that goes on inside the game, and would likely not even be allowed to admit they're in it.

[BWPS]

And if you do, it would be great to hear occasional reports about your experiences with CO. 

Anybody accepted into the beta would be under a non-disclosure agreement; they would not be allowed to tell us a single thing that goes on inside the game, and would likely not even be allowed to admit they're in it.

Wait a minute... how did YOU know that? YOU'RE A BETA TESTER SPUD ADMIT IT AND DISCLOSE DETAILS!!!!!!!

[BlueBard]

And if you do, it would be great to hear occasional reports about your experiences with CO. 

Anybody accepted into the beta would be under a non-disclosure agreement; they would not be allowed to tell us a single thing that goes on inside the game, and would likely not even be allowed to admit they're in it.

Wait a minute... how did YOU know that? YOU'RE A BETA TESTER SPUD ADMIT IT AND DISCLOSE DETAILS!!!!!!!

Maybe... because that's how every other commercial game company on the planet does it...?

[Dr.Volt]

And if you do, it would be great to hear occasional reports about your experiences with CO. 

Anybody accepted into the beta would be under a non-disclosure agreement; they would not be allowed to tell us a single thing that goes on inside the game, and would likely not even be allowed to admit they're in it.

Wait a minute... how did YOU know that? YOU'RE A BETA TESTER SPUD ADMIT IT AND DISCLOSE DETAILS!!!!!!!

Maybe... because that's how every other commercial game company on the planet does it...?

True.  But yeah, I'm thinkin' Spud's a beta tester!  :P

So, ok, I totally get the non-disclosure thing.  But can you at least share generalities (like it's really awesome or it's not so great?)?

[captainspud]

As I said, non-disclosure agreements generally forbid testers from acknowledging their participation during the beta period-- so no, a tester could not tell you if it's good or not, as that would be acknowledging that they're a tester.

And for the record: no, I'm not a beta tester (yet). I don't think they've done any invitations yet.

[Dr.Volt]

As I said, non-disclosure agreements generally forbid testers from acknowledging their participation during the beta period-- so no, a tester could not tell you if it's good or not, as that would be acknowledging that they're a tester.

And for the record: no, I'm not a beta tester (yet). I don't think they've done any invitations yet.

Well, disclosure or not...hope you get in on it m8!