Cryptic: MS holding back Xbox 360 Champions Online
Do we sense a trend in the world of Xbox 360 MMOs? Speaking to VG247, Cryptic CCO Jack Emmert made it known that Microsoft is seemingly the only thing standing between Champions Online and the Xbox 360. Said Emmert, "It just takes time for the big beast known as Microsoft to get moving," adding that he had no better explanation for the hold up and "it's as baffling to developers as it is to everyone else."
Concerning when the title might actually hit the console, Emmert said, "This year? I don't know," and noted that "the ball is firmly in [Microsoft's] court" and that Cryptic is "ready to go." Apart from a Final Fantasy XI port, the Xbox 360 has yet to see a single MMO land in its disc drive. With Final Fantsy XIV apparently held up in red tape as well, and Age of Conan still a complete mystery, we're beginning to wonder if it ever will.
Concerning when the title might actually hit the console, Emmert said, "This year? I don't know," and noted that "the ball is firmly in [Microsoft's] court" and that Cryptic is "ready to go." Apart from a Final Fantasy XI port, the Xbox 360 has yet to see a single MMO land in its disc drive. With Final Fantsy XIV apparently held up in red tape as well, and Age of Conan still a complete mystery, we're beginning to wonder if it ever will.







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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bryan @ Aug 28th 2009 7:32PM
It's like they don't want the MMO market to be tapped on the 360 by anyone else but themselves first. Maybe MS will release some extremely suckish MMO soon.
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Aug 28th 2009 7:34PM
theyll just buyout a company to do it.
Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 28th 2009 7:44PM
@Joker Bear
Heh, you're probably right.
Misfit Toy @ Aug 28th 2009 7:57PM
Activision-Blizzard ;-)
No Kill Tayler @ Aug 28th 2009 7:36PM
This is what you get for letting MS have their own games for windows.
Now, we'll never see another MMO.
nriveraexpress @ Aug 28th 2009 7:36PM
i lost hope ages ago...*sigh
MystileArmor @ Aug 28th 2009 7:37PM
Microsoft is acting like Nintendo when it comes to these things. That's why the Gamecube had online capabilities that we never ever used.
No Kill Tayler @ Aug 28th 2009 7:38PM
I didn't know they had online.
THE MORE YOU KNOW!
Rhamsey @ Aug 28th 2009 7:53PM
phantasy star blue burst used it.
Jrinswand @ Aug 28th 2009 7:53PM
Surely there was some Gamecube game or the other that was online. I mean, there had to be, right?
MystileArmor @ Aug 28th 2009 7:57PM
Yeah there were like one or two.
captain underpants and the bringdown gang @ Aug 28th 2009 8:02PM
Technically, there were only two..and a half
Phantasy Star Online 1/2,1/2 plus. Phantasy Star online 3
jonbo298 @ Aug 28th 2009 9:12PM
The Ethernet adapter was also useful for the 'PSO Hack' to stream Gamecube games from the PC to the GC. Obviously not legal but it was definitely interesting seeing it in action even though it was somewhat of a hassle and not exactly an ideal option.
Jenks @ Aug 29th 2009 12:11AM
I had the gamecube ethernet adapter, but only used it for 8 player Mario Kart.
Ryan @ Aug 31st 2009 8:42AM
I think only 3 games total made use of the Broadband adapter, the first 2 of which I owned.
Phantasy Star Online Ep1&2
Phantasy Star Online EP3 (Card)
Mario Kart Double Dash
Alex McKee @ Aug 28th 2009 7:38PM
Final fantsy sounds like a magazine, like Cat Fancy. Assuming they fix it eventually, here's what I'm talking about. http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8209/picture1uxm.png
Mazrael @ Aug 28th 2009 7:40PM
only FFXI...?? they forget Phantasy Star Universe....
Jenks @ Aug 28th 2009 7:50PM
They understand that PSU isn't an MMO, in the same way that Diablo isn't an MMO.
Bubbameister33 @ Aug 28th 2009 7:50PM
I was thinking the same thing. I've seen people playing that game from time to time.
Misfit Toy @ Aug 28th 2009 7:55PM
Perhaps its symantics. FFXI was the only pure MMO. Phantasy Star Online also had a single player campaign mode. But yes, it did indeed have a MMO side.
See a trend in both of those...PS2 ports. Ridiculous. How about something a little more current MS.
AoE @ Aug 28th 2009 7:57PM
@Jenks,
Why, because it has instances and relatively small parties? By that logic Guild Wars isn't an MMO either... except it is because they don't all have to look/feel/play exactly the way WoW does dude. PSU is an MMO.
Regarding the article... I'd agree that it's probably because MS wants to release their own (probably crappy) MMO first... except do any of you remember True Fantasy Online? That was a long in development one for the first xbox that they just up and canceled one day. I think Steve Balmer hates MMOs.
Jenks @ Aug 28th 2009 11:36PM
Sorry, you're wrong. If PSU is an MMO, then Diablo is an MMO.
Help me! @ Aug 31st 2009 1:29PM
"Hi Honey. What did you do today?"
"I spent most of the day arguing about whether Phantasy Star Online counts as a "massively multiplayer online" game or if it's just a "multiplayer online" game"
"Oh..."
Brendan H @ Aug 28th 2009 7:43PM
What's with the Dr. Fate ripoff in the pic?
bongoes (is back) @ Aug 28th 2009 10:31PM
That's what I came to ask.
Stevetrop @ Aug 29th 2009 1:39AM
lmao I was thinking the same thing too. Hey maybe they have Zatanna in that game too
*watches zantanna cast a spell*
Ekam SM pots gnitca dedrater Tuoba omm semag
The Dark Wayne @ Aug 30th 2009 7:14PM
make MS stop acting retarded about mmo games?
That was really hard to decipher at first because i was doing it full on backwards and read it as games mmo about retarded acting stop ms make
Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Aug 28th 2009 7:46PM
Am I the only one that's tired of MMOs? All I want is a game with depth like Fallout 3 or Bioshock.
Alton Brown [Planeteer | Power of Dueling Banjos] @ Aug 28th 2009 7:51PM
Then play Fallout 3 or Bioshock.
Kodros @ Aug 28th 2009 7:52PM
There are a lot more non-MMO games out there then MMO games. I'm not sure why you are tired of MMOs then.
Misfit Toy @ Aug 28th 2009 7:53PM
So annoying. I'd love to play an MMO on the 360 if they'd stop with all this WTFness.
Jenks @ Aug 28th 2009 7:54PM
Microsoft and MMO's just don't mix.
Everyone remembers TFLO, but what about MGS developed Mythica?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythica
devilsei @ Aug 28th 2009 8:13PM
Yeah, I'm still a little ticked off that they canceled TFLO, but never heard of Mythica (though it seems no one can really do a good Norse game for Microsoft).
If Microsoft can't charge for every update, patch, or anything else, they won't support it (Team Fortress 2 anyone?). Hell, in a way, Microsoft makes any Asian-grinding MMO's Item Shop tame by comparison.
ChewyDogg @ Aug 28th 2009 8:21PM
I wonder why developers even waste their time on 360 versions... Is there some one at MS telling them, "That looks great, we'd love to have it on 360!!"
Game gets finished, ready to go. "Oh, wait... never mind."
OmegaVader @ Aug 28th 2009 9:05PM
any MMO that makes it to console will either bomb horribly, or ruin said MMO.
Jer @ Aug 28th 2009 9:38PM
Maybe MS is just trying to find a way to add an extra subscription fee that they will tell us makes complete sense and we'll believe.
Airdom @ Aug 28th 2009 10:12PM
Mmmm the article is missing a note that there is also Phantasy Star Universe available as an MMO on XBL. just to let you know lol
Jenks @ Aug 28th 2009 11:39PM
Again, PSU not an MMORPG.
skyrous @ Aug 28th 2009 11:01PM
History lesson:
Champions Online was originally going to be the Marvel Universe MMO developed by Cryptic and published by Microsoft for the PC and the 360. Almost 2 years ago Microsoft suddenly killed the game stating "There's no chance it'll ever be as successful as WoW so we're not going bother"
Consequently Marvel morphed into Champions Online and Microsoft is still clueless about MMO's
Console MMO's aren't practical. By the time a game is ready for release it'll be halfway to the next gen. They'd have to guarantee backwards compatibility or do like square and just make a new game every 5 years.
speedmetaldemon @ Aug 28th 2009 11:10PM
maybe MS should use this sort of red tape for approving hardware designs.
speedmetaldemon @ Aug 28th 2009 11:14PM
MS is just trying to find more ways to charge players for a in-game bottle of water between quests.
Bungee @ Aug 29th 2009 12:16AM
Wasn't Test Drive Unlimited considered an MMOR?
Coldbrand @ Aug 29th 2009 3:02AM
What a bunch of fucking morons. If you're going to be so stingy that no one wants to suck it up and put out an MMO on your console, then you're not going to get anything like the stingy asshole babies you are. What a fucking stupid move.
Coldbrand @ Aug 29th 2009 3:04AM
That's ok though Microsoft, force a customer like me to buy a PS3 for FFXIV and then I'll start buying mutli-console titles on it if I feel like it, for instance, when I don't feel like paying for basic functionality, which is all that a service like gold offers.
Palmer @ Aug 29th 2009 5:39AM
Why isn't Dr. Fate wearing his cape?! (I know full well that that's not Dr. Fate)
joseph @ Aug 29th 2009 6:16AM
I think its a sort of monopoly going on....It's like they don't want the MMO market to be tapped on the 360 by anyone else but themselves first.I think Microsoft will launch some idiotic MMO in the recent future...............
http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com
Conor @ Aug 29th 2009 8:04AM
To be honest though, after playing the open beta of Champions, you'd be glad it isn't coming to 360
ayane118 @ Aug 29th 2009 12:39PM
Anyway.. IMO the game is awsome, for ppl who love MMO and making your OWN super hero come to life, its worth it.. I hope it does come to the 360 its a fresh and NEW MMO.. btw Dont go by what ppl who didnt even play for 45min say, try it for yourself.
commonperson @ Aug 30th 2009 11:21AM
I disagree, I think it's pretty fun. More fun then a lot of MMOs out there it's all in the eye of the beholder.
abelpc @ Aug 29th 2009 11:47AM
I find it interesting that alot of people are acting like the 360 doesn't have any MMO's or that there are no console MMOs. Final Fantasy XI? That was on the PS2 first.. still available on the 360.. I know alot of friends that are playing Phantasy Star Universe.
Anyways Cryptic is probably having the same issues as Square-Enix which is they don't feel people will want to pay a monthly fee on top of what Microsoft charges for Live.
Simple as this.. if someone wants to play an MMO.. they will play..
Alot of people here will say NAY.. but the reality is that People Will Pay..
I for one will NOT pay for Champions Online on any platform... not because it sucks (played in Beta).. just that Been There Done That.. City of Heroes is pretty much the same game.. just slightly newer packaging.