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Reminder: Champions Online is free to play this weekend

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 30th 2009 at 2:00PM }

We know you guys have the memory of a ... well, whatever the polar opposite of an elephant is in regards to memory. (A fruit fly?) So, we thought we'd remind you that Cryptic's made its superheroic MMO Champions Online free to play this Halloween weekend in an attempt to promote the game's spooky pseudo-expansion, Blood Moon.

You can download it for free at 1PM EST today, then play it to your heart's content -- or November 2. You know, whichever comes first.

[Via Big Download]

One million heroes fighting crime in Champions Online

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 29th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Excerpt from a Cryptic Studios staff meeting, Oct. 29, 2009:

"Okay, guys, listen up. I know we were all excited about the promotion we were going to run when the one millionth hero was created within Champions Online. You know, we'd take the lucky crimefighter and base a short series of graphic novels on him or her, ultimately culminating in a three-picture deal with Paramount and keeping the hero's creator -- and as a bonus, our game -- in the pop cultural spotlight? Well, we just heard from moderators that the one millionth hero was named ... Boner Dragon."

"Boner Dragon?"

"Boner Dragon."

"I think we should just do a press release instead. A press release which deftly avoids mentioning the hero's name."

"That is an excellent idea, Jeffrey."

Champions Online going free-to-play on Halloween weekend

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 25th 2009 at 7:30PM }

If you've yet to acquire plans for this Halloween weekend to go along with your totally rad costume, Cryptic Studios has a pretty great diversion you may want to sign up for. Starting October 30, you'll be able to download Champions Online at no cost, and take on the mantle of the superhero of your own design until November 2.

The free-to-play weekend is being offered in an attempt to promote the title's first live update, Blood Moon. We expect that more than a handful of partially illiterate heroes will appear during the update's launch, and will be confused as to where all the sexy teenage vampires are located.

[Via Big Download]

NCsoft's Aion perches atop the US PC charts for Sept.

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 20th 2009 at 11:30PM }

If the packed queues didn't hint that this was coming, NPD stated that NCsoft's Aion was the top-selling game in the US during September. The MMO overthrew the virtual souls of The Sims 3 -- not that it matters to those ever-present dolls of the PC charts, as the franchise occupies two other spots on the "top 20" with Sims 2 bundles.

Champions Online showed up to the party in third place, with World of Warcraft taking three separate spots on the chart. Check out the full list after the break.

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PSA: Champions Online drops to $40

by David Hinkle { Oct 20th 2009 at 10:30PM }

If you've been on the sidelines, watching the fight between good and evil in Champions Online, waiting to don your own spandex and get into the mix, now might be a good time to bust out the sewing machine. A variety of retailers have bumped the game's price down to $40. In fact, Amazon even has it for $35, if you don't mind waiting for the pterodactyl to fly it over to your cave because you're super old and refuse to accept the digital downloadin' ways of the future.

Source - Champions Online on Steam
Source - Champions Online at Direct2Drive
Source - Champions Online at GameStop
Source - Champions Online at Amazon

Cryptic: MS holding back Xbox 360 Champions Online

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 28th 2009 at 7:27PM }

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.

Champions Online offers $200 lifetime subscription, Star Trek Online beta access

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 4th 2009 at 6:30PM }

The subscription plans for Cryptic's super-powered MMO Champions Online were revealed via a pre-order offer the developer just announced. Potential players who anticipate their prolonged enjoyment of the title can shell out $199.99 for a lifetime subscription to the game, while those desiring a less permanent commitment can sign up for a $59.99 six-month plan. Cryptic explained the latter would normally cost players $89.99 if paid for on a monthly basis -- seeing as how $90 divided by six equals $15, it's safe to assume that'll be the monthly fee for access to the game.

Pre-ordering one of these two subscription plans nets players a whole slew of bonuses, the most desirable of which is access to the closed beta for Star Trek Online, which will take place "later this year." Both plans also garner players an in-game "art deco" costume set -- but lifetime subscribers also get the "retro future" costume set, an in-game Foxbat action figure, eight additional character slots and even an additional costume for STO which will appear in players' inventory at launch. In the business, that's what we like to call "The Works."

[Via Massively]

Champions Online open beta starts August 18 [update]

by Justin McElroy { Jul 29th 2009 at 3:30PM }

[Update: Cryptic Studios has clarified that the open beta for Champions Online will be open to everyone who pre-orders the game, not just those who do so through Direct2Drive. Also, subscribers to FilePlanet will be able to download the game client ahead of the official launch, and have an opportunity to snag one of 50,000 beta keys that will be offered by the site.]

Sure, it's an exciting headline if you've been jonesing to join legions of other adults as they pretend to have super powers, but it does come attached to a couple of caveats. For one, the Champions Online beta will only be running until August 26, scarcely enough time to get our tights broken in.

Also, you won't be able to get entrance to the beta unless you pre-order the game through IGN's Direct2Drive service beginning on August 5. Maybe that's not a problem for you, but if that's a deal breaker (ladies), you'll be sitting on your latex-gloved thumbs until the game launches for real on September 1.

Cryptic's Jack Emmert cryptically hints at Nemesis Online

by Griffin McElroy { Jul 15th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Here's a fun logic puzzle for those of you who are about to suffer the slings and arrows of SAT/ACT testing: City of Heroes is to City of Villains as Champions Online is to -- well, we don't know what it would be called, but considering Champions allows you to create your heroes' own personal arch-villain, its potential existence just makes sense, doesn't it?

That was the question posited to Cryptic's Jack Emmert by G4 in a recent interview, which Emmert responded to by saying "Nemesis Online" was a definite possibility, provided that "Champions is successful and people want that." With the game still a few months out, we know we're putting the cart before the horse by asking, but hey -- do you people want that?

Champions Online delayed to Sept. 1 for added content, polish

by Randy Nelson { May 18th 2009 at 7:40PM }

Originally slated to don its cape and take to the skies on July 14, Cryptic Studios' next superhero MMO, Champions Online, is staying put until September 1. The City of Heroes creator today announced a delay for the Atari-published title, with the studio's design director and Champions executive producer Bill Roper commenting, "Through our constant dialogue with our vocal and supportive community of beta testers, we quickly realized that in order to implement certain features that we all considered important the development of Champions Online would require more time."

But what features? We asked Roper, who revealed that, in addition to more instanced and scripted missions, the extra development time is being used to provide a larger variety of core powers, travel powers and upgrades. It's also allowing Cryptic that special something every developer wishes they had more of: time to polish. "We want the launch to be as smooth as possible, with the game as polished as it can be. We're glad to have the extra time to do so," he said, no doubt holding a soft cloth and a DVD to illustrate the polishing process.

[Via Gamespot]

Champions Online releases July 14, new trailer

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 24th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Atari and Cryptic Studios have announced that Champions Online will ship worldwide for PC on July 14. From the team that created City of Heroes, the new MMO offers extensive character customization options, allowing players to customize the appearance of their powers and even craft their own arch-nemesis.

Alongside the release date, a new trailer has been released showcasing the game's nemesis creation system. You can check it out above. We also have another trailer (embedded after the break) showcasing one of the modes of transit, namely swinging. Throw some claws in there and our childhood dream of a web-slinging Wolverine will finally become a reality. The fabled Xbox 360 version of Champions Online, however, remains a mystery.

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Massively week in review

by Joystiq Staff { Feb 25th 2009 at 12:02AM }

Joystiq's sister site Massively.com has all the news you'll need about MMOs. Here's the best, brightest, and most interesting stuff from the last week, all in one convenient place for your MMO minute.

Visualizing Free Realms: An interview with Art Director Rosie Rappaport
If you've been following the development of SOE's Free Realms lately, you're probably pretty excited about everything it has to offer. If you haven't been following its development, check out our extensive coverage and exclusive interviews with its developers. Ready for even more exclusive interviews? Good, because just last week Massively sat down with Rosie Rappaport, the Art Director for Free Realms, to chat about the game's distinctive art style and the concept process involved.

Massively's pre-launch interview with Runes of Magic
With the game set to launch in just about a month from now, we jumped at the chance to have a chat with the folks at Frogster concerning their much-anticipated fantasy MMO. Are they on track with this March launch date? How has beta reaction been so far, and what do they have to say about the growing concern that the game is "nothing more than a cheap WoW clone"?

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NYCC 09: Cryptic panel covers Champions MMO, reveals Star Trek Online race creator

by Majed Athab { Feb 8th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Yesterday's Cryptic Studios panel was a two-part affair. The majority of the hour-long panel was allotted to talk on Champions Online – a super hero MMO based off the original 80s paper-and-pencil RPG. The last five minutes were reserved for Star Trek Online. Both games yielded tons of new info.

First off, Champions will feature a lot of unique and odd weapons such as guitars. Essentially, this means you can create a "Guitar Hero" (hey, not our joke – blame executive producer Bill Roeper). The crew at Cryptic is also looking into implementing vehicles such as motorcycles, tanks ... and pogo sticks. Lastly, the formation of "super hero groups" will still follow the basic MMO guild structure, but with an integrated ranking system.

Moving on to Star Trek Online, the game was revealed to be set in the year 2409. That's 30 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis, which marks the end of the ST timeline. The MMO puts players in the captain's chair as they are tasked to command their own ship either under the banner of the Starfleet or Klingon Defense Force. Ships and bridge officers are customizable. Cryptic says to expect a lot of "beaming up and down" from ship to ground for an authentic ST feel. The most interesting reveal was the race creator, allowing players to customize their own race. See that in action after the break.

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Champions Online DevBlog now on Massively

by Richard Mitchell { Jan 21st 2009 at 4:30PM }

Listen up fanboys, or perhaps we should say superfans, our cohorts over at Massively have landed a pretty sweet feature. From now until the game's completion, Massively will be hosting the official Champions Online DevBlog. You remember Champions Online right? It's the superhero MMO that's headed to the PC and Xbox 360? You know, the one with superheros? Right, so the first DevBlog from Cryptic Studios head Jack Emmert is now live. The subject: Why make another superhero game after making City of Heroes?

The answer, according to Emmert, is that Cryptic learned a lot from City of Heroes and wants to use that knowledge to make an even better superhero game. Check out Emmert's DevBlog for insight on customizable powers (and customizable nemeses), comic book combat and the huge world of Champions Online.

[Thanks, Ed]

Ubisoft 'mad' MMO dev Cryptic went to Atari

by Randy Nelson { Dec 11th 2008 at 6:27PM }

The buyout game, like any other, produces sore losers. In this case it's Ubisoft, who lost out to Atari in a bidding war for Champions Online and Star Trek Online developer Cryptic Studios.

Gamasutra quotes Ubi's CFO, Alain Martinez, as saying the company was "a bit mad [about]" losing the deal. "We were a bit disappointed," Martinez admitted, though he said Ubisoft is moving ahead with other planned acquisitions. "We have about three deals within [the] five million euro range that we are negotiating," he revealed, stating that, "Most probably, one or two of them will be closed in the next three or four months." One of those wouldn't happen to be Eidos, would it?