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Report from the Hero Announcement #2

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The meat of the announcement is that Cryptic is indeed going to be coming out with a Champions MMORPG called Champions Online, probably due out in 2009, though that is a WAG on my part. In an interesting twist, rather than Cryptic licensing the Champions Universe from DoJ, they are buying the Champions and Dark Champions IP (except Harbinger of Justice ), and as part of the deal are licensing the rights to print RPG books for those IP back to DoJ in perpetuity (and DoJ doesn't have to pay for it).

DoJ and Cryptic will be working closely together to help insure that any changes to the CU for Champions Online get reflected in the CU books that DoJ will be publishing. Both content-wise and appearance-wise.
Important Note: Cryptic is NOT buying the Hero System IP, just the Champions and Dark Champions IP.

Another Important Note: Champions Online will not be a Hero System MMORPG. My understanding is that Hero is planning on releasing a guide to allow players of Champions Online to recreate their characters in the Hero System at some point after CO comes out, but that it will NOT be using the Hero System itself.

Cryptic has also licensed the Hero System from DoJ so that they can use HERO terminology to describe things. Cryptic has also said that their plan is that CO will have an unprecidented level of customizability in character creation. There is the chance that if Cryptic and DoJ agree that the level of customizability is up to the standards of the HERO System the game may also get hung with the title of HERO Online. Though DoJ retains the right to say "no" on that.

One of the design features that Darren mentioned that Cryptic is looking at implementing that would allow you during character creation to create your own nemesis.

There is also every chance that there will be DoJ produced books that have bits and peices that will be useful for the CO players. Behind the scenes type things.

Oh, and Important Thing: DoJ will be getting access to Cryptic Studios art for publishing in their books.

Important Note from Steve: HERO 6th will in no way be "dumbed down" to make it more appealing to MMO players. I'll note he says this as an MMO player himself.

 

[Ventrue]

I thought the Champions thing was mostly the ruleset and not the characters/setting/etc. What are they licensing if not the rules? Terminology, what?

Though, to be fair, those rules don't seem like they would fit an MMO well, for balance reasons.

Oh, and the nemesis thing was something that floated around in ideas for CoH for a long time, awesome if they implement it in CO.

 

[charlequin]

Champions is a (very generic) setting for the HERO system. I think this is really more about Cryptic pegging their game to the cred that HERO System has with superhero fans who happen to be tabletoppers than anything particularly interesting about the setting itself.

 

[Open Source]

I don't think enough people know about or care about this IP to make its use worthwhile. And since they would be competing with themselves by releasing another superhero MMO, does this mean the end for City of Heroes and City of Villains?

 

[SolidSnakex]

I don't think enough people know about or care about this IP to make its use worthwhile. And since they would be competing with themselves by releasing another superhero MMO, does this mean the end for City of Heroes and City of Villains?

No, NCSoft owns the CoH and CoV names now.

 

[charlequin]

I don't think enough people know about or care about this IP to make its use worthwhile. And since they would be competing with themselves by releasing another superhero MMO, does this mean the end for City of Heroes and City of Villains?

I think the "end" for CoH/V, for all intents and purposes, was like a year ago when pretty much everyone stopped playing them.

 

[McBradders]

I think the "end" for CoH/V, for all intents and purposes, was like a year ago when pretty much everyone stopped playing them.

The playerbase has been at a consistent 150,000+ for quite a while. No Warcraft, but enough people are playing to keep it in business and profitable.

Also the franchise and team were sold to NCSoft a couple of months ago. So they're not competing with themselves so much as their past selves who live on in some zombified state.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

If this does end up on consoles, it could be the first MMORPG that really takes over my life.

 

[besada]

Well, I still play Champions, so I have reservations about turning the books themselves over to Cryptic, but I'm excited they went to the source.

Regarding balance, HeroSystem is balanced by definition, being a point-based game. Since there are no classes, and five points of power (regardless of the special effect) does 1d6, balance is built into the system (particularly since 5th Ed).

 

[charlequin]

The playerbase has been at a consistent 150,000+ for quite a while. No Warcraft, but enough people are playing to keep it in business and profitable.

Do you have a source on that? I don't mean that in the snarky "I think you're full of crap" way, I mean that like... the last pieces of information I had access to pointed towards an unchecked slide into 5-digit numbers, so if the situation is different the game is actually performing better for NCSoft than I thought.

EDIT: So, like, I mean, I'd accept "I have a guy" if that's how you know that.

 

[Endless]

 

[Ventrue]

IMAGES

HOLY FUCK AWESOMETOWN.

self-published MMORPG

Champions Online is slated for release in Spring 2009.

We now have the opportunity to utilize the rich Champions mythology to the fullest and especially focus on what makes Champions so different. The big comic book companies embrace icons that are fairly static; most of them never really change or even age. But Champions is really an epic about superhumans over the decades. Heroes grow old, die. Villains are defeated once and for all. Cities are destroyed. Random organizations come and go. There is real change that we can really communicate in an online game.

There are no lengthy recharge times, and no boring auto attack. Instead, Champions Online has the fast-paced gameplay normally found only in fighting or action games.

Gamers will be able to create their hero's name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal arch-enemy and his or her back story, which will guarantee a truly unique experience.

Personal megaton.

 

[McBradders]

HOLY FUCK AWESOMETOWN.

Personal megaton.

Looks awesome wowsome!

Do you have a source on that? I don't mean that in the snarky "I think you're full of crap" way, I mean that like... the last pieces of information I had access to pointed towards an unchecked slide into 5-digit numbers, so if the situation is different the game is actually performing better for NCSoft than I thought.

EDIT: So, like, I mean, I'd accept "I have a guy" if that's how you know that.

Gosh, back when I -really- cared about the game I used to check the subscription numbers on some MMO tracking site that were linked to on the official forums. I've not looked in the last 3 or so months, but it certainly seems like business as usual. They even had to lock the servers during this monthes double XP event.

Subscription numbers dropping drastically really wouldn't suprise me, but my head has been in the sand of late regarding those things.

 

[Finncognito]

Do you have a source on that? I don't mean that in the snarky "I think you're full of crap" way, I mean that like... the last pieces of information I had access to pointed towards an unchecked slide into 5-digit numbers, so if the situation is different the game is actually performing better for NCSoft than I thought.

EDIT: So, like, I mean, I'd accept "I have a guy" if that's how you know that.

http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart2.html
Looks like it's doing pretty well.

Anyway, Champions looks great and it seems they finally have a chance to implement most of the stuff they weren't able to add into CoH/V. This might be the first MMO since CoH/V to make me subscribe.

 

[Ghost]

Sweet my arch-enemy is gonna be this rock:

*picks up rock*

This is the end for you my great foe

*throws rock into volcano*

I WIN!

 

[Ventrue]

This was a basic run down of the info from the Game Informer magazine, it was posted on a couple of other sites:

# The game has classes, but every class has access to every power. Class defines how many points each power costs for your character.

# Graphics are a 3D/cell shading hybrid that Cryptic calls "comic shading".

# The underground arena circuit allows PvP.

# Only heroes at launch. Dark Champions as an expansion later.

# Fully customizable characters, powers and movement types (floating, running on all fours etc).

# Secret identities.

# Customizable arch-nemesis. If you ever decide to kill off or incarcerate your arch-nemesis, you will be able to create a new one.

# The game will take place world wide, not in just one city.

# Planned zones: underground cities, dinosaur-infested island, secret desert military base.

# The game has been created with Cryptic's proprietary game engine called "Game Tech".

# The game will also include voice dialogue and cutscenes.

# Scheduled for a 2009 release.

Not sure of the validity given that the engine is listed on the website as the Cryptic Engine, but I'm sure thats just a minor mistake/misunderstanding; this seems pretty plausible. And also COMPLETELY AMAZING.

 

[McBradders]

http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart2.html
Looks like it's doing pretty well.

Anyway, Champions looks great and it seems they finally have a chance to implement most of the stuff they weren't able to add into CoH/V. This might be the first MMO since CoH/V to make me subscribe.

That's the bunny.

 

[KyanMehwulfe]

"First true Action MMORPG"
<Cel-shaded art style>

I like what I'm seeing on their official site. Should be a good dose of variety for the genre.

 

[bengraven]

What are "Champions" and why is this a big deal?

 

[ManaByte]

That's the Marvel MMO right there folks. They just removed the license. The Marvel MMO looked EXACTLY like that.

 

[shoplifter]

Damn, this announcement has been getting speculation over on RPGnet for weeks now. I'm not sure how I feel about DoJ selling off the Champions IP (unless we end up seeing them writing further Champions books for Cryptic using Hero5) but good on them if they got a good amount of cash from this. At least Steve Long gets to keep Harbinger :lol

Hero System is quite possibly my favorite RPG framework, and the guys working there are top notch folks.


edit: Hero Games will be doing Champions books for Hero System still:

We’ve interrupted our regularly-scheduled programming for this special Monday news announcement! Hero Games and Cryptic Studios are proud to announce that they recently concluded a deal for Cryptic to create the Champions Online Massively Multiplayer Roleplaying Game!
The basics of the deal are this. Cryptic has bought the Champions and Dark Champions intellectual property from us — the characters, places, events, and so on — and licensed back to us the right to produce Champions RPG books. Cryptic has not bought the HERO System rules, and the Champions Online MMO will not use the HERO System rules for character creation or anything else (though it may use a lot of HERO System terminology). You can read more official information, including the press release, on the “Champions Online MMO” forum of our Discussion Boards. The first post on that board includes a link to the new webpage for the MMO. We hope all you HERO/Champions fans out there are as excited as we are about this, and we look forward to seeing you in the world of Champions Online!

 

[Wiktor]

Heh, I've heard they were making Champions Online, but it never crossed my mind that it was the Hero's Champions Strange

 

[besada]

Heh, I've heard they were making Champions Online, but it never crossed my mind that it was the Hero's Champions Strange

The guy in the second picture appears to have been hit with an entangle. 4d6 Entangle with Sticky, maybe?

Oh god, this game is going to consume me.

 

[charlequin]

That's the Marvel MMO right there folks. They just removed the license. The Marvel MMO looked EXACTLY like that.

Was there ever any doubt about that? It's not like there was really enough time between when the Marvel MMO was "discontinued" and now for them to have a new project in an announceable state.

This game will be much better without the Marvel license anyway.

http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart2.html
Looks like it's doing pretty well.

Wow. Consider me corrected, then.

 

[{Mike}]

 

[w1ndst0rm]

I read in my GameInformer last night that it would be cross platform, PC/console, sounds like trouble to me.

 

[Tremis]

That line should be vertical my friend.

 

[Vashu]

That line should be vertical my friend.

That line isn't even shown in that chart.. There's a separate chart for it and Lineage. :lol

 

[Helznicht]

Cryptic has not bought the HERO System rules, and the Champions Online MMO will not use the HERO System rules for character creation or anything else

The GREATEST thing about Champions was its character creation system. Its flexability and mix&matching allowed you to create nearly any power you could think of. Looks like its back to a MMORPG with heroes/powers as defined by the developer.

Still interested, but I cant say I am nearly as excited as I was when I read the thread title......

 

[charlequin]

goofy chart

It's actually much more effective to just post the actual chart:

 

[Shockgamer]

I can't say that I've ever tried the Champions pen and paper, but as a City of Heroes fan, I am already hyped through the roof for this game. Now I know when to upgrade my PC(After Spore, that is.)

 

[shoplifter]

I can't say that I've ever tried the Champions pen and paper, but as a City of Heroes fan, I am already hyped through the roof for this game. Now I know when to upgrade my PC(After Spore, that is.)

You should check it out. Hero System is super crunchy, but you can literally create any kind of character you want.

 

[Xiaoki]

Champions Online looks like it was going to be City of Heroes 2.

There are SOOOO many things in those screen shots that look directly ripped from CoH.
From the powers, the characters, enemies, stages, everything.

Also, the features of Champions Online are all improvements of CoH features or was planned but never implemented.

I resubscribed to CoH a couple days ago to see what the new stuff was like and I'm having a lot of fun.

I will be getting Champions when it comes out but adding Villains later worries me. Cryptic screwed up CoV beyond belief so I hope they don't repeat themselves.

 

[Sciz]

If they can actually pull off everything they're claiming (especially the combat system and changing world), then consider me hyped. But they've got to do better with the variety of quests and environments than in CoH/CoV. Another game of "defeat X members of organization Y in a cave/warehouse/lab/urban setting" isn't going to cut it.

 

[Sinatar]

Hopefully they come up with an interesting character development system for this. City of Heroes completely dropped the ball in this aspect. Creating your initial character was awesome as hell, but leveling him up was boring as shit.

 

[shoplifter]

I will be getting Champions when it comes out but adding Villains later worries me. Cryptic screwed up CoV beyond belief so I hope they don't repeat themselves.

Dark Champions isn't even really about 'villains.' It's more about street-level, Punisher types and low powered anti-heroes.

 

[soul]

Developers of City of HeroesTM Franchise Have Acquired Champions IP and Are Set to Deliver MMORPG With Billions of Customization Options

LOS GATOS, CA – February 20, 2008 – Cryptic Studios™, one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced today Champions Online™, their first ever self-developed and self-published MMORPG. Champions Online, based on the popular pen-and-paper Champions RPG, will give players the power of total customization of their hero experience while they explore a vast universe of richly detailed 3D environments. Champions Online is slated for release in Spring 2009.

Cryptic Studios also announced today that it has acquired the Champions intellectual property (IP) from Hero Games. First published in 1981, the Champions role-playing game is one of the first RPGs to forgo the traditional dice-rolling system of character generation in favor of a point-based system. Cryptic Studios has licensed back to Hero Games the rights to produce Champions RPG books, and the sixth edition of the HERO System and Champions, set to release in 2009, will include rules on how to recreate Champions Online characters and scenarios.

“We thought carefully about which IP to select for our next game,” said Jack Emmert, chief creative officer of Cryptic Studios. “I’ve been playing the Champions RPG since it first came out and I love both the rich history and wide array of compelling characters which made this an obvious choice for Cryptic Studios.”

“I am very excited to be working on Champions,” said Michael Lewis, president of Cryptic Studios. “We have a powerful development team, a better engine, more resources, and a vision for a new kind of MMO experience. Bringing the operating side of the business in-house enables us to be more efficient, get our developers even closer to the customer, and ultimately make a better game and long-term experience.”

Champions Online is all about total customization – it will offer a near infinite amount of character customization so that all players will have a unique game experience. Gamers will be able to create their hero’s name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal arch-enemy and his or her back story, which will guarantee a truly unique experience.

“Champions Online brings a lot to the table. Gamers have literally billions of options to create their own fully customized hero,” Emmert said. “Couple that with the unique character generation system and tons of beautiful, expansive environments in which to roam, and Champions Online is going to be unlike anything MMO fans have seen before.”

For more information on Champions Online and Cryptic Studios please check out the feature story in the March issue of Game Informer magazine on newsstands now, www.crypticstudios.com, and www.champions-online.com to view character profiles, gameplay trailers, and forums.

# # #

About Cryptic Studios:
Cryptic Studios™, Inc., based in Los Gatos, CA, and established in July 2000, is one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online games for the PC and next generation consoles. Cryptic Studios is an independent, employee-owned company committed to delivering the next level of unparalleled fantasy experience and bringing MMOG fans closer than ever to living out their online virtual life. Cryptic is best known as the creator of the award-winning City of Heroes® and City of Villains™ MMO titles. In Champions Online, the latest massively multiplayer online role-playing game from Cryptic, gamers will create a hero, completely customized to exact specification and ready to fight evil villains in a stunning 3D graphical world. For more information on Cryptic St udios, please visit www.crypticstudios.com

Cryptic Studios Media Contact:
Tracie Snitker
Reverb Communications
(209) 586-1495 ext. 104
tracie@reverbinc.com

 

[Jibber Hack]

I thought that Champions was the most generic name that they could think of. Then I visited their site. WHY DIDN'T I LOOK BEFORE!!!

 

[KyanMehwulfe]

I still would of prefered Heroes Unlimited.

Paladium Books and the Megaversal system pleases the Grandpa Nurgle.

 

[krypt0nian]

So as Manabyte said this is the re-surfacing of the the Marvel MMO.

Where o where is my DC Online?

Either way I'm into this bigtime! Street Hawk will live once more!

 

[Sol..]

Mad hyped...mad.

How about those particle effects.

love it.

 

[krypt0nian]

Oh Hi!

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

 

[Ventrue]

So as Manabyte said this is the re-surfacing of the the Marvel MMO.

Where o where is my DC Online?

I wouldn't be surprised if it were canceled; it seemed more like a 'counter-attack' on Marvel by DC than anything with real substance.

 

[krypt0nian]

I wouldn't be surprised if it were canceled; it seemed more like a 'counter-attack' on Marvel by DC than anything with real substance.

Not what I'm hearing...

 

[Xiaoki]

Dark Champions isn't even really about 'villains.' It's more about street-level, Punisher types and low powered anti-heroes.

Villains or vigilantes it doesn't matter, I just hope Cryptic has learned it's lesson with expansions.

I wouldn't be surprised if it were canceled; it seemed more like a 'counter-attack' on Marvel by DC than anything with real substance.

Every other month SOE makes another announcement about licensing some middleware to be used in DC Online. The last one I heard about was which AI middleware they were going to use.

 

[Ventrue]

Not what I'm hearing...

Every other month SOE makes another announcement about licensing some middleware to be used in DC Online. The last one I heard about was which AI middleware they were going to use.

Hrm, it appears I am uninformed. Regardless, I'm sure it will be crushed by this as it is SOE. They've proven that a big license does not equal success.

By the way, how do you feel CoV was messed up? Just the lack of interaction with Heroes or what?

 

[Xiaoki]

By the way, how do you feel CoV was messed up? Just the lack of interaction with Heroes or what?

How about:
crappy zones(what few there are)
level 40 at launch
god awful Patron Powers
villain archetypes pail in comparison to hero counterparts
took forever to implement only raid(Hamidon)
Recluse Strike Force sucks the devil's ass
Mayhem missions are debt factories
STILL no Epic archetype

I just hope Cryptic has learned that "seperate but equal" never works.

 

[Wollan]

I read the other day on a forum that this was a PC/PS3/X360 release? True? Unknown?

 

[Vashu]

They did state it's for PC and console, but they didn't went into specifics. I would love to have it on my PlayStation 3 though. But, since the ground work is the Marvel MMO (360 and PC), I wouldn't count on PS3 just yet.

 

[Ventrue]

The game is officially 360/PC from their website. No PS3 version.

More info from the GI article:

Every character has access to every power – your class determines how much it will cost for each ability.

Superpowers are all mapped to the controller’s face buttons (Xbox 360)

Champions Online takes place across an entire world.

You will pick up and don real loot and gear. Each piece you discover fits into one of several body slots. If you don’t like they way the new equipment looks on your costume, turn it off. The visuals for every item can be toggled away.

Missions show up in persistent zones where every once has access them, but much of the content is instanced.

While questing, expect cut scenes with voiced dialogue, changing camera angles, and genuine story components.

Level cap at 50, with extensive end game content.

Costumes have more unique pieces than ever, but now you can alter and select the color and style of each individual power as well.

You won’t be limited to one standard movement animation.

Players will create and customize their secret identity. As the game progresses, you’ll choose whether that identity will remain secret or if you’ll make it public – a decision that will dramatically affect the missions your character will encounter.

As you character grows, you’ll choose his unique weaknesses and disadvantages.

You’ll create your arch-nemesis. Just like your main character, you’ll build him a costume, select his powers, and give him a name. Your arch-nemesis will attempt to foil your plans, again and again.

There’s little penalty when you die – characters respawn at nearby checkpoints.

The game is playable on both Xbox 360 and PC – cross-platform play will be available on day one!

Every character has access to a basic attack – do damage to build up a power bar to unleash more potent assaults.

"The left and right analogs deliver the expected movement and camera controls. While the A button jumps, every other face button has a power attached to it. One of them is your standard attack - a punch, kick, or simple ranged blast. In any case, taping the button results in an immediate attack - no waiting required. The right bumper blocks incoming assaults. Do damage or successfully block, and your character's blue power bar will grow, letting you tap into any of your many other more devastating super powers."