Champions Online
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| Champions Online | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Cryptic Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Cryptic Studios |
| Engine | Game Tech |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Xbox 360[1] |
| Release date | 2009[1] |
| Genre(s) | Superhero MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: RP (Rating Pending) |
Champions Online is a superhero-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game by City of Heroes/Villains developer Cryptic Studios based on the Champions license. Game Informer's preview revealed that the game is being developed for PC and Xbox 360. The game's rules will be based loosely on the HERO System ruleset.[2]
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[edit] Characters
The game will feature a more robust character creation than its predecessor City of Heroes, including the ability to edit a hero's movement; for instance, a wolf-like hero may opt to leap on all fours rather than on two, a robot may select robotic, jerky movement rather than humanoid, and a mentalist may opt to float in a lotus position rather than walk.[3] The player may also edit the manifestation of their powers, including color and form; for instance, a heat ray may resemble flames or a force field may have a color specified in the editor.[4]
Heroes will also now have the option to have unique weaknesses and disadvantages, such as being extra-vulnerable to cold. In addition, players will custom design their own arch-nemesis in the same fashion as their own hero (selecting a costume, their powers, their name and history), who will appear throughout their careers. If a player defeats his arch-nemesis permanently, they are required to create a new one.[3]
The biggest change to character classes is the skill system. All classes may now buy powers and skills from other classes - a martial arts class character may now buy tank abilities. However, buying powers from one's own class comes at a steep discount and increased effectiveness. The game will also make it easier for a player to spend most of his hero's career as a solo hero if they desire.[3]
The game features a paper-doll inventory system, and items physically appear on the character when equipped; the player may elect to remove the item from the visible GUI and still receive the effects from it.[3]
The level cap is at 50, with special endgame content and gameplay at the cap.[3]
[edit] Gameplay
The game will be more action-oriented than City of Heroes, and one can use a gamepad to perform actions. Attacks will be mapped to the four buttons, while defensive actions will be mapped to the shoulder buttons. Successful attacks and blocks will increase a power meter, which can unlock more powerful actions, which can be accessed by holding the left trigger to reveal a different button map. In addition, the game will be nearly HUD-less.[3]
Death is handled in a similar manner to City of Heroes, in which a player may choose to be revived by a teammate or respawn at a neutral site, except respawning does not accrue experience debt. Instead, the hero's upgrades are degraded. Upgrades are anything (physical enhancements, equipment, relics, etc.) that the hero will receive during the course of his/her career. When equipment hit points reach 0, they cease to function and must be repaired.[2]
The game will also stress more non-combat skills than City of Heroes, such as lockpicking and science knowledge.[2]
[edit] Locations
Unlike City of Heroes, the action takes place in an entire world (and beyond), rather than a single city, set in the Champions universe, which features classic Champions characters as NPCs. The player may join various factions around the world, which unlocks faction-specific items, stores, insignias and crafting stations. Regions include urban sprawls, dinosaur-infested islands, underground ruins, and underwater lairs. A special region called "the underground circuit" allows player vs. player competition.[3]
Named locations include:[4]
- The Moon
- Millennium City, a high tech city built on the ruins of Detroit
- Lemuria City, an underwater city
- Qliphotic, a mystical dimension
- Stronghold, a high level superprison buried in Devil's Head Mesa
- Unnamed frozen waste in Canada
- Monster Island
- Slither Beach
- Snake Gulch
[edit] Champions NPCs
Classic heroes and villains from the Champions universe will serve as major NPCs. The following characters have been confirmed:
| Hero | Appearance | Hero | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier | Reference | Nighthawk | Trailer |
| Defender | Profile | Kinetik | Reference |
| Doctor Silverback | Reference | Nightwind | Reference |
| Ironclad | Profile | Sapphire | Trailer |
| Justiciar | Profile | Witchcraft | Trailer |
| Villain | Appearance |
|---|---|
| Ankylosaur | Profile |
| Cyberlord | Reference |
| Doctor Destroyer | Profile |
| Kigatilik | Reference |
| Menton | Profile |
[edit] Online crossplatform gameplay
Champions Online will feature online cross-platform gameplay between the Xbox 360 and the PC "from day one".[5] However, there will be some servers devoted to PC and Xbox 360 separately.[6]
[edit] Technology
The game uses an evolved version of the City of Heroes Game Tech engine. The characters feature a special cel-shading Cryptic Studios refers to as comic shading, which includes bump mapping and high-resolution texture mapping.[7] Hero facial animation will be stressed as well, allowing them to show emotion.[8]
[edit] History
The game's announcement followed the cancellation of Cryptic's Marvel Universe Online[7] as well as the sale of their Intellectual Properties City of Heroes and City of Villains to distributor NCSoft in November 2007.[9]
A teaser trailer was released on February 22, 2008.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Jrinu (2008-02-21). About Champions. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
- ^ a b c Ask Cryptic, March 14, 2008, Official site
- ^ a b c d e f g Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 59
- ^ a b Champions Online First Details, IGN
- ^ Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 60
- ^ Developer's Blog, Champions-Online.com
- ^ a b Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 58
- ^ New Champions Online Screenshots!, Official site
- ^ NCsoft Announces New Studio in North California; Takes Full Ownership of Successful City of Heroes Property, NCsoft, <http://www.ncsoft.com/eng/NCPress/View.asp?hSeq=1>. Retrieved on 6 November 2007
