First DC Universe Online Images, Trailer

[GrnMarvl14]

Pictures.

Apparently Marvel's failure to get an MMORPG off the ground only encouraged DC. So now, coming...eventually...will be DC Universe Online. And, as with Marvel's, I have NO clue how this is going to work. I would assume it's just City of Heroes in the DC Universe.

Screens show Batman, Robin, Nightwing, and Joker (and maybe Mr. Freeze), though. Also some sort of...Joker headquarters.

Well, the very fact that they have screenshots means they're farther along than Marvel, so here's hoping they get it finished.

 

[betagold]

I'd play it. The chance to be Batman? Who would pass that up?

 

[GrnMarvl14]

See, that's what I'm wondering. Can you BE the heroes, or are you merely creating a new character in the DC Universe? I mean, if it's an MMORPG...wouldn't you run into the problem of about 49% of the people wanting to be Batman (with another 49% wanting to be Superman, and the remaining 2% taking up the other characters)?

 

[bell02+]

It seems interesting to me, and I'd definitely try it... but I am completely confused as to how it'll work. Also, the idea of literally being one of the DC characters sounds like a bad idea for an online game. Unless it isn't massively multiplayer and consist of rooms with each character as exclusive or there will be heck of a lot of Batman and Superman clones.

I guess it sounds more interesting than the alternative as well with being a minor superhero in the DC universe fighting and teaming up with random DC characters... but then, in turn you are also limited to a select (relative) few characters to be. Which is easier to program, so I don't think that that idea is out of question.

I'm just curious, I forgot all about these games for being in favor of that other one supposedly made by the City of Heroes developer.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

And now we have our first trailer. Plus artwork for Black Canary, Hawkgirl, and some random LexCorp troop.

And it confirms what I figured, that you won't be playing AS the characters. Instead, you'll create your own and have the ability to fight alongside or against various DC heroes and villains. Which is awesome. Nothing like creating a character and having him kick the crap out of Superman.

 

[MondoTR]

Will they have others characters? I'd like to see the Teen titans or even the Doom Patrol or Legion of Superheroes. Because I like the Justice League and Batman related characters (since most of them are from those from what I could tell) but just having those would be quite limiting.

 

[paperfairy]

It is disappointing to note that if this was not filled with DC characters, this game would not have sold - as far as games go, it does not look good.

 

[betagold]

It said fight alongside or against, so I doubt you actually play as the superheros.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

Will they have others characters? I'd like to see the Teen titans or even the Doom Patrol or Legion of Superheroes. Because I like the Justice League and Batman related characters (since most of them are from those from what I could tell) but just having those would be quite limiting.

I would think that, eventually (maybe over time), they would include every character (or at least every bigger named character, which certainly includes the Titans). But I'm sure they wouldn't just toss them all out right off the bat (and I'm not too sure how they could work in the Legion).

It is disappointing to note that if this was not filled with DC characters, this game would not have sold - as far as games go, it does not look good.

Without the DC characters, wouldn't it just be City of Heroes? That sold rather well, I thought.

 

[paperfairy]

City of Heroes did not look as sloppy.

 

[Zeta]

Without the DC characters, wouldn't it just be City of Heroes? That sold rather well, I thought.

Actually, from the descriptions of gameplay, DC Universe online feels and looks and plays rather more like a straight-up action game with some minor RPG aspects than an actual RPG. You have all of your basic powers up front and fine-tune them using XP. Which I like. Since I got a free trial of City of Heroes and wanted more than anything to get my Hero to fly. On the DAY I was going to reach Flight level, they release a patch that keeps trial accounts from doing it. I was so pissed off and so insulted it pretty much made me swear off City of Heroes permanently.

Will they have others characters? I'd like to see the Teen titans or even the Doom Patrol or Legion of Superheroes. Because I like the Justice League and Batman related characters (since most of them are from those from what I could tell) but just having those would be quite limiting.

It seems like the boss for every dungeon will be a DC character or team of characters. For instance, one dungeon had Black Adam as the boss, who is relatively obscure. From that, and from the amount of dungeons that MMORPGS usually go through, I suspect they'll have to cram in a lot of characters.

What I'm wondering is if the game will have more locations than just Gotham and Metropolis. Unlike Marvel or the City of Heroes universe, the DCU is pretty spread out. And there's actually a lot you could do with the locations and having players travel around the world. Even real cities could be used, though of course Gotham and Metropolis should remain the two main "hub" areas.

Other locations that would be cool in the game:
* Thanagar
* Bottle City of Kandor
* Phantom Zone
* 31st Century Metropolis
* New Genesis
* Apokalips
* Blüdhaven
* Central City or Keystone City (complete with Giant Flash museum)
* Coast City
* Fawcett City (done in saccharine 1950s nostolgia)
* Gateway City
* 5th Dimension
* Smallville
* Star City
* Sub Diego
* Atlantis
* Themyscira

Real locations featured heavily in DCU:
* New York (Titans East, Firestorm)
* San Francisco (Titans West / Zantanna)
* Detroit (Justice League Detroit)

 

[GrnMarvl14]

Source.

Wednesday, at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Sony Online Entertainment presented an exclusive look at DC Universe Online—a new MMO utilizing the DC Universe and its wealth of characters and concepts. Along side, SOE President John Smedley, VP of Development John Blakely, and Studio Creative Director Chris Cao, comic book industry mainstay Jim Lee, the Executive Creative Director of the DCU Online project, rounded out the panel.

The DC Online experience is being billed as an experience that gamers won’t expect—using the Unreal 3 engine with physics based game play, accessible environments, and highly customizable characters that combine elements of Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and 1st person shooters to create a truly unique gaming experience.

Members of the press were granted exclusive access to the “sizzler reel” which featured environments and a bevy of DC popular characters like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the Joker, and Hush; finishing with a voice bellowing “The Future Awaits. The Next Legend is You.”

SOE President John Smedley explained, “...it isn’t until you see Superman throw a bus [...] that it becomes a unique experience.” Smedley spoke of Sony’s pleasure to be partnered with DC Comics for the project; he went to talk about bringing MMO games to a larger audience through the iconic nature of the DCU characters. He also stressed the importance of Jim Lee/ Wildstorm’s roll in making the game “an authentic MMO comic experience.”

DC Universe Online is also unique because it boasts a simultaneous release with console systems and PC systems—a feat which has never occurred within the video game industry. John Blakely and Chris Cao both spoke about the necessity of bringing a wider array of demographics to gaming—younger children, females, older comics fans—and that DC Universe had the potential to do just that. Jim Lee added, “We’re at a point in pop culture where comics dominate the landscape. This game is a way to share all the goodness of the DCU.”

When asked about the creation of customizable characters, Chris Cao explained that there would be two different ways to generate an avatar for the game: a “free form method” that is completely customizable and an “inspired method” that allows for theme based concepts to be employed which allow a player to be “like Batman if they want to be.” The customizable nature of the game featured an array of abilities, movement types, costumes, personal effects, and personality traits; for example, a point of interest being the “real physics” nature of the movement which would allow a super-fast character to be able to run up walls of buildings.

Questions were asked in regards to team/ raid based content—with possibilities players grouping in teams of 4 to 6 with the potential for larger raiding groups for world experiences—Cao named the Tomb of Isis as a potential raid-based area. Cao and Lee talked about the ability to gain access to the Hall of Justice via reputation and experienced gained through game play. Cao stated, “The basic story of this experience is the introduction of all these new heroes and villains into the DC Universe.”

One audience member asked about a particular feature that allowed the players to completely access environments in the game; Cao explained, “the action/ physics combat system makes the environment completely accessible to the entire audience.” He then went on to describe a character picking up a bus and throwing into an area populated by other players—describing the necessity for quick reflexes and other player awareness. Cao also mentioned an instance during play-testing where he and another developer utilized the real physics of the game:

“Basically, my character threw a ball of ice at his character. His character caught the ball of ice and charged with energy and threw it back at me—hitting me and knocking my character out.”

An avid MMO gamer himself, Lee lauded the various styles of movement that furthered the uniqueness of the DCU Online gaming experience. When asked if how long he would be involved with the project, he explained that his involvement would be ongoing and that a project of this magnitude is never completely finished; Lee spoke briefly of the nature of constant tweaking and tuning that comes with creating a successful MMO.

When asked about the ability for player versus player situations using specific heroes and villains the panel agreed that the ability to choose the alignment of a potential character allowed for storytelling that suited the players interests—whether they work through a mentor character (like Batman or the Joker) or if they strike out on their own to seek to make a name for themselves with the “patrol or prowl” modes of player versus player interaction which would facilitate point based experience for incentives throughout game play. When asked about “casual game play” Cao explained the unique “mentoring” feature and the ability called “side-kicking for real” would allow players with less time for game play to interact with more experienced gamers easily.

Also, like other MMOs, DC Universe Online will have an economic system—with “brokers” who serve to mitigate the transactions of players within the environment. When asked about connections to the comic book industry and the DCU—Lee was uncertain but explained that several characters may be updated via DC Universe Online first—and that these changes might start showing up in the comic books as well. He went on to iterate that this type of dual continuity between the game and the actual universe where the characters primarily exist provided a constant challenge to the developers.

Blakely spoke briefly of the necessity to keep the “specs” of the game manageable and that “so far, the PS3 and the PC have proven to be adequate for the full gaming experience.”

Finally, when asked about the incentive of playing DC Universe Online and what truly made the experience unique to MMOs, Cao said, “The list of can’ts in other games get quite ridiculous; in DC Universe Online—the physics are what you are. If you pick up a bus and chuck it—everyone around you better move...or they’re going to get hurt. It’s a real superhero experience.” Smedley laughed and agreed stating, “I was playing just yesterday—and tossing a bus on an unsuspecting villain never gets old.”

Fairly long story, but it doesn't seem like they revealed a whole lot. They talk about the in-game physics, brokerage system, a few locations, the simultaneous release on PC and consoles, and the ability to either be mentored by an established character or strike out on your own (I LOVE that idea).

I'm getting really interested in this game. But, ultimately, whether or not I buy it will depend on how much the monthly fee is (since there are so few company-made games MMOs that don't have monthly fees).