MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh takes a look at DC Online, the superhero MMORPG in development by SOny Online Entertainment.

When we last saw DC Universe Online, it was the very first look at the game, wonky camera angles and all. Six months later, it continues to look better and better as development moves right along. At CES 2009, Creative Director Jens Andersen and Senior Producer Wes Yamasagi were enjoying themselves by playing the game and showing off their latest developments.

Jens ran through the various attributes a player could select to make a unique character in character creation. First, there's the ability to play either a hero or a villain, then the player selects the Super Power like ice, heat, sound or radiation to name a few, and the way it manifests. Perhaps you want to use a ring like Green Lantern does or perhaps you prefer gadgetry like Batman, a mace like Hawkman, cast magic like Zatanna with just the spoken word or just throw fireballs with your hands. Players also get to select a Movement type like Flight or Acrobatics. The "Origins" attribute seems to have gone by the wayside and now we have Traits which Jens said he'd explain during the demo, but somehow I never quite pinned down, I'm afraid.

Read A New Look at DC Universe Online

  I like the way this game is starting to shape up. These new images don't look near as cartoony as some of the earlier ones, and what I feared the game would look like over all. Finally a new game for me to look foward too. Been playing City of Heroes since shortly after it launched, great game but maps are to repetitive. It's nearing the end of it's life I'm afraid and since I've yet to hear anything about a CoH 2, this might be the next best thing. Heck might just be the best thing period!

I agree.  I don't like the graphics of Champions Online and this is looking like it might be a great alternative.  I'll be checking this one out.

 Looks interesting, I'm not entirely keen on the art direction Champions Online is taking either.

Hearing the old EQ Ding sound would bring back a smile though :)

I am also looking forward to this game, I like the ideas they have and the graphics now look much better.

I tried City of Heroes and loved the customization, but got bored of all the instances fast. (My opinion), I just hope htis game is not that instanced with a more open area to explore while fighting the bad guys. :)

I'm going to mimmick others sentiments and throw SoE a bone here. Great visuals and the game mechanics sound entertaining. I'll be keeping an eye on this one and will most undoubtably buy and play through the first free month after it releases.

Oh, and Champions Online doesn't appeal to me either, due to the graphics/art style they went with.

Im getting that happy feeling again ;p

I'll throw my bit in as well on the graphics turn off of CO. As such, and that I liked CoX a great deal, I have been keeping an eye on this one. I still wonder at the character creator though as I am spoiled from the city of games. Right now in the screenshots I have seen for DC Online the player characters look rather lack luster and they all seem to be in some sort of "tights" variation. That's certainly a way to go but as those that played CoX know while you could go the tights route you could also go a million different other directions as well.

Just as I don't see me playing CO because of the art direction I don't see me playing this one without some character diversity. Would love to see an interview about the character/costume creator here!  *hint hint*

Originally posted by ambushbug73

  I like the way this game is starting to shape up. These new images don't look near as cartoony as some of the earlier ones, and what I feared the game would look like over all. Finally a new game for me to look foward too. Been playing City of Heroes since shortly after it launched, great game but maps are to repetitive. It's nearing the end of it's life I'm afraid and since I've yet to hear anything about a CoH 2, this might be the next best thing. Heck might just be the best thing period!

I agree.

However, I sure wish this was "Marvel Onlien" and not "DC Online."  :(

First off this is SOE we are talking about.  Anything done by Cryptic will be light years better, you can rest assured about that.

Secondly, look for microtransactions to heavily influence this game.  If you have not figured out how that shortens the life of a MMO, you are like lambs being lead to the slaughter.

Shame too, might have been a decent game.

Sadly there are two big things hurting this game:

1) SOE being attached to it

2) It being DC Universe instead of Marvel Universe

From what I've seen so far I think Champions Online is going to out shine DC Universe.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

First off this is SOE we are talking about.  Anything done by Cryptic will be light years better, you can rest assured about that.

Secondly, look for microtransactions to heavily influence this game.  If you have not figured out how that shortens the life of a MMO, you are like lambs being lead to the slaughter.

Shame too, might have been a decent game.

Unfortunately Cryptic appears to be a one trick poney and while I expect great customization, I expect Champions Online is going to be as dull and boring as its predecessor.

DC Universe already looks light years ahead of CO.

oh good lord you guys act as if SOE raped your mother ... get over it already they produce some of the better MMOs out there. I hate what they did to SWG as well but you know what im not going to let that drive me away from another title ... just SWG.

I really can't wait for this game I like COH/V but like someone else said thier missions get very repetitive and thier raid content was a joke. if SOE can improve on both of those aspects i can see myself playing it for a long time.

I like the idea of switching roles, usually I am not a fan of this type of thing (i dont like hybrid classes that can do it all) but for a superhero game it really does fit. I have never heard of a superhero being a tank, dps or healer. I am interested in hearing how that plays out.

like others have said I don't like the graphic style of Champions online ... never been into the whole cell shade style ... so thats another thing that draws me to DCUO.

keep up the good work SOE.

SOE will do its best to make the game DC/WB wants.  Lucas Arts is just as guilty for SWG failings.  If you understood how much control LA has over SWG, you would rethink your hate.  EQ haters may have valid arguments but SOE had to keep thier games competitive and viable to the market.

For all those that remeber the launch of the NGE on SWG, its a much better game today.  There is much more even with the broken concepts from the NGE that both LA and SOE cling to.

Keep in mind that  DC has some influance on this game and will get a licences check.  They govern what is done with their characters for story or content.  SOE has to follow a "bible" on these issues.  Marketing practices, hopefully, will be under SOE and not DC.  This is where SWG suffers now.

I really haven't payed any attention to this game...but after watching the CES 2009 Developer video I'm paying attention now. The game looks great...I never bothered checking the game out because I'm just not a DC fan really. As a teen and into my 20's I always collected either Marvel or Image comic. I really enjoy SOE games...unlike the rest of the haters on these forums.

Looks cool, definitely gonna check this one out. Is it just me or does that hero dudes knees look funky?

Originally posted by pb1285n

Originally posted by Ozmodan

First off this is SOE we are talking about.  Anything done by Cryptic will be light years better, you can rest assured about that.

Secondly, look for microtransactions to heavily influence this game.  If you have not figured out how that shortens the life of a MMO, you are like lambs being lead to the slaughter.

Shame too, might have been a decent game.

 

Unfortunately Cryptic appears to be a one trick poney and while I expect great customization, I expect Champions Online is going to be as dull and boring as its predecessor.

DC Universe already looks light years ahead of CO.

I don't know about that. SOE has been showing the same exact clips in their trailers for over a year now, except in different orders per clip. Same city scape, same generic underground lair, same running up buildings and flying poses in said city scapes, choppy animations, etc. I'm not seeing any progress at all based on the trailers and screenshots. I'm not feelin' it.
 

Originally posted by Ozmodan

First off this is SOE we are talking about.  Anything done by Cryptic will be light years better, you can rest assured about that.

Secondly, look for microtransactions to heavily influence this game.  If you have not figured out how that shortens the life of a MMO, you are like lambs being lead to the slaughter.

Shame too, might have been a decent game.

Lambs being lead to the slaughter......?
 

Bit dramatic don't you think?

I've always wanted to play a superhero mmo that wasn't an insanely long boring npc grind. Why force people to play the same toon for a thousand freaking years just to keep them around when you could make leveling up a lot quicker and instead, have a super detailed character creation system to keep them around. Like, a shit-load of classes like Shadowbane or some kind of classless system with tonnes of choices to make a bunch of different types of characters.

Let's hope this is it!

Originally posted by Zerocyde

I've always wanted to play a superhero mmo that wasn't an insanely long boring npc grind. Why force people to play the same toon for a thousand freaking years just to keep them around when you could make leveling up a lot quicker and instead, have a super detailed character creation system to keep them around. Like, a shit-load of classes like Shadowbane or some kind of classless system with tonnes of choices to make a bunch of different types of characters.

Let's hope this is it!

You're pretty much describing Champions.

Looking better than Champions Online...for now!

Sound like it might be fun.   I'm less interested in Champions Online partly because of the art but mostly because I'm an old Champions pen and paper player and I can't stand what they did to the old Champions iconic characters.    At least the DC Online iconic characters look like they're supposed to look. 

Also I was less than impressed with Cryptic's game design in several respects.  Great customization and decent story but horrible zone and mission maps.

Of course, there's no telling what flaws DC Online will have and the Champions Online might fix the weaknesses of CoX.    It should be interesting to see these two superhero MMOs go at it. 

Originally posted by Puuk

Originally posted by pb1285n

Originally posted by Ozmodan

First off this is SOE we are talking about.  Anything done by Cryptic will be light years better, you can rest assured about that.

Secondly, look for microtransactions to heavily influence this game.  If you have not figured out how that shortens the life of a MMO, you are like lambs being lead to the slaughter.

Shame too, might have been a decent game.

 

Unfortunately Cryptic appears to be a one trick poney and while I expect great customization, I expect Champions Online is going to be as dull and boring as its predecessor.

DC Universe already looks light years ahead of CO.

I don't know about that. SOE has been showing the same exact clips in their trailers for over a year now, except in different orders per clip. Same city scape, same generic underground lair, same running up buildings and flying poses in said city scapes, choppy animations, etc. I'm not seeing any progress at all based on the trailers and screenshots. I'm not feelin' it.

You know what really helps? Reading the article!!! The article does say that DC Universe is still in pre-Alpha, meaning they are showing what is finished. The other instanced areas and cities are probably not in a state that is presentable to the public.

"micro transactions to heavily influence this game". Could you provide a link please?

I'm staying away from Champions Online because it's made by Cryptic. CoH is beyond boring and Cryptic failed to learn from their mistakes so I have no faith in them making Champions a compelling MMO that will hold interest for long periods of time.

Hmm, this made me change my mind about DCUO. I'll have to give this game a shot when it launches. *thumbs up*

Originally posted by Xiaoki

Originally posted by Puuk

Originally posted by pb1285n

Originally posted by Ozmodan

First off this is SOE we are talking about.  Anything done by Cryptic will be light years better, you can rest assured about that.

Secondly, look for microtransactions to heavily influence this game.  If you have not figured out how that shortens the life of a MMO, you are like lambs being lead to the slaughter.

Shame too, might have been a decent game.

 

Unfortunately Cryptic appears to be a one trick poney and while I expect great customization, I expect Champions Online is going to be as dull and boring as its predecessor.

DC Universe already looks light years ahead of CO.

I don't know about that. SOE has been showing the same exact clips in their trailers for over a year now, except in different orders per clip. Same city scape, same generic underground lair, same running up buildings and flying poses in said city scapes, choppy animations, etc. I'm not seeing any progress at all based on the trailers and screenshots. I'm not feelin' it.

You know what really helps? Reading the article!!! The article does say that DC Universe is still in pre-Alpha, meaning they are showing what is finished. The other instanced areas and cities are probably not in a state that is presentable to the public.

"micro transactions to heavily influence this game". Could you provide a link please?

I'm staying away from Champions Online because it's made by Cryptic. CoH is beyond boring and Cryptic failed to learn from their mistakes so I have no faith in them making Champions a compelling MMO that will hold interest for long periods of time.

I did read the article, Captain Assumptions. Again, it's been a year and they're showing nothing new - the same "pre-alpha" stuff they showed last year = no progress. And I never mentioned anything about micro-transactions. Get your quotes straight. You know what helps? Reading posts and figuring out who said what!!!