Personally I think both give me a shaky feeling.  Champions graphics seem a little shaky and I really haven't seen alot of concrete gameplay footage from it either.  On the other hand I have seen alot of gameplay from DC and while I do like the graphics the RMT model just doen't do it for me either.  I'll probably avoid them both unfortunately although I was hoping to try a new super hero mmo.

I'm leaning towards DC. I've seen the footage from both and CO looks like a cell shaded version of CoX. Besides that, the whole cell shaded look sucks. The nemesis system sounds cool but if it's going to be just like CoX, I don't think that it will be enough to win me over.

On the other hand, DC looks fantastic visually. I love the animations and style and fighting along side Superman or Batman seems interesting. However, there isn't a lot of info on DC yet and it is SOE so I'm not being super hyped about it.

I guess I'll just wait and see. One thing's for sure, this will be an interesting year for MMOs.

Well I played CoX for 5 years so, Chapions for me, which is just CoX 2.

I just saw some video game review show on Spike TV, and some guy said that DC online was his most anticipated title from 2009. He said it with a straight face and (I can only assume) a stacked wallet.

City of Heroes was fun because it was fun to break out of the fantasy genre and play a super hero. It was fun to get super powers, like flight, or super speed. And the character customization was fantastic.

The problem was, after that initial fun wore off the depth wasn't there to really sink your teeth into. It was just one more mission, which scaled to your party.

Both DC and Champions strike me as perhaps offering that initial fun of playing a superhero, but not providing any depth of game play.

I think they are both going for console versions as well, which doesn't help.

tried these games, but never actually like the other one better, than the other.

Champions. Especially with the DC price model, the decision (for me) is obvious.

They both look a bit similar to me in regards to graphics and maybe be too soon for me to make any jugdment at this point as to what looks better based on the current info out there.  I've been following Champions for some time but thought I'd post this interesting ...

from wiki...

"Marvel Universe Online was the previous working title of Champions Online. The MMO game was developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios exclusively for Microsoft Windows Vista and Xbox 360 platforms using a license from Marvel.[1][2]

IGN stated that Marvel Universe Online would take history from 60 years of Marvel Comics as well as integrate current events in the comic books for the next five to ten years.

However, the project was changed on Feb. 11, 2008 due to what a Microsoft spokesperson referred to as "an inability to compete" with the current MMO marketplace.[3] Less than a week later, Cryptic Studios announced that development would continue using a new IP license of The Champions (Hero Universe), a superhero-based role playing game.[4]"
 

I have to go with CO.

The idea of fighting villains sounds fun, but then I realized would I really be able to kill Thanos or The Joker? Or how about Batman or Supes? No probably not.

CO isn't limited by a strict IP to adhere to so the progression and freedom will probably be better.

DC ... i can't stand cell shaded games.

Originally posted by Ravanos

DC ... i can't stand cell shaded games.

Me too.  For looks, I've gotta go with DCU waaaay ahead of CO... I hate the art direction of CO almost as much as World of Warcraft's.

I cant understand how anyone can seriously assume CO looks better? Hello? Look at that crappy cel shade look, the world graphics looks like 1999 or what! I am mindly interested, maybe it will look better later, but DCU looks so much better. Of course its relatively early, but so far DCU is way ahead.

I think I am more optimistic about Champions Online despite having some reservations about cell shaded graphics.

Some of the screenshots on the Champions Online website don't really do it justice & they should update them. I think they were just going for a more 'Comic Book Feel' & if you watch some of the more recent videos it looks great.

DC Universe Online have the excellent 'Jim Lee' overseeing the artwork, but I am concerned about how they will handle interactions with the main DC Universe characters. I am a bit sceptical about how they can include Superman & Batman, or Lex Luthor & The Joker without it becoming too cheezy or contrived.

I know that in most MMOs even high level characters have minimal impact on the game world, but to constantly live in the shadow of the main DC Universe characters would be fairly crappy.

I don't know how Champions Online will handle notoriety, but it would be nice if your characters received increasing recognition from NPCs as you progressed. The discussion of the player customised 'Nemesis' system makes Champions Online sound the more likely of the two to bother with such detail.

Maybe DCUO will include niceties like that after all, but SOE will make you pay extra for it.

DEFFINITLY gonna play both. I'm excited about champions customization and powers and stuff PLUS I love the PnP (can't wait for 6th ed). But champions seems (In gameplay) kinda mroe diabloesque like Marvel Ultimate alliance kinda, where as DC seems more open world fly on top of buildings and stuff like CoH. So i can't wait for both but I have to say i'm more excited for DC.

DC for certain at the moment because it looks more twitch, I still fear CO will be COH2, but still early days.

CHAMPIONS BECAUSE SOE ISNT INVOLVED

i am liking the dc online one more, looks alot more in depth and i prefer the art style more.

DC Universe by far so far...Because SOE IS INVOLVED!  Sorry had to.  =p  Anyways I really don 't mind Sony unlike alot of people here. And Champions is a little too much like CoH...even down to copying alot of CoH costume pieces.

I voted for DC, because I like it better. But the wise person will wait until about 2-3 months after release. I will never buy a MMO until after 3 months have pass. I don’t have to be the first of anything anymore.

To people complain about cel shading graphic - to each his/her own.

I, for one, like cel shading graphic.  It's interesting.

Oh, and between DCU and Champions, I pick Champions (I like Cryptic better than SOE, graphic-wise I like the Champion's style more than DCU's style...  as for players can interact with the environment, i.e. pick up items and throw at enemies, I know that it's in both games... I've seen gameplay vid for both...).

Champions!

COH rocked, they have the exp to make a great mmo.

Why not check out both?

I think more people who didn't like CoX should check out champions. 

They do plan to make a lot of changes, like no instances, having equipment, no classes.

CoX was one hell of a game, even if you didn't like it, you have to give that dev team credit for doing what they did well. 

why the big fuss about graphics? its all about the gameplay. it wont matter if these games look great but lacks any good substance.

two way street. If it looks like crap it wont get half as many people to play.

DC is looking better to me. Will probably be pretty much a clone of CoH/Champions but with well known characters.