Originally posted by Alverant

I have a friend who was a beta tester and he wasn't impressed. First they taking the IP of Champions and twisting it around until it's almost an insult to the PnP players. Second, the company isn't big into receiving critical feedback. All they want to hear is how great the game is, not what's broken and what needs to be improved. I don't think this game will make the release date and the microtransactions will turn people away.

I've been a Champions PnP player for decades and I will not be buying CO when it's released. At least not until it gets some good reviews from independent reviewers (if that ever happens). CoX is still a good game and I have no plans on jumping ship.

your friend obviously has sour grapes but unfurtunatly the NDA prevents me for correcting him.

Coh/v is still a great game and always improving.   CO being open world and not instanced based might attract more solo players.   Soloing in instances is like playing a single player game.   Either way I will check it out for sure.   Hell I already preordered back in April so for 5 bucks deposit at least the Beta is worth it.   If good, will do the lifetime.  Even though I regreted doing life script for LOTRO, but knowing at anytime I can log in check it out for years is worth it.

This is just more lameness from the Devs at CoX.  Just because you can change the color of your powers does not make the overall playability of the game better. What are they gonna do to change the game to be an MMO instead of a game of lets see how many 50s you can get and how fast you can get them to 50. With CO and all its customization optons you get from the beginning is making this little insignifigant update to CoX look like they are just trying to copy CO.  CoX is a very stale game and every update and patch just solidify the fact that the only point to playing CoX is Getting to Lvl 50 as many times as you can.

Truely, I don't think they can really say "it wasn't considered" or "convieced of" to have power customizations during development. Perhaps during the initial developmental stages, but durring the early days of closed beta when they were asking for for feedback and suggestions, I recall that there were quite a number of testers that highly recommended them to take this route. Now that there are upcoming super hero MMOs that promise to offer such a feature, they are finally considering it worth their time. Not to discredit their efforts, I know it is appriciated by the fans, but I still wish they would have done so much sooner. Glad to see the change though

Originally posted by JonathJCen

Truely, I don't think they can really say "it wasn't considered" or "convieced of" to have power customizations during development. Perhaps during the initial developmental stages, but durring the early days of closed beta when they were asking for for feedback and suggestions, I recall that there were quite a number of testers that highly recommended them to take this route. Now that there are upcoming super hero MMOs that promise to offer such a feature, they are finally considering it worth their time. Not to discredit their efforts, I know it is appriciated by the fans, but I still wish they would have done so much sooner. Glad to see the change though

The reason it wasn't done sooner was that the Dev team for several years was only 15 only recently was the team upped to 50ish people there just wasn't enough manpower to get custom powers done and still have updates come out in a timely fashion.

I quit Cox after 4 months of playing I was bored of the grind once I hit level 35 with one toon and between 10-20 levels among 5 other toons.  I just couldn't take it anymore, seemed like everything I would start to play they would nerf until all were nerfed.  When I returned a year later the only difference was they added capes and wings and alter ego costumes, they didn't have pvp or any of the stuff they have now in the game, and every class was nerfed.  Never the less I wouldn't back to it a 3rd time if you paid me, I left due to all the classes getting nerfed and it just didn't feel like what it was initially.  I at the time of the nerfs I was in the camp of people that didn't want nerfs but to bring all the other classes up to the power of the classes deemed overpowered.  Instead they chose the nerf stick and thats why I left.   It didn't feel like a hero game but more like just another MMO. 

I feel CO is on the right track for mmo's for one with the ability to change your role.  The days of hoping\waiting to find a  healer are over in CO and that alone for now is enough for me.  Also, from what I have seen at a friends and played I feel powerful versus the mobs.  The instance content of CoX I sorta felt was goofy, like going into buildings that are designed like random single passage dungeons and not like real building we have was goofy.  It leave you thinking who in the hell would design a building like this, lol.   I know CoX isn't for me any more I just hope CO has lots of places to venture wether they are instanced ot not.  Every MMO has a grind associated with it.  I just hope CO provides more fun in the grind to keep me more than 4 months like their first attempt. 

I played CoX for 4 year,  then they released the hellish AE, which has ruined the game.  I'm excited about donning my tights again.  Can't wait to see what's in store.  =)

This is going to sound rude and inconsiderate, and I'm sorry if it does.  I absolutely loved CoH when it first came out.  Very refreshing from the tons o' fantasy MMOs that were out on the market at the time.  I had a lot of fun for some time playing it.

However, I would like to sum up this article in a few words...

"We caught wind of the power customization features in the upcoming Champions Online, and needed to have the feature in our game to stay competitive in the super hero MMO genre.  I hope this is a feature that will make you stay with us after September."

I know marketing had to fluff it up with words like "it was an impossible task", and "we desired to with our hearts content", "we love our loyal players and wanted to do this for them /sniff", etc etc.

The truth is, they got nervous at finally having competition in their domain, and needed to add (or copy) a feature.  That's all fine.  It's a free market, but please...  I actually found the article to be a bit transparent.

I think it's great that CoH are doing this.

And there's also the rumoured (entirely unconfirmed) graphics update possibly coming with the next paid expansion.

For an mmo this old to be doing stuff this significant is really great.

Lets not forget DCU is also on the horizon. Between CO and DCU COX is deadmeat. It's time is over. So what if you can change the color of a power. You cannot change emanation points and are still locked into a "class".  Not to mention the game is repetative and that makes for a snorefest. I think it will definitely lose a lot of people to CO AND DCU. Supposedly Marvel is also trying to make an MMO again.

     I liked coh a lot when I played my fire/inv tanker to 50... but how many people telling them that it is annoying as hell being in an instance and seeing 8 of the same power go off around you does it take?  Only just now as CO is being developed do we see them invest in their own game.  Personally I was offended when I bought the COV collectors edition and got into the beta and discovered that cov was nothing more than the same ole' regurgitated missions and powers (for the most part) with even the same structures with slightly modified uv maps.  Still too little to late.  They would've had me a lot longer if COV would've been free and these color additions came much sooner. 

I still enjoy CoX and don't intend on moving. CoX had the best release of any game and while it has had to go through issues of balance as more people jumped onto the FotM builds as we, the player base devised new ways to build the 'best' stat based toons we could.

AE is excellent if it's used to create new story content, as an XP machine it's sufficient for those who want to just run to 50 but it's true use is to create new story arcs and see what other imaginative players have designed. I still enjoy coming across a gem of a mission arc and playing it through with friends.

I still find a lot to do in CoX and I've not had a cchance to play every story arc in the game yet. It's something I'm slowly building up to. It's still the basics however that hold me in, good people to play with in a decent community, good story arcs that are worth reading and following, the travel powers never stop being fun and trying new ways of doing things. <shrug> I enjoy CoX and that for me, and many others is the primary requirement of any game we play.

Won't be jumping ship because it's just a 'new' game or fanbois insist it's better. If CoX ever loses the gloss it has for me then I'll consider seeking a new MMO but with what's on the horizon I'll most likely move to a sci-fi MMO and give them a look.

The customization option may only be 'fluff' but I'll be changing mosyt of my toons power colours to better fit with themes, costumes and simple role-play elements. It may not be a lot at the end but it is something many current players are looking forward to.

Too little, too late for me, and so transparent. if CO fails I'll keep it movin no problem, but CoX has spit in my face one time too many.

Originally posted by VuDu_DawL

Especially when it is pumped out by the studio that throttled the true potential of the Cities of games for so long. It was not until NC Soft took over that they began to listen and respond to players' input and requests on a massive scale.

NCsoft throttled back the potential of CoH/V post the CoV launch because all the money was going to fund TR's development. If a title wasn't an instant hit - and CoV didn't meet expectations - it had its funding cut.

After TR dudded at launch and NCsoft West was looking to keep its more successful titles going - and with CoH/V was still pulling in decent revenue, thanks to a committed player base - it was then they started up a new studio focused on increasing CoH/V's player base by buying out the IP rights from Cryptic.

CoH/V has to continue to perform or else Paragon Studios is going to have all these pretty new toys taken away from it. I14 / MA might have have attracted some new / exited players to give CoH/V a shot, but I don't think the way Paragon Studios handled them was particularly good as a retention strategy. I15 was a joke of an issue. I16 - as currently announced - lacks any new game play content to attract anyone who doesn't like CoH/V as it already is. All hopes are on Going Rogue to get new players in / exited players back in and for Booster Packs to keep revenues high.

I'm going to keep playing CoH/V and play ChampO, but I know which title has me more excited and it isn't CoH/V.

I've been involved with the CO Beta for about three months now and as much as I want that game to succeed I don't think it's going to be any real threat to any MMO at this point.  They are pushing the release way to quickly and the game world is setup to the point that it not only allows soloing through the whole game (which I encourage, to a point) it almost encouraged people to be completely anti-social.  Zones seem smaller than CoX, enemy groups aren't really as interesting, they won't be launching with many of the promised features (can't say much more than that with NDA as of yet but prepare to be dissapointed) and the whole thing just feels unpolished.  Heck, you can get from beginning to end-game with only 2-3 powers for the most part.  The game suffers badly for PC players because it is dumbed down for console players and you feel it big time.

On the other hand, I absolutely love their costume creator, assuming they clean it up a little.  I also love the ability to have powers originate from multiple body parts so that even the same powers on different characters can look like different powers.  The game is quite pretty to look at all in all, it just lacks any real substance.  Also, the admin's complete lack of caring on the beta forums seems very old-school CoH.  Even if a thread gets an overwhelming amount of posts in favor of something the mods tend to say "Well we like it this way so it stays this way."  And that was the old-school CoH mod attitude that made me leave the game until NCSoft took over and turned it around to make the game fun again.

All I can say is that after being in the beta I will most certainly not be purchasing CO.  I'm sure a lot of people will be but the game lacks the staying power and community of CoH.  Granted, it's a beta community, that could change.  But sadly I don't see it coming.

I am glad that CoX is doing this. It shows that ideas that were seemingly dead can have life. Now if they can get a new game engine and put Vehicles in the game, they will be far ahead of the compitition.

I think CoX is making a huge mistake with the Going Rogue expansion. They should have just made City of Heroes 2. The game is too old to start making expansions, and the current engine just can't do what the players want. They should have made a sequel with all the GR features in it. A CoH2 would probably trump CO and DCUO.

Originally posted by Suta_Safaia

I've been involved with the CO Beta for about three months now and as much as I want that game to succeed I don't think it's going to be any real threat to any MMO at this point.  They are pushing the release way to quickly and the game world is setup to the point that it not only allows soloing through the whole game (which I encourage, to a point) it almost encouraged people to be completely anti-social.  Zones seem smaller than CoX, enemy groups aren't really as interesting, they won't be launching with many of the promised features (can't say much more than that with NDA as of yet but prepare to be dissapointed) and the whole thing just feels unpolished.  Heck, you can get from beginning to end-game with only 2-3 powers for the most part.  The game suffers badly for PC players because it is dumbed down for console players and you feel it big time.

On the other hand, I absolutely love their costume creator, assuming they clean it up a little.  I also love the ability to have powers originate from multiple body parts so that even the same powers on different characters can look like different powers.  The game is quite pretty to look at all in all, it just lacks any real substance.  Also, the admin's complete lack of caring on the beta forums seems very old-school CoH.  Even if a thread gets an overwhelming amount of posts in favor of something the mods tend to say "Well we like it this way so it stays this way."  And that was the old-school CoH mod attitude that made me leave the game until NCSoft took over and turned it around to make the game fun again.

All I can say is that after being in the beta I will most certainly not be purchasing CO.  I'm sure a lot of people will be but the game lacks the staying power and community of CoH.  Granted, it's a beta community, that could change.  But sadly I don't see it coming.

Great Info, thanks much.  Wish there was more positive to say but the truth is so much appreciated.   I am hooked on coh/v again (at the higher levels and building the locked classes after making 50 char is very cool).   I gave up too early after playing in the begining.   I did preorder CO and will check it out.   Thanks again for sharing your experience with the game.
 

Coir and Unsub,  Nicely said.  I will check out co but thats my problem,  I check out all thats new and looks good.   I do find myself comming back to coh/v though.   With the new powers and Rogue....  Should be interesting.   Interveiw mentioned cov was rushed out so they "used coh as a template" wich they admitted they should have done differently.   Rogue is their way of making that mistake right.   We will see.   Soon I hope.

Originally posted by mrguy123

I think CoX is making a huge mistake with the Going Rogue expansion. They should have just made City of Heroes 2. The game is too old to start making expansions, and the current engine just can't do what the players want. They should have made a sequel with all the GR features in it. A CoH2 would probably trump CO and DCUO.

I agree but at the same time I disagree.

I agree because I am very much looking forward to a genuine sequel for CoX from a company that obviously has a better grasp on what they are doing than the previous owners.  What they have turned this game into in the short time they have owned it is nothing short of incredible.  A game built from the ground up by them dedicated to super heroes would be happy time for me.

On the other hand, the players have put serious work into CoX.  If you have seen some of the supergroup bases they are incredible.  The time and dedication some people have invented in characters, supergroups, and the game in general is impressive.  The players with a 60+ month vet badge sort of speak for themselves I think.  While sequels are inevitable (and hopefully on a horizon) I think creating a new game so soon after the release of the Architect system would be a bit counter-productive. 

However I somewhat think that Going Rogue will be the last expansion before a sequel.  I could be wrong of course but I am one of those people who think the game has pretty much run it's course.  Not the game itself understand, but the mechanics.  There are so many things the devs could do with this game if they got to start over from scratch and I for one am looking forward to that day.