In a feature over at MMOSite, writer Cecil Adkins examines why the folks at Paragon Studios should be worried about their upcoming competition in Champions Online.

The article breaks down the reasons into a few points:

1. Champions online is new and shiny
2. The issues surrounding the implementation of the Mission Architect has left a bad taste in many users' mouths.
3. City of Heroes PvP is still "a mess".
4. Cryptic Studios has had the opportunity to utilize hindsight in their development of City of Heroes to hopefully not repeat the same mistakes in Champions Online, as well as directly cater to the needs of new players who aren't getting what they want out of City of Heroes.
5. The Nemesis System.
6. Updates to City of Heroes have been slow-going.

For an insightful read, check out the full piece over at MMOSite.

It won't matter if players can recolor their powers or make their heroes into villains (and vice versa) if they get tired of waiting around for the big update coming soon.

My tought exactly.  I think there are stuff in this game that need to be adressed before doing that unecessary change.  It's not a color change in powers that would bring back old & new player to the game.

But it's exactly that worry that is a good kick in the pants to get them into gear and start making them work for their money. Those that were still on the fence about leaving CoH are starting to question whether or not they really should make the jump when the devs are working so hard to keep them there with various new incentives and their version of power customization coming down the line.

Having been interested in the superhero genre and having tried CoH/CoV for four months, I found it fun at first, but quickly repetitive.  Once Champions Online comes out, you will be able to bowl in Paragon City without hitting anyone.  Once DC Universe comes out after that it'll be over for CoH.

Originally posted by MikeB

1. The issues surrounding the implementation of the Mission Architect has left a bad taste in many users' mouths.

That's the main reason I left City of Heroes.

I was disgusted with the way the Mission Architect system was handled. They pushed it back and dedicated an entire Issue to it, and they still couldn't get it right.

Instead, they implement an entirely exploitable system when they knew full-well that it would be used as it was (as a means to custom-make a farming map for massive XP in a short amount of time). They outright said they knew it would be used for that purpose. Yet, even though they stated that wasn't their "intended use" for the system, they put nothing in place to prevent it.

Nothing.

Then, the last straw for me:

Positron posts a very venomous and accusatory thread on their official forums stating that they were nerfing the system and punishing those who "Exploited" the system, either by character de-levels or outright account banning. This pissed me off to no end. I posted a rather bitter reply in his thread, canceled my account and uninstalled the game. I was appalled. I had no idea Positron and his team were so completely inept at their jobs.

Admittedly, Issue 16 looks interesting, as does Going Rogue. I may resubscribe for a month to check it out when they are put live, but I doubt I'll stick around any longer than that.

As of now, I'm content with Age of Conan, and soon Aion will be out, as well as Champions (both of which I have pre-ordered, Collector's Edition for Aion).

My only concern with Champions Online is the fact that it's headed by Jack Emmert...that doesn't instill very much faith in me, truth be told.

Instead of typing out a new responce to this article. I'll just copy & paste my post from MMOSite. Just so you know, I'm Purewitz other there too.

I agree with Champions Online coming out next month and DC Universe Online coming out next year. City of Heroes has a lot to worry about. Plus if the Marvel MMO ever gets rolling again. That would be another game for City of Heroes to worry about, if it happens. CoH has had its time. Its like Star Wars Galaxies and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Does anyone really thing SWG will survive, when TOR comes out? I certainly don't think so. Same goes for CoH and the new next-gen superhero MMOs.

I personally don't think CoH/CoV has much to worry about.  For the solo player who isn't a dreaded power gamer(those whose only worry is the newest, shiniest way to max out their level) it still continues to offer alot for those interested in PvE.  When you do not have to worry about someone coming up and blasting you out of the sky, you can just hover in mid-air taking out a slew of enemies with projectile powers.  If, for some reason, Champions Online does come close to killing the subscriber base, the best route for CoH/CoV to take is switching to a model similar to DDO Unlimited.  I will at least play DC Universe Online and Marvel Universe Online in addition to CoH/CoV.  Champions Online has yet to impress me enough to buy a copy, especially when I am traveling much of the time anymore.

Maybe people should hold off on the smack talk until Champions is released. Hype hasn't always been our friend with games lately.

Originally posted by purewitz

Instead of typing out a new responce to this article. I'll just copy & paste my post from MMOSite. Just so you know, I'm Purewitz other there too.

 

I agree with Champions Online coming out next month and DC Universe Online coming out next year. City of Heroes has a lot to worry about. Plus if the Marvel MMO ever gets rolling again. That would be another game for City of Heroes to worry about, if it happens. CoH has had its time. Its like Star Wars Galaxies and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Does anyone really thing SWG will survive, when TOR comes out? I certainly don't think so. Same goes for CoH and the new next-gen superhero MMOs.

if i remeber right CO was supposed to marvel i could be wrong

My deal is only that is hasn't impressed me so far.  I am, however, willing to give it a try if a trial is offered.  Ultimately though, it can't be any worse that that most horrid of MMOs(and I know many people would disagree with my opinion, but for me this is the case), World of Warcraft, which was marginally original, and I am definitely one that wants to see a classic formula implemented in original and creative ways.  Probably the fact I am a creative person myself is why I enjoy that.  So far, from what I can tell, Champions Online looks like the poor man's version of DC Universe Online.  At least DC Universe Online has pop culture icons in it.  Shame they couldn't get Linda Carter to voice Wonder Woman.

There will be more tumbleweeds in COH when Champions launches. Its bad now and its going to get worse for COH.

More than likely CoH will gear up for the fight.  They have to.  My beloved CoH is fighting for survival.

Originally posted by Brixon

Maybe people should hold off on the smack talk until Champions is released. Hype hasn't always been our friend with games lately.

hype in ANY industry is never your friend

City of Heroes has plenty of die hard fans who have put years of effort into the game and they wont switch.  Of course there are plenty of people who will switch to CO because they arent die hard fans.  I think the market is big enough for all three for the following reasons:

1. City of Heroes is the only one of these games without microtransactions (and some people hate them with a passion), it's also the oldest of the games (more established players tend to stick with the game)

2. DCO is being made by SOE (some people detest this), the PS3 (again, some people wont touch console MMO's) and is based on the DC comic books (some people may not like this universe...personally i don't care)

3. CO is being made by the old CoH devs and the pioneers of the super hero genre in MMO's.  They have plenty of experiance behind them and CO will appeal to those on the fence as to whether they stay in CoH or move to a newer version (CO).

to me those reasons allow all 3 to remain compedetive in the market.  They wont have super large playerbases but they wont be failures either.

I don't think CoH has anything at all to be worried about.

They'll lose a few players, but what's becoming increasingly clear is that CO has been developed to meet very particular tastes.

Many players who loved CoH won't find CO at all enjoyable.

Originally posted by Death1942

3. CO is being made by the old CoH devs and the pioneers of the super hero genre in MMO's.  They have plenty of experiance behind them and CO will appeal to those on the fence as to whether they stay in CoH or move to a newer version (CO).

CO is definitely not a newer version of CoH.

They're both superhero mmos, but beyond that they have very little in common.

I'll tell you why I'll never leave CoH, at least not unless the servers shut down, which is hardly a foregone conclusion.

It is the ultimate soloers game:  I do not know of another MMO where it is possible to get the absolute best loot in the game without once having to solo for it.    This alone keeps me playing.   Also, it's combat is just so damn fun and flashy to me; bodies flying, powers raining from the sky, huge masses of mobs.   Five years and I'm still having fun.   Wow bored me in less than a year (not to mention it's horrible endgame).    Eve was very cool but I can't stand FFA PvP.    Lotro had some cool lore/stories, but again, raid or give up at the end.

I'm staying where I'm happy, tyvm.

Originally posted by SwampRob

I'll tell you why I'll never leave CoH, at least not unless the servers shut down, which is hardly a foregone conclusion.

It is the ultimate soloers game:  I do not know of another MMO where it is possible to get the absolute best loot in the game without once having to solo for it.    This alone keeps me playing. 

While I certainly won't be buying CO, some would argue that its game design is more solo-friendly than CoH.

I can't explain that because of the NDA but if that's really important to you, then CO may be worth a look for you.

CoX will be around for a few reasons, the main one being that it can run on older systems. A lot of MMO's coming down the pipe require advanced graphics and let's face it -- in this economy not everyone has the funds to upgrade their rigs. As for CO, as much as I wanted to like it (the nemesis system is pure genius) I just  couldn''t get past the cartoony graphics. Yes, I know it's based on comic books and all, but there's something sinister about it; it's like the designers wanted to woo the gamers who've cut their mmo teeth on WoW and are familiar with that graphic style.

Just my two cents here.

(gets off soapbox, dismantles it, donates it to ecologically-friendly recycling center, gets beer.)

Meh, I'm less than impressed with Cryptic's ugly new baby. I plan to wait until around the 15th and burn up a couple of the old Auto Assault time cards I've been hoarding and get on the short list for the Going Rogue beta. No doubt, City of Heroes needs updating, but, foundationally, it's a better experience.

Let's not forget that the one man most responsible for CoH's shortcomings is the one at the head of the new Cryptic. The new Jack and Bill Comedy Show will not prove to be an asset to Champions Online.

Hogwash.

There was no ground-breaking information in this.
He speaks of PVP problems, but never mentions exactly what they were because he didn't experience them and it is hearsay.
He says (as the first major point and problem) that people will leave because it is new, but then states that some will stay, some will go and some will play both games.  This is not rocket science. 
He says that there has be underwhelming updates to CoX (which is false) yet talks mostly about a giant,and recent addition to the game.  You can't have your cake and eat it too.
 
His agenda is clear. 
This is not important.  New games come out everyday.  Gamers will play them all.
I'm not buying it.
I'm also not buying that Champions Online is already pushing for Lifetime Memberships. 
Red flags! 

For CoH, I think that the PVP issue better get attention sooner than later.  Thats a big "end game" hole to be filled.  The rumored engine upgrade and expansion could be the hold up but its critical to revisit this glaring issue.  I hope the upgrade might open doors to new powers and abilities if true.

Originally posted by downtoearth

Originally posted by purewitz

Instead of typing out a new responce to this article. I'll just copy & paste my post from MMOSite. Just so you know, I'm Purewitz other there too.

 

I agree with Champions Online coming out next month and DC Universe Online coming out next year. City of Heroes has a lot to worry about. Plus if the Marvel MMO ever gets rolling again. That would be another game for City of Heroes to worry about, if it happens. CoH has had its time. Its like Star Wars Galaxies and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Does anyone really thing SWG will survive, when TOR comes out? I certainly don't think so. Same goes for CoH and the new next-gen superhero MMOs.

 

if i remeber right CO was supposed to marvel i could be wrong

Champions Online is in fact the game that was to be the Marvel MMO when Marvel pulled out I don't think it took two weeks for NC to enlist the Champions roleplaying game IP which I think for the most part sucks for Marvel as I am a big fan of Marvel comics (more so than DC) but I think even if they get the Marvel game to light it's going to be tough on them with Champions and DC having such a long time out and the ability to have so much more content to offer.  It obviously would be a different story if these two games blew chunks but I don't think either one will be bad (I'm not sure when I'm trying champions most likely not at launch, and DC is starting to get me excited for it even though it's by SOE).

  I played COH from launch for quite some time but it lost it's appeal in swift order as it felt like comics of the 60's and 70's more than something modern.  The repetition grew old really fast and to this point I haven't seen them do anything to fundamentally address the things I saw as issues in the game.  It was fun while it lasted but I think this game has seen it's best days which unfortunately isn't saying they were even all that good.

CoX and CO really appeal to different players.  Both are super hero but thats like saying WoW has to worry about FFXI.  Both are fantasy but wickedly different player  types.  I have been in closed beta for CO for a long long time, its actually quite hard to get into CO if CoX is your thing.  Same is true the other way too a CO player would find CoX pretty forgiving.  Other thing  to consider is CO takes one hell of a PC to run while CoX doesn't.  But the nice PC is rewarded with graphics CoX can't touch.

In the end it'll be action oriented, traditional quest, theme park mmo or tactical, mission based, combat mmo.  Cough thats CO or CoX for those not playing both :P  Personally I'm up in the air as to whether I sub to CO.  I know it won't be at launch but whether I hit CoX up for a few months or CO is anyone's guess.  For now its EQ2 until I've seen all the raid content I can.  Top 5 MMO rotation for the win :D

I can see wheres he's comming from the Architech system has left a VERY bad taste in players mouths and TBH the power colour thing isn't that big of a feature and truefully Going Rogue is basically a glorifed hype of the variable "isevil=0/1", heck EQ2 had this in for years now..

It's exactally how Aion's got it's players from AoC and WAR - people did not get what they wanted from one game so the alturnitive has turned up that may get it right..

CoX has been dragging it's heels for a while now as it's been the only one of it's type - Cryptic know ths too well as we all know why and are capitalising on it and with Architech backfiring that badly the timing couldn't be perfect, if they deliver on a just a tiny bit that was wrong with CoX and keep with the updates on a regular basis CoX will be in trouble.

Even if the cracks start to show with CO by time that happens DCUO will be opening it's doors, players wont go back to CoX, they'll head stright to DCUO, hopng that will be the one they want, like I said it's the same pattern with Aion..

I agree the diehards wont leave CoX but unless it pulls somthing big out of the hat quickly that doesn't seem like it's just a quick fix with a slight mod AND keep up with content, it's only going to have those diehards left... Not saying it'll happen soon but it'll have the leaky balloon effect if they don't keep it interesting and not have players sitting on their hands waiting for these 'big changes'

As people say about WoW - only Blizzard can kill it, well Cryptic created CoX and they know exactally what they should do with CO with regrads to hitting CoX at it's weakest points, all I'll end with is that CoX is now playing catchup for all the time they sat around milking the fact they were unique

I've just resubbed to CoH/V for 6 months and 1 month for free. Personally I think City of heroes will be fine, as they are constantly bringing out updates for it, and have an expansion in the pipeline. Champiuons Online and CoH will be completely different games. DC Online seems to be an MMO based on iconic superheroes, whereas CO and CoH are all customizable, and it is run by SOE, so no threat there.

The one thing that will prevent me (and probably others) from playing Champions Online is that I will need to upgrade my PC first (mainly graphics card everything else is OK), which haven't needed to do for a very long time, as MMOs usually are kind to older systems. 

There is more chance that SWG will not survive TOR as SOE don't seem to be committed to SWG as NCSoft/Paragon is to City of Heroes.

City of Heroes will be fine