MMORPG.com's hasani Davis recently had the opportunity to sit down and get some hands-on time with Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming superhero MMO, DC Universe Online.

Recently, I attended Comic Con New York, where I was able to get a hands-on demo of DC Universe, Sony Online Entertainment’s upcoming MMO. Still with no confirmed release date, the playable demo (taking place in Metropolis), was smooth and fully animated. The demo allowed me to play as either a created villan or as a created superhero. The booth drew a HUGE crowd at the Comic Con this Saturday. Fans hovered around me as I got to rundown by Wes Yanagi, Creative Director behind SOE’s highly anticipated superhero action MMO.

The game’s backstory is based on a version of the DC universe suited for the game itself but with pleanty of elements of classic DC universe. So if Superman died (again) in your Wendsday comics, he will still be alive and kicking in DCU. Alternate realities or “universes” are nothing new to the world of comic books, and it always works best if you take each new incarnation of the stories with a grain of salt. It’s an interesting take on the use of an IP, no?

Read the DC Universe Online Hands-On Report

Oh joy! A PvP game aimed at Console gamers, with PC gaming thrown in to gain market share.

Just think, now PC gamers can know the joys of XBox Live. I can bairly wait to have some 12 year old screaming curses like they are the only words they know. Sounds like so much fun!

I'm starting to think Sony is showing its magic ability to kill any IP again. They killed Star Wars looks like they may be killing DC.

I personally can t wait for it. I really enjoyed COX games but really did miss the loot etc in it. Now with missions that conflict with the opposing side, thats awesome. I will try this at some point.

Originally posted by Slackerboy

Oh joy! A PvP game aimed at Console gamers, with PC gaming thrown in to gain market share.

Just think, now PC gamers can know the joys of XBox Live. I can bairly wait to have some 12 year old screaming curses like they are the only words they know. Sounds like so much fun!

I'm starting to think Sony is showing its magic ability to kill any IP again. They killed Star Wars looks like they may be killing DC.

Well since Sony is handling it, I don't think we will see a 360 release.  PS3's community isn't as bad as the 360's.  Don't get more wrong there are always morons no matter where you go and that doesn't exclude the PC either.

Is this game going to be pay to play on the PS3 as well as PC? I am yet to find any use for my PS3 with the excepton of two or three games in the four or so years I have owned it.

I wanna try this one AND Champions Online when they come out!

Originally posted by Varking

Is this game going to be pay to play on the PS3 as well as PC?

yes but its unknown whether they will play on the same servers

Originally posted by Nadia

Originally posted by Varking

Is this game going to be pay to play on the PS3 as well as PC?

yes but its unknown whether they will play on the same servers

That is a good enough response for me so it is much appreciated. Thank you. As I said I have grown so tired of my PS3 I have actually thought of playing that Free Realms game when it comes out just to have SOMETHING on my PS3 that could occupy me for longer than a few hours a month.

Hmm. This article makes it sound like PvP is going to get forced down your throat.  Quite change from their original line from Chris Cao : "PvP will always be consensual. You'll either choose to play on a PvP server, opt-in to a PvP zone, or take egregious actions that will flag you for PvP."

Originally posted by Samhael

Hmm. This article makes it sound like PvP is going to get forced down your throat.  Quite change from their original line from Chris Cao : "PvP will always be consensual. You'll either choose to play on a PvP server, opt-in to a PvP zone, or take egregious actions that will flag you for PvP."

Yeah I thought the same. Tbh, I feel this is quite a letdown for me. I am no fan of PVP and I had hoped DCU would be a PVE centred game. :/

there will be both PVE and PVP servers

dcuosource.com/index.php/topic,29.15.html

for the first group, we have PvE servers where you only fight another player when you choose to (e.g. duels, PvP content). Consensual here means you have to use a specific feature or game space to PvP. You have to actively choose to do it.

For the second group, we have PvP servers where heroes and villains can go toe-to-toe (we haven't talked about the specific rules for this yet). Consensual in this case means you've chosen to be on a PvP server and to be subject to the rules of engagement that apply there. You've chosen to live in a more dangerous world.

Originally posted by Nadia

there will be both PVE and PVP servers

dcuosource.com/index.php/topic,29.15.html

My impression of the article is that they're going to focus a lot more on PvP with PvE being thrown in as an afterthought so they can say "PvP or PvE action" on the box. It's only going to get worse with micropayments. Mark my words, those of us who don't like being ganked by teenagers with Daddy's credit card are going to get the short end of the stick.

Originally posted by Alverant

Originally posted by Nadia

there will be both PVE and PVP servers

dcuosource.com/index.php/topic,29.15.html

My impression of the article is that they're going to focus a lot more on PvP with PvE being thrown in as an afterthought so they can say "PvP or PvE action" on the box. It's only going to get worse with micropayments. Mark my words, those of us who don't like being ganked by teenagers with Daddy's credit card are going to get the short end of the stick.

The demo at the Con was on a PvP server so the article is going to reflect the PvP aspect more then the PvE aspect of the game. The "Offical" word is that there will be PvE and PvP servers, so you will not get "ganked" unless you opt for it.

DCU will have item malls.  Thanks sony. 

Yet another mmorpg where the "end" consists of constant, mind numbing raids.  Yeah it would be fun for a while but after the 20th time killing the same raid mobs in the same place with, more than likely, the same people will get boring.  I'm tired of the idea of an online world needing an "end game" and raiding has been done a zillion times before.

If you have a passive interest in this game and you might sub in the future I suggest subbing the first day, create your toons then quit if you want.  Otherwise you'll be villain8934 because all the good appropriate names will go fast.  I suppose they'll hold your toons for you for a period of time after you quit.

I'll probably pass on this one.

Originally posted by Nadia

there will be both PVE and PVP servers

dcuosource.com/index.php/topic,29.15.html

for the first group, we have PvE servers where you only fight another player when you choose to (e.g. duels, PvP content). Consensual here means you have to use a specific feature or game space to PvP. You have to actively choose to do it.

For the second group, we have PvP servers where heroes and villains can go toe-to-toe (we haven't talked about the specific rules for this yet). Consensual in this case means you've chosen to be on a PvP server and to be subject to the rules of engagement that apply there. You've chosen to live in a more dangerous world.

They will have both pve and pvp servers, but no role playing server.

I just went over the audio of the interview, I was pretty sad about the no role play server part 

The plans for the servers was to make them larger as to not segregate players like they are in other mmo's.

not sure what that exactly means, Im just reporting what I was told

with that being said, the pvp in this game was fun. I would like to see how it will go with healing powers thrown into the mix.... could get interesting.

Hasani

How can you have a competitive quest like that be PvE?  And what happens if the quest is meant for level 13 players and one of them gets his level 72 friend to show up? 

Forced pvp, button mashing, customization not even close to what Champions is capable of and everyone's favorite item malls will be there. Sounds like a complete winner to me! Ok so in all honesty, whats the main selling point of the game ?

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Forced pvp, button mashing, customization not even close to what Champions is capable of and everyone's favorite item malls will be there. Sounds like a complete winner to me! Ok so in all honesty, whats the main selling point of the game ?

The same selling point as all their games, the IP.

Originally posted by Varking

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Forced pvp, button mashing, customization not even close to what Champions is capable of and everyone's favorite item malls will be there. Sounds like a complete winner to me! Ok so in all honesty, whats the main selling point of the game ?

 

The same selling point as all their games, the IP.

Well they going to have to do better than that. MMOs like LOTRO,AOC and WAR have good IP's but they aren't exactly tearing up the mmo industry. I'm not saying it won't be a good game but there needs to be more to it than what they are offering.

Was intrested till i saw Sony.......

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Forced pvp, button mashing, customization not even close to what Champions is capable of and everyone's favorite item malls will be there. Sounds like a complete winner to me! Ok so in all honesty, whats the main selling point of the game ?

Would it honestly matter?  You've obviously already made up your mind about the game.  PvP will not be forced, it's hard to comment on customization when the game isn't even due out until 2010 (and what's there now looks damned good).  I have no idea on item malls, but if they're implemented like EQ2's, then who cares?  I don't even notice the mall there.

Nothing new for the MMO games.I can't say  if the game is going to be good or bad,but like they say "focusing on PvP" that means they must create somthing  near good WAR PvP.For the moment  they don't say anything-1 reason.They don't have ideas ;2.The PvP  is unfinished;3. The main idea is the same as the others 123123213 MMO games, where you ganke or fight tousands  times the same players for some stupid gear.Well they are creating a devastating time bomb with the words "FOCUS PVP"-if it's good the game will be EPiC, if it isn't -EPIC FAIL.

Originally posted by Unshra

 

The demo at the Con was on a PvP server so the article is going to reflect the PvP aspect more then the PvE aspect of the game. The "Offical" word is that there will be PvE and PvP servers, so you will not get "ganked" unless you opt for it.

THIS^ I swear they can't win for losing at  the last demo folks were crying about no PVP...they just need to stop listening to Morons on Message boards.

In any even I did a hands on with this and with Champions...cryptic needs to go back and rethink if they hope to compete with DCUO.

A game I was mildly interested in until this article.

• I have no desire for another game centered around pvp with pve tossed in as an afterthought.
• my experiance with pvp orientated games is that the comunities tend to self destruct.
• I have no desrire to play a twitch based game
• If I had any desire to play the types of games currently available on a console, I would buy a console.

I may still try Champions when it comes out, but I certainly won't be purchasing this game.

Originally posted by Martie

Lord have a mercy, this game just keeps sounding better and better.  Sweet mother of galactus everyoen to the pvp server for some good ol fasion herov villian pvp.  I cant wait for this game now.  champions online can suck monkeys balls for all I care.

Well Martie you might have too change your tune depending on how they handle the RMT.

Yep the big question will be will Sony manage to keep only non essential items in the time mall or will they start adding leveling aids like they have in EQ and EQ2.

Once leveling aids or other items that effect gameplay enter the item mall you will here a huge "clunk" as the playerbase leaves in droves.

So yeah sorry Martie, but Champions Online will probably be a much better game because it DOES NOT have an item mall.