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City of Heroes Interviews: Short Going Rogue Interview
After the announcement that Paragon Studios was working on a new expansion for City of Heroes, franchise Senior Lead Designer Matt Miller took the time to answer a few questions from MMORPG.com.
By Jon Wood on May 12, 2009
Paragon Studios, the recently christened NCsoft subsidiary responsible for the development of the first ever Superhero MMO City of Heroes announced today that they are working on the game's second expansion (the first having been City of Villains in 2005).
The expansion, according to the announcement press release, will allow, "hero and villain characters will become immersed in the new parallel universe known as Praetoria, which is governed by Tyrant™, the evil incarnation of the game's main protagonist, Statesman™. As gamers search for Tyrant and the rest of his Praetorian guard, implacable foes and fierce resistance will arise to face them from all sides, causing heroes and villains alike to question their loyalties." This move brings moral shades of grey into the game for the first time.
While the expansion is still in its early stages, meaning that Paragon Studios is still pretty hush-hush about the details of the project, Senior Lead Designer Matt Miller took the time to answer a couple of questions (some more cryptically than others) from MMORPG.com:
| MMORPG.com: | Going Rogue takes place in an alternate universe. Is this move an attempt to capture the popularity of the alternate universe storylines present in some of the major comic book company lines? |
| Matt Miller: | We've had alternate universes in CoH since even before Issue 1, like the Rikti Homeworld, the Hydra dimension, and of course the Shadow Shard. They are definitely a staple of the genre and we'd be remiss to ignore them. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will what your character does in the parallel universe affect the character in the "real" universe, or are the two separate? |
| Matt Miller: | The two universes are separate, but joined. What your character does in one only truly affects that one, but that can have repercussions across both worlds. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will players be able to use the Mission Architect system to create Praetoria missions? |
| Matt Miller: | Yes, the Mission Architect is a holographic simulator, so players can use it to make whatever type of missions they want. I expect some players will start making up their own stories about the world of Praetoria via Mission Architect right away, based on the (admittedly) very little information we've released at this time. They will have to wait for the release of the expansion to get access to any new maps, NPCs or villain groups we've included, however. |
| MMORPG.com: | Will Going Rogue introduce new missions to the game, or simply allow hero characters to experience villain content and vice-versa? |
| Matt Miller: | Lots of new missions. Lots. It's not just "make your Mastermind into a Hero" and call it a day. What is the path your Mastermind takes? What is the trigger that got them to consider a line between good and evil? What made them cross that line? |
The original announcement can be found here.
Looks like the official press release is finally out.
Stradden got to Posi pretty quick if this interview took place after the email was sent.
The game could take a lesson from EVE and do a massive arching graphics update across its entire grid. At least its player characters could use some more modernizing anyway.
I wonder if the "alignment change" is going to be like the betrayal quests in EQ2 or more like a difficult TF that requires a group. It will be interesting to see!
I agree. Looks interesting. I may have to reinstall CoX and get caught up
so, you guys had 4 questions to ask, and you asked stuff we could've either read directly in the press release/faq/information out... or we could have easily inferred...
um ... ok...
I wouldn't complain, I am actually surprised they were available for *any* questions at this time, which is obviously far far in advance of release (of course I inferred that :P).
CoX has been improving in superleaps and bounds lately and is pumping out these updates in a rather timely manner. While the graphics may feel dated to many, the game's features, group dynamics and general fun-factor more than makes up for them, imho. Boosting everything to max graphically helps too and not at any loss of performance for nearly all aspects of the game (Rikti and zombie mass invasions are typically the only thing that will push it).
I, for one, think this expansion will be highly successful.
I'm a former coh player and this news just reiterates why I'm a former player,this game just doesn't seem to have much steam left.It was fun while it lasted but it just seems to me like they are running out of ideas.
Regarding improved Graphics:
It'd be a nice option. ::shrug:: It still looks good IMHO.
Not to get into a point/counterpoint but that's the exact opposite of what they've been doing. This is a whole new release with new storylines and missions. If a former player doesn't want to jump back in, that's understandable. It's not the same as "running out of ideas" though.
Yup, congratulations you've caught me.
They said to me: "Regardless of the fact that we are not releasing any new information, but will clarify a few points for everyone else, for you, we will answer ANY four questions that you like... about ANY topic regarding the expansion." and then we asked those questions.
Well, I for one am tired of them trying to unite Villains and Heroes. Heroes are supposed to be against the villains!! Stop trying to find ways to unite them like the ritki zone, architect missions, and now a whole expansion dedicated to what will seemingly be villains allied with heroes? I don't like it.
Actually I'm rather excited about blurring the line that separates good and evil. Frankly, I want the liberty to be whatever I want. I mean, it just sucks that you have to choose between having ALL of your actions being good ones or evil ones. This at least gives the opportunity for people who want to play the anti-hero or the "hero in crysis" character.
The name "Praetoria" reminds me of Peteoria. Sounds kinda cool. Too bad Champions will probably be out by then. If they open a free weekend or something again, I'll certainly try it out. I've always liked less-obvious heroism.
If they offer a free weekend chances are it won't have anything to do with the new content as I'm used to seeing from most mmos that offer a trial of some sort.
Not to get into a point/counterpoint but that's the exact opposite of what they've been doing. This is a whole new release with new storylines and missions. If a former player doesn't want to jump back in, that's understandable. It's not the same as "running out of ideas" though.
I'm definitely glad for current coh players but what did I say is the exact opposite of what they are doing?They say they are adding missions that I get but what are they doing to actually expand on the gameplay?The fact that they made cov standard with coh makes this mean even less it's not as if there are people clamoring to play one or the other if you wanted to try the content of the other side it is already available*shrugs*.
The biggest problem with this game still remains to me the grind is horrible the mission maps are highly repetitious and the rp is totally lacking I haven't heard anything about this expansion that will help alleviate these issues at all while I see some benefit to this alignment system it just isn't worth an expansion to me.
Actually, City of Heroes usually does a 'returning player' weekend, not long after new content. Although I think running about in the alternate Paragon City that the anti-Statesman hails from would be kind of fun, I'm not sure I care too much about exploring shades of grey with my old cast of characters. My villains were never really that villainous anyway.
I poked around during the last free period, to see the architect in action, and I think I'm the only person around who was unimpressed. Frankly, seeing that much of the "behind the curtain" mechanics devalues the missions already in-game. Although, I totally understand the coming crack-down on abuse, since I must have heard at least 500 open invitations to come farm the "meow architect mission", and exactly 0 for others. It was obvious some exploitation was going on.
I'm definitely glad for current coh players but what did I say is the exact opposite of what they are doing?They say they are adding missions that I get but what are they doing to actually expand on the gameplay?The fact that they made cov standard with coh makes this mean even less it's not as if there are people clamoring to play one or the other if you wanted to try the content of the other side it is already available*shrugs*.
The biggest problem with this game still remains to me the grind is horrible the mission maps are highly repetitious and the rp is totally lacking I haven't heard anything about this expansion that will help alleviate these issues at all while I see some benefit to this alignment system it just isn't worth an expansion to me.
Sorry can't double quote here but after the architect patch came my account was reactived for a weekend or so, so it's not like there isn't a presidence for them to do this.
In reference to the above quote I think as we say here you've hit the nail on the head. :P I may be wrong, but from what I can gather this expansion seems to be based around letting your A hero character experience B villian character stuff. Is there really any point to that when you can do the content anyway with said other character? As a former suber who would love a good reason to come back it doesn't exactly excite me. However it is early days so we'll have to see what else their planning, as the above says it probably nice for current players but for ex vets like myself it isn't enough of a carrot......at the moment :P
after for some time getting to 50 over and over get's boring to me. no matter what content you add.
if they up the level gap that would be good and add way better stuff then i would come back.
but knowing thier 2 other super hero game's come out soon. i don't see COH doing to well at all.
that just what i think.
Considering switching sides has been one of the most requested features since the beginnning of the game, the existing fanbase will be thrilled (including me).
@dma1dma1:
Increasing the level cap would just worsen the grind. This expansion seems to be good enough, plus, even when you get one character to the max level, there is still a lot of content to be explored, and another possibilities of diverse characters to be created.
And people, these features they talked about up to now are obviously not the only things that will come with this expansion pack.
What I really want to know is if heroes and villains will be able to play together in common areas, accross many levels, with PvP enabled - like a comic book is, with both sides fighting each other all the time, anywhere. Not just on specific zones or just on high levels.
What I really want to know is if heroes and villains will be able to play together in common areas, accross many levels, with PvP enabled - like a comic book is, with both sides fighting each other all the time, anywhere. Not just on specific zones or just on high levels.
They said the expansion content isn't JUST about having your character switch sides. It's ALSO about the alternate dimension. Meaning you'll be fighting the Praetorian doubles of the characters, among everything else. They said they're adding in many new missions. That means more [NEW] content. Content that nobody has played so far. That is a reason to resub. [If you want to experience the content.]