Champions Online players will want to check into the game for this year's Winter Event. Called "A Fool's Errand", the event brings back The Toymaster but also introduces Black Harlequin's Clarence, a huge (and rather scary looking!) teddy bear.

• New Costume Pieces! New holiday-themed costume pieces, including a Steampunk Backpack.
• New Action Figures! Grandfather Winter, Winter Helper, Frostee, Mecha Soldier and Rudy.
• New Become Critters! Temporarily transform your character into one of three critters: Toy Soldier, Snowman or the Gingerbread Man.
• New Perks! We've added new perks to this year's event.
• A Special Holiday Event! Confront and defeat Black Harlequin to save the holidays for everyone. But beware, where Black Harlequin goes, the dreaded Clarence is sure to follow.
• Presents Under The Tree! Millennium City has a giant, ornamented tree in City Center. Beginning December 24, visit the tree to receive great presents.

Read more on the Champions Online site.

Cryptic Studios has kicked off 'Whiteout,' the latest Comic Series for Champions Online with its first (of six) issue. Comic Series are a series of weekly free content updates following a particular storyline. Players who complete Comic Series content can look forward to "issue rewards and "item drops" in addition to regular mission rewards.

Whiteout is now available to players level 11 and above.

Find out more at the official Champions Online website.

The November State of the Game letter for Champions Online has been released. The SotG letter gives fans and players a peek at what the team has been and is working on. The letter is an overview of what the team is currently in the process of working on, with more detailed information available in the Until Field Report.

The article first revisits happenings in October including the two new Archetypes and the Blood Moon Event before springboarding into what is currently in development:

• Content wise: Comic Series 2: Whiteout, The Alert System, The Winter Event
• Powers: Earth & Wind frameworks, Infernal framework review, Nemesis options additions
• New Staff Added

Champions Online players will want to check out the Archetype Rotation that Cryptic is offering from now through the end of November. During the event, players will be gifted an extra character slot. A different archetype will be spotlighted each week for players to try out.

Here's the schedule:

• The Savage: 13-20 Oct. 2011 
• The Void: 20-27 Oct. 2011
• The Master: 27 Oct.-3 Nov. 2011
• The Inventor: 3-10 Nov. 2011
• The Tempest: 10-17 Nov. 2011
• The Devastator: 17-24 Nov. 2011

Find out more about each archetype at the links above or check out all of the event information on the Champions Online site.

Champions Online players have a lot of reading today with a new Ask Cryptic where Executive Producer Rob Overmeyer answers a boatload of fan questions about the game. In addition, UNTIL Field Reports has debuted that gives players information about future changes in the works.

From Ask Cryptic:

Q: 1) Is there any near future (1 year) plans on getting the Foundry or a new UCG tool for CO?

A: At this point we are dedicated and focused on bringing you some really cool content and features while continuing to offer more customization options, power frameworks and advancement. We want to focus our resources on this goal for the time being and grow Champions by adding new zones and building on and improving end game. The Foundry would require the resources we need to achieve our current goals, so while we’d like to add The Foundry to Champs at some point in the future, we don’t have a timeframe for when this will happen yet.

Read more at the links above.

In his latest overview / introductory video for MMORPG.com, Ripper X has donned his tights, strapped on his cape, put on a double D bra and swept into the world of Champions Online. Check out Ripper's first heroic feats in CO and then weigh in with your experiences in the comments. Watch Champions Online: Noob Time with Ripper X!

Champions Online players who love PvP will want to check out the new King of the Hill mode. King of the Hill takes players to Vibora Bay in an effort to control the mausoleum fountain.

The team has produced a new video showing off KotH:

Players can choose from Unrestricted or Archetype queues when lining up for battle. In addition, "through a new Determination buff, the assaulting team gradually grows stronger in damage and resistance (including Knock Back) as they try to prevent the opposing team from reaching the winning threshold of 7 minutes."

Find out more on the Champions Online site.

The Champions Online team has released the September version of the State of the Game letter. In it, the team reviews what has been going on in game during the past month and previews development coming in the future.

In the latest letter, Executive Producer Rob Overmeyer announced that the game's second anniversary event has begun and that members of the dev team will be showing up unannounced to participate in the dance party! In addition, several new items and a new RenCen centerpiece has been added.

Overmeyer also announced that the second installment of the Champions Online-based comic, Whiteout. The comic sends characters to Canada to investigate disruptions in Steelhead's communications.

The letter contains a lot more information so head over to the Champions Online site to read the entire thing.

Cryptic Studios and the Champions Online team are asking players to get ready for a party royale as the second anniversary of the game nears. The party begins on Thursday, September 1st and runs thorough Monday, September 5th. The team has party favors, costume unlocks and other perks planned for players.

When?

• Anniversary Event starts Thursday, September 1 at 10 AM (PDT) and ends Monday, September 5 at 11:59 PM (PDT).
• Sapphire takes the stage in Ren Center every hour and DJ Madbot keeps things movin' all day and all night long!

Where?

• Renaissance Center in Millennium City is party central!

Read more about the event on the Champions Online site.

In our continuing effort to revisit games that have been out for a year or more, MMORPG.com's Robert Schroeder takes a look at Cryptic Studios' Champions Online. Robert's got a lot to say about Champions so be sure to head through for a terrific read. Played Champions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Champions Online keeps with its theme of being an action based RPG, which places the player instantly in a role where they feel they make a difference as a super powered hero. From first login, the player gets a sense that they’re something special in the world, and that’s without even leaving the character creation screen. But is this true if everyone is special in that world?

Read more of Robert Schroeder's Champions Online: Our Re-Review - It's Not Perfect, But It's Fun!

Q: What is the ETA on the next comic series?

A: Work on the next Comic Series begins next week. Each Issue in a comic series takes approximately 14 days to complete and we are planning on 5-6 Issue per Comic Series. The current release date is 11/1. We are working on streamlining the process so we can get new series out to you sooner. Currently we have 1 group dedicated to the Comic Series and plan to get another group starting on another Comic Series to reduce the wait between each Comic Series. That second group is currently working on some top secret Confrontation “rumbles” and other soon to be announced events.

Read all of the Questions at the Official Champions Online Website.

There's no question that every champion or villain needs a lair. That said, Champions Online players now have the option for a hideout in the game. Hideouts come in a variety of flavors and are useable across all characters on a player's account. Every Gold & Lifetime player gets a hideout for free. Silver players get a Phase One hideout and can later upgrade it if they choose.

Each Hideout unlock is account-wide and offers different thematic options with customizable elements, mix-and-match pieces for use within the same category, and character-specific memory so that all of your heroes are able to share a common space while still benefiting from a Hideout customization that is unique to that character.

Modify your Hideout as you see fit, then gather with up to ten friends to socialize, roleplay or plot your Supergroup’s strategy for the next big Boss fight. All Hideouts include Tailor and Socrates Crime Computer access with additional conveniences coming in future updates.

Read more on the Champions Online hideout page.

Executive Producer, Rob Overmeyer, has written the latest State of the Game for the month of June for Cryptic Studios' Champions Online. Rob takes a look at things to come for the game and what we can expect to see in the coming weeks as the game continues forward.

It’s starting to get hotter, the days are a little longer, and Champions Online is doing great! Let’s take a look at where we are now and what’s in the near future.

Our summer of big updates is in full swing. Aftershock has been a lot of fun and has delivered a new and exciting type of content to Champs. We kicked Costume Sets and Sidekicks up a notch and Hideouts are just around the corner. Along with this we are back on Steam and welcome all the new heroes that have joined the fight against villainy.

Read the whole address at the Official Champions Online Website.

There is a chill wind blowing through Millennium City. The moon has taken on a sinister aspect, staining the sky a bloody red. The superhero Witchcraft, of the Champions, warns that this is a dire portent of an approaching mystical threat. There have been sightings of strange creatures emerging across the world, those of savage werewolves and flesh-craving zombies. Even worse, they bear with them the tidings of a great evil returning to the world ... Takofanes, the Undying Lord!

When Takofanes last strode across North America he killed all who crossed him to swell the ranks of his undead army. The first attempt America's superheroes made to stop him resulted in the death of half a dozen of them. A second more concentrated attempt managed to drive Takofanes from the battlefield, but he could not be defeated. Now Takofanes has returned once again with hordes of his minions, citing prophecies of doom and proclaiming his coming reign over humanity!

Read more at the official Champions Online website.

Last week we took our first look at one of the many heroic Hideouts soon to be released, the Retro Moon-Base. This time we’ll travel to a more terrestrial locale for a look at two more Hideouts – Mom’s Basement and the Vigilante Safe-House!

With Mom’s Basement, we all shared a singular vision of a more light-hearted yet still decked-out den, inspired by idealistic young heroes who are just starting their careers.

On the other end of the heroic spectrum lie the hard-bitten, tough-as-nails vigilantes. These types of characters demand a lair stocked with every possible tool for dispensing justice (including a special seat for questioning crooked criminals).

Read it over at the official Champions Online website.

An interesting piece has popped up on the Champions Online website, as Brad Stokan (the lead artist on the game) showcasing the work of some of his fellow artists in the context of how costume pieces in the game are conceived, and made.

This week I wanted to showcase the stellar work of our character artists Chris Whitaker and Jonah Gilbert on some of our recent and upcoming releases. I also wanted to give you a better idea of just what it takes to make the costume pieces you all know and love.

We’ll examine this process by looking at some pieces players can unlock in the Resistance Adventure Pack - namely the epic head and wings of the crystal colossus boss Endbringer!

Read it all at the Official Champions Online Website.

Champions Online devs have published the latest Ask Cryptic with devs answering a host of questions submitted by players and fans. Topics include whether or not players will ever get 'throwing' powers, lairs and the upcoming comic series. It's a terrific and eclectic read. Check it out!

Spiritbrand: What can you tell us about the upcoming Comic Series?

A: Our first Comic Series is called Aftershock. I am not going to give the story away but I can give you some ideas about the size and rollout of the series. Aftershock has a total of 6 issues. The first issue is scheduled to release Wednesday June 1, 2011 and each subsequent issue in the series will be released each Wednesday of the following weeks. Each issue will be available to play following its debut along with any previous issues. You will need to complete any previous issue in the series before you can play the latest in the series. Aftershock will wrap up the first week of July and once the entire series is out it will be playable as a complete adventure. Each issue targets about 30 minutes of gameplay, however, that time can be affected by a number of factors.

Read more of the Champions Online: Ask Cryptic.

Gamasutra is reporting that Chinese publisher Perfect World Entertainment has snapped up Cryptic Studios. Cryptic was recently put on the market by Atari and is the development studio responsible for Champions Online and Star Trek Online. PWE acquired 100% equity in Cryptic for $50.3 million.

Michael Chi, chairman and chief executive officer of Perfect World, said of the move, "This strategic acquisition will add attractive game titles to our portfolio, which will help us further penetrate into the U.S. and global online game markets."

"More importantly, Cryptic Studios' highly reputable development team and its technology platform will further strengthen our well-established R&D capabilities. We deem this as another noteworthy achievement of our global expansion efforts."

Read more at Gamasutra.

According to an earnings statement by Atari, it has divested itself of Champions Online developer, Cryptic Studios. The move became effective on March 31st. According to Gamasutra, Atari will continue its support of Champions Online and Star Trek Online until such time as the studio is sold.

"In line with the previously stated strategy of fewer but more profitable releases and further expansion into casual online and mobile games, the Company has determined that external development creates more flexibility in the changing marketplace," Atari wrote in justifying the move.

Read more at Gamasutra.