City of Heroes teased fans for most of October, promising big information on Going Rogue for those attending HeroCon, and they didn't disappoint. The welcome address last Saturday lived up to expectations in a big way. The community relations team presented nearly an hour of information, screenshots, and video covering the high points of Going Rogue.
They began with the all-important process of transforming your hero to a villain, or vice versa. Rather than pushing a button or purchasing the transformation from the store, players will be able to stay in character and experience the fall from grace or redemption of their character as they work through a series of moral missions.
New powersets (Demon Summoning and Dual Pistols), signature characters and enemy groups were introduced to the crowd, as well as some cool new costume pieces. An extensive look at Praetoria came in the form of a first look at the eye-popping graphics upgrade as well.
All of the exciting new information begs the big question: When? Going Rogue is aiming for a release in Q2 2010, with beta coming in five waves in early 2010. After seeing the information from Hero-Con, we're as excited as you are for this expansion and will be letting you know as soon as more specific information is available. For the time being, check out the City of Heroes forums for an extensive (and impressive) rundown of all the current Going Rogue information.
Reader Comments (17)
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 10:43AM Arcadian said
That ticking sound you hear is the GR release date being the merciful end of Champions Online.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 12:36PM Psychotic Storm said
Because? Sorry didn't see anything impressing in the video, especially from a game with five years standing behind it.
What? they put some graphic updates in an old graphics engine its still an old engine and TR engine was better, they should change to that, if nothing else it was great and it collects dust now (and did all these awesome things too). those "awesome" changes (minus the avatar reflection in reflective surfases if they manage to maintain it) come inbuilt in CO and the graphics engine is better.
What, they run out of ideas and allow you to make a semi good or semi evil hero now? and what? they made a new power that does the munitions energy builder and lead tempest attack yay for it.
And it is still from NCSoft....
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What? they put some graphic updates in an old graphics engine its still an old engine and TR engine was better, they should change to that, if nothing else it was great and it collects dust now (and did all these awesome things too). those "awesome" changes (minus the avatar reflection in reflective surfases if they manage to maintain it) come inbuilt in CO and the graphics engine is better.
What, they run out of ideas and allow you to make a semi good or semi evil hero now? and what? they made a new power that does the munitions energy builder and lead tempest attack yay for it.
And it is still from NCSoft....
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 1:40PM Psychotic Storm said
So that's why the negativity towards CO, CoH?
I say what I see, old graphics get updated to old graphics with an aditional shadow and reflection layer, they remain old graphics, if you go for graphics update go for the full way or no at all.
and the classes they introduced look exactly what CO had especially the lead tempest animation, they could do a different animation than that at least.
So if they have 5 years behind them and so much more content, but only try to update to what their new "rival" has what does this means for the dev team and the game?
imagine what CO will be with half the years behind it?
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I say what I see, old graphics get updated to old graphics with an aditional shadow and reflection layer, they remain old graphics, if you go for graphics update go for the full way or no at all.
and the classes they introduced look exactly what CO had especially the lead tempest animation, they could do a different animation than that at least.
So if they have 5 years behind them and so much more content, but only try to update to what their new "rival" has what does this means for the dev team and the game?
imagine what CO will be with half the years behind it?
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 2:01PM bjooks said
I don't understand why some people feel a need for one game to kill the other. Beyond the "super hero" theme, they're different games, with each doing some things better than the other. If you've got a vested interest in one or the other, then good for you, but it's not that big a deal if both survive. Sheesh.
Personally, I'm super excited about the expansion, much more so after seeing the video -- dual pistols/gun-fu looks all kinds of awesome! And as far as graphics go, it really looks like they were able to walk that fine line to please as many as possible -- major updates to the graphics (by way of realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections) while still leaving the option open for those with older systems to still play. But the update doesn't change the CoH feel of the graphics, which I completely understand. If you're a fan of CO's console-like graphics, then CoX was probably never gonna please you anyway.
Anyway, I know this is only the first of several announcments, so I can't wait to hear and see more of what's to come in the expansion.
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Personally, I'm super excited about the expansion, much more so after seeing the video -- dual pistols/gun-fu looks all kinds of awesome! And as far as graphics go, it really looks like they were able to walk that fine line to please as many as possible -- major updates to the graphics (by way of realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections) while still leaving the option open for those with older systems to still play. But the update doesn't change the CoH feel of the graphics, which I completely understand. If you're a fan of CO's console-like graphics, then CoX was probably never gonna please you anyway.
Anyway, I know this is only the first of several announcments, so I can't wait to hear and see more of what's to come in the expansion.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 10:55AM aurickle said
Having watched the video, I have to say that this expansion could bring me back to CoX. Very impressive stuff, which looks like it could seriously revitalize the game.
I hope they're working on new tech for missions. Their repetitive and predictable nature has always been the downfall of CoX.
I hope they're working on new tech for missions. Their repetitive and predictable nature has always been the downfall of CoX.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 11:42AM (Unverified) said
Considering the fact that the game has been going strong for five years, the word "downfall" doesn't make much sense.
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Posted: Oct 29th 2009 1:30PM aurickle said
JP pretty well summed it up. I have a level 50 character in the game, and had fun getting him there. But every time I've tried to come back to the game with a new character, I've only been able to get to about 15 or 16 before I'm just bored. As soon as I walk into any room, I know exactly where to go to find adjoining rooms, and exactly where within the room every mob will be found.
Adding new story will not overcome this shortcoming. Even Mission Architect didn't change the formula because it doesn't allow the creator to customize the maps or spawn points. I'm hoping that Going Rogue will present new mission mechanics and make the mission maps more dynamic/less predictable. If not, then the new eye candy is not going to be able to retain my attention for very long. Same goes for my friends... all of whom had a great time with CoX during its first year, but all of whom grew bored with its repetitive nature.
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Adding new story will not overcome this shortcoming. Even Mission Architect didn't change the formula because it doesn't allow the creator to customize the maps or spawn points. I'm hoping that Going Rogue will present new mission mechanics and make the mission maps more dynamic/less predictable. If not, then the new eye candy is not going to be able to retain my attention for very long. Same goes for my friends... all of whom had a great time with CoX during its first year, but all of whom grew bored with its repetitive nature.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 1:36PM (Unverified) said
CoX learned from their mistakes. They got rid of Jack Emmert for one, and now with GR it looks like they're going to take what few things Champions has done right and improve upon them.
If that's the case, Champions is done by summer.
If that's the case, Champions is done by summer.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 1:52PM Psychotic Storm said
Why two or three games cannot exist together, or did the "last" WOW expansion killed any and every fantasy MMO in the face of planet?
First of all I don't get those who believe only one boat exists, second there are reasons I feel CoH is not as good as CO there are reasons other feel otherwise and there are many more who simply do not care about either each to each own.
I don't get all this CO negativity exsept if you feel your MMO is so dangerously threatened.
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First of all I don't get those who believe only one boat exists, second there are reasons I feel CoH is not as good as CO there are reasons other feel otherwise and there are many more who simply do not care about either each to each own.
I don't get all this CO negativity exsept if you feel your MMO is so dangerously threatened.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 1:58PM (Unverified) said
I don't feel "threatened" about an MMO surviving or not. That's asinine.
But I don't see CO making it for much longer without a major content upgrade. I've been away from CoX for years now, and I've got to say this looks like it may get me back into Paragon City.
Can both survive? Sure. AoC and WoW survive. But one's doing far better than the other, and AoC isn't doing much better than merely surviving.
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But I don't see CO making it for much longer without a major content upgrade. I've been away from CoX for years now, and I've got to say this looks like it may get me back into Paragon City.
Can both survive? Sure. AoC and WoW survive. But one's doing far better than the other, and AoC isn't doing much better than merely surviving.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 1:53PM Halldorr said
Damn, the more I see of the new stuff in CoH the more I wonder about going back. I left when I got bored after a handful of level 50s and nothing to do other than Hami raids *snore*.
But the video for Going Rogue looks like it sharpens up the graphics (would be nice if WoW did that for example), and adds lots more. After being HORRIBLY disappointed in Champions (I guess I was thinking I was getting CoH 2 so got let down) maybe I'll return and check CoH out again.
But the video for Going Rogue looks like it sharpens up the graphics (would be nice if WoW did that for example), and adds lots more. After being HORRIBLY disappointed in Champions (I guess I was thinking I was getting CoH 2 so got let down) maybe I'll return and check CoH out again.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 2:02PM (Unverified) said
I think that CoH has a really bright future ahead of it... the NC team that's running things seems to really understand the existing community and what is needed to move the game forward. I personally tried CO and wasn't impressed, BUT I -am- very happy to have CO around... competition means a better product for everyone. I think that in addition to Jack Emmert's 'issues,' part of the reason CoH stagnated the way it did in its earlier years was because there was little to no perceived competition. Currently, the rate that CoH been evolving has been impressive, and I'm excited to see what Paragon has hidden up their sleeves for Going Rogue and beyond.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 2:32PM starka1 said
I'm in the same boat as aurickle. The devs mentioned at one time have a multi-thread ending to missions or something like that where you had two or more choices to make in completing a mission. And MA did nothing to change it for me either. When it comes down to it, it is the same formula. Not that CO does it much differently but at least it is shiny to me for now with new powers, environments, etc and Bloodmoon is pretty good so far considering I don't like PvP. Until they add some non-combat skill play or skills that are useful for mission completion(like overriding a computer is a mini-game to free a captive or control some laser cannons) I don't see myself heading back to CoH anytime soon.
Dual Pistols and the other effects during the battle looked pretty cool though. FINALLY, they got some new animations.
Dual Pistols and the other effects during the battle looked pretty cool though. FINALLY, they got some new animations.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 2:35PM starka1 said
Oh yeah, the CoH fans in youtube video were hilarious. Sounds like they had a great time.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 4:35PM Its Utakata stupid said
Jeez...I wish they had "Going Rogue" in WoW. This makes me profoundly jealous that I can't run my Gnomes for the Horde. :(
...as for that Sunday final panal...I hope some suggested in putting Mailbox into CoX. An MMO without Mailboxes is like having the internet without ISP's.
...as for that Sunday final panal...I hope some suggested in putting Mailbox into CoX. An MMO without Mailboxes is like having the internet without ISP's.
Posted: Oct 29th 2009 4:57PM Heraclea said
There is a lot of room for improvement in City of Heroes, and especially in those parts of the game that existed on its original release 5 1/2 years ago. The original content is full of contacts who happily send you on pointless errands to distant zones, and whose stories have nothing to do with the criminal gangs who live in their zones, and that you see on the corner standing next to them.
For several years now, instanced missions have been the entire game; street sweeping is simply avoided - it has greater risks for fewer rewards. The original content's street hunts are avoided as a result. Crime fighting in the public zones needs a boost; if for no other reason than to make the game look busier and livelier.
The game play and poor performance of Champions Online were a disappointment on its release. I don't see it improving all that much; more so than City of Heroes, it seems to be a fantasy game in tights. It took all of the annoyances of the genre --- very difficult mobs, public quest objective ninjaing, choreographed bosses --- and added further annoyances to them, like minimal incentive to team up and just go beat up stuff, the tedious blocking mechanic, and no real role for dedicated tanks or team support characters. I hope they work these issues out, but for now, I'm sticking with the City.
For several years now, instanced missions have been the entire game; street sweeping is simply avoided - it has greater risks for fewer rewards. The original content's street hunts are avoided as a result. Crime fighting in the public zones needs a boost; if for no other reason than to make the game look busier and livelier.
The game play and poor performance of Champions Online were a disappointment on its release. I don't see it improving all that much; more so than City of Heroes, it seems to be a fantasy game in tights. It took all of the annoyances of the genre --- very difficult mobs, public quest objective ninjaing, choreographed bosses --- and added further annoyances to them, like minimal incentive to team up and just go beat up stuff, the tedious blocking mechanic, and no real role for dedicated tanks or team support characters. I hope they work these issues out, but for now, I'm sticking with the City.








