Most of the news coming out of Cryptic Studios of late has centered around Star Trek Online, which has garnered quite a following and looks to expand with the upcoming Season 1 patch. But Champions Online hasn't gone anywhere, and the game is gearing up for its mini-expansion and for the future. A state of the game letter has just been released, announcing both what's coming for the game as well as some management shakeups. The latter comes last in the letter but is worth noting early -- Shannon Posniewski, known as Poz on the forums, will be assuming the Executive Producer role for the game, taking over from Bill Roper.
In terms of actual in-game changes, the letter reiterates many things we heard at the GDC: the team knows there are level bands that are a bit thinner in terms of content than the players (or the developers) would like. While they're not prepared to reveal details, they are looking to expand those areas with more content and more to do. There's also the promise of new Adventure Packs, which sound similar in concept to the packs of Dungeons and Dragons Online. The full letter also mentioned updates to powersets and melee damage that should be welcome news for all Champions Online players, a clear sign the game is moving forward and not forgotten.
Reader Comments (68)
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 2:26AM (Unverified) said
Did Cryptic just Flagship Roper?
I know he's been busy Flagshipping Cryptic.
I know he's been busy Flagshipping Cryptic.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 2:55AM (Unverified) said
With that out of the way, the next priority should be to keep Roper away from the ding dong stash!
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 2:59AM Anatidae said
I hate to join the ranks of bitter gamers, but I have to agree with the general opinion here. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Roper!
I think what happens, for me, is when someone puts themselves out there trying to be a "rock star game designer" (i.e. Roper, Garrott, etc...) and then experience lack luster performance - well, they also sort of deserve the heat that comes back their way.
For instance, I didn't think Anarchy Online was a hit. Nor the Matrix Online. Heck, there are plenty of MMOs that had low to marginal success - yet I don't think ill of their development team or leads.
Conversely, if Champions and ST:O were awesome I'd be a Roper fan. Produce good work, and I'll back you up with not only my opinion, but my money. Produce crap and I won't shed a tear when you leave to make room for someone who might do it right.
I think what happens, for me, is when someone puts themselves out there trying to be a "rock star game designer" (i.e. Roper, Garrott, etc...) and then experience lack luster performance - well, they also sort of deserve the heat that comes back their way.
For instance, I didn't think Anarchy Online was a hit. Nor the Matrix Online. Heck, there are plenty of MMOs that had low to marginal success - yet I don't think ill of their development team or leads.
Conversely, if Champions and ST:O were awesome I'd be a Roper fan. Produce good work, and I'll back you up with not only my opinion, but my money. Produce crap and I won't shed a tear when you leave to make room for someone who might do it right.
Posted: Mar 20th 2010 11:31AM mysecretid said
Just to clarify:
Bill Roper never worked on Star Trek Online. Roper's Champions team, and Craig Zinkievich's STO team were kept distinctly separate. They shared code solutions at times, but Bill Roper did not "develop" any portion of Star Trek Online.
Reply
Bill Roper never worked on Star Trek Online. Roper's Champions team, and Craig Zinkievich's STO team were kept distinctly separate. They shared code solutions at times, but Bill Roper did not "develop" any portion of Star Trek Online.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 3:24AM Dranaerys said
Bet Bill Roper is regretting ever leaving the loving embrace if Blizzard, eh? :He could have been heading Diablo 3 by now. :p
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 3:57AM (Unverified) said
Thanks guys, apparently I did indeed miss the memo...
That's very sad to hear. One of my friends like NWN a lot too (the first one from Bioware, that is). No wonder Bioware made Dragon Age instead. The two games are quite similar to me. Well maybe it's just the top view or semi-isometric view but w/e.
And btw I've just received an email stating that I can pay just 29.99$ for three-month sub of CO. As if I'd be interested...
Regarding Obsidian, I have only 2 words:
They suck.
They turned SWKOTOR2 into this unfinished bug-fest that makes me sad whenever I think about the franchise. And NWN2? LOLBUGFEST.
But I guess I'm going way off-topic now.
That's very sad to hear. One of my friends like NWN a lot too (the first one from Bioware, that is). No wonder Bioware made Dragon Age instead. The two games are quite similar to me. Well maybe it's just the top view or semi-isometric view but w/e.
And btw I've just received an email stating that I can pay just 29.99$ for three-month sub of CO. As if I'd be interested...
Regarding Obsidian, I have only 2 words:
They suck.
They turned SWKOTOR2 into this unfinished bug-fest that makes me sad whenever I think about the franchise. And NWN2? LOLBUGFEST.
But I guess I'm going way off-topic now.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 4:20AM Eamil said
I'm not sure "bugfest" is automatically a bad thing as long as none of those bugs are game-breaking. Bethesda's games are NOTORIOUSLY unstable and yet their games are good enough that most people who play them don't care that much. Heck, I just spent a couple hours trying to get Fallout 3 to stop crashing (turns out it doesn't like Creative Alchemy and will crash within minutes if you load the game with it enabled) and trying to fix the radio sound stuttering glitch I'd loaded Alchemy to fix in the first place, but as soon as I got back into actually playing the game my frustration evaporated and I was having fun again in no time.
Reply
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 4:00AM (Unverified) said
Who knows, these ex-Blizzard devs may've got fired or asked to leave or worse, judging from their collective performances after leaving Blizzard.
I mean, look at those fools at Arenanet, for one. Well, three.
I mean, look at those fools at Arenanet, for one. Well, three.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 9:59AM (Unverified) said
AreaNet did LotRO?
But yeah, Guild Wars is a pretty cool guy.
Reply
But yeah, Guild Wars is a pretty cool guy.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 4:08AM BubleFett said
All Roper has to do now is just get out of the game industry.
Then we will throw a party.
Then we will throw a party.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 5:10AM Samael said
Yes finally some news about CO that I would like to hear. I would prefer it if he was thrown out completely, but one step at a time.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 6:36AM Snichy said
Maybe he is going back to Blizzard to head up their rumoured new MMO....!
Ha ha!
Ha ha!
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 6:47AM Snichy said
Is Bill Roper actually responsible for the design and content of the game or is he just a public scapegoat? I know there is alot of hate for Bill Roper and I dont pretent to know why as Im sure most people know more about his involvement than me, but I always thought "Executive" Producers didnt actually get involved in the design, construction or technical side of games/movies, and they only deal with the financial and legal issues? Therefore if the game itself is poor it is due to the individual at Cryptic who signs off on gameplay decisions and with a title like Executive Producer, I wouldnt have thought it was him although I dont know enough to say for sure :)
Maybe his title means nothing as judging by the reaction he must have been directly responsible for the game but I was just wondering if maybe people were blaming the wrong person.
There is no doubt that there have been some questionable business decisions made though so maybe thats where the hate is coming from.
Maybe his title means nothing as judging by the reaction he must have been directly responsible for the game but I was just wondering if maybe people were blaming the wrong person.
There is no doubt that there have been some questionable business decisions made though so maybe thats where the hate is coming from.
Posted: Mar 18th 2010 12:21PM (Unverified) said
I think if its not him making those gameplay decisions then it his he who is responsible for the person who makes those decisions. Hopefully if not the actual decision maker, then the new guy will fire the person who made whose decisions before they make the new guy look bad as well.
Cryptic - look for someone saying "Gamers won't even notice the instancing"
Reply
Cryptic - look for someone saying "Gamers won't even notice the instancing"
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 7:01AM (Unverified) said
Looking forward to the new series on TV:
Developer Fit Club/Rehab with Dr. Spew
This season: Richard Garriott, Paul Barnett, and Bill Roper!
[queue music]
Developer Fit Club/Rehab with Dr. Spew
This season: Richard Garriott, Paul Barnett, and Bill Roper!
[queue music]
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 7:19AM (Unverified) said
Woah, sure you are bitter. Let's put the facts:
1) Bill Roper arrived quite late in the development process of CO, so putting on him all the responsibility of the design or the bugs it´s not seeing the whole picture and being quite unfair.
2) He has not left Cryptic, he just changed roles (and the fact they are not saying which one is a pretty good signal he is going to be in front of NWN Online, so bad luck if you don't stand him).
3) And cacheelma, Obsidian is one of the best RPG studios we have, and anyone who have played Mask of the Betrayer knows this.
1) Bill Roper arrived quite late in the development process of CO, so putting on him all the responsibility of the design or the bugs it´s not seeing the whole picture and being quite unfair.
2) He has not left Cryptic, he just changed roles (and the fact they are not saying which one is a pretty good signal he is going to be in front of NWN Online, so bad luck if you don't stand him).
3) And cacheelma, Obsidian is one of the best RPG studios we have, and anyone who have played Mask of the Betrayer knows this.
Posted: Mar 17th 2010 8:33AM (Unverified) said
Says who?
Guild Wars is not MMO. Anet said so. The game is instance-based with glorified chat rooms, at best. There NOTHING in the game that would link every single person in the game together (I'm talking about those global features like AH, LFG interface, or just a simple global chat channel). Nothing in the game is "Massive". That is, unless you count chat rooms that are also divided into districts if there're too many people...
Guild Wars has 1 core game and 2 standalone expansions AND one expansion. So, 4 games in total. To date, they've sold like... 6 millions? 7 at most? Across 4 games.
2nd most successful? LOL. Please.
Guild Wars is not MMO. Anet said so. The game is instance-based with glorified chat rooms, at best. There NOTHING in the game that would link every single person in the game together (I'm talking about those global features like AH, LFG interface, or just a simple global chat channel). Nothing in the game is "Massive". That is, unless you count chat rooms that are also divided into districts if there're too many people...
Guild Wars has 1 core game and 2 standalone expansions AND one expansion. So, 4 games in total. To date, they've sold like... 6 millions? 7 at most? Across 4 games.
2nd most successful? LOL. Please.
Featured Stories
Some Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green
Posted on May 24th 2013 12:00PM







