Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-how-city-of-heroes-almost-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-how-city-of-heroes-almost-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-how-city-of-heroes-almost-died/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
If it hasn't become clear over the past two and a half years, I really enjoy speculation. I like crazy theories, I like exploring possibilities, I like thought exercises, and so forth. There's some speculation that I find particularly ill-informed or lacking in some fundamental point of logic, but that doesn't mean I don't learn about them first.

Why am I making a point out of this? Because I've developed a theory about the state of City of Heroes, and I want to make it clear before I launch into this somewhat grim theory that I'm basing this entirely on outside observations. I want it to be clear that I could, in fact, be totally wrong, and when I say that City of Heroes nearly committed unintentional suicide a couple of years ago, I don't want that to be seen as some grand behind-the-scenes revelation.

And if it weren't obvious from that line, yes, that's where I'm going. I think Going Rogue nearly gutted City of Heroes and burned the whole game to the ground. And I think everything the game has done since can be directly traced back to that expansion.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-going-rogueconspiracyconspiracy-theoriescovcoxcrazy-theoriescrazypantscultureexpansionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgoing-roguemild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosspeculationsuperherosuperheroesWed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes asks, 'Will you be my super-Valentine?']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/city-of-heroes-asks-will-you-be-my-super-valentine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/city-of-heroes-asks-will-you-be-my-super-valentine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/city-of-heroes-asks-will-you-be-my-super-valentine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

City of Heroes
It's hard to believe that it's already February and that spring is now within striking distance. City of Heroes feels the season coming on strong, which is why it's bringing back its Spring Fling holiday event from February 8th through the 27th.

The event this year will be a mix of the old and the new. Returning from the past are tangles with Arachnos, quests to fetch underwear for Eros, and a smackdown of Snaptooth. New for the 2012 season are a couple of additional missions for the restless hopeless romantic in all of us -- Widow in Red and Valentines -- with accompanying badges.

The former quest will have players looking into the love life of Lord Recluse (Match.com has no entry for "super-villain," much to his dismay), while the latter will send heroes all across the game world looking for valentines to deliver or redirect. The Valentines missions reward players with temporary powers such as Arrows of Romance and Arrows of Jealousy.

MassivelyCity of Heroes asks, 'Will you be my super-Valentine?' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoverosf2pfree-to-playgoing-roguein-game-eventlord-reclusematch.comncsoftparagonparagon-studiosspring-flingspring-fling-2012valentinevalentinesvalentines-dayThu, 02 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-choose-your-side-or-dont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-choose-your-side-or-dont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-choose-your-side-or-dont/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header image by A. Fienemann
Do you remember Going Rogue? Of course you do, even if it's had some of its thunder retroactively stolen by City of Heroes Freedom. And of course you remember that one of its big selling points -- its only selling point at launch for existing characters, arguably -- was that you could swap between the alignments of the game. Villains could become Heroes, go back to being Villains, hang out as a Rogue for a while, and so on. It seemed like the sort of thing that would be a real game changer.

Well, it's been more than a year since we first started seeing the groups swap sides, and surprisingly enough -- or not -- the much bigger change was in the business model alteration and the ensuing changes to the game environment. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but it brings to mind a question: Has there really been any long-term effect of the alignment system? If you aren't roleplaying the swap, does being one faction or the other even matter in the long run?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alingmentcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcoh-going-roguecovcoxfeaturedgame-mechanicsgoing-roguencsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossystemsWed, 26 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes invites you to invite a friend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/city-of-heroes-invites-you-to-invite-a-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/city-of-heroes-invites-you-to-invite-a-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/city-of-heroes-invites-you-to-invite-a-friend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

City of Heroes
It's a busy weekend over at City of Heroes, as not only is the Freedom program in full swing, but Paragon Studios is prepping a new replacement refer-a-friend program to rope in as many stray cattle players as possible.

Current City of Heroes VIP players will soon once again be able to send out invites to friends, family members, and unusually intelligent heifers who have either never played the game before or who are former players whose accounts have been inactive for over 90 days. If the recipient decides to become a VIP player (i.e., subscriber), then both the inviter and invitee will find themselves the proud possessors of 500 additional Paragon Points to spend in the in-game store.

Friends can either be invited through the NCsoft website or the Paragon Market. While the program is not yet operational, Paragon Studios promises to let us know the moment it goes live.

MassivelyCity of Heroes invites you to invite a friend originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cattlecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcowgoing-rogueheiferncsoftparagonparagon-marketparagon-pointsparagon-studiospromotionrefer-a-friendreferralSat, 24 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get City of Heroes Going Rogue: Complete Collection for a special anniversary price [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/get-city-of-heroes-going-rogue-complete-collection-for-a-specia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/get-city-of-heroes-going-rogue-complete-collection-for-a-specia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/get-city-of-heroes-going-rogue-complete-collection-for-a-specia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you haven't taken the jump into City of Heroes after seven years, we want you to realize just how much crime has gone down on your watch -- crime that you haven't done a blessed thing to stop. Feel that? It's guilt, and it will eat you alive, my friend.

Of course, it's not too late to slip on a comfy pair of spandex and take to the skies (or more likely, the sewers), and NCsoft is willing to meet you halfway. As part of City of Heroes' 7th anniversary celebration, the site is promoting a special GameStop sale of Going Rogue: Complete Collection for just $14.99.

Not only is this half off the normal price, but it comes with the works: City of Heroes, City of Villains, Going Rogue and 30 days of game time. The Complete Collection even includes special emotes, costume pieces and powers to give you a boost. In short, it's the perfect package to get into the game, even if you're just looking to upgrade to the expansion. Head on over to GameStop to check it out.

[Update: NCsoft is also offering a promotion on several booster packs and earlier editions of the game as well as a half-off sale on character transfer and rename services!]

MassivelyGet City of Heroes Going Rogue: Complete Collection for a special anniversary price [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7th-anniversaryanniversarybargaincity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxdealgoing-roguegoing-rogue-complete-collectionncsoftparagonparagon-studiospromotionWed, 27 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Seven years of city life, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-seven-years-of-city-life-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-seven-years-of-city-life-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-seven-years-of-city-life-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's the seven-year anniversary for City of Heroes, and that feels just as strange to type as I imagine it feels to read. Seriously, I remember when the game had just launched and was receiving rampant praise as the next big thing in MMOs. In my mind, the game is still part of the new guard of MMOs alongside other games like Ryzom and Guild Wars, games that are trying something different instead of the tired EverQuest-era rehashes. This is in sharp contrast to the fact that the computer I am running the game on now could not have existed when the game launched.

But this isn't about how old I am (or feel); this is about seven years of our favorite superheroic MMO. Last year I had the unenviable task of trying to sum up six years of progress in the game, but this time around we're just looking at the stuff that's changed since April of 2010. But that's still a lot of ground to cover, so for today I'm going to look back at the first two patches City of Heroes received over its past year of operation... because there's a lot to unpack even there.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Seven years of city life, part one

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Seven years of city life, part one originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxfeaturedgoing-rogueissue-17issue-18ncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchesupdatesWed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Auld lang syne]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-auld-lang-syne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-auld-lang-syne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-auld-lang-syne/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A year ago on January 27th, viewers of the site were treated to a header image in which Mr. Swift poked hopelessly at a keyboard. This was the header for the first installment (or "issue" if you want to be thematic) of A Mild-Mannered Reporter, covering all things City of Heroes. And for those of you who are just now glancing at your calendar, yes, that was just about a year ago.

Those of you who remembered my sign-off for the last column (the one that mentioned this would be an anniversary column) are in slightly better shape. These things happen once a year, and I figured one day early is better than six days late.

And it's been quite a year for the game and the column alike, with plenty to talk about every Wednesday. So let's take a trip down memory lane and look back at a year of the column with another year just around the corner. If you're just coming into the column now, or if you want to look back at some old favorites, now's the time.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Auld lang syne

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Auld lang syne originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgame-guidesgame-mechanicsgoing-rogueguideslooking-backmemory-lanencsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveWed, 26 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The road ahead for City of Heroes: Our interview with Melissa Bianco]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/the-road-ahead-for-city-of-heroes-our-interview-with-melissa-bi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/the-road-ahead-for-city-of-heroes-our-interview-with-melissa-bi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/the-road-ahead-for-city-of-heroes-our-interview-with-melissa-bi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Last year was undeniably a pretty good year for City of Heroes -- it boasted a six-year anniversary, a new expansion, and a newly improved graphical engine to make the game that much more attractive. This year... well, it's still up in the air, but it's still kicking off with a brand-new competitor for the game, which adds a whole host of new challenges for the development team at Paragon Studios to overcome. Not to mention that when you've just come off of a good year, you're faced with the question of what you can possibly do to top it.

But the team behind the game is prepared for the challenges of this year and already looks forward to raising the bar again in 2011. We had a chance to talk with Melissa Bianco, lead designer of City of Heroes, about what's coming next for the game and how the team plans to face new and ongoing hurdles. Check on past the break for our talk about potential sequels, the upcoming issues of the game, and what we can expect to start seeing in the next few months.

Continue reading The road ahead for City of Heroes: Our interview with Melissa Bianco

MassivelyThe road ahead for City of Heroes: Our interview with Melissa Bianco originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>additionscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgame-additionsgoing-rogueinterviewissue-19issue-20melissa-biancomicrotransactionsncsoftnew-additionsopinionparagonparagon-studiospatchesupcoming-patchesMon, 10 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Updated: On the tenth day of giveaways, NCsoft gave to me...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/on-the-tenth-day-of-giveaways-ncsoft-gave-to-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/on-the-tenth-day-of-giveaways-ncsoft-gave-to-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/on-the-tenth-day-of-giveaways-ncsoft-gave-to-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Congratulations!]

On the tenth day of giveaways, NCsoft gave to me... ten game expansions!
On the ninth day of giveaways, Funcom gave to me... nine ladies lamenting!
On the eighth day of giveaways, SOE gave to me... eight Station Cash cards!
On the seventh day of giveaways, Kingsisle gave to me... seven Epic Cards!
On the sixth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me... six Vindictus packs!
On the fifth day of giveaways, Mythic gave to me... five upgrade codes!
On the fourth day of giveaways, ChangYou gave to me... four welcome gifts!
On the third day of giveaways, Icarus gave to me... three months of gameplay!
On the second day of giveaways, Hi-Rez gave to me... two gift packages!
On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP!

If you're a fan of NCsoft MMOs, you know that they feature some great holiday events. The developer teams for all of the games throw out decorations, quests, special events, and gifts galore.

There's more, though! The Aion team added double crafting XP to the holiday events, Lady Winter is running around City of Heroes bent on mischief, Wintersday has arrived to Guild Wars with some new events, and we've got some awesome gifts from all three games under the 12 Days of Giveaways tree!

NCsoft gave us 10 Aion gift packages, each containing a copy of Aion's Assault on Balaurea and a code for a variety of bonus pets. We also received 10 City of Heroes gift packages! Each CoH pack contains the Going Rogue Complete Collection and a 30-day jet pack code. On the Guild Wars front we have a little something extra: fifteen Balthazar and Melandru costume codes! We've got five Melandru costumes, five Balthazar costumes, and five complete sets!

Ten Aion fans, 10 CoH fans, and 15 Guild Wars fans are about to have a very good day! All you need to do to enter is tell us which game is your favorite and what hooked you. Enter by Thursday at 6:00 p.m. EST, check our contest rules, and good luck!

MassivelyUpdated: On the tenth day of giveaways, NCsoft gave to me... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12-days-of-giveawaysaionassault-on-balaureacity-of-heroescohcontestcovcoxgiveawaygoing-roguejet-packjetpackncsoftwinter-holiday-2010Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2010's roguish review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2010s-roguish-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2010s-roguish-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2010s-roguish-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

I joked once, long ago, that I should never answer WRUP truthfully, because it will invariably result in a total lack of doing what I announced. Lo and behold, I had the time to play through a single Mission Architect mission amidst an intensely obnoxious virus (just at that level where you're sick enough to know it but not sick enough to avoid work) and the preparation needed to get my house ready for hosting an entire family.

For the record? Never agree to do that for your family, no matter who your family is.

So instead, we're going to take a look through the big news of the year, the five biggest stories that have affected City of Heroes in the past 12 months. I had originally planned to save this one for next week, but I doubt that we'll get an enormous piece of news between now and next week. It's been an interesting year for the game as a whole, so between an expansion, major updates, and tumultuous times in the larger MMO world, let's look at the five biggest stories pertaining to the city.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2010's roguish review

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2010's roguish review originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxdevelopersdevelopment-teamend-of-the-year-2010expansionexpansionsfeaturedgoing-roguegrissue-17issue-18issue-19issue-20matt-millermelissa-bianconcsoftparagonparagon-studiospositronwar-witchWed, 22 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes has your Cyber Monday deals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/city-of-heroes-has-your-cyber-monday-deals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/city-of-heroes-has-your-cyber-monday-deals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/city-of-heroes-has-your-cyber-monday-deals/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You're no doubt familiar with the upcoming mall stampede known as Black Friday. If you haven't heard of Cyber Monday, we'll forgive you just this once (and no, it's not that kind of Cyber Monday, Mr. Perv). Cyber Monday is basically the online equivalent of Black Friday, and NCsoft is teaming up with BestBuy.com to bring you a steal of a deal on the City of Heroes Going Rogue Complete Collection to mark the occasion.

For one day only (Monday, November 29th) you can pick up the compilation pack for a paltry $9.99. You can also hit up the NCsoft store afterwards and grab CoH booster packs for up to 50% off. The Cyborg, Magic, Science, Good vs. Evil, Wedding, and Mac packs are included in the deal, so mark your calendars and warm up those credit cards for the MMORPG deal of the season.

MassivelyCity of Heroes has your Cyber Monday deals originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridaybooster-packscity-of-heroescohcompilationcomplete-collectioncovcoxcyber-mondaydealsgoing-roguencsoftparagonparagon-studiosMon, 22 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paragon Studios answers our questions about Issue 19 of City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/paragon-studios-answers-our-questions-about-issue-19-of-city-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/paragon-studios-answers-our-questions-about-issue-19-of-city-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/paragon-studios-answers-our-questions-about-issue-19-of-city-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Just three months after the major upheaval of Going Rogue, City of Heroes is getting another big update in the form of Issue 19. Bringing with it new task forces, the first part of the new Incarnate system, the long-awaited baseline Fitness pool, and several other quality-of-life improvements, the issue is packed to bursting with things for players to enjoy. So we naturally had a few questions, even above and beyond our first impressions of both the Incarnate system and the new Apex task force.

Of course, this issue isn't the work of just one or two people within Paragon Studios, but the whole team. So it was fitting that we got our questions about the newest update to City of Heroes answered by several members of the team. Melissa Bianco, Matt Miller, Sean McCann, and Tim Sweeney all took the time to answer some quick questions about the substance of the update, so click on past the break to see our questions and their responses.

Continue reading Paragon Studios answers our questions about Issue 19 of City of Heroes

MassivelyParagon Studios answers our questions about Issue 19 of City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apex-task-forcecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxcraftingendgameendgame-systemenhancementsfitnessfitness-poolgoing-roguegri19incarnate-systemincarnatesinteviewsissue-19ncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchespraetoriatin-mage-task-forcetip-missionstipsupdatesMon, 15 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes developer diary: Challenging the gods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/city-of-heroes-developer-diary-challenging-the-gods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/city-of-heroes-developer-diary-challenging-the-gods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/city-of-heroes-developer-diary-challenging-the-gods/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Issue 19 brings a big change to characters in City of Heroes. There's always been a line of thought running through comic books that superheroes are essentially modern deities, but when you start stepping into the Incarnate system, the comparison becomes far more straightforward: You are wielding the powers of gods. Just like Statesman and Lord Recluse, player characters will be empowered beyond the ken of mortals and will begin the road toward a new apex of ability.

Of course, when you're making such huge changes to the fabric of the game, you need more than just a quick stir in the patcher. A great deal of work went into elevating characters to deification, and that's precisely what the latest City of Heroes developer diary covers. Tim "Black Scorpion" Sweeney has penned an entry on what went into the design of the Incarnate system, so skip on past the break to see how players go from being mere mortals to Incarnates... within the game, anyhow.

Continue reading City of Heroes developer diary: Challenging the gods

MassivelyCity of Heroes developer diary: Challenging the gods originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-scorpioncity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxdev-diarydeveloper-diaryfeaturedgoing-roguegri19incarnateincarnate-systemincarnatesissue-19ncsoftparagonparagon-studiosplayer-enchancementsplayer-powerstim-black-scorpion-sweeneytim-sweeneyThu, 11 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes dev diary: Dr. Aeon's Guide on How to Make a Proper Interdimensional Invasion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/city-of-heroes-dev-diary-dr-aeons-guide-on-how-to-make-a-prop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/city-of-heroes-dev-diary-dr-aeons-guide-on-how-to-make-a-prop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/city-of-heroes-dev-diary-dr-aeons-guide-on-how-to-make-a-prop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

With the upcoming Issue 19, City of Heroes is bringing in the long-awaited Incarnate system, the first step in improving and honing the powers of characters who have already reached the level cap. Of course, that would be rather unbalancing if there wasn't something new to challenge the newly-empowered characters, but the whole invasion of Praetoria into Paragon City and the Rogue Isles should give even the new Incarnates something challenging to handle. Two task forces are being added to challenge characters that have reached the apex of power.

So how exactly does one craft a new invasion in City of Heroes? We were lucky to get a brand-new developer diary from Sean "Dr. Aeon" McCann detailing how the Apex and Tin Mage task forces came into existence, from the challenges it presented in design to the result of all that hard work. Take a look past the cut to check out the diary, wherein we get a full rundown of how one launches an interdimensional war. (In the game, at least. Actual aggression against other dimensions is not covered.)

Continue reading City of Heroes dev diary: Dr. Aeon's Guide on How to Make a Proper Interdimensional Invasion

MassivelyCity of Heroes dev diary: Dr. Aeon's Guide on How to Make a Proper Interdimensional Invasion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxdr-aeonexpansionsgoing-roguegrincarnateincarnate-systemincarnatesissue-19ncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchessean-dr-aeon-mccannsean-mccanntask-forceupcoming-patchesupdatesWed, 27 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes developer diary: Going Rogue, new powersets, new enemies, new problems]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/city-of-heroes-developer-diary-going-rogue-new-powersets-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/city-of-heroes-developer-diary-going-rogue-new-powersets-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/city-of-heroes-developer-diary-going-rogue-new-powersets-new/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As of right now, City of Heroes is in a state of flux. Like any game with a new expansion, the superhero game boasts features that are changing and endgame structures that are being disrupted, and the changes of Issue 19 promise to introduce an actual endgame into a game that's long lacked one. But it all started with the most recent expansion, one that gave players the chance to switch sides back in August -- Going Rogue.

Much like Rome, the foundation for the expansion wasn't laid in a day. We were granted an early look at a developer diary by Floyd "Castle" Grubb, longtime veteran of the Paragon Studios team and lead designer for the Powers and Entities team. Take a look past the cut for his diary, explaining the various ways in which the powersets of the expansion were developed and fine-tuned, as well as highlights the new additions for both enemies and players.

Continue reading City of Heroes developer diary: Going Rogue, new powersets, new enemies, new problems

MassivelyCity of Heroes developer diary: Going Rogue, new powersets, new enemies, new problems originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcoming-updatescovcoxdemon-summoningdeveloper-diarydiarydual-pistolselectric-controlexpansionfeaturedfloyd-castle-grubbfloyd-grubbgoing-roguegri19i20i21issue-19issue-20issue-21issueskinetic-meleencsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchespowerspowersetsupdatesWed, 20 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes unveils the trailer for the Apex task force]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/city-of-heroes-unveils-the-trailer-for-the-apex-task-force/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/city-of-heroes-unveils-the-trailer-for-the-apex-task-force/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/city-of-heroes-unveils-the-trailer-for-the-apex-task-force/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

At the best of times, the task forces in City of Heroes resemble the huge crossover events of comics at their finest -- sprawling events covering multiple titles that give heroes and villains alike a chance to really show what they can do. And if there were ever an occasion for some truly impressive superhuman antics, it would be the invasion of Praetoria coming in Issue 19. Paragon Studios has released the trailer for the first of two major task forces, and it should give some idea of the scope of what awaits.

First shown at the New York Comic Con panel, the trailer features several shots showing the devastation wrought by Praetoria's machines of war, as well as the powers that heroes are unleashing to fight back. Some of these powers appear to be related to the Incarnate system, although the team was reluctant to definitively identify them as such. Take a look past the break for a sneak peek at what's coming next for City of Heroes, in all of its world-colliding glory.

Continue reading City of Heroes unveils the trailer for the Apex task force

MassivelyCity of Heroes unveils the trailer for the Apex task force originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apexapex-task-forcecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcomic-bookscomicscovcoxgoing-roguegrmajor-eventncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchespraetoriapraetoriantask-forcetrailersupdatesvideovideosTue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/nycc-2010-the-city-of-heroes-issue-19-panel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/nycc-2010-the-city-of-heroes-issue-19-panel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/nycc-2010-the-city-of-heroes-issue-19-panel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's the end of the convention season, and City of Heroes fans on the East Coast managed to get one last treat -- another chance with the development team that had long been anchored firmly on the other side of the country. The team's panel in March at PAX East saw the revelation of several new facts about the game, including the first announcement of Kinetic Melee and Electric Control, and the panel that closes out the year at New York Comic Con contained several interesting new facts as well.

Melissa Bianco, David Nakayama, and Jesse Caceres were all in attendance, with the panel overseen by community representative Tia Parurahi. With Going Rogue having been out for nearly two months, this panel focused on the upcoming Issue 19 and what the changes mean for the game, as well as how much the development team is ramping up production to improve the game all around.

Continue reading NYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel

MassivelyNYCC 2010: The City of Heroes Issue 19 panel originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-slotalpha-strikeapex-task-forcechallengescharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcostume-piecescostumescovcoxdavid-nakayamaendgamefeaturedgame-updatesgoing-roguegrhigh-end-contenti19incarnate-systemincarnate-task-forcesissue-19jesse-caceresmelissa-bianconcsoftnew-arcsnew-york-comic-connyccnycc-2010paragonparagon-studiospatchesstory-arcstask-forcestia-parurahitin-mage-task-forceupdatesSun, 10 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Layoffs hit Paragon Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/layoffs-at-paragon-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/layoffs-at-paragon-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/layoffs-at-paragon-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A rumor has just broken that Paragon Studios, the team responsible for City of Heroes, has just undergone a round of layoffs. This comes following the launch of Going Rogue, the game's second boxed expansion and center of a major re-arrangement for the game. Among those rumored to be laid off is Christopher Bruce, known to the fans of the game as Back Alley Brawler and the senior animation lead for the studio.

While there have been rumors for some time that the team had been expanding and working on an additional project, possibly a sequel to the now-venerable City of Heroes, it's unknown what long-term impacts these layoffs might have on both the existing game and any future projects. We contacted NCsoft and received official confirmation of the layoffs, but the company thus far has been unable to provide information on who, exactly, has been let go. Our condolences go out to all employees affected by the layoffs.

MassivelyLayoffs hit Paragon Studios originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-alley-brawlerbreakingbreaking-newschristopher-brucecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxcutsgoing-roguegrjob-cutsjob-losslayoffsncsoftparagonparagon-studiosrumorsstaff-cutsstaff-layoffsstaff-lossThu, 07 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Now you're thinking with portals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/one-shots-now-youre-thinking-with-portals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/one-shots-now-youre-thinking-with-portals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/one-shots-now-youre-thinking-with-portals/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With all the heroes running around in City of Heroes, you'd think that crime would have long ago been wiped off the map. But no, the criminals still attempt nefarious deeds daily. There again, when you have the ability to create (or become) a villain, all the criminal activity probably isn't as much of a surprise. Today's great City of Heroes screenshot comes to us from Brenner H., who has been doing his best to put the smack-down on evildoers everywhere. He writes in: "Going through the new zone of Praetoria was an amazing experience with great story and fun. But like everything it comes to a close. Here is me deciding to go to Paragon City (The Heroes' side) and to begin my adventure. Beyond this portal is my future!"

Whether you love story, graphics, or concept, we love to hear about your favorite MMO from your perspective. If you'd like to take part in One Shots, then email a screenshot you like to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Feel free to add server, guild, or any additional information you'd like. We'll post it here on Massively and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Now you're thinking with portals originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brenner-hcity-of-heroesCity-of-Villainscohcovcoxgoing-roguencsoftone-shotsparagon-studiospraetoriascreenshotscreenshotsThu, 07 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Because of reasons!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-because-of-reasons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-because-of-reasons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-because-of-reasons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's weird to say it, but City of Heroes feels like it's still on the cusp of a storm. Going Rogue was a fine expansion, but it doesn't have the sense of breaking that built-up tension, that feeling of something major just over the horizon. Or perhaps it's just me, perched out on my metaphorical porch and loudly proclaiming that this next one is going to be the big one, as I puff on my metaphorical corn-cob pipe and look across the metaphorical skyline of rural Metaphorbraska.

OK, that one kind of got away from me there, but what I was trying to get at was that it's time for another question-and-answer session for City of Heroes and that I don't think I'm the only person feeling like Issue 19 might hold some great secret. We'll know soon enough, although right now it's time for Issue 20's super-secret beta, which even I don't know about just yet. I'm very curious. On to the questions!

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Because of reasons!

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Because of reasons! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcscharacter-typescharacterscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedfitnessgoing-roguegrissue-19issue-20levelslimitsncsoftndaparagonparagon-studiosstorystory-arcWed, 06 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Party hardly]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-party-hardly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-party-hardly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-party-hardly/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I think by this point I have a well-established reputation as being a fairly positive guy on the subject of City of Heroes. It wasn't a conscious decision or anything -- it's just that I've been pretty happy with the game's development and content, and I do tend to be a bit of a developer supporter. I don't expect the game to be something other than what it is, and I enjoy what it is. Not to mention the obvious fact that the game has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years. So I usually come down as being part of the sunshine and light crowd.

But that's not by design -- it's just how things have shaken down. I hand out praise and criticism as the situation warrants. And this week I'm going to talk about something that most definitely deserves criticism. I'm talking, of course, about the Party Pack, the newest mini-addition to the game and one that's already produced more than a little fan rage. But it's deserved, and even if I can see why Paragon Studios went the route that it did, I find it a little hard to just dismiss it with the usual "if you don't like it, don't buy it" routine.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Party hardly

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Party hardly originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsadditionscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxemote-packemotesfeaturedgoing-roguegrmicrotransactionsncsoftnew-piecesopinionparagonparagon-studiosparty-packpricepricespricingsuper-boosterWed, 29 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes reactivation weekend set for early October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/city-of-heroes-reactivation-weekend-set-for-early-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/city-of-heroes-reactivation-weekend-set-for-early-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/city-of-heroes-reactivation-weekend-set-for-early-october/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Paragon Studios is planning another reactivation weekend to lure former City of Heroes players back, and the company is offering more attractive bait than in previous weekends: Praetoria.

The new content in Going Rogue will be available to all account holders past and present from the morning of October 7th to late on the 10th. It's a limited view -- you can only access Praetorian content up to level 14 -- so don't plan on an Extra Life-style gaming marathon to power to the level cap. However, if you've been wondering what the expansion is like, this is a good chance to try it out for free.

Visit the City of Heroes site for all the details on this free weekend.

MassivelyCity of Heroes reactivation weekend set for early October originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cohgoing-roguencsoftparagonparagon-studiospraetoriareactivation-weekendTue, 28 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes offers a new developer diary on the alignment system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/city-of-heroes-offers-a-new-developer-diary-on-the-alignment-sys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/city-of-heroes-offers-a-new-developer-diary-on-the-alignment-sys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/city-of-heroes-offers-a-new-developer-diary-on-the-alignment-sys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes players have been enjoying the newest expansion for just a little over a month now, bringing with it the long-awaited abilities for players to change their alignment. It seems like a natural extension of the game's comic book roots, after all -- you can hardly throw a rock in certain books without finding some major character who's a former villain. But with all that we've heard about the expansion's development, the subject of the alignment system has been fairly quiet, up until the most recent development diary by Shawn "Pit" Pitman.

The diary goes into detail on the genesis of the alignment system from a concept into execution, as well as some of the larger changes put into place to facilitate the shift. For instance, one of the major shifts was that the alignment and tips missions would feature their own little gallery of recurring characters, rather than a steady set of existing major story NPCs such as Statesman. City of Heroes players curious about how the game bridged the gap between good and evil are encouraged to take a look at the full diary.

MassivelyCity of Heroes offers a new developer diary on the alignment system originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alignmentalignment-systemcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcomic-bookscomicscovcoxdevelopmentdevelopment-diaryexpansionsgoing-roguegrmajor-npcsncsoftnpcsparagonparagon-studiospitrogues-galleryshawn-pit-pitmanshawn-pitmanstory-npcsSat, 25 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community lives!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-lives/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The community for City of Heroes got a big shot in the arm when the expansion came out. While it hadn't exactly died in the last few years, it was certainly on a lower pulse. These days, I can't log in without seeing pretty much every server near capacity. Even with a month having passed since the initial release, it seems that Going Rogue is doing a fine job of keeping people wrapped up in the game. You can rail about the lack of endgame all you want, but Praetoria's a pretty good starting ride.

Of course, it's high time for us to do another community roundup post, so the fact that the community has rallied back serves my own purposes. We've got more than just a surfeit of content to talk about -- we've got a whole collection of new missions and gameplay types to work with. And, of course, there are those "just 20 levels" of starting content to chat about. So click on through to see what City of Heroes players have been chatting about for the past month.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community lives!

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community lives! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcombat-animationcombat-mechanicscombat-stylecovcoxfeaturedgoing-roguegrissue-20ncsoftndaparagonparagon-studiospraetoriavisualvisual-styleWed, 22 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Both sides now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-both-sides-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-both-sides-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-both-sides-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Back when Going Rogue was first released, I made a point that I wasn't going into detail on the alignment and tip system. As I saw it at the time, there were two major reasons not to go whole-hog into it, the first being that I was already writing an entire novel on the expansion, and the second being that Paragon Wiki was hard at work putting more details into place. Why try to reinvent the wheel in a weekly column? And there was also a third reason: I'd been spending more time in Praetoria than on my old characters.

So I suppose in some way I ought to thank whichever designer gave my poor brute the chance to fight two elite bosses at the same time with three NPCs as backup in a single-player mission. It gave me plenty of incentive to spend more time with my higher-level characters. (Seriously, that mission is absurd.) That meant I started diving into the alignment system, and that means I'm going to spend more time detailing one of the centerpieces of City of Heroes gameplay at the moment: alignment.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Both sides now

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Both sides now originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alignmentalignment-switchingalignment-systemcity-of-heroesCity-of-VillainsCOHCoVcoxfeaturedgoing-roguemild-mannered-reportermoralitymorality-systemncsoftparagonparagon-cohparagon-studiospraetoriaRogueroguelikeroguesRolePlayingtiptipsvigilantevigilantesvillainsWed, 15 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: All the news that's fit from PAX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-all-the-news-thats-fit-from-pax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-all-the-news-thats-fit-from-pax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-all-the-news-thats-fit-from-pax/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The revelations at PAX East were pretty darn big for City of Heroes, but they had a big advantage over PAX Prime. At the time we sat down in Boston, Going Rogue was months away, and we knew almost nothing about what it would bring us. This time around, it's been out for a couple of weeks, and most of the fancy pieces of knowledge are pretty well established. It would be hard, if not impossible, for the development team to hit us with the same one-two punch.

I wouldn't argue that the team quite managed that -- there's no comparison to revealing two new power sets, the endgame system, and video demonstrations of much-awaited sets -- but Paragon Studios sure did manage to drop quite a bomb on us. As I've done frequently in the past, we're going to take this point by point, with a full collection of neat pieces of news that leave me wondering just how much interesting stuff is yet to come from the development team.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: All the news that's fit from PAX

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: All the news that's fit from PAX originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcontentcovcoxdevelopmentdevelopment-teamendgameendgame-mechanicsfeaturedgame-mechanicsgoing-roguegrincarnateincarnate-systemissue-19issue-20matt-millermelissa-bianconcsoftnews-analysisopinionparagonparagon-studiospax-2010positronsystemsupcoming-patcheswar-witchWed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Ascending to the heights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/one-shots-ascending-to-the-heights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/one-shots-ascending-to-the-heights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/one-shots-ascending-to-the-heights/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's something to be said for being a superhero. You get to have all sorts of cool powers, the ability to fight for good (or evil), and everyday folks talking about your heroic (or villainous) deeds. For those of us who aren't really superheroes, we have comics, movies, books, tv, and of course, MMOs to enjoy the experience! Today's high-flying shot comes to us from Sam T., who was spending time in City of Heroes and reported in: "As soon as my character could fly, I immediately went up the great tower in the center of Nova Praetoria. Off in the distance I could see Imperial City. Beyond that I knew was Neutropolis, with the Underground lurking beneath it all. There is certainly no mistaking Going Rogue's new starter experience for City of Heroes or City of Villains!"

Do you have screenshots of your favorite game that you haven't sent in to One Shots yet? If so, why are you holding back? You should gather those up and send them to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We can always use more screenshots to show off!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Ascending to the heights originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohcovcoxgoing-rogueone-shotsparagon-studiosscreenshotscreenshotsSat, 04 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Because you demanded answers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-because-you-demanded-answers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-because-you-demanded-answers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-because-you-demanded-answers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's been another month, and you all know that means it's time for more questions and answers regarding City of Heroes. It's pleasing that I've been getting an ever-greater number of questions, but that also means that more and more I have to just pick a few of them to answer. So, if your question was not among those chosen, fear not; we'll get to it in due time. For now, let's move on past the preamble and into the meat of the column.

Superfan asked: "Will hazard zones ever become co-op?"

I'm going to do the unthinkable and attempt to predict the future here. Yes, hazard zones will become a place where both heroes and villains (and rogues and vigilantes, really) may group together, with nary a care for the alignment of their brothers in supernatural armor. City of Heroes will grow to embrace all of its players inside of these horrifying lands of insane spawns and maddening geographic layouts. While it might sound like I'm treading into ridiculous sarcasm, I'm really not.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Because you demanded answers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Because you demanded answers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypescity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcontentcovcoxepic-archetypesexpansionsfeaturedgoing-roguegrhazard-zoneshazardsncsoftnew-contentnew-gameplaynew-storiesopinionparagonparagon-studiosWed, 01 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Facefirst into Praetoria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-facefirst-into-praetoria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-facefirst-into-praetoria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-facefirst-into-praetoria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's finally here, and I have to admit, it's a little weird to realize it. After I spent the better part of half a year focusing on Going Rogue, the expansion has been released and is totally playable. To have the game sitting in front of me (metaphorically) after it's become such a huge part of my professional life is almost too daunting. I almost didn't even want to fire up the launcher to...

OK, yeah, that part isn't fooling anyone. Getting to play around a bit while it was in beta to see how it would play was nice, but I couldn't get myself into City of Heroes fast enough to start leveling a Loyalist and going to town on the new side of town. At the end of the day, I'm just a player like everyone reading this column, and the game I got to play on Monday evening made me very happy indeed. There's a lot to see and do, and I've tried to recap some of the disconnected thoughts in this week's column. And as a bonus, there's a sad announcement at the end! It's like a bonus, anyway.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Facefirst into Praetoria

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Facefirst into Praetoria originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alignmentalignment-systemcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxexpansionexperiencefeaturedgame-mechanicsgoing-roguegrheromission-mechanicsmissionsparagonparagon-studiospraetoriaroguestarting-arcsstarting-areavigilantevillainWed, 25 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community timing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-timing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-timing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-timing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Welcome to this week's installment of A Mild-Mannered Reporter, where we will not be talking about Going Rogue. Well, OK, that's a lie -- but we're not going to be doing our big analysis and in-depth look at the entire expansion. As of the time I'm writing these words, I've not actually even played the game. (This will have changed by the time you are reading the article, but that's the wonderful part about writing ahead. I'm sending messages to the future from the past!)

So while there are going to be several community threads for City of Heroes in this column, there will not be any of the biting commentary you might have hoped to see. You can at least check out my first impressions of the expansion, if you'd like -- which also isn't written as of the time that I'm writing this, but will be by the time you read it. (Editor's note: Eliot's first impressions of Going Rogue launched Tuesday.) You know what, just jump past the break already -- I'm giving myself a Lost headache thinking about all the time travel.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community timing

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community timing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-2city-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcoh-2covcoxfeaturedgoing-roguegrincarnateincarnate-systemissue-18levellevel-50level-capncsoftnostalgiaold-contentparagonparagon-studiostimeWed, 18 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes celebrates the official Going Rogue launch with a new trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/city-of-heroes-celebrates-the-official-going-rogue-launch-with-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/city-of-heroes-celebrates-the-official-going-rogue-launch-with-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/city-of-heroes-celebrates-the-official-going-rogue-launch-with-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


In case you've managed to miss the news, the latest expansion for City of Heroes has launched today. Well, technically it launched yesterday, but that was for customers who had pre-purchased via the NCsoft store. Today remains the official launch of Going Rogue, and to both commemorate the occasion and drum up more interest, Paragon Studios has released an official launch trailer for the expansion. And if you've somehow missed all of the ramp-up to the launch, well, now would be the perfect time to catch up.

Going Rogue is a pretty big expansion for the game's core, and the video (embedded past the cut) shows off the many new elements while also highlighting the familiar City of Heroes engine. Featuring the option to switch between heroic and villainous factions as well as a revamped starting experience, it's the perfect time for a new player to jump on. And if you get in that mood after seeing the trailer, well, we do have a contest running at the moment...

Continue reading City of Heroes celebrates the official Going Rogue launch with a new trailer

MassivelyCity of Heroes celebrates the official Going Rogue launch with a new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxgoing-roguegrlaunchlaunch-trailerncsoftnew-contentnew-releasesnew-trailerofficial-launchparagonparagon-studiospre-purchasetrailerTue, 17 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mayhem is afoot: Win a copy of Going Rogue or a City of Heroes Mutant Booster pack!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/mayhem-is-afoot-win-a-copy-of-going-rogue-or-a-city-of-heroes-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/mayhem-is-afoot-win-a-copy-of-going-rogue-or-a-city-of-heroes-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/mayhem-is-afoot-win-a-copy-of-going-rogue-or-a-city-of-heroes-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mayhem we say, Mayhem! The good Mother tricked us yesterday with an early launch of City of Heroes: Going Rogue and threw off our superpowered plans! But, while we scrambled to get you coverage with the strength of 10,000 men, the brave (or cruel) heroes (or villains) of Paragon City (or the Rogue Isles) entered the mirror universe of Praetoria to carve out their destinies (or plunder and loot maniacally). We hope you guys are enjoying the new areas, and the new morality options, entered into the game!

But, alas, are you saddened that you can't join your superpowered friends in Praetoria? Are you one of the few who don't own a copy of City of Heroes? Well, how about we fix that for you with a superpowered contest, courtesy our friends at NCsoft?

Want to win a full copy of City of Heroes: Going Rogue, or a copy of the Mutant Super Booster costume pack? Super jump after the break for all of the details!

Continue reading Mayhem is afoot: Win a copy of Going Rogue or a City of Heroes Mutant Booster pack!

MassivelyMayhem is afoot: Win a copy of Going Rogue or a City of Heroes Mutant Booster pack! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boostercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecohcontestcovcoxfeaturedfull-game-contestfull-game-giveawaygiveawaygoing-roguemother-mayhemmutant-boosterncsoftpraetoriasuper-mutantsuper-mutant-boosterTue, 17 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: How the mighty have fallen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/one-shots-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/one-shots-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/one-shots-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While Going Rogue was initially set to go live today, those sneaky, sneaky folks at Paragon Studios let it go live last night to the delight of many City of Heroes fans. While today's screenshot doesn't really have much of anything to do with the expansion, it does spotlight one hero who sacrificed himself for the good of Earth and wound up an evil mutation thanks to the Rikti. This super-heroic image comes to us courtesy of @ChaoticSunder, who writes in:

"[Here's] a screenshot of Honoree, the Rikti secret weapon once known as Hero 1, confronting a group of meddling Earthers sent to prevent another glorious invasion. [This was taken during the] grand finale fight of a Lady Grey Task force in City of Heroes by the heroes of the Hyperion and Arc of Dawn supergroups. The recent graphics update helped make this painting-like, unretouched screenshot possible.

While you're out zooming around Paragon City or the Rogue Isles, why not snap a screenshot for us? We're all about the heroics! Email those in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Feel free to include your global handle, supergroup, etc. as well. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: How the mighty have fallen originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohcovcoxgoing-roguelady-grey-task-forcencsoftone-shotsparagon-studiosscreenshotscreenshotssuperherotask-forcetfTue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: City of Heroes Going Rogue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/first-impressions-city-of-heroes-going-rogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/first-impressions-city-of-heroes-going-rogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/first-impressions-city-of-heroes-going-rogue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

To hear the team talk about it, Going Rogue isn't simply an expansion for City of Heroes but a full-on reboot of the game in general. It's hard to see how, on some level; outside of the new powersets and a new starting area, not much is visibly being added with the expansion. But sitting down and playing through the starting area and the game's opening suddenly feels like an entirely different experience. It's not a new game -- but it feels like a leap forward from where the game had been just a few days before.

I didn't get nearly as much time with the Going Rogue beta as I would have liked, and I'll be the first to admit that I'm biased when it comes to City of Heroes. But even with those standards set, I was impressed right away with how the game has been revamped from the start -- and what these revamps mean for the game as a whole and moving forward. Click on past the cut for the first impressions of the latest expansion, which launches today. (Coincidental, yes?)

Gallery: First Impressions: City of Heroes Going Rogue gallery

Continue reading First Impressions: City of Heroes Going Rogue

MassivelyFirst Impressions: City of Heroes Going Rogue originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-creationcinematicscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxexpansionfeaturedfirst-impressionsgame-mechanicsgoing-roguegrhands-onncsoftnew-charactersnew-expansionnew-playersopinionparagonparagon-studiospraetoriastarting-outsystemsTue, 17 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An early release for City of Heroes Going Rogue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/an-early-release-for-city-of-heroes-going-rogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/an-early-release-for-city-of-heroes-going-rogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/an-early-release-for-city-of-heroes-going-rogue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes players had been looking forward to August 17th for quite some time, ever since it was announced as the release date for the game's new expansion, Going Rogue. It looks like they got their treat a day early, however, as Issue 18 has gone live today. Issue 18 is the patch that coincides with the expansion, and sure enough, players who have pre-purchased the expansion are reporting that they do indeed have full access to all of the expansion content.

The official word from Paragon Studios is that the "soft launch" was done as a part of extended maintenance in order to facilitate a smoother launch day process.. Either way, there's no indication that the game is rolling back the live push, nor does it seem likely for a few hours of early release. The patch is quite large, so City of Heroes players are advised to start downloading early -- and as soon as it's done, they can start enjoying Going Rogue just a bit ahead of schedule.

[Thanks to Skystreak for the tip!]

MassivelyAn early release for City of Heroes Going Rogue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbreaking-newscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxearly-launchearly-releaseexpansiongoing-roguegri18issue-18launchlive-patchlive-serversncsoftparagonparagon-studiosrelease-dateMon, 16 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fight another universe via jetpack, courtesy Massively and NCsoft!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/fight-another-universe-via-jetpack-courtesy-massively-and-ncsof/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/fight-another-universe-via-jetpack-courtesy-massively-and-ncsof/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/fight-another-universe-via-jetpack-courtesy-massively-and-ncsof/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What's better than fighting for truth, justice, and the American way? Jetpacks, obviously! And with Praetoria looming on the horizon of City of Heroes, now's the best time to strap a rocket to your back! Our universe needs more rocketeering men and women to defend us from the evil, yet-really-not-evil-more-like-misunderstood universe!

If putting a giant flame that close to your rear sounds like a good idea to you, then skip along after the break where, thanks to NCsoft, we're giving away 20 City of Heroes 30-day temporary jetpack powers!

Continue reading Fight another universe via jetpack, courtesy Massively and NCsoft!

MassivelyFight another universe via jetpack, courtesy Massively and NCsoft! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecohcontestcovcoxgiveawaygoing-roguejetpackjetpack-powerncsofttemporary-powerthe-rocketeer-is-a-great-movieFri, 13 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Going Rogue video diaries wrap up with a look at Praetoria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/going-rogue-video-diaries-wrap-up-with-a-look-at-praetoria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/going-rogue-video-diaries-wrap-up-with-a-look-at-praetoria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/going-rogue-video-diaries-wrap-up-with-a-look-at-praetoria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With less than a week to go until the official release of Going Rogue, most City of Heroes players are on the edge of their metaphorical seats. (Or leaning back in the reclining chairs of cynical pre-disappointment, but that's another metaphor.) It makes a perfect time for Paragon Studios to launch their final video documentary on the coming expansion, this one focusing on the mirror world of Praetoria.

Embedded past the cut, the video features the team discussing the overall impression of the new areas, both from a gameplay and lore perspective. We've seen the area in action more than once now, but the newest documentary shows off yet again just how different the game really looks. It also discusses how the new areas are intended to be a revamp for the entire game, starting from the ground up and moving forward. It's an ambitious goal, one that City of Heroes players will get to experience in less than a week -- but until then, you can check out the video past the cut to wrap up the four-part series.

Continue reading Going Rogue video diaries wrap up with a look at Praetoria

MassivelyGoing Rogue video diaries wrap up with a look at Praetoria originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxgameplaygoing-roguegrlorencsoftparagonparagon-studiospraetoriaultra-modevideovideo-documentaryvideosvisualsThu, 12 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hey, guys, did you know that Going Rogue is launching in less than a week? That's crazy. It feels especially strange to me, since this was an expansion that had barely been announced when I started here, and has since become pretty personally important. But we're not here to talk about my vague feelings about the impending launch, we're here to talk about its larger implications for City of Heroes -- namely, the obvious systemic changes that might well be coming when the expansion goes live.

Now, some of you are doubtlessly going to point out that we're not even getting our first Incarnate slot, the expansion isn't changing any part of the system, and so forth and so on. But you forget that there is an interesting change to the system coming that we all know about: the fact that archetypes will no longer be allegiance-locked. That's right -- whether you're in City of Heroes or City of Villains, you'll no longer be limited to five different archetypes. And considering the fact that the archetypes are roughly analogous on both sides now, this might have just a bit of an impact.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypebalancecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainsclassclassescohcontrolcovcoxdpsexpansionexpansionsfeaturedgoing-roguegrgroupinggroupshybrid-classeshybridsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospartiespartyingplaystyleportmanteauspowersetssupporttankingteamsWed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes releases flyover for Imperial City and Neutropolis]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/city-of-heroes-releases-flyover-for-imperial-city-and-neutropoli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/city-of-heroes-releases-flyover-for-imperial-city-and-neutropoli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/city-of-heroes-releases-flyover-for-imperial-city-and-neutropoli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We've got a treat for City of Heroes players today, one that should provide more than a few smiles -- a video flyover of two more zones from Going Rogue. Where the first video previewed the core of the capital and the (ideally invisible) underground, this one focuses on the Imperial City and Neutropolis. The former is the region where the vast majority of Praetorian citizens live and work every day, while the latter highlights the almost-otherworldly (pun intended) technology under development.

While cityscapes are nothing new for the game's environs, the Imperial City is a cut above anything that's previously been featured. The billboards stand out, the architecture is unique, and at times the game almost looks like something other than City of Heroes entirely. With less than a week until Going Rogue's release, it won't be long before players get to experience these environments for themselves -- but until then, you can take a look at the video past the cut.

Continue reading City of Heroes releases flyover for Imperial City and Neutropolis

MassivelyCity of Heroes releases flyover for Imperial City and Neutropolis originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxflyoversgoing-roguegrimperial-cityncsoftneutropolisnew-zonesparagonparagon-studiospraetoriapreviewstrailersvideozone-previewszonesWed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time for City of Heroes players to get ready for Issue 18]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/time-for-city-of-heroes-players-to-get-ready-for-issue-18/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/time-for-city-of-heroes-players-to-get-ready-for-issue-18/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/time-for-city-of-heroes-players-to-get-ready-for-issue-18/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Are you ready for Issue 18 of City of Heroes? There are only a few days left to get oneself ready for all of the updates coming just to the basic game, even without counting the fact that it coincides with the launch of Going Rogue. But just in case you're not quite ready, the team at Paragon Studios is going to help get you ready by allowing players to pre-download the patch before next Tuesday. Even beyond that, players are being given the option to move characters, redo their costumes, or even change that most sacred identifier -- the global chat handle.

All players with an active account at the beginning of next week will receive a free costume change token and respec token for all characters on the account. Players will also have the option to change their global chat handles, which are normally locked after the first change. On top of all that, the no-charge server transfers from earlier in the year will be back for the first week of Going Rogue's release, allowing City of Heroes players a chance to put everything in order to optimize their play experience. So if you're not ready now... it's time to get ready.

MassivelyTime for City of Heroes players to get ready for Issue 18 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chat-handle-changecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcostume-change-tokencovcoxexpansionsfree-costume-changefree-respecfree-transfersglobal-chatglobal-chat-handlegoing-roguegrissue-18ncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchesrespec-tokentokenstransfersupdatesTue, 10 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST