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[Bill Roper named Disney Interactive head of game development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/bill-roper-named-disney-interactive-head-of-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/bill-roper-named-disney-interactive-head-of-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/bill-roper-named-disney-interactive-head-of-game-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Disney logo
Bill Roper's been flying under the radar since leaving Cryptic Studios in 2010. He briefly surfaced as VP of the Marvel Franchise division of Disney Interactive Media Group last summer, and he's now stepping into the role of head of game development.

Roper replaces Alex Seropian, who helped found Bungie in the 1990s before joining Disney when it acquired his Wideload Games studio in 2009.

Roper is a former Blizzard vice president and founder of Flagship Studios, which was mostly known for developing the original incarnation of Hellgate: London.

MassivelyBill Roper named Disney Interactive head of game development originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-seropianbill-ropercryptic-studiosdisneydisney-interactive-media-groupflagship-studiosmmo-industryroperwideload-gamesTue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper looking to partner with Korean companies for more MMO development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/bill-roper-looking-to-partner-with-korean-companies-for-more-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/bill-roper-looking-to-partner-with-korean-companies-for-more-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/bill-roper-looking-to-partner-with-korean-companies-for-more-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yes.
You may remember Bill Roper from Diablo. Or, more likely, you remember him from Hellgate: London and Champions Online, probably with emotions that are somewhat less than fond. Several months ago, he was appointed the Vice President of Disney Interactive Media Group, and it looks like Roper is continuing down a path he's walked many times before. As he oversees the production of games based on Marvel properties, he's also looking for partners to start developing an MMO.

Specifically, Roper is looking for a partner company in South Korea to work on co-development for several titles, which include MMOs. The obvious benefit for the Korean company would be increased visibility of licensed properties, with Roper hoping that a visit to the nation will produce a better way of developing new games. No word yet on whether or not anyone is interested in the offer, but there's probably no shortage of gamers made apprehensive by anything involving Bill Roper and a new online game.

MassivelyBill Roper looking to partner with Korean companies for more MMO development originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecodiablodisney-interactive-media-groupgame-industryhellgatehellgate-londonindustry-figureskoreammo-industrynewssouth-koreaFri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: The Force is with you edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/the-mmo-report-the-force-is-with-you-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/the-mmo-report-the-force-is-with-you-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/the-mmo-report-the-force-is-with-you-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Casey Schreiner needs to play with his new laundry and wash his iPad -- or maybe it was the other way around -- so we must hurry through the description of this week's MMO Report! I'm not joking, he really has to leave quickly.

Casey starts with quips about a bearded dragon in the new expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, which is ironic, coming from the Master of Beards himself. Following that, our man of MMO mystery discusses the vehicles, beta, and pre-order for Star Wars: The Old Republic. He says the very thing that is on the mind of every fan: "EA you're doing it wrong." First you announce release date, followed by pre-order, and then beta!

On another topic, Casey begs the new VP at Disney Interactive Studios, Bill Roper, to actually release information regarding the Marvel MMO. And lastly, Sir Schreiner lets us in on PvP for Rusty Hearts and explains why America needs to be more like Russia.

To catch all of this and dip into Uncle Casey's mailbag, jump past the break and get ready for all the sweetness of the MMO Report.

Continue reading The MMO Report: The Force is with you edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: The Force is with you edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bearded-dragonBill-RoperBioWarecasey-schreinerDisney-InteractiveEAElectronic-ArtsG4G4TVhumorisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroLucasArtsMarvelMarvel-MMOmmo-reportperfect-world-entertainmentPvPrusty-heartsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-mmo-reportthe-old-republictorturbinevideoFri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Interactive Media Group appoints Bill Roper as Vice President, Marvel Franchise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/disney-interactive-media-group-appoints-bill-roper-as-vice-presi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/disney-interactive-media-group-appoints-bill-roper-as-vice-presi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/disney-interactive-media-group-appoints-bill-roper-as-vice-presi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fans of Marvel Comics have been on the edge of their seats ever since the announcement that Disney had acquired the comic publishing giant, and they're surely anxious to know that their beloved characters will be in good hands. Well, thanks to a press release from Disney Interactive Media Group today, we now know exactly whose hands they will be in.

DIMG has appointed Bill Roper, former VP of Blizzard North and former Chief Creative Officer of Cryptic Studios, as Vice President, Marvel Franchise. Alex Seropian, Senior Vice President and General Manager says of the appointment, "We are pleased to have Bill join our team. With 17 years of experience in the worldwide gaming industry, we are confident that Bill has the creative vision necessary to help guide the next wave of development and product for DIMG's Marvel Games." It seems like Disney has big plans for the Marvel franchise. What those plans are remain to be seen, though Roper will obviously play a large part in Marvel's future in the gaming industry.

MassivelyDisney Interactive Media Group appoints Bill Roper as Vice President, Marvel Franchise originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-ropercomicscrypticcryptic-studiosdimgdisneydisney-interactivedisney-interactive-media-groupfranchisemarvelmarvel-comicsmarvel-franchiseroperThu, 21 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper reflects on Hellgate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


How exactly does a well-funded studio composed of Blizzard veterans end up creating one of the more spectacular failures in recent gaming history? That's a question that Gamasutra attempts to answer in a new interview with former Flagship (and Cryptic) CEO Bill Roper.

The debacle that was Hellgate: London stemmed mainly from over-ambition, Roper says, coupled with the lack of capital necessary to support the don't-release-til-it's-ready mentality that much of the staff experienced at Blizzard. "There was always the support there [at Blizzard] to say, 'You know what? If that's what you need to make this game great, then that's what we'll get for you. We'll figure it out.' It's obviously very different when you are an independent company, right, and not owned by somebody."

The interview also touches on Flagship's involvement with Mythos as well as Roper's experiences dealing with the Hellgate fallout and extensive (and often personal) fan backlash. "It went from 'I didn't like your game' or 'I don't think your company makes good games' to the personal assault level," he says.

MassivelyBill Roper reflects on Hellgate originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardcrypticcryptic-studiosfantasyFantasy FootballFantasyFootballflagshipflagship-studiosgamasutrahellgatehellgate-londoninterviewsmythosthird-party-titleMon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/the-perfect-ten-the-sadistic-shoppers-list-for-black-friday-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/the-perfect-ten-the-sadistic-shoppers-list-for-black-friday-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/the-perfect-ten-the-sadistic-shoppers-list-for-black-friday-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With the holiday shopping season upon us, gamers are hot for great deals and cheap entertainment. As my wife's logic goes, if something is 80% off, you buy it, even if you didn't really want it in the first place. It's the principle of the thing, an automatic 80% dose of smug satisfaction at being a savvy shopper!

Not every deal should be pursued, however. Although most video games are playable for years and decades after release, not so with MMOs that have had their service shuttered. It's recently come to my attention that even though these games are completely unplayable -- rendered nothing more than a few cents' worth of a DVD and cardboard packaging -- online retailers haven't kept up with the times and keep these products on the virtual shelves long past their expiration dates.

That's not to say you should avoid these products at all cost, because studies show that a large percentage of Massively readers have a sick and twisted sense of humor. What would make a better gift this Christmas than a multi-million-dollar-budget MMO that died a horrible death years before?

So don't be the typical gifter who settles for a Blu-ray player or an iPod -- give a package of misery, disillusionment and broken dreams! Hit the jump for 10 items that absolutely belong in your shopping cart if you wish to be feared!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinamazonapbasherons-call-2auto-assaultbill-roperblack-fridayblu-raybostonbox-artchristmascircuits-of-timeclock-craftcyber-mondayearth-and-beyondfeaturedflagshipflagshippedflux-capacitorfuryguamhellgate-londonhubbleipodkrystallematrix-onlinemxonasancsoftnerd-rageperfect-10perfect-tenrf-onlinerichard-gariottrichard-gariotts-tabula-rasa-limited-collectors-editionshadowbaneshoppingsoespocktabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinethe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentime-traveltimecardturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 25 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One full year of being a Champion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/one-full-year-of-being-a-champion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/one-full-year-of-being-a-champion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/one-full-year-of-being-a-champion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you read about Champions Online in its first days, you would not have thought of it as a triple-A title. The game was full of bugs, the community management was not the best, and it just seemed like the devs were intent on shoveling out more broken stuff that barely worked. I think that, in particular, the first three or four months were the worst.

If you were to go back in time and ask me about whether or not I thought CO would make it to its first anniversary, my response would have been: "Maybe, but it'll be bleeding subs if it even makes it that far." Since then, a lot of things have changed. I talked about the first six months of CO, but it's been a full year since that painful launch day patch.

I'm not sure I'm even playing the same game anymore.

Continue reading One full year of being a Champion

MassivelyOne full year of being a Champion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryanniversary-eventbill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedjack-emmertmajor-improvementsone-year-anniversaryone-year-birthdayone-year-latershannon-posniewskiFri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Who's your dev crush?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In our tiny part of the pop culture world, players seem to be as absolutely fascinated with the people and personalities at work behind their favorite games as they are with the games themselves. These developers are, for all intents and purposes, the celebrities of the MMO world, and as such, are subject to much scrutiny and intense feelings.

I've noticed that the mere mention of a famous developer, community manager or industry leader on Massively is often enough to set off a huge string of comments that typically revolve around how we feel about the person rather than what he or she is currently doing. For example: Paul Barnett. Bill Roper. Richard Garriott. Raph Koster. Eliot Lefebvre. Right now, there are dozens of readers who have skipped the remainder of this article to provide a reactionary comment down below.

But for the rest of you, I'd like to know: Who is your "dev crush"? Which developer do you follow most closely? Which one do you believe in the most? Who excites you with his or her work? If you had to have just one developer's babies, whose genes would be most welcome in your household? (OK, that last bit is probably too much, but you get the idea.)

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Who's your dev crush? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-ropercrushdev-crushdeveloperdevelopersdevseliot-lefebvreopinionpaul-barnettRaph-Kosterrichard-garriotttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper departs Cryptic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/bill-roper-departs-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/bill-roper-departs-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/bill-roper-departs-cryptic/#commentsFiled under: ,

As of this afternoon, Cryptic Studios is on the hunt for its third Chief Creative Officer of the calendar year. Bill Roper, who stepped up to fill the void left when Jack Emmert moved on to the company's COO chair last March, has announced his decision to seek greener pastures via a post on the Champions Online website.

Roper makes no mention of his future plans, but does stop to thank fans and colleagues with his signature style. "Thank you all for both the support and the kicks in the ass that have pushed me to constantly evaluate and grow," he writes.

Stay with Massively as we bring you the reactions as well as more information on Roper's next gig.

MassivelyBill Roper departs Cryptic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperbreakingbreaking-newschampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosjack-emmertroperMon, 16 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shannon Posniewki talks level cap and mid-level content for Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/shannon-posniewki-talks-level-cap-and-mid-level-content-for-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/shannon-posniewki-talks-level-cap-and-mid-level-content-for-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/shannon-posniewki-talks-level-cap-and-mid-level-content-for-cham/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are ways that the current Champions Online Executive Producer, Shannon Posniewki, doesn't follower in the footsteps of predecessor Bill Roper. But much like Roper, Posniewki loves talking about the game, and almost always has something interesting to say as a result. In a recent interview, he talked about some of the issues of the game's present and future that are doubtlessly on the minds of many players, not the least of which is the level cap.

Unfortunately for players who just can't get enough leveling, the cap is staying put for now -- the team likes it right where it is. However, they also recognize how popular it is to move a new character to max level and then start rolling up alts, and are looking into ways to make doing so more rewarding. They also want to buff out mid-range content a bit, with possibilities of something in the 20-30 range.

Adventure packs, the first of which is due out in June, will help expand the content by being repeatable and runnable by any hero above Level 11. Champions Online players might not be hitting Level 70 any time soon, but it looks like they'll have plenty to make up for it.

MassivelyShannon Posniewki talks level cap and mid-level content for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsbill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosinterviewslevel-capnew-charactersshannon-posniewskiThu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic to announce new MMO later this summer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/cryptic-to-announce-new-mmo-later-this-summer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/cryptic-to-announce-new-mmo-later-this-summer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/cryptic-to-announce-new-mmo-later-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: ,

With Star Trek Online and Champions Online chewing the scenery and igniting passions on both sides of the aisle, it's sometimes easy to forget that Cryptic Studios has a third project brewing in secrecy. Long rumored to be a D&D MMO -- perhaps even Neverwinter Nights -- the Cryptic folks have been, well, cryptic about the title.

It looks like we may find out in a few months, however. In a recent MMORPG.com interview with Bill Roper, Cryptic's Chief Creative Officer cracked a small window into this upcoming announcement:

"I can't speak to the specifics of what we're doing, but it's true that we have another game in the works. We won't be making an announcement until late summer, and we're still a ways off from launch. I can say that this is a game and a franchise we're very excited about. I think people are going to pleased and a bit surprised with what we're doing in terms of the game, how we make it, and even how we sell and support it. The game is being developed around new design principles merged with Cryptic's community-first approach to ongoing development."

Continue reading Cryptic to announce new MMO later this summer

MassivelyCryptic to announce new MMO later this summer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosddDungeons-and-Dragonsneverwinter-nightsstar-trek-onlinestowild-cardWed, 05 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Massively interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Jack Emmert]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/a-massively-interview-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-jack-emmert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/a-massively-interview-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-jack-emmert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/a-massively-interview-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-jack-emmert/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As promised after yesterday's Cryptic Studios news, today we have an interview with the developer's new Chief Operations Officer Jack Emmert and Chief Creative Officer Bill Roper. If you're wondering exactly what these new titles mean and what Jack and Bill have planned for the future of both Champions Online and Star Trek Online, you'll definitely want to check this one out.

Massively: When did the move to Chief Creative Officer occur and what's your overall job like now compared to your previous position as Executive Producer?

Bill Roper: When Jack took on more COO responsibilities, he wanted someone who could spend more specialized, day-to-day time with the teams. For the past month I've been working with the Executive Producers and various leads within those teams to provide design, support, and guidance as requested. I'm also a liaison between the teams and the executives supporting and helping represent their individual game visions. I assist in coordinating systems and content concepts and technologies between the teams while being involved in their top-level design. Shifting from the very focused day-to-day duties on Champions Online to a broader role is a rejuvenating new challenge, and the teams have really welcomed me on. I'm not coming in with "the word from above" that must be followed. I'm here to support the vision keepers and creators of each game - to be a sounding board for ideas and a source of creative energy they can tap into.

Continue reading A Massively interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Jack Emmert

MassivelyA Massively interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Jack Emmert originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosfeaturedinterviewInterviewsjack-emmertmarvelmassively-interviewsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper made Cryptic's CCO, Jack Emmert switches to COO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/bill-roper-made-cryptics-cco-jack-emmert-switches-to-coo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/bill-roper-made-cryptics-cco-jack-emmert-switches-to-coo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/bill-roper-made-cryptics-cco-jack-emmert-switches-to-coo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We here at Massively have recently discovered that Cryptic Studios' -- the developer behind Champions Online and Star Trek Online -- new Chief Creative Officer (CCO) moving forward will be Bill Roper, who was previously Executive Producer on Champions Online, a position now held by Shannon Posniewski. As for the previous CCO Jack Emmert, Cryptic informed us that he's moved into a new position as Chief Operations Officer for the developer.

What all this means and what you can expect in the future from Cryptic will hopefully be answered in our forthcoming interview with the two men. You should expect to see that interview in the next day or two, right here on Massively.

MassivelyBill Roper made Cryptic's CCO, Jack Emmert switches to COO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperbreakingchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosjack-emmertshannon-posniewskist-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineTue, 30 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: A community guide to Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/behind-the-mask-a-community-guide-to-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/behind-the-mask-a-community-guide-to-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/behind-the-mask-a-community-guide-to-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Behind the Mask is the new Massively column devoted to everything you might want to know about Champions Online. Fortunately for Massively readers, the guys at UNITY have given me the go-ahead to declassify my stories as a super-powered operative. As a result, we'll be giving you the down and dirty facts that you'll need to make it in the superhero world, as well as bits of news you won't hear anywhere else. Behind the Mask will cover issues related to life in Millennium City as well as detailed info about criminal hotspots around the globe.

Our first column will be a community resource for Champions Online. While there were a fair number of community sites at launch, most of them have suffered from a lack of new content in recent months. The ones that continue to be updated are the best of the best -- ranging from community hubs for roleplayers to detailed info on the game's many missions. If there's one thing to be said about the fans of Champions, it's that they are devoted to their game and eager to put out new content for it.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: A community guide to Champions Online

MassivelyBehind the Mask: A community guide to Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alivetarkayneBehind-the-Maskbill-roperchampions-onlinecocommunity-guidecommunity-linkscrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedgm-destraknowledgeKnowledgeBasemillenium-citystormshadeToolsThu, 25 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/cryptics-jack-emmert-no-plans-for-consoles-sto-over-100k-subs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/cryptics-jack-emmert-no-plans-for-consoles-sto-over-100k-subs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/cryptics-jack-emmert-no-plans-for-consoles-sto-over-100k-subs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


"100% of our focus is on making the current PC product the best it can be. There are no current plans for a console version of Champions." Thus sayeth Cryptic Studio's Jack Emmert on the official Champions Online forums, ending speculation when or if this event would happen.

Over the past couple years, it looked as though Cryptic had console ports in its plans, from bringing on board console engine programmers to public plans of expanding their subscriber base into the console market. However, when the date for the supposed console release kept getting pushed back, players grew worried, and now it seems that the concern was justified. This might have been compounded by the fact that recently Champions Online experienced a major transition as executive producer Bill Roper stepped down and Shannon "Poz" Posniewski took over.

The folks over at The Big Freaking Podcast grabbed a bit of face time with Jack Emmert, Cryptic's Chief Operating Officer, to expand on this news as well as the future for Champions and Star Trek Online. Read on for the highlights of this interview!

Continue reading Cryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers

MassivelyCryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanauto-assaultbill-roperchampionschampions-onlinecity-of-heroesconsole-portcrypticcryptic-studiosdungeons-and-dragonsfeaturedgodzillajack-emmertmarvel-universe-onlinepodcastps3shannon-posniewskistar-trek-onlinestoTabula-RasaWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-warcraftXbox360Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online talks about their new executive producer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/champions-online-talks-about-their-new-executive-producer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/champions-online-talks-about-their-new-executive-producer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/champions-online-talks-about-their-new-executive-producer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The change of leadership on Champions Online produced some pretty strong reactions, nearly all of them aimed at Bill Roper. Fair or not, there was a general sense that many of the game's problems were linked to him being in charge, and in the midst of everything it was a bit easy to lose sight of the new executive producer. Shannon Posniewski, known to forum regulars as "Poz" and former Lead Programmer, has inherited the job and all that goes along with it, good and bad. That means it's a fine time to learn a little more about the person in charge of the game's direction.

Posniewski has been with Cryptic for some time, having worked on City of Heroes before the studio left the game behind and moved on to Champions Online. He discusses a fair bit about his experience working on the games, as well as some of his own tips for working in the game industry and what sort of challenges are faced. What he doesn't mention are his plans for the game's near future -- but those facts are fairly public knowledge at this point. Considering how much impressions of the game were based upon Bill Roper's personality, it seems more than fair to give the new guy his own turn at the helm.

MassivelyChampions Online talks about their new executive producer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosexecutive-producerleadershipproducershannon-posniewskiMon, 22 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think of Cryptic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-cryptic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are few companies these days that generate emotions as strong as those generated by Cryptic Studios. They weren't particularly controversial when they produced City of Heroes, but their subsequent efforts in both Champions Online and Star Trek Online have produced a great deal of contention. Between the launch day issues of Champions Online, the controversy of Cryptic's microtransaction stores, and concerns regarding the amount of content in the game... well, they're contentious. Of course, they also have their fans, have produced two games within a remarkably short timeframe, and are clearly dedicated to both communication and player-targeted development.

Considering that today is the first big content release for Star Trek Online and the recent information regarding Bill Roper's departure from Champions Online (although he's remaining with Cryptic), it seems an appropriate time to ask about opinions. So, what are your thoughts on the company? Do you like the work that they're doing, or do you think they're on the wrong track? Are you currently playing one or both of their games, are you a former player, or have you refused to play them for whatever reason?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you think of Cryptic? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosopinionsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindtrek-onlineThu, 18 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper no longer executive producer of Champions Online, game improvements promised]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/bill-roper-no-longer-executive-producer-of-champions-online-game-improvements-promised/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/bill-roper-no-longer-executive-producer-of-champions-online-game-improvements-promised/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/16/bill-roper-no-longer-executive-producer-of-champions-online-game-improvements-promised/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

MassivelyBill Roper no longer executive producer of Champions Online, game improvements promised originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-packsbill-roperbreakingchampions-onlinechange-in-managementcocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinemanagementrevelationshannon-posniewskistate-of-the-gameTue, 16 Mar 2010 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC10: The future of Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/gdc10-the-future-of-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/gdc10-the-future-of-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/gdc10-the-future-of-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We had the opportunity to sit down with Bill Roper at GDC 2010 and discuss the general future of Champions Online. There are two themes to Bill's answers during our talk: just about everything is free and listening to community feedback.

First of all, melee powers like Might are getting reworked based directly from player feedback. The goal is to make players feel as though they're on par with ranged powersets in PvP situations. Generally, people have been saying they felt "gimped" and the goal is to fix that. There's a complete reworking of the supernatural set coming as well, which will separate the previously single powerset into two new ones.

Continue reading GDC10: The future of Champions Online

MassivelyGDC10: The future of Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure-packbill-roperbreakingchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosgdcgdc-2010gdc10revelationFri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC10: A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/gdc10-a-chat-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-craig-zinkievich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/gdc10-a-chat-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-craig-zinkievich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/gdc10-a-chat-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-craig-zinkievich/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As two of the most public figures at Cryptic Studios, Bill Roper (Champions Online) and Craig Zinkievich (Star Trek Online) are typically at the forefront of controversy, adulation and speculation. At GDC 2010, Massively sat down with the pair to discuss what it's like working for Cryptic, how they deal with the ups and downs of being game developers, and the pressure of handling the future of two hot MMORPG franchises.

Massively: How do the Champions and STO teams collaborate between each other?

Bill Roper: I think it's really good the way the company interacts back and forth -- "Hey, this worked for us, you guys should do that too." "This totally didn't work for us, don't do that, do something different."

Craig Zinkievich: "Hey, you know, about three-and-a-half weeks after launch, don't have a free 90-day promo! Don't do that! That didn't work well!" [Laughs]

Continue reading GDC10: A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich

MassivelyGDC10: A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecommunitycraig-Zinkievichcryptic-studiosfeaturedGDCgdc-2010gdc10gdc2010money-pantspatchpatchesstar-trek-onlineThu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Bill Roper on Champions Online's Revelation update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/massively-interviews-bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-revelation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/massively-interviews-bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-revelation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/massively-interviews-bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-revelation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently we had the chance to speak with Champions Online's executive producer Bill Roper about the forthcoming Revelation update. More specifically, we asked him about the new zone Vibora Bay, its quest structure and Cryptic's plans moving beyond the Revelation update, as well. Of course, we couldn't discuss this first major content update without asking about the decision to make it free... but you'll just have to check out our interview after the break for that part.

Continue reading Massively interviews Bill Roper on Champions Online's Revelation update

MassivelyMassively interviews Bill Roper on Champions Online's Revelation update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedinterviewmassively-interviewsrevelationWed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Resolutions from all across the industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/16/resolutions-from-all-across-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/16/resolutions-from-all-across-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/16/resolutions-from-all-across-the-industry/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2009 isn't so far over the horizon that we can't still be looking back and finalizing our resolutions for the new year. In some ways, it's even better to wait this long to make a few resolutions (as the most common one made after New Year's Eve celebrations involves never drinking that much again in one night). Ten Ton Hammer had an interesting take on the practice, though -- they asked a number of developers what their resolutions are for the next 365 days. (Well, okay, slightly less now.)

The resolutions range from the personal to the public, the serious to the silly. Champions Online's Bill Roper resolves to play more games, David Allen of Alganon resolves to fix bugs and improve visibility, Fallen Earth's intern Sombat Southivorarat resolves to not accidentally delete the game's Facebook fan page again. It's not going to give huge insights into the upcoming patches for several games, but it's good to remember that there are people behind our favorite games, and interesting to see what their personal goals are -- both in and out of the game. If you're so inclined, take a look, although you might want to look away before you reach CCP Nathan's resolution. Just a friendly tip.

MassivelyResolutions from all across the industry originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbill-roperccp-nathanchampions-onlinecodavid-allendeveloper-resolutionsfallen-earthfenew-year-2010resolutionsten-ton-hammerSat, 16 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper hints at secret identity mechanic for Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/bill-roper-hints-at-secret-identity-mechanic-for-champions-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/bill-roper-hints-at-secret-identity-mechanic-for-champions-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/bill-roper-hints-at-secret-identity-mechanic-for-champions-onlin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Italian fansite mmorpgitalia.com spent some time recently with Bill Roper, talking about where Champions Online stands four months after release, and where they are going from here.

Roper answered some popular questions regarding issues such as the social aspect of Champions Online, the game's level of completion (or lack thereof) at launch and how Cryptic has progressed from there.

The interview also covered questions about Cryptic's upcoming plans for CO, such as the upcoming secret identity mechanic. It's an exciting idea for players, but one that Roper's not quite ready to divulge in detail about yet: "We're in the early design stages of this feature, so I'm not ready to talk about it. One of the things I have learned about communicating ideas is that once it's in an interview, it becomes gospel no matter how much you qualify it as being "mere ideas" or "discussions.""

The full interview covers these points in more detail and several others as well, and is a good read for anyone interested in Champions Online.

MassivelyBill Roper hints at secret identity mechanic for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosinterviewmmorpgitaliasecret-identityWed, 13 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper on Champions' free weekends, nemesis and content updates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/bill-roper-on-champions-free-weekends-nemesis-and-content-upda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/bill-roper-on-champions-free-weekends-nemesis-and-content-upda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/bill-roper-on-champions-free-weekends-nemesis-and-content-upda/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With two content updates behind the game and 2010 looming just over the horizon, we spoke briefly with Bill Roper on a multitude of Champions Online topics. Specifically, you'll find discussion on Cryptic's free weekends, Nemesis Confrontation and even a hint at future updates in the coming weeks and months.

So follow along after the jump for our talk with the executive producer, and be sure to keep up-to-date with the latest news on the game through our Champions Online page.

Continue reading Bill Roper on Champions' free weekends, nemesis and content updates

MassivelyBill Roper on Champions' free weekends, nemesis and content updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribill-roperblood-moonchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosfeaturedfree-weekendinterviewnemesis-confrontationTue, 08 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper talks powers in Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/bill-roper-talks-powers-in-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/bill-roper-talks-powers-in-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/bill-roper-talks-powers-in-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Two of the biggest aspects of Champions Online are easy to point out: the character creator and the wide selection of powers. Certainly it's not the first game to use a classless system by a long shot, but the visual and immediate nature of power selection and the cosmetic effects of those choice are a big part of the game's distinctiveness. So it's hard not to be interested when Bill Roper sits down and talks with MMOCrunch about which powers he thinks worked excellently out of the gate and which onces were a bit less impressive.

Bill gushes quite enthusiastically about powers such as Force Cascade, Killer Instinct, and Thermal Reverberation -- powers that encourage alternate playstyles or different combinations of abilities. He's also enthusiastic about Uppercut and Haymaker, which he feels have an excellent payoff if they're used successfully and force the player to think more carefully. On the flipside, passive offensive powers don't have nearly enough effect, Chain Lightning tries to encourage alternate approaches but fails to do so, and summoning doesn't mesh nicely with the game's core play aspects. Roper also talks about what's being planned for the underwhelming powers to help bring them more in line, as well as discussing data mining and the infamous launch day nerfs. Take a look at the full interview for more details.

MassivelyBill Roper talks powers in Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosgame-mechanicsinterviewsopinionTue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper on Champions Online's launch, current state and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-launch-current-state-and-futur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-launch-current-state-and-futur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-launch-current-state-and-futur/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a recent interview with Boomtown, Bill Roper spoke his mind on everything from Hellgate: London hate to Champions Online's launch and future. In fact, the man spoke quite candidly on all topics, particularly that of Cryptic's missteps with their second superhero MMO as well as their successes.

Of particular note, there's a mention of how Champions Online will handle DC Universe Online's 2010 launch given that the superhero MMO market hasn't really expanded of late. Curiously, Roper says he feels that the Xbox 360 version will help to vastly expand Champions' user base. There's a chance Cryptic could be pushing to get into the console market by or before SOE releases their superhero MMO. Although given the headaches Cryptic has expressed at getting an MMO on Microsoft's console, we get the feeling much of the developer's focus is presently on Star Trek Online and continued live game support.

MassivelyBill Roper on Champions Online's launch, current state and future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universe-onlinedcuosoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestoFri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper talks about Champions Online successes and failures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/bill-roper-talks-about-champions-online-successes-and-failures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/bill-roper-talks-about-champions-online-successes-and-failures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/bill-roper-talks-about-champions-online-successes-and-failures/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Champions Online is still wet behind the ears, but we're moving through the game's third month of operation, time enough to take a slightly calmer look at how things went at launch and how the game has been shaping up. Jeux Online recently interviewed executive producer Bill Roper regarding the game's launch and its future, which might not contain as much information on the latter as the fans would like but still contains some interesting bits and pieces.

Looking forward, the most interesting bits are the promise of an upcoming Lair in which each player's Nemesis makes an appearance, in a union of several high-level threats to face off against a team of heroes. (Shades of the Masters of Evil or the Legion of Doom.) He also discusses a bit about the upcoming winter event, which he states will not include a new powerset but will include a number of "presents", as well as a fight against a truly massive opponent. There's also discussion regarding mission instancing a la City of Heroes, PvP maps, and the ongoing task of balancing Champions Online. How the game will mature in practice is yet to be seen, but we're getting a clearer and clearer idea about the game's direction at the very least.

MassivelyBill Roper talks about Champions Online successes and failures originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosgame-balancegame-mechanicsin-game-eventsinterviewsnemesispvpTue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online's Bill Roper talks about the future of CO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-about-the-future-of-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-about-the-future-of-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-about-the-future-of-co/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bill Roper is the Executive Producer and Design Director for Champions Online, and he sat down with Techulous this week for a talk about how things are going for the game so far and what he sees in its future.

He talked about about the players, their feedback, and what's been happening in Champions Online so far, then Techulous got down to the big question: what's next?

Champions Online has big plans for the next few months, including some new content for all levels of players. He mentioned the two brand new mission chains for levels 18-21, and promised different development paths for new heroes as well as more endgame content for higher level players in the future.

Roper wrapped up the interview with some interesting information on what to watch for in the future: "We have a lot of things in the pipeline, including a new Nemesis-centric lair in November, a Winter Event in December, and something really big in the first part of 2010."

It sounds like Cryptic isn't finished adding to Champions Online by a long shot - you can read the full interview here.

MassivelyChampions Online's Bill Roper talks about the future of CO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosinterviewinterviewsThu, 05 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get Champions Online for $30 on Amazon, today only]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/get-champions-online-for-30-on-amazon-today-only/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/get-champions-online-for-30-on-amazon-today-only/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/get-champions-online-for-30-on-amazon-today-only/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Amazon's "Deal of the Day" today just happens to be Champions Online, so if you were waiting for a price drop (or a deal this good) then get on over there and grab it while the deal lasts. If you're not sure what the game is all about, wWe've got our WoW players guide to Champions Online, as well as our recent interview on current and upcoming updates to the game with its design director Bill Roper.

We'd say something more, but there's a 40% off sale for a freshly released MMO and... well, why are you still reading this?

MassivelyGet Champions Online for $30 on Amazon, today only originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonataribill-roperbreakingchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiossaleworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-retcons-powers-and-more-par/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-retcons-powers-and-more-par/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-retcons-powers-and-more-par/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading Champions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more part 2

MassivelyChampions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblood-moonc-storechampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosinterviewretconMon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-retcons-powers-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-retcons-powers-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/champions-onlines-bill-roper-talks-retcons-powers-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been having a lot of fun with Champions Online here at Massively, but with the launch of any MMO there are always questions of how current issues will be handled and what's coming in the near future. So, we spoke with the game's Design Director Bill Roper on several subjects ranging from powers balancing to the upcoming free content update Blood Moon and the reinforcement system.

Continue reading Champions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more

MassivelyChampions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblood-moonchampions-onlinecombatcrypticcryptic-studiosdifficultyfeaturedpatchpatchesretconMon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper explains teams and SuperGroups in new Champions trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/bill-roper-explains-teams-and-supergroups-in-new-champions-trail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/bill-roper-explains-teams-and-supergroups-in-new-champions-trail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/bill-roper-explains-teams-and-supergroups-in-new-champions-trail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


While Champions Online is designed to allow players to live out their fantasy of being a lone superhero badass taking on all-comers solo, if that's what they're after, there's also content and features aimed at groups of players. A new video hosted at GameTrailers and featuring Bill Roper is focused on the things that await people who are interested in getting together with others to tackle crime and evil. The title of the video leads you to believe that it is all about SuperGroups (Champions Online's guilds), but most of Roper's comments are related to grouping in general.

The reinforcement system, lairs/headquarters, group events, multiple-group content and different roles in groups all come up during the featurette. Head past the break to see how you can help save the world with a little help from your friends.

Continue reading Bill Roper explains teams and SuperGroups in new Champions trailer

MassivelyBill Roper explains teams and SuperGroups in new Champions trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosgroupingguildsheadquarterslairsreinforcement-systemsupergroupteamsMon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online experiences open beta troubles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/champions-online-experiences-open-beta-troubles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/champions-online-experiences-open-beta-troubles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/17/champions-online-experiences-open-beta-troubles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


For many people, today was supposed to be a magical day filled with ponies and superheroes. But what should have been a wonderfully magical experience has left many with a bad taste in their mouth and a patcher that constantly disconnects. We, honestly, blame Foxbat for this. He once tried to steal the Empire State Building, you know.

In all seriousness, many users have been reporting that the official Champions Online patcher has been both downloading slowly and disconnecting from the server after timing out, leading to many people becoming furious over not being able to log in. FilePlanet users have also been affected by this as well, even after pre-loading the Champions Online client to be ready for this day.

Continue reading Champions Online experiences open beta troubles

MassivelyChampions Online experiences open beta troubles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabill-roperbreakingchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studioserrorsforumsopen-betapatcherproblemsslow-downloadtime-outMon, 17 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic Studios clarifies microtransactions in Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/cryptic-studios-clarifies-microtransactions-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/cryptic-studios-clarifies-microtransactions-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/20/cryptic-studios-clarifies-microtransactions-in-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We noticed quite a stir in our last post about microtransactions in an upcoming Cryptic Studios game. The post in question was about Champions Online, which explained how Cryptic plans to keep the microtransaction system balanced. Quite a number of commenters at Massively expressed the view that the game should either be subscription or microtransaction-based, one or the other, and not a hybrid of the two.

That debate isn't confined to Cryptic's superhero MMO, however. The company's approach to microtransactions with Champions Online will be applied to Star Trek Online as well, according to a recent forum post by Jackalope (Jack Emmert) from the Cryptic Studios dev team.

Continue reading Cryptic Studios clarifies microtransactions in Star Trek Online

MassivelyCryptic Studios clarifies microtransactions in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperbusiness-modelschampions-onlinecryptic-studiosforumsgame-mechanicsjack-emmertjackalopemicrotransactionsmmo-industrynew-titlessci-fistar-trek-onlinestate-of-the-gamestosuper-heroMon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online video showcases character creation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/champions-online-video-showcases-character-creation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/champions-online-video-showcases-character-creation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/champions-online-video-showcases-character-creation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's been a long time coming, but Cryptic has put out a video through Gamespy detailing character creation with glorious in-game footage of the actual process. If you've been following information on Champions Online for some time now, you probably won't learn anything new in terms of what Bill Roper talks about during the video. However, videos are worth more words than anything else, so we doubt that will bother anyone too much.

Soon -- very soon actually -- the open beta will arrive and everyone will get a crack at superhero design in Champions Online. We can't wait to see what kind of craziness people come up with, especially when components are in place to make what appears to be robot-clown-demons and other disturbing concoctions.

Check out the full video after the break.

Continue reading Champions Online video showcases character creation

MassivelyChampions Online video showcases character creation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribill-roperchampions-onlinecharacter-creationcrypticcryptic-studiosgameplaygamespyvideoFri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic's Bill Roper on balancing powers in Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/cryptics-bill-roper-on-balancing-powers-in-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/cryptics-bill-roper-on-balancing-powers-in-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/cryptics-bill-roper-on-balancing-powers-in-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When news came in of the Champions Online launch being delayed to September, a few of the writers at Massively were despondent. It's always better for a game to launch once it's solid rather than release in a buggy state, though. While we wait for the re-scheduled September 1st launch, we're keeping up with the news and interviews surrounding the upcoming superhero title. In fact, we've just come across an MMOCrunch interview with Bill Roper, executive producer of Champions Online you might be interested in.

Roper gets into how some of the game mechanics in Champions Online will play out, and explains a bit about how travel powers like flight and teleportation can be countered by those without such capabilities. (For example, how does a ground-based melee character engage a kiting opponent in flight?) He also touches upon the game's sidekick system, which will allow newer players to temporarily boost their powers to keep up with higher level friends. Alternately, the sidekick system will give advanced characters the ability to tone their powers down to the level of their appallingly weak lower level buddies.

Continue reading Cryptic's Bill Roper on balancing powers in Champions Online

MassivelyCryptic's Bill Roper on balancing powers in Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait a minute, day 4 of E3 2009? Remedial math skills? E3 was only a three-day event, but our own coverage of Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 is going to last a bit longer. We've still got a number of interviews and previews lined up for you in the coming days, today included, so we hope you'll keep reading this weekend. In the meantime, here are a few highlights of Massively's coverage of E3 2009 from yesterday:


If you'd like to see more, we've got some eye candy after the jump, with galleries for Champions Online, Torchlight, Rohan: Blood Feud, and Dragonica Online.

Continue reading E3 2009: Massively's day 4 roundup

MassivelyE3 2009: Massively's day 4 roundup originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinbill-roperchampions-onlinedragonica-onlinee3-2009final-fantasy-xivglobal-agendaheroes-of-telararohanrohan-blood-feudroundupstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-agencytorchlightSat, 06 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Bill Roper on character themes and customization in Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-bill-roper-on-character-themes-and-customization-in-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-bill-roper-on-character-themes-and-customization-in-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-bill-roper-on-character-themes-and-customization-in-cha/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The superhero MMO genre has been ruled by one game and one game alone for the past five years: City of Heroes. NCsoft's title being quite literally the only game in town for superhero fans is about to change, with competitors like DC Universe Online and Champions Online on the way. We have a good idea of what to expect with DCUO given the recognizable characters the game incorporates, but what of Champions Online which is based upon the Champions pen and paper RPG?

We've wondered what Cryptic Studios will do to differentiate Champions Online from the competition; Massively had a chance to sit down with Bill Roper, the game's executive producer, to discuss that question at E3 2009.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Continue reading E3 2009: Bill Roper on character themes and customization in Champions Online

MassivelyE3 2009: Bill Roper on character themes and customization in Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acrobaticsbill-roperchampions-onlinecryptic-studioscustomizatione3-2009executive-producerfeaturedmassively-event-coveragemassively-interviewspower-replacesuper-heroteleportthemethemesFri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper shares his industry experiences ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/bill-roper-shares-his-industry-experiences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/bill-roper-shares-his-industry-experiences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/bill-roper-shares-his-industry-experiences/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's a lengthy interview with Bill Roper over at Gamasutra, and it's well worth spending a few minutes reading it if you're at all interested in the games industry. From his time at Blizzard, to helming Flagship Studios, and now his relatively new position at Cryptic, Roper has seen and heard a lot, and the interview is all about him having a chance to share his "hard-won wisdom".

When Flagship Studios and Hellgate: London came up, Roper was quick to point out that the venture as a whole was not an entirely bad experience, or one that he'd prefer to forget; rather, there was a lot of learning to be had from going through it: "I can say, 'These are the things that were amazingly successful at Blizzard and how they worked. And these were the things that were amazingly unsuccessful at Flagship.' And so, I think I learned as much from the failure, if not more, than the successes."

The full interview covers a lot more than just Flagship, and even if you aren't familiar with Roper, it's interesting to hear the industry insights of a veteran.

MassivelyBill Roper shares his industry experiences originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosflagship-studioshellgate-londoninterviewMon, 18 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic's Bill Roper: Microsoft MMO reveal for Xbox 360 unlikely at E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/cryptics-bill-roper-microsoft-mmo-reveal-for-xbox-360-unlikely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/cryptics-bill-roper-microsoft-mmo-reveal-for-xbox-360-unlikely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/cryptics-bill-roper-microsoft-mmo-reveal-for-xbox-360-unlikely/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Much has been said and written of the coming marriage of gaming consoles and MMOs, but like all lengthy engagements, if it drags on too long people begin to doubt it'll ever happen. When we do hear industry rumblings of a massively multiplayer online game coming to a console, it's generally about Playstation 3 rather than Xbox 360. But would it be fair to assume that Microsoft has less interest in bringing MMOs to the 360, much less delivering on a first-party MMO title? Bill Roper from Cryptic Studios seems to think so, and they're developing Champions Online for the 360 as well as PC.

When speaking of the possibility that Microsoft would announce an MMO for the 360 at this year's E3, Roper told Patrick Garratt at VG247, "I don't think that's something they've been really pushing towards. From any discussions I've ever had, or heard with Don Mattrick [Microsoft's Senior VP of Interactive Entertainment Business], Don's not necessarily a huge MMO fan." Although he says he'd be pleasantly surprised if Microsoft did shift more focus to console MMOs, he cites the difficulties inherent in both dealing with technical issues and the complexities on the business side of working with third parties. You can have a look at what else Roper has to say on the prospects of Xbox 360 MMOs in the article at VG247.

Do you feel that bringing your MMO of choice to the Xbox 360 would be viable, or are you starting to think that the 360/MMO marriage is doomed?

MassivelyCryptic's Bill Roper: Microsoft MMO reveal for Xbox 360 unlikely at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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