Massively

Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary

Jef Reahard — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online

Given the popularity of Batman, Superman, and the rest of the DC Comics license, you'd think an MMO based in and around Gotham City and Metropolis would be nothing short of wildly successful.

If anything, though, DC Universe Online (as well as dearly departed Sony Online Entertainment titles like Star Wars Galaxies and The Matrix Online) has proved that big-name IPs are not a surefire recipe for an MMO blockbuster. While DCUO has picked up a head of steam over the past couple of months, it took a free-to-play business model conversion to help the superhero title achieve success in its rookie year.

Continue reading Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary

Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

End of Nations' Warfront 02 details large-scale battles, new comic

Matt Daniel — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, News items, Free-to-play, MMORTS, Humor

In this week's End of Nations Warfront, Cole Marshall takes a close look End of Nations' massive scale and the new End of Nations comics from DC. It even gives the community an opportunity to interrogate Community Manager Myll_Erik. Players are given a glimpse at the large-scale battles of End of Nations as Marshall talks about massive, planet-wide battles.

He then announces the release of End of Nations #1 from DC Comics. The issue can be bought in stores or online at Comixology, and readers can pick up a small teaser issue, End of Nations #0, for free online. To top it off, the community is given the opportunity to "interrogate" Community Manager Myll_Erik. So head on over to the game's official Facebook page and interrogate away, but first, click on past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading End of Nations' Warfront 02 details large-scale battles, new comic

End of Nations' Warfront 02 details large-scale battles, new comic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Issue 3 of Whiteout available for Champions Online players

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online

No job ever goes quite right, no matter how well you plan it. It's as true in Champions Online as it is anywhere else, and it's certainly the case in the latest installment of the Whiteout series. After all, the first two issues made it plenty clear that heroes would have their hands full dealing with a downed alien spacecraft, but now things are going from bad to worse for the Steelhead soldiers and the player characters. It seems there's another player involved in the game who hopes to get in on the wrecked ship...

As with previous installments of the series, the new issue can be played by any character over level 11 and provides special rewards in addition to the usual mission benefits. But if you've already played through the mission, you can take a look at the game's latest Art Corner, which shows off the design of the mechanical antagonists plaguing the newest mission installment (and the subsequent ones as well, most likely).

Issue 3 of Whiteout available for Champions Online players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Are you a sucker for MMO collectibles?

Jef Reahard — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Super-hero, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, DC Universe Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic

So the other day I was browsing the local comic shop and catching up on a two-year absence from the hobby. There was a lot of backlog, naturally, but there were also some curious new game-related tie-ins that caught my eye. In addition to Arkham City and DC Universe Online: Legends titles, I also picked up installments one and two of Star Wars: The Old Republic - Lost Suns, which is apparently a five-issue special that offers a bit of backstory for BioWare's upcoming opus.

Multimedia crossovers are nothing new, of course, but this was the first time I'd seen MMO comic book products outside of a collector's edition box. What about you, Massively folk? Are you a sucker for MMO novels, comics, figurines, or other extra-game collectibles?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Are you a sucker for MMO collectibles? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE announcing DCUO's freemium launch date tomorrow

Jef Reahard — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online

Well folks, we'd love to tell you the official date that DC Universe Online is switching to its freemium business model. The only problem is that Sony Online Entertainment isn't making that information available until tomorrow.

Why this post, then?

So you can mark your Bat-calendars of course! SOE will make the date official at 7:30 p.m. EDT on October 27th via its Stickam portal (so, yes, this is effectively an announcement about an announcement). As we reported last month, SOE will be moving DCUO to a tiered access plan and eliminating the barrier that is the monthly subscription fee -- although gamers who choose to continue paying it in the form of the Legendary plan will enjoy numerous perks including free DLC and lots of character slots.

[Source: SOE press release]

SOE announcing DCUO's freemium launch date tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online

Jef Reahard — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online, Miscellaneous

For those of us who lack Batman's financial resources, maintaining several monthly MMO subscriptions can be a challenge. Sony Online Entertainment recognizes this, and as a result, the company has just announced that DC Universe Online will be officially joining the freemium revolution toward the end of October.

The new business model will feature a familiar tiered access plan with three membership levels. The Free, Premium, and Legendary plans feature full access to the current game while offering different levels of "convenience and flexibility." Free players will be limited to two character slots, and new "downloadable game packs/updates, additional character slots, powers, and more" will be available for purchase via microtransactions.

Premium players, i.e., folks who have spent at least $5 US on the game (including former subscribers and in-game item purchasers), will receive additional character slots, inventory slots, and higher cash limits. Legendary players will take home "maximum features and benefits" including free DLC, more than 15 character slots, and more than 80 inventory slots, all for the regular $14.99 monthly fee. DCUO will also continue to be available on SOE's Station Pass (and subscribing to the monthly all-in-one service nets you Legendary status in DCUO as well as access to all of SOE's MMORPGs).

Finally, Massively sat down with SOE president John Smedley and producer Lorin Jameson to chat about the new model, and you can find that transcription after the break.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online

Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Champions Online gives players the full Aftershock treatment

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online

The first comic series for Champions Online has come to a close, and it certainly made an impact, which makes it more than a little ironic that it's titled Aftershock. But what would a good comic series be if it didn't get a collected edition after it finished? The completed series is now available in-game, and rather than simply allowing players who've experienced the first run a rehash of the old material, the completed series offers a bit more incentive.

Four new rewards can be picked up from the complete series -- a serpent cowl, a new sword, a new aura, and a quartet of action figures. In addition, the complete series features dynamic panels and all of the same core gameplay that debuted with the individual issues. So if you've been meaning to run your way through the series but hadn't quite gotten around to doing so, now would be the perfect time.

Champions Online gives players the full Aftershock treatment originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Disney Interactive Media Group appoints Bill Roper as Vice President, Marvel Franchise

Matt Daniel — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

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.

Disney 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

City of Heroes' Intrepid Informer introduces new Freedom tutorial

Matt Daniel — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

Paragon Studios has released a very special Intrepid Informer for City of Heroes players today, giving them a look into the new-player tutorial that will arrive with the advent of City of Heroes Freedom. In true superhero fashion, the new tutorial will incorporate a hand-drawn comic book by Paragon's own David "Noble Savage" Nakayama.

The game will open by dropping new players smack in the middle of Galaxy City as it falls under siege by Shivan invaders. The villains of the Rogue Isles -- opportunists that they are -- aim to take advantage of the chaos to cause mayhem while the heroes work to thwart the threats to the city. The full post details the process that went into creating this exciting new tutorial and also includes a sneak-preview of Nakayama's stylish comic work, which players will see prior to the tutorial proper. To read up on all the fine details of the game's new introduction, head on over to the official CoH site.

City of Heroes' Intrepid Informer introduces new Freedom tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Champions Online kicks off its new weekly comic series

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online

Are you ready to get a little bit more Champions Online action in now that the future of the game is more secure? Then you're in luck, as the game has just kicked off the first in its series of weekly comic issues. But these aren't just something for players to read -- no, these are comic issues for players to play through for themselves, watching a story unfold while blasting through new challenges.

Similar in format to the featured episodes of Star Trek Online, the first series is titled Aftershocks and kicks off with an UNTIL base going dark. The first installment should take about half an hour to play through, with further installments coming in subsequent weeks to finish out the story. Champions Online players can start enjoying this ongoing arc with any character over level 11 and are encouraged to visit the official page for more information on the new format.

Champions Online kicks off its new weekly comic series originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Super Hero Squad Online adds Thor, Asgard

Jef Reahard — Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Super Hero Squad Online

Marvel Universe Online may not have made it out of the gates in time to bask in the cross-promotional glow of the new Thor film, but the other Marvelized MMO is picking up the slack. Super Hero Squad Online has just announced the addition of Asgard to its game world, not to mention a couple of timely superhero appearances by the likes of Valkyrie and Ultimate Thor (the latter of whom is a subscriber-exclusive).

SHSO also sports a new Loki-powered mission called the Gods of Thunder, and a Classic Thor character is in the works for a future update. The kid-friendly Superhero Squad Online gives players the chance to don the capes, tights, and armor of Marvel's greatest heroes, and you can learn more about the free-to-play title at its official website.

Super Hero Squad Online adds Thor, Asgard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alter-Ego: Ways to get your DC Comics fill -- free!

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Opinion, Consoles, DC Universe Online, Alter-Ego

As we already know, Sony's PSN servers have been offline for well over two weeks at this point, and Sony Online Entertainment's PC networks followed suit earlier this week due to the same hack. We also know that all DC Universe Online players will be receiving a month's free subscription time plus one additional day for every day the network is down in addition to a funky-looking Batman-inspired mask. The topic of the overall network breach is so big that it's crossed from gaming news to mainstream media -- the U.S. government has called Sony on the carpet about the loss of personal data, and Australia is planning to add new privacy laws due to the breach.

As a long-time SOE gamer, I understand the frustration, trust me. I am concerned about my personal data being out there, have signed up for credit monitoring, and filed fraud alerts with the three major bureaus just to be safe. Still, rather than devoting yet another post here on Massively to the security breach, I thought it would be better to instead borrow a page from Karen's great Guild Counsel posting from earlier this week so I can offer up some different DC Comics-related things to do while the game is offline. At least one of the suggestions is both free and time-sensitive, so be sure to join me after the break as soon as you can!

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Ways to get your DC Comics fill -- free!

Alter-Ego: Ways to get your DC Comics fill -- free! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alter-Ego: A closer look at Update 2's troublesome trio

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, Patches, DC Universe Online, Alter-Ego

One of the best things about playing DC Universe Online, in my opinion, is the great deal of rich history there is for all the characters. There is also the fact that the iconic DC characters aren't just relegated to the shelves of your local comic book store. Even if you're not the biggest comic nerd on the face of the planet, you've undoubtedly seen at least a few of the iconic characters from the DC universe like Superman or Batman in cartoons on television or at the movies.

With Update 2 now live in DC Universe Online, three more names have joined the ever-growing list of in-game characters who have crossed from popular culture into the online world. The Penguin and Two-Face are busy scheming over the future of Gotham, while Mister Mxyzptlk has taken to the streets of Metropolis to play his strange tricks. This week, I thought it would be fun to look a little deeper into the origin stories of the troublesome trio, as the same popular culture that makes these three characters recognizable may also cause some confusion when you run up against the in-game versions -- and their current motives. I should also note, lest the continuity fiends jump on me for it, that these origins are sourced directly from the DC Universe site.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: A closer look at Update 2's troublesome trio

Alter-Ego: A closer look at Update 2's troublesome trio originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lost Pages of Taborea: Community spotlight

Jeremy Stratton — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea, Guides

Runes of Magic's second anniversary is not far off now. In the nearly two solid years since the official launch, a thriving gaming community has been cultivated. Within this active community are some talented players who weren't satisfied with just playing RoM. For whatever reasons, these players ventured outside the digital confines of the game to share their talents and their adventures through the land of Taborea.

I wanted to highlight a handful of members of this talented community that has evolved around RoM. Some have made outstanding guides, while others have made useful websites or fun blogs. There's a lot of great talent on the official forum and within the addon community, to be sure, but I tried to focus on examples of great forum guides and others who have stepped further away to do their own thing. Click past the break to see if you made the list.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Community spotlight

Lost Pages of Taborea: Community spotlight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DC Universe Online's developer reading list

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Culture, Lore, News items, DC Universe Online

Whether or not you're a fan of DC Universe Online, the game clearly goes out of its way to make nods to comics that spawned the franchise. That naturally has to lead to a question -- what books has the team been reading? After all, it makes a lot of difference if the team is reading The Killing Joke when it comes to designing the Joker. Fortunately for all of us who know more about DC than may be entirely necessary, ComicsAlliance has unveiled the reading list for the game's development team, replete with all of the recommended books for getting a feel for the universe.

The resultant list has a number of expected entries (The Killing Joke is indeed among them) and a few unexpected ones, covering both recent events in the continuity and studies of individual character behaviors. It also contains a few surprising omissions and a couple of questionable inclusions, even with the caveats of the comics not being in continuity (Watchmen is an excellent book, but not really in the game's milieu). Still, even if you can find fault with some of the choices, it's certainly a good primer for what to expect from DC Universe Online's in-game continuity.

DC Universe Online's developer reading list originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Trion releases second issue of Rift: Planes of Telara comic book miniseries

Jef Reahard — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, News items, RIFT

Trion Worlds' Rift: Planes of Telara publicity campaign is picking up a head of steam, and today marks an auspicious occasion for Rift fans who dig comic books as much as they do MMORPGs. In cooperation with noted comic publisher WildStorm, Trion has taken the wraps off another issue of the ongoing Telara Chronicles, a miniseries in four parts that tells the tale of a plane-touched warrior named Asha Catari.

Today's second issue finds Asha leading a band of Ascended warriors deep behind enemy lines to retrieve a mysterious and ancient artifact that may play a large role in Telara's future. The series is authored by Ricardo Sanchez and inked by Pop Mhan, with covers by Drew Johnson and Lizzy John. You can find a copy of the Telara Chronicles at your local comic shop.

Trion releases second issue of Rift: Planes of Telara comic book miniseries originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

City of Heroes unveils the trailer for the Apex task force

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Patches, Previews, News items

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

City 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

City of Heroes offers a new developer diary on the alignment system

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game mechanics, News items

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.

City 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

DC Universe Online releases the commentary edition of the cinematic trailer

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items, DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online is entering a crowded field, but it's aiming to enter said field with both guns firing. The cinematic trailer alone is the sort of thing to make any long-time DC fan happy, showing a large-scale battle between heroes and villains in the vein of the best comic crossovers. In the new director's cut variant, however, Jim Lee and Tim Miller sit down to examine and discuss the trailer, from the large-scale goals of the video to the easter eggs that tie everything together.

It's clear from watching the trailer and the commentary that the people involved adore the work they're doing and the source material, with everything from an homage to Kingdom Come to Batman's role mirroring the end of The Dark Knight Returns. Click past the break to see the full trailer with commentary, which is certain to point out pieces that you missed. If, on the other hand, you haven't seen the original DC Universe Online trailer, it's available on the official site.

Continue reading DC Universe Online releases the commentary edition of the cinematic trailer

DC Universe Online releases the commentary edition of the cinematic trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Behind the Mask: Six editions of legacy can't be all bad

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, Roleplaying, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

Before we get into today's discussion on the merits of Champions Online's lore, I want to do a quick brief on the pet pass and the Demonflame update for those not hounding the forums. Demonflame is a little under a week away on PTS and about two weeks on live; you can get the skinny from Poz here. The pet patch is currently on PTS, and it's not bad, but it still needs some work. If you're interested at all in bashing out pets I strongly advise getting on PTS, going to the boards and dropping some feedback. A few other things have been tweaked too.

This week on Behind the Mask, we're going to talk about lore. I'm not talking about the game's lore, although I'll cover some of that too. I'm talking about the book lore! I finally gave in and picked up the PDFs (you can buy them from the Hero Games website), and I browsed through a lot of the lore content. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Most of the content in Champions Online consists of parodies of comic and MMO culture, and those elements dilute the serious and interesting lore content that is available. If you've read the lore entries that you can find throughout CO, you'll find that most of them actually sound kind of cool. Unfortunately, that lore is scattered and doesn't show a lot of the big picture.

Fortunately, I blew a ton of cash on PDFs (including even the rulebooks) to get a good sense of the game's lore.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Six editions of legacy can't be all bad

Behind the Mask: Six editions of legacy can't be all bad originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rift: Planes of Telara and End of Nations get exclusive comics at Comic-Con

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Events, real-world, Previews, News items, War, RIFT, Post-Apocalyptic

San Diego Comic-Con is traditionally not known for its game-related content. (The name is something of a dead giveaway.) But this year it's hosting quite a bit of MMO-related content, such as a large NCsoft presence covering Aion, City of Heroes, and Guild Wars 2. Add Rift: Planes of Telara and End of Nations to the mix, as both will be previewing a special comic mini-series with a limited-edition #0 issue at the convention. They've also provided some previews of the rough art for each series, included in the gallery below.

Both series will be written by Ricardo Sanchez, with the interior art for Rift: Planes of Telara provided by Pop Mhan and the interior art for End of Nations by Yvel Guichet. Published under the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics, both limited series should be hitting store shelves in the fall, but attendees of SDCC will be getting a special preview. If you're attending, you may well want to pick up a copy, and even if you're not you can take a gander at the rough art in the gallery below.

Gallery: Trion Worlds SDCC comics preview

Rift: Planes of Telara and End of Nations get exclusive comics at Comic-Con originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Storyboard: The infinite sadness of Aunt May

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lore, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard

For the five people who don't know the reference, Aunt May is the mother figure in Spider-Man's life. She provides him with several important functions, such as being frail, threatening death, and getting kidnapped whenever his motivation for fighting crime starts to flag. She also dated Doctor Octopus, but that was just strange. The point is that she represents one of the most important part of any character's storyline -- the people you associate with other than heavily armed mercenaries (or the local equivalent) who just provide mundane functions in your life.

This doesn't just cover your ailing kidnap-bait aunt. It covers your childhood friend who decided to go into real estate instead of demon-slaying, your mother and father who still want to make sure you're wearing a coat when you abscond to the frozen wastes to slay a dragon, and the one-eyed bandit whom you've sworn to kill at the first opportunity. They're all massively important to your character's identity, but they suffer a very big problem in an MMO roleplaying environment. Even by the rather liquid standards of MMOs, these characters aren't real.

Continue reading Storyboard: The infinite sadness of Aunt May

Storyboard: The infinite sadness of Aunt May originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NCsoft trademarks City of Heroes 2

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, News items, Opinion

A little over a year ago, Massively's Kyle Horner took a look at the possibility of City of Heroes 2 in The Digital Continuum. He investigated some of what NCsoft has done before and gave several reasons why it would make sense for them to move in that direction eventually. There was a fair amount of skepticism, but it looks like Kyle may have called it.

Eurogamer reported today that NCsoft has trademarked the "City of Heroes 2" name. Now this is certainly not anything resembling a commitment to make the game, but it opens the door to the possibility. NCsoft could be planning to start working on the game soon, or they could just as easily be guarding against future shenanigans from those not affiliated with the game. NCsoft had this to say: "City of Heroes is a flourishing franchise and continues to be the world's most popular super-powered hero MMO. While we cannot comment on City of Heroes 2 at this time, NCsoft is proud of City of Heroes' success and is looking forward to future product launches associated with the franchise, including the City of Heroes Going Rogue expansion scheduled for release this July."

For now, we'll try not too speculate too much, and look forward to Going Rogue.

NCsoft trademarks City of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vote for your favorite Star Trek Online comic

Kyle Horner — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, New titles, News items, Star Trek Online

Ten comics enter, one leaves with a beta key for Star Trek Online. That's the latest contest the folks at Cryptic are running, and they're letting the community vote! The one minor caveat is that you've got to have a forum account to actually place your vote, which is an easily resolved matter.

We kind of wish that the comics had been re-sized a little, as some of them appear to be quite massive in dimensions. Nonetheless, there are some really great Trek-humor entries. Just be careful to go into these knowing that unless you watched a lot -- and enjoyed a lot -- of Star Trek, you probably won't really care too much for the humor. And while the art may not be the best in the world, it's an enjoyable effort by an obviously enthralled community.

Vote for your favorite Star Trek Online comic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DC Universe Online showcases Solomon Grundy

Jon Shute — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, Lore, Previews, DC Universe Online

Sony Online Entertainment has released some screenshots of their latest super villain for DC Universe Online, Solomon Grundy, a DC character that first appeared in print back in 1944.

In the comics Grundy started life as a wealthy merchant named Cyrus Gold who was murdered in the late 19th century and dumped in a swamp near Gotham City. Fifty years later he rose from the dead and became an immortal who is part plant, part zombie and possesses immense strength. He can only remember snippets of his former life, such as that he was born on a Monday and this gives him his name, which is taken from a 19th Century children's nursery rhyme of the same name which has the line "Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday".

The character in DC Universe Online is said to be centuries old and filled with confused anger that causes him to be a rampaging monster at times, but can also be a calculating and cold blooded killer. Sometimes he can also seem almost childlike as he hunts for clues to his identity. He can be found in the swamps, sewers and abandoned buildings in Metropolis and Gotham City.

The character has also appeared in various animated DC shows, including The Batman, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, the latter two being voiced by Mark Hamill.

Gallery: DC Universe Online

Gallery: DC Universe Online Concept Art

DC Universe Online showcases Solomon Grundy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Marvel Comics to share writers and artists with Gazillion for MMO

James Egan — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Marvel Heroes

We were disappointed back in 2008 when we learned that the Marvel MMO project was being shuttered. But, roughly a year after the bad news broke, Gazillion Entertainment announced that they're working on a Marvel Comics MMO. Two, in fact. While a number of comics fans who play MMOs are excited about DC Universe Online (which is slated for release in 2010) comics fans often have their particular allegiances to a certain IP, and not everyone is a huge fan of the DC Comics universe. Marvel purists should have even more to look forward to from the upcoming MMO. Joystiq reports that Marvel Comics will lend its writers and artists to the project.

That comes straight from Ira Rubenstein, who holds a senior position with Marvel's global digital media group. Rubenstein made the announcement during the GamesBeat 2009 conference in San Francisco.

Marvel Comics to share writers and artists with Gazillion for MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Examining a new threat for the Old Republic

Michael Zenke — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Over the weekend it was announced that The Old Republic would be arriving much sooner than expected. In comic book format, at least. The Threat of Peace will be an ongoing webcomic series written by one of BioWare's finest and produced by the same folks that handle the Dark Horse title Knights of the Old Republic. We had the chance to learn more about this undertaking thanks to an interview with the comic's writer over at IGN. Their discussion with Mr. Rob Chestney unveils a number of different infobits, including who will be doing art on the project (Alex Sanchez).

According to Chestney the writers on the comic have a very specific length in mind, but they're open to more spin-off stories if the series does well. Readers will have the chance to familiarize themselves with characters they'll see in-game; as the comic will act as a sort of prequel to the Old Republic MMO, we should all have a greater appreciation for those characters when we meet them on quests. They'll apparently be posting three pages a week starting on the 27th, and that publishing rate should increase as they closer to the game's launch. Check out the interview for full details, and we'll be sure to give you a heads up when the first comics drop.

Examining a new threat for the Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jim Lee on how he came to work on DC Universe Online

James Egan — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, DC Universe Online

Comic book fans and gamers looking forward to DC Universe Online are likely familiar with the work of Jim Lee. What some comic fans may be less familiar with is Lee's interest in videogames, even before he got involved with DCUO as Executive Creative Director. Indeed, Jim Lee's twin passions in life are comics and videogames, he said in an interview with 1UP's Billy Berghammer.

Lee discusses how he came to work on a project that brought those passions together -- DC Universe Online -- and what he's doing to breathe life into the game. The interview ranges from Lee's first steps into the comic book industry to creating the best-selling comic book in history, and beyond. Lee also brings up some of the goals he and the DC Universe Online team have in terms of storytelling, including the introduction of tertiary characters from the DC universe that haven't ever been featured in videogames before. (Ambush Bug and The Metal Men, we're looking at you.) "Introducing this to a crowd of gamers that never has seen these characters before is really exciting. Putting them in context and creating storylines with these characters is really the fun part of working on this game, and we're in the meat of it," Lee says.

Continue reading Jim Lee on how he came to work on DC Universe Online

Jim Lee on how he came to work on DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars: The Old Republic ripe for geek toys

Kyle Horner — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

We're assuming that when LucasArts says that Star Wars: The Old Republic is ripe for action figures, they mean statues. You know, the kind of fine art that geeks 'round the world display in fine china cabinets and such. Oh who are we kidding? Everyone just wants a bust of HK-47 to put on their desk and/or place of geek display. Besides, if Blizzard can do it, certainly a successful Star Wars MMO can do the same.

LucasArts also mentions comic books, but since there's already a very enjoyable KOTOR comic (you should definitely check it out) currently being produced monthly, we're not sure that we'll see another. And even if there's a second, don't count on us expecting two amazing KOTOR comics -- after all, lightning doesn't strike the same Jawa twice.

BioWare has finally unveiled Star Wars: The Old Republic, their new MMO! Massively's got you covered on all the details -- from liveblogging the announcement to screenshot galleries and more. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!

Star Wars: The Old Republic ripe for geek toys originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AGDC08: Jim Lee and the artwork of DC Universe Online

Michael Zenke — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, Comics, Massively Event Coverage, DC Universe Online

It's a generally busier day in Austin as the second round of AGDC sessions kicks off. Tuesday began for Massively with a look at DC Universe Online, Sony Online Entertainment's four-color physics-enabled brawler. Presented by none other than Jim Lee, the well-known comic book artist, the session was a look deep into the game's art direction and vision bringing the DC world online. Jim was joined by Jared Carr (art director for the game), Jason Smith (lead character artist), and Jens Anderson (creative director for DCUO).

Read on below the cut for hints into everything from character customization to the unadulterated fun of bus-flinging,

Continue reading AGDC08: Jim Lee and the artwork of DC Universe Online

AGDC08: Jim Lee and the artwork of DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DCUO ramps up for Comic-Con and additional gameplay details

Matt Warner — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, PvP, News items, Consoles, DC Universe Online

If you are a casual or even the most dedicated DC Comics aficionado the news surrounding DC Universe Online, a MMOG that brings the iconic property and thousands of beloved super heroes, villains, and settings to virtual life is spine-tingling. If you can't wait to play, Comic-Con is the place to see DCUO in action. Players will encounter a special scenario with super villain Brainiac which will be playable on both the PS3 and PC platforms. This event held in San Diego, California is where the comic world, games, and 125,000 geeks will collide together for four days running through July 24-27th. Unfortunately, the event is sold out, but there's the SOE block-party you can hit up. If you can't attend either, new details surrounding DCUO already started trickling out at E3-2008.

Gaming website, Crispy Gamer was able to expose a few additional DCUO details in there top-five DCUO must know list. We've already covered a few things on their list in our own exclusive DCUO coverage. Heroes and Villains don't get along, so don't expect to be paired together in the same guilds. Speaking of guilds, how about being part of the Justice League of America as a reserve member with the chance to rise in rank? Hell yea, and whatever you pick between crime-fighter or criminal, your actions will matter as special DC characters like Batman and the Green Lantern take notice. As for your own super power abilities, you can either use a power set of an already existing DC character or create your own ability combinations. But to use them on other players it'll be consensual or on PvP servers. Also, be sure to check out some new DCUO screen grabs.

[Thanks to Massively Tipster, Haggs!]

DCUO ramps up for Comic-Con and additional gameplay details originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE throwing block party at Comic Con

Chris Chester — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Events, real-world, New titles, DC Universe Online

This blogger has always been rather jealous of San Diego residents. In hosting Comic Con, they not only get to meet the best and brightest that the comic industry has to offer, but increasingly, they're getting attention by big names in the MMO industry too. We knew that SOE was going to be in attendance, showing off DC Universe Online in playable form. We've now gotten word, via Grimwell's Blog, that they'll also be hosting a block party on Saturday the 26th outside of the Con proper for anybody in the San Diego area who wants to stop by, Con attendee or no.

They'll be busing people to and from the Con to their location, where they'll have food, unreleased games to play, a live band, and plenty of SOE employees to bug about their games old and new. As icing on the cake (do you really need icing?), Jim Lee be making an appearance from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. To say this blogger is simply jealous would be a gross understatement.

SOE throwing block party at Comic Con originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Comic Watch: Wonderella strikes a blow for our virtual elders

Akela Talamasca — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Second Life, Comics, Virtual worlds, Humor, Comic Watch

Those of you unfamiliar with The Non-Adventures of Wonderella rest assured: She's snarky like that all the time. Second Life residents, try to resist the urge to flame on. In the latest installment of her non-ongoing story, Wonderella decides to check out the world's favorite online hang out Sucking Life (subtle criticism!), with revolutionary results.

Actually, we'd play a giant mechachicken any day of the week! Developers, are you listening?

Comic Watch: Wonderella strikes a blow for our virtual elders originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

A part of the Marvel MMO lives on ...

Michael Zenke — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Marvel Heroes

Despite the cancellation of the Marvel Universe Online project, it appears some part of that virtual world lives on. In an interview with Brian Michael Bendis, the site ComicMix site asked about the connection between comics and games. Likely expecting some off-the-cuff discussion of new titles, we were very pleased to see Mr. Bendis respond with a few details about the now-deceased Cryptic Studios world. Bendis, along with being the much-respected writer of Ultimate Spider-Man, was also an executive producer on the project.

Bendis told the fan site that a piece of the MUO gameworld still exists within his personal laptop. The "X-Mansion" level of the game was completed - and is playable - and as no one will ever be able to see it. As Bendis puts it, "I think that MMO was a phenomenal idea that was extremely well executed and it went away because some guy at Microsoft who we'll never know pulled the plug on it before it even got underway."

[Via]

A part of the Marvel MMO lives on ... originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Blizzard previews World of Warcraft comics for the year

Michael Zenke — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, At a glance, Fantasy, Comics

Fans of the ongoing World of Warcraft comic series from Wildstorm press have a lot to look forward to this year. If you've been following along from issue #0, you'll already know that the adventuring crew have made a recent - and somewhat startling - discovery about the identity of one of their members. Above is pictured that hero's homecoming, one presaged by quests in-game as far back as at-launch World of Warcraft. You can check out a six-page preview of the comic (WoW #8) at the game's official website.

If you haven't jumped into that storyline but are still interested in the concept of a WoW comic, you might want to check out the new four-part series coming this fall. The series is set to be titled simply Ashbringer. It will follow the story of the legendary sword of the same name, once the personal blade of Highlord Alexandros Mograine. The general story of the weapon is outlined in the Caverns of Time instance Old Hillsbrad, and expanded by the Ashbringer Scarlet Monastery event, but hints seem to indicate Blizzard will be previewing elements from Wrath of the Lich King in the pages of the comic. Check it out.

Blizzard previews World of Warcraft comics for the year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mind Slayer, the sexy psionic

Chris Chester — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, New titles, Comics, Champions Online

In the latest of Cryptic's Champions Online villain profiles, we get a look at the sexy psyker Mind Slayer. Born of an abusive and broken home life, Mind Slayer's powers only manifested themselves under the extraordinary stress of a mugging by a group of thugs in a dark alley of Chicago's mean streets. She slaughtered her attackers with a hail of deadly telekinetic knives, transforming herself from a naive country girl into a deadly and darkly gifted young woman.

As with the previous profiles that Cryptic's artists have put up on their site, they've included an origin comic that gives a slightly better feel for the tone of the character, which in the case of Mind Slayer is dead sexy. We've always loved what we've gotten from the Cryptic team, but the way that they've tied their artists directly into the promotional aspect Champions Online has been an utter delight for all the comic fans on the Massively staff (which is just about everybody). It's definitely worth checking out.

Mind Slayer, the sexy psionic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

DC Universe Online: still being worked on, artists named

Adrian Bott — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, MMO industry, New titles

Even with Marvel Universe Online now cancelled (and Champions Online rising in its place) there's been surprisingly little revealed about the shadowy DC Comics contender from Sony Online Entertainment.

Last we heard, John Smedley was hoping to deliver the first glimpse of DC Universe Online to the media later this summer, probably at E3. Despite the lack of available details, we can at least be assured that it's still taking shape. According to Austin Craigslist, there are currently positions outstanding for a producer and a senior artist on the Outsource Team.

Continue reading DC Universe Online: still being worked on, artists named

DC Universe Online: still being worked on, artists named originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Check out the Champions Online stars in comic form

William Dobson — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, New titles, Comics, Champions Online

Some brand new and very awesome concept art is being shown at the Champions Online website. This is a bit different from some of the previous stuff though: you get to see the heroes and villains of CO in the way that heroes and villains are meant to be seen -- in comic form.

The characters on show are the heroes Defender and Ironclad, and villains Doctor Destroyer and Menton, and the frames of the comics depict their origins. A forum thread has been provided for any feedback on the artwork, and so far it is overwhelmingly positive. The character causing the most divided opinions is Menton, whose exposed and enlarged brain seems to leave people on both sides of the fence. For the record, we think you look fine Menton -- now please don't mess with our free will.

Check out the Champions Online stars in comic form originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ambulation project closer to reality

James Egan — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, News items

"So... it's an MMO where you fly a ship through space, but you can never really get out?"

"Well... yeah. Pretty much."

This is how it plays out, almost inevitably, when I show my friends EVE Online. For some, not being able to see yourself as a 3-D avatar creates a barrier to immersion. For others, the game is too much of a departure from how player characters are depicted in most other MMOs. That's due to change soon, with the forthcoming release of CCP's Ambulation project. Ambulation will allow players in NPC space stations to walk outside of their ship hangars and interact with each other in a number of new ways. CCP clarified some information about the Ambulation project at the recent New York Comic Con.

Continue reading Ambulation project closer to reality

Ambulation project closer to reality originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Comic Watch: World of Kung Fu

Akela Talamasca — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, World of Kung Fu, Free-to-play, Comics, Humor, Comic Watch

This is a little off the beaten path, as far as this series of posts go. What's being highlighted here isn't an ongoing webcomic in the usual sense, but in the same vein as all the in-game comics that fans of WoW put together comes the first World of Kung Fu comic!

Personally, I think they should have combined the dialogue from panels 3 and 4 into the third panel and made that the punchline, but hey, I've never written one, so what do I know? However, if this is merely the first in an ongoing series (as the comic's title suggests), then it makes more sense. But I do like seeing companies stretch out a little bit with their properties. Who knows? Maybe someday we'll be able to buy costumes like the ones in the comic!

Comic Watch: World of Kung Fu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments