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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Leaderboard: Marvel Heroes' character customization - Good deal or deal-breaker?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leaderboard/" rel="tag">Leaderboard</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes - X-Men and Spider-man" data-src-height="215" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/1280x720aa.jpg" /></a></div>
Every once in a while I get intrigued by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a>, and then I do a bit of research and I remember that it forces me to play as a pre-existing comic book character rather than an avatar of my own creation. I love superhero MMOs, see, but dude, that's a complete deal-breaker. Half the fun of my favorite superhero MMO -- <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dc-universe-online"><em>DC Universe Online</em></a> -- is coming up with both character concepts and superheroic costumes.<br />
<br />
The other half of the fun is the IP, but that's neither here nor there, at least for this edition of Leaderboard. What about you, Massively voters? Does <em>MH's</em> lack of original avatar options turn you off or is the rest of the game enjoyable enough even with that restriction? Vote after the cut!<br />
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<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/10/vs.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Leaderboard/">Leaderboard</a>, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!</em><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Leaderboard: Marvel Heroes' character customization - Good deal or deal-breaker?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/">Leaderboard: Marvel Heroes' character customization - Good deal or deal-breaker?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20604827/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/leaderboard-marvel-heroes-character-customization-good-deal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>battle-royal</category><category>customization</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>leaderboard</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>one-on-one</category><category>one-vs-one</category><category>opinion</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>versus</category><category>vote</category><category>votes</category><category>voting</category><category>vs</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes compensates for early access delay]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes compensates for early access delay" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/sentinel.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 298px;" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion">Gazillion</a> is looking to make amends with early adopters of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> who possibly experienced <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/">severe connection issues</a> this past week. The studio <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/community/dev-blog/ultimate-pack-premium-pack-owners-launch-compensation">laid out a plan to compensate those who had purchased a founders pack</a> and expected to get in on the action prior to the game's official launch.<br />
<br />
Ultimate pack purchasers will receive 2,000 Gs of store currency and a cosmetic pet, while premium pack purchasers will get 1,000 Gs and a pet. The currency will be delivered to those players starting on June 7th, although the pet may be a little later in coming, as the team hasn't decided on what it is just yet.<br />
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"As you may know, we had issues that delayed our initial launch of <em>Marvel Heroes</em>," CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/david-brevik">David Brevik </a>wrote. "We take our commitment to you very seriously, and that's why we had our team working around the clock to bring the game to you as fast as possible. However, a promise is a promise, and we were late -- so we're going to compensate those of you who were affected by that delay."<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/">Marvel Heroes compensates for early access delay</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20602437/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/marvel-heroes-compensates-for-early-access-delay/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>compensation</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>delay</category><category>f2p</category><category>founder</category><category>founders</category><category>founders-packs</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Rounding up May's superhero news]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dc-universe-online/" rel="tag">DC Universe Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/infinite-crisis/" rel="tag">Infinite Crisis</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/"><img alt="Flying high, trying new." data-src-height="321" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/co-mmr-advice-epl-1223.jpg" /></a></div>
Today marks the start of a new format for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/A-Mild-Mannered-Reporter/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a>, but it's a natural segue because this is what I'd be doing anyway. Yes, it's time for a roundup of news, and over the past month, most of the news has been about two superheroic games hitting the "action" button until it falls off. It's all about <a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> and <a href="http://www.infinitecrisis.com/en"><em>Infinite Crisis</em></a>, in other words.<br />
<br />
Not that these are the only two games that have been <em>doing</em> things, mind you. Both <a href="http://www.champions-online.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a> and <a href="http://www.dcuniverseonline.com"><em>DC Universe Online</em></a> have brought out some new content, although the volume differs. But the biggest waves are being made by games emphasizing the punching of villains with extreme prejudice. Or the punching of heroes; it's a fine line.<br />
<br />
The point is that there is no finer time to round up superhero news, especially with the return of <a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com">ComicsAlliance</a>. So let's move on to the roundup, taking it point by point.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Rounding up May's superhero news</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Rounding up May's superhero news</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20597550/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-rounding-up-mays-superhero-news/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-online</category><category>champs</category><category>co</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dc</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>infinite-crisis</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>moba</category><category>muo</category><category>news-roundup</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>ps3</category><category>pwe</category><category>roundup</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>warner-bros</category><category>warner-bros-interactive</category><category>Warner-Bros-Interactive-Entertainment</category><category>wb</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes launch-day roundup and opening cinematic]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes launchday roundup" data-src-height="290" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/fantastic4.jpg" /></a></div>
Suit up, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a>! Today's the day you launch into the fight against evil, so grab your costume and join in on thwarting the dastardly plots of Doctor Doom. What's that, you say? You are stuck at work as your alter ego? Well don't let evil get the upper hand; use the time wisely to prepare for the upcoming battles.<br />
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To help, we've compiled a collection of videos, hands-on experiences, and even a series of motion comics here to brief you on what to expect when you can finally break free of those workplace fetters and fly into the fray. We've also included the game's just-posted opening cinematic!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes launch-day roundup and opening cinematic</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/">Marvel Heroes launch-day roundup and opening cinematic</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20598555/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/marvel-heroes-launch-day-roundup/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-day</category><category>launch-day-roundup</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom reaches its epic conclusion]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes: Dr. Doom" data-src-height="300" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/doom.jpg" style="margin: 0px;" /></a></div>
Not to spoil anything from this fourth (and last) entry in the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/brian-michael-bendis/">Brian Michael Bendis</a>-penned, animated comic-thing, Chronicles of Doom, but Dr. Doom is sort of a jerk. That's primarily why you'll spend most of your time in the now-live<em> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> working to deliver him a swift punch in the metal jaw.<br />
<br />
The final episode follows Dr. Doom as his plan to seize the <a href="http://marvel.com/universe/Cosmic_Cube">Cosmic Cube</a> comes to fruition and as he broods dramatically and monologues about an invincible army in the way <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/super-villain/">super-villains</a> generally do. There's also a mysterious figure watching Doom from beyond -- presumably pondering a method for intervening in his dastardly plans.<br />
<br />
Check it out after the jump. And if you missed episode three, well, we've thrown that one in for you as well.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom reaches its epic conclusion</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/">Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom reaches its epic conclusion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20597120/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-reaches-its-epic-conclusion/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>brian-michael-bendis</category><category>chronicles-of-doom</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Foster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes early access is live, Gazillion 'looking into' compensation]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes wallpaper" data-src-height="246" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/1920x1080b.jpg" /></a></div>
Stow those pitchforks, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> fans; your early access is finally, er, accessible! The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion">Gazillion</a> team has been slaving away trying to squash a few last minute bugs that held up the game's May 28th debut for purchasers of the Founder's Pack, but as of last night everything seems to be shipshape.<br />
<br />
CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/david-brevik">David Brevik</a> apologized for the delay in a post on the official <em>MH</em> website, and he also said that the firm is "looking into granting compensation for those who were unable to play yesterday." You might also want to read through the <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/news/news-articles/ultimate-pack-early-game-access-faq">Early Game Access</a> FAQ.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/">Marvel Heroes early access is live, Gazillion 'looking into' compensation</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 30 May 2013 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20589407/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/marvel-heroes-early-access-is-live-gazillion-looking-into-com/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-heroes-early-access</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2013 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Marvel Heroes' strengths and weakness]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/"><img alt="Oh no, you think.  Not again." data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/mmr-mh.jpg" /></a></div>
Those of you who have followed the column for a while are familiar with the fact that I'm not the biggest fan of <a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a>, though it's more an issue of apathy than malice. Still, early access has started, players are starting to get what they paid for up front with Founder's Packs, and it's time to stop considering what the game <em>could</em> do before testing ends and start considering what it's <em>actually doing</em>.<br />
<br />
Leaving aside the discussion of whether or not it fully succeeds at its goals, I think <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> has a couple of big positives in the current market and one staggeringly dumb decision. So we're going to look at that sandwich-style. And then let's talk about the future of the column at the end -- if we're talking about Marvel, we really need a shocking revelation at the end or it won't ring true.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Marvel Heroes' strengths and weakness</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Marvel Heroes' strengths and weakness</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20584649/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-marvel-heroes-strengths-and-weakness/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>early-access</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>launch</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>meta</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2013 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gazillion finds 'serious issues' with Marvel Heroes, delays early access launch]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/"><img alt="Iron Man is sad" data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/consequences3.jpg" /></a></div>
Those of you with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> Founder's Packs might be wondering why you can't log in to the game, given that it's May 28th and given that May 28th was supposed to mark the beginning of the game's early access phase.<br />
<br />
As it turns out, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion">Gazillion</a> found some "serious issues" that left it unable to kick things off when it originally intended. CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/david-brevik">David Brevik</a> spills the beans via a post on the <em>MH</em> <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/community/dev-blog/update-early-game-access">community blog</a>, saying that the dev team has been working for 96 hours straight to correct the problem. Brevik also says that the process "is nearly complete" and that "we will not leave this studio until you can play the game. We hope this will be a in a matter of hours."<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/">Gazillion finds 'serious issues' with Marvel Heroes, delays early access launch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 28 May 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20586420/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/gazillion-finds-serious-issues-with-marvel-heroes-delays-earl/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-heroes-delay</category><category>marvel-heroes-early-access</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 May 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom dives into episode 2]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom dives into episode 2" data-src-height="297" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/doom.jpg" /></a></div>
Were you hanging on the edge of your seat <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/">after watching the first episode</a> of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/"><em>Marvel Heroes'</em></a> Chronicles of Doom last week? Hope you haven't fallen to your doo...mise because the second installment is now available.<br />
<br />
The episode tracks the sinister Victor von Doom as he makes a devil's deal with Dorammu to gain power and YouTube likes. The Chronicles of Doom is a four-part motion comic series written by Marvel's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Brian-Michael-Bendis/">Brian Michael Bendis</a>, and it can be seen as the prequel to the game itself.<br />
<br />
Watch episode 2 after the jump!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom dives into episode 2</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/">Marvel Heroes' Chronicles of Doom dives into episode 2</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 24 May 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20583271/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/marvel-heroes-chronicles-of-doom-dives-into-episode-2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>brian-michael-bendis</category><category>chronicles-of-doom</category><category>episode-2</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes rolls out first episode of Chronicles of Doom motion comic series]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes rolls out first episode of 'Chronicles of Doom' motion comic series" data-src-height="290" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/drdoom.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
When <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> launches on June 4th, it will begin a super story that finds Doctor Doom wielding a fair share of power. But what about the story behind that story? To reveal just how Doctor Doom rose to power, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment">Gazillion</a> is releasing a short series of motion comics entitled "Chronicles of Doom." Penned by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Brian-Michael-Bendis/">Brian Michael Bendis</a>, well-known for his work creating the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the adventure begins with the villain infiltrating the sanctuary of the Fantastic Four. Watch the first installment of the four-part series after the break.<br />
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[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes rolls out first episode of Chronicles of Doom motion comic series</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/">Marvel Heroes rolls out first episode of Chronicles of Doom motion comic series</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20573853/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/marvel-heroes-rolls-out-first-episode-of-chronicles-of-doom-mo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>Brian-Michael-Bendis</category><category>Chronicles-of-Doom</category><category>Doctor-Doom</category><category>f2p</category><category>Fantastic-Four</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>motion-comic</category><category>motion-comics</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/endgame/" rel="tag">Endgame</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning" data-src-height="300" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/m1.jpg" /></a></div>
With early access to <em><a href="https://marvelheroes.com">Marvel Heroes</a></em> coming on May 28th and the actual launch a few days later on June 4th, the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment">Gazillion</a> team is on super-high alert. CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/david-brevik">David Brevik</a> talked with us about the final additions that the team is putting in place, saying that most of the features are complete at this point.<br />
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Brevik most wanted to talk about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/"><em>Marvel Heroes'</em></a> endgame. Interestingly enough, the main PvE story will take your character only about halfway to the level 60 cap. After that, Gazillion expects players to fully rely on a robust endgame to finish the journey.<br />
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The endgame is made up of three primary PvE activities (in addition to PvP): daily missions, group challenges, and survival challenges. Daily missions, which can be soloed or done in a group, are unlocked in a chain. The five-man group challenges only have a single entry at this point, although there are several variations on that challenge. Then the survival challenges can take groups of 10 to 15 players and pit them against waves of increasingly difficult foes. Difficulty for these wave battles can be lowered by grabbing shards and defeating enemies, and depending on how well your team performs, the boss could be a pushover or insanely tough. Gazillion is placing a premium on randomness and variety to keep things fresh, so don't expect all similar-looking mobs to actually be the same!<br />
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Read on for all of the last-minute changes that players will encounter when they take on their superhero personae next month!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/">Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20572515/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>cable</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>endgame</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>iron-man</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[No launch torch for Marvel Heroes, but plenty of Steam]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/"><img alt="Squirrel Girl rightfully has a single power, which just lets her win." data-src-height="342" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/mh-steamtorch.jpg" /></a></div>
When <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> announced that Squirrel Girl, Emma Frost, Nova, and Luke Cage would be delayed until after the game had launched, it was bad news, depriving the game of three popular heroes and Nova until later. Now <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/news/news-articles/human-torch-now-being-added-marvel-heroes-post-launch">another hero has joined the ranks of the not-in-launch crowd</a>. The Human Torch will be delayed until after release, although players who have pre-purchased launch packs will still have full access to all of the Torch's add-ons when he does go live.<br />
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Despite this loss, the game has obviously generated enough heat to <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/news/news-articles/marvel-heroes-now-steam">make its way on to Steam</a> for its final open beta weekend. Players who already have the game installed don't need to worry, but <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Steam/">Steam</a> users can install the game directly from the Steam client. Launch packs purchased prior to the Steam integration should work seamlessly, and you can also purchase launch packs directly from Steam if the final beta weekend inspires you to do so.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/">No launch torch for Marvel Heroes, but plenty of Steam</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 10 May 2013 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20565543/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/no-launch-torch-for-marvel-heroes-but-plenty-of-steam/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>human-torch</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-delays</category><category>launch-heroes</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>post-launch</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>steam</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2013 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes offers one final open beta weekend and Thor trailer]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes offers one final open beta weekend and Thor trailer" data-src-height="303" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/marvel-beta.jpg" /></a></div>
If you missed last weekend's open beta for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a>, you've got one more chance to get in and get your super hero on before the June 4th launch. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment">Gazillion Entertainment</a> has announced the last open beta weekend will take place from Friday, May 10th at 8:00 p.m. EDT to Monday May 13th at 1:00 p.m. EDT. For this round, players will get to choose from their favorite Avengers: Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, and Black Widow. To get in on the action, <a href="https://login.marvelheroes.com/registration.php">just register</a> on the official site.<br />
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To celebrate the Avenger-themed final weekend, the studio also released a new trailer highlighting Thor. Check out the Asgardian action after the break.<br />
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[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]<br />
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[Update: The team has just posted an <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/news/news-articles/join-us-our-final-open-beta-weekend">FAQ for the beta weekend</a>.]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes offers one final open beta weekend and Thor trailer</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/">Marvel Heroes offers one final open beta weekend and Thor trailer</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 08 May 2013 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20562136/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/marvel-heroes-offers-one-final-open-beta-weekend-and-thor-traile/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>Avengers</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>open-beta-weekend</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>Thor</category><category>Thor-trailer</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forking over your cash to play for free]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/"><img alt="Forking over your cash to play for free!" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/phoenix1920x1080.jpg" /></a></div>
Free-to-play means you can play for free, right? Not if you've got your sights set on the top <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/">founders packs</a> for upcoming games like <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em>. In a blog on <a href="http://gamasutra.com/blogs/RaminShokrizade/20130503/191429/quotFreequot_is_Getting_Very_Expensive.php">Gamasutra</a>, virtual world economist <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ramin-shokrizade/">Ramin Shokrizade</a> explores the trend of these F2P collector-edition equivalents and whether the value justifies the price or if it's all a con to push players into making uninformed purchases before they have enough info.<br />
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Shokrizade compares the value of both <em>Marvel Heroes</em> and <em>MechWarrior Tactics</em> founders packs. At $199.99 and $120 respectively, both come with a hefty price tag, but both also claim significantly higher values. Do you really get your money's worth? Because of the replayability inherent in trying each superhero, Shokrizade rated <em>Marvel Heroes</em> as "pricey but reasonable." <em>MechWarrior Tactics</em>, however, received a "poor value" rating due to the tremendous in-game advantage that the founders pack gives.<br />
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How will these titles ultimately fare? Shokrizade stated that it all depends on enjoyable player interactions. "[Players] should not have to spend a lot in order to be able to have a positive social experience," he said. "Taking this one step further, if [players] can spend to lower the experience of other players, this will cause a rapid collapse of revenues."<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/">Forking over your cash to play for free</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20559116/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/forking-over-your-cash-to-play-for-free/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>founders-pack</category><category>Founders-packs</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>MechWarrior-Tactics</category><category>muo</category><category>Ramin-Shokrizade</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Marvel Heroes trailer shows off Iron Man 3 specialty suits]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/"><img alt="New Marvel Heroes trailer shows off Iron Man 3 specialty suits" data-src-height="297" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/ironman3.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
Marvel fans are well aware that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/">Iron Man 3</a> released today, but did they know that after heading to the theaters to watch the hero in action, they can jump into <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes">Marvel Heroes</a></em> tonight to live it? During this weekend's open beta from Friday, May 3rd at 10:00 p.m. EDT until Monday, May 6th at 1:00 p.m. EDT, players can suit up as Stark's alter-ego in a variety of suits from both the comics and all three movies.<br />
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Not sure if you prefer the classic-looking Mark 42, the stealthy Mark 16, the sub-orbital Mark 39? If artillery or speed is more your style, there's also the Mark 17 and the Mark 40, respectively. Check out a demonstration of all the suits and their specialty powers in the new trailer after the break.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment">Gazillion Entertainment</a> press release]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New Marvel Heroes trailer shows off Iron Man 3 specialty suits</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/">New Marvel Heroes trailer shows off Iron Man 3 specialty suits</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20557410/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/new-marvel-heroes-trailer-shows-off-iron-man-3-specialty-suits/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>Iron-Man-3</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>new-armor</category><category>open-beta</category><category>open-beta-weekend</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>specialty-suits</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Super news, super review]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dc-universe-online/" rel="tag">DC Universe Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/infinite-crisis/" rel="tag">Infinite Crisis</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/"><img alt="Incidentally, I want to visit a screen door factory." data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/mmr-mh.jpg" /></a></div>
It's been a fairly quiet month on the superhero front, which is the way of things. Some months it seems as if you can't go a day without a new launch; others you realize belatedly that it's the end of the month because another round of bills are due. Possibly including subscription fees. It all ties together.<br />
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Of course, the superhero arena has been quiet for a little while now, but we're seeing signs of life cropping up once again. There are titles in development, new content approaching, and a launch in about a month that should really be getting a bit more marketing support. That's a topic for another article.<br />
<br />
So as we do once per month at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/A-Mild-Mannered-Reporter/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a>, it's time to look back over the past month or so and talk about the news stories that have cropped up relating to the genre of men and women in spandex punching robots.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Super news, super review</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Super news, super review</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20552418/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>coh</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freedom</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>heroes-and-villains</category><category>infinite-crisis</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>muo</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>opinion</category><category>paragon</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>plan-z-virtual-studio</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>ps3</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes gets an open beta weekend in honor of Iron Man 3]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes gets open beta weekend in honor of Iron Man 3" data-src-height="270" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/ironman.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment">Gazillion Entertainment</a> is celebrating the upcoming release of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/iron-man">Iron Man 3</a> movie by throwing the doors of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> open for a beta weekend. From Friday, May 3rd, until Monday the 6th, players will be able to hop into the game and give it a test. As a special bonus, new players will be able to choose from some of the iconic Avengers as their starting hero. That perk will only last for the weekend.<br />
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	You can take a look at the game in the villains trailer that we've conveniently tucked under the cut.<br />
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	[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes gets an open beta weekend in honor of Iron Man 3</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/">Marvel Heroes gets an open beta weekend in honor of Iron Man 3</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20553261/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/marvel-heroes-gets-an-open-beta-weekend-in-honor-of-iron-man-3/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>avengers</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>iron-man</category><category>iron-man-3</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>obt</category><category>open-beta</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>the-avengers</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes will allow purchase of heroes, costumes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes will allow purchase of heroes, costumes" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/rocketracironmandeadpool1920x1080.jpg" /></a></div>
Who says developers don't listen? <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> has reversed course on its decision to change the in-game content purchasing system of <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> due to feedback from the community. Announced at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a>, the change would have made heroes random rewards from in-game items only. <em>Marvel Heroes</em> fans, however, weren't supportive of the change, and the studio will go ahead with the original plan to allow players to buy specific heroes and costumes after the game officially launches June 4th.<br />
<br />
[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/">Marvel Heroes will allow purchase of heroes, costumes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20542438/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/marvel-heroes-will-allow-purchase-of-heroes-costumes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>buying-heroes</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>Gazillion-changes-its-mind</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A super month in super news]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<img alt="For the record, I was disappointed by the 4/1 jokes this year." data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/dcuo-mmr-monthimpressions-epl-127.jpg" /></div>
Having spent the last couple of weeks systematically irritating the makers of every superheroic MMO currently on the market, I think now seems like a perfect time to go trawling for recent news and views. Especially since I am writing this on April 1st to meet my deadline, so there's a day-long moratorium on any real news being posted. (That <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/support-massively-online-a-kickstarter-mmo/">Kickstarter of ours</a> is very real, though. You need to give us money right now.)<br />
<br />
Of course, the big news was a completely unexpected announcement that came out right after <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/PAX-East-2013/">PAX East</a> concluded: Another challenger is entering the arena, and it's something no one could have seen coming without insider information. Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> announced its launch date days after I had speculated on what that might be, and <a href="http://www.champions-online.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a> is gearing up to kick off another event. So let's get talking about all the superhero news that's been going down since the last roundup.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A super month in super news</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A super month in super news</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20525589/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-super-month-in-super-news/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-online</category><category>champs</category><category>co</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>infinite-crisis</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>moba</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>warner-bros</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2013: Hands-on with Marvel Heroes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/"><img alt="PAX East 2013  Handson with Marvel Heroes" data-src-height="291" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-banner.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> made a splash at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a>, arriving with the big announcement that <a href="http://marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> will be launching on June 4th. In addition, the team gave new details about endgame content, PvP, and special "ultimate powers" for each hero.<br />
<br />
During the convention, Massively had a chance to sit down with VP of marketing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/leo-olebe/">Leo Olebe</a> and CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/David-Brevik/">David Brevik</a> to get a look at the state of the game, including some brand-new content that the devs have just added to <em>Marvel Heroes</em>. What did we see during our hands-on with the game? Let's just say that rampaging dinosaurs and "Hulk Smash" were but the tip of the iceberg.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-2/">Marvel Heroes</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-2/#5775246"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/hellskitchenrooftopinstance1080p_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-2/#5775247"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/im3channeledenergybeam_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-2/#5775248"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/msmarvelwolverineftstryker-21080p_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-2/#5775250"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/punisherdaredevilmutatemarsh-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-2/#5775251"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/thingpunisherironmanpyro-41080p_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX East 2013: Hands-on with Marvel Heroes</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/">PAX East 2013: Hands-on with Marvel Heroes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20522083/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-marvel-heroes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>dave-brevik</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>hands-on</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>leo-olebe</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>muo</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Bryan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2013: Marvel Heroes releases June 4th, will have PvP on launch]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes releases June 4, will have PvP on launch" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/mhonline.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	The news from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East 2013</a> keeps on flowing. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment">Gazillion Entertainment</a> has announced that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes">Marvel Heroes</a> will officially launch on June 4th, with early access early access starting May 28th for owners of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/">Founders pack</a>. For those of you who just can't wait until the early access or launch, closed beta is still ongoing and has been expanded to include owners of the Premium pack.<br />
	<br />
	At the PAX East panel, Gazillion also confirmed that PvP will be available at launch and talked about endgame content in the form of boss runs and "ultimate powers."</div>
<br />
Massively's intrepid PAX East team will be meeting with Gazillion to talk about <em>Marvel Heroes</em>, so stay tuned for more information.<br />
<br />
[Update: We've updated this post with the new villain trainer after the break!]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX East 2013: Marvel Heroes releases June 4th, will have PvP on launch</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/">PAX East 2013: Marvel Heroes releases June 4th, will have PvP on launch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20515226/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-marvel-heroes-releases-june-4th-will-have-pvp-on/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>muo</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What's the problem with Marvel Heroes?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/"><img alt="I got nothin' on this header.  Just read some of the later alt text." data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/mmr-mh.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> is going to release soon. Maybe. Probably? It's hard to say. We have a release window for the game but not a large amount of evidence that the game is actually moving toward that release window; there are beta updates but no clear signs that the game's open beta will be coming soon. That's a bit duplicitous for people already asked to purchase the game's high-end item packs, but that's a strategy employed by more than a couple of games now, so I'm not going to be too harsh about that.<br />
<br />
Or maybe I am, seeing as how the game is asking you to spend a lot of money sight unseen when it has some pretty stiff competition out already. I'm increasingly of the mind that <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> is taking a hard sell and making it endlessly harder by launching into the teeth of other games without a solid strategy. Worse yet, it might be far too late for the game to change anything for the better in a significant fashion.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What's the problem with Marvel Heroes?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What's the problem with Marvel Heroes?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20508648/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-whats-the-problem-with-marvel-heroes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>competition</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-roguelike</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>quality</category><category>rant</category><category>roguelike</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A door to the Marvel world: David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/"><img alt="Massively Interview David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-heroes-flames.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>
<em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> is an upcoming action RPG that allows players to sling web justice as Spider-Man or just throw a stress-relieving tantrum as the Hulk. Whatever your favorite alter-ego, the upcoming free-to-play game hopes to be a refreshing addition to the isometric genre.<br />
<br />
At a recent press event in San Francisco, I sat down with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/David-Brevik/">David Brevik</a>, President and CEO of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion-entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a>, to scope out the influence of <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Diablo/">Diablo</a> </em>vs. the Marvel Universe and whether we'll see the PvP fans are hoping for.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-1/">Marvel Heroes</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-1/#5709715"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-heroes-beam_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-1/#5709716"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-heroes-boom_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-1/#5709717"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-heroes-daredevil_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-1/#5709718"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-heroes-deadpool_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-1/#5709719"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/marvel-heroes-flames_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A door to the Marvel world: David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/">A door to the Marvel world: David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20497390/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/a-door-to-the-marvel-world-david-brevik-talks-marvel-heroes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>brian-michael-bendis</category><category>david-brebik</category><category>diablo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>isometric</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Gavin Townsley]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hands-on with Marvel Heroes' combat, events, and crafting]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/"><img alt="Handson with Marvel Heroes" data-src-height="318" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/stormraft1920x1080.jpg" /></a></div>
This has been a hard year on mice. <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/">Diablo III</a></em>, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/torchlight-2">Torchlight 2</a></em>, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/path-of-exile">Path of Exile</a></em>, and now another click-fest is in the works: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a>. This new free-to-play addition to the isometric family will put you in the shoes of classic heroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Storm, Wolverine, and many more from the Marvel roster. Just when my index finger was starting to forgive me!<br />
<br />
To better understand how much danger my mouse and finger were in, I traveled down to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Gazillion-Entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> for some hands-on time with a few of my favorite comic wonders. Is <em>Marvel Heroes</em> is bringing more than just tights to the table?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Hands-on with Marvel Heroes' combat, events, and crafting</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/">Hands-on with Marvel Heroes' combat, events, and crafting</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20496414/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>brian-michael-bendis</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>hands-on</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Gavin Townsley]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes shows off Iron Man in action]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">  <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/"><img alt="Iron Man is my favorite hero mostly because his arch-nemesis is Iron Man." data-src-height="293" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/mh-ironman-epl-309.jpg" /></a></div> Everyone wants to pretend to be Iron Man. You've got all of the ingredients of greatness: a crippling alcohol problem, a problem with authority, a tendency toward self-destruction... wait, those parts aren't cool. So perhaps it's for the best that <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em> focuses instead on the fun parts of Iron Man, wherein you have totally awesome power armor and the ability to fly. The latest trailer for the game cashes in on excitement for the upcoming movie, showing off everything that you can do inside the suit.<br /> <br /> All of the standard Iron Man powers are on display, ranging from repulsor beams to flight to force fields. But which version of the armor do you have to use? Whichever one you want, as the game sports variants ranging from the original Iron Man armor up to ones lifted from the upcoming film. But you don't have to take our word for it, as you can watch the full video just past the break.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes shows off Iron Man in action</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/">Marvel Heroes shows off Iron Man in action</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20495964/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/marvel-heroes-shows-off-iron-man-in-action/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>big-shiny-death-beams</category><category>costumes</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gameplay</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>iron-man</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>movie</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>upcoming-movie</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dc-universe-online/" rel="tag">DC Universe Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/"><img alt="Gotta get this header thing settled.  Seriously." data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/02/mmr-mh.jpg" /></a></div>
I've been talking about superhero games in the conceptual state over the past few weeks, which has been great for those of us who really enjoy that sort of thing. (I also got some very nice feedback from the folks at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Missing-Worlds-Media/">Missing Worlds Media</a> regarding last week's article, so that's also keen.) But there are two titles in the genre already out, plus one that's not yet out but is rapidly approaching launch. So rather than speak in the abstract, let's talk about the news in review, yes?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em> Marvel Heroes</em></a> has been making the biggest waves recently with a major beta update that trimmed up systems, changed statistics, and revamped crafting extensively. <a href="http://www.champions-online.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a>'s latest event became a point of some contention when the finale was swapped from being a high-end event to being something for everybody. And <a href="http://www.dcuniverseonline.com"><em>DC Universe Online</em></a> waited until I had just wrapped up my month in the game to launch a big update including housing. So in no particular order, let's talk about all of this.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20477259/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-news-from-around-the-superheroic-world/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-online</category><category>champs</category><category>co</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>muo</category><category>news</category><category>news-roundup</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>ps3</category><category>pwe</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Blow up all the things in the new Marvel Heroes trailer]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/"><img alt="Fish-man-things need to blow things up too!" data-src-height="296" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/02/mh-destruction-epl-221.jpg" /></a></div>
Have you ever found yourself playing a game and thought that while it's fun, it would be much better if you could just destroy <em>everything</em> around you with controlled explosions? If so, you may be Michael Bay, but regardless of your secret identity, you can enjoy the latest <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes-/">Marvel Heroes </a></em>trailer, in which that is exactly what happens. This trailer is not about fine details of gameplay; it's about superhuman beings wreaking destruction all over the place.<br />
<br />
While the trailer clocks in at only about a minute, it certainly finds many things to make explode, including cars, streets, and in one particularly baffling instance, a portable toilet. (The Thing has powers that we weren't aware of, such as turning a toilet into an explosive device.) But don't take our distinctly non-poetic word for it; jump on past the break to watch the trailer and revel in the destruction yourself. Complete with classic and appropriate music.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Blow up all the things in the new Marvel Heroes trailer</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/">Blow up all the things in the new Marvel Heroes trailer</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20472578/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/blow-up-all-the-things-in-the-new-marvel-heroes-trailer/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>also-explosions</category><category>destruction</category><category>environment</category><category>environment-destruction</category><category>explosions</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mayhem</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>stuff-blows-up</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brushing up on Marvel Heroes' super-sized beta update]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/"><img alt="Brushing up on Marvel Heroes' supersized beta update" data-src-height="331" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/02/spidey1.jpg" /></a></div>
While we've had several occasions to check out <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/"><em>Marvel Heroes'</em></a> journey through the beta process, <a href="http://www.gazillion.com/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> wanted us to know that our <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/">previous</a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/">glimpses</a> are now obsolete. The makers of this superhero action-RPG have implemented a major beta update that has virtually transformed the look, feel, and function of the game.<br />
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We spoke with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion">Gazillion</a> about the update, which clearly is a major step toward a finalized release version. The most obvious change to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> is a revamp of its user interface. The UI has been streamlined and modernized, with a crisper look and more color overall. The placeholder minimap has been scrapped and replaced with a new radar that functions in perspective, a friends list is now in place, and new arrow icons float around the edges of your screen to direct you to nearby events. And since loot is quite vital to the appeal of the game, the devs made sure to color-code all of the icons so that telling item rarity is an instant and effortless process.<br />
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There are a few more surprises that were announced today, so hit the jump and we'll walk you through them!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Brushing up on Marvel Heroes' super-sized beta update</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/">Brushing up on Marvel Heroes' super-sized beta update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20460662/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/brushing-up-on-marvel-heroes-super-sized-beta-update/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>beta</category><category>colossus</category><category>crafting</category><category>cyclops</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>iron-man</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>preview</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>spider-man</category><category>spiderman</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>thor</category><category>ui</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/"><img alt="I'm not such a bad guy once you get to know me.  For a given value of bad." data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/dcuo-mmr-impression-epl-107-1358775176.jpg" /></a></div>
Superheroes are defined by their villains. A lot of what makes Spider-man and Batman such celebrated characters is the fact that they've got no shortage of interesting opponents. <a href="http://www.dcuniverseonline.com"><em>DC Universe Online</em></a> knew this when it launched and gave players a villainous option right from the beginning, something that even <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> didn't manage until its first expansion.<br />
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Not that this is the norm. Admittedly, calling anything the "norm" in a subgenre with only three launched games to go by is a bit complicated, but that's not the point. <a href="http://www.champions-online.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a> doesn't let you take a walk on the villain side, and <a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> will launch without the ability to play a villain now or (presumably) ever.<br />
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This seems a bit odd on some level. We like villains, we interact with villains as readers, we enjoy seeing what the villains will do. But does it diminish a game to lack the option, or does it diminish villains as a whole when you <em>can</em> play as one?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20434074/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-online</category><category>champs</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>co</category><category>coh</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction-dynamics</category><category>faction-splits</category><category>factions</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freedom</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>muo</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>opinion</category><category>paragon</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>playable-villains</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>ps3</category><category>pwe</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><category>villain-faction</category><category>villains</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dave Brevik defends the cost of Marvel Heroes' Ultimate Pack]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/"><img alt="No matter how much money you spend in League of Legends, you cannot play Rocket Raccoon there." data-src-height="305" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/mh-ultimatepack-epl-121.jpg" /></a></div>
The idea of spending nearly $200 on a free-to-play title before it releases seems counterintuitive. Still, if you want the Ultimate Pack for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em>, that's precisely what you'll need to do, a move that's sparked enough controversy for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Gazillion/">Gazillion</a>'s CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Dave-Brevik/">Dave Brevik</a> to <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-21-dave-brevik-doesnt-see-a-problem-with-marvel-heroes-130-ultimate-pack-hes-spent-over-USD1000-on-league-of-legends-already">comment on the pack</a>.<br />
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While Brevik admits that the price is quite hefty, he emphasizes that it's a substantial long-term discount for players and isn't so unusual when you consider the variety of other games offering collector's editions at similar price points. He points out that he's already spent much more than that playing <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/League-of-Legends/">League of Legends</a></em> through a variety of small purchases.<br />
<br />
Brevik also takes the time to <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-21-dave-brevik-doesnt-see-a-problem-with-marvel-heroes-130-ultimate-pack-hes-spent-over-USD1000-on-league-of-legends-already">defend the game from other criticisms</a> regarding its interface, graphics, and story, arguing that he is happy with the game in its current state while stressing that it is currently a beta. He also mentions that the pre-purchase packs are entirely optional and much of the content within can be earned within the game. <em>Marvel Heroes</em> is currently on track for a release in the spring of this year.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/">Dave Brevik defends the cost of Marvel Heroes' Ultimate Pack</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20434441/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/dave-brevik-defends-the-cost-of-marvel-heroes-ultimate-pack/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>dave-brevik</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>pre-launch-packs</category><category>pre-order-packs</category><category>promotional-offers</category><category>promotions</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes introduces Founders Program in preparation of spring 2013 launch]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/promotions/" rel="tag">Promotions</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes introduces Founders Program in preparation of spring 2013 launch" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/marvel-title-1357752339.jpg" /></a></div>
Superhero fans have another reason to look forward to the end of winter besides a break from the cold and snow: Come spring, they will be able to to adventure as their favorite caped -- or non-caped -- crusaders in the free-to-play action RPG <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a>. To help fans get ready for the upcoming launch, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Gazillion-Entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> has announced a program offering players special limited-edition packs that include unique costumes, access to favorite heroes, early game access, and even in-game currency to buy more once the game releases.<br />
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This <a href="http://presale.marvelheroes.com/">Founders Program</a> offers three tiers for purchase. Fans can choose the starter pack with one hero of their choice for $19.99 USD, the premium pack with a team of four preselected heroes for $59.99, or the ultimate pack that includes all heroes and all costumes for $199.99. Each pack also includes XP boosts, item-find boosts, in-game currency, and early access time, although the specific amounts vary per tier.<br />
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For more details and a look at all the different costumes available, including newly announced outfits and exclusive ones, check out the gallery below.<br />
<br />
[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-costumes-and-founders-program/">Marvel Heroes costumes and Founders Program</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-costumes-and-founders-program/#5554028"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/marvelheroesfoundersprogramdeadpoolpremiumpack_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-costumes-and-founders-program/#5554035"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/marvelheroesfoundersprogrammarvelknightspremiumpack_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-costumes-and-founders-program/#5554017"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/marvelheroesfoundersprogramavengersassemblepremiumpack_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-costumes-and-founders-program/#5554043"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/marvelheroesfoundersprogramx-forcepremiumpack_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/marvel-heroes-costumes-and-founders-program/#5554036"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/01/marvelheroesfoundersprogrammarvelnowpremiumpack_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/">Marvel Heroes introduces Founders Program in preparation of spring 2013 launch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20423544/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/marvel-heroes-introduces-founders-program-in-preparation-of-spri/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>costumes</category><category>f2p</category><category>founder-packs</category><category>founders-program</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2013]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dust-514/" rel="tag">DUST 514</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perfect-ten/" rel="tag">Perfect Ten</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/archeage/" rel="tag">ArcheAge</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warplanes/" rel="tag">World of Warplanes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wildstar/" rel="tag">WildStar</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/defiance/" rel="tag">Defiance</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neverwinter/" rel="tag">Neverwinter</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online/" rel="tag">The Elder Scrolls Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-steam/" rel="tag">City of Steam</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-wushu/" rel="tag">Age of Wushu</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/"><img alt="The Perfect Ten New MMOs to watch in 2013" data-src-height="334" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/dora.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 334px;" /></a></div>
Oh, I had a great <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perfect-ten/">Perfect Ten</a> prepped as the first list of the year, but my meanie-face editor slammed on the veto button and told me, point-blank, that I was going to be counting down the best MMO prospects for the year. Then she drove a lawnmower through a Nordstroms while huffing paint thinner and throwing empty cans at the security personnel. Even so, her idea is probably more interesting than what I had.<br />
<br />
Let me give you a few notes on today's list because I sense that I'm going to tick more of you off than normal here. My goal was to sift through the possible releases for 2013 and pick the 10 most promising, both in "will it actually launch this year?" and in its potential for success. The combination makes it a tough call because some of these will undoubtedly be delayed to 2014 or beyond and some of these we still don't know as much as we'd like about them.<br />
<br />
But who cares? Let's have some fun and kick this year off right. Here are my picks for new MMOs to watch in 2013.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2013</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/">The Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2013</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20405375/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-perfect-ten-new-mmos-to-watch-in-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aa</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>age-of-wulin</category><category>age-of-wushu</category><category>arche-age</category><category>archeage</category><category>ark</category><category>ark-hunter</category><category>arkfall</category><category>asia</category><category>bethesda</category><category>bethesda-softworks</category><category>bethsoft</category><category>carbine</category><category>carbine-studios</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>china</category><category>chinese</category><category>chinese-mmo</category><category>chris-roberts</category><category>city-of-steam</category><category>console</category><category>crowdfunding</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>daggerfall</category><category>defiance</category><category>dnd</category><category>dust</category><category>dust-514</category><category>elder-scrolls</category><category>elder-scrolls-online</category><category>eso</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>factions</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>goblin</category><category>gpotato</category><category>gvg</category><category>historical</category><category>humor</category><category>jet-li</category><category>kickstarter</category><category>kidnapping</category><category>martial-arts</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mechanist</category><category>mechanist-games</category><category>ming-dynasty</category><category>mmofps</category><category>morrowind</category><category>muo</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>oblivion</category><category>opinion</category><category>p10</category><category>perfect-10</category><category>perfect-ten</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>playstation</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>please-dont-suck</category><category>ps3</category><category>pvp</category><category>pwe</category><category>roundup</category><category>rvr</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sandpark</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>shooter</category><category>skyrim</category><category>snail-games</category><category>snail-games-usa</category><category>spaceship</category><category>star-citizen</category><category>steampunk</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>syfy</category><category>tamriel</category><category>tes</category><category>teso</category><category>the-elder-scrolls</category><category>the-elder-scrolls-online</category><category>the-perfect-10</category><category>the-perfect-ten</category><category>three-faction-pvp</category><category>three-way-pvp</category><category>top-10</category><category>top-10-list</category><category>top-ten</category><category>top-ten-list</category><category>transmedia-synergy</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>tv</category><category>war</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>wildstar</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>wowp</category><category>ws</category><category>wushu</category><category>wuxia</category><category>xbox</category><category>xl-games</category><category>xlgames</category><category>zenimax</category><category>zenimax-media</category><category>zenimax-online</category><category>zenimax-online-studios</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes shows off the beginning of gameplay in a new video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/"><img alt="We are spared Mohawk Storm, which I think is a blessing." data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/marvelheroes-walkthrough-epl-1221.jpg" /></a></div>
Looking forward to <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em>? Want a chance to pit your own impressions against <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/">the Massively impressions from earlier in the week</a>? Unfortunately, if you're not in the beta, you're not going to be able to get a hands-on experience with the game for a while longer. But the team at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Gazillion-Entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> did the next best thing by posting a new video wherein president <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/David-Brevik/">David Brevik</a> walks you through the earliest parts of the game.<br />
<br />
Brevik starts off by explaining a bit more about the game for those unfamiliar with its premise, and then dives right into the tutorial mission. Along the way he demonstrates power leveling, hero switching, discovery missions, and all of the combat action you can shake a Marvel-branded stick at. So if you haven't gotten your hands on the game but still want to see what it looks like in action, jump past the break to see the opening play.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes shows off the beginning of gameplay in a new video</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/">Marvel Heroes shows off the beginning of gameplay in a new video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20409850/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/marvel-heroes-shows-off-the-beginning-of-gameplay-in-a-new-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>david-brevik</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gameplay-preview</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>preview</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Playing as icons in superheroic MMORPGs]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/"><img alt="I feel bad for Storm, she kind of got cropped out of this header image." data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/mmr-mh.jpg" /></a></div>
For the past week or so, I've been playing <a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a>. If you missed <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/">my impression piece on Monday morning</a>, let me spoil the big reveal for your right now: I wasn't very happy with it. It produces some minor thrills here and there, but at this point in testing there's not a whole lot to celebrate about the game. So I'm understandably not champing at the bit to talk more about the game this week, which I had originally planned.<br />
<br />
I do think there's something to be discussed when it comes to the game's central conceit, however: the fact that you're playing as the iconic characters instead of alongside them. I'm not a fan of the approach in general, but considering the panoply of superhero properties out there, it's worth considering. Could you actually make a functional game in which you play as just the official characters rather than original creations? What sort of things do you need to do to make this work? How would a superhero MMORPG with only the official characters work in practice?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Playing as icons in superheroic MMORPGs</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Playing as icons in superheroic MMORPGs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20405501/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-playing-as-icons-in-superheroic-mmorpg/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>iconic-characters</category><category>iconic-heroes</category><category>lore-characters</category><category>lore-figures</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superhero-genre</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Impressions: Make mine Marvel Heroes!]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/"><img alt="First Impressions Make mine Marvel Heroes" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/marv1.jpg" /></a></div>
Sometimes it's best to meet a game at its level instead of trying to project wishes and dreams on it. That's the attitude I tried to take while giving <a href="https://marvelheroes.com/"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> a test drive. Instead of thinking of it as a superhero MMO in the vein of, say, <a href="http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/"><em>DC Universe Online</em></a> (blasphemy for them Marvel chumps, I know), I recognized what it was trying to be almost instantly: a superhero-flavored <em>Diablo</em>.<br />
<br />
And you know what? That's what it is. Whether that's a horrible, shirt-rending event or something that sounds like a cool mix is up to you. Personally, I like the idea of dealing with the massive Marvel cast directly instead of creating lame clones, especially since there are added layers of costume and build varieties on top of that. And I especially liked the notion of just jumping into a game without all of the typical MMO complexity and just pew-pewing with Iron Man.<br />
<br />
So for better or worse, here are my thoughts as I spent a couple of nights with <em>Marvel Heroes </em>taking a few characters through the prologue and chapter one.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Impressions: Make mine Marvel Heroes!</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/">First Impressions: Make mine Marvel Heroes!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20404306/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>archie</category><category>beta</category><category>betas</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>first-impressions</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>hands-on</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Impressions: Marvel Heroes isn't a heroic marvel]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/"><img alt="HYDRA, for when you need a villainous group whose motivation lies solely in villainy." data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/marvelheroes-impressions-epl-1215-1355611688.jpg" /></a></div>
Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into<em> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Diablo/">Diablo</a></em>. I tried several times, but whatever strange alchemy kept turning me off from other roguelikes was still in full effect. Despite that, I can respect that the game has made an <em>enormous</em> impact on gaming as a whole -- even disregarding the effect it had upon MMOs and RPGs in general, we're currently amid a glut of <em>Diablo </em>derivatives (including <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Diablo-III/">Diablo III</a></em> itself).<br />
<br />
This is relevant because <a href="http://www.marvelheroes.com"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> is very clearly meant to be <em>Diablo: Online With Superheroes Edition</em>.<br />
<br />
So I'm not fond of the design style. But I'm very fond of superheroes, and <em>especially</em> fond of the Marvel universe. A well-done <em>Diablo</em>-style game could have easily won me over and convinced me that while this wasn't the Marvel game I necessarily <em>wanted,</em> it was good enough.<em> </em>The trouble is that the game doesn't have the marriage of playstyle and source material that it needs; it wants to be <em>Diablo</em> with a superhero skin, and it misses both marks.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Impressions: Marvel Heroes isn't a heroic marvel</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/">First Impressions: Marvel Heroes isn't a heroic marvel</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20403107/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-mmo</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-impressions</category><category>betas</category><category>characters</category><category>design</category><category>development</category><category>diablo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>first-impressions</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>hands-on</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>mechanical-elements</category><category>mh</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Impressions of Marvel Heroes: Two Massively reporters weigh in]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig"><img alt="Hands-on with Marvel Heroes" data-src-height="297" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/marvelheroes.jpg" style="margin: 4px; width: 530px; height: 297px;" /></a></div>
Superhero games have never been dominant in the MMO space, and sadly, the genre was dealt a nasty blow last month by the loss of the pioneering <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em>. But now on the horizon is <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes</a></em>, a free-to-play superhero MMO published by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Gazillion-Entertainment/">Gazillion Entertainment</a> and set against the traditional Marvel backdrop. Whether it constitutes a "real" MMO is a matter of opinion; insiders have likened it as much to <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Guild-Wars/">Guild Wars</a></em> as to the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/marvel-heroes-chief-its-very-diablo-like/"><em>Diablo</em></a> series, the latter especially as relates to the title's choice to implement <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/16/the-daily-grind-is-it-game-over-if-you-cant-design-your-own-ch/">playable iconic characters</a> rather than customizable ones.<br />
<br />
So how does it <em>play</em>? Will it be an asset to the superhero corner of MMOland or just another grindy wannabe? Massively sent two veteran reporters -- <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/eliot-lefebvre">Eliot Lefebvre</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/justin-olivetti">Justin Olivetti</a> -- to investigate the game in its most recent beta phase, bringing along their own predilections and preferences about MMOs in general and the superhero genre in specific. Read on for each preview!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/"><img alt="Eliot Lefebvre" data-src-height="36" data-src-width="158" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/eliots-1355371054.png" /></a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-make-mine-marvel-heroes/"><img alt="Justin Olivetti" data-src-height="36" data-src-width="158" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/justins-1355371059.png" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/">First Impressions of Marvel Heroes: Two Massively reporters weigh in</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20401670/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-of-marvel-heroes-two-massively-reporters-weig/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>hands-on</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>muo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>testing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MMO Family: Winter roundup of kid-friendly MMOs]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-realms/" rel="tag">Free Realms</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wizard101/" rel="tag">Wizard101</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-family/" rel="tag">MMO Family</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/family/" rel="tag">Family</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pirate101/" rel="tag">Pirate101</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/"><img alt="MMO Family  Winter roundup of kidfriendly MMOs" data-src-height="231" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/jumpstartsnow-1355245840.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
Winter is always my favorite time of year for family-friendly MMOs. Holiday events tend to be the norm now in most MMOs, but they're tailor-made for games with a younger audience. Winter also seems to usher in lots of new changes and updates as well, so it's time again to revisit some popular titles to play catch up.<br />
<br />
Over the past year, we've looked at several new titles and visited veteran MMOs titles to see what's changed. From <a href="http://clubpenguin.com"><em>Club Penguin</em></a> to <a href="http://pirate101.com"><em>Pirate101</em></a>, we'll look at recent updates and upcoming news in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-family/">MMO Family's</a> winter roundup!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MMO Family: Winter roundup of kid-friendly MMOs</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/">MMO Family: Winter roundup of kid-friendly MMOs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20400012/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/mmo-family-winter-roundup-of-kid-friendly-mmos/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>amazing-world</category><category>casual</category><category>children</category><category>childrens-mmos</category><category>club-penguin</category><category>disney</category><category>Disney-Interactive</category><category>family</category><category>family-friendly</category><category>featured</category><category>free-realms</category><category>ganz</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>jumpstart</category><category>kid-friendly</category><category>kids</category><category>kids-games</category><category>kingsisle</category><category>kingsisle-entertainment</category><category>mmo-family</category><category>monkeyquest</category><category>opinion</category><category>pirate101</category><category>super-hero-squad-online</category><category>wizard101</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Bryan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Moving forward after City of Heroes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dc-universe-online/" rel="tag">DC Universe Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/"><img alt="Hopefully you didn't just start crying again." data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/12/mmr-postcoh.jpg" /></a></div>
Last week was painful, not just for me but for a lot of you was well. I'm touched by the number of comments I received on last week's article, and I can understand why a lot of you thought that this was curtains for the column as well as for the game. It was a sad ending, with a note of hope almost buried by all of the crushing emotion. You and I lost a friend that's been with us for more than eight years; it's hard to be optimistic.<br />
<br />
But I'm still here. And I'm still the same person I was a week ago, if somewhat diminished by loss. And now it's time to move along.<br />
<br />
I've written the last word there is for me to write on the subject of <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em>, but as it turns out, I still have a lot more to say about the genre. This probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to regular readers. I'm a guy who loves superheroes, and losing a home hurts, but it doesn't mean I'm hanging up my cape. It means that I need to find a new home. And I'd be remiss in not asking anyone else along for the ride.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Moving forward after City of Heroes</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Moving forward after City of Heroes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20393261/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-moving-forward-after-city-of-heroes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-online</category><category>champs</category><category>co</category><category>column</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>meta</category><category>moving-forward</category><category>muo</category><category>opinion</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>playstation3</category><category>ps3</category><category>pwe</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>super-hero</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Marvel Heroes admits that yes, it does have a story]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/marvel-heroes/" rel="tag">Marvel Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/"><img alt="Marvel Heroes admits that yes, it does have a story" data-src-height="292" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/11/marvel.jpg" /></a></div>
It would be a mistake to assume that just because <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXexlukkZ9I"><em>Marvel Heroes</em></a> is taking the form of a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/diablo"><em>Diablo</em></a>-style action game it's lacking any substantial lore. In fact, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gazillion">Gazillion</a> chief writer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Brian-Michael-Bendis/">Brian Michael Bendis</a> claims <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXexlukkZ9I">in a new dev diary</a> that the writers have a truly epic tale in place: "This is the kind of story so large that we probably couldn't do it in the comic books without it taking 75 issues."<br />
<br />
The story kicks off with Doctor Doom as the primary antagonist. Doom has captured a powerful artifact and is in the process of freeing villains from a massive prison. The writing team says that players will learn more about Doom's sinister plan as the game progresses.<br />
<br />
One of the key tools that the team is using to tell the story is a series of motion comics to give what the devs call an "authentic Marvel experience." These cutscenes are illustrated by the folks at Marvel and voiced by actors who have played the characters in the past. The studio claims that over 9,000 lines of dialogue, including witty banter, will launch with the game.<br />
<br />
Check out the story of <em>Marvel Heroes</em> after the jump!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Marvel Heroes admits that yes, it does have a story</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/">Marvel Heroes admits that yes, it does have a story</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20390437/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/marvel-heroes-admits-that-yes-it-does-have-a-story/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>banter</category><category>brian-michael-bendis</category><category>comic-books</category><category>doctor-doom</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gazillion</category><category>gazillion-entertainment</category><category>lore</category><category>marvel</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>marvel-universe</category><category>marvel-universe-online</category><category>motion-comics</category><category>muo</category><category>secret-identity</category><category>story</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>video</category><category>voice-acting</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>