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[Champions Online] Psychic zombies, robot pirates, and Killdozer. 'Nuff said.

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Posts

  • korodullinkorodullin What. SCRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    At the risk of breaking the NDA (why is there an NDA for this again?), I'll just say this:

    Most of these F2P Archetypes play as badly as they look.

    korodullin on
    ZvOMJnu.png
    - The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (2017, colorized)
  • ShawnaseeShawnasee Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    well hopefully the testers are pushing this up to Cryptic...cause the last thing they want the F2Pers to do is log in, see that the AT's are shite, and then permanently log off.

    Or maybe they do.............

    Shawnasee on
  • AstaleAstale Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Yeah, having seen the ATs in action it makes me go "this is what they should have just done".

    I mean, don't get me wrong, I still like the IDEA of an open powers system, but they need to throw some checks and balances in there. Better ones then are in now anyways. Oh well, ATs here we come!

    Astale on
  • ChaosRedChaosRed Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Not at all happy with this announcement. I don't think it bodes well for long-term development and investment in the game. I think it is the first step to putting the game into a basic maintenance mode and riding the F2P business model for as long as it will last.

    Clearly, Cryptic is slowly putting this game to pasture.

    ChaosRed on
    dbf1147f15514b46.png
  • ArchArch Neat-o, mosquito! Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Pony wrote: »
    yep pretty much

    i mean as a lifetimer who bought it originally, i was pretty cheesed with the F2P announcement

    they partly appeased me when they announced (very quietly) that lifetimers would be getting a monthly stipend of C-Store points.

    WAIT WHAT

    Arch on
  • VoroVoro Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    It's not for lifetimes, it's for any paying subscriber (like Turbine does). 400 CP a month is what they're stating right now, but the devs say it will only be usable in Champions.

    Voro on
    XBL GamerTag: Comrade Nexus
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Voro wrote: »
    It's not for lifetimes, it's for any paying subscriber (like Turbine does). 400 CP a month is what they're stating right now, but the devs say it will only be usable in Champions.

    That is straight up balls if that's true.


    The fuck do Lifetimers get, then? Some of them haven't even gotten their moneys worth yet. It's different in LOTRO's case, since the lifetimers had had more then their share of time in relation to how much they paid.


    The difference between how this game is run, and how STO is run is just staggering to me. Part of me suspects that they aren't trying since they know DCUO is coming out in half a year, and they expect it to effectively finish CO off.


    Then again, if whoever is in charge started making intelligent decisions rather then holding content on the backburner for almost a quarter of a year at a time, this game would probably become pretty popular.


    Last I checked, STO is putting out content at a rate of a season per month and a half. Each season has alot of content. CO puts out content (And not even much of it.) at a rate of every two to three months. As a result STO has been positively booming in terms of population and popularity since the dev team they have now took over.


    They really need to bring Dstahl and co over to CO for a month or two, give them carte blanche to do whatever they need to do make the game better, and beat some sense into whoever is running CO.


    Edit: A quick look at the forums is indicating that they're doing the whole "media blackout" thing again. Any topic that points out that the lifetimers are getting fucked, or that the lifetime subs might actually be a ripoff (There really isn't any point if they don't have an exclusive stipend. You could get the same benefits for cheaper by subbing for a month and cancelling when you get bored, otherwise.) is getting mysteriously deleted or locked.


    I guess that seals the deal on whether this is a real thing or not. Last time something like that happened, it was early in STO and CO's life over the original head devs cocking certain aspects of the game up to try and make some money. They caved that time, though. Who knows if they will this time.



    Edit 2: It looks like the original gold member stipend was added in because of a massive amount of bitching from people who didn't have lifetime subscriptions, albeit in a very slimy way. Shortly after that particular topic was made, lifetime sub offers were opened again, and you can see a swift change of people who bitched in that thread turning from normal color, to the bright green of the lifetimer subscriber color.

    Then the announcement was made shortly after that, that gold members would be getting a stipend too. This coincided with a PR guy locking the topic where people bitched about the stipend, so noone could comment on that particular dick move.


    Sometimes the stupidity and greed of people on MMO forums physically hurts me.

    Archonex on
  • Fartacus_the_MightyFartacus_the_Mighty Brought to you by the letter A.Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Voro wrote: »
    but the devs say it will only be usable in Champions.

    Part of me is sad that it's going to work that way. Part of me is also smug, because I totally called this in the STO thread.

    Fartacus_the_Mighty on
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2010
    Archonex wrote: »
    The fuck do Lifetimers get, then? Some of them haven't even gotten their moneys worth yet. It's different in LOTRO's case, since the lifetimers had had more then their share of time in relation to how much they paid.

    They get C-Store points for as long as the game runs without paying anything for them, as opposed to the normal subscriber who gets the same amount of points as part of a monthly fee.

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
  • AstaleAstale Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Voro wrote: »
    but the devs say it will only be usable in Champions.

    Part of me is sad that it's going to work that way. Part of me is also smug, because I totally called this in the STO thread.

    I said they wouldn't, because it's an incredibly douchy thing to do for almost no benefit.

    I guess I forgot it's Cryptic we're talking about.

    Astale on
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Archonex wrote: »
    The fuck do Lifetimers get, then? Some of them haven't even gotten their moneys worth yet. It's different in LOTRO's case, since the lifetimers had had more then their share of time in relation to how much they paid.

    They get C-Store points for as long as the game runs without paying anything for them, as opposed to the normal subscriber who gets the same amount of points as part of a monthly fee.

    But there's functionally no difference between the two subscription levels now. That makes no sense.

    You'd think they'd want to keep their lifetimers sweet, given that they could literally shit up their forums forever, warning people away from the game (Which has happened before and is probably part of the reason why CO is not doing so well pop-wise at the moment.).


    Furthermore, from a marketing perspective, simple logic states that you don't want the customers who are paying for the subscription to get a stipend, because then you're draining from a significant part of your profits generated by the C-Store, which is probably going to be your main means of making money now. This is especially true, since there's essentially nothing of worth in the C-Store except for the tights pack and a few of the early costume packs. This isn't LOTRO, where they have two dozen zones worth of content set up ready to be bought already. Comparatively speaking, this game is very light on the content.

    So once those people use up that stipend a few months down the line to get the content that's available, they probably won't be buying anything until you somehow outdistance their monthly stipend with a ton of C-Store content. And that race to outdistance the stipend will never stop, meaning that for a certain percentage of players you will always have to be developing new C-Store content to continue turning a profit. And I can't imagine keeping that pace for the (lethargic) developers of CO will be cheap for them, either.

    Also, without a Gold stipend it gives an actual incentive to get a Lifetime sub. Now, there is literally no reason to buy those exorbitantly overpriced subs anymore. The benefit of getting a lifetime sub originally was the potential of the game. The assumed benefit (Before CO's devs capitulated to the whining.) of getting a Lifetime sub now was that you'd have that stipend, which would further remove the need to ever pay money for the game again. That is now gone.

    Conversely, now, the benefit of not having a lifetime sub is that you can unsubscribe at any time and cut your losses. From a cost-effectiveness point of view for rational consumers, unless there's some sort of huge super-awesome-never-gonna-stop-liking-it bonus down the line that they announce, there's essentially no reason to get the Lifetime sub.


    Someone in CO's marketing division needs to be fired so hard. It's just downright schizophrenic. It's like whoever is in charge of their marketing department is stuck between wanting to give the players a freebie, or fuck them over in the most annoying ways possible.

    Archonex on
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2010
    Probably, yeah. Of course, I think the problem is higher up considering the state of the game.

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
  • GlalGlal AiredaleRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Archonex wrote: »
    This isn't LOTRO, where they have two dozen zones worth of content set up ready to be bought already.
    Well, closer to "this isn't LoTRO, where they locked off most of the content and require F2P players to pay for it".

    Glal on
  • AldoAldo Hippo Hooray Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Actually, they released a Lifetime offer in Europe a few weeks before they announced F2P and I haven't gotten my money out of it yet. However: I get 500 points a month until THE ONE RING IS DESTROYED IN THE FIRES OF MOUNT DOOM ... or until the servers go offline.

    Anyway, in the (very) long run I'll get my money's worth over someone who played the original game to lv65, unsubscribed and now came back for free. I don't really mind, though. I save myself the hassle of purchasing new content from the store and I am lazy.

    Aldo on
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Aldo wrote: »
    However: I get 500 points a month until THE ONE RING IS DESTROYED IN THE FIRES OF MOUNT DOOM.

    You laugh, but in five years when the epilogue expansion to Mordor comes out where it's up to the heroes to clean up Middle Earth (After all, the monsters are still there in force.), and you stop getting points, who will laugh then?

    Archonex on
  • EQDuffyEQDuffy Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Archonex wrote: »
    But there's functionally no difference between the two subscription levels now. That makes no sense.

    It's the same difference that's always been there. You get everything a standard monthly sub gets, but you're not paying anything anymore.

    EQDuffy on
  • Saint JusticeSaint Justice Mercenary Mah-vel Baybee!!!Registered User regular
    edited December 2010
    So what exactly is the "good trial" that the OP mentions? I'm curious cause I got this game on steam sale for like $7.50 and I know it comes w/ a free month. Figured if I can use the trial and then use the same account for my free month I could extend my free time.

    Saint Justice on
    Some people play tennis, I erode the human soul. ~ Tycho
  • SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited December 2010
    So what exactly is the "good trial" that the OP mentions? I'm curious cause I got this game on steam sale for like $7.50 and I know it comes w/ a free month. Figured if I can use the trial and then use the same account for my free month I could extend my free time.

    Someone like myself gives you a referral code and if you subscribe, we get benefits. PM me your e-mail address.

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited January 2011
    In official news... who am I kidding, there is no official news to speak of.

    Someone went and bumped my year-dead Secret identity thread on the forums over there, that is the extent of anything interesting going on.

    Anyone have any idea when the game goes free-to-play so perhaps we can start discussing other topics again?

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I believe it's around DCUO's release.


    A quick perusal of the latest state of the game shows that the free to play update includes a hell of a lot more then just a freemium option to play. It looks like a full blown expansion, actually.


    Apparently alot of the content for areas like desert and canada was redesigned and expanded on, similar to Cataclysm. Major areas have gotten updated according to in-game events that happen during quests.

    For instance, that nuke that explodes sometimes in the atomic wastelands appears to have been converted by some inventive mutants to a full blown nuclear missile launcher that can target other areas of the zone. I'm assuming there's a quest or public event to take that monstrosity down.

    It's also confirmed that they're finally giving players a legitimate non-bug related option to cause your character to grow to ridiculous giant mecha/godzilla size levels, like we saw alot of at release.

    Pity they're not playing that up more. It'd help to calm down the people who are annoyed by the complete lack of content updates compared to STO.

    I half-way suspect that, without proper advertising (LOTRO had a massive advertising campaign behind it. They even had commercials.), this freemium idea is going to backfire badly however.

    Archonex on
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited January 2011
    The growth (and shrinking) option appear to be non-combat only (combat will cancel) and are C-Store items. The desert has been bumped in level, and post tutorial you now can do missions in Canada and Mil city.

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
  • ShanadeusShanadeus Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I just got a mail from Cryptic and I'm proud to announce that the game is going free-to-play on the 25th of January!

    Carry on with your business.

    Shanadeus on
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Wish I could talk about the F2P expansion, but the NDA on it is still up.


    I'll post a review once I can.

    Archonex on
  • ShanadeusShanadeus Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I thought the NDA was gone?

    Shanadeus on
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Shanadeus wrote: »
    I thought the NDA was gone?

    I just now accepted my beta invite earlier today, and I had to sign one, so i'm assuming there's still one up until told otherwise.

    Archonex on
  • ShanadeusShanadeus Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Would be quite weird to have the NDA up when the game is being released in just two weeks but I'll check it.

    Shanadeus on
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Check it out. If i'm wrong, i'll be glad to post some impressions.


    Edit: There are some things I can post, as they've been publically acknowledged in one form or another.


    First of all, if the live servers seem dead, it's because about half the game is on the beta servers at the moment. It's that good.


    Someone on Somethingawful took the opportunity to list a few of the new, confirmed powers. There are more powers then that (I can't say what, obviously.), but here are the NDA acceptable ones.


    - Archery: Gas Arrow: Creates a Gas Cloud at your targets location, causing AoE Toxic damage over time to targets in the cloud.
    - Darkness: Void Horror: Summons a single controllable pet made of shadow energy.
    - Darkness: Summon Shadows: Creates 3 beings of shadow energy that fight your foes for a short while.
    - Darkness: Void Shift: Blink out of existence for a moment and lunge at your target.
    - Fire: Fire Shield: Fire now has access to a block power of its own! This block can apply Clinging Flames to nearby attackers.

    - Ice: Avalanche: You rain down large chunks of ice on your foes.
    - Munitions: Steady Shot: An additional Energy Builder for the Munitions Framework, Steady Shot utilizes a well-aimed single pistol to attack your foes.
    - Sorcery: Pillar of Poz: Creates a column of magical energy, knocking your foes away from you.
    - Sorcery: Hex of Suffering: Your target pulses with magical energy, taking damage and dealing damage to foes near your target.
    - Sorcery: Vala's Breath: Heals friends in an area around your target.

    - Telekinesis: Ego Blade: A melee Energy Builder that utilizes Ego/Id blades.
    - Electricity: Lightning Storm: You repeatedly bring down lightning strikes upon your enemies.
    - Force: Force Snap: Creates a burst of Force energy just behind your target, Knocking them toward you.
    - Force: Force Geyser: You create a geyser of Force energy under your target, Knocking them up into the air.
    - Force: Crushing Wave: A maintained 50 foot cone attack that repels your enemies.



    I will also say that this expansion (And it really is a full blown expansion/content update.) opens up the opportunity for some crazy shit to be added in in the future. Stuff that CO's competitors really can't compete with, as they don't have the infrastructure up to support it yet, and probably won't, ever.

    CoH in particular probably won't be able to add a certain feature that folks will really like, due to the technical limitations imposed by the age of the game, and DCUO probably won't because it'd be too much work with the way the game is designed.



    There's also a new video that was put up on their website today titled "System Shock". It's worth a watch for those who are interested in CO and haven't tried it out yet.

    It also has some information about the F2P update. Of note, it describes the new intro area, shows some of the redone Westside, shows new missions/interiors, and confirms the existence of an over-arching plot for each area.

    http://www.champions-online.com/videos

    Archonex on
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I will, without a doubt, be coming back on the 25th. Hell I'll probably re-sub right off the bat, too.

    Accualt on
  • Fartacus_the_MightyFartacus_the_Mighty Brought to you by the letter A.Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Archonex wrote: »
    I will also say that this expansion (And it really is a full blown expansion/content update.) opens up the opportunity for some crazy shit to be added in in the future. Stuff that CO's competitors really can't compete with, as they don't have the infrastructure up to support it yet, and probably won't, ever.

    Is it customizable pets? Please tell me it's customizable pets. I mean, they're already doing it in STO.

    All this neat stuff makes me wish I'd gotten in on the beta when I first got an invite. I suppose it's not too late to start now.

    Fartacus_the_Mighty on
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Archonex wrote: »
    I will also say that this expansion (And it really is a full blown expansion/content update.) opens up the opportunity for some crazy shit to be added in in the future. Stuff that CO's competitors really can't compete with, as they don't have the infrastructure up to support it yet, and probably won't, ever.

    Is it customizable pets? Please tell me it's customizable pets. I mean, they're already doing it in STO.

    All this neat stuff makes me wish I'd gotten in on the beta when I first got an invite. I suppose it's not too late to start now.

    It's very close to that. Very close.


    All I can say without breaking NDA, I guess.

    Archonex on
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The new video on their webpage showed some footage of...not customizable so much as selectable looking pets. Like you select the model. I can't say for certain as the interface wasn't shown but you can, without a doubt, at least pick from a multitude of pre-made pets. The ice-Raptor alone convinced me to make a pet character. System Shock.

    Accualt on
  • Fartacus_the_MightyFartacus_the_Mighty Brought to you by the letter A.Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Accualt wrote: »
    The new video on their webpage showed some footage of...not customizable so much as selectable looking pets. Like you select the model. I can't say for certain as the interface wasn't shown but you can, without a doubt, at least pick from a multitude of pre-made pets. The ice-Raptor alone convinced me to make a pet character. System Shock.

    This is a fairly recent update, but it's something we already have on Live. And yes, the new pets are pretty awesome. It'd be nice, though, if 90% of them weren't mutually exclusive and didn't root us if we don't spend an extra two advantage points on each one. If we only had to spend one point on that, we could get them to rank 3, and they wouldn't do shit-tier damage anymore.

    edit: anybody run a primarily Power Armor build and get decent damage out of it? I rolled one on the test server and it seemed...kind of lackluster.

    Fartacus_the_Mighty on
  • AkinosAkinos Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    *pokes head in to scout out F2P feedback ... sneaks away*

    Akinos on
  • MrVyngaardMrVyngaard Live From New Etoile Straight Outta SosariaRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Akinos wrote: »
    *pokes head in to scout out F2P feedback ... sneaks away*

    Hey! It's that guy who helped make beating things up more possible!

    Thanks, man!

    MrVyngaard on
    "now I've got this mental image of caucuses as cafeteria tables in prison, and new congressmen having to beat someone up on inauguration day." - Raiden333
    camo_sig2.png
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Akinos wrote: »
    *pokes head in to scout out F2P feedback ... sneaks away*

    I'd post feedback on here, but I can't talk about it with a NDA up!

    Archonex on
  • ShawnaseeShawnasee Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Does anyone playing the beta think the 25th is too soon for live release?

    Are there things/bugs/balance issues you don't foresee being fixed/patched in a couple weeks?

    Shawnasee on
  • KadokenKadoken Giving Ends to my Friends and it Feels Stupendous Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Are we going able to customize our guys or are we all going to be that crazy sergeant guy if we choose him?

    Kadoken on
  • Just_Bri_ThanksJust_Bri_Thanks Seething with rage from a handbasket.Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited January 2011
    I'll be happy if they can give me my other boot back.

    [tiny]Missing costume pieces![/tiny]

    Just_Bri_Thanks on
    ...and when you are done with that; take a folding
    chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
  • ArchonexArchonex No hard feelings, right? Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Kadoken wrote: »
    Are we going able to customize our guys or are we all going to be that crazy sergeant guy if we choose him?

    I'll answer this, since if I lose my beta access over stating something so obvious, then there's some stupid people out there.


    No. You can still customize your character. Certain costumes are P2P, or have to be bought individually from the store, however. These are all pre F2P C-Store outfits, or outfits added after the F2P update though.

    For example. If you're a Gold member, you get access to all the costume sets currently in the store.

    I'm pretty sure this is also stated in an interview somewhere, too.

    Archonex on
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    You get all of the costume options currently in the game, short of the C-Store ones that everyone has to pay for anyway. You do NOT get to change the color of your powers, though. Otherwise all appearance options are available.

    Here is a whole big FAQ

    Accualt on
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