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Massively in Metropolis: DC Universe Online concept art sneak peek
Batman. Superman. Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter. Black Canary, Oracle, The Question. The world of DC Comics is populated with amazing characters and fantastic stories. The entire four-color experience is coming to fans of the MMO genre in the form of DC Universe Online, a title in Sony Online Entertainment's stable of next-gen MMOs. Alongside the FPS title The Agency and casual/kid friendly Free Realms, DCUO looks to reinvent the concept of massively multiplayer game for comic book fans. And Massively has had a lengthy first-hand look at this groundbreaking title.We had extensive hands-on playtime with the game's combat and powers mechanics, and hours of face to face chat time with the developers at SOE Austin. Over the next week, Massively is going to fully explore this dyanmic in-development game. In the words of the developers we'll crack into the studio's philosophy of play and discover the value these developers place on your play time.To kick things off we've got a fantastic gallery of concept art taken right from the walls of the SOE Austin studios. Explore the work of Jim Lee and the other DCUO artists, with commentary on what you're seeing and hints on what is coming in the next week. Plus! Read on below the cut for Studio Manager John Blakely's insights into 'future screenshots'! To the Batcave >> %Gallery-34118%
AT&T maintenance tonight to cause connection issues
A news announcement on the login screen is letting us all know that AT&T, the people who provide data center service to Blizzard, will be performing maintenance tonight from 12:00 a.m. EST until 5:00 a.m. EST. This will likely cause problems with both being able to login to the game and stay connected. This is an odd maintenance announcement, and one that I don't recall seeing before.Hopefully this will not develop into anything more serious – such as extended network outages or other such issues.
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 7
Williams: You know, the thing about MMOs, especially if you look at Star Wars Galaxies, when Galaxies came out, not to beat on poor Rat one more time, but here I go – when Galaxies came out, the idea of the sandbox structure was the predominant theory.
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 4
I'm sorry but that's the way it's going to be. quot; We had the luxury of ripping that out and going back in and doing it correctly. And so that's why the ship combat is so freaking cool and why avatar combat is going to be a hell of a lot better after we go through this process for it.
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 2
Pirates of the Burning Sea is a competitive game in which players take the role of adventurers in a romanticized version of the Caribbean in the age of sails and seek fame, fortune, and glory for themselves and their nations. This is really the vision statement that we should have had five years ago.
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 5
In EverQuest, there's a place called Lake Wrath. When I played EverQuest there was this rumor that there was a sea monster in Lake Wrath and that no one had seen it or that one person had seen it and he had a screenshot – or was it really a screenshot or was it a fake screenshot. The problem is that EverQuest had monsters that only spawned once a year.
Dragon*Con 2008: Flying Lab Software on Pirates
At this year's Dragon*Con, we ran into Flying Lab Software's Russell Williams (CEO) and Kevin Maginn (PotBS Lead Designer) who had a lot to say about the design philosophy behind Pirates of the Burning Sea as well as the challenges of continuing to work on a live game. After its release in January, Pirates has continued growing with monthly updates, providing new game systems and new content. How do the designers decide where Pirates is going from here? We've got the skinny on both where Pirates came from and where it's going, after the jump. %Gallery-12977%
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 6
We just always assumed that players can always struggle through to find ways of making social match-making but the fact is that we have a lot more casual players as a demographic than in a lot of other MMOs because we have a much broader audience than typically the EQ people. Somebody data mined out all of our ship stats and that's the reference we use for our ships now.
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 8
So it's not that bad, but people grind constantly to pay for their PvP ships. We don't want people to do that so we're making it so you don't have to, much the same way that WoW did with the Shattered Sun dailies.
Flying Lab Software on Pirates, part 3
People don't like it and there is a hard core of people who really enjoy it but, frankly, most people avoid it. Well, I sat down and started playing with it and decided that, in fact, it was pretty much what I wanted in terms of how interesting and complex it was. It was just, essentially, totally unplayable.
Geoff Johns revealed as writer for DC Universe Online
How do you make DC Universe Online with Jim Lee in charge of the art direction even more exciting for comic fans? You bring Geoff Johns on as writer for the game's backstory. Geoff is the man responsible for one of the best runs on The Flash, his envisioning of Green Lantern: Rebirth and the highly engaging cooperative effort that was 52. Basically, if you're a fan of DC comics and haven't bothered with them for a while, you should really check his stuff out.According to the Newsarama interview with Geoff, he's only responsible for writing the general state of the world, its characters and the whole story behind why all these new superheroes (that'd be us) are suddenly cropping up everywhere. Beyond that, nothing has been confirmed, although he did say it'd be possible to come back to write more stuff. In that regard, Geoff also says the game will be set more or less within the current DCU at the time of launch. Players can expect to see story arcs both new and old -- or something like them -- to eventually show their faces. If DC comics fans were only a little excited before this is a reason to start smiling, or maybe even do a fist-pump. Go ahead, we won't look.[Thanks, Haggs]
The Daily Grind: PAX or Dragon*Con?
On one side, we have the Penny Arcade crew. Gabe and Tycho are much loved, and for good reason. Penny Arcade continues to be one of the most kick-ass comics out there for gamer culture, and their commentary runs the gamut from deep to hilarious. On the other hand, we have Dragon*Con, with 21 years of everything from pen & paper RPGs to cosplay to stars of the big and little screens. As we've heard it described -- "if a geek ever looked at something and said 'cool', it's probably represented at Dragon*Con." The folks in charge of running Dragon*Con put on approximately 850 hours of panel programming over four days on everything from anime to MMOGs to writing for over 40,000 attendees annually. The only problem is that both PAX and Dragon*Con have unfortunately landed on the same weekend this year, and it looks like this may be a continuing tradition. So for this morning, we thought we'd ask what your travel plans are for next week. Will you be attending PAX in Seattle, soaking up the gamer culture with Gabe and Tycho? Or will you be heading for Dragon*Con in Hotlanta, the East coast spot for all things geeky pop culture? (For those of you not going to either, have no fear; Massively will be on the ground at both conventions, bringing you all the news!)
DC, Capcom partner to bring Resident Evil and Devil May Cry to the funny pages
Maybe it was sitting back and seeing the competition (Marvel) clean house in the games industry but DC Comics has really jumped onto videogames lately. From Mortal Kombat vs DC to the game based on The Dark Knight we all know is coming, DC is jumping in the gaming pool with both feet. Another example of DC going for a profit swim is the announcement that DC Comics and Capcom plan to bring Resident Evil and Devil May Cry to the comic world. The agreement with Capcom isn't the only gaming deal DC has struck lately as the comic giant is also working with EA to release a six-part comic prequel based on the upcoming Mirror's Edge and with Microsoft to publish a series based on Gears of War set to arrive in October. No other details were given about the two Capcom projects but hope that DC's Devil May Cry comic series turns out well, otherwise they could end up filing for bankruptcy like the last team who tried.[via Joystiq]
DC, Capcom partner for Resident Evil, Devil May Cry comics
Whether it's a fist in Batman's gullet or the opportunity for cosplayers to suit up without ever putting needle to thread, it's become increasingly clear that DC Comics has a thing for video games. The latest example of this comes from a deal between DC and Capcom, which will see a pair of new comic book series created based on Resident Evil and Devil May Cry.The agreement is DC's second in as many weeks following last week's deal with EA for a six-part comic book series based on Mirror's Edge, and like that series, both Resident Evil and Devil May Cry adaptations will be released under DC's Wildstorm umbrella. However, with so little to go on, and a creative team and launch month left unspecified until a later date, we doubt we'll be adding either title to our monthly pull lists just yet.
DC producing Mirror's Edge prequel comic
Electronic Arts has announced a partnership with DC Comics to produce a six part comic series based on the upcoming run-em-up Mirror's Edge. The comic will take place before the events of the game and chronicle the back-story of its main character, Faith, promising that "Frame by frame, page by page, [readers will] learn more about the events that shaped both her and the city." The comic will be penned by Rhianna Pratchet -- who is also the writer of the game itself -- and drawn by artist Matthew Dow Smith. The first issue will be available at the San Diego Comic-Con this weekend. Details on when the comic will be more widely available are still up in the air.[Via Joystiq]
Mirror's Edge comic coming from DC
Everyone likes to prepare for big video games in different ways. Some like to watch video walkthroughs or even trailers, both of which are very normal. But some people, get this, like to read. And not even normal internet reading like you or me, but reading from paper. Rather than scold this deviant subset, EA is actually encouraging their perversion with a six-part comic book series based on upcoming Mirror's Edge, on DC's Wildstorm imprint. Here's the weird thing: After fans pick up the first issue at their local shop or at San Diego Comic Con, if they get bored while reading it, do you think they can just poke a different part of the page to read something else? No. No, they can't. They have to literally put the comic down and pick up something else to do. C'mon people, live in the now!
MK vs. DC to have 20+ characters, download support
Even cynics like us have to admit at least a passing curiosity with the nerd orgasm that is Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and its cross-universe roster. Earlier today we approached the game's production coordinator, Hector Sanchez, and while he would not let us in on the game's complete lineup, he admitted that the team is looking to feature between 20 to 25 characters, "split up evenly half and half, and then split up again between heroes and villains."Additionally, while talking about possible alternate costumes or other unlockables, Sanchez told us that the team is "planning to support downloadable content," before stopping short and saying he "was going to say something" but couldn't. Downloadable characters seems the obvious source of his pursed lips, making us continue wondering what comic book icons will be further ground beneath the heel of Midway's floundering franchise.
E308: A first look at DC Universe Online
As you may have noticed, today SOE has been showing off their upcoming MMO DC Universe Online at E3 today. Though we'll have a detailed writeup soon (as soon as our fingers can type it!) featuring all of the details we squeezed from the development team, we wanted to share some of the game's concept art and screenshots. All we can say is that we can't wait for Comic-Con, when we'll have a chance to get our hands on a playable build of the game.%Gallery-27752%%Gallery-27756%
First Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe gameplay trailer is toasty
The weekend before E3 is a magical time for video game trailer connoisseurs -- many game developers, in an attempt to get a head start on the hype frenzy, will release new media for their blockbuster titles in order to pique the interest of E3 attendees. Not exactly the wisest move, as most of these West Coast-bound bloggers will be spending most of their weekend deciding if it would be a fashion faux pas to bring a fanny pack to the convention, in order to house their digital cameras, iPhones, audio recorders, handheld gaming devices, and their precious energy drinks.With our staunch anti-fanny pack mentality already set in stone, we're able to skip said deliberation and show you these trailers -- the first of which being the gameplay debut for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. While our mind still boggles at the logistics of how Superman can even feel our measly human punches, the game looks gorgeous, and the mid-air combat between arena tiers looks badass. Hopefully, Midway's E3 booth will give us a chance to get our hands on MK vs. DC, and, as a result, murder some of our favorite childhood heroes.
New Mortal Kombat vs. DC screenshots are fairly brutal
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/New_Pics_from_Mortal_Kombat_VS_DC_Universe'; Let's face it -- one of the main things that has set Mortal Kombat apart from its contemporaries throughout the years has been its inclusion of flagrant acts of grisly violence. When Ed Boon explained that the upcoming Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe would explore the softer side of the series with Teen-rated acts of pugilistic carnage, many fans were upset, as it seemed their thirst for evisceration would go unslaked. The latest salvo of screenshots for the brawler from Midway might confirm or ease your fears of a censored MK title -- no, there's no evidence of any impromptu spine-removal procedures, but there's pummeling and arm-breaking aplenty. Does the latest entry in the toasty franchise look gruesome enough for your sinister bloodlust? Gallery: Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe
