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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Moving forward after City of Heroes
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. 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. I've written the last word there is for me to write on the subject of City of Heroes, 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.
Marvel Heroes admits that yes, it does have a story
It would be a mistake to assume that just because Marvel Heroes is taking the form of a Diablo-style action game it's lacking any substantial lore. In fact, Gazillion chief writer Brian Michael Bendis claims in a new dev diary 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." 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. 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. Check out the story of Marvel Heroes after the jump!
A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Potential new homes after City of Heroes
Despite what many of us might feel, the world is not ending when City of Heroes shuts down. Just our world. But the sun will continue shining, other games will continue running, and most likely your interest in video games will not evaporate. So after an appropriate period of mourning, it's going to be time to think about getting together with another game. The problem, of course, is that nothing else can ever be City of Heroes. Like Benjamin Franklin, nothing can serve as its replacement, merely as its successor. But it's worth examining some of the more reasonable and likely destinations for the community. I'm sure there are more, but the four I've listed seem to be the games that either are or will be hoovering up a large number of the game's former players, games that are close enough to what CoH represents to serve as a reasonable successor. So let's look at our potential new homes and see what they have to offer, both good and bad.
NYCC 2012: New Marvel Heroes characters and trailer debut
What better place to learn more about a game based on comic books than a comic book convention? Marvel Heroes had its own panel earlier today at the New York Comic Con, where devs not only shared a new trailer but announced three new playable heroes. And luckily for folks who missed the chance to see the panel live, Gazillion Entertainment has been sharing the announcements via Twitter! Along with such iconic heroes as The Hulk, Wolverine, and the Human Torch, players will also have the choice to play as Phoenix (Jean Grey), Luke Cage, and NOVA. Although fairly brief, the new features trailer shows off different abilities, a variety of costumes, a quick peek at some multiplayer zones, and a glimpse of a few iconic villains. Check it all out after the break.
Check out 25 minutes of Marvels Heroes in action
It's been a great day for preview videos and tours, and we've got another fascinating one for you if you have 25 minutes to spare. Gamespot posted a playthrough video of Marvel Heroes, complete with developer commentary, and it's a doozy. The video portion follows Deadpool through an instance called The Raft -- a giant ocean prison tower. While the combat isn't too sophisticated, it's cool to see scripted events and impressive entrances made by enemies. Later on, the devs show off a public zone where Iron Man blasts through hordes of enemies while encountering Daredevil, Storm, Wolverine, the Thing, the Hulk, and the Scarlet Witch. If you're looking for a superhero-slant on Diablo-style gameplay, then give this video a watch and see if it might be right for you.
Marvel Heroes assures fans that it's 'completely free'
Worried that you'll hit a content wall in Marvel Heroes and be unable to progress without taking out your wallet? Rest easy today, gentle player, for this is not to be. Gazillion President David Brevik said that he dislikes the vagaries of the free-to-play label and assured players that Marvel Heroes is going to be as up-front with its business model as possible. "We aren't just a little bit free," Brevik said. "We're completely free. All the content is free and there are others things that you can buy to enhance your experience but they are completely optional. This isn't a nickel and dime experience we're creating." Brevik admitted that the team had to take liberties with the Marvel IP to make it all work as an MMO but has faith that it will be received well by fans after the Avengers movie this past summer. Marvel Heroes is currently accepting closed beta signups.
Marvel Heroes opens up closed beta signups
If you're a fan of superheroes, you are no doubt are well aware of the grave darkness approaching the genre. But there are also bright lights on the horizon, and one of them just got a fair bit brighter. Marvel Heroes has posted its first community blog entry announcing the opening of closed beta signups, giving potential players a chance to jump into the game and test it out before the rest of the world gets ahold of it. Note the word "testing" in there; it's emphasized in the blog entry as well as this is a beta meant to provide important test feedback rather than just give everyone an early look at the game. If you're still interested, the blog entry has a very straightforward signup procedure that will give you a chance to be selected for testing, with the promise of other ways to obtain beta access in the near future.
PAX Prime 2012: Marvel Heroes video interview touches on costumes, public combat zones
In a video interview at PAX Prime, Associate Producer Matt Group discussed different aspects of the upcoming superhero MMORPG Marvel Heroes. Some of the topics he touched on include rotating between characters, public combat zones, multiple costumes, the free-to-play philosophy, and the fact that much of the world is open (although boss fights are mostly instanced). Group also mentioned that Gazillion Entertainment has access to every Marvel character and location possible. Folks who prefer console gaming but love the idea of slipping into the skin of their favorite super heroes can take heart; Group stated, "Once we have a solid grip on [the PC game] we want to move on to whatever other platforms there are out there." When is the game launching? Group says, "Sooner than you think." Closed beta, however, is beginning on October 1st. Check out the full interview after the cut.
Marvel Heroes releases new heroes, closed beta details
PAX Prime might be over, but the good news isn't! The Marvel Heroes team made use of the convention to announce three new heroes: Punisher, Daredevil, and Squirrel Girl. Yes, Squirrel Girl. If you're eager to run around with a prehensile tail and an ability to communicate with small forest rodents, a dose of closed beta testing information might be just what you're looking for. Marvel Heroes' CBT begins October 1st, 2012. On that date you'll be able to create a free account and have a chance to join the beta. New testers will be added over time, so fear not if you're not selected to join right away. Interested in a glimpse of what's to come? Check out Marvel Heroes' newest trailer.
New Marvel Heroes trailer is all about cleaning up the kitchen
Yes, you read that title correctly. Marvel Heroes has put out a trailer that's all about cleaning up the kitchen. Specifically, cleaning up Hell's Kitchen, one of the cheapest areas of Manhattan and a hotbed of organized crime and ethnic tensions. (In the Marvel universe, anyway. In the real world it's pretty high-rent now.) Fans of Marvel can probably guess at the major players in the trailer just by knowing the area. Even if you're not familiar with the comics, however, the trailer makes it clear that the area is crawling with crime under the direction of the infamous Kingpin, with both relatively normal thugs with guns and superpowered threats like Electra and Bullseye. Plenty of space for an enterprising hero to clean things up, in other words. Check out the full trailer just past the break. If that makes you curious for more information about how the game plays, you can jump back a little and read our hands-on impression. [Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]
Marvel Heroes chief: 'It's very Diablo-like'
Gazillion founder David Brevik opened up in an interview at Comic-Con, talking about Marvel Heroes' strong suits (pun intended). When asked about how this title will keep players coming back for more, Brevik said "It's very Diablo-like: random levels and lots of items that drop. It's very addictive gameplay, as well as lots of endgame content that we haven't talked about yet." Brevik also discussed the game's story, which pits players against a nefarious plot by Doctor Doom. The key parts of the story will be told in over an hour's worth of motion comics. The team is strongly leaning on the Marvel IP to draw in fans and is relying on well-known heroes and classic locations to make geeks happy. When asked why players will not be allowed to make their own superheroes but instead will be forced to play one of Marvel's pre-existing characters, Brevik said that the game's system is just more compelling. While he admits that there could be 20 Spideys all in the same area, he points out that players have the option of switching their active character or choosing a different costume. You can watch the full video after the jump!
Marvel Heroes unveils Rocket Raccoon
The team of playable heroes in Marvel Heroes just keeps getting more and more impressive. Today's addition is the furry and ferocious Rocket Raccoon. An anthropomorphic raccoon, Rocket is more than just sentient -- he's a tactical genius, great with a gun, and unwaveringly heroic. Rocket Raccoon has some close ties with the Guardians of the Galaxy (you know, that team that Marvel Studios just announced is getting its own movie), and he's out to save the universe whether it wants to be saved or not. We don't know much about this little fellow's in-game powers yet, but keep an eye on his hero information page to find out.
Marvel Heroes Comic-Con trailer shows off combat
If you haven't been watching this year's San Diego Comic-Con closely to see what tidbits are revealed, don't worry -- we've got you covered. One such tidbit is the new Marvel Heroes trailer released by Gazillion Entertainment as part of the free-to-play game's panel at the convention. Although short, the video shows off a few of the playable superheroes demonstrating their evil-vanquishing moves. For 40 seconds, fans can watch Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain America, The Hulk, Human Torch, Deadpool, and Black Widow kick, smash, pound, and blast their foes. Check out the combat preview in the video after the break.
The Daily Grind: Is it game over if you can't design your own character?
Because the superhero genre attracts both people who like designing comicbook characters and people who are fans of existing icons, Marvel Heroes' implementation of playable Marvel characters has had a polarizing effect on gamers. "People will not want to be like the characters; they want to be the characters," declared one of our commenters back when the game was first announced. "As much as I love Captain America, Spiderman, and Wolverine... I'd not want to play them," mused another. You almost have to feel sorry for Gazillion: The studio can't please everyone. So today we're wondering which side you take in the debate. Would you rather play the real thing than play your own invention or a cheesy knockoff (after all, existing superhero MMOs are overflowing with Hulk, Iron Man, and Batman clones anyway)? Or do you agree with the Massively reader who posted that "the whole point of an MMO is to play your own creation"? Is it game over if you can't design your own character? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Marvel Heroes turns the flame on with the Human Torch
We hope you're dressed for warm weather because Marvel Heroes' latest addition to the roster is sure to heat things up a bit. The Fantastic Four's cocky Johnny Storm, better known as the Human Torch, has officially been announced as the title's newest playable character. Johnny's presence in the game also makes him the first member of the Fantastic Four to hit the playable character roster, though hopefully Sue, Reed, and Ben will be around to help keep the Human Torch in line. We don't have any details on the Human Torch's gameplay abilities or anything of the sort, but we do know that he's categorized as an energy-based ranged attacker, so players can probably expect to be flinging fireballs with reckless abandon. But while you wait for more details and more heroes to be announced, head on over to Marvel's official site to check out the company's live coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2012.
Hands-on with Marvel Heroes
Earlier this week, Gazillion Entertainment invited the press to participate in a hands-on demo of its upcoming MMO, Marvel Heroes. Massively sent freelancer Emil Vazquez to try the game out and tell us what he thought. I went into the Marvel Heroes demo fully expecting the game to reflect the design influence of David Brevik, the esteemed co-founder of Blizzard North (of Diablo and Diablo II fame) and now Gazillion's president. In that, I wasn't disappointed. Though the game proudly touts a stable of MMO buzzwords -- grouping, instances, shared worlds -- it's easy to see Marvel Heroes as a sort of spiritual successor to Diablo, and Brevik's influence shines through. It might be massively multiplayer, but it's a loot-based brawler at heart. And it's going to be free-to-play.
The MMO Report: Marvel Heroes edition
The title of this week's installment of The MMO Report isn't meant to be catchy; it's meant to make it clear that the show is exactly what it says on the tin. Host Casey Schreiner is joined by Gazillion Entertainment president David Brevik to talk about the upcoming Marvel Heroes for the entirety of the show as well as show off a bit of footage from the game's various trailers. If that sounds interesting to you, then you're in for a treat. Brevik explains that while players will be forced to choose from an existing roster of heroes, the game does offer several ways to differentiate between them through different costumes and different power selections. He also explains that he wants the game to feel similar to Diablo II in gameplay, with the MMO aspects changing the play environment rather than the core gameplay. Check out the episode just past the cut, and stay tuned each week for a new installment of The MMO Report from G4TV and Massively.
Marvel Heroes outlined in debut dev diary
Gazillion Entertainment's President and COO, David Brevik, used Marvel Heroes' first dev diary to tout some features of the upcoming free-to-play title. Marvel Heroes claims to combine Diablo-esque action with an MMO world stocked with Marvel personalities and locations. Players will be able to choose from the best characters that Marvel has to offer, which Brevik pointed out means that characters will have backstories and relationships with other characters which will make them that much more engaging. These familiar heroes will be running through well-known Marvel environments, but Brevik says that there is an element of randomness that will keep the spirit of adventure and discovery alive. The game comes with all the best parts of the Marvel universe: Multiple suits for characters allow players to choose between iconic looks, the story itself is being shaped by comic book legend Brian Michael Bendis, and motion comics illustrated by Marvel artists bring the story to life. If you're the type that needs to see to believe, there's good news: Marvel Heroes will be playable at the Marvel Booth (#2329) at Comic-Con International: San Diego. According to a Gazillion press release, fans in attendance will be able to play as one of four Marvel heroes and wade into Mutant Town to face off against Magneto. Marvel will be holding other events during the con, with plans for contests, giveaways, and a games panel where new Marvel Heroes characters and content will be revealed. To hear the big man himself, head below the drop to check out the dev diary video.
Stephen Reid is 'on again' with Gazillion Entertainment
Stephen Reid, most recently one of the folks steering the consular ship that is the Star Wars: The Old Republic community, has found a home (once again) with Gazillion Entertainment. The industry vet has worked as Gazillion's Community Director previously and says he's both really happy and "strangely nervous" to be back to the job and working on Marvel games. "The future of gaming isn't certain and a 'job for life' doesn't exist. All you can do is follow your passion and your heart and hope it leads somewhere great. That's what I've done for my entire career, and I'm not going to stop now." Reid's now working on the up-and-running Super Hero Squad Online and the soon-to-be-launched Marvel Heroes. If you want to know more about the move, hit up his Tumblr post or listen in on this TORWars.com podcast.
Scarlet Witch joins the Marvel Heroes roster
Marvel Heroes got a little more magical today as developer Gazillion Entertainment announced the addition of the Scarlet Witch as a playable character. This heroine/villainess is perhaps most famous for depowering 90% of the mutant population in House of M (spoiler alert!), and her reality-altering powers are certainly not to be scoffed at. Scarlet Witch is the first character to be announced since the game's first official trailer was unveiled last month, but hopefully we can look forward to quite a few more in the coming weeks. For more details on newcomer Scarlet Witch and the other playable characters of Marvel Heroes, head on over to the game's official site.
