CoX goes bionic with Super Booster I: Cyborg Pack
by Adrian Bott 
Sep 17th 2008 at 6:00PM
Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions
Today's the release day for the City of Heroes Super Booster I: Cyborg Pack. Well, official release day: some players got a sneak preview yesterday when the pack was accidentally made available a day early. This isn't NCsoft's first foray into CoX microtransactions. We've already had the Wedding Pack and the Good versus Evil Add-on Pack for those who wanted a few optional extras. The Cyborg Pack looks like it puts both of those in the shade.The pack gives a new costume set with multiple pieces, and some emotes including the robot dance. There's a new sort of aura, too, which only activates when the character is in combat mode: for example, a holographic HUD that descends over the face when the character enters combat.
But it's the bonus power that tickled us the most. Like any good psychotic (or self-sacrificing) cyborg, you can self-destruct. A timer ticks down over your head, and then you asplode. Everything in a forty foot radius takes insane amounts of damage, and you die. There's no body left behind, either, so no shenanigans with Vengeance. For a truly spectacular visual use Rise of the Phoenix to rez yourself afterwards, as demonstrated by KitsuneAscendant.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Snorii said on 8:44PM 9-17-2008
That self destruct looks awesome.
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Johnny_Velocity said on 9:08PM 9-17-2008
So power giveaways, selling closed beta access, and now microtransactions - CoX is really adapting the WoW culture thoroughly. The good news: only 9.9 million customers to catch up!
No thanks - bring on the competition please!
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Heavy Tank said on 3:53AM 9-18-2008
hopefully the competition makes NC NorCal catch a wake up and make them develop a new game and graphics engine
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Stark1 said on 5:36PM 9-19-2008
Though I do kind of agree with Heavy Tank. The game needs some real innovation to compete and I only see a new game engine doing that. That survey they issued that some forum goers caught wind of and posted on showed me they are still in rehash mode. As an example, while global enhancement slots sounds interesting, it shows they do not want to make new powers, new missions and new animations unlike other games(i.e. they do not want to increase the level cap). We already have Inventions which was a rehash of the Enhancement system. We don't need another.
I'm starting to think these microtransactions are a way to milk players before they realize NCSoft has big plans for the game but so far has been unable to deliver. Even though I fell for it because 1) I really liked the HUD 2) I wanted to blow up my Defenders(only reason to log them in anymore).
Haggs said on 9:12AM 9-18-2008
The Cyborg Pack is really awesome. I bought one was almost immediately and have already applied the new costume bits to several of my characters. And I love the self destruct power. It's so much fun!
I'm glad they're doing these packs because no only do we get cool new stuff but the money we pay for it goes back into the game for new cool stuff. It's a win-win!
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fatfoogoo said on 9:17AM 9-18-2008
Brilliant! This is exactly my theory on microtransactions - temporary benefits, thereby keeping the overall 'fairness' of the game in tact. Well done NC Soft. Have a view of my take on what microtransactions should/could be if you like at:
http://www.fatfoogoo.com/2008/09/red-bull-and-headshot-one-opinion-about-micro-transactions
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Fisty said on 1:36PM 9-18-2008
The splodie power is SO much fun! The emotes are quite entertaining, and add a new dimension to the roleplay. I haven't explored much of the costume option, due to the only robot hero I have is lvl18, but the HUD fits perfectly with with a tech armour-type of hero.
Great idea! Keep these booster packs coming! They add to the best feature about the game (costumes) without impacting balance and gameplay.
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Breck said on 10:35AM 9-19-2008
A couple years ago, when I was still playing CoH, I suggested a new powerset called Self Destruct where all primary powers would be some form of suicidal PBAoE, and all secondary powers would be some form of rez. Of course I have no proof that I posted this now, since the forum purged it. Anyway, maybe one of the devs read it and kept it in the back of their mind. Or maybe it's just a huge coincidence.
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Stark1 said on 5:21PM 9-19-2008
They need to fix the colors of the HUD while in SG mode. After finishing at the tailor, I was disappointed to see only one color and then someone mentioned to go out of SG mode. At that point I could see the two-color design I purchased through the tailor. Unfortunately, there are no options for Auras in the SG color options. And ever since the latest change to earning Prestige, who leaves SG mode that often? Kind of soured the experience after spending the $10.
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