Vehicles, 200 weapons and hospitalized writers in Champions Online

by Kyle Horner Feb 13th 2009 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, News items, Champions Online

All right, so maybe the 200 mundane weapons available in Champions Online won't fit into a vehicle -- but it makes for some startling imagery. Unfortunately, according to the panel which took place last weekend at the New York Comic-con, Champions Online is unlikely to launch with drivable wheels of steel or any other form of bodacious transportation. But don't feel like all is lost, because Cryptic was quick mention that situation would be remedied soon after CO-day.

(Everyone calls launch day CO-day, right?)

John Layman, the kind and quirky Champions Online writer, had plenty to say about how much he wrote. Apparently the man locked himself away in a room and was sustained via comics, game updates and snack packs. At least this is our assumption when we found out he wrote 29 pages of content for a single segment of one neighborhood in one zone. At least John is able to chat with Steve Long (writer of the table-top RPG) to coordinate between the next book and Cryptic's MMO version.

As for other bits of less news-like things -- but otherwise entertaining -- Bill Roper's final word on how the game was originally built around Marvel before being switched over to the Champions table-top IP were, "Marvel Shmarvel" Incidentally, Marvel announced a new paste spread by the very same name this weekend. At least, they did in our twisted minds.

Tags: atari, bill-roper, champions-online, cryptic, cryptic-studios, john-layman, new-york-comic-con, nycc, snack-pack, vehicle, weapons

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr. Smite said on 11:19AM 2-13-2009

It certainly seems to be the trend at the moment to promise loads of things -after- launch, just so they can rush the game out faster.

Seriously, on consoles it's so called "DLC" that they have the nerve to charge you for, and for MMOs it's scurrying to filch off of WoW's glory as fast as possible.

I am a big fan of the extremely rare game that releases finished, crafted beautifully and lovingly and shows that dedication. And yes I do know that mmos evolve after the first release, it's natural. But witholding key features until a later date is bad news these days when games are trying to compete with the juggernaught.

Haggs said on 11:28AM 2-13-2009

Well, everyone's idea of "key feature" is different. Yours appears to be vehicles, while another person's idea of a key feature might be making it in at launch (like the Nemesis System). MMO developers can't please everyone. They just have to hope that they've included as many cool features as they can in the launch to hold people until they can include more in future updates.

Vulturion said on 11:51AM 2-13-2009

I'm shocked vehicles are on the drawing board at all, unless they are basically just mounts that you summon & which disappear in a cloud of smoke when combat begins.

Even if they are just mounts, if the creation systems is anything like character & power creation then it'll still be something to get very excited about.