Filed under: DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online creative director answers questions from the fans

by James Egan Oct 27th 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, New titles, DC Universe Online

One of the upcoming SOE titles we're hoping to hear more about is DC Universe Online -- the superhero MMO that will build on the DC Comics legacy. DC Universe Online's Creative Director Chris Cao recently did a video interview with DCUO Source that explains how the devs have approached the game's design.

Cao fielded a number of questions posed to him by the fansite's readers -- How will player feedback impact the game's development? Will there be voicework in DCUO from the actors who've voiced characters in the various DC animated series and video games (specifically, Kevin Conroy)? How will DCUO handle secret identities? All good questions. For the answers, check out the video interview with Chris Cao at DCUO Source.

[Via MMORPG.com]

The Green Arrow unveiled in DC Universe Online

by Kyle Horner Sep 30th 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Screenshots, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

SOE have released oodles of concept art and screenshots for The Green Arrow in DC Universe Online. In case you didn't know, he's green and uh, well he shoots arrows. He's also known as Oliver Jonas "Ollie" Queen and was originally created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp back in 1941.

He may not be Batman or Superman, but Ollie can toss punches with the best of 'em. Plus, he's a crack shot who can land an arrow directly between your eyes at unprecedented ranges. Plus, and we're sure some of you will find this amusing, he's a billionaire and former mayor.

Gallery: DC Universe Online Concept Art

Gallery: DC Universe Online Screenshots

DCUO offers up new screens for AGDC

by Krystalle Voecks Sep 16th 2009 at 6:30PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, New titles, DC Universe Online

With AGDC getting started today, we've been keeping our eyes out for anything new and cool to bring your way. As if to answer our early eyes, Sony Online Entertainment have decided to release a handful of new screens from DC Universe Online as well. These new screens continue to develop on the S.T.A.R. Labs screens we saw coming out of GamesCom, as well as offering us another look at that fan favorite - Green Lantern!

While we're glad that the team at SOE are taking as long as they need to make an awesome game, we'd be lying if we didn't say we're waiting with bated breath for beta access. We can't help it - many of us grew up reading Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and myriad other DC titles so the idea of playing alongside our childhood heroes sounds pretty cool in our books. Perhaps we'll get some other tidbits of DC Universe Online out of AGDC with luck!

Gallery: DC Universe Online Screenshots

Hal Jordan, Green Lantern, DC Universe Online screenshots

by Kyle Horner Aug 29th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Screenshots, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

"In brightest days, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"

If you're a comic book fan, then chances are you've heard this at one time or another. If you're a Green Lantern fan, then what's more likely is you say it at every opportunity you get. But let's face it, life doesn't really offer many favorable circumstances for reciting the Lantern's Oath. That's why we're hoping against hope that SOE goes all out and allows players to join the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps, which is essentially an intergalactic police force, in DC Universe Online.

Considering Geoff Johns, who is currently finishing up his amazing Green Lantern comic run, helped pen the game's storyline, we expect nothing less than amazing things when dawning our green (or otherwise?) ring once DC Universe Online is out. Check out the rest of the bevy of new Hal Jordan screenshots in our gallery.

Gallery: DC Universe Online Screenshots

Alpha and beta status updates on DC Universe Online

by Kyle Horner Aug 28th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

There hasn't been a lot of new information flying about on DC Universe Online, which is probably just a sign that the SOE team over at Austin, TX are keeping their collective noses to the grinder and pushing for beta sometime in the coming months.

Actually, according to a Gamasutra interview with Wes Yanagi that very much seems to be the case, although he doesn't out and say as much. It sounds like cross-platform and controller/UI iteration are probably giving SOE the most grief. We take it as a good sign that they're not rushing it, though, as it shows their seriousness at making this 'massively multiplayer action game' work.

As for alpha and beta? According to Wes, "We're still pre-alpha. We're really close to hitting our alpha goals, so hopefully in the next several months, we'll start talking about it." Seems like the game is still a ways off into the future. So long as SOE doesn't release near a World of Warcraft expansion, we think they'll do just fine.

New DCUO screens appear out of GamesCom

by Seraphina Brennan Aug 20th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: At a glance, Super-hero, Galleries, Screenshots, DC Universe Online

From the deep recesses of GamesCom comes the one threat that no one predicted. The arrival of... "them."

Yes, "they" have appeared. All eight of them. They've come marching out of the convention to media sites across the internet, seeking superheroic domination over the masses. They show images, amazing images, of things to come in our future. They are... screenshots!

Ok, so perhaps the screenshots don't deserve their own movie trailer, but they are quite impressive. DC Universe Online is shaping up to be quite a gorgeous game in its own right, and we've gotten eight more insights into the game. S.T.A.R. Labs is featured prominently in these shots, and we even have one of Batman facing off against the Joker.

Check out our gallery below, and be transfixed!

Gallery: GamesCom '09: DC Universe Online

Jim Lee and Marv Wolfman speak on DC Universe Online experiences

by Seraphina Brennan Aug 10th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, DC Universe Online

When you are making a game based on some of the best comic book heroes of all time, it only makes sense that you bring in some of the best talent from the comic industry to help you in your endeavors. Enter Marv Wolfman and Jim Lee, two men who know their DC Comics. Marv has written for the New Teen Titans and the current iteration of Robin while Jim Lee started his art career with Punisher: War Journal and Alpha Flight. Currently, Marv Wolfman is writing for DC Universe Online while Jim Lee sits in the creative director's chair.

Carolyn Koh from MMORPG.com recently caught up to both Marv and Jim and had the opportunity to ask them some questions about what will be seen in the game, how closely it will tie into the current run of DC Comics, and some of their favorite gaming experiences. If you're looking for a sneak-peek into what may be in store for DCUO and what goes on in the minds of these two men, look no further than these interviews hosted over at MMORPG.com

Massively's top four upcoming MMOs that let you fly

by Shawn Schuster Jul 24th 2009 at 3:30PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Aion, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Global Agenda, Champions Online, DC Universe Online

The ability to fly has always intrigued us as humans. Even in Leonardo da Vinci's day, the fascination with flight was so overwhelming that he dedicated much of his life to the discovery of getting us off the ground. Modern(ish) technology has helped us realize da Vinci's vision, through the use of enclosed vehicles or other large mechanical contraptions, but we have yet to truly master the art of personal flight.

This is where games can be more than just a way to have some fun; they can be a way to live vicariously through our avatars. As in-game art gets more and more realistic -- especially in scenery and lighting effects -- we can visit lands that we wouldn't ordinarily be able to, for a much smaller hit to our wallets. In-game flight is becoming very popular lately as we've noticed a certain influx of upcoming games with this feature. Not only can you fly in these games, but you don't need much to do so. Much like Second's Life's wildly popular avatar flight feature, these new games let you take to the skies without the use of a mount.

Follow along after the jump as we showcase four upcoming MMOs that use personal flight as a feature.

DC Universe Online creators talk about S.T.A.R. Labs and game storylines

by James Egan Jul 23rd 2009 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, New titles, DC Universe Online

Comic-Con International is underway in San Diego, and we're already hearing some news about the superhero MMO genre. The latest info about DC Universe Online comes from a Wired article by Frank Rose which focuses on S.T.A.R. Labs, the futuristic glass and steel location familiar to anyone who grew up reading DC comic books or watched the Superman animated TV series.

S.T.A.R. Labs, short for Scientific and Technical Advanced Research Laboratories, will be a hub of storyline activity in the MMO. It's fitting, as this is a place where great scientific advances are made, but also a place where things can go horribly wrong. This means it's perfect neutral ground to be incorporated into DC Universe Online, and the location will tie in with the respective storylines of the game's heroes and villains.

An early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline

by James Egan Jul 22nd 2009 at 5:30PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, New titles, Quests, DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online is a superhero MMO in development at Sony Online Entertainment, but one that we didn't get to see much of at E3 2009. That's not going to be the situation with Comic-Con International which is happening this week in San Diego. The DC Universe Online team will be on hand and will hopefully reveal more about the game.

While you won't get to play as Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, you will begin the game as a hero who fights alongside such comic book icons. In fact, once you roll a character you'll choose a specialty from among super powers, tech powers, or magic powers. That choice will determine the storyline you begin with, according to info revealed in a Variety article. Sony Online Entertainment gave Chris Morris from Variety's 'The Cut Scene' an exclusive on how players will begin the game.

DCUO's BFF competition is underway

by William Dobson Jul 18th 2009 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Video, Contests, Events, real-world, Lore, New titles, DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online and SOE want to know who you would choose as your DCUO "BFF". BFF in this particular case can refer to either Best Friend Forever or Best Foe Forever, so there's room for those characters you love to hate too: The DCUO BFF Promotion lets eligible participants submit a video of up to 30 seconds to explain why they would like to virtually meet, fight and become BFFs with their chosen character in-game. There's a short movie on the front page of the DCUO official site encouraging folks to get into character for their entries, though it also warns that tight spandex might be taking things a step too far. Our take? If you can pull it off, go for it!

Entries can be made through MySpace, or in person at the SOE booth at San Diego Comic-Con, with judging duty to be performed by the DCUO MySpace Friends. The two winners will score a "Lex Luthor in Power Armor" poster, signed by the DCUO dev team and Jim Lee. If this news has you getting ready to dust off your favorite superhero outfit and enter, make sure the submission is in before the competition closes on the 15th of August at 1:59AM PT.

DC Universe teases their Comic-Con exclusive poster

by Seraphina Brennan Jul 9th 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: At a glance, Super-hero, Events, real-world, Opinion, Rumors, DC Universe Online

Who does this lovely face belong to? That's for you to decide as DC Universe Online teases their exclusive San Diego Comic-Con poster on their Myspace blog.

The full poster, which will be given out to anyone who visits the DCUO booth at Comic-Con, hasn't been revealed just yet. However, according to bad puns placed on official blogs, we will be "clawing" to get our hands on one. Catwoman? Huntress? (We're voting for Catwoman, personally.) Either way, it looks like another iconic hero will be revealed and confirmed as appearing in the final game.

Now all we have to do is barge our way into Comic-Con, use our ingenious grapple guns to swing over across the convention floor, and then steal all of the posters so no one will ever know who the new hero is. Then that will lead into our plans for world domination... oh, wait, we probably shouldn't have blogged that out loud.

Um, er... Who do you guys think it is?

DC Universe Online team will present at GDC Austin 2009

by James Egan Jun 30th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Super-hero, Events, real-world, Lore, MMO industry, News items, DC Universe Online

Some of the key members of the DC Universe Online team will speak at Game Developers Conference (GDC) Austin 2009, in a session titled "Why We Need Heroes and Villains in Games". The DC Universe Online team members on hand will include Jim Lee (executive creative director); Marv Wolfman (writer); Christopher Cao (studio creative director); and Jens Andersen (creative director).

The 'takeaway' from the session intro reads: "This philosophical lecture will give attendees insight into the challenges and issues game designers and writers face when making characters good and evil. More importantly, attendees will leave with a better understanding of why this tension between good and evil is so critical -- not only for telling a good story, but for making a video game."

This sounds interesting, and hopefully it's a sign of the emphasis they're putting on storytelling in DC Universe Online. GDC Austin will run from September 15-18, and we're hoping to bring you news from the event.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

SOE's 3rd annual Community Address to be broadcast live this Friday night

by William Dobson Jun 22nd 2009 at 3:00PM

Filed under: Video, EverQuest, EverQuest II, PlanetSide, Events, real-world, MMO industry, The Agency, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures, Free Realms, DC Universe Online

Not being able to attend this year's SOE Fan Faire doesn't mean that you'll miss out entirely. Aside from the biggest news that we'll undoubtedly bring to your attention right here on Massively, you will actually be able to watch SOE CEO John Smedley's community address streaming live on Friday the 26th of June, at 7:00PM PDT. Although visiting the link for the event right now seems to prompt us to register, Amnerys' post on the EverQuest forums says that this isn't necessary: "You don't need to register or have a password! Just visit the page and view!"

This will be the third year of SOE's annual community addresses. To get an idea of what to expect this Friday, you can check out the presentation from Fan Faire 2007 on Youtube. The link to keep bookmarked for the live event is this one right here.

DC Universe Online's "The Next Legend Is You" trailer

by Seraphina Brennan Jun 11th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: At a glance, Super-hero, Trailers, Consoles, DC Universe Online

The new DC Universe Online trailer that just recently hit the streets is one comprehensive video. In the short one minute and 23 seconds that the trailer runs, we get to see many of the highlights of DCUO, including environmental weaponry and damage, many of the game's iconic characters, a frenetic look at the game's combat, a taste of character customizations, and more!

Currently the trailer can be viewed at the main DCUO site, or over at Shacknews in standard and hi-resolution modes. HD resolution, however, is only available to those who have a Shackvideo username and password.

Now, if you can excuse us, we're going to go ponder what colors of spandex we're going to choose for when the game comes out.