TOURING THE 'CITY OF HEROES' [Archive]

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Eric J. Moreels

Feb 19, 2002, 09:30 pm

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohlogo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohlogot.jpg" align=left alt="City of Heroes logo"></a>Superhero gaming is set to be turned on its ear soon with the release of City of Heroes, a new superhero role-playing game from Cryptic Studios.

X-Fan recently caught up with game designer Jack Emmert to find out more about the upcoming online multiplayer RPG set in the sprawling metropolis that is Paragon City.

X-FAN: First of all, could you give a recap of what City of Heroes is about?

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcapture01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcapture01t.jpg" align=right alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>EMMERT: City of Heroes is a superhero massively multiplayer online role playing games. Players will to create their own hero and save Paragon City from a variety of threats.

X-FAN: How is the game progressing?

EMMERT: At the moment we are toiling away towards a private testing period and are looking towards a public testing in the spring.

X-FAN: Will the game be playable online only, or will it be playable by a single player or over a LAN?

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcapture04.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcapture04t.jpg" align=left alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>EMMERT: City of Heroes will be an online game only.

X-FAN: What will the required computer specifications be for playing the game online? For example, would a player in Australia with a 56k modem connection be able to play online?

EMMERT: We are crafting the game to keep in mind that people have a variety of Internet connections so that people such as the Australian with a 56K modem will be able to play the game.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcreation01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcreation01t.jpg" align=right alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>X-FAN: Will fans be given the opportunity to create characters in advance of the game's release?

EMMERT: We aren't planning on releasing our character generation material before release. But many superhero teams are already being formed on our forums! Fans are comparing origins, building alliances – it's really terrific to see.

X-FAN: Have Cryptic considered approaching comic book companies such as Marvel, DC, CrossGen, etc with a view to licensing their characters to appear in the game?

EMMERT: No comment.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcreation03.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohcreation03t.jpg" align=left alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>X-FAN: How does City of Heroes compare with the other superhero RPG in production at the moment in Irrational Games' Freedom Force?

EMMERT: The games are different in their execution – City of Heroes is a massively multiplayer online role playing game. Freedom Force is closer to a single-player squad based RTS. Freedom Force is also firmly rooted in the kitsch of the silver age; City of Heroes is based strongly on modern age comics. I think it's great for both us to be coming out around the same time. It really underscores the "arrival" of superheroes on the computer game scene.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohscreen_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohscreen_07t.jpg" align=right alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>X-FAN: Are there plans at this stage for any sequels to City of Heroes?

EMMERT: We're planning to update our game regularly. We also have planned several expansions for the game – a villain supplement, where players can take the role of a super villain, a vehicle supplement, where players can build their own vehicles, and various source supplements that will open up new areas of the world.

X-FAN: Are games like City of Heroes and Freedom Force signalling the end of the 2D fighting style super-hero games?

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohscreen_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohscreen_08t.jpg" align=left alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>EMMERT: I don't think so. 2D fighting style games have their own fans; we hope we'll attract some of them into our game, but City of Heroes in no way replaces the fighting games. It's really a different genre of game.

X-FAN: Do you think that City of Heroes will redefine the standard for super-hero games in the future?

EMMERT: Definitely. There has never been a super hero RPG, let alone a super hero MMORPG. We are also trailblazing in the massively multiplayer arena; thus far, MMORPG's have focused exclusively on sci-fi and fantasy genres. City of Heroes stands clearly apart from both of those.

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohscreen_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/games/cohscreen_10t.jpg" align=right alt="City of Heroes screen capture"></a>For more details on City of Heroes, head on over to Cryptic Studio's official <a href="http://cityofheroes.com/" target="_blank">CityofHeroes.com</a> Web site.

Ryan Scott

Feb 19, 2002, 09:41 pm

I've been keeping an eye out for this game for a while (even registered on their forums). I can't wait to see the finished product. Sounds like it'll be TONS of fun, and I like how the developers are listening to fan imput. I only hope they find a big company to produce it :\

En Sabah Nur

Feb 19, 2002, 09:46 pm

Sweeeeeeeet.

Eric J. Moreels

Feb 19, 2002, 10:15 pm

Between this, Irrational Games' Freedom Force, and WizKids HeroClix, this year is looking like a great year for superhero gamers!

I can't wait :)

apuyana

Feb 20, 2002, 01:32 pm

I dont know, the game looks extremely cool, the character creation thing seems amazing, but online games are very expensive, i played anarchy for a while but didnt get into it that much... i'l give it a try though and see what i think once i play it.

Eric J. Moreels

Feb 21, 2002, 04:54 am

I've played Diablo and Diablo II online a few times, and have always had great fun.

Playing a superhero RPG online will be way cool! :D

Al Harahap

Feb 21, 2002, 05:18 am

I can't wait to make a whole team of pseudo-X-Men with their character creation engine!!

Michael Fisch

Feb 21, 2002, 06:27 pm

I don't know....a game with this type of scope, where they try to encorporate different powers, abilities, and such, is a pretty big undertaking...sounds cool in theory but much more difficult to excecute.

Brian Wilkinson

Feb 22, 2002, 10:02 pm

I played a bit of Diablo II online before... and I like the idea/aspect of a shared community.

I probably hacked up Eric a few times by mistake.

Eric J. Moreels

Feb 22, 2002, 10:34 pm

Originally posted by Brian E. Wilkinson
I played a bit of Diablo II online before... and I like the idea/aspect of a shared community.

I probably hacked up Eric a few times by mistake.

So it's you who has my ear! Give it back, dammit! ;) :p

TristenMagnus

Feb 22, 2002, 10:54 pm

My best friend has been playing City of Heroes, I think as a tester or something like that. He's been showing me pictures and stuff of what the chars look like.

Eric J. Moreels

Apr 7, 2002, 01:34 am

TM, you should get them on here to talk about the game! :yes:

strangerx

Apr 7, 2002, 04:23 am

I've been looking forward to this game ever since I read about it in Wizard a few months ago. It just looks fantastic and sounds like it will be a blast.

randomhero

Apr 7, 2002, 04:27 am

God, I'm gonna make a team of like a 100 characters all X-men and wup all a$$!

Eric J. Moreels

Apr 7, 2002, 09:13 am

Originally posted by lockheed
I don't know....a game with this type of scope, where they try to encorporate different powers, abilities, and such, is a pretty big undertaking...sounds cool in theory but much more difficult to excecute.

Irrational Games' recently released Freedom Force accomplished that with apparent ease. FF is a fantastic game but the online play is a bit buggy, I've found.

Hopefully CoH will prove to be an easier online experience!

roguebanshee

Apr 7, 2002, 11:16 am

Originally posted by randomhero
God, I'm gonna make a team of like a 100 characters all X-men and wup all a$$!
Well I hope you have 99 friends if you want to do that as you'll only be able to control 1 (one) charater at a time.