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"Ever since Champions Online went free-to-play, it's seen a boost in players and revenue. In order to keep the train rolling, Cryptic Studios are adding a new feature to the game that every super hero should have, a hideout. Gold Players, who pay a monthly fee, will be able to choose one free hideout but any other's will have to be purchased; Silver members unfortunately will have to pay for their new cribs."
Perfect World, a leading online game developer and operator based in China, and Atari announced today that they have entered into an agreement where Perfect World would acquire 100% equity interest in Cryptic Studios, the California-based MMO game developer who started the development of City of Heroes & City of Villains, and have also put out the (recently) free-to-play Champions Online, and Star Trek Online.
Daav Valentaten and Noobfeed caught up with Chief of Operations Jack Emmert from Cryptic Studios to ask them about their success story and plans for the future: Cryptic Studios is a developer that brings us many successful MMORPGs, straight from Silicon Valley, for about ten years now. They’ve gotten critical acclaim from just about all their ventures, such as City Of Heroes and Star Trek Online.
"Some people might automatically assume that Champions Online going free-to-play brings with it lollypops and candy canes, as well as sparkling rainbows and glitter filling the sky. However, as cool as it is that a premium title such as Champions Online is heading into the free-to-play arena, there are a number of drawbacks that come along with it."
"Monday, May 31st is Memorial Day in the United States. The holiday is in observance of those lost in war but it has grown into much more. On the lighter side, the holiday offers a three-day weekend which means more time to play your favorite MMO."
"For 280 Cryptic Points you can grab a few beast-like heads for your hero in Champions Online. That's $3.50 for a number of heads including a a wide-open-freaky mouth head, a crocodile head, a super-long-open-jaw head, and many more."
"Revelation will allow players to venture into the brand new zone of Vibora Bay, a mysterious city on the bayou, where they will encounter all new threats lurking around every corner. In addition, Champions Online will offer 72 hours of unrestricted playtime beginning on March 26th at 10:00am PST, ending March 29th at 10:00am PST."
"To say that Microsoft has had problems getting Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games on to its game consoles would be an understatement. Super-hero based Champions Online now looks to be the latest in a string of MMO titles that seemingly can't make their way on to the Xbox 360 after a post from a Cryptic Studios team member on the game's official forums states that the Xbox 360 version isn't in the plans."
"Atari, Inc. and Cryptic Studios have announced a quartet of new programs to celebrate the holiday season in Champions Online. Not only bringing new holiday content to the game and launching a demo version, but also Cryptic Studios are now offering free gifts for referrals, and have promised an interesting new application."
"People loved Cryptic’s first foray into the world of comic book superheroes City of Heroes so one would expect there sophomore attempt to compete with heavy-hitters like the Marvel Universe to be build on that framework and become something truly spectacular. While Champions Online does fix many of the annoying kinks players found in COH, it also brings with it its own crop of niggling disturbances that keep gameplay from becoming truly epic."
"Atari Inc. and Cryptic Studios, creators of the acclaimed City of Heroes and City of Villains have today unleashed the ultimate superhero universe: Champions Online is now available for Windows PC online and at stores across North America and will be available in Europe on September 4th, 2009. Based on the award winning pen and paper Role-Playing Game (RPG), Champions, from HERO Games and powered by the groundbreaking Cryptic Engine, Champions Online taps into a rich universe of heroes and vi..."
"Atari and Cryptic Studios are proud to give superhero fans the game they've been craving as Champions Online for PC has gone gold. Based on the award-winning Champions pen-and-paper role-playing games and powered by the groundbreaking Cryptic Engine, Champions Online taps into a rich universe of heroes and villains with unparalleled intrigue and adventure."
"The lifetime subscription plan will be offered for $199.99 USD, $219.99 CAN, €147.99 EUR, and £119.99 GBP. Lifetime subscribers will additionally receive guaranteed access to the Star Trek Online closed beta test, an exclusive Star Trek Online Mirror Universe costume set, eight additional Champions Online character slots, a Foxbat vanity pet, a "Retro-Future" costume set, and an "Art Deco" costume set."
"Alltern8 have announced that from now until August 6th, fans have the opportunity to win one of fifty Closed Beta Keys for Champions Online, the premiere super heroic Massive Multi-player Online (MMO) game, generously donated by Cryptic Studios."
"We're looking at more of a balanced approach when it comes to guided gameplay and exploration. While there's a number of the traditional quest-givers such as a police officer looking to help bring a villain to justice you'll also find a lot of heroic adventure simply by exploring the world. You might come across some lost hikers being threatened by strange monsters in Canada or in the midst of taking down some super-powered gangs you might find a clue to one of their nefarious plots."
"In addition, visitors to the site can apply for a chance to take part in the live beta test of Champions Online and be amongst the first to explore the new universe and become champions."
"Champions Online, the MMO currently being worked on by Star Trek Online developer Cryptic Studios, will no longer be published by Take-Two Interactive. While this may sound like bad news, keep in mind that Cryptic Studios is now wholly owned by Atari.
Odds are Atari is probably going to pick up the publishing rights to Champions Online, and by "probably", I mean "mathematical certainty".
I'm actually part of the Champions Online beta. Of course, because I agreed to a NDA with Cryptic St..."
"The transaction encompasses all of Cryptics proprietary IP, tools, technology and work-in-progress and integrates all members of the leadership team and employees into Infogrames. This acquisition is a critical step in the implementation of ATARIs strategy to become a leading online game developer and publisher..."
"There is no class system in Champions Online. Every level you acquire means you get points to put into powers you have or to pick up new powers. Where DCUO gives you four powers to allow for the four button controls, Champions Online lets you use all your powers at any time while playing."
"Since Marvel bowed out of the MMOG arena for the time being it looks like these are the two 10,000 pound alien-dino-gorillas that will slug it out for superhero supremacy."
Champions Online, a MMO-tpe game featuring a variety of superheros, will be coming out sometime in Spring of 2009 for the Xbox 360 and PC. You will have a chance to explore all of Millenium City, as well as being able to customize your champ. The game is being developed by Cryptic Studios and is being published by 2K Games, who also publish the NBA 2K series.
