"How many halls must a fan walk down, before they call him a fan?"
I'm still buzzing from the excitement of the 2009 San Diego International Comic Convention. I've been going for years and this has been a good one. "The Con" has grown from a simple gathering of dedicated comic book fans trading comics to become one of the biggest media and entertainment events of the year. Now in addition to comics, The Con includes TV, movies, celebrities, and video games. One of the most eagerly anticipated video games is DC Universe Online. This is one of the latest MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online game) using cutting edge technology.
MMOs have increased in popularity over the years. About 1/3 of the multi-billion dollar video game industry comes from MMOs and that segment is growing. It is becoming an increasing challenge competing in the very competitive video game market to make a game that is going to capture the discerning tastes of the avid gamer and keep them entertained. Even the video game market isn't "recession-proof" as many had thought. Budget-minded players are making some serious choices on how they're spending their entertainment dollar.
I had a chance to listen to both creators and players at the exclusive demo of DCU Online at The Con. Similar to other popular MMOs like WarCraft, and EverQuest, DCU Online sets itself apart by players being able to create their own hero (or villain!) and have adventures in the DC Comics Universe. Anyone can play alongside iconic heroes like Batman and Superman or fiendish villains like Joker and Lex Luthor. Each character is completely customizeable to suit each player. I was told that the costume you choose and what it's made of will affect your abilities. Very cool. While DC characters have appeared in several other video games, this will be the first time DC Comics will be the center of an MMO.
What's really amazing is the depth going into this game. The graphics and gameplay are amazing.
See FIRE and ICE
Reknown game publisher San Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment (EverQuest2, Star Wars: Galaxies) has been collaborating with premiere comic book artist Jim Lee (of X-Men, Batman fame), lead writer Geoff Johns (Green Lantern), and comic book writing legend Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans, Crisis of Infinite Earths) to create a virtual world with the look and feel of Gotham City, Metropolis, Star Labs and other favorite hero haunts. Having these comic book greats as part of the development team gives DCU Online creative talent to draw upon that other games lack.
Another feature DCU Online has that others don't is greater interaction with the environment. In some games you're very limited in what you can do with the environment. You walk through it a virtual ghost with no effect on the world around you. In DCU Online players have more freedom. You can lift and inspect objects that may be important to your mission. Or in the heat of battle you can pick up rubble and hurl it at a foe. A lot of the fans playing demos of the game agreed this was a fun effect. One example of this is being able to freeze an opponent in a block of ice and then hurl that block of ice at another enemy!
DCU Online will also be the first to offer the ability to play the same game on either your Playstation3 or PC. Before, console games were limited to playing with players with the same console. Now PS3 players can play with PC players at the same time. This should make the game much more accessible to a wider gamer audience. There are also plans to use an online social networking application like MySpace or Facebook so players can maintain a “secret identity” and be a part of the game even when they’re not playing. DCU Online already has a myspace place for fans to register and get updates.
Several of the fans who demo'd DCU Online were excited about the game and eager to know when they could get their heroic hands on it. The game is still in development, but is expected to release in 2010.
On with the show,
RedJester
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