Marvel MMORPG (X360)

[Vandenh]

Microsoft seems to have made a deal to start developing a Marvel superhero MMORPG. Onthexbox has the scoop (http://www.onthexbox.com/index.php?view=article&article=129).
Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it won exclusive rights to develop and publish multiplayer online games starring Marvel Enterprises Inc.'s super heroes, including Spider-man, the X-men and the Hulk.

The deal covers massively multiplayer online (MMO) game titles developed for Microsoft's upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console and published by the software giant's game studio.

[Tricky Thumb]

It doesn't say they're going to definately be making a Marvel MMO, but they definately could. Although if they do they'll be competing with not one but TWO other superhero MMOGs now.

Though I'd rather play a Marvel MMO than a DC one.

[Deathbane27]

Interesting.

I wonder whether the Xbox Live Gold subscription fee will be subtracted from whatever the going rate is for MMORPG subscriptions at that point. ($18/mo - $7/mo = $11/mo?) Or maybe something similar to SOE's Station All Access pass, where you get a bunch of subscriptions plus the occasional free download that non-subs pay $5-10 for.

[Vandenh]

Yeah it doesn't really say (hence the "seems" in my title) but what else could it mean? That MS has the exclusive rights to *all* Marvel games? That seems unlikely... so a MMORPG is probably the only real deal possible here. IMHO of course ;)

Also remember MS has the Silver version now as well... in a MMORPG that could allow some kinda of limited content. Silver = max level 10, Gold = max level 30, pay monthly fee = max level 60 etc... MS will have to be creative to expand Live to millions more.

[theCurse]

And the suing of NCSoft was merely a coincidence.
Right, Marvel fanboys... right...

[balamoor]

So we aren't actually going to see anything until over halfway through the 360's life cycle.... yeah that's smart.

Looks like Coh, and the D.C. MMO has little to be concerned about.

[Tricky Thumb]

And the suing of NCSoft was merely a coincidence.
Right, Marvel fanboys... right...


What?

Wait, let me rephrase that.

What?

[Borys]

Console MMORPGs are the new console FPSs.

I think there are about 6 MMORPGs announced for the 360 right now.

[Vandenh]

>I think there are about 6 MMORPGs announced for the 360 right now.

Really? I thought only 2.

List?

[Goronmon]

What?

Wait, let me rephrase that.

What?
It was a roundabout way of saying that the real reason Marvel was suing NCSoft in the first place was that they were looking to kill off some competition before they released a MMORPG of their own.

[Borys]

>I think there are about 6 MMORPGs announced for the 360 right now.

Really? I thought only 2.

List?

MMO games to be exact:

FFXI, Huxley, APB, new Square MMORPG, Marvel MMOG... <-- 100% sure

... TFLO resurrected (I mean it's all but ready, upgrade and release!) <-- not so sure

EDIT: seems that DC MMO game is exclusive to PC/ PS3.
Nothing from Blizzard yet.

[AspectVoid]

I perfer the Marvel universe over the DC universe, so this interests me more then the DC MMO. The fact is, though, I wonder where the game will be set, exactly. Will you be stuck in one city, such as New York, or will they create a full, artificial world for you to play in? Will the players be able to choose any city as their base of Superhero operations, or will you be trapped in a single home.

Hell, for that matter, what about Secret Identities. One of the most important aspects in Comicbooks, to me, is the balance between being a Hero and living one's life. Will Marvel (or DC for that matter) bring that aspect into play in the MMO world? Its something that CoH doesn't do, and would give them a serious selling point.

[Morratut]

Sounds good to me. I love the Marvel universe.

Now could this be linking in with the earlier news of Ensemble might be doing a MMORPG?

I hope it is. I imagine that if MS or Ensemble would do a MMORPG then it would kick serious ass ;)

[Kefkataran]

I like the Marvel universe just fine, but if it's not released for PC I doubt I'll be checking it out. An MMORPG on console? Unless they manage to make it extremely intuitive and worthwhile, I doubt I'd enjoy it.

Personally, I'm very excited about the DC MMO. I know more people in general prefer the Marvel U because it's more "edgy" or whatever, but the DC universe has really started pulling together and forming something very strong, so I'm excited to see what comes out of that in game form.

Hell, for that matter, what about Secret Identities. One of the most important aspects in Comicbooks, to me, is the balance between being a Hero and living one's life. Will Marvel (or DC for that matter) bring that aspect into play in the MMO world?

Interesting question. I mean with CoH's backstory, it sort of makes sense, but still. There are only a handful of Marvel or DC heroes who don't use secret identities.

You know what I'm wondering about? Setting. DC has a ton of great fictional settings (on and off-Earth) to work with. Metropolis, Gotham, Keystone City, Coast City, Midway City, Apokolips, Rann, Thanagar, etc., etc., etc. Marvel, on the other hand, has almost exclusively used real-world settings for Earth at least (as much as possible). I wonder if there will be a big NYC recreation and a big L.A. recreation in-game. That could be cool or it could be bad depending on how it's done.

[Cupelix]

You know what I'm wondering about? Setting. DC has a ton of great fictional settings (on and off-Earth) to work with. Metropolis, Gotham, Keystone City, Coast City, Midway City, Apokolips, Rann, Thanagar, etc., etc., etc. Marvel, on the other hand, has almost exclusively used real-world settings for Earth at least (as much as possible). I wonder if there will be a big NYC recreation and a big L.A. recreation in-game. That could be cool or it could be bad depending on how it's done.

This was my first thought too. I feel that the DC Universe is simply way more conducive to making a video game. Fictional cities are probably better since there is so much more wiggle room in how the city looks and feels. Real world settings that don't actually feel like the real world setting just fall flat. When its limited to small portions of the city, its fine - but with an MMO, if I'm in NY City, I expect to truly be able to fly around all of NY City. Plus, lets be honest, the DC Universe has way more fun with the costumes of its super heroes. And can you imagine some how being able to reach the high ranks of the game and join the Green Lantern Corps? How sweet would that be?

[Kefkataran]

Holy crap. I didn't even think about that -- but yeah, imagine all the different possible routes you could take at high level: the Justice League, the Justice Society, the Green Lantern Corps, the Teen Titans, the Outsiders... I mean even if you just do missions for them and don't join them specifically, there's a lot of cool ideas that could come from that.

Real world settings that don't actually feel like the real world setting just fall flat. When its limited to small portions of the city, its fine - but with an MMO, if I'm in NY City, I expect to truly be able to fly around all of NY City.

And, yep, right on. That's exactly what I'm worried about as far as implementing the big real world cities in game.

[Blue]

I'm a much bigger Marvel fan than I am DC as a whole. To be quite honest, I'm not huge into comic books and tend to pick at what my friend reads - Spidy, X-Men, Daredevil - but Batman has always been my favorite of the heroes. I like a superhero who has no real "powers" to speak of and has to rely more on himself than reanimation abilities or insane ice-powers. For that reason alone, I might be more inclined to pick up the DC MMO if it looks like it'll be a good game too. I've always been a fan of the atmosphere that Gotham provides; that exaggeration on the gothic undercity is perfect. Even if you could travel to all of the other places in the DCU, I'd probably just hang out in Gotham (or maybe Apokalips - sp?).

And yeah, the idea of being able to join the Justice League/Teen Titans/Whatever would be fantastic. That would almost have to stand for the elite of the elite though. I wouldn't want thousands upon thousands of people running around the Hall of Justice because it would really detract - for me - the impact of being in such a team. Maybe that's just me though.

Course, I personally wouldn't mind being taken in and getting a room in Xavier's Mansion either. And training in the Danger Room? Butter.

[Ernst_Jager]

The biggest turn off for me with the Super Hero based games is the trade skills and item gathering. CoH had none of this. Maybe if you could 'create' gadgets for peope to use it would fill this void for me. I remember playing the Pen and Paper game Champions years ago and enjoyed it.

[Blue]

I'm wondering if Secret Identities and Trade Skill work might be able to go hand-in-hand somehow. This is going to be a bit of a haphazard example, but: say your alter-ego is a designer of some sort (tailoring, perhaps). As such, you would be able to put your costume designs (this could be done just through patterns like WoW ahs) in some sort of AH to make money, level up that craft, etc. The only catch is, in order to do any of this, you would have to spend time as your Secret Identity to go and get patterns, work on them, or put them up for sale.

I wonder if that would help play the two issues well. Even allow someone to be a newspaper reporter and go and collect rare information/"leads" which could be put up for sale and when someone buys it, there is a quest with some sort of reward unique only to them.

[Kefkataran]

The biggest turn off for me with the Super Hero based games is the trade skills and item gathering. CoH had none of this. Maybe if you could 'create' gadgets for peope to use it would fill this void for me. I remember playing the Pen and Paper game Champions years ago and enjoyed it.

Blue Beetle style! I would adore being a more Beetle-like, gadget-focused hero who does a lot more inventing for other heroes than actual work himself. And, I mean, I'm sure I'm in the minority, but it'd be the perfect way to bring trade skills into a hero game in any universe.

Even allow someone to be a newspaper reporter and go and collect rare information/"leads" which could be put up for sale and when someone buys it, there is a quest with some sort of reward unique only to them.

I like that idea and it sounds somewhat similar to what CoH's out-of-combat system (now undergoing a major revamp, though) was originally intended to be like. It seems like that would be difficult to implement though.

[Cha-Ka]

With the way large companies jump on the MMO bandwagon these days, I'll be suprised if both of these games even get released. That's okay with me, because I can't shake the suspicion they'll end up being almost exactly like city of heroes, except players will interact with licensed characters to get their missions. Oh well, hopefully at least one of these proposed titles will suprise me with some innovation.

[Kefkataran]

With the way large companies jump on the MMO bandwagon these days, I'll be suprised if both of these games even get released.

Well, being as the DC has actually been announced to be in development by Sony (as opposed to Microsoft just having bought the rights to develop the Marvel one), I wouldn't be too surprised to see it released. Now as for whether or not it'll be good or innovative... time will tell.

[KNOTE]

The Marvel one is in development already, but not at Ensemble.

[Kefkataran]

The Marvel one is in development already, but not at Ensemble.

It is? I thought the announcement was just that they'd bought the rights to develop it and there was no official word on whether or not development had begun. I may have missed something though... ?

[KNOTE]

But remember that announcements come when the timing is right, not when things actually happen.

[*Legion*]

Does a licensed MMORPG sound dumb to anyone else?

I mean, you can't BE a licensed character, because obviously there are too many people in an MMO. So what, Wolverine or Superman just stands around giving out missions to every wannabe hero that comes up to them? Yeah, THAT'S real interesting.

[Blue]

Does a licensed MMORPG sound dumb to anyone else?

I mean, you can't BE a licensed character, because obviously there are too many people in an MMO. So what, Wolverine or Superman just stands around giving out missions to every wannabe hero that comes up to them? Yeah, THAT'S real interesting.

I guess I personally would be more interested in running around in the worlds both DC and Marvel created. That, and possibly getting to go on a mission where I fight Magneto? I mean come on. Who doesn't want to team up with their friends and test their might against the Brotherhood? Or even the Sinister Six?

[Kefkataran]

I mean, you can't BE a licensed character, because obviously there are too many people in an MMO. So what, Wolverine or Superman just stands around giving out missions to every wannabe hero that comes up to them? Yeah, THAT'S real interesting

First: a licensed MMORPG has already happened with Matrix Online. Not a great game or a good trendsetter by any means, but still.

Anyways, the idea is that you'll be able to team up with and fight against some of the great heroes and villains from the DC and Marvel worlds, not to mention explore those worlds. Maybe you're not interested, but if it's done well, I definitely am. So I can't be Superman or Batman or anyone? So what?

[kwillhan]

They could have people playing the parts of the hero's as well. I remember back when I used to play shadowbane, the developers always had hired people role playing gods and avatars from the lore.

I remember fighting Morloch, the god of vengeance, who was being controlled by a paid person. it was fun. the guy would pick people and talk crap to them, in the way an evil god would.

they could do that with the magneto's, and other evil dudes, so you could actually interact with them.

in shadowbane though, it was fifty to a hundred against they god, so having personal magnetos for everyones quests would get crazy. maybe just certain events?

i don't know. Would be Rocking.

kelly

[kwillhan]

i think they do that sometimes in galaxies as well, with Vader and what not.

kelly

[Kefkataran]

But remember that announcements come when the timing is right, not when things actually happen.

I still see no reason to believe it until there's an official announcement. I wouldn't be surprised by any means, but still.

They could have people playing the parts of the hero's as well. I remember back when I used to play shadowbane, the developers always had hired people role playing gods and avatars from the lore.


Since the DC one is being published by Sony, and they love doing GM-run events with GM-actors playing in-game NPCs, this is almost definitely going to happen. Could be really interesting, especially if they have events in the monthlies tie in to events online.

...

holy shit, that could be REALLY cool if pulled off well.

[kwillhan]

If I was Microsoft I'd just go to some comic book shop and ask one of the workers with an imagination if they wanted to get paid 10, 12 bucks an hour to hang out online and be wolverine for 40 hours a week. just run around giving quests, joining peoples parties, doing battle with evil characters. make the world more real to have a continual presence of the more popular hero's, instead of just at certain times. then you might get kids following the guy around all day though, eh?

kel.

[Kefkataran]

If I was Microsoft I'd just go to some comic book shop and ask one of the workers with an imagination if they wanted to get paid 10, 12 bucks an hour to hang out online and be wolverine for 40 hours a week. just run around giving quests, joining peoples parties, doing battle with evil characters. make the world more real to have a continual presence of the more popular hero's, instead of just at certain times. then you might get kids following the guy around all day though, eh?

Yeah, especially with a character that popular. I see what you mean, though. But the idea of just having GMs take over for certain events is that a.) they'll hopefully know the character well-enough to stay in character and b.) they can progress a "plot" forward without messing it up.

[Alexious]

Yeah, especially with a character that popular. I see what you mean, though. But the idea of just having GMs take over for certain events is that a.) they'll hopefully know the character well-enough to stay in character and b.) they can progress a "plot" forward without messing it up.
You'd probably be better off hiring actors to "play" the role and teach them the gaming side of things. I can just see some geeky fanboy as Wolverine going "OMG! STFU! ROTFLMOA!..." Well, I'm sure you get the idea..

[Heretic Machine]

Licensed comic book universes are too big to make MMO's out of. I'm sorry, but I'll believe it when I see it, and then I'll poop on it's display case.

Plus, I kind of hope NCsoft finds a way to sue them into bankruptcy... I mean I love their comics, but the assholes deserve to disapear.

[Kefkataran]

Licensed comic book universes are too big to make MMO's out of. I'm sorry, but I'll believe it when I see it, and then I'll poop on it's display case.

Plus, I kind of hope NCsoft finds a way to sue them into bankruptcy... I mean I love their comics, but the assholes deserve to disapear.

How could the universes be too big? That just means there's always going to be plenty of room for expansion and improvement. They don't have to use EVERY POSSIBLE LOCATION AND CHARACTER in the game, you know?

Anyways, I don't see how NCSoft could sue them over this yet, and the case would likely end up being as meaningless as Marvel's suit against NCSoft.

[RMan]

I think it could work out real nice, the super heroes could be used in instanced quests, and could be useful for introducing new bad guys or organizations (basically, as figureheads). They could also take a more active role by being callable characters based on player affiliations/attributes, like if you build enough “esteem” you can expend it to call spiderman to whack dudes. In the end, they’re mere presence, no matter how benign, will make a huge difference, after all a good license is generally more effective than a good game (although this was not the case for Matrix Online, but was for Enter the Matrix).

[TrackZero]

Hell, for that matter, what about Secret Identities. One of the most important aspects in Comicbooks, to me, is the balance between being a Hero and living one's life. Will Marvel (or DC for that matter) bring that aspect into play in the MMO world? Its something that CoH doesn't do, and would give them a serious selling point.

Maybe you'd like a "HOT COFFEE" mod to go with that? I mean, why stop at being able to walk around like a normal person. Why not do normal things like have sex? Hell, why not put an entire Sims sub-game inside the MMO. Then it'll be just like having your action figures AND barbie dolls.

(I'm not trying to take a shot at anyone there, just pointing out that Secret Identities really have no place to go without a lot more overhead to just be a "normal" person. There are other games where you can go do that.)

[bobbler]

I think the appeal of a licensed MMO is more about the game world and not necessarily who you play.

Nobody expects (at least nobody with half a brain) to play Superman or Wolverine... But to be able to go around Metropolis or the twisted earth that the Marvell universe is in, would be kind of cool.

Seems like both the DC and Marvell MMOs could be pretty entertaining. If only for a little while...

[Kefkataran]

Seems like both the DC and Marvell MMOs could be pretty entertaining. If only for a little while...

I'm really thinking the selling point, as far as longevity is concerned, will be doing tie-ins with the comics -- having the major summer event in the Marvel U actually affect in game, or having, say the prison break-out in New Avengers actually causing there to be random archvillains running around the streets of NYC for a while in game.