Marvel cancelled DC gets the go ahead.

New DC Universe Online details emerge



27 June, 2008



Some new details have emerged of DC Universe Online, the new PC and PS3 MMO in development at Sony Online Entertainment. In
this month's Edge magazine, executive creative director Jim Lee
describes DC Universe as a "kick-ass hybrid between a traditional MMO
and a first-person action console game". You'll get to create
your own superhero or villain, choosing their particular powers,
according to the Edge article. So you'll decide whether to attack using
fire or ice, for example, and move around using acrobatics or the power
of flight. Other potential abilities mentioned in the article include
speed-running and teleportation.

As with a traditional MMO your character will level up
as you progress, and you'll develop your powers. When the game starts
you might be able to fly, but only later will you learn how to pull off
specific moves and attacks in mid-air. Although you don't get
to "be" any of the famous DC characters, you do get to interact with
them. That might mean you end up saving Superman from being stabbed
with a shard of kryptonite by Lex Luthor. Or, if you're a villain, you
could cause carnage by chucking cars around downtown Metropolis,
thereby encouraging the boy in blue to turn up and fight you. Metropolis
is one of two large shared environments revealed so far, the other
being Gotham City. Unlike World of Warcraft, DC Universe will be
comprised of a mix of these environments and separate instances. And
while there will still be instances and raids, the emphasis will be on
fast-paced action rather than grinding. There will be PvP
arenas, and you'll be able to make use of your superpowers and those of
others in interesting ways. For example, someone might freeze your
character in a block of ice, then pick up the block and chuck it at
another player. In some instances, PvP fights will end up turning into
giant PvE boss battles. In the future, it's possible we could see models, environments
and costumes from the game turning up in other DC Comics properties,
and there are plans for plot crossovers. "We can tie-in future DC
tentpole events and translate the stories for the gaming world, and
have them occur simultaneously," said Lee. "The possibilities are
numerous and very exciting."