Throughout the years we have all found entertainment in different forms but Super Heroes is one that adults and children have been able to share and enjoy together. Heroes like Spiderman and the Fantastic Four have been around for a long time fighting our boredom, and are emerging in this world even more in the past few years. For this we turn and bow to the company that has brought these characters to life, Marvel. Now Marvel is expanding even further with the announcement of the MMO “Marvel Universe”.
Unlike other games Marvel has a past history to work with. Which means that they will not only have to add new creative things but will also have to incorporate all the things already existing that we have come to love. Imagine fighting Galactus in an epic quest, aiding Wolverine in a ferocious battle or simply swinging around cities with Spidey at your side, these are things many gamers and readers hope to see.
The MMO, which is tentatively named “Marvel Universe”, has not yet set a release date but announced are the names behind the game. Marvel will team up with Microsoft and Cryptic Studios to bring this game to life. Ames Kirshen is the Vice President of Marvel Interactive and had this to say on the Marvel website.
QUOTE
“We are thrilled to finally be able to share the news that Cryptic Studios is the developer on the Marvel Universe Massively Multiplayer Online game. The trio of Marvel, Microsoft and Cryptic is truly a dream team combination and we are committed to delivering a ground breaking interactive experience drawing from Marvel’s vast and diverse universe of characters, locations, and timeless fiction that we believe will redefine the MMO space.”
Marvel Universe will offer cross platform gaming between PC’s and Xbox 360 and Marvel and Microsoft believe cryptic is the one to aid them in making sure this game is gold when it comes out. Frank Pape, Senior Director of Business Development for Microsoft Game Studios commented on the vision this alliance brings.
QUOTE
“ The vision behind the alliance of Microsoft Game Studios, Cryptic Studios and Marvel is to expand the MMO genre and create an epic gaming experience exclusively for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista gamers to experience together online. Cryptic Studios is widely respected for their established track record of innovation and understanding of the MMO space, and they are a perfect fit for the creation of the best possible experience in ‘Marvel Universe Online.’”
The game, which Marvel said would be released “this decade”, will take advantage of Microsoft’s Live Anywhere ability. Surprisingly with this news the name Activision has not come up. Activision has produced most if not all of the Marvel genre games (yes I am given them there own genre, they deserve it don’t they?) but Jack Emmert, creative director of Cryptic Studios said,
QUOTE
“ From an MMO perspective, it really made sense to go with Microsoft.”
For the many people eagerly awaiting the release of Marvel Universe Online patience will be needed. Many Fans will not have a problem with this because most would rather it took forever to create so that when it is ready the word perfection comes into play.
One thing we can all count on is Marvel, Microsoft and Cryptic will work around the clock to make sure this game is exactly what we all hope it will be. With a vast world to play with they will certainly have a challenge ahead of them, but many believe this will not be a problem for this Super Trio.
Keep Tuning in to your MMO news for Future Marvel Universe Online updates.
To see the full story visit the Marvel website HERE
yum that video sent chills up my spine. I heard for 360 they are going to come out with a special keyboard and mouse but that is a rumor right now. Thanks for posting a vid Dru, awsome!
“We are thrilled to finally be able to share the news that Cryptic Studios is the developer on the Marvel Universe Massively Multiplayer Online game. The trio of Marvel, Microsoft and Cryptic is truly a dream team combination and we are committed to delivering a ground breaking interactive experience drawing from Marvel’s vast and diverse universe of characters, locations, and timeless fiction that we believe will redefine the MMO space.”
Marvel Universe will offer cross platform gaming between PC’s and Xbox 360 and Marvel and Microsoft believe cryptic is the one to aid them in making sure this game is gold when it comes out.
Well, isn't that ironic. After Marvel had that big hissy over CoH and sued Cryptic. Now Cryptic is working for them. Hmm, CoH2 anyone? ;)
Ehm, yes. That is how that court-case got settled about half a year ago. This is just business as usual really. :-)
Wow, was it really only that short a time ago? I though it was longer than that since it was settled. My does time fly these days.
I'm curious as to how they're going to work it out. After all, there's only so many superheroes in the Marvel Universe and I would dare say there is going to be a heck of a lot more players. I know in CoX, it was almost never that you saw two characters that were alike, but with this game, we're bound to have things like 3 wolverines in one party. I guess I'm skeptical until I see it in action.
Wow, was it really only that short a time ago? I though it was longer than that since it was settled. My does time fly these days.
I'm curious as to how they're going to work it out. After all, there's only so many superheroes in the Marvel Universe and I would dare say there is going to be a heck of a lot more players. I know in CoX, it was almost never that you saw two characters that were alike, but with this game, we're bound to have things like 3 wolverines in one party. I guess I'm skeptical until I see it in action.
I may be off by a month or two. As I recall it it was December or January? Anyway, the case(s) were settled when Cryptic agreed to do the Marvel game. They dragged on so long by the time it ended people had forgotten / got bored with it.
Funny that you should mention Wolverine. One of Marvel's issues with CoH/V was the "pollution" (i.e. they weren't getting any money out of) of the Wolverine character through all the hundreds of Wolverine-clone Claw Scrappers and such.
But maybe US servers have more diversity than the EU ones. On the Eu there's a distinct Build Flavor of the Month going on and there's really no point to the leg-length slider or breast-size sliders. Both are at max for 99% of the toons. And CoX (EU again) really is a Many Men Online RolePlaying Girls :-)
Not to say there isn't any diversity. There is, and lots of it, but no more than 10% of all concurrent players at best. One does learn to turn a blind eye to the copy-cat-heroes :-)
07/03/07 06:57
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El Grippo
Posts: 9
Joined: 08/25/2006
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RE: Marvel Universe Online
I feel as though I should start saving money and breaking ties with everyone in my life right now, so that when this game comes out I can give it my complete soul. DON'T EFF THIS UP
I'd like to second that.. DONT EFF THIS UP! *nearly turns into Hulk*..
>_>
Oh and here's a great vid.. series actually. This is a reasonable intro into it :P They're all on youtube from that same guy. They're hilarious. ^_^
Check out Pirates of the Burning Sea... Yarr! We got some interestin stuff goin on!
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I kno I am always the negative force but i think this game is gunna get alot of hype like it is already getting, and is not gunna do as well as people will think even if it turns out to be an okay game. I would hope for this game to folo in the foot steps of Dark Age of Camolot and creat a visualy tunning master peice with good game play that truely will bring our exspectations of MMOs up, like what World of Warcraft did, but if this game is not perfect I think it is gunna fall to the bottom like City of Heros, City of Villans, and we can even go far as to say Guild Wars also.
I'm not sure I understand you. Are you trying to say City of Heroes/Villains and or Guild Wars are at the bottom of some fall? Please, what are your criteria for that statement? Surely not consumer experience, appreciation or numbers.
Agree on what you said.. just not on the examples of CoH and GW ^_^
QUOTE
1up.com - April 2006:
* Best Role-Playing Game
Computer Games Magazine – March 2006:
* Best Game (No. 4)
* Best MMO Debut
* Best Technology
IGN Best of 2005 Awards:
* Best PC Persistent World Game - Editor's and Reader's Choice
* Best PC RPG – Editor's Choice
* Best PC Artistic Design – Reader's Choice
Play Magazine – February 2006 Issue:
* PC Game of the Year
* Best Action RPG
* Best Graphics – Artistic
* Honorable Mention – Best Original Score
Voodoo Extreme PC Game of the Year Awards:
* ArenaNet – Best New Developer
* One of the Top 5 Games of the Year
GameSpy's Game of the Year 2005:
* PC MMORPG of the Year
* One of the top 10 PC games of the Year
* Best Value
Worthplaying:
* Top 20 games of 2005
Metacritic:
* Best PC MMORPG
Accolades and Awards at Release:
* GameSpot: Review – 9.2/10 – Editors Choice Award
* GameSpy: Review – 4.5/5 – Editors Choice
* GameZone: Review – 9.3/10 – Editors Choice Award
* ActionTrip: Review – 93/100 – Editors Choice Award
* bit–tech.net: Review – 9/10 – Excellence Award
* PC Games Source: Review – 94% – Editors Choice Award
* GamingExcellence: Review – 9.2 – Editors Choice
* WorthPlaying: Review – 9.1/10 – Editors Choice Award
* Gamezone.de: Review (German) – 9.2 – Gold Award
Print Awards:
* MaximumPC – August 2005 Issue Review – 9/10 Kick Ass Product Award
* Computer Gaming World – July 2005 Issue: Review – 4/5 Editors Choice Award
* Computer Games Magazine – July 2005 Issue: Review – 5/5 Editors Choice Award
* Game Star – July 2005 Issue: Review – 85/100 Gold Award
* Game Informer – July 2005 Issue: Review – 8.75/10 PC Game of the Month
Price list of GW.. hehe ^_^ And its still VERY active.
Check out Pirates of the Burning Sea... Yarr! We got some interestin stuff goin on!
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yeah while GW might not get the constant hype that WoW does it is still a VERY popular game, tons of people still play and buy each year.
As for CoX im not sure so much how many people play other than the ones i know of on this site, but I know its a decent game for a Free 2 Play, not as good as GW but its a good game all the same.
Well, if Fea gets to show his GW-Peen, I will show CoX-peen :-)
QUOTE
Computer Gaming World
MMORPG Game of the Year - February 2005
Spike TV
MMORPG Game of the Year - December 15, 2004
GameSpy.com - PC Games of the Year
PC Game of the Year - December 24, 2004
Billboard 2004 Digital Entertainment Conference & Awards
PC or Console Game of the Year - November 5, 2004
Billboard 2004 Digital Entertainment Conference & Awards
Multiplayer Game of the Year - November 5, 2004
Wargamer
Award for Excellence - October 14, 2004
Games Magazine
Game of the Year 2004
Computer Games Magazine
Editor’s Choice - August 2004 Issue
Computer Gaming World
Editor's Choice - August 2004
Game Informer
PC Game of the Month - July 2004 Issue
Loadedinc
Hot Property Award - June 30, 2004
Adrenaline Vault
Seal of Excellence - June 15, 2004
Actiontrip
Editor’s Choice - June 3, 2004
Warcry
Best Expansion - City of Villains - E3 2004
IGN
Editor’s Choice - May 28, 2004
Gamespot
Game of the Month - May 2004
Gamespy
Game of the Month - May 2004
GameSpy
Editor’s Choice - May 28, 2004
Game Critics Awards
Best Online Multiplayer - E3 2003
Game Revolution
Best of E3 2003 - Best Online Game
Game Critics Awards
Nominee - Best Online Multiplayer - E3 2002
IGN
Best of E3 2002 - Runner Up - Best MMOG
Of course, DAoC is a great MMOG as well, especially for the PvP crowd and if you give me a minute I'll find something nice to say about WOW. It will not be praise for its graphics engine though. I played all the other games mentioned too and WOW has the poorest engine I'm afraid. Though that is subjective of course. I prefer CoX' toony look over WOW's toony look :-)
As for CoX im not sure so much how many people play other than the ones i know of on this site, but I know its a decent game for a Free 2 Play, not as good as GW but its a good game all the same.
CoX free to play? Damn, I have to recall some subion payments then.... ;-)
As for subs, CoX seems to be at 150.000 -ish at the moment, according to MMOGData.com.
As for CoX im not sure so much how many people play other than the ones i know of on this site, but I know its a decent game for a Free 2 Play, not as good as GW but its a good game all the same.
CoX free to play? Damn, I have to recall some subion payments then.... ;-)
As for subs, CoX seems to be at 150.000 -ish at the moment, according to MMOGData.com.
I worry for our beloved World of Warcraft. All these new games, Blizz is gonna have to step it up!
Ill begin to worry when I see one that even comes CLOSE to competeing with the DOMINATION that is WoW...LOTRO comes in a distant 2nd right now...And Warhammer Online will kill that and take 2nd but I dont know if it will takeover WoW, I will let you know more when beta is open I guess...
I kinda agree with Dru, WOW will be around for a long while yet. If you look at EverQuest, it still has a decent subs base nine years after launch. Mind not many of those subs were there at day one, nor is it the same game anymore, but that's MMORPG's. :-)
Any successful MMOG (Lets put that at 200K subscribers. Netting 3 Million per month is good enough imo) usually lasts 5 to 7 years going by the charts. WOW should easily be able to be able to hit the teens. Will the subscriber base be the same at the end of WOW's first decade or not? I think it won't be. But that's not a bad thing.
In closing, while both LotRO and WAR aim to take a piece of WOW's subscribers, neither expects nor wants to overtake, or even destroy WOW. That kind of thinking, the WOW-killer existed for a while, admittedly around Turbinal and Mythical areas, but no more. Investors are even no longer asking "How will this game be like WOW". Nope, now they ask "How well has the franchise you're exploiting done so far?".
That seems to be the long term effect of WOW on the MMOG market. The use of pre-existing, successful franchises (Brands) for MMOGs. This is not solely due to WOW though I believe. Hollywood woke up and smelled the roses, MMOG's make more money than movies and have less illegal copy issues, already have a subscriber business model that the RIAA and MPAA so dearly want. Guess who are behind the big Movie / TV / Comic and kid novel (Harry Snotter) titles coming to the MMOG market in the next 3 to 5 years?
07/05/07 04:28
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