DC: Universe - Catch All

I know this is probably a silly question, but what platform are most folks going to pick up? I assume PC. I'd really like to try it out on both before deciding. If the control scheme works out I'd prefer controller/console, but I'm not sure they can pull it off.

Definitely PC. While i should have a PS3 by Nov i'm not a fan of MMOs on consoles. FFXI soured me pretty good on that score.

PC definitely for me too!

I am definitely crossing my fingers for this one. Some of the gameplay videos look good.

NathanialG wrote:

That trailer was really good.

Blur makes awesome trailers. They made the ones for The Old Republic, too.

That trailer was chock full of bad a$$. This game is definitely on my radar.

I might go PS3, depending on the situation, what deals there are.

I'm not particularly interested in playing as an Iconic, but I don't think I'm the average user. I'm in it for my own story, with the context of the DC icons.

I'm not looking forward to playing against a foul mouthed superman or something like that.

So, stuff to keep in mind:

- Once you pick a platform, you're stuck. You can't play cross platform. (grumble, grumble)
- The game feels better on a controller. Period. So even if you're on a PC, make sure you grab a Logitech or a corded 360 controller or whatever. You're going to want it. This is not like FFXI-you-gotta-play-it-on-a-controller. There's no need to get familiar with your bracket keys. It just *feels* really good to play with a controller. The PC controls are more than playable. Even I, a great PC snob, have been converted of late.
- Your machine can probably run it ... except maybe the video card. Here are the recommended system requirements:

sysreqs wrote:

Intel Processor - Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz
AMD Processor - Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5800+
Nvidia Graphics Card - Geforce 8800 GT
ATI Graphics Card - Radeon HD 3870
RAM Memory - 2 GB
Hard Disk Space - 30 GB
Direct X - 9

- Make sure you pick your starting character with the 'kind' of content you'd like to play in mind. If you're a die-hard Batman freak, you're going to want to play a Tech Hero or Villain. Meta heroes and villains side with Lex or Supes, and Magic heroes and villains side with Circe or Wonder Woman. It's not like you can't see tech content if you pick magic, but your main 'plot thread' is going to be about spells and stuff.

I'll answer any questions I can that folks might have, if I can. Fire away.

Question for you guys: What do you think of the Play as an Iconic PvP stuff, if you've seen that? Are you thinking you'll want to do that?

Michael Zenke wrote:

Question for you guys: What do you think of the Play as an Iconic PvP stuff, if you've seen that? Are you thinking you'll want to do that?

Honestly, I'm kind of meh on that feature. Unless I'm wrong it's just going to be quick arena type matches where you'll get to play as the feature DC characters. I'm not much on the whole arena/pvp quick match scenario, so outside of trying it once or twice to see what's there, it's not a big draw for me.

I'm more interested in my generic superhero development within the story context of the main game.

Michael Zenke wrote:

Question for you guys: What do you think of the Play as an Iconic PvP stuff, if you've seen that? Are you thinking you'll want to do that?

I've been following this game for awhile, and even though that was just announced I have almost no interest in it. The normal pve looks fun.. The battleground type pvp looks fun. I'm hoping the open world pvp on a pvp server will be fun.. But that mode just looks so similar to arenas and stuff. Even though I like a lot of dc characters a bunch, I'm really looking forward to playing my own character and progressing it. I'm sure at some point I might check it out, and it may be a lot of fun. Just right now it's probably at the bottom of the barrel of why the game interests me.

Is there a page where I can read up on the power sets?

Michael Zenke wrote:

I'll answer any questions I can that folks might have, if I can. Fire away.

Question for you guys: What do you think of the Play as an Iconic PvP stuff, if you've seen that? Are you thinking you'll want to do that?

I'm not a fan of the pvp in LOTRO either so this has me not that excited but since it is the icon characters it has an allure that'll be hard to pass up.

questions: who do i talk to about beta?

NathanialG wrote:

Is there a page where I can read up on the power sets?

I don't think the full list has been released yet? I know the directors have talked about some of them in videos on Facebook. Expect the old standbys, for the most part.

questions: who do i talk to about beta?

Heh. So, Friends and Family is starting soon, with Closed starting up at the end of August. I don't believe we're going to do an Open Beta. Did you already sign up on the Beta page?

Michael Zenke wrote:
NathanialG wrote:

Is there a page where I can read up on the power sets?

I don't think the full list has been released yet? I know the directors have talked about some of them in videos on Facebook. Expect the old standbys, for the most part.

questions: who do i talk to about beta?

Heh. So, Friends and Family is starting soon, with Closed starting up at the end of August. I don't believe we're going to do an Open Beta. Did you already sign up on the Beta page?

Most definitely. Seems like SOE isnt a fan of open beta. Have they had one for any of their mmos?

Question for you guys: What do you think of the Play as an Iconic PvP stuff, if you've seen that? Are you thinking you'll want to do that?

It will be interesting to see how popular it is. Its an interesting take on combining a sort of mentoring system with a "you can play as batman" in PvP. Its killing three birds with one stone. SOE is trying to narrow the level gap imbalance in PvP, provide an avenue where 1000's can play their favorite iconic character, and they are providing a tempting lure into PvP to keep the population fresh and lively. And the good thing about that lure is that it wanting to play as an iconic hero isn't going to expire or wane.

That being said, I have no interest in playing as an iconic hero and I have little interest in fighting against or following orders from most of them. I want to create my own.

The universe is the least of the draw to me. Its all about the gameplay.

Why even make a game? I just want to watch those types of videos!

Michael Zenke wrote:

So, stuff to keep in mind:

- Once you pick a platform, you're stuck. You can't play cross platform. (grumble, grumble)
- The game feels better on a controller. Period. So even if you're on a PC, make sure you grab a Logitech or a corded 360 controller or whatever. You're going to want it. This is not like FFXI-you-gotta-play-it-on-a-controller. There's no need to get familiar with your bracket keys. It just *feels* really good to play with a controller. The PC controls are more than playable. Even I, a great PC snob, have been converted of late.

I'll answer any questions I can that folks might have, if I can. Fire away.

I doubt you can speak to this directly, but I thought I would bring it up. I'm really interested in playing this on the ps3, but when I think of an MMO, I think of constant patches and updates, which is something Sony hasn't seemed to figure out on the ps3. The idea of a game needing one patch or the ps3 needing a system update is enough disincentive for me to go play something else. Any word or info on how sony is going to handle updates and patches on the PS3?

I'm also curious to see how they handle introducing non-comic book readers such as myself to all these characters. I thought the trailer was great, but I didn't know who about a third of the characters were. I fear explanation maybe in hidden away in menus and in game encyclopedias, but if it's not I could also see long time fans not being interested in retreading old territory.

I've been thinking of jumping into an mmo, as I have only tried a few and haven't played one in about year. It looks like this is the one I'm likely to try.

Michael Zenke wrote:

I'll answer any questions I can that folks might have, if I can. Fire away.

Question for you guys: What do you think of the Play as an Iconic PvP stuff, if you've seen that? Are you thinking you'll want to do that?

...what's it like working with Batman?

/runs away.

ranalin wrote:

Most definitely. Seems like SOE isnt a fan of open beta. Have they had one for any of their mmos?

I don't believe so?

fangblackbone wrote:

The universe is the least of the draw to me. Its all about the gameplay.

I believe - I hope - you will be pleasantly surprised, then.

IUMogg wrote:

Any word or info on how sony is going to handle updates and patches on the PS3?

The goal is for the PS3 and PC experiences to be as close to each other as humanly possible. That's actually about all I know about it too. I'm a designer, not an engineering guy. I do know the server guys have been working their butts off to make sure it works just like you'd expect even on the PS3. PS3 beta is still a ways out yet.

IUMogg wrote:

I'm also curious to see how they handle introducing non-comic book readers such as myself to all these characters.

That I can say, without reservation, you're good on. You really don't need any kind of working knowledge of DC comics to enjoy the game. If you know, like, who Batman is you'll probably get more out of the game. But yeah characters are introduced in cool cinematic ways, there's lots of explanatory VO, and plenty of story repetition. You should be good sir.

Entertaining trailer, sigh, one day the games will look like that. Sadly, its SOE. Time spent in EQ and Planetside has left me with what's pretty much an aversion to anything SOE.

I poked around the internet for a bit, trying to chase down some back story information, not finding much. What's the tie in with the DC 'canon', if any? Or is DCUO its own standalone storyline?

I believe - I hope - you will be pleasantly surprised, then.

Well as long as they execute on what I've seen then it won't be any surprise at all.

I think I posted somewhere else in this thread that I hope the next EQ goes the route of DCUO. Mind you, not the route of where you fight alongside Firionia Vie instead of Wonder Woman... but the route of action combat that is tactically paced and more interaction with the environment.

If TERA's pacing is as fun as it looks, it could be a real break through for MMO's, brawlers and action rpgs alike. The question is, will players be able to play such a game for 8-12 hours in one sitting? That certainly isn't the norm but the I think the ability for players to do so adds to the longevity of an MMO. Because if a player sits down to play a marathon stretch they are going to complete that stretch whether they are playing one game or many games. If they are switching games in their marathon sessions, their attention is divided and I don't see how you can build more than a niche MMO when you can't hold your player base's attention.

But that is a major tangent. So I will just say I am anticipating DCUO and if anyone can pull strings to get some of us into the beta, it would be appreciated

Getting ready to pre order the Collectors Edition.

Nothing to see here, move along....

LtWarhound wrote:

Entertaining trailer, sigh, one day the games will look like that. Sadly, its SOE. Time spent in EQ and Planetside has left me with what's pretty much an aversion to anything SOE.

Again, this game is really almost nothing like any other title SOE has done before. It's sort of its own thing. A unique butterfly, if you will. And this is from a dude who has played everything in the genre; DCUO is like no online persistent title you've played before, on a few levels.

Now, I'm not saying its necessarily your cup of tea or that it's 'better' than other games, but I can assure you: it's different.

LtWarhound wrote:

I poked around the internet for a bit, trying to chase down some back story information, not finding much. What's the tie in with the DC 'canon', if any? Or is DCUO its own standalone storyline?

The trailer linked above will give you the gist of our jumping off point: in a dystopian future, Brainiac conquers Earth as the iconic Heroes and Villains fight each other to the death. Demoralized and ruined, Lex Luthor (the last man standing) travels back in time to warn the Justice League and Secret Society of today about the impending threat. To make sure action is taken, he erupts 'something' over the Earth to do ... something. That's where the game kicks off.

I'm told by a highly placed [color=red]SECRET INSIDER EMPLOYEE[/color] that there will, in fact, be smoke bombs.

Edit: I could work for TMZ.

Getting ready to pre order the Collectors Edition.

I'm on the fence. I'd like to try it out a bit before I commit to that. Hopefully I get into the beta.

Michael Zenke wrote:
LtWarhound wrote:

Entertaining trailer, sigh, one day the games will look like that. Sadly, its SOE. Time spent in EQ and Planetside has left me with what's pretty much an aversion to anything SOE.

Again, this game is really almost nothing like any other title SOE has done before.

No, the problem isn't that it might be like some other game. The problem is SOE. I've been, personally, consistantly underwhelmed with SOE. Its personal, and I don't expect it to be a problem for other players, but for me, the idea of giving SOE any money leaves a bad taste. So, like anything from Ubisoft, I just don't buy it.

LtWarhound wrote:

I poked around the internet for a bit, trying to chase down some back story information, not finding much. What's the tie in with the DC 'canon', if any? Or is DCUO its own standalone storyline?

Michael Zenke wrote:

The trailer linked above will give you the gist of our jumping off point.

Right, seen that, as I mentioned above. My question was the link between DC Comics canon, and DCUO canon. Will the comics reflect the storyline of the MMO? Or are they going to be two seperate things, the MMO having no impact on the comics, and the comics having little or no impact on the MMO? For example, lets say DC decides that one of the 'iconic' heroes is going to die, another 'Death of Superman' storyline. Is that iconic hero going to be dropped from the MMO?

LtWarhound wrote:

For example, lets say DC decides that one of the 'iconic' heroes is going to die, another 'Death of Superman' storyline. Is that iconic hero going to be dropped from the MMO?

I'm not the guy that'd make those decisions, but my guess is: it depends on whether it's fun or not. Obviously we have the opportunity to tie into a bunch of stuff (new animated movies, the GL movie next year, other videogames, etc), but whether or not we actually do content that ties into that is a choice.

Between CoH and C:O, I preferred CoH. C:O I just could not get into it. I just liked CoH so much more, it seemed so much more fun. So I'm just a little worried about how this is going to turn out. Also, I was a Marvel fan growing up, so don't know quite as much about DC cannon. Of course I would also have to tear myself away from WoW....

Yes please!!