They're going pre-order crazy with Champions Online this summer, offering four different incentives with four different retailers.
Your choices, the usual suspects: GameStop, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Amazon. Depending on where you decide to drop your cash, you'll get everything from special packaging to in-game items or powers. The complete list of what you can get and where, you can find after the jump. But regardless of where you pre-order the game, you'll get accesss to the open beta test, which begins on August 17.
Champions Online ships this September. Make your choice wisely. Me, I'll be the dude wearing the Insectoid Airfoil costume; the wings flap 90 times per second, OMG.
GameStop GameStop customers who pre-order Champions Online receive access to the Early Start Program. Battle an alien menace, collect exclusive items, and join the early start weekend to get a jump on the action! GameStop customers also receive the exclusive Insectoid Airfoil costume piece and Experimental Anti-Graviton Generator flight travel power at character creation for an early boost in mobility.
Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is offering an exclusive Limited Edition Package with collectible lenticular cover that includes an exclusive zone map, iron-on decal and an additional ten in-game micro-transaction dollars! Check online and in-store for more details and other potential offers.
Best Buy Best Buy is offering their customers the fun and functional Lil’ Champ Pack. These persistent pets are iconic, knee-high characters from the Champions universe! Best Buy Customers receive their own Lil’ Champ. In addition, Lil’ Champ owners also receive a functional damage resistance item. Best Buy pre-order customers will also receive access to the Early Start Program and head start weekend.
Amazon The High Roller Pack is perfect for players who insist on the finest accoutrements for their avatar. With three unique, exclusive apparel options (harlequin headpiece, black knight helmet, grenade chest strap), and an additional five in-game micro-transaction dollars, you’ll have plenty of options to push your “High Roller” look.
The copyright issue has already played out with city of Heroes. Marvel and DC lost that lawsuit, by not winning it outright. It was a draw, and dropped by both sides.
All that Champions has to do is deal with a copyright infringed character if reported to the GMs. I'm sure they will, but they don't have to constantly scan their players. They already are leaving out some art that would infringe on costumes. They might have some named blocked at launch. All of this is quite enough to avoid any lawsuit, because it shows they are willing to officially address any concerns as they pop up.
Just like any other superhero MMO thats due to spring up. Cryptic had a pretty good track record though, with CoH, in dropping the hammer on infringing players.
@otogi guy - I have an excellent connection actually. :) What worries me more is the server-side aspect. If it's getting hammered and not able to hold the connection on their end, I wouldn't want to lose that character I just spent an hour tweaking to my liking. A lot of new MMOs will have server instability regardless of a lot of stress testing in the beta phase, I would just like the ability to save a character every now and then as I tweak it until I'm ready to hit that 'create character' button.
That's really a complete nonissue. It does not take that long to make your character in this game. (Yes, I have played it). No longer then it took in CoH.
Kind of a weird thing to worry about, actually. Can't blame the guy for wondering if your internet connection sucked from the way you worded it earlier.
I've had fun with the closed beta, combat is pretty good considering it being an MMO, I've made a character that uses pistols to charge up his twin sword attacks, and all you have to do pretty much is initiate an attack and hotkey your way till they're dead. Using pistols and strafing around attacks and blocking them however is a really fresh experience. But I've already got my preorder down... most likely I'm going to play this for the time they include on it and that's it since its going to have micro transactions included with the game, what is my $15 a month doing?
Yes, there is an option to save your costume as you are building it.
No, I will not be buying this game as the costume options are far more generic and limited than in CoH/CoV. You would think I could at least create my character from CoH, but even that wasn't possible from the limited selection in CO. Pass. I will just stick to my CoX account.
@PL: thats true, but why should i have to commit to a purchase even if I can cancel that commitment, just to participate in a period of time that is supposedly there to make sure the game runs right for paying customers?
Doing this makes it into a glorified pre-release demo.
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Contest:
9:20 AM on 07.28.2009
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Are there any Dtoiders that have played the beta yet? Is it fun? Should I be worried for another Hellgate: London debacle?
All that Champions has to do is deal with a copyright infringed character if reported to the GMs. I'm sure they will, but they don't have to constantly scan their players. They already are leaving out some art that would infringe on costumes. They might have some named blocked at launch. All of this is quite enough to avoid any lawsuit, because it shows they are willing to officially address any concerns as they pop up.
Just like any other superhero MMO thats due to spring up. Cryptic had a pretty good track record though, with CoH, in dropping the hammer on infringing players.
heh, if you cant hold a connection long enough to create your character than maybe mmo is not for you?
The "Cryptic Bucks," or whatever they are calling them, are the dealbreaker. Monthly Fee PLUS microtransactions?
Hah, later.
That's really a complete nonissue. It does not take that long to make your character in this game. (Yes, I have played it). No longer then it took in CoH.
Kind of a weird thing to worry about, actually. Can't blame the guy for wondering if your internet connection sucked from the way you worded it earlier.
No, I will not be buying this game as the costume options are far more generic and limited than in CoH/CoV. You would think I could at least create my character from CoH, but even that wasn't possible from the limited selection in CO. Pass. I will just stick to my CoX account.
Doing this makes it into a glorified pre-release demo.