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Would we ever see CO's best features again?
cybersoldier1981
Posts: 2,501 Arc User
I'm not trying to be a doomsayer.
But, I will say that based on the way things have been for the last 9 months or so, Champions Online has shown itself to be a waste of potential.
Champions Online has raised the bar to a new high when it comes to character creation. It has the BEST, hands-down. I keep hearing people claim that CoX's was superior, but after looking through screenshots and even playing the game for a whopping hour a while back, I disagree. Granted, it was here first- but I won't claim a typewriter is better than my laptop because it was here first.
I have always despised being forced to wear X, Y, and Z because 'I found it and it was better' even though it makes my character look like a heap of clown clothes. Many games just have crappy models for their armors anyway, and there's no real fun in having a simple combo of faces, hairstyles, and the same armor as every other character of your level. Give me one reason why I shouldn't be able to look cool as soon as I start and have complete control of my appearance. In my honest opinion, 'forced appearance' based on gear does nothing but encourage the loot-squabbling in popular MMO's. At least in CO, you can have gear equipped that has no real bearing on the way you look.
My hopes are that CO doesn't die and take this awesome feature to the grave with it.
The ability to pick and choose your skills, and not be confined to 'the weapon I just got as a drop' is amazing. Even though the system has its issues with clown-builds and Flavor of the Month powers and various other 'no theme, no problem' powersets- it's still pretty awesome.
I've yet to understand why other games haven't expanded the freedom of their skill trees. I would even be impressed with more limited options that remained within a theme- such as Cybernetics, Munitions, Power Armor, and Gadgets being classed into a 'Tech Skill' tree that allowed players to mix/match.
The Nemesis System could have been awesome. You can't sit here and tell me that it's NOT cool, in ANY way to have your OWN adversaries. Sadly, CO didn't follow through and make this what it could have been. It's a great way to break the pace of the usual stories that offers unique rewards.
Sidekicking was an excellent idea that should be used more often. It sucks when your friend buys a game 4 months after you, and you're doing your own leveling and he's way behind. It's the kind of separation that kills the idea of recruiting new players. With the sidekicking system, any n00b can be helped. Maybe that explains the lack of squabbling among PvEers in CO [compared to other games].
But now, here we amongst prophesies and expectations of CO's 'Death'. And this is what we don't mention enough.
If CO goes away- and it very well could in the future, we just don't know when- can we expect to see these ideas return? Many games often feature something that is done just so... awesome, and yet when that game 'dies' or fails to get the recognition it deserves and make profits- it seems the entire idea is tossed into the casket. Other times when the game is aged away, we don't see those novel ideas emplaced again.
I'll be honest, you show me a game where I can use the above features- I'm sold. I personally think the (unlicensed) science fiction setting lacks MMORPG's, and to take what Champions Online offers above and bring that to the table in such as setting would be spectacular.
So, Cryptic- why not? I can't even gripe about the Z-store as a way of making money through microtransactions. It's fertile ground that can be explored and could very well appeal to the 'sick of ******** and anything like it' crowd, as well as sci-fi fans. Science Fiction has just as much room for creativity as the Comic Book settings (and often the two overlap).
So, here's the question- are these features going to reincarnate in the future?
But, I will say that based on the way things have been for the last 9 months or so, Champions Online has shown itself to be a waste of potential.
Champions Online has raised the bar to a new high when it comes to character creation. It has the BEST, hands-down. I keep hearing people claim that CoX's was superior, but after looking through screenshots and even playing the game for a whopping hour a while back, I disagree. Granted, it was here first- but I won't claim a typewriter is better than my laptop because it was here first.
I have always despised being forced to wear X, Y, and Z because 'I found it and it was better' even though it makes my character look like a heap of clown clothes. Many games just have crappy models for their armors anyway, and there's no real fun in having a simple combo of faces, hairstyles, and the same armor as every other character of your level. Give me one reason why I shouldn't be able to look cool as soon as I start and have complete control of my appearance. In my honest opinion, 'forced appearance' based on gear does nothing but encourage the loot-squabbling in popular MMO's. At least in CO, you can have gear equipped that has no real bearing on the way you look.
My hopes are that CO doesn't die and take this awesome feature to the grave with it.
The ability to pick and choose your skills, and not be confined to 'the weapon I just got as a drop' is amazing. Even though the system has its issues with clown-builds and Flavor of the Month powers and various other 'no theme, no problem' powersets- it's still pretty awesome.
I've yet to understand why other games haven't expanded the freedom of their skill trees. I would even be impressed with more limited options that remained within a theme- such as Cybernetics, Munitions, Power Armor, and Gadgets being classed into a 'Tech Skill' tree that allowed players to mix/match.
The Nemesis System could have been awesome. You can't sit here and tell me that it's NOT cool, in ANY way to have your OWN adversaries. Sadly, CO didn't follow through and make this what it could have been. It's a great way to break the pace of the usual stories that offers unique rewards.
Sidekicking was an excellent idea that should be used more often. It sucks when your friend buys a game 4 months after you, and you're doing your own leveling and he's way behind. It's the kind of separation that kills the idea of recruiting new players. With the sidekicking system, any n00b can be helped. Maybe that explains the lack of squabbling among PvEers in CO [compared to other games].
But now, here we amongst prophesies and expectations of CO's 'Death'. And this is what we don't mention enough.
If CO goes away- and it very well could in the future, we just don't know when- can we expect to see these ideas return? Many games often feature something that is done just so... awesome, and yet when that game 'dies' or fails to get the recognition it deserves and make profits- it seems the entire idea is tossed into the casket. Other times when the game is aged away, we don't see those novel ideas emplaced again.
I'll be honest, you show me a game where I can use the above features- I'm sold. I personally think the (unlicensed) science fiction setting lacks MMORPG's, and to take what Champions Online offers above and bring that to the table in such as setting would be spectacular.
So, Cryptic- why not? I can't even gripe about the Z-store as a way of making money through microtransactions. It's fertile ground that can be explored and could very well appeal to the 'sick of ******** and anything like it' crowd, as well as sci-fi fans. Science Fiction has just as much room for creativity as the Comic Book settings (and often the two overlap).
So, here's the question- are these features going to reincarnate in the future?
Post edited by cybersoldier1981 on
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I was talking to some of the developers a while back, when they were doing things each month dedicated to some aspect (remember Power Armor month?), and asked if they could do a Nemesis month, where they could come out with new missions and just completely expand the whole thing, and suggested they add things like being able to play as your nemesis to set up plots (you know, use your nemesis to rob a bank or whatever, then at the end of the mission you hear "Oh snap, it's Captain Hero, he's here!" And then the mission changes to your point of view, things like that. They said that sounds cool, we'll talk about it, but those developers aren't even here anymore (hell, hardly anyone is). Seeing that our future content has been hinted at being in the same style as the Lemurian invasion, every few months we can expect to have four tiny missions then fight one big bad guy. I don't see anything at all projected for expanding the nemesis system - one of the very unique things this game has, and one of the best. Sad.
At least in Neverwinter I got a pretty cool, story based foundry that I can drown my sorrow.
Here?
Every time I log on my luchador I weep. Weep because I've done everthing on this game. There is nothing more to do. And nothing but temporary content is on the horizon.
None of the problems tackled. No new, awesome stuff.
A sea of vehicle lockboxes.
This is probably the MMO I played and payed for the longest, yet it's the one who made me sad the most. Sad. Not angry. Not
Sad.
ended up as:
Took money out, ignored everyone, ran away.
because the upper management in this company clearly have no idea how to properly use resources and people, or hire new ones for that matter....
The Nemesis system needs fixing and here's ideas:
A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business. Henry Ford
When Cryptic gives us something to be excited about other than stupid vehicle lockboxes, maybe we wouldn't have to.
At least the Lemurian invasion is new content we are currently able to enjoy.
Oh, wait...
Regarding the topic of Nemeses, it's still a crappy decision to stop improving it. Nevermind improving it, I think I have a toon or two currently having problems getting nemesis spawns to show up and drop clues.
I had this problem on Offender. Crosschan told me to go blow up the chairs at the place where Harmon gives his speech. Minutes later, got the clue to drop.
thank you for summing it up perfectly jennymach.
and taco when cryptic gives us something that we can be happy about and that is going to be permanent so we can get excited about this game again then it won't be doom and gloom
what is so wrong about wanting an expanding game on the scale of MOP for wow, or rise of the hutt cartel for swtor, or Legacy of Romulus?
its not a crime to want a game that expands and gets better with time and on that scale because we have every stinkin right to have that
and having our suggestions and questions and pleas always ignored by the upper level management, is not a smart way to make a reputation in a company.
and it also makes people paying for this game very upset
The Nemesis system needs fixing and here's ideas:
A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business. Henry Ford
I just happen to be a more capable game studio O:3
I bid $1 for CO, let the virtual auction begin
For example:
Anaxabilba is a star guardian. Her Nemesis is... her MOTHER! Who has been corrupted by the dark stars.
HeroNames: My Dear, Dearest Daughter, Foolish Daughter
Gloat: The penumbra beckons!, Feel the power of the dark stars!, Ha ha ha! Fools!
Failure: Noooo!, Dark stars, save me!, Your power honors me, daughter... but I will have my vengeance!
And so on.
Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?
Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?
Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
This perfectly sums up the withering of my play on Champions. After months of playing and sighing louder and louder about the lack of anything to do... yeah. Now I just sit outside the game, pining for SOMETHING to revive what would otherwise be my favorite game, ever.
Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?
Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?
Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
Sometimes the powerups dropped by enemies will summon the minions - but it happens every time one is dropped by an inanimate object.
- David Brin, "Those Eyes"
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I think they are either bitter and want to somehow make others suffer, or they are lying about having given up hope.
Wicks and Things: NW-DI4FMZRR4 : The Fenwick merchant family has lost a caravan! Can you help?
Beggar's Hollow: NW-DR6YG4J2L : Someone, or something, has stolen away many of the Fenwicks' children! Can you find out what happened to them?
Into the Fen Wood: NW-DL89DRG7B : Enter the heart of the forest. Can you discover the secret of the Fen Wood?
Yeah it's not a necessity... I played the game over three years and never had a problem with this. Then Offender went for months without clues dropping. Minions would pop all the time, but no clues. Went to the chairs, in minutes, clues. This happened just a couple months ago.
Well aren't you the role model. :rolleyes:
I remember trying the chairs trick a couple of times and it didn't work. It did sometimes though, other times not. It's kinda sporadic.
Did you try those chairs though? They're magic!
- David Brin, "Those Eyes"
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What was the main topic again?
This is preferable.
DOOOOOOOOOOM.
*said in the crowd voice from this clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj2JORdzs1g *
Occam's Razor makes the cutting clean.
survival in this situation is the proper distribution of priorities...clearly the one in your face eats a barrel of grape...
Then the one on the far left of the screen gets double tapped then then third one eats whatever ammo is left...then you open the secret panel to the right grab the flak jacket and first aid kit and resupply your ammo (I've never had that specific encounter in my years of original dooming
the forum in a nutshell.
RIP Caine
And playing by myself since Aug 2009
Godtier: Lifetime Subscriber
Basically.
But it do seem like they be on to something as CO seems to be all but abandoned. Barely can even get tech support.
Bugs that been around since the beginning, still here. Issues that been around for ages, still here. And not even so much as a peep of "We are working as hard as we can on it." or indication they even know or care about the issues. So what was expected?
I'd PAY good money for an optional decent-sized Nemesis expansion and fix. I'd pay more than i have spent on lockboxes. I'd pay more than i have spent on z-store vehicles. I'd pay more than i have spent on costume ALL ADDED UP TOGETHER.
Missions played as my Nemeses? That i then get to thwart as my hero? Oh My Goodness YES PLEASE!
Heck i'd pay $50 just for them to fix the Nemesis creator system. If they through in a few more Nemesis Alert missions and a short string of extra Nemesis missions I'd be thrilled and a Nemesis comic/adventure pack or event could be the bees knees!
While she has been rescued
what diabolical mastermind
was behind the devious brain-napping of
the Volterrific Dr Cerebellum?
:rolleyes:
Shortly after On Alert launched one of my characters was effectively locked out of his Nemesis missions until just a couple of months ago. You try going for nearly a year straight without getting a clue to drop "legitimately" and see if you can maintain that stance. It took me an hour of constant chair breaking and orb collecting to finally get one to trigger a minion group that dropped a clue. I thought the method was cheap too until it became my only hope of ever moving on with the story.
as for the actual problem, i agree entirely that we shouldnt have to do an amount of out of character property damage to get a feature working, it is one of many things that need fixed.