The Champions Online Dev Team will be online tomorrow (Thursday 5/20) evening from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. PDT (That’s 23:00 to 02:00 GMT) and queuing up for Tier 2 PvP (Levels 11-20) with the players! Think you have what it takes to face off against the Cryptonauts? Then we’ll see you tomorrow night!

If you’re wondering when we’ll be queuing for which maps, the complete schedule can be found below:

4:00 – 4:45 PM – UTC Cage Match

4:45 – 5:30 PM – Zombie Apocalypse

5:30 – 6:15 PM – UTC Cage Match

6:15 – 7:00 PM – Zombie Apocalypse

Link to the forum post

LavaLama: What can we expect after the first Adventure Pack? Will there be a new Super Power Patch?
Saikyo-RyuHatman: What’s next on the “passes” after Supernatural / Melee?

A: poz: The update after the first Adventure Pack (Serpent Lantern) will include another power review. We haven’t decided which set or mechanism we’re going to work on yet. Force and Electricity are near the top, but we’re waiting to see how the Endurance Builder changes affect them first. Threat and pets are also pretty high on the list. Once we’re clear of the endurance builder stuff, we’ll figure out what’s next.

Khristen: What are your upcoming / current plans for non-combat aspects of the game, including more support for role-players and supergroups? Essentially, is there anything coming to give us more to do to interact with others that isn’t combat related?
Silverspar: When can we expect new emotes and those that aren’t fully Star Trek related to be ported over to Champions for player user?

A: poz: There are some supergroup features which are coming down the pipe (too early for an ETA) including an event calendar and a search/recruitment tool. Also, there are also more emotes on the way.

DigitalShaman: Improved teaming has been acknowledged as something the game is in serious need of. What is going to be done about ensuring not only ensuring future content is more team friendly, but ensuring the game’s other material is updated also?

A: poz: The new team tab in the mission journal debuted in the Super Power Pack Update. It works wonders in keeping your team together. In addition, all new instanced content we make will scale to the team size. (Adventure Packs, of course, scale to your level as well.)

The Serpent Lantern Update is scheduled to have the difficulty slider in it. This can be used to make missions more challenging, which some teams are looking for. Upping the difficulty will also increase the rewards. In addition, the bonuses we give based on team size will be increased in this update.

Over time, we will revisit older content and put more scaling in. We will also be revisiting lairs and fixing some of the big bosses there too.

Maekada: The one thing I want in this game soon, above all else, is Supergroup bases. I know it has been stated that they do not intend to make them any time soon, and I would like to know why this is, when it is something that players want dearly.

A: poz: I’m sorry to say that we don’t have the time or resources to get Supergroup bases in properly right now. We’re focusing on the Adventure Packs, quality of life features, and bugs for the time being.

Dardove: Can we get any more details about the difficulty slider? What sort of rewards will running a mission on a higher difficulty earn you?

A: Arkayne: The difficulty slider is still in testing so this information may change. The difficulty slider is set on an individual or team basis and increases the level of enemies in any instanced mission based on the difficulty increase. The tougher enemies in turn drop better quality gear drops.

For pure protection and almighty boost don’t leave home without this bundle.

Divinity Bundle!

 

Looking for a surprise? You can find
Mystery Cubes here!

-GM Phibes

With the change of the seasons, new content is crawling out of the woodwork here in Wind Slayer!

Expect to see a variety of new content soon — be sure to check your email for the first details, and free swag! If you’re not sure if you’re set to receive the emails, then be sure to go to your profile and sign up to get them!

Fox at MMO Sanctuary sent a few questions Executive Producer Shannon Posniewski’s way. You can read the interview here.

From the article:

We’re planning on two things: Adventure Packs and content refreshes. Adventure Packs are great big story arcs, with multiple missions, locations and bosses. Any hero level 11 and above can go on the adventure. Adventure Packs will scale to the team’s level and size, so everyone can experience it. Players can also replay these adventures.

We also plan to revisit the content for some levels and add in more to provide a bit more variety. We’re currently considering doing something for the 20-30 range, though these plans aren’t final.

Link to the forum post

Hey Slayer’s! Tired of losing that hard-earned EXP when your foes get the drop on you?   28 Day EXP Protection is 50% off!.  Get them while they last!

 
28 Day Exp Protection

 

Looking for a surprise? You can find
Mystery Cubes here!

-GM Phibes

Greetings, Fellow Champions!

As most of you know, we’ve been getting the Super Power Pack ready for the last month. Your comments and testing on the power updates have been fantastic. We’ve made a lot of changes based on your feedback and I think the results are excellent. Thank you!

Super Power Pack

So, when is it coming? Tonight! (Technically, May 4, 2010, at 3:00 a.m. PDT) Though we had hoped to get it to you last Tuesday, we decided to let the last couple changes soak on the test shard over the weekend.

The Super Power Pack’s big ticket items:

• Melee update
• Supernatural update
• Weapons in the tailor
• Unity 2 missions
• Journal improvements for teaming
• and about a zillion other changes and fixes

The voluminous full patch notes can be found here later this evening: http://www.champions-online.com/patch_notes.

In addition to the updates to melee and supernatural going live tonight, there are more changes coming to Might that will go into a patch very soon. We will also be updating the rewards given for Unity missions to provide a bit more variety (at some lower prices).

Teaming

New in the Super Power Pack is a modified Mission Journal interface to let you see all of your teammates’ missions. When the team leader selects a new primary mission, it automatically shares with everyone on the team. We also made sidekicking easier by prompting players when they add in to a team of a significantly different level.

We decided, though, to wait until the next update (Serpent Lantern) to make changes to the reward structure. We want to get them on to PTS with enough time to see the results and get your feedback before committing to them Live.

Teaming remains a major focus of mine, so keep the feedback coming.

The Serpent Lantern (June)

Our next update is an Adventure Pack: The Serpent Lantern. An Adventure Pack is a long story arc, with multiple missions, locations, and bosses. Everything scales to the team’s level and size, so everybody (level 11 or higher) can play. The Serpent Lantern takes you from Millennium City to the jungle, where you find VIPER hard at work. As usual, they are up to no good. Something about a “Spirit Serpent” …

In addition to the adventure itself, this update is scheduled to include:

• VIPER upgrade
• Veteran rewards
• Difficulty slider
• Energy Builders review
• Bug fixes

“The Serpent Lantern” is slated to go Live in June. You’ll be getting more details in upcoming forum posts. It will be up on PTS in a couple weeks.

Community

I’m happy to say that the Champs website will see an update soon. That update will include a calendar of future updates as well as some navigation and visual improvements. Yay!

Another Ask Cryptic is being worked on. Make sure you visit the forums and put your question in.

Thanks to everyone who came out to play on Friday for the Dev Event! We had a great time, so I hope you had fun too. The next one is slated for Thursday, May 20, 2010 and will be oriented around early-tier PvP. Mark your calendars and come beat us up! You have been double-dog dared!

Spread the Word

Since it’s sort of hidden on our website, I wanted to remind you of the Champs Referral Program. The basic idea is that we send an email to your friend/loved one/co-worker with a key. They get an unlimited trial for ten days. If they play at all, then you both get action figures, plus when you first play together you get XP and other bonuses. If they subscribe, you get costume slots and other cool stuff. The more you (successfully) recruit the more stuff you get, including free subscription time and Cryptic points.

So, get those invites out! The place to start is here: http://champions-online.com/referral

That’s it for this installment. Now I have to go convince the team to make a Rainbow Bridge power! (Thanks, Boole.)

Link to the forum post

Hey Slayer’s! In a slump?  Need to break through to the next level?! 100% Exp Boosters will get you double the EXP for a full 28 Days..  Get them while they last!

 
28 Day Boosters

 

Looking for a surprise? You can find
Mystery Cubes here!

-GM Phibes

We have a screenshot for you, a blast from the (recent) past, just in time for the weekend. Check it out here, or in the gallery.

Link to the forum post

Hey Slayer’s! In a slump?  Need a new look?  A fresh start?  Dare to be different with a completely random face! 

Now you can try a whole bunch of new looks: Random faces are 50% Off!

Random Face!

 
Looking for a surprise? You can find
Mystery Cubes here!

-GM RoboPanda

It’s time for another Ask Cryptic. This month we’re asking you to submit general questions about Champions Online. If there’s anything you’d like the team to answer, just submit your question here.

Link to the forum post

The crew at No Prisoners No Mercy chatted with Executive Producer Shannon Posniewski this past week about Champions Online, his gaming habits and the future. Give it a listen here.

Link to the forum post

Hey Slayer’s! In a slump?  Need a new look?  A fresh start?  Dare to be different with a completely random hairstyle makeover!  Now you can try a whole bunch of new looks: Random Hairstyles are 50% Off!

Random Female Hairstyle

 
Random Male Hairstyle

Looking for a surprise? You can find
Mystery Cubes here!

-GM RoboPanda

Hey Slayer’s! In a slump?  Need to break through to the next level?! 1 Day 100% Exp Boosters will get you double the EXP for a full 24 hours… 7 Day boosters will double your experience all week long.  Get them while they last!

7 Day Boosters

 
1 Day Boosters

Looking for a surprise? You can find
Mystery Cubes here!

-GM RoboPanda

This Friday, April 30, we’d like to cordially invite you to play with us in Vibora Bay! We’ll be around (look for members of the Cryptonauts supergroup) from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. PDT. We’ll see you there!

Link to the forum post

Adrian at The Level Up Times just posted an interview with Executive Producer Shannon Posniewski. Check it out here.

From the article:

At the end of May, we’ll be launching our first Adventure Pack. An Adventure Pack is a multi-hour mission that players can play at any level from 11 up and with any team size. It’s a complete story arc with new locations, villains, and special rewards. Players will be able to play these adventures multiple times if they want.

Link to the forum post

We have a brand new screenshot for you, just in time for the weekend. Check it out here, or in the gallery.

Link to the forum post

We’ve got a brand new screenshot for you available in the gallery. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Link to the forum post

We’ve got three new Champions Online-related interviews for you today:

• Ten Ton Hammer’s interview with Bill Roper.
• MMORPGItalia’s interview with Shannon Posniewski.
• IncGamers’ interview with Bill Roper and Jack Emmert.

Link to the forum post

The rules are simple: play in the beta and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win an iPod Touch.  But that’s not all!  Hit level 50 by the time Closed Beta ends, and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win an iPad. One grand prize winner will get a brand new iPad, one first prize winner will get an iPod Touch, while eight runners-up will receive the Collector’s Edition pack.  

But wait, there’s more! The first three players who participated in the first Beta test to hit level 50 in the second will be rewarded with a CE pack, as will the first five players who are new to Closed Beta 2.
  
 
How it Works:
 
Erebus: Travia Reborn Closed Beta 2 will be launching on Wednesday, April 14th with a planned closed date of Wednesday, April 21st. You must reach level 50 before the end of CBT2 to be entered into the raffle for an iPad. You must login to your account once during the CBT2 to be entered into the raffle for an iPod Touch. The end date may be extended pending CB modifications and features. Each raffle is limited to 1 entry per person. 
 

The first 3 players that reach level 50 in CBT2 that participated in CBT1 will win a Platinum Collector’s Edition Pack for Open Beta. Limit 1 prize per person.

To give our new players a chance to win prizes, the first 5 players that reach level 50 after starting Closed Beta 2 from level 1 will win a Platinum Collector’s Edition Pack for Open Beta. Limit 1 prize per person.
   
 
Amazing Prizes: 

1 winner: Apple iPad


 
1 winner: Apple iPod Touch

8 winners: Platinum Collector’s Edition Pack
 
 
You’ll only be able to enter this contest during Closed Beta 2! Don’t miss your opportunity to win a prize!
 
Good luck!

Greetings Windslayers! Do your pets need perking up?  Are they moving a little slow these days?  Well stock up on the vitamin packed nibbles they need to spring into action!

Pet Food instantly restores your pet’s stamina!

Bandy the Mummy loves Pet Food!

]]> http://www.top1news.com/7195/today-only-pet-food-is-50-off/feed/ 0 http://www.top1news.com/7099/friday-screenshot-available-5/ http://www.top1news.com/7099/friday-screenshot-available-5/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:45:16 +0000 admin Posted by Rekhan

We’ve got a brand new screenshot for you available in the gallery. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Link to the forum post

Hey Slayer’s! If you ever wanted to get a Mystery Cube or want to stock up on more Mystery Cubes, now’s your chance! Get them while they last!

Grab a Mystery Cube and see what rare items may be waiting inside! 

You can find Mystery Cube here!

]]> http://www.top1news.com/7082/today-only-mystery-cubes-are-50-off/feed/ 0 http://www.top1news.com/6920/c-store-tax-day-discount/ http://www.top1news.com/6920/c-store-tax-day-discount/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:40:25 +0000 admin http://www.top1news.com/6920/c-store-tax-day-discount/ Posted by Rekhan

Tax day is nearly upon us here in the U.S. To celebrate (or maybe mourn) this occasion, we’re happy to offer a Cryptic Store discount to everyone. Beginning Thursday, April 15, at 10 a.m. PDT and ending Monday, April 19, at 10 a.m. PDT, everything in Star Trek Online and Champion Online’s Cryptic Store will feature a 25 percent discount. That’s 25 percent off everything in both stores!

Link to the forum post

First off, we have a great deal for you with Wallie! Wallie is one of Outspark’s partners, working to
make it easy to get SparkCash any way you want to.
In the spirit of making it easy, from now until 4/15, any $10 or $25 US
Wallie card or voucher used to purchase SparkCash will get a 10% bonus
– for free!

Users making their first purchase with a $10 Wallie card get a 20%
bonus, making it worth $12 for buying SparkCash!

Enjoy this free bonus, and remember: it’s only good until 4/15! You can
find a Wallie vendor near you using the store locator on their website
(linked above), although this is a US only promotion!

Second, from 4/11 until 4/24, Outspark is happy to offer our users a
discount on
$25 Outspark-branded gaming cards from Target!

Enjoy these deals while they last!

We’ve got a brand new screenshot for you available in the gallery. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Link to the forum post

Check out this BitMob interview with Bill Roper and Jack Emmert.

Link to the forum post

Executive Producer Shannon Posniewski checks in with April’s State of the Game.

Greetings, Fellow Champions!

Since the last State of the Game, Revelation went live. Revelation has a new zone and a bunch of new content for players level 37 and up. The overall reaction to it is pretty positive. The Apocalypse! Time machines! And Foxbat! We think it’s some of the slickest looking and fun content we’ve built.

In the meantime, we’ve been doing our best to keep communication open on the boards and on the website. Internally, we have also made process changes in an attempt to improve our response times to support tickets. And now that I’ve been reminded that I’m supposed to be writing the State of the Game reports, I’ll keep those coming too. I also hope to get you a calendar for our future updates soon.

The next Dev Event is planned for 30 April 2010, from 4-7 p.m. PDT. We’ll be playing through Therakiel’s Lair with anyone foolhardy enough to team with us. StormShade will have more information on that as we get closer. Also, keep an eye out for anyone in the Cryptonauts supergroup (we have the great big Champions “C” on our chests), since we’re playing on our own too!

Coming Soon …

Before I jump into what’s coming up, I wanted to give you an idea of our plans in general. We expect to make a significant update once every four to six weeks – approximately monthly. Every other update will be focused on content such as an Adventure Pack or other content increases. The other updates will be largely system, powers, and quality of life related. That’s not to say we won’t sometimes mix these together, but it’s the general rule of thumb we’re planning with. In addition, all updates get bug fixes, and we’ll also patch important bugs between updates.

All of these updates will be free. We will also continue to add costume sets and other things to the C-Store.

So, that’s the general plan. Let’s talk specifics.

Super Power Pack (April)

The next big thing coming up is the Super Power Pack, coming in late April. The most obvious parts of this update are the updates to the Supernatural and Melee Frameworks. If you are a fan of those sets I urge you to check out the posts Ame (Supernatural) and Akinos (Melee) have made on them. Because of the power changes, there will be a free respec given out for this update. So, if you have a free respec already, make sure you use it before this update goes live.

Also for this update, we’ll be improving the feel of teaming in the game. The big item is modifying the Journal interface to let you see all of your teammates’ missions. We’re doing some other minor things that go a long way too, for example making the primary mission more obvious. We will absolutely be changing rewards as well, but we’re still crunching numbers to figure out exactly how much. Midnight oil is being burned to get these in so you can try them out on PTS soon. Teaming will remain a focus of ours even after this update.

Here’s what is planned for the Supernatural Punch Pack:

• Melee update
• Supernatural update
• Offensive Passives update
• Weapons in the tailor (woot!)
• Teammate missions in Journal
• Blood Moon recurs on the full moon (spooky!)
• and many bug fixes and UI tweaks

You can also take a look at PatchworkCat’s great big set of patch notes for PTS for a preview of exactly what changes we’ve made. There are also feedback threads in the PTS forum on the Melee and Supernatural changes once you’ve tried them out.

The Serpent Lantern (May/June)

All of that is for late April. The update after that is our first Adventure Pack: The Serpent Lantern. We expect that to be ready in late May or Early June. It’s one continuous adventure that takes you from Millennium City to the jungles of Africa to investigate VIPER and the source of its power. I don’t want to give too much away, but it has something to do with a big serpent. And a lantern.

An Adventure Pack is constructed as a great big story arc, with multiple missions, locations and bosses. Any hero level 11 and above can go on the adventure. Adventure Packs will scale to the team’s level and size, so everybody can have fun with it. We’re really excited about this, and look forward to seeing how you like it.

That’s it for this episode. Let us know how we’re doing, and if there’s anything you’d like to see in a future State of the Game.

Now get out there and bash some heads for great Justice!

Link to the forum post

Check out VideoJogos Online’s interview with Bill. Fun fact: It’s in Portuguese! (Google translator version here.)

Link to the forum post