Target, Best Buy and Rite Aid to sell cards for popular NCsoft online games

NCsoft, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, is teaming up with InComm, a technology firm that develops markets and distributes stored-value gift and prepaid products, to bring many of NCsoft’s popular games to consumers on prepaid Game Cards.

Some of the top retailers in North America are participating in the new retail initiative that will include City of Heroes, Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa and Exteel. Target, Best Buy and Rite Aid will be the first stores to offer the NCsoft Game Cards.

 “This is a great opportunity for NCsoft to grow its expanding portfolio of triple-A massively multiplayer games beyond traditional retail channels,” said Lisa Bell-Cabrera, vice president of sales for NCsoft’s North American business. “Of course, we think this is a huge value to our customers. The InComm cards provide an incredibly convenient way for our customers to access our games and by using the cards, they’ll be getting some bonus items that will enhance their game play experience.”
The City of Heroes cards will provide purchasers with an exclusive in-game jet pack in addition to a convenient way to download and play the comic-book inspired online computer game without requiring a credit card. The City of Heroes Game Cards will retail for US$20 and come with 30 days of game play.

Tabula Rasa Game Cards will retail for US$14.95 and will be available exclusively at Best Buy stores. Those who purchase the Tabula Rasa Game Card will get an exclusive in-game rocket. Like the City of Heroes card, the Tabula Rasa card provides a handy method for downloading the client and includes 30 days of game play.

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NCsoft readies the number 1 super-powered MMO for more  

There is a reason for the rejoicing in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. It is official – NCsoft has completely merged the two games into one game universe. All current subscribers who only had one of the games (City of Heroes or City of Villains) now have access to the features of both games. Additionally, all City of Heroes and City of Villains games for sale at retail or online will grant access to both games.

This is the final step needed in preparing the IP for future projects, to be announced later this year. Paragon City and the Rogue Isles have always been a part of the same game universe. When City of Villains launched in 2005 as a stand-alone game, it did not launch with an extra subscription fee, so there has always been this feeling that they are closely related. What’s different here is that NCsoft has taken down the barrier where players had to have a City of Villains serial code to make a villain, and vice versa. Now, it doesn’t matter if you bought Heroes or Villains, you can make characters from either faction and experience their unique game content. Additionally, Heroes now have access to base building, which was previously only available if you had purchased City of Villains.

“In setting the stage for our upcoming plans for the IP, we felt the time was right to truly consolidate the City of Heroes and City of Villains universe,” said Brian Clayton, General Manager and Executive Producer. “We have removed all restrictions that were created when City of Villains launched in order to make way for some really cool content and features we have in the pipeline. This is an evolution of the IP that lays the foundation for what’s to come.”

The most recent game update, Issue 12: Midnight Hour, launched in May and included a wealth of features, including a new Greek and Roman inspired zone, Villain Epic Archetypes, Powerset Proliferation, as well as more character slots so that players can try out the new character powers and Archetypes.

 “We know that character variety is one of our greatest strengths and that’s why our players love to create new characters” said Matt Miller, Lead Designer. “Even former players who reactivate will be pleasantly surprised to see new open character slots waiting for them.”

Uniting the City of Heroes universe enables the development team to focus on other features slated to come in future installments. Improvements to Supergroup Bases and raids, an offline character reward system, and the previously revealed Mission Maker are just some of the systems that will see the benefits of a unified City of Heroes game.

The City of Heroes team just announced a cool contest where you can win… a brand new 2009 Toyota Matrix for making cool CoH machinima!

Check out the details here: Win a New Car Contest

Make a Machinima video with City of Heroes / City of Villains and have the chance to win the grandprize of a 2009 Model year Toyota Matrix S filled with good stuff! Act now! Submissions can only be uploaded to GameTrailers.com from July 1st through August 10th. Winners will be announced on Spike’s GTTV on September 12th.

Click here for the contest details and rules!

So get your minions, sidekicks and henchmen ready, load up on hard drive space and make a Machinima masterpiece!!!

Newest expansion takes players to ancient city to save the present day

AUSTIN, Texas, May 21, 2008—NCsoft^® Corporation, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the release of City of Heroes^® “Issue 12: Midnight Hour.” The newest free expansion for current subscribers, Issue 12 brings to life a special covert group from the game’s lore, highly-anticipated Villain Epic Archetypes, more powerset options and character slots for players, plus a whole new Greek- and Roman-inspired zone to explore!

City of Heroes Issue 12, developed and published by NCsoft, brings the Midnight Squad out of the lore and into the game. The Midnight Squad is the clandestine organization of mystics, scholars and mages who hold a secret that could bring the alien group, the Rikti, to its knees. Players are encouraged to help the Midnight Squad uncover the secret that could help save Paragon City^™ and the Rogue Isles from further alien assaults.

Part of this secret will be revealed in a new zone called Cimerora, which uses the Ouroboros time travel system introduced in Issue 11. This zone, inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, is only accessible by working with the Midnight Squad.  Once the player has access, both villains and heroes must face deadly creatures and defeat an unexpected threat. As a reward for their accomplishments in Cimerora, players can unlock special Greek- and Roman-inspired armor and costumes.

Another key feature in Issue 12 is Villain Epic Archetypes. Now, villains who reach level 50 unlock two brand new epic archetypes; Wolf Spiders and Blood Widows. Wolf Spiders can specialize into Bane Spiders or Crab Spiders, and Blood Widows can develop into Night Widows or Fortunatas. Each specialty enjoys a unique set of wickedly powerful attacks.

Issue 12 also introduces Powerset Proliferation, which vastly increases the variety of villain and hero characters that players can create. Some powersets, previously only available to hero archetypes, are now available to designated villain archetypes, and vice versa. To help accommodate all of these new character options, the development team has opened additional character slots. All current subscribers receive two new character slots for use on the server of their choice. Other slots may be acquired as a part of the Veteran Rewards program, or for purchase. Details can be found on the City of Heroes web site.

“With the introduction of Villain Epic Archetypes, new costume options and Powerset Proliferation in Issue 12, we knew players would want to be able to create new characters,” said Matt Miller, lead designer. “Expanding the number of character slots in this way ensures that our players can use all these new features. We think it’s a great solution that adds value to the service.”

To join the adventures of the most successful comic-book themed game on the market, players can purchase the City of Heroes “Good Versus Evil Edition” game pack at retailers across North America or through digital download at the PlayNC Store. The “Good Versus Evil Edition” includes the complete City of Heroes and City of Villains^® games, as well as a set of exclusive bonus items. Customers receive the first month of play free and both games can be played for the single monthly subscription price of $14.99.

For more information about City of Heroes, go to http://www.cityofheroes.com.

A developer’s diary from Ken Morse, Lead Artist, has just been released. In it, Ken describes the process the art team took in order to bring Cimerora, an ancient Greek- and Roman-inspired zone, into the modern day comic book game.

“…I am always excited when the opportunity to create new settings for the game presents itself. A Task Force inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, however, was genre-stretching territory we’d never ventured into before, and presented some serious challenges.”

A developer’s diary from Ken Morse, Lead Artist

(click to enlarge)

A really cool video about the Midnight Squad has been released by the City of Heroes team this morning. Check it out!

NCsoft has just released a developer’s diary that Joe Morrissey has done, which covers Issue 12 and some key developments in the works regarding the Midnight Squad, the Rikti and more. Joe is also known as Hero 1 by the game’s community. He is a Senior Designer at NCsoft’s Northern California studio where City of Heroes and City of Villains is developed, and he’s got some stuff to say!

“The Midnight Squad takes the main focus of this issue. They’ve got some of the coolest history, yet hardly any of it has been opened up to the players…they were seriously crippled by the invasion and therefore were extremely motivated to take action against the Rikti…Now we see a second perspective, through the eyes of those hardest hit from the invasion, the Midnighters.”

You can download his developer diary here: Link

Here is a fresh batch of screens for you guys to check out as well ( click to enlarge)

Today marks the fourth year since the launch of City of Heroes. To celebrate this achievement, the NCsoft NorCal team has created a City of Heroes / City of Villains calendar for fans of the game.  This downloadable calendar features each of the 12 “Issues” that have been launched since the games release, one for each month of the year.

The calendar includes a message from Matt “Positron” Miller, who gives an interesting tidbit of information about one feature the team is working to introduce at some point in the next few months:

“…I can’t tell you how excited I am for our game’s future, and although we have some major announcements yet to be made, one of the things I can talk about is a feature that we are planning. Similar in concept to our character creator, it allows you, the players, to create missions and story arcs for your characters and others to participate in…”

You can find the calendar on the website later today.  After all, even the most accomplished of Heroes will appreciate a calendar to help keep track of his or her appointments.

Also, since four years have passed, we thought it might be nice to share some fun facts about City of Heroes.

Since City of Heroes launched:

• More than 32 million characters created – that’s 4 times the population of New York City!
• Players have spent a combined 292 centuries playing City of Heroes and City of Villains
• More than 100 million items have been traded through the consignment (auction) houses since they were launched in 2007

Additional items of interest include:

Most Popular Origins

Mutant (25%)

Magic (24%)

Natural (21%)

Most Popular Archetypes

Hero: Blaster

Villain: Mastermind

Most Popular Travel Powers

Fly (34%)

Super Jump (30%)

Most Traded Item (via Consignment House)

Base Salvage:  Alien Tech Salvage

Most Wealthy Archetypes

Heroes: Scrappers

Villains: Brutes

The City of Heroes team has released an epic-sized (4 minute!) game play video explaining Villain Epic Archetypes. It is not only informative, but pretty creatively done, so check it out! Along with the video we have also posted a whole bunch of screenshots for you guys to check out as well. enjoy

Click picture for larger view

Level Designer Melissa “War Witch” Bianco gives a blow by blow account of what is changing in the Hollows with the “Gameplay Makeover” for the zone that will be included in the next free expansion, Issue 12: Midnight Hour.

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