Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

While many of us were watching the clock in anticipation of the New Year, apparently my PC decided it was the perfect time to take a long, final nap. Showing signs of old age, one component after another began to fail, as though it were forgetting the names of its closest friends. Soon after, my trusty companion made its final preparations for a permanent hibernation, and I had the sudden realization that I'd be disconnected from the virtual worlds where I usually scamper around until the wee hours of the night.  

My eyes drifted over to my neglected console controllers, sizing them up with a bit of a squint. Not knowing for certain how long it might be until I could get my gaming fix otherwise, I braced myself for the odd tactile sensation of using my thumbs for something other than hitting a space bar to jump.  

With the ghost of my now defunct PC egging me on, whispering promises of iffy camera controls, unfamiliar key-mapping and a maze of menus, I picked up my Xbox 360 controller. It was in that exact moment that it hit me (no, not the ghost of my PC silly); not only is a fresh crop of console MMOGs looming just over the horizon, but they're quite likely going to be more successful than we realize. Sometimes all it really takes is a change of perspective – unexpected or otherwise – to help you see the forest for the trees.

At this point I'm sure Dalmarus is shaking his head, waving his fists in the air and emphatically exclaiming, “This will not be the Year of the Console MMOG!” While I'm not entirely sold on the idea, I do think this year will set the tone for weather or not we see a larger shift in that direction in the future. And if there's one company that can make it happen, it's Cryptic Studios.

Champions is set to blast it's way onto PCs and 360s later this year.

Who Got Their Console Chocolate In My MMOG Peanut Butter?

Ever since Cryptic first entered the nutty world of MMOG development in 2000, they've consistently taken the industry in new directions. While many of their peers were focused on sharpening virtual swords and scribbling down spellbook code for fantasy settings, Cryptic went and pulled a super hero rabbit out of their hat. City of Heroes not only offered a unique take on the concept of online RPGs, but raised the bar for character customization so high that it still hasn't been surpassed nearly five years later.

Not long after, Cryptic released City of Villains as a stand-alone sequel - one that arguably puts most retail expansions to shame in terms of accessibility, scope and spandex - while still providing a meaningful link to the original CoH. This also sets a precedence for how expansions could successfully be handled for consoles, but hold that thought for now.

One of Cryptic's biggest surprises came just under a year ago - and no, I don't mean the announcement that Marvel Universe Online was canceled either. Everyone saw that one coming … well, almost everyone.

Just one week after the MUO cancellation was official, Cryptic announced that not only were they developing Champions Online for the PC and 360, but they had screenshots, video and a spiffy new website to prove it. In true Victor Kiam fashion, they even went a step further and bought the Champions IP from Hero Games, which helped put Cryptic in a prime position to make the game as they truly wanted it to be.

By now I can hear you saying, “Yes, yes, that's all fine and good, but what does that have to do with console MMOGs?”  

PC and 360 Live Together in Perfect Harmony

More action, less UI clutter.

There seems to be a general consensus among PC gamers that developing an MMOG to be played on a console is like trying to force a square peg into a decidedly penguin-shaped hole. But it really all comes down to a matter of understanding the strengths of the platform you're developing for, its limitations and how the preexisting user base interacts with games.

Of the current generation consoles, the 360 sees the highest volume of online traffic. This is in part due to the Live service which, when combined with a consistently increasing focus on multiplayer modes, sets the stage for a potential user base who's already comfortable with the concept of online gaming.  

While no announcements have been made so far as to what business model Champions Online will ultimately have, I'd be willing to guess that 360 owners with a Gold Account will be ready to play Champions right out of the box without picking up a separate sub. Again, this would play to one of the consoles biggest strengths – in other words its online infrastructure and the playing habits of an existing user base.

The idea of patching and downloading new content has more or less been lovingly embraced by console gamers, who typically even pay for some of the same kinds of free content downloads we PC gamers take for granted when it comes to MMOGs. One potential sticking point might be required hard drive space, but that could easily be overcome depending on how Cryptic chooses to release new content. This is where the stand-alone nature of City of Villains comes into play. If post-launch development focuses primarily on expansion content, then for the average console RPG fan a stand-alone Champions expansion wouldn't be any different than picking up The Shivering Isles expansion for Oblivion.

If 2004 marked the dawn of the Multicolored Spreadsheet Online era (made popular by World of Warcraft AddOn addicts), 2009 could very well bring about a much needed shift towards a more elegant, streamlined UI. With a primary focus on action and compelling combat, Champions is suited particularly well for the types of gameplay console users are already accustomed to, without all the unnecessary screen clutter.  

Cryptic has also already said that PC users need not worry about having a gamepad to play Champions, nor will 360 owners be required to have a keyboard. So your preferred methods of scampering around virtual spaces and interacting with other players will remain intact without the need to pick up extra hardware.

Cryptic could lead MMOGs boldly into a console-friendly future in 2009.

Until Next Time

Cryptic certainly faces a good number of challenges to have a successful console title in Champions Online, no doubt about it. As outlined above though, I think Cryptic has proven time and again that they're more than capable (or, cape-able if you will) of thinking beyond the norm and presenting concepts in new ways that many of their peers seemingly overlook. So long as they play to the strengths of both platforms, I can easily see Champions...well, championing the rise of the console MMOG. I can't see it as anything other than a win for the industry as a whole should it prove to be successful, as an expanded market is good for all parties involved.  Unless you like to party with flesh eating zombies, in which case you're on your own.