Lighthouse_NA

Starting next week we will be entering the closed beta testing for Issue 12: Midnight Hour. We want to give you this advance notice, because the Training Room Test Servers will become unavailable for the duration of the closed beta. We anticipate that the closed beta phase will last for several weeks. We know that many are excited to participate in the beta testing of Issue 12; however the initial pool of closed testers is considerably smaller than previous closed betas. We are starting the beta with NCNC Friends & Family and NCsoft Employees and we will be adding additional testers as the beta test progresses and as the needs of development dictate.

The purpose of the closed beta is to provide focused playtesting and datamining along with feedback to assist the Development Team in polishing Issue 12’s feature set. While we’ve had a very productive internal alpha test cycle, at this point in development we feel that a small, controlled player group is more manageable and generally productive to the alternative of opening up the beta to anyone. Rest assured that we will open up the beta to everyone who is interested later in the development cycle.

One point of note regarding the Training Room Test Server, as we mentioned in the article on Issue 12’s Improved Character Creator, anyone who is interested will still be able to access the beta’s character select and creation screens. So, you’ll be able to check out those new improvements without actually being in the beta. If you haven’t configured your game client to connect to the Training Room previously and you want to set that up now, visit this forum thread for instructions: How To Get On the Test Server.

To discuss this thread, join us on the Training Room forums here.

Edit: Actual number display of powers at the character select screen will be disabled for closed beta as new powers are still being refined. Look for them to return in open beta.

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The only question I have about in-game advertising is this: Is it going to the test server before it goes live? Give it a couple weeks in there, so we can see how much of an effect it has, and how it's going to be implemented. All these questions and concerns would be answered one way or the other, and if there were issues, such as spyware or pop-up ads resulting from normal gameplay, the problem would be much smaller than if it were simply thrown into the live environment and multiplied by a thousand.

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Optional In-Game Advertising will be on the Training Room for testing before it is implemented on the Live Servers. However, we first have the closed and open beta of Issue 12 to work through. Optional In-Game Advertisement will follow after the release of Issue 12.

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The bottom line is if they opt out that's better for players and advertisers.

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I think there's a "not" missing in the sentence... either that or I'm really lost on what is good for advertisers...

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Yeah, there are a couple of typo's were still trying to get IGN to clear up, unfortunately

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Please don't take away al the fun adds, like the Crey and Vanguard posters.. I understand selling advertizeing space is important but let's keep alot of the boards as they are

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If you opt out, or if there is not an optional ad displaying over it, the original ads are visible as the default. As I've had it explained to me, users should still be occasionally seeing the current in-game art in the post optional in-game ad future.

Please use this thread to discuss the below announcement.

IGN.com sits down with City of Heroes executive producer and general manager Brian Clayton and director of business and marketing for the Mountain View studio, Ross Borden.

Click here to read the full article.

IGN.com sits down with City of Heroes executive producer and general manager Brian Clayton and director of business and marketing for the Mountain View studio, Ross Borden.

Click here to read the full article.

To discuss this announcement, please join us here.

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I could've sworn someone (you?) specifically said something about not having advertising in cox...

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Good point, Love Life. Previous statements were to the effect that advertising was not currently scheduled and that we would always 1) tell you when we were going to do such (as we are here today) and that 2) it would be Optional. I'll find the previous quotes for reference.

Edit: Here is the previous statement.
The City Scoop reported on discussion about Advertisement when discussion about it came up regarding a quote by NCsoft about possible future advertisement.

You can read the back issue of the City Scoop here.

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NO PLANS FOR CITY OF BILLBOARDS, YET

By Hertz

Advertising and entertainment became ever more intertwined this summer. In addition to the release of the film “Transformers,” called “the world’s most expensive toy commercial” by Josh Rottenburg of Entertainment Weekly, and Xbox video game titles featuring the disturbing plasticine Burger King mascot, coxwashington.com reports that more MMOs are becoming interested in selling advertising space in some of its multiplayer online games.

Bob Keefe of coxwashington.com quotes Dorothy Ferguson, vice president of sales and marketing for NCsoft North America, as saying, "We're really intrigued by it. It has the potential to increase (revenues), but it’s really also about enhancing the game-playing experience."

In-game advertising, better known to many acronym-happy gamers as IGA, has had a controversial past. Everquest II introduced a keyboard command in February 2005 that allowed the player to place a delivery order through Pizza Hut. Second Life, which bills itself as an online digital world, has included virtual versions of the Nissan Sentra SE-R, the aloft Hotel, Apple Computer stores, and American Apparel.

Some gamers see potential benefits to an influx of advertising dollars. Additional revenue for the software company could translate into more content on a quicker schedule, or reduced fees. The notion is tempting.

However, many players worry that yielding to advertising interests gives marketers too much control over the gaming experience. In a lively discussion, posters on the COH.com forums expressed concern that the proliferation of advertising would harm the game-playing experience, not help it. Detractors of product placement sometimes point to flops like “Batman and Robin,” the fourth installment in the Batman series released in 1997, which was lambasted for its highly conspicuous promotion of Taco Bell toys.

Lighthouse, community relations manager for NCsoft, was quick to enter the discussion to put out the fire. He said, "First, let me say that advertising companies who do in-game ads have been knocking on our door for years, so really, this is nothing new. Second, to be clear, no deals have been signed to do in game ads in City of Heroes or City of Villains."

Lighthouse added, “Should we pursue the implementation of in-game advertisement in some future update, the concerns of our customers will always outweigh any simple grab for additional revenue. We would include a way for subscribers to have the option to not view ads, make sure the advertisement is immersive and fits into the game world and that there are other tangible gains for our subscribers, such as a resulting more rapid introduction of new features and updates.”

Paragon City and the Rogue Isles are peppered with advertisements for story-related products and services, such as ads for Crey Corporation, recruiting posters for Arachnos, litigious attorney Chris Jenkins, Red Beast energy drink, and minions for hire. There is no plan at this time to replace them with real-life corporate logos.

For now it appears as if NCsoft’s pledge to explore in-game advertising will apply only to some of its other titles, possibly including Tabula Rasa, Lineage, or Guild Wars, although no official announcement has been made. Another NCsoft title, Auto Assault, will be discontinued at the end of the summer.

“We would be foolish to ultimately lose subscriptions by alienating our valuable customers,” Lighthouse stressed. “To reiterate, there is no current deal to place advertisements into the “City Of” games.”

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Please use this thread to discuss the below announcement.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Leading independent game advertising provider Double Fusion has entered an agreement with NCsoft®, the leading developer and publisher of online computer games, to represent the successful comic-book inspired massively multiplayer online game, City of Heroes®. Double Fusion will provide the technology and sales force to bring brands into the popular online role-playing game which takes place in a modern urban setting, an ideal environment for unobtrusive optional in-game advertising.
<ul type="square">[*] Click here to read a statement by NCsoft NorCal General Manager and Executive Producer, Brian Clayton, who explains this coming change to City of Heroes.
[*] Click here to read the Press Release of the announcement.
[*] Click here for the details to join us on The Cape Radio later this evening to talk with Sr. Lead Designer Matt "Positron" Miller and NCsoft NorCal General Manager and Executive Producer, Brian Clayton for an hour of questions and answers regarding the recent announcement of Optional In-Game Advertisement.[/list]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Leading independent game advertising provider Double Fusion has entered an agreement with NCsoft®, the leading developer and publisher of online computer games, to represent the successful comic-book inspired massively multiplayer online game, City of Heroes®. Double Fusion will provide the technology and sales force to bring brands into the popular online role-playing game which takes place in a modern urban setting, an ideal environment for unobtrusive optional in-game advertising.

[*] Click here to read a statement by NCsoft NorCal General Manager and Executive Producer, Brian Clayton, who explains this coming change to City of Heroes.
[*] Click here to read the Press Release of the announcement.
[*] Click here for the details to join us on The Cape Radio later this evening to talk with Sr. Lead Designer Matt "Positron" Miller and NCsoft NorCal General Manager and Executive Producer, Brian Clayton for an hour of questions and answers regarding the recent announcement of Optional In-Game Advertisement.[/list]To discuss this announcement, please join us here.

We hope you have enjoyed this April 1st News Item!

Please use this thread to discuss the below announcement:

NCsoft NorCal is proud to announce a new feature for the City of Heroes® and City of Villains® games; that of Visual Sounds. Visual Sounds are based on the comic book staple of onomatopoeia, or the use of a word to replace a sound. Classic comic book examples are “Pow” and “Ka-Boom!” in colorful bubbles while heroes and villains are slugging it out. City of Heroes takes a huge stride forward by replacing simple sounds with the exciting new visual medium of Visual Sounds.

Click here to read the full announcement!


We hope you have enjoyed this April 1st News Item!

NCsoft NorCal is proud to announce a new feature for the City of Heroes® and City of Villains® games; that of Visual Sounds! Visual Sounds are based on the comic book staple of onomatopoeia, or the use of a word to replace a sound. Classic comic book examples are “Pow” and “Ka-Boom!” in colorful bubbles while heroes and villains are slugging it out. City of Heroes takes a huge stride forward by replacing simple sounds with the exciting new visual medium of Visual Sounds.

Click here to read the full announcement!

To discuss this announcement, click here.


We hope you have enjoyed this April 1st News Item!

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Looks great.

Do you think we could ever get the ability to save costumes? That would be the tops.

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too tired/excited to read the whole thread to see if anyone else mentioned this yet, but...

check out the last screenshot in the announcement. see what it says there as the costume name? nothing from the list of presets.. nope. it says "custom".



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As mentioned above, if you're not choosing one of the preset costumes, then you're making your own custom costume. Choosing 'custome' means, you move on to pick individual pieces. Nothing about that implies saving the costume except for when you finish the character creation process and enter the game with it.

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Correct.

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Two questions. One of the listed features was real numbers before picking powers, so I'm guessing we can see those numbers while training. However, can we look at real numbers for powers not available? If I'm considering a new set, I not only want to know what the first or second tier attacks do, I want to see what the ninth tier does while I'm still in the character creation. If I can't, well, still a vast improvement over what we have, consider it a feature request.



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Based on what I am seeing in the screenshots looks like this will be possible. The example shows numbers for Vengeful Slice which appears to be unavailable from the power choice selection.

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Yes, as the powers stuff is functioning in our Alpha builds, you can mouse over any of the powers in the primary and secondary and see the numbers of those powers.

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What's in the "Greek" costume set? I thought some of that stuff could only be unlocked via the Valentine's Day event or has that now changed?

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New set.

[/ QUOTE ]That's Roman...

Which is not really like Greek.

It's like comparing Apples and Oranges.

They're both fundamentally the same but is completely different.

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Brainfart. I thought it said Greek in there too.

You may shoot me now.

Unless there is a new Greek set too, in which case, not a brainfart.

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I believe the Greek stuff is the laurel, shoes, toga, etc. Of course, if you don't have all those items, then they won't all show up for you. If you don't have any (like say stuff from the optional wedding pack) then the wedding options won't show up in the list to choose from.

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Very nice, I can't wait to see what some of the Costume Sets look like. Maybe some free costumes for i12, hmm?

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Just to clarify for everyone, to my knowledge there are no new costume items added. The sets from the pull down are just the collection of all the items in that list. For example, if you want to have all the "steampunk" items (say to start and tweak your character from there) it will select all of those for you. But it doesn't mean that there are items for every slot in that set; just that it puts what available costume items there are on your character.

Issue 12: Midnight Hour, the next free expansion for City of Heroes includes a number of refinements for the game. Among those improvements is a streamlined Character Creator including additional power information and easy costume selection.

Click here to read all the details!

To discuss this announcement, click here.

Please use this thread to discuss the following announcement.

Issue 12: Midnight Hour, the next free expansion for City of Heroes includes a number of refinements for the game. Among those improvements is a streamlined Character Creator including additional power information and easy costume selection.

Click here to read all the details!

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Heroes
Illusion Control

Empathy

Archery

Broadsword

Katana

Ice Melee

Ice Armor

Devices
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Villains

Energy Aura

Ninjutsu

Ninja Blade

Electric Armor

Electric Melee

Traps

Poison



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Fixed

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Thanks for catching those, Big Soto

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heroes get all the good stuff from vill side, villains seem a little short changed

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Could this be because Villains have the better powersets? After proliferation, Heroes have five sets that Villains don't have access to aside from the Blaster Secondaries.

Illusion Control

Empathy

Archery

Broadsword

Katana

After proliferation, Villains have seven sets that Heroes don't have access to aside from the Mastermind Primaries.

Energy Aura

Ninjutsu

Ninja Blade

Electric Armor

Electric Melee

Traps

Poison

While I think Katana is better than Axe or War Mace for Brutes because of the faster animation times, it doesn't fit as well conceptually.

Illusion control would be great for Dominators, but I'm willing to wait on it. The sets we're receiving in Issue 12 gives me hope that Dominators will be getting two completely new Powersets in Issue 13, Electric Control and Earthen Assault.

Is Archery better than Electric Blast? Animation times are about the same, Electric has End Drain, Archery has +Acc, Electric is Energy damage, Archery is Lethal. I think it comes down to taste.

I think the only really good Hero sets that Villains don't have access to are Illusion Control and Empathy. As a pure "buff" set, Empathy is inappropriate for Corrupters, but could be useful for Masterminds. Empathy for Masterminds would need to be tweaked because of Bodyguard. As near as I can tell, Abosrb Pain on a minion + Bodyguard = endless damage loop.

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Nice perspective, Lightfoot.

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srsly how can you do that ? The dom psy assualt?

So if I look at it - dart,blast,scream,lance all would be primary blast sets - that means

Mind Probe, subdue, OMG drain psyche, and shockwave - missing 4 so I am betting they get a build up - you would probably move scramble thoughts and or will dom to secondary - so most likely an aim power on the primary too? -- oh man...scary...if on the money.

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Just please wait and try it out in Beta. I've been running around in our playtests as a Psi blaster and well, it's ok. Thanks for keeping things on an even keel.

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Lighthouse, Ex, Castle, well..anyone really with a red name.

What if testing proves a set port didnt work en masse like ice brutes in CoV beta. They obviously made it through your internal testing and QA but in practice it was found they didnt work.

If something is found NOT to work, what is the plan?

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We still have a bit more time in Alpha with Issue 12. Then we have weeks of closed beta followed by more weeks of open beta. There is always time to remove or alter things, as per the plan.

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Oh sure, give heroes Thermal heals and Empathy heals - Thermal buffs and Cold Domination buffs. And villains get.... /storm... twice over.

*throws hands up* I give up. Obviously the devs want everyone to play blueside.

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No one I know wanted thermal. Everyone of them wanted a real secondary to be added that didn't just act as a grab bag of other sets already available. Dark, Cold, Traps, would it have killed them to add a controller secondary that someone may have wanted?

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As a reminder of the scope of Powerset Proliferation, it was to port existing powersets, not to create new ones. While some people consider the Blaster Psi secondary to be a new one, it's not - it's pretty much Dom Psi moved over (with balance tweaking).

EDIT: and it's not as crazy as some are making it out to be. Please wait to see it in beta before you go off the deep end, thanks!

GameZone.com follows up with the second installment of Powerset Proliferation news with a complete recap from Doctor Brainstorm! This includes some of the reasoning behind which sets went to what Archetype, including:

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Oh, I seem to have forgotten about Defenders. They now get access to Cold Domination and Ice Blast allowing them to put Ice and Glacial shields on their allies, as well as throw Ice Bolts and Freeze Rays. I always said it would be a cold day in Paragon City when Defenders would get access to Cold-based powers, and I guess my prediction came true!

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Click here to read the full article.

To discuss this announcement, join us here.

Please use this thread to discuss the below announcement.

GameZone.com follows up with the second installment of Powerset Proliferation news with a complete recap from Doctor Brainstorm! This includes some of the reasoning behind which sets went to what Archetype, including:

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Oh, I seem to have forgotten about Defenders. They now get access to Cold Domination and Ice Blast allowing them to put Ice and Glacial shields on their allies, as well as throw Ice Bolts and Freeze Rays. I always said it would be a cold day in Paragon City when Defenders would get access to Cold-based powers, and I guess my prediction came true!

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Click here to read the full article.