Soul Storm

I've had several breaks, but I've been here since EU launch. Message me in game @Soul Storm and we can show these new whipper snappers how its done

Well I'm at a predicament and I've not gotten a reply from the NCSoft/PlayNC Support team so I thought I'd try you guys!

I went to Zavvi.co.uk and bought the City of Villains: Collectors Edition for £2.95 (free delivery) which is an absolute bargain if you consider everything you get in it!

Part of the package is the 30 day time card. Only thing is, it instructs me to upgrade my account and use the code, which I presume is invalidated because the games are merged?

So my question is do I just try to apply the code to my account or how do I go about getting that time on my account? Also, does it stack with my current active subscription or should I let my account lapse then apply the code?

Cheers guys!

Thanks for the welcomes...

Just wanted some feedback on the poster, and to see if there was interest in a villain version...

I think I've seen you around? See you in game, drop me a line @Soul Storm anytime

Looking at that, I would completely upgrade your base unit (the big box) ... is that an option for you?

A few months down the line is there interest in a Tyrant version?

I did my sig with a screenshot of the Going Rogue trailer. I recently updated it to make it more of a Resistance type thing (for the Resistance will win!). There are a few more in the trailer and renders here and there so anyone with a little Photoshop knowledge could make more for you .

Warning: This post is a little long...

Some of you may have seen me around on Union since the EU launch, but as of last November I haven’t been playing. I didn’t deliberately hate-rage-quit or anything like that. I just let the payment slip and then just let it keep slipping. I had burnt out and needed a break for a good few months prior to actually letting it happen.

I’ve been keeping up with the boards and the latest news and I’m getting very excited about the new buzz word at the moment: Content. I’m very excited to hear that the devs have been listening to us that we need more content and end game material. I’m also excited to see how my new rig (well… updated) handles Ultra Mode and even more to see that more and more details of Going Rogue are being released if perhaps a little too slowly and in a bit too confined a place that I would like (i.e. outside of the forums and a few carefully chosen locations you never hear anything about the game outside of the official site!)

I’m ready to get stuck back into my favourite game and to help anyone out with any signatures or posters (normally only for their arcs) that they need as per usual.

But during my time away I would like to think its given me a little time mull over my opinions of City of Heroes and Villains and where it has been/is going. I’ve been wondering what exactly it is that keeps me coming back and I think its the players themselves that you can team with and the fact that this is such a wonderfully casual game that doesn’t require you to spend hours to prepare to do something fun... you can just go and have fun straight away!

(If you’re not curious about my opinions I’d guess you’d want to stop reading around about now)

Well the first thing I want to say is how much of a brilliant move I think updating the game’s graphics is. One of the best things about our devs is that they seem to read and take in what we want for the game. Keeping the game current by updating the game and also keeping the same minimum graphics requirements for those that can’t afford to upgrade is a move that is bound to pay off. Please don’t hold back with this one, I’d LOVE to see a DX10 equivalent version of CoX. Or at least something really really shiny. P.s. please give us fingers!

The next thing I think the game would really get a boost out of is a revised AI. We all know the quirks of the current way the enemies behave and it would refresh a very large part of the game experience to have this updated. I think it would also do the same thing to revise the same old tired mission structure. I don’t mean the actual story here, but the format of the missions. Add more different types of missions that stop everything from getting repetitive. Oh and more colours in the Costume creator would be great!

I think the NCSoft (if that’s who it is) Marketing and Advertising team deserves to be shot. Several times in the groinal area. With a shotgun. Seriously guys in all my time playing the game other than a little bit of subliminal advertising in ‘The Big Bang Theory’, I have never once seen a magazine or internet advert let alone a TV advert for this game. What could be more perfect than a TV Advert just after the phenomenal US Hit TV Show ‘Heroes’ has just aired. Sure it would cost a lot of money but it would also bring in more subscribers and let people know that it still exists. This is a specially sore point for me because I don’t think any reviews or press articles that I have seen are negative to the game really.

Another area that seems to tie in quite well here is the Going Rogue Advertising... I know that more and more information is coming out now, but we’ve had a good few months with literally nothing and I know that a lot of people were just sitting around waiting for something to be said... anything would have done! Seeing that kind of level of impatience and ignoring it is bordering on ignorance in my opinion. Especially when a screenshot or a haiku or something would have kept the rumour mill churning.

I’ve also recently been keen to find out more information about the Rikti Invasions Mk II. There was no official announcement about these or anything. Anyone that doesn’t frequent these boards wouldn’t have even known anything new was happening... and I know a good few people that have no idea what if anything happened. I know everyone is busy with GR but communication is the key here people!

As such, I’ve taken the liberty of designing a poster that is aimed at old players that already know about the Rikti and why they’re invading that is targeted at tempting them back into the game to kick some good ol’ Rikti ***!

Note: Click the thumb to see the full-size poster.



All in all this is just really a thread to say “Hey, I’m back” but those can often be pointless so I thought I’d try to spice it up a bit. So.. do you agree with me? No? Discuss!

I was looking through the Keynote Vange1us posted a while ago during HeroCon and I had a few queries about the Ultra Mode, this seemed as good a thread as any to ask them in:

1) The reflection in the mirror seems to show the actual character reflection, but I can't currently see any of the fly visual fx reflected back. Does this mean that only characters will be reflected and not the extra visual effects of a character like Auras and Armours etc?

2) Is the fact that in the video there are no bullet shell casings or shadows for the bullets being fired a bug or because its an early alpha or just because they won't happen?

3) Dynamic lighting: that is, will we be able to have our powers affect the lighting in the areas we're in (e.g. you fire a fireball and the light of the fire lightens the environment around you)?

4) Will the non-metallic shiney surfaces like the the spandex and other areas of the costumes be reflective even if there are different degrees of reflection?

5) Will Ultra mode even apply in mission environments? *hopes and prays it will*

There are hundreds more questions going around in my mind, but I think these are the most prevailant...

Any answers?

Okay well I've fully recovered from my bout of Swine/Bad Flu and to show I'm all better I've done another poster. The only thing is, that the Author has requested I don't post it yet becaus he is re-developing the storyline, so I will be given the go-ahead at the right time and you guys can see it then.

Sorry about that guys... Onto the next one!

I'm interested to see what your isolationist stance is on them coming to help us out in Paragon city?

Oh and btw: Viva La Resistance!

One thing a friend and I were talking about today (and this kinda links in with OP idea) was that the GM's should have more of a global effect. For example, the idea was that the GM's should be fought by the PPD who have a string of police cars and ambulances that you can follow should you want to help take the GM down. We were saying how the GM's should affect some aspects of the game until you take it down, like if it were to roam about the zone destroying everything in its path until you stop it. If its destruction got to a certain point the game would either stop giving you normal missions or alert you to the problem in some other dynamic way.

Also the rewards for them should be revamped (careful not to use the forbidden word, more).

I would like to see lighting that affects the environment around you. For example: you fire off a fireball and the walls inside a mission (or even a dark area in the outside world) light up. This is something the OTHER game put in and it adds a lot of realism.

I'm hoping for that in the Ultra mode, but it's something i've wanted in for a long time!

Maybe the problem is that they are still using the old smilies that assumed a clear colour, like we saw on the old EU boards? Maybe not... either way we demand new shiney things!1!!!1

I read about the time of the HeroCon news that the 4xxx ATI series cards would run Ultra mode with just a couple of the features not running. I can't be any more specific than that and I cant find the direct quote at the moment.

I'd like to see more Wallpapers, character renders, AT Specific logos and that sort of thing. A choice of forum/website banners/sigs/avatars would be nice too.

I'd also like to submit my own GR themed wallpapers for consideration: found here

Viva La Resistance! Cole, the Tyrant, will be dealt with posthaste!

Thank you for your kind words, Lord Mayhem.

I seem to be saying this a lot in this thread, but it's been quite hectic in real life recently and on top of that I've had either Swine Flu or the worst flu I've ever had! Either way I've not been able to devote enough time to do another poster, but that should be fixed soon.

Just letting you guys know I'm not dead yet

I remember you!