GamingShogun writes, "Cryptic Studios, developers of the upcoming Star Trek Online, have announced that their super-hero MMO title, Champions Online, will be ready for closed beta testing in November and is now taking applications. So get cracking and sign-up already!"
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Speaking during a presentation to press at Leipzig Games Conference last month, Cryptic designer Aaron Safronoff said that the studio "would like to deliver the game to as many platforms" as possible.

When asked why there is no PS3 version planned, Safronoff replied: "The PS3 version is something we're definitely interested in. But as far as that launch time it will just be those two. As far as any specific reason why we haven't done it yet, I actually don't know that answer. But as far as time is concerned, we were already built in. We wanted to do the 360 and PC right away. Basically that was the quickest transition for us to get a game on the market."

He added: "We are certainly looking into it, absolutely. We would like to deliver the game to as many platforms as we possibly could."
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Jack "Jackalope" Emmert, chief creative officer of Cryptic Studios, will be one of the Industry Guests of Honor at GenCon, which will be held Aug. 14-17 in Indianapolis.

In addition to his other appearances at GenCon for Champions Online, Jack will be speaking at the following seminars:
* Game Design: Publishing Your Game: 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14
* How to Steal from Games: Board Games to "Big" Screen: 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14
* Game Design: From License to Games: 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15
* Lifetime Freelancer: 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15
* State of the Industry: 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17
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In yet another edition of 'Ask Cryptic,' designers and directors take the time of day to answer some of the communities' questions. Unfortunately, the big question for this week was layered boxers or briefs.

Champions Online, based on the pen-and-paper HERO System, appears to be a delightful romp in the same vein as City of Heroes. The most delightful aspect of the game has to be the customization options available for players to explore and utilize to create their very own protagonist or antagonist in a perpetual MMORPG world. Possible lawsuits from popular comic book publishers aside, Champions Online is ramping up as development continues to move forward.

Hit the page break to read more and get the link.
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Champions Online is the new superhero MMO hailing from the developer behind City of Heroes, and here's three new screenshots from the title.Cryptic Studios is keeping the comic book feel with its art direction for the game, as you can see.For all the nerds out there - like yours truly - Champions Online is based on the Champions pen and paper RPG, which features a clever and highly flexible points-based character ... » Read More

"Get a closer look at the facial animations featured in these new Champions Online screenshots!" exclaims Crytpic Studios about new, um, Champions Online screenshots.Go ahead and get a closer look. Go on, we're sure they don't bite."Now superheroes can smile, cry, grimace, wink, scream defiance at their foes or do anything else you can imagine!" the developer exclaims again. Like Han Solo once said, we can imagine quite a bit.Anyway, Champions ... » Read More

Most of us have heard by now that the much-anticipated Marvel Universe Online game for the PC and Xbox 360 has been canceled. Cryptic Studios was understandably upset, but they've taken their work on the superhero game in an exciting new direction. Check out this new trailer for proof that change is sometimes a very good thing.
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"The makers of City of Heroes hope to create the superhero MMO to crush all contenders.

" Champions is a popular paper-and-pen role-playing game. Since the first edition of the Champions tabletop game was released in 1981, the HERO role-playing system has since evolved into one of the most respected around, primarily for its robust character creation system. Champions Online takes many of the ideas of the tabletop game and reshapes it to fit the needs of a massively multiplayer online game.

"There's still quite a lot to be learned about Champions Online, but it appears Cryptic Studios is on the right track. Champions Online ships in spring 2009 on PC and Xbox 360.

Cryptic is the firm who recently stopped working on Marvel Universe Online for PC and Xbox 360.
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Cryptic Studios, a leading developer of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, has announced Champions Online, a new MMO based on the popular pen-and-paper RPG Champions. Cryptic has also acquired the Champions intellectual property from Hero Games.
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Cryptic Studios announced today Champions Online, their first ever self-developed and self-published MMORPG. Champions Online, based on the popular pen-and-paper Champions RPG, will give players the power of total customization of their hero experience while they explore a vast universe of richly detailed 3D environments. Champions Online is slated for release in Spring 2009.

Champions Online is all about total customization ¿ it will offer a near infinte amount of character customization so that all players will have a unique game experience. Gamers will be able to create their hero's name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal arch-enemy and his or her back story, which will guarantee a truly unique experience.

Cryptic Studios also announced today that it has acquired the Champions intellectual property from Hero Games. First published in 1981, the Champions role-playing game is one of the first RPGs to forgo the traditional dice-rolling system of character generation in favor of a point-based system. Cryptic Studios has licensed back to Hero Games the right to produce Champions RPG books, and the sixth edition of HERO System and Champions, set to release in 2009, will include rules on how to recreate Champions Online characters and scenarios.

(According to Eurogamer, the Game Informer preview apparently confirms that Champions Online will release on both PC and console - most likely Xbox 360 -, and feature cross-platform play.)
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