DC Universe™ Online

See Barry Allen Become The Flash in DC Universe Online's Next ExtensionTour Central City, the home turf of The Flash, and go back in time to the moment Barry Allen became the Scarlet Speedster with "Lightning Strikes," the second downloadable content extension for DC Universe Online. The package also delivers new Electricity Powers, the game's eighth power set, for your character creation/re-spec.


"Lightning Strikes" does not yet have a specific release date although Sony Online Entertainment said it would arrive "later this year." The biggest value it will deliver, in addition to the power set, is the addition of a Central City map that, in addition to Gotham City and Metropolis, offers its own solo and group missions.


The DLC also offers The Flash Museum Duo, a mission in which players may travel back in time to the moment Barry Allen, CCPD forensic scientist, was doused by strange chemicals during a lightning storm and became The Flash.


The Flash, and Jay Garrick (the Golden Age Flash) already appear in the base edition of DC Universe Online. With "Lightning Strikes," new characters such as Livewire, The Top, The Trickster, Static and Black Lightning will be introduced as well. Some, such as Livewire, will become templates at the character creation menu.


The DLC will be $9.99 for all but Legendary-level subscribers, who get it for free. DC Universe Online went free to play earlier this month.



You can contact Owen Good, the author of this post, at owen@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
DC Universe™ Online

One Million Players Join DC Universe Online One Week After It Goes Free-to-Play We already know that over 120,000 PC users joined DC Universe Online in 24 hours after the Sony Online Entertainment title went free-to-play, but now the publisher's revealing more about how big the shift has been for them.


In the week since DCUO became FTP, one million new would-be metahumans have joined the game's ranks. And that number is evenly split between PC and PlayStation 3 players. Of course, there's limits on what you get as a free member but you can always upgrade to Premium or Legendary if you want to be a one-person Legion of Superheroes and access all the incoming DLC packs.



You can contact Evan Narcisse, the author of this post, at evan@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page
DC Universe™ Online

DC Universe Adds 120,000 Players After First Free-to-Play DayShifting to a free-to-play model yesterday, DC Universe Online opened the gates to the freeloading hordes. More than 120,000 signed up for the MMO said John Smedley, the president of Sony Online Entertainment. That figure's for the PC, though. No word yet on PS3 enrollments.


Smedley also touted figures for number of users logged in, up more than 400 percent over the previous month. Sounds great, until you realize the influx of free players have caused stability issues and long login queues.


Under the new freemium model, free players get two character slots and all standard game content; tiered pricing delivers additional character slots and expansions, plus a larger item inventory.



You can contact Owen Good, the author of this post, at owen@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
DC Universe™ Online

With yesterday's addition to the PlayStation Network and today's flipping of the switch on the PC version, DC Universe Online is now free-to-play. Sony Online Entertainment celebrates with the most exciting trailer you'll see all...oh, nevermind.


Both versions of DC Universe Online now feature three levels of access — free, premium, and legendary, the differences between which are readily explained on the game's web page. It's a tiered system that handicaps those that don't pony up at least a little cash, but not so much that the game isn't enjoyable.


While I'm a fan of the game myself, I never felt the $14.99 a month fee was worth it, considering it only takes a couple weeks to reach the game's level 30 cap (if that). Now that it's free I'd say donning tights and a cape sounds like a rather lovely idea. Why not give it a go?



You can contact Michael Fahey, the author of this post, at fahey@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
DC Universe™ Online

Free-to-Play DC Universe Online, Arkham City Content New on the PlayStation StoreUp this week at the PlayStation Store is the free-to-play addition of DC Universe Online, as well as Hydrophobia Prophecy and a demo for the upcoming Move game Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest.


The Arkham City Nightwing DLC pack is also available, as well as "various add-ons" for the just-released Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Finally, Saints Row fans can download the "Initiation Station" and start coming up with the craziest characters they can think of.


Check out the full list below.


Games & Demos for PlayStation 3

Hydrophobia Prophecy ($9.99)
Pinballistik ($3.99)
Max & The Magic Marker – Gold Edition ($9.99)
Mortal Kombat Vs Dc Universe Digital ($19.99)
DC Universe Online Free-To-Play (free)
Medieval Moves: Deadmund's Quest Demo
Max & The Magic Marker – Gold Edition Trial
Saints Row: The Third Initiation Station Demo
Happy Feet 2 Demo


Games & Demos for PSP

Fate/Extra ($24.99)
Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock Of Firetop Mountain ($4.99) (PSP Mini)


Add-ons & Expansions

DC Universe Online Fight For The Light ($9.99)
MotorStorm Apocalypse Halloween Livery (free)
UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception Various Add-ons (x31) ($0.49 – $9.99 each)
Everybody Dance Pack 1 ($8.99)
LittleBigPlanet 2 Uncharted 3 Drake Costume SOCOM 4: ($1.99)
SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs Evac Co-Op Pack ($7.99)
Batman Arkham City – Nightwing Bundle ($6.99)
Dead Rising 2: Off The Record: BBQ Chef Skills Pack ($1.99)
Pinballistik: Made Of Money ($2.99)
Pinballistik: Sector X ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Bodysnatchers By Radiohead ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Free Bird By Lynyrd Skynyrd ($2.99)
Rocksmith – Tighten Up By The Black Keys ($4.99)
Cars 2 Various Add-ons (x10) ($0.99 – $2.99)
EA Sports Season Ticket – Time Based (12 Months) ($24.99 each)
Worms Crazy Golf Carnival Course (free)


Rock Band 3 tracks


  • "Breath" – Breaking Benjamin ($1.99)
  • "Forever" – Papa Roach ($1.99)
  • "Until The End" – Breaking Benjami ($1.99)
  • "Breath (Pro Guitar)" – Breaking Benjami ($0.99)

Rock Band Network tracks


  • "Madness" – Myrath ($1.99)
  • "Scissors" – Emery ($1.99)
  • "Toast (Live)" – Heywood Banks ($0.99)
  • "You Only Live Once" – Suicide Silence ($1.99)

Game Videos

Xcom – Dev Diary 1: What Is Xcom
Risen 2 Dark Waters Gamescom Trailer
Risen 2: Dark Waters – Reveal Trailer
Crysis 1 Trailer
Nba Jam: On Fire Edition – Launch Sizzle
Rock Of Ages: Rolling Through The Ages Trailer
Rock Of Ages: Teaser Trailer
Driver San Francisco Launch Trailer
Motionsports Adrenaline Debut Trailer
Rayman Origins Bubble Dreamer Trailer
Rayman Origins Comic-Con Trailer
Hollywood Squares Trailer
Pulse 11/1 Edition GT Academy Behind the Scenes – Road to Le Mans


Themes, Wallpapers & Avatars

4 Elements Hd: Wallpaper 5
Sideway: New York Static Theme (Free)
Resistance 3 Survival StaticTheme ($3.99)
Dark Souls Prepare To Die Theme ($2.99)
A Is For Astronaut Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
NCAA – West Virginia Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
NCAA – Texas A&M Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
NCAA – Notre Dame Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
NCAA – Oklahoma Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Abstract Blue Distortion Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Abstract Particle Dance Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Aquarium 2.0 Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Digital Blasphemy: Thetis Tropic Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Digital Blasphemy: Tears Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Digital Blasphemy: Vigil Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Digital Blasphemy: Phraxis Moon Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Digital Blasphemy: Flourescense Tropic Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Dynamic Bikini Girl Theme ($2.99)
Views Of The World Static Theme ($1.49)
In The Wild Static Theme ($1.49)
Wild World Static Theme ($1.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Avatar Collection ($2.99)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Alucard Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Charlotte Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Jonathan Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Julius Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Maria Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Richter Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Shanoa Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Simon Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Soma Avatar ($0.49)
Castlevania: Harmony Of Despair Yoko Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Felyne Acorn Armor Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Felyne Fighter Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Hunter Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Kirin Armor Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Kut-Ku Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Nargacuga Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Poogie Memorial Stripe Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Rathalos Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Rathalos Azure Avatar ($0.49)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Tigrex Avatar ($0.49)


Sales, Price Drops & Bundles

Dragon Age: Origins Digital (Price Change) (PS3) (now $19.99, original price $29.99)
Hasbro Family Game Night (Price Change) (PS3) (now $19.99, original price $39.99)
Mass Effect 2 Digital (Price Change) (PS3) (now $19.99, original price $39.99)
Tiger Woods Pga Tour 12 Digital – Public Release (Price Change) (PS3) (now $39.99, original price $59.99)
Superstars V8 Racing (Price Change) (PS3) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Under Siege (Price Change) (PS3) (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
Phantasy Star Portable 2 – Digital (Price Change) (PS3) (now $14.99, original price $19.99)


Music

UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception Soundtrack ($9.99)
UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves Soundtrack ($5.99)
UNCHARTED: Drake's Fortune Soundtrack ($5.99)


PlayStation Plus

Hydrophobia: Prophecy (Free)
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot 2
Crash Bandicoot3: Warped
CTR: Crash Team Racing
Rumble Trucks
MORTAL KOMBAT VS DC UNIVERSE DIGITAL (Free Full Game Trial)
Hasbro's Family Game Night – 50% off Sale Price (PS+ Price: $10.00)
Robots Dynamic Theme
Qore Episode 42 – November Early Access
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Avatar Bundle 1



You can contact Kirk Hamilton, the author of this post, at kirk@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
DC Universe™ Online

Even DC Comics' Assembled Heroes Can't Resist the Allure of Free-to-PlayIt doesn't matter if you're a starship captain or one of Earth's mightiest heroes; once you go massively multiplayer it's only a matter of time before free-to-play finds you. Sony Online Entertainment's DC Universe Online breaks free of subscription fees next month.


Starting in October anyone with a PlayStation 3 or a gaming PC will be able to download and play DC Universe Online for free. They'll have access to all game content, two character slots, and the ability to purchase optional expansion packs should they choose to do so.


Players that have spent more than $5 on the game (returning players, subscription paying customers that opt to not continue paying, and in-game store shoppers) will be upgraded to premium membership, with more character slots, a larger inventory, and a bigger wallet.


And if players want to continue paying $14.99 (or have purchased a lifetime subscription) they'll be granted Legendary status, which gives them an enormous inventory, more than 15 character slots, and free access to expansion packs and other downloadable content as it comes along.


Why does a game like DC Universe Online go free-to-play? Speaking to IGN, SOE executive producer Lorin Jameson says it was the model the developers envisioned all along.


"In terms of 'Is it a result in a drop in subs' – absolutely not," he said. "This is the right business model. If I can be honest, the game ended up costing a lot more than we thought it would, and this was our preferred business model from day one."


With Champions Online already free-to-play and City of Heroes going there later this year, massively multiplayer online superhero fans will have to choose which style of crime fighting suits them the best — or just play all three.


DC Universe Online Going Free to Play [IGN - Thanks, Ursus-Veritas!]


DC Universe™ Online

The first major dose of downloadable content for DC Universe Online, Fight for the Light goes live on September 6 in the U.S., with active subscribers donning green and yellow rings without having to pay a dime. Time to resubscribe!


DC Universe™ Online

Scourge The Hedgehog, We 3, and I Think They Killed Lois Lane in this Week's Most Interesting ComicsNew comics come out on Wednesdays. So why is my weekly list of new-comics recommendations running on a Thursday? I blame the avalanche of gaming news, screenshots and trailers tumbling out of Gamescom. I briefly found space, however, to recommend some comics.


These are the ones I think you should consider buying, either in shops or on your favorite digital device, all new or newly-re-issued this week.


Comics You Should Consider Buying (from comics shops)

Daredevil #3 The first issue of the new Daredevil was one of the year's best new comics. I am optimistic about the second one. Official summary: "Given his recent past, Matt Murdock has a lot to answer for and Captain America is doing the cross-examining. Daredevil's quickly learning that burned bridges with his friends and former allies aren't easy to repair particularly when Klaw, the Master of Sound, is on his tail!"


Legion of Super-Heroes #16 This is the last issue of Legion of Super-Heroes, until the series is re-started again next month (with minimal alterations to continuity, or so the powers-the-be-claim). There are other DC Comics series ending this week, including the current Justice League of America, Power Girl, Superman/Batman and Zatanna. But it's in Legion where we're promised a Legion tradition: the death of a Legionnaire. At this point, has any member of the Legion of Super-Heroes not been killed (and maybe restored to life)?


Scourge The Hedgehog, We 3, and I Think They Killed Lois Lane in this Week's Most Interesting ComicsWE3 Deluxe Edition A hardcore collection of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's acclaimed three-issue series about the daring escape of a dog, a cat and a bunny who have been turned into deadly bio-weapons by the U.S. military. This volume includes a few new story pages.


X-Men Schism #3 Schism has been my favorite Event Comic of the summer, possibly because it feels more character-driven. It's basically a story about two heroes who disagree about what to do in a crisis. That's it. Official summary: "The events of Schism #1 have launched the world into turmoil, and the all-new Hellfire Club is ready to take advantage of the chaos. But when the survival of the mutant race is on the line, just how far will the X-Men go? Once a line is crossed, there's no going back."



Comics With Video Game Connections (new this week in comics shops)

DC Universe Online #14 Official summary: "It's a tale of tragic proportions as an unexpected character falls in the line of duty...but who and how will forever change the course of the series."


Scourge The Hedgehog, We 3, and I Think They Killed Lois Lane in this Week's Most Interesting ComicsResident Evil (trade paperback collection) Official summary: "The terrifying world of Resident Evil returns in this title, as the dedicated agents of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance face off against Virus-spreading bio-weapons both in space and on land. The Joint Nations Space Station has gone offline; BSAA Agent Mina Gere investigates and is confronted by a crew of flesh-eating bio-weapons. Veteran mercenary Holiday Sugarman is sent to remote Grezbekistan; when his team is wiped out by G-Virus infected militiamen, he must face G-Prime - alone."


Sonic Universe #31 Official summary: "Inside Job,' Part 3. Scourge the Hedgehog, evil doppelganger to Sonic, is half-way to his goal: put together a gang and bust out of Zone Jail! But first he'll need to win the loyalty of two of the most dangerous members of the Destructix. If he can survive that, the rest is easy: fighting an army of Zone Cops and rival inmates!"



And Over On The iPad/iPhone/Droid/WebBrowser…

The ComiXology Comics app and website offer a fresh batch of new and old digital comics this week (and as of this week, Marvel's are available on Comixology's website, instead of just on iOS… but still not on Droid). Highlights this week include more vintage 1990's Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle Batman comics and the first collection of Jeff Smith's terrific all-ages adventure Bone as well as the first collection of the original series he did after that, Rasl. Plus, they're selling the 20 X-Factor, X-Mem and New Mutants comics that accounted for the late '80s cross-over Inferno. I never read it. Was it any good?



Best Comics I Read Last Week

I finally finished the full 15-issue run of Captain Britain and MI: 13 that I downloaded to my iPad earlier this year. I'd heard good things and understood that fans of the series thought Marvel cancelled it far too soon. Writer Paul Cornell followed that book up with a terrific run on Action Comics that turned Luthor into the book's protagonist. That's where I discovered Cornell. I grabbed the Captain Britain comics to see how good this guy tended to be.


Scourge The Hedgehog, We 3, and I Think They Killed Lois Lane in this Week's Most Interesting ComicsCaptain Britain turned out to be worth the hype. It's a book about an odd collection of heroes, the least interesting of whom is the patriotic lead. The possibly-cursed sword-swingers, vampire, vampire-killer, and mystics in the Captain's crew are the real stars, struggling to make sense of their abilities while dealing with the successive England-threatening problems of alien shape-shifters, evil spirits and Dracula. Each of those conflicts spans several issues and crackles with unusual plot twists. Some of them are cheap. There's an over-reliance on apparent hero deaths. But as you're getting to the end of the run and see a story turn on whether Dracula's moon-launched space-ship is or isn't full of vampires who have or haven't been invited to England—lest they burn up upon entry into British airspace—you'll know you're reading a series worth your time.


Track the run down. It's only a couple of bucks an issue on ComiXology's iPad app. It's an enjoyable 15-issue read. It may not be a classic worth repeated re-reads, but it's a fun run to go through at least once.


Tell me what you're reading this week and which great comics I'm missing.



You can contact Stephen Totilo, the author of this post, at stephentotilo@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
DC Universe™ Online

As DC Universe Online Merges Into "Megaservers," Which Hero Will Keep His Name?!Four "Megaservers" unifying DC Universe Online by platform and region will deploy on Monday, offering larger populations for raids, alerts and other missions, as well as swapping between PvP and PvE on demand.


Now, many of you are already wondering "Whoa, what about my hero's name?" Or villain's. See, if that cool moniker you thought up was taken on one server, maybe it was clear on another. But now all servers are getting merged down into four groups. So if two North American PS3 players separately chose "Ulterior Motive Man," on the old Killing Joke and Justice servers, who gets to keep it on the new, single PS3 megaserver for that region?


At a fan appreciation event at Comic-Con 2011, the DCUO staff laid out the rules. Basically, if there's a "collision" in name choice, whoever has an active subscription at the time of migration will get to keep the name. If two players have active subscriptions and the same name, then whoever has the most hours logged in the game gets to keep it.


If you lose out, you will get a free Name Change token and instructions on how to change your character's name if you don't wish to keep the handle assigned by the system. All I can say is, look for alternate spellings, ways to abbreviate or shorten the name, or delete spaces. All Captains can become Capts, Doctors are Drs and vice versa.


Or you may use the opportunity to completely rename yourself, and then go re-spec your powers and essentially create a new character at whatever level you've achieved.


Hopefully, that's the only icky detail of switching from individual servers to one giant server for each system and region. In the new layout, DCUO members will be able to swap between PvE and PvP "phases" by visiting the Watchtower (if they are heroes) or the Hall of Doom (for villains). A "Phase With" command will be available in DCUO's Social quick menu, allowing you to participate in the same PvE/PvP phase as a friend.


Here's where the MMO's old servers will go:


European PC Megaserver
(Conversion begins Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. Central European Time)
Bloodstorm
In Brightest Day
Looking For Trouble
Reality Lost


North American PC Megaserver
(Conversion begins Aug. 10 at 11 a.m U.S. Eastern Time)
Brave New World
Cry For Blood
Darkness Falls
Death and Glory
Last Laugh
New Frontier
Public Enemies
Virtue and Vice
Zero Hour


North American PS3 Megaserver
(Conversion begins Aug. 11 at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time)
Birthright
Blood Will Run
Countdown
Crisis
Justice
No Man's Land
Redemption
Relentless
The Killing Joke


European PS3 Megaserver
(Conversion begins Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. Central European Time)
Absolute Power
Crossfire
For All Seasons
Justice For All


New Producer's Letter From DeadMeat - MegaServers Are Coming! [DC Universe Online Facebook]


DC Universe™ Online

DC Universe Online Brings a Multitude of Heroes to the Fortress of SolitudeDC Universe Online's latest game update delivers a new group raid in Superman's hideout, and tunes up the difficulty in the old one at Batman's crash pad. It's available now for the game on PS3 and PC.


The narrative behind the Fortress of Solitude raid involves heroes and villains forming an uneasy alliance against Brainiac, bent on taking control of Supe's sanctuary and use its technology to blow up planet Earth. Heroes will be led by Superman, villains by Lex Luthor, through ice caverns leading to the fortress and then finally to duke it out with Brainiac's minions inside.


The raid supports eight players and will award "Marks of Krypton" good for picking up new swag either in the Watchtower or Hall of Doom. There will also be three Kryptonian-inspired armor sets, branded either S (Superman) for heroes or Z (Zod) for villains, and two Brainiac-inspired PvP armor sets.


A PvP deathmatch arena, the game's first, also is included.


Additionally, the Batcave group raid has been upgraded to a Hard Mode alert, offering four-player Group Combat and Tier 2 gear rewards.



You can contact Owen Good, the author of this post, at owen@kotaku.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.
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