Sep 27, 2011

Eurogamer

NCsoft MMO City of Heroes is now free-to-play.

The publisher flipped the switch today following the announcement in June that its superhero title would soon be jumping on the F2P bandwagon.

Re-branded City of Heroes Freedom, you'll now be able to reach lv. 50, access over 1000 missions, explore 45 different zones and choose from eight separate character archetypes without opening your wallet.

For full details of what exactly you will have to pay for check out the handy comparison chart that NCsoft has published on the game's official site.

To celebrate the relaunch, a big new patch has also gone live. Here's what the Chapter 21: Convergence update adds:

New Zone: First Ward, the training and testing grounds for some of Praetoria's most elite forces and sinister weapons, is where players will encounter all new threats, including the massive zone-wide event, the Seed of Hamidon.
New Epic Challenges: The Underground Incarnate Trial takes place deep below the streets of Praetoria, in the secret lair of the Devouring Earth. Those strong enough to break through their stronghold may reach the devastating Avatar of Hamidon for a final showdown of epic proportions. Up to 28 players can team up to fight new menaces and unlock great rewards.
New Power Sets and Costumes: Time Manipulation (free for VIP Players), Beam Rifle and Street Justice represent just the beginning of new powers coming to players with City of Heroes Freedom, while the Barbarian and the Circle of Thorns Costume Sets, as well as the IDF and Defense Costume Sets (free for VIP Players) add even more options to the millions of customisation options at a players' fingertips.
New Starting Experience: Puts new players right in the middle of the action, giving them access to all archetypes with no alignment restriction. During the new starting experience, players will have the opportunity to determine whether they ally with the forces of good, or harness the powers of evil.
New Missions: The debut of monthly Signature Story Arcs (free for VIP Players), enables players to play a key role in the main storyline as they fight alongside iconic heroes and villains and discover which of Paragon City's premier heroes will die!
New Rewards: The Paragon Rewards program is our way to thank players for investing in City of Heroes and provides new and unique in-game rewards designed around each player's unique tastes and play style.

Sep 27, 2011

With Great Power Comes Great Value, City of Heroes Now Free-to-Play

Kotaku

After more than seven years as the most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online superhero role-playing game, Paragon Studios flips the switch on City of Heroes Freedom, potentially the most popular free-to-play superhero MMO.

Superhero and super villain hopefuls need only sign up for a free account to begin their 50 level journey to fame or infamy in City of Heroes Freedom, with a pay-per-content system that allows players to spend on additional features and adventures as they see fit.

Today's not just about going free, however. It's also about adding a ton of new content for players old and new alike.

"Our fans have come to expect great content and with City of Heroes Freedom we've clearly raised the bar by delivering the best game play we've ever developed, and giving players the choice to truly customize their gaming experience" said Brian Clayton, Executive Producer at Paragon Studios. "We aren't just flipping a switch and going ‘Free-to-Play.' We're embarking on the biggest content and feature update to City of Heroes in its seven-year history."

That update is Issue 21: Convergence, which updates the game with a new zone, a new starting area, epic challenges, special missions, and a fancy rewards program that delivers unique in-game items tailored to each players' playing style. The update also includes the Time Manipulation (free for VIP Players), Beam Rifle, and Street Justice power sets, along with so new costume options to make character creation even more of an epic event.

Hit up the City of Heroes website to sign up for a free account, should the urge to save (or ruin) the day hit you.

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.

Jun 21, 2011

City of Heroes goes free-to-play

Eurogamer

Superhero MMO City of Heroes is jumping on the free-to-play bandwagon later this year, publisher NCSoft has announced.

A standard monthly subscription system now called VIP Status will remain for those who want it, with a few added extras such as free Signature Story Arcs and 400 complimentary Paragon Points per month to be spent in the new Paragon Market.

Those opting to go down the freemium route will still be able to max out their character at level 50, though there are a few restrictions.

They'll be restricted from certain systems, such as alignment change, Day Jobs and Mission Architect, and won't receive any live support unless they upgrade to VIP player status.

Unlike VIPs, free players can only have two characters per account.

"Freedom is about getting more content into the hands of our players, whether they are subscribing or playing for free," explained executive producer Brian Clayton.

"To do this, we've looked at City of Heroes from the ground up and focused on three ways to enhance the experience by giving our players more choices, greater rewards and the best content we've ever produced. And for the first time ever, players can choose to enjoy more than seven years of content for free."

To mark the occasion, the game is also getting a new name City of Heroes Freedom and a new update.

Issue 21: Convergence adds in a new Power Set, two costume sets, the Underground Incarnate Trial, and the new First Ward co-op zone.

Head over to the game's official site for an FAQ on exactly how the change-over will work.

The Paragon-developed MMO first launched back in 2004. Eurogamer's City of Heroes review saw the game securing a 7/10.

Jun 21, 2011

You Don't Have to Pay for City of Heroes Anymore, Thanks to Freedom

Kotaku

Superhero MMO City of Heroes is killing its monthly fee with the advent of City of Heroes Freedom as the game transitions from subscription-based model to a new, free to play one.

Publisher NCsoft and developer Paragon Studios detail the plan to bring City of Heroes to a larger, pay-what-you-want audience today, explaining that the game known as City of Heroes will soon be known City of Heroes Freedom, that the game is forgoing the monthly fee barrier of entry but that subscribers still have a place in this superhero versus supervillain virtual world.

Players can still choose to subscribe to City of Heroes Freedom, granting them VIP status, which in turn grants paying players a long list of rewards and services. Free players can still play, but they'll need to buy certain features and upgrades piecemeal. There's a handy comparison chart right here, if you're interested.

City of Heroes Freedom launches for PC MMO players later this year, but NCsoft is encouraging subscribers to re-up (or stick with the game) to receive some goodwill awards.

As a City of Heroes outsider, this seems like a smart business move for an aging MMO, a model that we'll see more publishers follow. What say you, City of Heroes vets? How do you feel about the change?

Announcing City of Heroes Freedom and Issue 21: Convergence! [Official Site]

Jun 21, 2011

City of Heroes goes free-to-play

PC Gamer

Veteran MMO City of Heroes has announced that it will move to a free to play model later this year, coinciding with their Issue 21 update. The new model will see current subscribers known as 'VIP players' while others play for free, with micro transactions integrated through an in-game store.

Details within.

Producer Brian Clayton told PC Gamer that the team had been working towards the new model for "Well over a year at this point."

When asked how much content would be available to free players, Clayton said: "I think there are a few things we’re going to set aside for the VIP subscribers, but the majority will absolutely be available." Taking the game's famous character creator as an example he said "I believe the percentage that free players will have access to is somewhere close to 70/75% of the costume sets and costume pieces."

City of Heroes will also include a loyalty system to offer subscriber like benefits to those who do not take out a subscription but do purchase a significant amount of in game items: "And in fact I think we’re one of the few, or maybe the only, that will allow these… I call them premium players: players that sort of play a-la-carte, they pick and choose a few things that are very interesting them from the store but they don’t actually become a VIP subscriber. These folks who have purchased enough things through the store they’ll be able to sort of grow through our paragon rewards program and as they hit different tiers within that program, even though they’re not a VIP subscriber, they’ll be able to open up more of the initial limitations that are put on a free player."

Current City of Heroes subscribers will become VIP subscribers come the switch, but will begin accruing 'paragon points' from July 1st, which will be spendable in the in game store when it launches. VIP players will also get a new monthly version of the current veteran rewards system and their own server.

There will be some restrictions placed on free players though, with only two player slots and eight archetypes available. For example, while the mission architect system will be completely unlocked for VIPs, free players will have to unlock it (somehow, NCsoft declined to specify) in order to fully access it. Here's a full description of how the features break down.

Play for Free:

Play as a Hero or Villain for up to Level 50.
Play up to two characters (total).
Select from 8 character archetypes and over 100 power sets.
Play in 45 different game zones.

VIP Players:

Existing City of Heroes subscribers retain all benefits, including 12 character slots per server.
Receive 400 Paragon Points a month to use in the Paragon Market.
Experience VIP content, including the City of Heroes Going Rogue™ expansion.
Play on a VIP-only server.
Enjoy one free character transfer per month, priority queuing, and VIP customer support.

Returning City of Heroes Players:

Get everything that play-for-free players get.
Retain everything you already purchased or unlocked, including character slots, super boosters, expansions, Veteran Rewards, and Epic archetypes.

So what do you think readers? Will this shift inspire you to try out City of Heroes when the update lands?

Jun 1, 2011

Giveaway: Venture back to the 1800s with the City of Heroes Steampunk Pack!

PC Gamer

The future is so passé. Nowadays, all the cool kids go retro, decked out in inventor's goggles with dashing wardrobes, and sporting catchphrases like "Ratherrr!" and "I say, old bean!"

City of Heroes (and City of Villains, for that matter) won't let trippy anime or Rise of Legends have all the steampunk fun—they've unleashed the Steampunk Pack on the world of superpowered individuals, complete with snappy new costumes, powers, auras, and emotes. Want to see the glory of low-tech fashion for free? Read on to see how you can win the pack and join your fellow Victorian-era allies!

To enter, simply email contests@pcgamer.com with the subject line “I'm a dapper dandy, old chap!” We’ll randomly choose 15 lucky winners on this Friday, June 3rd. Now, be warned: you'll need an existing City of Heroes and City of Villains account to make use of this pack, so only enter if you already play CoH games—otherwise, you could end up winning a code you can't even use! Good luck, and remember: modern-day conveniences are for sissies. I'll take a Victorian Bike over a car any day.

May 18, 2011

City of Heroes Dragged Kicking and Screaming Into the Steampunk Age

Kotaku

Steampunk: it's everywhere you want to be, especially if the place you want to be is Paragon City circa June 1, 2011, when the City of Heroes Steampunk pack goes live.

Are you sick of Steampunk yet? There'll be nowhere in the City of Heroes or City of Villains to escape it come the first of next month. The City of Heroes Steampunk Pack is $9.99 worth of new costume parts, emotes, auras, and powers meant to transform your colorful superhero experience into a dismal wonderland of brown with beige accents.

First comes the costume pieces. The pack features more than 60 new parts including heads, hairstyles, chests, belts, legs, boots, weapons, wings, and a City of Heroes first, backpacks. All of these fanciful new accoutrements aimed at making your victor a bit more Victorian.

Along with the backpacks comes a new travel power, the Steam Jump, when you absolutely, positively have to get there with the seat of your pants soaked with water.

Capping off the rusty bronze package are a pair of new auras, Victorian Décor and the Clunker Aura, the latter of which leaves a trail of oil and gears wherever your hero or villain travels, like a strange biomechanical slug.

Strap on your goggles and try to keep your random metal bits from tearing your vintage clothing, heroes. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Apr 28, 2011

City of Heroes hits 7th anniversary, releases data on player behavior in fun infographic form

PC Gamer

42 million characters have been created in City of Heroes since it launched in 2004. Scrapper are the richest characters in-game, on average. It would take over 3,900 days to play all of the content in the game, including player-created missions.

Knowledge is power, and we just made you three parts stronger. You can thank us later. Of course, if you crave more data about City of Heroes (subsequently increasing your overall power in a general, abstract sense), you'll want to check out the infographic below. City of Heroes is turning 7 next month, and NCSoft put together this collection of data bytes about CoH's statistics and player behavior to celebrate it.

As a bonus prize, from May 3rd (next Tuesday) through May 10th, anyone that has a City of Heroes account will be able to play the game for free--no active subscription required. So if the nuggets of info intrigue you enough to want to give the game another shot, feel free to do so next week with no commitment required!

Apr 28, 2011

City of Heroes hits 7th anniversary, releases data on player behavior in fun infographic form

PC Gamer