City of Heroes
News, coverage and analysis tracking City of Heroes across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Daily Grind: Which MMO ‘feelies’ have you kept over the years?
This article discusses the nostalgic practice of 'feelies'—physical extras included in game boxes like maps, figurines, and soundtrack CDs—particularly within the MMORPG genre. It highlights examples from games such as RIFT, City of Heroes, The Lord of the Rings Online, and Guild Wars 2, and asks readers about any such items they still possess.
The ESA quietly starts walking back baffling statements about private servers being 'illegal', though it's still tutting and wagging its finger
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has softened its stance on private game servers, clarifying that concerns primarily relate to those that host or distribute copyrighted content without authorization. While still asserting publishers' rights to enforce intellectual property, the ESA's updated statement acknowledges that private servers are not inherently illegal and that publishers may approach them differently. This follows earlier, more condemnatory statements made by the ESA regarding private servers for games like Minecraft.
Vague Patch Notes: Who owns the eras of an MMO?
This analysis explores the concept of ownership in MMORPGs, questioning who truly owns specific eras or versions of a game that evolves over time. It argues that while players form strong attachments, the ultimate ownership and decision-making power rests with the development studio, such as Blizzard Entertainment for World of Warcraft. The article suggests that accepting this reality and engaging with the current version of a game is more productive than dwelling on past iterations.
City of Heroes Homecoming delivers a smol balance patch as players continue to await i28p4
City of Heroes Homecoming has released a minor balance patch that adjusts various powersets including Fiery Aura, Willpower, and Psionic Armor. This update comes as players await larger content updates, with Issue 28 Page 4 anticipated for late spring and Issue 28 Page 5 for fall.
The Daily Grind: Have you ever designed an MMO quest?
This article discusses the concept of player-designed quests in MMORPGs, referencing older titles like Star Wars Galaxies and City of Heroes that featured systems allowing players to create content. It also touches upon how players in games like Ultima Online and EverQuest would manually create quests using in-game resources and guildmates.
A new MMO announcement is more exciting than all the other SGF news combined
The announcement of Guild Wars 3 has generated significant excitement, overshadowing other gaming news. The author expresses a deep love for MMORPGs, particularly the Guild Wars series, and anticipates Guild Wars 3 will offer a fresh experience with its new setting and mechanics. The article also touches on the decline of new MMORPG releases and the unique shared discovery that defines the genre.
Massively Overthinking: What’s the next best thing to your favorite MMORPG?
The Massively OP staff discusses where players might migrate if their favorite MMORPGs were to shut down. Contributors share personal experiences of losing beloved games like City of Heroes and Star Wars Galaxies, and explore whether direct replacements are sought or if players move to different genres entirely. The consensus leans towards players finding games with familiar elements rather than exact replicas, or embracing a more transient gaming experience.
City of Heroes players are testing a new browser-based, mobile-friendly build tool called CoH Sidekick
A new browser-based, mobile-friendly build tool called CoH Sidekick is being tested by City of Heroes players. This tool aims to be more accessible than the previous Mids Reborn tool, offering easier installation and broader server support. While still in active beta development, it allows players to build and import characters, though Mids file import is noted as a long-term work in progress.
Massively Overthinking: How much effort do you put into your MMO characters’ backstories?
The Massively OP staff discusses the varying levels of effort they put into creating backstories and personalities for their MMORPG characters. While some players craft elaborate narratives, others prefer simpler concepts or let personalities emerge organically through gameplay, with some games like Palia naturally encouraging more in-depth role-playing.
Vague Patch Notes: You cannot balance an MMO for fun
This article argues that 'fun' cannot be directly balanced in Massively Multiplayer Online games, as it is a subjective and vague concept. While numbers and rewards can be tweaked, true fun is personal and cannot be universally achieved through game design adjustments. The author uses examples from World of Warcraft and other MMOs to illustrate the complexities of balancing player enjoyment with game mechanics.
MMOs don't need 'to be 200 hours of unique content' at launch, says industry vet
MMO design veteran Jack Emmert argues that new Massively Multiplayer Online games do not need to launch with an excessive amount of unique content. He suggests that focusing on a strong core experience and a committed live team allows for organic growth based on player desires, contrasting this with the current industry trend of over-scoping.
"People want MMOs, and the sales of New World proved it" – Cryptic Studios head Jack Emmert on why MMOs are ripe for reinvention
Cryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert believes the MMORPG market is still strong, citing the sales of New World as proof, despite recent cancellations. He argues that successful MMOs should focus on a distinct vision and niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone, which often leads to diluted experiences. Emmert also emphasizes the importance of rapid prototyping and controlled scope for long-term success in the genre.
City of Heroes Homecoming says it’s not abandoning Mac players, so stop panicking
The Homecoming team for City of Heroes has stated they have no plans to abandon Mac players, despite concerns arising from Apple's deprecation of Rosetta 2 support. While the future depends on Apple's actions, the developers are actively working on solutions to ensure continued Mac compatibility.
MMOs are better if classes are imbalanced—you just need to do it on purpose
This article argues that intentional class imbalance can improve the player experience in MMOs, fostering unique contributions and community interaction. While perfect balance aims for efficiency, it can lead to homogenization, making individual roles feel less special. The author suggests that embracing intentional imbalances, as seen in older MMOs, can create more engaging and memorable gameplay experiences.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG has the most realistic diseases and poisons?
This article discusses the lack of realistic disease and poison mechanics in modern MMORPGs, contrasting them with older titles like City of Heroes and Ultima Online where these effects could be genuinely debilitating. The author asks readers for examples of the most gruesome or realistic disease and poison implementations in the genre.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG still really needs to have a mobile client or spinoff?
The author questions which MMORPGs still lack a mobile client or spinoff, despite the success of games like RuneScape and Albion Online on mobile. The article highlights the potential for games like Guild Wars 2, City of Heroes, and World of Warcraft to benefit from mobile integration, citing the recent Guild Wars 1 port announcement as a point of discussion.
Perfect Ten: MMOs with player-generated content that somehow didn’t require blockchain
This article discusses several MMORPGs that feature robust player-generated content systems without relying on cryptocurrency or blockchain technology. Games like Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars Galaxies, and Warframe are highlighted for their successful implementation of user-created content, demonstrating that player engagement and creativity are sufficient motivators for content creation.
The Daily Grind: Are you a chronic reroller in MMOs?
This article discusses the common player habit of 'rerolling' characters in MMORPGs and other RPGs. The author admits to frequently restarting with new characters, finding the appeal in the fresh potential and immediate gratification of advancement, a tendency exacerbated by the genre.
The Daily Grind: Who’s the best robot in an MMORPG?
This article discusses the prevalence and appeal of robots within Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPGs). It highlights examples from Star Wars Galaxies, Star Wars: The Old Republic, City of Heroes, and WildStar, posing the question of which robot character is the best in the genre.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars in your pocket
ArenaNet announced a mobile port of Guild Wars Reforged with cross-progression, coinciding with the game's 21st anniversary. This week also saw Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, Pearl Abyss selling EVE Online studio CCP Games to its management, and Star Wars The Old Republic revealing the planet Ryloth for its 8.0 update.