More on Marvel Universe Online Troubles

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Speaking with 1up, an anonymous source has detailed some of the issues that are supposedly leading to the rumored cancellation of Cryptic Studios' Marvel Universe Online (PC, X360), which was announced in 2006.

"It reminded me a lot of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Running at 5 fps," claimed the tipster, who is said to have seen the game about six months ago. "[It] kept crashing and apparently hammered the hell out of both the console's hard drive and Live infrastructure."

He or she elaborated that the project has been, "in the shitter for a LOOOONG time." Other details indicate that the game's fighting system had yet to be decided up until a few months ago, with the team split between multi-button combo-based combat and the one-button fighting system used in most MMOs, such as Cryptic's own City of Heroes (PC).

Another tidbit suggests that the developer was having problems figuring out how to implement popular Marvel characters without detracting from the game, and that the Xbox 360's keyboard controller add-on was "pretty much exclusively designed" with Marvel Online Universe in mind. The release of the keyboard earlier this year is said to showcase Microsoft's lacking faith in the project.

Outside of Microsoft's "We do not comment on rumors or speculation" line, neither Microsoft nor Cryptic Studios has formally responded to the allegations of the game's cancellation. 1up's source claims that, unless a miracle occurs, official word of the game's cancellation should arrive in a few weeks.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 15, 2007 10:06 AM

    I just don't see how this project could have worked anyway. On any level.

    • reply
      November 15, 2007 10:09 AM

      The only way it would be fun is if you could play as one of the actual super heroes. Of course that limits the number of players to the number of Marvel Super Heroes and then the server is full...which would suck.

      • reply
        November 15, 2007 10:24 AM

        What, you wouldn't have been satisfied with the canon Spiderboy Jr. the III, nicknamed by some player as Roflwebz0r, with Grandpa Peter handing out missions as he bickers with Grandma MJ back at the Webquarters?

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