DC Universe Online Gets Release Date, Subscription Details, CGI Trailer

I love DC, perhaps moreso than Marvel. I get a lot of satisfaction out of watching the characters and their dramas, that's why I bought Timm's Justice League on DVD, it's awsome. Watching the trailer, I got that old feeling again like when I read the comics and saw Alex Ross covers, panels by Dick Giordano and George Perez, and witnessing the epic multi-title reboot by John Byrne. The triad of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. God, how I miss those days.

On the MMO I have to tip my hat to DC for going where Marvel chose not to, and I also respect Marvel for not taking that plunge with their properties. Still, the Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe is superior in every way to DC's aged Who's Who In The DC Universe, a detailed testament as to the depth of the Marvel content available that fans have waited a lifetime to play in. Marvel was first to press in 1982, followed by DC two years later. Now DC gets their turn.

Which is kind of strange because this is all taking place in an arena that's been dominated by City of Heroes. Arguably, their character customization is the measure by which all superhero MMOs will be judged. People want to build epic characters the likes of the ones they can't play in DCO. COH has had a 6 year headstart, so it will be interesting to see if DC can improve on this experience.

Opportunities that I see are:

1. Destructable environment and interaction with everyday citizens, which in COH is nonexistent. While this will create new challenges, it would open the door to a more interactive, living world. A world of consequences and not just a population explosion of superpowered beings loitering in the safe area. DC has some work to do to distinctify themselves in this market.

2. Interact with core heroes in a meaningful way. These are the guys we grew up with and admire. We want to fight alongside them, be recognized by them, be victorious with them. This is where I see DC having the potential to making huge gains, as their core characters are legendary.

Champions Online deserves merit, but I see it as nothing more than a COH knock-off for another publisher. The real story is how DCO and their vault of content will take it's place alongside industry veteran COH and change the superhero MMO experience. Let the games begin!

Like APB, nothing about this game seems to justify the 14.99 a month subscription.

You know, for the last 10+ years it's been great to see things like comic characters and fantasy properties taken seriously, with dazzling results. From Dark Knight to Lord of the Rings, we've had a good run. I've seen similar recent improvements in games, with Arkham Asylum and War for Cybertron standing as two good examples of games done right.

With that said, why do I get such a feeling of foreboding with this game? Is it SOE's involvement? That is probably part of it. I think that the bigger component is that everything I've seen of the game seems like DC is pretty much just being bolted onto a generic MMO system, one that could be repurposed to The Matrix, or Transformers, or Everquest with just a few model changes and some ingame lore adjustments. It doesn't feel DC so much as it feels like a generic MMO that someone made a DC mod for. They didn't go 100% into making a DC game. They made a game with DC characters that has a core mechanic that can be reused for the next property they license.

Now if the game plays at a tenth of how cool this trailer by Blur was, we'll be lucky gamers. However, seeing SOE's track record... I'm hesitant to get excited.

If this game ends up being what I expect it to be for how long it's been in development it will totally be worth it to get PS+ so there won't be a $15/month fee to play this. That's the best news I've heard about PS+ and subs for this game yet. Something that's really worth it.

I call dibs on Batman.

I know it's a comic book thing, so it's fine if all the heroes looking like roid raging dudes, and I guess we have to forgive Wonder Woman's double Ds, but even the Joker looks like an NFL linebacker.

Lame.

I won't be playing the DC Universide Online if it is being a subscription fee.

cool trailer!
just missing Aquaman, he should've been there commanding these! http://www.snakesonablog.com/swp/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/whales-1.jpg

I'll wait for reviews first on this game before I buy. I tried City of Heroes, but after my free month was up I canceled. It was good and all, but good enough to pay 14.99 a month for? Nope. Hoping for something good with DC Universe Online and if it sucks... oh well, theres still the Star Wars: the Old Republic to look forward to.

Just how long have they been working on this? Hasn't it been at least 5 years, if not longer?

Finally, a reason to purchase playstation plus! I'll subscribe just to play this game!

Wait, so which is it? Did the "man" misspeak about Playstation Plus subscribers not having to pay a monthly fee for the game? Or will paying for Playstation Plus net you free DC Universe playtime? In my mind Sony would be moronic not to do this.

As is, no one really has a GOOD reason to subscribe to Playstation Plus and this would be a great way to get tons of people to do so.

Anyone who thinks this game will play ANYTHING like the trailer is fooling themselves.

I could watch any Blur cinematic, no matter what it's based on. Best fight scenes ever.

I'm not gonna play it, but that trailer is pretty cool

Errrr you might want to check your sources about that fee being waved for psn + subscribers. I believe the developers said that was a miss quote.

"The news is all celebrated by a new cinematic trailer from CGI masters Blur, revealing that you'll actually be taking part in a tiresome and convoluted grand story as you run around wearing your underwear on top of your trousers and zapping people."

This is hilarious. My morning is a lot brighter. Thank you Alice.