Cryptic Studios reported to be working on Champions Online

Since Marvel Universe Online was announced to be officially canceled, I've been wondering what Cryptic Studios is working on. I used to think it was some kind of Call of Kthulu Monster Hunter thing, but Game Informer says the new project is Champions Online in their March 2008 issue:

If that's not enough, we have the first look at Cryptic Studios' latest superhero MMO, Champions Online. The City of Heroes developers are taking on PCs and consoles, too, letting us all unleash our inner heroes-or villains.

Superheroes are cool, but I'm really wanting to play a horror MMO. A good horror MMO.

Permalink

wasn't there an article on WarCry about some vampire MMO being announced?

Good horror MMO.

So they have gone from wolverine clones to little mushrooms!!

Interesting.

I wonder if its based on the 4th edition big-blue-book game world? In which case Seeker is a n00b! I mean what martial artiest hasn't at least SOME sort of resistant defense?

Why does Cryptic insist on making competition for City of Heroes? They were doing so even before they sold their share of CoH to NCSoft, now they are adamant to continue even when Microsoft killed Marvel's game? I don't get it.

To begin with, Marvel / MS was shopping around a MUO license. Better for Cryptic to pick it up than other studio and have a competitor that they weren't earning money from.

Then MUO got it's plug pulled, leaving Cryptic with a superhero MMO with no IP. So, either they scrap the whole thing or they find another IP to build off. Champions is almost the perfect IP for them - no real public awareness, but it's been around 20 years and would be hard for anyone to sue over. Cryptic buys the IP and finally gets the chance to self-publish their own game (which they've been building to for a while).

To be honest, I don't think Cryptic knew that MUO would fall over when they sold CoH/V to NCsoft. However, with that sale completed, they were depending on a MMO to be released to start generating income again. Since they still haven't announced any other titles, I've got to assume that what became Champions Online was the title closest to completion.