DC Universe Online

Sony Online has got a couple of major MMO titles on their agenda. One is the first person shooter super-spy themed game The Agency and the other is DC Universe Online, the long awaited super hero game that's set squarely in the Superman-Batman-Wonder Woman-Ambush Bug Earth.

Sony Online sent over new screenshots from the game depicting various characters like Superman, Green Lantern, Bizarro and Lex Luthor in a massive suit of armor. The game, which Sony Online just announced would have comic book writer Geoff Johns script the back story, currently doesn't have a release date.

For months, rumors have gone out that developer Pandemic and publisher Electronic Arts were working on an open world action game based on The Dark Knight, the latest in the Batman films that turned out to be not just a critical hit but a much bigger box office smash than first expected. So what happened to the game? The Associated Press claims via an unnamed source that such a game was in development but the article doesn't seem to know why it wasn't released; it does have several possible reasons, including missed deadline and poor quality (EA and the movie's studio Warner Bros. declined to comment).

If such a game existed it missed a huge opportunity, according to Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter. He claims that if a Dark Knight had been released at the same time as the film it would have sold as much as 4 million copies and grossed $100 million. Of course, Batman fans still have three upcoming games that will feature the character; the family themed action game Lego Batman, the Midway console fighting game Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe and the Sony Online MMO DC Universe Online.

We are still a little miffed at Sony Online for not having a playable build of DC Universe Online at E3 but our sister site Massively got to go to the San Diego Comic Con last weekend where the publisher had a bunch of playable stations of the super hero MMO available to check out.

As usual, Massively has an extensive look at their time with the game and they seem to be pretty impressive with what they played of the title. Set in the DC Universe (where Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman live) the game will give players a chance to create their own super hero or villain and battle it out alongside the well known characters. So far there's no word on a release date for DC Universe Online.

Sony Online finally revealed a playable version of their upcoming super hero MMO DC Universe Online at the San Diego Comic Con this week and our sister site Game Daily got a chance to chat with Sony Online CEO John Smedley about the game which currently doesn't have a release date

Smedley feels that DC Universe Online will help to bring a broader audience to the MMO genre than other titles, saying "Maybe they've heard of an MMO, but they've never played one. With iconic characters like Batman and Superman, we can bring those folks into the game." He also feels that the MMO market is larger than some people believe, saying, "I think you're looking at a potential audience in the U.S. of 20 to 30 million people who play some kind of MMO."

Download the DC Universe Online E3 2008 HD Trailer

Renowned comic book artist Jim Lee has been around the superhero block. Having drawn iconic heroes such as Superman, the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Batman, Lee seems a perfect fit to provide the artwork for Sony Online Entertainment's impending DC Universe Online, an MMO that doesn't permit players to don the spandex of their favorite heroes, but does allow them to fight alongside earth's greatest defenders.

USA Today recently conducted an interview with Jim Lee that touches on a number of comic-related subjects. Showing himself as more than an artist, Lee admits an affinity for MMOs, particularly -- and fittingly -- developer Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes, which he praises for its "really great character generation system." Of course, one cannot profess knowledge of MMOs without sampling a bit of Blizzard Entertainment's World of WarCraft, which he's enjoyed with his children.

Lee explained that he enjoys MMOs because of "the persistent world." Dabbling in virtual worlds prepared him for his work on DCU Online, which he hopes will separate itself from the sometimes mundane play style of many MMOs. "To me, a lot of MMOs are fairly, I wouldn't say static, but it's the kind of thing where you start, push "attack," and get a cup of coffee, come back and say, 'I won,'" Lee explains. In DCU Online, Lee says that players will be constantly battling enemies, "running along on the ground and flying and going around buildings and blasting people. It's chaotic, but it's organized and it's very, very dynamic."

Lee feels that such strategies are ones more often employed by superheroes, not the typical MMO fare of standing nose-to-nose and trading blows until one character crumples to the ground.

For more on DC Universe Online, including the game's premise and secondary characters, read the full Jim Lee interview at USAToday.com.

Big Download's sister site Massively.com has all the news you'll need about MMOs. Here's the best, brightest, and most interesting stuff from E3 week, all in one convenient place for your MMO minute.

	KOTOR MMO confirmed by Electronic Arts We've had plenty of speculation -- lots and lots of it -- but now we've got confirmation from Electronic Arts chief executive John Riccitiello that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is indeed getting a massively multiplayer online iteration. Portfolio.com has the story.
	Wrath of the Lich King Beta is now open Today is pretty much a landmark day for MMOs. Earlier today an interview with EA executive John confirmed the existence of the KOTOR MMO. That's enough for any two days. Why not add the unveiling of the Closed Beta test for the west's most popular MMO into the mix? That's right, the download instructions for Wrath of the Lich King's Beta client are now up on the official World of Warcraft website. Our sister site WoW Insider is carrying the news, noting that this is just the beginning of the ramp up to full Beta testing.
	Mythos beta is shutting down tonight The woes continue at Flagship Studios. It was just announced that the Mythos beta will shutdown tonight. The official time slotted for its cease of operations is at July 18th, 2008 at 11:59 CST. Community manager Tiggs left the message on the forums which are also due to close at the same time.
	Blizzard victorious in WoW Glider case Virtually Blind is reporting that the WoW Glider case has been resolved in Blizzard's favor. The maker of the epic fantasy MMO has long contended that the MDY developers are infringing on the company's copyright. MDY makes the WoW Glider bot software, possibly the most popular of a series of options that allow an unattended computer to 'play" World of Warcraft.
	E308: DC Universe Online roundup Sony Entertainment Online revealed a metric ton of new information on their upcoming superhero MMO DC Universe Online at E3 this week, and Massively was on hand to pick the spicy brainmeats of Creative Director Chris Cao, SOE-Austin VP of development John Blakely, and famed DC artist and Executive Creative Director for the project, Jim Lee.

Shown at yesterday's Sony E3 press conference, the newest DC Universe Online trailer is now available for viewing. Depicting legendary heroes and villains such as Batman, Joker, Superman, Bizarro, Catwoman, Bane, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, the Flash, and Wonder Woman, the upcoming PS3 and PC MMO from Sony Online Entertainment won't allow you to play as the iconic characters themselves, but judging by the trailer, you'll get to do more than your fair share of fighting alongside them.