paragon-studios posts

City of Heroes has been live since 2004 but so far the super hero MMO from developer Paragon Studios and publisher NCsoft has had mostly human or human-like player characters to choose from. That all changes soon as the game will introduce the Animal Pack to its subscribers.

The pack, which will be priced at $9.99, will add over 60 new costume parts to the game's character creator that will allow players to make super-powered beings that look like humanoid tigers, wolves, eagles (like you see above) and others. It also adds six new emotes, two new auras and a new travel power called Beast Run. Yes, it's just like it sounds; you will be able to move more like a wild animal than a human. The Animal Pack will be released on February 23. You can check out a trailer showing off some of the animal options after the jump:

There's a bunch of new PC games being released this week but there's also some new free content coming to two major MMO games today. One of them is for City of Heroes. The long running super hero MMO from developer Paragon Studios and publisher NCsoft has just launched "Issue 19: Alpha Strike" to its subscribers. It includes, among many other things, a way to unlock the "Alpha Slot" which will give high level characters access to new powers. You can check out the full patch notes at the game's web site.

The other free content update is actually the first of three planned for EVE Online. The space-based MMO from developer CCP Games has pushed the first part of the Incursion expansion to subscribers It adds a new salvage ship and lots of other new features and improvements. The second part of Incursion is due out in December and the final part in January.

With the commercial expansion for City of Heroes, Going Rogue, now available to purchase, the development team at Paragon Studios is already hip deep in making its next free expansion for the long running super hero MMO. This week the game's official web site announced the first details of "Issue 19".

The expansion is officially titled Alpha Strike and will let players of the game try to unlock the "Alpha Slot" which will give high level characters access to new powers as the first phase of the game's Incarnate system. The expansion will also add two new task forces, new in-game events, new animations, improvements to the game's Mission Architect tools and more. And don't forget the free City of Heroes weekend should be live right now and continue through October 10.

Last month, developer Paragon Studios and publisher NCsoft released Going Rogue, the first commercial expansion pack in many years for its super hero MMO City of Heroes. But some subscribers of the game have yet to check out the new expansion pack.

That's why NCsoft is launching an upcoming free play weekend for City of Heroes that will allow new, current and former subscribers to try out the new content in the Going Rogue expansion. The free play begins at 11 am Eastern time on Thursday October 7 and ends at 2:59 am Eastern time on Monday, October 11. In related news next weekend's New York Comic-Con will have a City of Heroes panel. NCsoft is also holding a meet-and-greet event on October 8 at the Hudson Hotel in New York City where City of Heroes players can get a code for an exclusive in-game costume (the Rikti Mentalist).

Today marks the launch of City of Heroes: Going Rogue, the second expansion for the City of Heroes MMORPG. In it, players are introduced to new powers and an all new city called Praetoria, which is a alternate dimension mirror version of Paragon City. Players will have the opportunity to switch sides and back between heroic, neutral or villainous alignments.

Download HD City of Heroes: Going Rogue Launch Trailer (78 MB)
Check out all City of Heroes: Going Rogue downloads

The City of Heroes: Going Rogue expansion is expected to release shortly, and players can expect to explore the all-new area of Praetoria when it does. Praetoria is a mirror universe where versions of the game's signature heroes conquered the world and established a utopia with a very strict sense of peace. Beneath the shimmering city is an underground where the resistance gathers its forces. The developer video above discusses all the sights players can expect, highlighted with the recent 'Ultra-mode' graphics overhaul the game recently received. Continue after the jump to watch a flythrough video featuring the Neutopolis and Imperial City areas.

City of Heroes: Going Rogue is scheduled to go live on August 17th. Players can pre-purchase the game from the NCsoft store to gain early access to the new powers and abilities.

Download HD City of Heroes: Going Rogue Developer Video #4 (474 MB)
Download HD City of Heroes: Going Rogue 'Neutopolis and Imperial City' Flythrough Video (184 MB)
Check out all City of Heroes: Going Rogue downloads

Developer Paragon Studios and publisher NCsoft still plan to release Going Rogue, the commercial expansion pack for its super hero MMO City of Heroes, in mid-August. But players of the game will still be getting free content updates. This week the game's official web site revealed plans for the latest such update: Issue 18 - Shades of Gray.

In addition to adding a major new "trial" for City of Heroes players to fight through called Cathedral of Pain (sounds kinky) Shades of Gray will add a number of new features like a tips system that lets enemies drop notes or clues that are the start of a new mission. The game's auction house will be open to all players (good or bad) and more additions are planned. There's no word yet on when Shades of Gray will be released but it should be at or near the time Going Rogue is released.

With City of Heroes: Going Rogue, players will be able to choose a path for their characters. By making moral decisions during certain missions, heroes can turn into vigilantes and eventually full blown villains. On the flip side, villains can start doing good deeds to become rogues, and eventually become fully redeemed to become heroes. This video documentary also gives a first look at the Praetorian faction. All Praetorian characters start with a neutral alignment and steadily become either heroic or villainous. Players will have a chance to choose sides when the expansion releases in August.

Download HD City of Heroes: Going Rogue Video Documentary #2 (480 MB)
Check out all Going Rogue downloads

Even though City of Heroes is about to release a new expansion pack in August, the super hero MMO is still giving its players a chance to purchase some new content for their characters. Today publisher NCsoft announced that City of Heroes player can now access the new Mutant set of powers and costume sets for the game for a one time purchase of $9.99.

That price gives players access to the organic armor and bioluminescence costume sets that also include "tintable costume pieces" that give the player a way to give some costume pieces a unique color glow. There are also some new costume change emotes and new secondary mutant powers like Acute Senses, Tough Hide, Pain Tolerance, Quick Reflexes and Heightened Speed.

Publisher NCsoft has set over word that their commercial expansion pack to its super hero MMO City of Heroes has had its release date pushed back a few weeks. Originally set for release sometime in July, the expansion, Going Rogue, will now be coming out on August 17. The expansion will also be included in the new retail box release City of Heroes Going Rogue Complete Collection. The new box set will contain the original game, City of Villains, and Going Rogue along with all of the previously released free expansions for $39.99.

People who pre-order the collection at GameStop will get access to five new in-game character enhancements along with an exclusive skin that can be applied to the Razer Sphex mousing surface (which you can see above this post). The collection also comes with a $5 coupon for any Razer product.

NCsoft also has plans to promote Going Rogue at the San Diego Comic-Con in July. If you are attending the sold out event you can check out a panel with the Paragon Studios team, get special giveaways at the NCsoft booth and attend the Going Rogue Preview Event at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego on July 23,