Champions Online Nemesis Event

If you have played Champions Online (I have, see my train wreck of a review for details) then chances are you inevitably created a nemesis to dog your every step. This arch enemy that you create yourself from scratch will prove to be even more difficult next week when Cryptic Studios launches the Nemesis Confrontation event.

The event gives players the chance to team up with other players to take down their nemesis, who is a bit more aggressive than usual. But the added twist is that your buddy’s nemesis will team up with your nemesis to provide double trouble. You most hated villains are apparently going to try to cause a rift in the fabric of reality to destroy the Champions universe. In addition to all the minions associated with your nemesis, you’ll have to deal with new enemy types in a new location.

The event begins on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and extends into the weekend after Thanksgiving. The weekend of Nov. 27 and 28th will also be a free play weekend, so those that have given up on the game can return for the fun. Watch your back, Pizza Delivery Dude - I might be coming for you next week.

Find out more at Champions-Online.com.

Champions Online free play weekend

To celebrate Halloween Cryptic Studios will be offering a free weekend of its super hero powered MMO, Champions Online. From Friday, October 30th, until Monday, November 2nd, anyone that wants to can play Champions Online for free and check out all the changes to the game, including new missions, new powers and the free Blood Moon content update.

Players that have walked away from Champions Online and haven’t played a character since September 24th, you will still have a free Retcon remaining, which resets a character’s power purchases. Also new to the game is the Celestial powerset which adds a new play style to the game; healer. Celestial powers change based on the target selected, so if you target a friend you give them much needed aid and if you target a foe you deal dimensional damage.

Finally, Champions Online is offering the new Halloween-themed content: Blood Moon. Play as a werewolf or a hunter during the Bite event, join four friends in an all-out struggle for survival in the Zombie Apocalypse PvP map or die during that event and become a super powered Zombie.

Find out more at www.champions-online.com.

Aion, Champions Online top Sept. PC charts

I’m sure that NCsoft is delighted and more than a little relieved that its newest massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Aion, has topped U.S. retail charts for the month of Sept., according to sales data from NPD Group.

Another MMO, Champions Online, also managed to take the number 3 spot in Sept., followed by World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and the Aion Collector’s Edition SKU.

That means that 4 out of the 5 top spots in Sept. were occupied by MMO releases. Out of the top ten, six were MMO products  - and of those, 3 were World of Warcraft related. Go figure. Anyway here’s the top ten for the moth of Sept.:

Best Selling PC Game Software for Sept. 2009:

1. Aion (NCsoft)

2. The Sims 3 (Electronic Arts)

3. Champions Online (Atari)

4. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (Blizzard)

5. Aion Collector’s Edition (NCsoft)

6. Mumbo Jumbo Assortment (Mumbo Jumbo)

7. The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Electronic Arts)

8. World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (Blizzard)

9. Reel Deal Slots: Treasures of the Far East (Phantom EFX)

10. World of Warcraft (Blizzard)

Raptr gets in-game support from Champions Online

Social game utility company, Raptr announced this morning that Cryptic Studios has joined the Raptr Partners Program. What this means to you is that Cryptic Studios will bundle Raptr with Champions Online, which is being released to retail today. The game’s official launch is also today.

Champions Online is also being integrated with Raptr APIs to surface game data such as character level, powerful items, and heroic achievements. By entering their Raptr username in the Champions Online in-game status sharing screen, players can automatically connect their Champions Online account to Raptr and share rank, status, items acquired, and achievements earned with their friends and other players. Cryptic was toying with this idea already with small little gifts to players like in-game Twitter access and Facebook support, so adding Raptr into the mix makes perfect sense.

Raptr members will have access to all this data they are sharing on a special Champions Online Raptr game page, which allows them to and track their achievements against all players of Champions Online.

Companies interested in signing up for the Raptr Partners Program can visit partners.raptr.com, while users can sign up for Raptr at raptr.com. Finally, more information about Champions Online can be found at www.champions-online.com.

Those interested in seeing how Raptr will work both on Raptr’s official site and inside Champions Online, need only click on the screenshots below:

This week at retail: Sept. 1 - 5, 2009

This week at retail we’ll see a parade of tiny ninjas, hunters, super heroes, cruise ship personnel and rock gods. Highlights include Champions Online, Gears of War GotY Edition, Guitar Hero 5 for various platforms, and Section 8:

Week of September 1, 2009:

- Battlefield 1943 - PC (EA)

- Cabela’s Outdoor Adventure - Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 (Activision)

- Champions Online - PC (Atari)

- Champions Online Official Strategy Guide - for PC game (Brady Games)

- Cruise Ship Vacation Games - Wii (Activision)

- Gears of War 2 Game Of The Year Edition - Xbox 360 (Microsoft)

- Guitar Hero 5 Guitar Kit - Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 (Activision)

- Guitar Hero 5 Standalone - Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 (Activision)

- IL 2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey - Xbox 360, PS3 (505 Games)

- Mini Ninjas - Wii, DS, Xbox 360, PS3, PC (Eidos)

- Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Wii (Ignition)

- Section 8 - Xbox 360, PS3, PC (SouthPeak)

- Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny - PSP (Namco Bandai Games)

Atari reveals subscription pricing plans for Champions Online

Atari and Cryptic Studios have revealed details regarding Champions Online’s subscription programs, incentives, and final retail pricing. The super hero themed Champions Online, which is based on the Champion pen and paper role-playing game will be released in Sept. for PC and will carry an$49.99 USD, $54.99 CAN, €49.99 EUR, and £29.99 GBP.

Cryptic Studios and Atari will offer multiple subscription options for fans in monthly blocks, six month blocks and - for a limited time - lifetime game memberships.

The recurring monthly subscription will be offered for $14.99 USD, $16.49 CAN, €12.99 EUR, and £8.99 GBP. For a limited time Cryptic Studios is offering six-month and lifetime subscriptions at discounted rates. These deals come with many exclusives and incentives. The six-month subscription plan will be offered for $59.99 USD, $65.99 CAN, €44.99 EUR, and £35.99 GBP. Six-month subscribers will recieve guaranteed access to the Star Trek Online closed beta test and a Champions Online Retro-Future costume set.

The lifetime subscription plan will be offered for $199.99 USD, $219.99 CAN, €147.99 EUR, and £119.99 GBP. Lifetime subscribers will also receive guaranteed access to the Star Trek Online closed beta test, an exclusive Star Trek Online Mirror Universe costume set, eight additional Champions Online character slots, a Foxbat vanity pet, a Retro-Future costume set, and an Art Deco costume set.

Look for Champions Online this September. For additional pre-order and retail information, visit www.Champions-Online.com.

Champions Online pre-orders detailed

Atari and Cryptic Studios have announced details on exclusive Champions Online pre-order and launch content for select retailers in North America including Best Buy, Amazon.com, GameStop and Wal-Mart. With the game coming out on September 1st, Cryptic is getting the buy early crowd revved up with specific retail pre-order bonuses.

GameStop customers who pre-order the game will receive access to the Early Start Program, the exclusive Insectoid Airfoil costume piece and the Experimental Anti-Graviton Generator flight travel power at character creation. Wal-Mart can get the Limited Edition Package with collectible lenticular cover that includes an exclusive zone map, iron-on decal and an additional ten in-game micro-transaction dollars.

Best Buy customers who pre-order will get the Lil’ Champ Pack, which contains a persistent pet from the Champions universe. Best Buy customers will receive a functional damage resistance item and access to the Early Start Program and head start weekend as well. Amazon customers will get the High Roller Pack with three unique apparel options (harlequin headpiece, black knight helmet, grenade chest strap), and an additional five in-game micro-transaction dollars.

Finally, all pre-order customers receive guaranteed access to the Champions Online open beta test on August 17, 30-days of free play and five in-game micro-transaction dollars.