DC Universe Online: And All is Revealed

Stradden

Sony Online Entertainment and Warner Bros. have partnered with MMORPG.com to bring our readers the opportunity to score a closed beta key for the upcoming superhero MMO, DC Universe Online. As many of you surmised through watching our "Game's Afoot" features, this is what we've been hinting at for the past few days. It is with great pleasure and a lot of pride that we bring this opportunity to you! Mystery solved, Watson! Well done!

Head here to see the puzzle fully completed and new exclusive screens from DC Universe Online.

Nephaerius

I live in the USA and it says my country is not allowed when I try to get a PC beta key.

Country Error

• 
  Your Country is not included in this Promotion.

 

Pancreatic

Same here. I'm sure it will get cleared up soon.

Rezzon

yea whats the deal? i cant get one either..

lol2dinfamou

Not able to get one either... And I live in the US

adam_nox

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

If you've played Champions Online, don't worry, since they're 80% identical. Aside from slightly prettier graphics and a crappy console / PC hybrid control system, it's nothing new to the superhero market. To be blunt, I don't expect a whole when it comes to SOE, but this game is even lazy for their standards.

couldn't be more incorrect.

aragorio

theres no ps3 keys its just links to pc keys

LESTATx75

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

If you've played Champions Online, don't worry, since they're 80% identical. Aside from slightly prettier graphics and a crappy console / PC hybrid control system, it's nothing new to the superhero market. To be blunt, I don't expect a whole when it comes to SOE, but this game is even lazy for their standards.

I don't agree with this statement at all. CO and DCUO are very different animals. CO had a great customization system from the start....and that's where the fun ended pretty much. DC doesn't give you those same tools, but is superior in a myriad of other ways. The action combat, the game graphics, and the IP itself are some of the ways DC has been superior to CO in my opinion. 

 

Granted, I have only played the Beta up until level 9, but already I am having more fun here than I did with CO....a game I played for months.

codefusion

Yea, its bugged. Says my country is not included in the promotion when I account info has the state I live in. Explains why only 2 keys are claimed so far.

hardicon

ok i guess mississippi is no longer a country in north america.  dear mmorpg i would like a beta key for it but says my country is not eligible but i do in fact live in north america in the united states.

Nephaerius

It works now.  It didn't work for me earlier.

marz.at.play

Got mine. Live in Canada. No problems here.

Admin

Sorry about all the bumps in the road.  We had made some changes to our key giveaway system for this promotion and the RIFT betas and it looks like some new bugs crept in.  All should be good now and US and Canada residents should be able to get keys.

Papadam

Are us Europeans getting some love in the near future?

Was looking forward to try this on my ps3

maskedweasel

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

Originally posted by adam_nox

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

If you've played Champions Online, don't worry, since they're 80% identical. Aside from slightly prettier graphics and a crappy console / PC hybrid control system, it's nothing new to the superhero market. To be blunt, I don't expect a whole when it comes to SOE, but this game is even lazy for their standards.

couldn't be more incorrect.

Saying I'm incorrect is completely different than stating why I'm incorrect. Aside from AoC style combat and slightly prettier graphics, what is so drastically new and innovative? As I said, it's 80% similar to CO, not 100%.

1) The combat system and physics combat far exceeds anything CO is capable of. Run up walls, turn players into usable objects, interact with the environment in a robust manner that CO could never muster.  An actual combat system that isn't just "hold down one for a charge shot!". 

 

2) A skill system on top of a power system.  Each with its own level of progression.  Skills can be earned separate from your regular leveling.

 

3) An exploration system in areas that are actually worth exploring.  Get new costume pieces,  learn about the world and the people in it.  Find the areas you've only seen in the comics and the movies and interact with them.

 

4) Visual progression that can actually be changed with ease without a cost, at any time,  and relies on being able to complete certain tasks to achieve said gear.

 

5) Voice over work thats done by professionals that people know as the actual characters in question like Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamil as the Joker.  Amazing cinematics that delves deeper into the story of the characters you interact with on the completion of every large mission.

 

6) Actual PvP,  heroes against villains, as it should be.  Fight in the open world,  fight in the arenas.  Play as Batman,  Joker, Bane and others in Legends PvP.  

 

7) The powers are few,  but are relatively balanced.  Each new power you receive in a set is different and altogether useful if you know what you're doing and how to use the power effectively.  If you think the gadgets pull is the same as wonder womans lasso, then you're doing it wrong.  If you think the acrobatics lunge attack is the same as your weapon interrupt,  then you're doing it wrong.  

 

 

::edit:: because you said this game plays like AoC.  If you're playing the game like AoC..... you're doing it wrong.

 

Those are just a few off the top of my head. I'm sure others can think of some as well.

Kabaal

LOL @ it being NA only... again. The beta is open to all via pre-order yet the giveaways continue to be NA.

WhiteLantern

Awwww, my wife was really looking forward to a catsuit. She'll be really disappointed with the news.

Seriously though, grats on all those who get in, and I'll see you around.

nattkryp

Originally posted by Papadam

Are us Europeans getting some love in the near future?

Was looking forward to try this on my ps3

ps3 pluss members got a beta invite this week so go sub

Joaco95

eu keys?

gandales

Originally posted by maskedweasel

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

Originally posted by adam_nox

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

If you've played Champions Online, don't worry, since they're 80% identical. Aside from slightly prettier graphics and a crappy console / PC hybrid control system, it's nothing new to the superhero market. To be blunt, I don't expect a whole when it comes to SOE, but this game is even lazy for their standards.

couldn't be more incorrect.

Saying I'm incorrect is completely different than stating why I'm incorrect. Aside from AoC style combat and slightly prettier graphics, what is so drastically new and innovative? As I said, it's 80% similar to CO, not 100%.

1) The combat system and physics combat far exceeds anything CO is capable of. Run up walls, turn players into usable objects, interact with the environment in a robust manner that CO could never muster.  An actual combat system that isn't just "hold down one for a charge shot!". 

 

2) A skill system on top of a power system.  Each with its own level of progression.  Skills can be earned separate from your regular leveling.

 

3) An exploration system in areas that are actually worth exploring.  Get new costume pieces,  learn about the world and the people in it.  Find the areas you've only seen in the comics and the movies and interact with them.

 

4) Visual progression that can actually be changed with ease without a cost, at any time,  and relies on being able to complete certain tasks to achieve said gear.

 

5) Voice over work thats done by professionals that people know as the actual characters in question like Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamil as the Joker.  Amazing cinematics that delves deeper into the story of the characters you interact with on the completion of every large mission.

 

6) Actual PvP,  heroes against villains, as it should be.  Fight in the open world,  fight in the arenas.  Play as Batman,  Joker, Bane and others in Legends PvP.  

 

7) The powers are few,  but are relatively balanced.  Each new power you receive in a set is different and altogether useful if you know what you're doing and how to use the power effectively.  If you think the gadgets pull is the same as wonder womans lasso, then you're doing it wrong.  If you think the acrobatics lunge attack is the same as your weapon interrupt,  then you're doing it wrong.  

 

 

::edit:: because you said this game plays like AoC.  If you're playing the game like AoC..... you're doing it wrong.

 

Those are just a few off the top of my head. I'm sure others can think of some as well.

1. Those 2 points(wallrunning and throwing people) I would not classify them as far ahead, and the throwing people can be easily abusive.

2. Without the skill system DCUO would be too dull, skills >> powers in this game. Over 2/3 of the time is about launching combos or just getting energy back.  Btw, is my impression or the cool powers has an excessive cooldown, I am asking sincerely because it looks to me like an hour of cooldown for some powers (pls, pointers for fire/brawler tank :P). I am getting a hold of the combo system, at the begginning I rolled a mental/hand blaster but the combos in hand blasting are kind of difficult for me, brawling has shown to me to be friendlier.

3. Environmetally is huge and I have to agree with that. Not much to the gain costume pieces stuff by gear, pretty uninspiring for hero design imho.

4. Many people argue that CoX does not have gear, but the enhacements are the gear, the same way that CO gear, the difference is mainly the stats that are used. Gear progression is present in CO and CoX the only thing is that is not crucial for endgame viability, i.e. that you don't need to gear in a raid for the next raid. Most gearing is either for pvp or for making easier to clear endgame content. Not sure, how is the gear progression in DCUO, is it wow style?

5. True

6. In other thread I commented on the movement in wow pvp from world pvp to instance pvp, although this game is more button quickness dependent on statistical basis the problems with ganking will still be similar, so I would say that most of pvp will be instanced.

7. Sorry to say, but this is a huge weakness of DCUO, powers are so limited, they might be balanced but so it is autoattack and it does not mean that they should be simplified that way. Imho they went so overboard with skills that essentially powers are mostly to do the support functions and a few nukes. It might change in the endgame but so far(lvl15) what I am doing is giving combo punches and a few aoes with my fire powers.

 

I have to say that DCUO has new and refreshing ideas, but they went too far to try to make it into a ninja gaiden online and not a mmorpg, which is fine but a little killer for some players. The other thing is that the character model is limited, while you can put a lot of cool pieces, the actual variation is far behind from the other 2 games. While the missions are numerous and nice they are too structured and similar to get old a little quicker that it should, a little randomizer would have wonders for the game.

Kabaal

Originally posted by Joaco95

eu keys?

Go to your profile and change country to United States and make sure you use the drop down box to add a state too, I chose Florida. Doing that enabled me to grab a spare key.

maskedweasel

Originally posted by gandales

 

1. Those 2 points(wallrunning and throwing people) I would not classify them as far ahead, and the throwing people can be easily abusive.

 

Its not just about that,  its all about tactics.   For example,  you're outnumbered, 2 to 1 on your ice character.  I could freeze them both, pick one up and throw him down the street,  then fight and kill the other one while the one I threw has to travel all the way back from where I threw him without the additional speed of an upgraded travel power.  

 

Movement powers are actual attack functions in this game. They have their own abilities.  You want to make a character with nothing but super speed powers?  You can.  Its about being robust in the execution of their physics system.  Pick up a bus and use it as a weapon before you throw it at them.   Jump behind a car and use it as a shield when they're about to throw a meteor at you.  Use your grapple line to the side of a building to dodge a staff users lunge.  Its action based.

 

2. Without the skill system DCUO would be too dull, skills >> powers in this game. Over 2/3 of the time is about launching combos or just getting energy back.  Btw, is my impression or the cool powers has an excessive cooldown, I am asking sincerely because it looks to me like an hour of cooldown for some powers (pls, pointers for fire/brawler tank :P). I am getting a hold of the combo system, at the begginning I rolled a mental/hand blaster but the combos in hand blasting are kind of difficult for me, brawling has shown to me to be friendlier.

 

Skills can be stronger than powers,  and yes, they are essentially your bread and butter of your initial combat experience.  I've never seen a cooldown of more then about 30 seconds, the only hour long cooldown I've ever seen is the HQ teleport cooldown, which isn't a fighting skill.  Supercharge abilities don't use cooldowns in the same manner.    

Knowing how to spec your character is a big deal,  and you have to pay attention to your stats.  If you want your powers to be stronger, then you need to spec for might.  If you want your combos to be stronger you spec for precision.   Some combos are simple,  like 2H and Brawling,  and others are tougher like Staff and Dual Wielding. They each have their pluses and minuses and are geared towards different play styles.

 

3. Environmetally is huge and I have to agree with that. Not much to the gain costume pieces stuff by gear, pretty uninspiring for hero design imho.

 

Gear is all over the place.  I get new costume pieces daily through the vault, but doing investigations will get you new pieces you can't find anywhere else too.  As you get higher in level pieces drop more often, as do weapons. I like the way the visual progression works in this game, and I like being able to change my gear to something completely different at any time.

 

4. Many people argue that CoX does not have gear, but the enhacements are the gear, the same way that CO gear, the difference is mainly the stats that are used. Gear progression is present in CO and CoX the only thing is that is not crucial for endgame viability, i.e. that you don't need to gear in a raid for the next raid. Most gearing is either for pvp or for making easier to clear endgame content. Not sure, how is the gear progression in DCUO, is it wow style?

 

Gear is somewhat important but matters much less in comparison to play style.  A good player that knows their combos and how to use them could be in level 9 gear and still win in PvP and clean up in alerts.  Gear helps, but you have to know what to spec for, such as toughness in PvP if thats what you're going for,  or Might for your powers.  Needless to say there are ways to make your character more geared for a certain spec,  but gear won't win you battles.

 

5. True

6. In other thread I commented on the movement in wow pvp from world pvp to instance pvp, although this game is more button quickness dependent on statistical basis the problems with ganking will still be similar, so I would say that most of pvp will be instanced.

 

Currently on Server4 (PvP server) I see open PvP everywhere, even though there aren't any rewards currently for open PvP.  Yes there will be gankers,  but again, a skillful player can change the entire flow of a battle.  I could go into detailed exploits of my personal experiences but they would probably be too long for this particular thread.

 

7. Sorry to say, but this is a huge weakness of DCUO, powers are so limited, they might be balanced but so it is autoattack and it does not mean that they should be simplified that way. Imho they went so overboard with skills that essentially powers are mostly to do the support functions and a few nukes. It might change in the endgame but so far(lvl15) what I am doing is giving combo punches and a few aoes with my fire powers.

 

Powers aren't limited,  your skill bar is limited.  At level 20 you have 10 power points,  but that doesn't count any powers you get from your movement tree.  On average,  you can get roughly 4 or so powers in your movement tree which you don't need power points for.   Lets take nature for example,  out of 4 power trees -- Plants,  Shapeshifting, Acrobatics, Iconics,   you can have 14 different powers that you can cherry pick to your desire.  Out of those powers you can only slot 6 per each role.     

 

That means if I wanted to I could get a grappling hook, laser beam eyes, change into a gorilla, freeze someone in ice, heal myself or group members,  create an NPC drone to fight for me,  use Banes venom,  or a number of other options each doing something distinctly different.  Powers are not limited just because you are stuck in a power set.  You aren't forced to slot powers in anything at level 20.  You can go all movement powers, all iconic powers,  etc.

 

I have to say that DCUO has new and refreshing ideas, but they went too far to try to make it into a ninja gaiden online and not a mmorpg, which is fine but a little killer for some players. The other thing is that the character model is limited, while you can put a lot of cool pieces, the actual variation is far behind from the other 2 games. While the missions are numerous and nice they are too structured and similar to get old a little quicker that it should, a little randomizer would have wonders for the game.

poxyproxy

thats how i got one too, funny how misisippy looks so much like london

vodnik

NA only? Not cool.

bronecar

Originally posted by Kabaal

Originally posted by Joaco95

eu keys?

Go to your profile and change country to United States and make sure you use the drop down box to add a state too, I chose Florida. Doing that enabled me to grab a spare key.

 

Thanks, man, I got one because of your tip. Let's just hope it's not like Vindictus, scanning your location

helthros

Originally posted by Rhoklaw

If you've played Champions Online, don't worry, since they're 80% identical. Aside from slightly prettier graphics and a crappy console / PC hybrid control system, it's nothing new to the superhero market. To be blunt, I don't expect a whole when it comes to SOE, but this game is even lazy for their standards.

 

 

Having played Champions Online a bit I can honestly say that DCUO blows CO out of the water. The presentation/graphics and IP alone is enough to want to play DCUO over CO. Troll harder, fo reals.

 

DCUO is great. It's still in beta so naturally it will have its bugs, but the game is just flat out fun. I had a blast going through the tutorial. I can't say the same for CO.

The only area where the verdict is still out is in group play. Right now it doesn't seem quite so well refined. Fighting with others on your side is a blast, but simple things like easily being able to track your teammates is lost.

 

DCUO definitely blows CO out of the water, but they're gonna to have to hustle to get the proven group-play of CoH.