RPS Feature Not NOW
I don’t think I’ve ever written a more negative preview than for Marvel Heroes. There was a reason for that: it was terrible. Ever optimistic, and hugely hopeful for a fun F2P entry in the Marvel universe, I’d hoped to return to the game to see if criticisms of its alpha and beta phase had been taken on board, to create the superhero MMO/aRPG we’d been hoping for. So far, it’s doing its best to stop me finding out.
The chaps over at PC Gamer US went to along to see Marvel and Gazillion talk about the Marvel Universe MMO. It’s going to be free-to-play and will allow you to play actual Marvel characters. “Some of the characters you will play as are: Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, Spiderman, Nova, and Squirrel Girl.” Brian Michael Bendis will be writing for the game, but also you’ll apparently “play through existing stories that are told in the comic books.” Which means – potentially, I am speculating without checking the facts here – you could end up playing missions based on scripts penned by our own Kieron Gillen. Interesting! The game is being developed by Secret Identity, a part of Gazillion set up specifically for the project.
More details here.
Oh dear, it seems that the big old delay on the release of Jumpgate Evolution isn’t simply down to putting on a few more layers of polish. IncGamers spotted that Codemasters are suing developers NetDevil, and parent company Gazillion, for breach of contract. The UK publisher is seeking the repayment of development costs and its legal expenses. A PDF of the complaint filed can be found here. Codemasters have declined to make any further comment, but the proceedings leave the final release of the game in doubt. NetDevil had previously stated that they wouldn’t release the game until they were happy with it, so it will be interesting to see what further light is cast on that by the case.
But hey, it was kind of bland when we saw it a preview… (EDIT: It also seems that Netdevil founder, and Jumpgate originator, Scott Brown, has left Netdevil.)
Just spotted this over on VG247: MMO company Gazillion (who apparently own Jumpgate developers NetDevil, and are therefore also developing the LEGO Universe MMO) have signed a ten year deal to make Marvel MMOs. The first will be a kids MMO called Super Hero Squad, and then there will be a full blown Marvel Universe MMO.
All of which future angling creates the interesting possibility of a DC vs Marvel MMO rivalry. Interesting times. (Original story here.)
