DC Universe coming in "early 2010"

By Oli Welsh Published 2 December, 2008

Maybe even late next year for super MMO.

Comics writer Geoff Johns, currently working on the script for Sony Online Entertainment's licensed superhero MMO DC Universe Online, has said the developer is working towards an early 2010 release - if not earlier.

"It launches I think in early 2010, it could be late 2009," Johns said in an interview with MTV.

DC Universe Online is in development for PC and PS3 at SOE's Austin studio, which also works on Star Wars Galaxies.

Johns also mentioned that he'd be going deep into the DC universe and unearthing some of its less well-known characters.

"Everyone knows Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, but this game gets you more entrenched in the universe. You meet the Metal Men, or Doom Patrol, and everyone gets a chance to embody something different," he said.

"I like the idea that your secret identity is really outside the computer. You're a normal guy, and then when you log on to the game, you become the superhero."

Johns also made it clear that he's not writing the whole the game - which, he reckons, would drive him to suicide.

"I've written the overall story and the path that gets you into the game and the areas of the universe and how to explore them, but not every line of dialogue. That's a full-time job, it's too frigging big, too intense to write every line of an MMO. I'd probably jump off a building," he said.

You can find more on the game, including our hands-on preview, at the DC Univserse Online gamepage.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Spanky #1 3 years ago

    2010? Jeezo.

  • iokthemonkey #2 3 years ago

    That's only 13 months away...

  • Thunderbolt #3 3 years ago

    Hopefully by then the PS3 will be in the £150 price range.

    I am very interested in this and by including the Metal men and the Doom Patrol sounds like its going to be almost the entire DC universe!

  • RedPanda #4 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • DFawkes #5 3 years ago

    I still reckon Champions Online is better. An entirely invalid opinion considering you can't possibly have played both, but I'll stick to it.

  • Dizzy #6 3 years ago

    It is all about Champions Online.

  • iokthemonkey #7 3 years ago

    I wonder how many Supaman, Supormen, Battman, TheBATMAN, BATMAN01 and WundaWOMANs DC will get before everybody is banned?

  • DFawkes #8 3 years ago

    I never even considered that. 1000 Gr33n Arr0w, Sooperman, and the likes running around will not make it a good game. They really will need some kind of moderation in the names. Nothing strict, but hopefully people will be sensible and not do that. I'm always DFawkes anyway, that's certainly not an existing hero.

  • iokthemonkey #9 3 years ago

    Gr33n Arr0w, Sooperman, and the likes running around will not make it a good game.
    ---

    CoH filters all that stuff out or you can report people for doing it. I saw a Kal-El the other day and a... whatever Supergirl's "real" name is. The thing was, the guys who'd done them had done a fantastic job copying the costume designs. But still, naughty of them...

  • DFawkes #10 3 years ago

    I'm not geeky enough to know Kara Zor-Els' real name.

    I've never bothered trying out CoH, due to Champions Onlines imminent release. For all I know I'd love it, but I can't afford a subscription based MMO until after Christmas. Guild Wars for me, where you need 2 names anyway. I could be Super Man I suppose.
    Edited by 1 at 02/12/08 @ 10:44

  • iokthemonkey #11 3 years ago

    CoH is showing its age a bit now, but it's a lot of fun. It's not very deep and it gets repetitive if you stick with the same toon, but what's fun is the adaptability and sheer width of character creation, which is pretty cool and looks like it's being carried over into Champions Online.

  • Dizzy #12 3 years ago

    >which is pretty cool and looks like it's being carried over into Champions Online.

    Yeah and being expanded. You will also be able to customize the look of your powers.

    What I really like is that you will have to design your Nemesis, who will then show up in quests/missions :)

  • iokthemonkey #13 3 years ago

    Yeah, I saw that about the power customisation and stance idea, which is really good. I always thought it was odd in CoH that you can make zombies but then they run like normal folks...

    And the nemesis idea is great. You know they should include an alter-ego idea, too. I think it'd be fun to be able to switch to your civvies for specific tasks and stuff then have to find a safe place to change, or your identity could be blown. That opens up all kinds of potential "recover your secret identity" missions and stuff...

  • DFawkes #14 3 years ago

    My personal deal maker is the time it takes until you can fly. CO it's as soon as you start, not sure about DC Universe. So I'd go with CO so far.

    I couldn't help ending up doing a new version of an old hero. Not in name, but he'll end up looking like a camp version of Iron Man, I reckon.

    EDIT: What does it say about DC Universe that we end up talking about CO instead? I know it's my fault, but still, looking not so good for DC.
    Edited by 1 at 02/12/08 @ 11:11

  • iokthemonkey #15 3 years ago

    CoH you can fly at level 6, although it's only the slow version. But that will take you about an hour to get to.

    And yeah, if Champions Online is anything like the pen and paper game it's based on, ALL the characters will be a bit camp.

  • 2099net #16 3 years ago

    will this me subscription based? or free play (presumably with ads)?

  • iokthemonkey #17 3 years ago

    I just watched the DCO video and the animation is awful. I also get the impression it's too licence-centric and you won't be able to move without bumping into some "known" character from the DC Universe... Maybe it's just the presentation of the video, but that's what it screams to me.

  • levitate #18 3 years ago

    I can't be bothered with this though.

  • BarcaAzul #19 3 years ago

    Sounds the most dull MMO ever!!

    Why not Marvel, at least the characters are interesting!!

    Batman is the only half Interesting DC character.