AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 29, 2007—NCsoft® Corp, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the release of City of Heroes® “Issue: 11: A Stitch in Time,” a free expansion for current subscribers, which provides players new content including the ability for heroes and villains to travel back in time to participate in world-altering missions as well as a weapon customization tool, two new power sets and enhancements to the inventions system.
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 6, 2007—NCsoft® Corp, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the formation of a new development studio in Mountain View, California. The announcement comes as the company begins a renewed push to further develop the City of Heroes® property, which is now 100 percent owned by NCsoft. Previous to today, ownership of the intellectual property (IP) was split between NCsoft and Cryptic Studios, the original developer of the project.
AUSTIN, Texas, July 25, 2007 — NCsoft® and Cryptic Studios™ have released the newest expansion to City of Heroes®, Issue 10: “Invasion” where City of Heroes and City of Villains® players join forces to thwart an attack by the evil Rikti™ aliens bent on the destruction of the Earth. The expansion, free to current subscribers, includes a major redesign of the Rikti Crash Site zone as well as a Rikti co-op task force where heroes and villains team up to defeat the toughest alien bosses.
Hot on the release of Issue 9: Breakthrough, we've released brand new details about City of Heroes® Issue 10: Invasion, which features the return of the Rikti, new inventions, missions and a lot more. You can check out all the details here.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 3, 2007 — NCsoft® and Cryptic Studios™ have released the newest expansion to City of Heroes® and City of Villains® delivering greater depth to players with the inclusion of an innovative crafting system and auction houses. The expansion, “Issue 9: Breakthrough”, free to current subscribers, also includes new high-level adventures with the new Statesman™ Taskforce and an update of the Hamidon Encounter.
The latest free content update for City of Heroes® and City of Villains® is live and available now! Issue 9: Breakthrough, the ninth free expansion since the launch of City of Heroes, brings the “City of” franchise to new heights with the introduction of the Invention system and auction houses. Players can engage in a whole new realm of activities including collecting, crafting, buying and selling. Please visit the City of Heroes or City of Villains sites for more information.
The website Curse Gaming currently offers an insider feature detailing the redesign of "Hamidon" for City of Heroes®/City of Villains™, written by Developer Christopher Bruce of Cryptic Studios.
Valentine's Day events are being hosted in many of NCsoft®’s massively multiplayer online game worlds, while real love between players has become almost common place.
FileFront is now offering a 14-day free trial for both City of Heroes® and City of Villains™. If you haven't played either, now is the perfect time to give your inner superhero or supervillain a turbo boost. If you do play one of these titles, you can even use the free trial to player the opposing title, so COH-only players can use the trial to play COV, and vice versa.
Back by popular demand, the City of Heroes® Winter Event is back for another week of gifts and festivities! The cold weather is expected to last through Monday, January 15. This news post explains all the chilly details.
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 29, 2006 — NCsoft® and Cryptic Studios™ today released the eighth free expansion to City of Heroes®, adding new mission styles, new story content and a veteran rewards program to one of the most successful comic-book themed PC games ever.
Due to a recent billing change, MasterCard® credit card types will now be accepted for purchase of the City of Heroes® Good Versus Evil Edition serial code via the PlayNC site. No other serial codes may be purchased using this credit card type, though it may be used for subscriptions as usual.
NCsoft® has no response regarding the business dealings of an independent company such as Cryptic Studios™, however, NCsoft does expect to continue working closely with Cryptic on developing and maintaining the City of Heroes® and City of Villains® games into the future.
In conjunction with the release of Issue 8: To Protect and Serve, NCsoft® and Cryptic Studios™ are pleased to announce the launch of the official City of Heroes® Veteran Rewards program. This program rewards our fans for their time spent supporting and playing City of Heroes® and City of Villains™.
We are pleased to announce the City of Heroes® Good Versus Evil Edition. In 2004, City of Heroes® was launched, bringing the world of comic books alive in the first massively multiplayer game of its kind. In 2005 City of Villains™ was released, representing the other side of the coin, a world of super-powered villains and costumed criminals. Both games won numerous awards and received critical acclaim.
Issue 8: To Protect and Serve, the eighth free expansion since the launch of City of Heroes® in April 2004, introduces a host of innovative features, gameplay improvements and player programs. Issue 7: Destiny Manifest allowed villains to wreak havoc in the PvP zone Recluse's Victory and physics-filled Mayhem Missions. Now it's the Heroes' turn to take back the streets!
Matthew Miller sits down with GameSpot for a Q&A, and discusses the upcoming content update "Issue 8." The new issue adds new mission types, competitive player-versus-player options, enhanced areas, and wings for player-character models.
Beckett's Massive Online Gamer recently discussed their impressions of of the recent City of Heroes®/City of Villains™ "Double XP" weekend, and have a good word to say about the recent changes to Auto Assault® too! Read all about it here.
It's one thing for a game to be fun - it's quite another for it to be an utterly convincing, immersive adventure. Games Radar selected City of Heroes® as "one of the five truest superhero experiences" in gaming. Read all about it here.
Split Infinity Radio's Wasabi Awards were announced on Monday with NCsoft® scoring multiple game awards and a company award.
The highlight of the evening was City of Heroes®/City of Villains™, which grabbed a grand total of eight awards: Best Graphics, Best Community, Best Gameplay, Roleplayer's Choice, Newbie's Choice, Best Newcomer, Best Storyline and finally the big award of the night, Best Game.
AUSTIN, Texas, June 7, 2006 — NCsoft® today announced the release of a free expansion to City of Villains™ and City of Heroes®, Issue 7: “Destiny Manifest,” in both North America and Europe. In addition to level 40 to 50 content for villains, the new feature-packed expansion adds the opportunity for villains to wreak havoc in new “mayhem missions,” and a player-versus-player (PvP) zone where villains and heroes clash to control a dynamically changing battlefield.
With the release of Issue 7, “Destiny Manifest” players can experience two new high-level zones and hundreds of new missions, including 40-50 content for Villains, new costume items, new power sets, new patron powers, and more! Click here for the full features list!
AUSTIN, Texas, December 14, 2005—Marvel Entertainment, Inc., NCsoft® Corporation, NC Interactive, Inc. and Cryptic Studios™, Inc. are pleased to announce today that they have amicably settled all claims brought by Marvel and all claims brought by NCsoft, NC Interactive, Inc. and Cryptic Studios, Inc.
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 31, 2005—NCsoft® North America announces that City of Villains™, stand-alone sequel to the hit massively multiplayer online PC game City of Heroes®, has gone live in North America. Developed by Cryptic Studios™ and published by NCsoft, City of Villains introduces a host of new features including the ability to create massive evil lairs from the ground up, and player-versus-player (PvP) zones where villains can battle against hero players from the City of Heroes game.
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 28, 2005—NCsoft® North America announces the release of Issue 6: “Along Came a Spider,” the latest expansion to City of Heroes®. The expansion, provided by the game’s developer, Cryptic Studios™, will offer exciting new content, graphics and technology upgrades. It will also pit heroes and villains into direct conflict as it opens the doors to new player-versus-player (PvP) zones that will be shared with characters from the soon to be released City of Villains™. Issue 6 is free to all current City of Heroes subscribers.
City of Villains and City of Heroes customers can play both games for the single subscription rate of $14.99 per month
Click here to view the photo gallery
ALCATRAZ ISLAND, Calif., Oct. 5, 2005—NCsoft® North America has announced that customers will be able to subscribe to two of its massively multiplayer online games, City of Villains™ and City of Heroes®, for the subscription price of one. Subscribers to City of Villains and City of Heroes will have only a single subscription fee of $14.99 per month to have full access to both games.
DVD game pack to include seven HeroClix figures, art book, collectible card game preview and exclusive in-game items
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 8, 2005—NCsoft® North America has revealed the contents for the City of Villains™ Collector’s Edition retail game pack that will be released to stores in North America when the game launches later this fall.
Update adds new zone and archery and sonic power sets
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 1, 2005—NCsoft® North America has released Issue 5: Forest of Dread, the latest free expansion for City of Heroes®, the hit massively multiplayer online PC game developed by Cryptic Studios™. Issue 5 features the addition of Paragon City’s™ 21st zone, new malevolent villains and several sets of new super powers including archery skills and sonic powers. The new expansion is available free via automatic download to all current City of Heroes subscribers.
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 15, 2005—City of Villains™, one of the most anticipated PC games of 2005, is making its presence felt on retail stores shelves throughout the United States and Canada with a pre-order box that features access to the game’s beta testing and a two-day head-start over other players before the anticipated commercial launch of the massively multiplayer online game later this year.
Prepare to enter a new enchanted realm of supernatural danger, where myth becomes reality and ancient legends walk the earth. City of Heroes® Issue #5 will introduce you to the new zone Croatoa and supply new Villains, Power Sets, Zone Events and more for your gaming pleasure. Those brave enough to face the challenges set before them will know the true meaning behind the title, “Forest of Dread.”
For complete details on what Issue 5 will bring to City of Heroes®, please visit our Issue 5 Preview Page.
Issue 4: Colosseum expansion allows heroes to test skills against each other, adds new costume options and body shaping features
AUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2005—NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games and Cryptic Studios™ announce the release of City of Heroes® Issue 4: Colosseum, the fourth expansion of the award-winning massively multiplayer online game. The release of Issue 4, free to all current subscribers via automatic download, marks the one year anniversary of City of Heroes’ original launch. During that time the game has undergone a major transformation in terms of size, population and game features, the most dramatic being Issue 4’s introduction of player-versus-player (PVP) arenas.
Makers of City of Heroes online computer game score favorable decision; judge labels Marvel allegations as “false and sham” and throws out trademark claims
LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2005—A U.S. district court judge in Los Angeles dismissed several key claims by comic book publisher Marvel Enterprises, Inc in the company’s trademark and copyright infringement case against online computer game publisher NCsoft® Corporation and game developer Cryptic Studios™. Marvel sued NCsoft and Cryptic Studios in November of last year, claiming that the City of Heroes® online computer game allows players to imitate comic book characters owned by Marvel.
Comic book publisher brings star-studded team together for new series
AUSTIN, Texas, February 28, 2005—In a co-venture with NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS) and Cryptic Studios™, Top Cow Productions will launch City of Heroes® as a new comic book series that will link together gamers and comic book fans alike. Celebrated writer Mark Waid (X-Men, Hunter-Killer, Flash, JLA, Ruse, Fantastic Four, Kingdom Come, Empire) teams up with David Nakayama (Proximity Effect, a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, and a Wizard art contest winner), to bring to life the action and the adventure of the super-powered heroes and villains that make up the City of Heroes massively multiplayer online world.
Issue 3: A Council of War kicks off with overthrow of major villain group, adds high-level powers, mid-level zone and new archetype
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 5, 2005—NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, and Cryptic Studios™ announced the release of the third expansion of the award-winning City of Heroes® massively multiplayer online game, Issue 3: A Council of War. The expansion includes the villain group, the 5th Column, taken over by the mysterious Council in a war that will sweep through most of Paragon City’s™ zones. Issue 3 also brings new “ancillary” powers and “epic” archetypes to high-level players, a new mid-level zone called Striga Isle and several automated zone events.
at Spike TV Video Game Awards
Austin, Dec. 15, 2005 – City of Heroes®, published by NCsoft and developed by Cryptic Studios, came away a winner at last night's 2004 Spike TV Video Game Awards. City of Heroes was named the "Best Massively Multi-Player Game," finishing ahead of the other nominees in the category, Everquest II and Final Fantasy XI.
NCsoft and Cryptic Studio’s breakthrough title takes top honors at Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 8, 2004 — City of Heroes™ was named “PC or Console Game of the Year” and “Multiplayer Game of the Year” at Billboard Magazine’s Digital Entertainment Awards held on Nov. 5 in Los Angeles.
NCsoft Releases City of Heroes Collectors DVD Edition. Acclaimed online game includes an exclusive HeroClix figure, collectable items and DVD extras
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 4, 2004 — NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games announced the release of the City of Heroes™ Collectors DVD Edition, which will include enhancements to the game, a limited edition Statesman™ HeroClix™ figure and other exclusive collectibles. The special edition DVD will be available to would-be super-powered heroes next week in most retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada.
NCsoft, Cryptic Studios Announce Beta Test Plans for City of Villains
Long-time subscribers to popular City of Heroes game to get top priority when beta testing for Villains starts next year.
NCsoft to Demonstrate its Online Games at more than 200 Universities; City of Heroes and Lineage II are featured demos as MMO game publisher joins the VGames College Campus Challenge
Austin, TEXAS, September 22, 2004 – NCsoft® Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, is joining the VGames College Campus Challenge, which will visit more than 200 college campuses between September and December 2004.
Cryptic Studios Beefs Up City of Villains Storyline and RPG Elements with New Hires Highly Anticipated Game Adds Top Talent: Dave “Zeb” Cook and Shane Hensley
Austin, TEXAS, August 23, 2004 — NCsoft® Corporation, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games and Cryptic Studios™ announced the addition of two new members to the City of Villains™ development team, a sequel to the critically acclaimed and best selling online game, City of Heroes™. Dave “Zeb” Cook has been named senior designer and Shane Hensley will serve as senior writer on the City of Villains team.
NCsoft, Cryptic Studios and CDS Ink Deal to Create Books Based On City of Heroes; Series to add adventure, expand fiction to wildly successfulcomic book-inspired online computer game
Austin, TEXAS, August 12, 2004 — NCsoft® Corporation, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, Cryptic Studios and CDS Books, the publishing arm of CDS, Inc., the largest independent service provider to the book publishing industry, announced today the inception of a multi-year, multi-book licensing agreement for CDS to publish a series of books based on the world of NCsoft’s successful online computer game, City of Heroes™.
On the Road: NCsoft Brings Ground-breaking Titles to the 2004 Wizard World and Gen Con Shows; Best selling City of Heroes and epic player-versus-player adventure Lineage II featured at both events
Austin, TEXAS, August 10, 2004 — NCsoft® Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced plans to attend this year's Wizard World show in Chicago, Ill., and the 2004 Gen Con show in Indianapolis, Ind. The company will be showing two titles released in April 2004: the critically acclaimed and best selling City of Heroes™ and the popular player-versus-player game, Lineage® II: The Chaotic Chronicle.
City of Heroes Leaps Tall Buildings; NCsoft's and Cryptic Studios' comic book-inspired game reaching smash hit status; User-base at 180,000 and growing
Austin, TEXAS, August 2, 2004 — Faster than you can unleash an energy torrent on a Clockwork Knight, City of Heroes has positioned itself as one of the fastest selling massively multiplayer games of all time in North America. The comic-book inspired game from San Jose-based Cryptic Studios is raising more than a few eyebrows with some amazing numbers both at retail stores in North America and with its current subscriber base.
"Heroes for Heroes" program will provide free game packs to military personnel returning from duty in the Middle East
AUSTIN, Texas, July 23, 2004 — NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games and Cryptic Studios™ are giving 2,000 copies of their best-selling City of Heroes™ game packs to U.S. Navy personnel returning from duty in the Middle East. This game giveaway program, dubbed “Heroes for Heroes,” is a way for NCsoft and its employees to show gratitude to the military men and woman returning from difficult duty.
WizKids And NCSoft Team Up For City of Heroes HeroClix
July 21, 2004 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., makers of the best-selling HeroClix® collectable miniatures game (CMG), and NCsoft®, makers of the runaway hit City of Heroes™ massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), have teamed up to create a Limited Edition HeroClix figure.
NCsoft's best selling online game on display at 2004 Comic-Con Show in San Diego; City of Heroes featured at show, bringing the worlds of computer games and comic books closer together
Austin, TEXAS, July 20, 2004 — NCsoft® Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, and Cryptic Studios, developer of the hit computer game City of Heroes™, today announced plans for this year's Comic-Con show. The Comic-Con show, located at the San Diego Convention Center July 22 through July 25, is the nation's largest comic book expo.
NCsoft's best-selling City of Heroes launches first major update; Issue 1: Through the Looking Glass gives heroes of Paragon City new evil-doers to fight, missions, locations and in-game costume customization
AUSTIN, Texas, June 30, 2004 - NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, has launched the first update to Cryptic Studios'TM best-selling City of Heroes™ massively multiplayer game. The update, Issue 1: Through the Looking Glass, gives players new challenges by adding ten play levels, dangerous new zones, exciting missions, and nasty new villains, as well as an in-game costume customization component.
NCsoft Product Launches Pull Eye-Popping Numbers in North America
City of Heroes Already at 100,000 Plus Subscribers, Lineage II Service Hits More Than 60K
Austin, TEXAS, May 12, 2004—NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today revealed that its two recent releases, City of Heroes™ and Lineage® II, already have reached more than 160,000 subscribers combined since they launched simultaneously in North America on April 28. City of Heroes has more than 100,000 subscribers and the Lineage service has moved past 60,000 subscribers. The numbers were reached in less than two weeks and were attained with what some are calling one of the smoothest commercial service launches in the history of massively multiplayer online games.
NCsoft Launches City of Heroes Commercial Service
Comic Book-Based Online Game Trailblazes New Territory
Austin, TEXAS, April 28, 2004 - NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, announces the launch of North American commercial service for Cryptic Studios' City of Heroes™, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) where players don costumes to become super-powered heroes, and fight against evil to save the world.
NCsoft Unveils the Future of Online Gaming at 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo
Guild Wars, Tabula Rasa, Auto Assault Highlight Exciting Lineup
Austin, TEXAS, April 23, 2004 -NCsoft® Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced its exciting lineup of games for next month's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 12-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The games on display will include Guild Wars™, the compelling competitive role-playing game from Seattle-based ArenaNet™, the much anticipated Tabula Rasa™ from gaming pioneer, Richard "Lord British" Garriott and the smashing, fast-paced, Auto Assault ™ from the developers at NetDevil®. NCsoft will also be showing off the visually stunning Lineage ® II and City of Villains™, the first major expansion to Cryptic Studios'™ highly anticipated City of Heroes™ comic-book-inspired online game. All products will be in booth #824 in the convention center's South Hall.
NCsoft to Roll Out Commercial Service for World’s First Massively-Multiplayer Comic Book Game on April 28: Pre-Order Customers Get Three-Day Head Start
Austin, TEXAS, April 12, 2004 - NCsoft® Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, announces that City of Heroes™ has reached gold master status in North America and will soon be on its way to retailers in the United States and Canada. The company also announces that all customers who purchase the City of Heroes pre-order box and register their account will have a three-day head start in the game over customers who purchase the game on or after the launch date. The official launch date for City of Heroes is April 28.
North American Retailers to Offer Variety of Exclusive Items to Those who Pre-Order Highly Anticipated Online Games
AUSTIN, Texas, February 10, 2004- NCsoft™ Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS), the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games announces the beginning of its pre-order retail box campaign for Lineage™ II : The Chaotic Chronicle and City of Heroes™ in North America. The boxes will begin to appear on store shelves this week at computer game retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada. Both games are expected to launch commercially this spring.
