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Champions Online pre-order deals give you a head start on micro-transactions
The first in the latest round of superhero online RPGs is a month away. Champions Online, from the creators of City of Heroes and City of Villains, will launch on September 1st (its main competitor, DC Universe Online, will follow next year). To get you psyched, the publishers at Atari present you with a dilemma. Two bombs are set to go off, but you can only reach one in time. Do you save the doctors at one end of town? Or do you save your romantic interest at the other end of town?
Oh, wait, I've got that mixed up. This dilemma is whether you pre-order the game from Gamestop, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or Amazon.com. Here are your pre-order incentives, copied and pasted from the press release:GameStop customers who pre-order Champions Online receive access to the Early Start Program. Battle an alien menace, collect exclusive items, and join the early start weekend to get a jump on the action! GameStop customers also receive the exclusive Insectoid Airfoil costume piece and Experimental Anti-Graviton Generator flight travel power at character creation for an early boost in mobility.
So maybe you noticed all those references to micro-transactions. They certainly caught my eye. Bill Roper, whose last attempt to micro-transact you with a monthly fee was called Hellgate: London, explains here.
Wal-Mart is offering an exclusive 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! Check online and in-store for more details and other potential offers.
Best Buy is offering their customers the fun and functional Lil' Champ Pack. These persistent pets are iconic, knee-high characters from the Champions universe! Best Buy Customers receive their own Lil' Champ. In addition, Lil' Champ owners also receive a functional damage resistance item. Best Buy pre-order customers will also receive access to the Early Start Program and head start weekend.
[From Amazon.com], the High Roller Pack is perfect for players who insist on the finest accoutrements for their avatar. With three unique, exclusive apparel options (harlequin headpiece, black knight helmet, grenade chest strap), and an additional five in-game micro-transaction dollars, you'll have plenty of options to push your "High Roller" look.
By Old Man Dotes at 12:45 PM ON 07/30/09
MT is the reason i will NOT be playing Champions Online. I want a flat monthly fee to play, like World of Warcraft. If I have to pay a buck here and a buck there to get my toon leveled and equipped, well, screw that. It adds up damn fast - that's why I don't use SMS; Verizon charges 25 cents per message (even if I didn't ask to get the damn message).
By Sepiche at 1:12 PM ON 07/30/09
You know, it helps if you actually know something about a topic before commenting on it.
In the Q&A linked to above they even explain that Champions will have a monthly fee just like any other game, and the microtransactions will be for purely cosmetic and account maintenance purposes.
And for the record, those server and character transfer fee that Blizzard has for WoW? Yeah, those would be micro transactions.
By Rer at 4:02 PM ON 07/30/09
I think the Old man just got pwned by Sepiche.
Woot, grats Sepiche, you just got the first PK in Champions Online.
By Mihos at 6:41 AM ON 07/31/09
I hate when they add exclusive content to a sales outlet. Especially if they offer different content to different sales outlets. It triggers a responce in my OCD knowing no matter where i get it, I will never have the chance to have everything that completely turns me off to the point I don't buy any versions.
By Runesire at 9:11 AM ON 08/02/09
You missed a choice: Direct2Drive. Here's their offering:
Get a FREE D2D exclusive in-game item and BETA access!
Champions Online is now available for pre-order, but only Direct2Drive can get you the exclusive Mechanoppendage Backpack AND access to the open beta! The backpack is multi-armed and multi-use for the on-the-go gadgeteer. Ideal for heroes who juggle ideas, experiments—and enemies. Join the new generation of superheroes to fight in a war against evil that spans the globe — and beyond – by pre-ordering Champions Online today!
My question is that only GameStop mentions the Early Start program - is that different than beta access and if so, do all preorders have access to it?
By Almechazel at 6:40 PM ON 08/11/09
"All" pre-orders gain access to the open beta- the difference between the Beta and head start weekend is just that - a head start. instead of starting at the zero-point of 9/1/2009, gamestop's preorder package allows you to start on 8/28/2009 and have the character continue through. All open beta characters will not be carried over to the full game.
By Chris at 10:40 PM ON 08/31/09
were do i go to enter my key on the headstart?
Chris:
were do i go to enter my key on the headstart?...More »