Champions Online

Open beta launched.

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on Aug. 18, 2009

Atari and Cryptic Studios today announced that their highly anticipated Super Heroic MMORPG Champions Online™ has now gone into open beta. The open beta, hosted by FilePlanet.com, runs from Monday August 17th until Wednesday August 26th and is open to gamers throughout North America, EU, Australia, and New Zealand.

The site will be giving away 50,000 open beta keys and players can get into the open beta by visiting IGN’s FilePlanet at http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/champions-online/beta to sign up for a limited number of spots or by pre-ordering Champions Online through IGN’s Direct2Drive ( www.direct2drive.com) Players can also get an open beta key through other retailers’ pre-order programs, go to http://www.champions-online.com/retail for more details.

“The launch of the open beta is an exciting milestone in the development of Champions Online,” said Bill Roper, executive producer on Champions Online. “We look forward to welcoming players, both new and old for what will become a truly great gaming experience.”

Champions Online, a massively multiplayer online game based on the popular pen-and-paper Champions RPG, will give players the power of total customization of their hero while they explore a vast comic book universe of richly detailed 3D environments. Gamers create their hero’s name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal nemesis and his or her back story, guaranteeing a truly unique experience.

After the supervillain Dr. Destroyer single-handedly destroyed the city of Detroit, many thought he had perished in the colossal explosion. But now, the diabolical genius has returned and he is set to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting world. Join up with Defender and the rest of the legendary Champions to stop Dr. Destroyer and his minions in the ultimate showdown of good versus evil!

For more information log onto www.champions-online.com

ABOUT CHAMPIONS ONLINE

Champions Online brings epic heroism back to the MMORPG with fast-paced, epic combat. A boundless character creator takes the experience to the next level; players can even choose the appearance and style of their powers to complete their vision! A unique Nemesis system also lets players tap into a powerful customization tool to craft their own enemy, an ultimate adversary who will appear throughout a hero's career. For more details about Champions Online and the exclusive Champions Online pre-order event, please visit the official website at:

www.champions-online.com

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS

Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at: www.crypticstudios.com.

ABOUT ATARI

The Atari group, mainly comprised of the Atari brand, Atari catalogue of IPs, Cryptic Studios Inc., Eden Games and its newly created London studio, is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 50 countries through an international distribution network; Atari also distributes video games notably in North America, through its US subsidiary Atari Inc. and direct to consumers via www.atari.com.

Atari benefits from an extensive catalogue of popular games based on original franchises (Test Drive, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, etc.), Cryptic Studios titles (Star Trek Online, Champions Online), publishing properties (Ghostbusters, The Chronicles of Riddick, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).

Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

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