First Look!!
DC Universe is an MMORPG, or Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, just like World of Warcraft. You create your character and then log in to a virtual world that is always running, populated by other players from around the world. You'll be able to team up with them, and take on missions with computer-controlled versions of the biggest characters from DC Comics! The longer you play, the more powerful your character becomes!
You'll be able to play as either a superhero or a villain, but don't expect to be the saviour of the city or public enemy number one straight away. The game tracks how famous or notorious you are, and the gameworld reacts based on how dangerous or powerful you are. If you've just started playing, you'll need to prove yourself before anyone takes notice!
When you join the game, you're given a communicator, connecting you to the Justice League or Legion of Doom, depending on whether you're a hero or villain. You can use this to call in other superheroes to help, and to accept new missions. You could be stopping a simple street robbery, or going up against the most deadly supervillains in the world!
Fancy fighting criminals side by side with Batman? Or maybe you'd like to help Lex Luthor defeat Superman and take over the world? There have been loads of games that let you play as famous superheroes, but DC Universe Online is the first to let you create your own superhero identity and join forces with actual comic book legends. Are we excited? Well, duh!
DC Universe is being watched over by Jim Lee, legendary comic artist and currently the co-publisher of the entire DC Comics range. The scripts for the game's many missions and quests are being written by Geoff Johns, famous for his work on Green Lantern and The Flash. In other words, this is going to be as faithful to the comics as it's possible to get. It'll feel like you stepped onto the page!
If other MMORPGs have scared you off with their complicated rules and controls, don't panic! DC Universe is being developed for PlayStation 3 as well as PC, so it's designed to be as easy to get started as possible. You will have to pay a monthly fee to keep playing though, probably around ten pounds per month. Time to ask for that pocket money raise!
Fifty eight heroes have been confirmed to appear from the comics, ranging from the likes of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman (like they'd make a DC Comics game without those three!) down to obscure characters like The Creeper, Firestorm and Booster Gold. Over sixty villains will also pop up in the game's crime-riddled cities. That should keep you busy!
