Fanterview: Ionia Titan

Stick ‘em up! This is an armed robbery!

I wasn’t there. I was in Switzerland.

No - wait - that’s a lie. I’m sorry, this actually isn’t a robbery, it’s an interview. 

Well, hello there! Thank you for you offering your time to be fanterviewed and being a fan and follower of Missing Worlds Media and our first project, City of Titans!

Thank you and to MWM for allowing fans to have these moments

So, enjoying the snow? You mentioned you were getting buried under it.

Not yet. But it is coming. :)

So what’s your name (or internet alias?)

 I am known to most as either Ionia Titan or Mad Vyking. But good friends know me as Tor.

Where in this great wide world do you hail from?

Born in Brooklyn, NY. Lived in the Florida Keys. Now living in the Catskills Mountains of New York.

What was your first experience with videogames or MMO’s?

In video games: Pong the coin op game (old man voice) I remember when using the dial on that game was a skill.

MMO’s City of Heroes. Case of they got it right the first time.

Which is harder - videogames or arcade games?

Nowadays video games - due to the ability to play the game with others who are not next to you to distract or taunt. Don’t say you don’t know someone who did the elbow jab or shouted JINX in middle of the game.

See, I would say arcade games because they eat your money.

Out of all the superhero themed movies out these last few years, any favorites? (The correct answer is: Man of Steel)

OOOH tough one due to I, like many comic book fans, am a stickler to the original story line.

I would have to give credit to Tim Burton’s Batman cause of Jack Nicholson as the Joker (Man of Steel) Avengers (Man of Steel) Thor (Man of Steel) and on a guilty pleasure note Fantastic Four getting the camaraderie right (Man of Steel)

Did I mention Man of Steel?

*nods head*

How did you first hear about City of Titans, Missing Worlds Media’s first project?

It was a little after the day City of Heroes was taken from us. Was reading several articles of various opinions of why it happened and then I saw about the spiritual successors which led to the Missing Worlds Wedia website. Saw the Youtube video and the sketches of what to expect and I saw not only hard work but a passion.

Was it hard losing that MMO? Have you been a part of other MMO’s that have shut down?

It was hard losing the game but more of the access of the people I knew and especially the people who were in Hero Dawn supergroup on Virtue. City of Heroes players are unique that even though there were roleplayers, number crunchers, mission grinders etc. they were also the most helpful and friendly by a landslide when you look at other games. In my group especially there was a bond that to this day is being carried.

As for other games, no this was the first game to close on me under questionable reasons let alone any reason.

Speaking of which - any other MMO’s you’ve been playing or any exciting games?

After COH, I tried DCUO, SWTOR, STO and Champions. At moment on Champions.

It’s been a little over a month since the Kickstarter ended, but what are your thoughts on how it went?

I knew the goal was obtainable in my mind due to the people who played the game are as passionate. I know several people willing to wait til the paycheck to put in $5 for CoT. I still talk to a few people of my group and gave reports on how the Kickstarter was doing and all were wondering if the million was going to hit.

Out of all the updates from the Kickstarter, which was your favorite?

Two out of all of them. Hitting the goal, dare I say in record time and the final one surpassing the naysayers skepticism. Which personally I took a hidden pleasure. For some reason, the videos of the naysayers seem to have disappeared. (sarcastic voice) I don’t know why….

If I was allowed to copy and paste the freak outs the MWM team when we hit our initial goal, I would. Right now they only serve as blackmail. Useless blackmail, really, since everyone on the team has a copy.

Which feature are you most looking forward to, from all the updates you’ve read?

Well all are of course waiting for the final product. I'm interested in the Avatar system for the Android and the Ipod/phone/pad/watch/shoe etc.

What would make the Avatar builder system really stand out for you? Any feature you’d like to see?

The ability to work on costumes when away from the game. I know a few people who would love to work on one if they are out about. They see a billboard, mannequin or somebody with something on and then inspiration hits.

Any other ‘on the fly’ tools you’d like to see available for phones and tablets and whatnot?

While in Hero Dawn on Virtue, we ran costume contests. We also did trivia which I was in charge of. I worried about making it home if the road was iced up. So I on that point would say maybe a way to chat with people on the game. At very least, friends can go “Save a spot for me on task force. I stopped to get donuts.”

*takes notes*
*steals genius ideas*

Do you stop to get donuts or do the donuts stop to get you?

Depending on the mood.

So what kind of system are you running - any nifty hardware to brag about?

Just a basic computer nothing souped up. I get picked on due to loading slow speeds at times but if i can enjoy the game with my friends i’ll take the barbs with a smile.

I’ve been there. I used to experience 5+ minute loading times. It was a running joke that by the time I loaded a mission they’d already be done with the entire arc.

(imitates a president) I feel your pain.

Do you mix social media with your gaming?

In more ways than one now. During the gameIi wrote stories of Hero Dawn using players who went above and beyond the call of duty. After the game, several people said I should start writing for real. I am writing episodic books and needless to say have to tell people. I use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest

How would you integrate social media with an MMO?

If you mean while the game is on, I can see people wanting to post the triumphant moment when hitting the top level or beating a task force. Maybe the ability to instantly post a screenshot from the game and BANG on the the social media in question.

Of course, one of my favorite topics: PVP. Do you enjoy PVP in an MMO or do you routinely avoid it?

When I PVP’ed I was the guy who went “Hi” (faceplant from one shot johnny, reform) “Wait a sec…” (faceplant) “Let me…” (faceplant)

You see a pattern.

But it’s such a beautiful pattern!

What is your favorite superhero power and why?

At first and currently use the swords. But when I did a warshade with Ionia Titan, I stumbled on (don't ask me how i did it) the combo enhancements to make  Ionia immune to the voids and cysts attack. I always got a giggle when invited to a unknown group , went into task task force, they initially picked on me when they showed up just to fall silent when i plowed through. Even got the Crab form as tough as a tank.

Let’s turn the tables - what’s a question you have for me that I can hopefully answer for you?

What caught my attention is the fact you guys are making sure you are taking time to do this game correctly. I always believed in the old adage “You can either do it fast or do it right.” I know you guys get the HURRY UP shout. What do you want to say to your idea of proving that adage correct?

Soon™

Said out of practice I see!

Lastly: Any favorite quote you want to share?

For all my SG members, Hero Dawn: We don’t die, we diversify!

(I know some will say bad grammar but considering the idea came from the quote used in “BeBe’s Kids” it is faithful to the actual quote.)

Any chance I can plug Hero Dawn book?

Go for it :)

If interested look for Hero Dawn: Rise of the Powers on Amazon.com. I is an episodic chapter to chapter book so files will be small enough to fit on smartphones :) Chapter one is out now and two is coming soon.

And for everyone else look for City of Titans in 2015.

Fanterview: HamiJello

Well, hello there! First off, I’d like to thank you for being a supporter of Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and our first project, City of Titans!

<licks people>

So - what’s it like, being the typist of HamiJello?

Enjoyable, really. I usually don’t get to be funny in my day job, so being able to be creative and, I hope funny, is always fun for me.

Is it hard having to maintain some of the Twitter Feuds between The Goo, Jurassik, and Nemesis?

Since somebody else does the Nemesis feed, I find it fun throwing taunts back at them and having somebody else to play off of. As for Jurassik, well…. he’s an idiot, so it’s not hard to want to smack him all the time.

What would you like to see him smacked with?

Anything. Anything at all. But a jackhammer would be much better.

As I understand it, the universe HamiJello hails from was destroyed almost a year or so ago? How’s it been enjoying it’s time here?

Hami still lives in Paragon, so he’s been exploring the empty city. From what I heard, Jurassik got sick and threw up enough asphalt to repave Faultline… and also flooded Founder’s Fall when trying to take a swim. But mainly, I think he’s trying to keep busy, find friends, and stay away from Null the Gull.

What’s so fearful about Null the Gull?

Null the Gull is… well, I can’t really say. He’ll… he’ll find me.

So what about yourself - where on this great wide world are you from?

I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas, all my life.

Is it true that everything is bigger in Texas? Don’t lie to me.

I’d love to say yes, yes it is. But my wife will probably read this and call me out on it.

Oh my.

Which game are you most excited about for 2014? (The correct answer is: City of Titans in 2015-ish!)

<Nod nod> Nothing in 2014. I’ll have to keep playing Star Control or Doom until City of Titans comes out in 2015. <where’s my dolla?>

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first major project, City of Titans?

Most likely it was something through the Save City of Heroes Facebook page. Most of that time was spent with lack of sleep trying to cram in as much CoH as I could.

What was your reaction to the final tally for the City of Titans Kickstarter of $678k - and 5,000 backers?

Floored. I expected it to go over the goal, but nowhere near as quickly and nowhere near as much. I remember keeping the Kickstarter page loaded on my phone all the time, and refreshing it many times through the day. I also kept my uninterested coworkers up to date on the tally.

Of all the updates, which were your favorite and why?

I loved seeing the updates when a milestone was cracked. Those were my favorite ones, because they showed how strong our community was. 5000 backers, and $678k raised? Fantastic!

So, a favorite question of mine - how would you like to see PvP handled and what could City of Titans do to handle PvP differently than any other MMO?

I’m honestly not a big fan of PVP because I had some bad experiences with being name called in a few games. But I think some sort of cooperative PVP experience could be fun, some kind of team based mission could pique my interest in revisiting PVP.

So like Capture The Flag or PvP Soccer?

I’m thinking more like a Task Force or Mission where the bosses are actual other players.

What is it in a videogame that really sucks you in and gets you invested in it?

One of my favorite games of all time is Star Control 2. It was made in 1992. The graphics are dreadful today, but the thing that keeps me going back to playing it is the storyline, the open-ended missions, and the dialogue choices. I can go talk to the VUX and either call them ugly (which, let’s be honest, they are) or try and make peace with them. I think the idea that YOU control the story is the thing that keeps me sucked in. Even if it’s an illusion, it still keeps me fascinated.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge lying ahead for the City of Titans team?

You’ve got a fantastic, dedicated fanbase. But there are those people out there, a vocal group, who come around to every post about CoT and start the doomsaying. I think there will be a good chunk of those as you get closer to release, so those doomsayers (DOOM!) will be the biggest challenge.

For a game that has just begun development City of Titans seems to already have attracted quite an active community - do you that that is something that is unique to the superhero MMO genre?

Yes. Because the idea of a superhero is one that helps people out and fosters a sense of community. Those that want to be superheroes are ones that are most willing to help and join in on a community.

Speaking of superheroes, what is it attracts you to the Superhero MMO genre?

I’d just love to be able to fly, take down the bad guys, save the people from evil, and be like The Flash was in the Justice League TV Show.

Did you see any of the superhero films this year - Man of Steel, Ironman, Thor?

Oh yeah. All of them mentioned. I turned my wife into a big superhero fan, but she was especially keen to see Thor for some reason.

Was it because of the Jimmy Kimmel “Thor, Actually” trailer?

The only Jimmy Kimmel thing she saw was the parents steal kids’ Halloween candy, so I’m gonna have to go with Chris Hemsworth’s abs.

Did you know that Jimmy Kimmel is actually Chris Hemsworth’s ab’s alternate identity? (This is a lie.)

Well, now you’ve just made her want to record all of his episodes. Maybe even some of The Man Show.

Why do you think the superhero genre in the last decade has gained a lot of attention in the last decade as a medium for telling deep, rich stories?

Because of the rich history it has. They can pick and choose from any fantastic storyline, and alter it to fit events that will appeal to the greater mass. Also, I think with all of the evil in the world today, people like to see heroes save the day.

How do you feel about the whole “superhero tv show” trend these last few years? Well, decade, really, owing to Smallville.

Smallville went too long IMO, got corny near the end. But the trend, such as Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are turning out well. I’m all for those shows if they get based in a bit of reality like Christopher Nolan’s DC-Verse. Also, I still love watching the DC Animated Universe when I can catch them.

Any comic series or publishing house you follow in particular?

I get the “Star Trek reboot” series from IDW publishing regularly. That’s pretty much my comic book purchase these days, but I do have the entire collection of Batman comics that were given away by the “Batman cereal.” I had to eat boxes of that stuff to get it, it was nasty, but it was BATMAN!

Do you think webcomics are the future of comics?

I would be surprised if web anything wasn’t the future. For now, in our commercialized society, I think it will be a niche that will be for fun. Eventually, it’ll be what everybody does.

What do you think MMO’s are going to be like five years and ten years from now?

I’ve played two MMOs in my life: City of Heroes and Star Trek Online. The cash shop has been added since then, F2P is becoming a standard. The only thing I can think of at this time for any advancement is moving them to a mobile app, like the avatar creator for City of Titans. Perhaps some kind of side missions via mobile apps as well.

What do you think gaming communities are going to be like in the next few years?

I can’t see them being any different than they are now. Forums, in-game chat, and social media are the main ways they communicate now, and I really can’t think of anything other than Borg implants that will change that.

Do you think people are becoming more involved with their digital communities than their local Real-Life communities?

Emotionally, maybe. But I don’t think that there’s any way people can be more involved with such a large area in a physical, economical sense at the time we live in. It would take teleporters to be able to do more than emotional involvement.

Can gaming communities become forces for positive change in the world via charities and other services?

I think that our Real World Heroes showed we can, as well as the many other charity events we helped with. We’re a force for good, and will continue to do so.

This wraps it up at this time for our Fanterview - I want to thank you again for your time and I look forward to seeing you continuing helping Hami communicate with the outside world via Twitter!

I look forward to seeing the new world when it happens, and Hami has lots of stories to tell still! Thank you!

Follow HamiJello on Twitter... or else.: https://twitter.com/HamiJello

Fanterview: Arclight Comics (Part Two)

Follow Arclight Comics on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ArclightComics
Arclight Comics is represented in this Fanterview by Edward Williams

What led you and your guildmates to form your own comic book company?
The Peacekeepers. Look us up on deviantArt, YouTube, or Guild Launch. That’s where it started.

There are three quotes I’d like to use here. Otherwise, I’ll get garrulous because I can go on all day about Arclight. Some people ask, Why create more superheroes? Don’t we have enough? Well, the correct answer to that would be yes. We have an abundance of superheroes today. We’ve hit the mainstream---we no longer have to keep our geekdom behind closed doors. But this is now. What happens in 10 or 20 years? Are we making Iron Man 15? While this is a great time to be a superhero fan, this won’t last forever. Joss Whedon said it best: “There’s probably a dozen [properties I’ve always wanted to do]. It’s very important I don’t do that. It’s very important that we start creating new content again. We can only build on nostalgia so much before we have nothing left to build on. Before we’re rebooting Spider-Man—again. It’s dangerous to the culture, and it’s boring to me. I squeezed in between my Avengers movies a 400-year-old play. So I really need to create some new worlds.” It is this type of thinking we approached one of the reasons why we wanted to start our own indie company. He isn’t telling us to forget about our nostalgia, but put fresher material on the frontlines with it. You’ve got to have a mind capable of reaching into the future and grabbing ahold of what can be rather being content with what currently is. There’s more we can do with this genre. There are ways to make the business and working model of it all better. Geoff Johns says: “I love comics and I want to read them forever, but superheroes need them, because they’ll fossilize like Dick Tracey or The Phantom. If you stop publishing superheroes now, all the new ideas that will keep them relevant will stop. They’ll be frozen in amber like that mosquito in Jurassic Park. To keep those mythologies expanding, to keep those mythologies fresh, you need new voices.”

We’ve got to get comics back in the greater public eye. We’ve got to keep this medium in circulation---this genre. Books use to sell by the millions. Digital comics have made tremendous leaps and bounds and indie publishers are putting out amazing content----but less of it is superheroes. We’re taking our little 2 year old machine and putting it up against a 75 year old monster. How do you compete? Lol. What you don’t do is try to create “the next” Superman or Batman. Those characters carry mythological gravitas that are unmatched. That’s done and we don’t want ‘the next’ or ‘Arclight’s version of...’ something. But what you can do is described in the final quote: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Google Jim Shooter’s The Dramatic Conclusion of the New Business Model Rant to get an idea around that. We’re geeks---fans even---who see that it’s time for yet another change the same way Siegel and Shuster, and Lee and Kirby did. We want to be a part of the construct that bridges the genre from today, to our tomorrow.

What have been some of the early challenges you’ve encountered?
For starters there’s only three of us: myself, Jason Quinn, and Jeffrey Roach (all of whom played City of Heroes). We started this venture with a bigger crew and it imploded (a ‘too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen’ thing). When that happened I thought it was over, but it was just the beginning. Our first major challenge was figuring out how to get from the universe we built in the guild to what we essentially have today. That’s scary stuff considering it was 3 years worth of building. 80% of our content was designed for DC Universe Online and The Peacekeepers guild; it was a collaborative effort of 40+ creatives and we could not claim it all as our own with a clear conscience. And we sure could not start this venture dependent on another intellectual property’s influence. We had to define ourselves and our universe. We had to find our voice, our story---then figure out the types of tales we wanted to create. We didn’t want to play into what is being done today either. We had to think ahead several years from now. How do we elevate the genre? It was quite the challenge, but we’re excited about what we have today.

I do think one of our most common challenges are the people who think we’re just...outrageous. Lol. We almost sound silly, you know? Believing we can do all of this. But you know what? We’re fine with that. We’ve got something big to strive for everyday we wake up. Its scary and intimidating at times, but it comes with the territory. And let me not forget to mention one of our Arcitects (the name we’ve given to co-founders; its a thematic thing) beating out cancer. Every step of the way that guy made us believe ordinary people can do extraordinary things. He never gave up and we’re thankful he’s here with us today.

How do you think the views on comics have changed over the last ten years?
They’re no longer kiddie-material, that’s for sure.

We’re at a point where we’re starting to see a shift in the ‘industry’ of comics. There’s a war being fought. People want to see equal representation in the books they read. Creators want to be treated with respect and want the freedoms to do what they do best (create). No more editorial dictatorship---that sort of thing. I think we’ve held certain segments of comics back from being progressive over these last several years and now they’re busting at the seams. People are yelling, “No more!,” when it comes to misogyny, rape, racism and other hot button topics. There’s no longer room for gimmicks and tricks to make a quick buck. The consumers are using social media as a weapon to set the records straight, and man are our voices being heard. And with all of this going on with the Big Two, indies are really taking off. Its a good time to be an indie publisher. We (the consumers) are allowing ourselves to be open to new material. I’ve done it myself and find the other genres fascinating (Saga is GREAT, by the way!).

So, how did you first hear about MWM and their first project, City of Titans?
When the ‘City of Heroes is shutting down’ buzz got started, it was one of the project names that popped up on the list. I didn’t think much of it though. I thought NCSoft would pull through and sell the property or at least change their mind. Once that didn’t happen and we all realized the game was gone, I took to MWM after one of our Architects pointed me to it again. My support has been with you guys since.

What’s been your reaction to the success of the Kickstarter campaign so far?
I am not surprised. I have this uncanny ability to detect authenticity and greatness in people. I see these things in Missing Worlds Media. I see a team of people who share a common love for videogames and superheroes, and are bringing their individual talents together to create something phenomenal. And you’re doing it not because of money, but because there’s a void that needs filled. A problem that needs fixed. None of the other SuperMMOs solve these. MWM has stepped up to the plate. It’s admirable, motivational and inspirational. And because of your authenticity and transparency, a community of over 4,000 supporters has come forth. This is the real thing. I see it and the community sees it. I predicted $500k before you all even launched the Kickstarter. We’re at $450k+ now, am I right? ;-)

$456k, as of this interview!

Of course, I have to ask - where do you think the KS is going to finish at and where would you like to see it finish at?
The Kickstarter will most likely reach $480k-$510k, and I would like to see it stop there and here’s why. More money is always great, but the more money it generates, the more work you are going to have to do to get those stretch goals in there. I want you guys to not feel obligated to do those. Are they nice? Hecks yes. But a fun, functioning game is even better. We live in this society where we want more, more, and more, and often, “more” doesn’t equate to “best” or “better”. I personally feel the less stuff you guys have to get in before 2015, the more time and energy can be spent on making the framework sustainable, functional, and ultimately, fun. That’s what’s most important (to me, anyway). But hey. If you all hit a million, I’ll be doing the same dance I’m doing now.

Any of the updates on the KS page catch your eye?
All of them. They’re so well written and give you so much to take away. You guys are really thinking outside of the box. I’m really looking forward to customization and these flexible classes/archetypes (I forget the name you guys are calling them).

What would you like to see done in City of Titans that hasn’t been done in an MMO before?
I always wanted signature characters to get more involved rather be these lifeless avatars you run to for missions or clues. I want to be flying over the Northeastern Research District and all of a sudden one of the signature heroes is flying next to me. Fangasm, right? Just make them feel more a part of the world. Give them that larger than life presence.

A lot of people either love or hate PvP - what are your thoughts and feelings on it?
I’m in that “hate PVP” category. I’ve just never been a fan. My experiences involve gamers who want to simply make someone else’s experience a negative one. That isn’t to say all PVPers are like that, but the few who are make it bad for the rest. But hey. I’ll give it another try in City of Titans!

A lot of people seem skeptical about a “fan made” MMO actually being done - what are your thoughts on that?
Ugh. Listen. Pixar was “fan made.” A bunch of animation and tech geeks who wanted to create movies---they had no idea what they were doing. Apple was a “fan made.” A computer nerd with a vision. Some people will disagree with me, but all of these big companies and celebrities started as fans of something----basketball, animation, movies, video games, etc. Their fandom became passion, and their passions became visions and dreams which ultimately became realities. You have to be the kind of person to see the potential in something big, look into the future, and grab it. You have to be crazy enough to believe you can monumentally change something, go out there, and do it. A lot of people who have done that were inexperienced to start. People are always going to be skeptical and that’s absolutely fine, but let them be skeptics while you continue pushing towards the finish line. Jobs didn’t have it all together, Oprah didn’t and neither did Larry Page. Just a bunch of crazy, passionate fans who loved what they did, but had a dream and goals. Now look at them. Not all are success stories, but we have examples of those that were. There’s proof in the pudding. Just make sure you’ve got the right one.

I’m going to wrap this up here and I want to thank you so much for taking the time to answer my myriad of questions! Any last shout outs or important news about Arclight Comics you want to share?
It was a pleasure! I don’t want to plug Arclight too much (this is about you guys!) but I will say that if you’d like to, please feel free to Like our page. We don’t have much to share at this time (we’re still knee-deep in development) but will be looking for people to join our team VERY soon. This is, of course, on a volunteer basis like MWM, but there’s so much room to learn, grow, have FUN and partake in this vast universe we’re building. Whatever your profession is, if you believe you can help, be on the look out! We would aspire to be this zany mashup of Pixar, Google, Mindvalley and Valve (a lot of name dropping, I know, but our work culture is inspired by each). If you love comics, superheroes, and if there’s something you’re insanely epic at (drawing, writing, graphic design, painting, business, marketing, legal, etc) we’d love for you to join the team as an Arcian. We’ll make announcements about this on our social media outlets come 2014.

Many blessings on Missing Worlds Media and City of Titans. You all have Team Arclight’s full support. If you need anything just knock on our door!

Fanterview: Joshua

Joshua aka Flow-

Name or your preferred online alias
Name: Joshua
Online Alias: Flow-

Which country (or Country/State) do you hail from?
Canada eh? :)

What do you for work in real life?
At the moment i am in school and unemployed.

What is your favorite food?That is probably the hardest question i’ve had to answer in a while :)
Either popcorn or steak.

Favorite movies/tv shows/books?
I am typically a fan of anything that blasts your mind or contorts it in weird ways, like Inception.

Or Ironman…. because it’s Ironman :D

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
Back when CoH was up i was talking with someone who was supposedly on the Plan Z team. In about March i remembered that Titan Icon was not the only project out there, so i logged onto my Titan forums account and looked up ‘Plan Z’. I have kept a close eye and tried to participate in any way that i can ever since :)

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
I have a few reasons:
1) I am an 8 year veteran of City Of Heroes (Keep in mind i am 16, so CoH was about half of my life). I have played 11 MMOs since shutdown and nothing fills that void, it would be nice to feel home again. The superhero genre niche needs to be filled, and i think that MWM is the perfect one to do it. So much…. Love, you can just feel it.

2) If there is something that Social Studies has taught me, it is that history repeats itself. I just finished with learning about the French Revolution. In many ways i see MWM as the spark to a revolution in gaming. City of Titans is the first MMO i have ever heard of that is being developed by not only a company without a publisher, but also with volunteers.

I think that when CoT comes out that there will be very solid evidence demonstrating that you don’t need a big corporation to push you around to make something great. It only takes a push to get the ball rolling, and judging by the press, you guys have pushed pretty hard :).

3) I find there is always a sign of care with anything that has heart and soul put into it. When something like a videogame has real passion pushing it forward, you can feel it almost holding itself together. I’m not too sure how to explain it, but when i play a game like the new Star Wars MMO, i just get this vibe of…. greed. Like they used the IP of Star Wars to farm cash from its fanbase (To any players, think about the event that happened at the end of the Foundry Flashpoint on the Imperial side).

It sounds like I am bashing SW:TOR now :) No worries, i am a big Star Wars fan and have played SW:TOR to completion on about 4 different classes. But throughout the game i couldn’t shake this feeling of a 100 million dollar time sink. The speeders for example, the flying low atmosphere starships with thousands of years of technology behind it. In the game it costs 340 000 credits for your T3 license and around 100 000 credits for the actual speeder bike. Crunching the numbers with a T3 license that improves your movement speed by 110%... that is about the speed of a bike, a regular, pedaled bike. Why not allow the player to move at 400% speed? Two words: Time sink.

With MWM, i can see the passion emanating from every orifice. On the forums i can see the devs participating in most posts and i can see there is careful consideration behind every decision, not just from a business standpoint but from a social standpoint. I just can’t help but feel this massive wave of respect for the amount of love that CoT is and probably will receive. That is the selling point for me. I can’t imagine a game breaking mechanic at launch simply because MWM has such a close relationship with it’s community. The fact that i, a regular 16 year old guy is being interviewed should be a testament to that.

What was your reaction to seeing the KS campaign explode in the first three days?
At the time when the Kickstarter hit its goal i remember just sitting here on my computer with a stupid smile on my face thinking, “Wow, this is actually happening.” After that i was just speechless and proud.

Where do you think the campaign is likely to finish at?
Hmm… i am kind of scared to guess :)

If i had to venture a guess though…. maybe 550 000?

Any specific tier from the KS you look forward to seeing reached?
I like auras :)

I know we’ve leaked very little so far about the game, City of Titans, but what are things you’d like to know about?
How customizable can the classes be? What exactly does being each class entail? Is there any slight overlap in roles? Stuff like that :)

What will be the first thing you do in Titan City when the game launches?
I would love to say do all of the story or make the perfect costume, but i would just be too excited to fight things, even in CoH i barely followed the story simply because i wanted to tell my robots to attack stuff. I will probably do the same thing i did at CoH’s shutdown, admire the city and street sweep for about 6 hours, perhaps badge hunt. :)

What feature are you most excited for in City of Titans?
The feeling of being a chess piece in a tactical game of gods.

Heroes or villains - which is more fun to play?
I like being the bad guy, the somewhat unstable martial artist that can enjoy his life the superpowered way.

In other words, rob banks! >=D

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
I was having some issues with physics homework the other day and so i asked the CoH community for help. 2-3 hours of help was given to me from people i had not only never met, but never even talked to. It was a very kind action and taught me a lot about what i was doing.

What is your favorite quote and why?
“Pride is like a shield. When it breaks, you’ll soon follow”

In the fight against Bacon and Chocolate who would win?
It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you eat the bacon.

Fanterview: Megan

Megan

Name: Megan

Which country (or Country/State) do you hail from?
Oregon, USA

What do you for work in real life?
I’m currently a full time student and a part time author

What is your favorite food?
I would have to say Japanese yellow curry

Favorite movies/tv shows/books?
Ancient Aliens, Fringe, The Universe, anything science. I love fantasy and sci-fi books.

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
I began working on my second book series, The Hidden Keys.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
I’ve been following along with MWM since before the shutdown of CoX.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
I believe that everyone should find a game that they enjoy and want to support. By taking part in the Kickstarter, players are able to know that they helped bring about the game, and not some giant company who will not care about anything aside from the bottom line.

What was your reaction to seeing the KS campaign explode in the first three days?
Lots of surprised blinking, followed by a “well, these ARE former CoX players, of course this would happen!”

Where do you think the campaign is likely to finish at?
*Does her best Dr. Evil impression* At one million dollars!

Any specific tier from the KS you look forward to seeing reached?
Wings and minions with guns.

I know we’ve leaked very little so far about the game, City of Titans, but what are things you’d like to know about?
I would like to know more about the classes, and I would also like to know more about the character creation process.

What will be the first thing you do in Titan City when the game launches?
Spend the next several hours in the costume creator.

What feature are you most excited for in City of Titans?
MINIONS! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Heroes or villains - which is more fun to play?
I personally prefer villains, but I also enjoy playing the anti-hero.

What is your favorite quote and why?
I’d have to say anything said by Dr. Aeon is always good for a favourite quote. There’s just something about the evil genius that I love.

For an actual quote:
“Fall seven times and stand up eight” -Japanese proverb

This has always been a life view for me. Even when playing games, no matter how many times I get smacked around, I keep getting back up to try again until I succeed.

In the fight against Bacon and Chocolate who would win?
Pineapple would win.

Fanterview: The Grouchybeast

Name or your preferred online alias
The Grouchybeast

Which country (or Country/State) do you hail from?
UK

What do you for work in real life?
Writer - sci fi.

What is your favorite food?
Crispy duck and pancakes.

Favorite movies/tv shows/books?
A random selection of some movies I never get tired of rewatching: Dangerous Liaisons, The Cooler, Tremors, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Damned United, Basic Instinct, Universal Soldier, Labyrinth, Emma, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Last Seduction, The Astronaut’s Wife, No Man’s Land, Sleepy Hollow, Grosse Point Blank, Tombstone, Withnail & I.

An even more random selection of TV: Luther, Lewis, CSI, Babylon 5, Rome, Blakes 7, Torchwood, Neverwhere, Yes Minister, The Wire, Drop The Dead Donkey, The Beiderbeck Affair.

Listing favourite books would take forever, but right now I’m rereading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and also reading The Cult Files by Chris Mikul.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
I’ve been following the efforts on Titan Network from the first time the idea of a spiritual successor to CoX was mooted. I’ve been hugely impressed by MWM’s sticking power - holding together a project made up of dozens of volunteers for a year is an achievement in itself, and it’s given me great confidence in backing the KS.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
For one thing, this is what I think a Kickstarter should be, in essence -- people raising money for something that most likely wouldn’t be funded in any other way, or couldn’t be funded and still stay true to the vision of the creators. It’s a game by the players, for the players. For another, I want to play it, and I can’t pony up the whole $320,000 myself. :-) So get out there and contribute!

What was your reaction to seeing the KS campaign explode in the first three days?
I was very, very excited. I always hoped that the idea of City of Titans would have enough appeal, if the KS pitch was right, and I think MWM nailed it perfectly.

Any specific tier from the KS you look forward to seeing reached?
Personally, the $600,000 looks appealling. I don’t know what power sets are planned for launch, but more is good! Generally, I’d love the pet class stretch goal to be hit, so all the ex-Mastermind players can get their class at launch.

I know we’ve leaked very little so far about the game, City of Titans, but what are things you’d like to know about?
I’m looking forwards to hearing more about PVP. I don’t PVP much myself, but it can have a huge impact on the game play, and be a contentious subject. I’d also like to know more about the launch powersets...or, honestly, will there be fireballs? Because if there are no fireballs, I might have to rethink my pledge. (Kidding!) Ooh, and badges! I was a massive badge...lady of easy virtue in CoX, so I’d love to hear MWM’s plans for badging.

What will be the first thing you do in Titan City when the game launches?
Recreate my main, a fire blaster, and fly around the city. (Maybe with a tear or two in my eyes.) I’ll also go and take a look at ‘my’ skyscraper -- I’m hoping to be able to name it after my dad, who passed away a couple of years ago.

What feature are you most excited for in City of Titans?
The new alignment system sounds intriguing! I’m also looking forwards to the serverless environment, and hopefully being able to play with people who I knew from the old forums, but never teamed with.

Heroes or villains - which is more fun to play?
They can both be fun, but I tend to play more heroes, because I’m a softy at heart.

What is your favorite quote and why?
"Creating something is not a democracy. The people have no say. The artist does. It doesn't matter what the people witter on about: they and their response come after. They're not there for the creation." (Russell T Davies)

To me, that encapsulates how writing (or any other kind of creative art) should be approached. The vision should be pure. Even though MWM, by its volunteer nature, has a lot of community involvement, I hope there’s an overall plan for the game, tone and content, that will hold it together and make it a coherent and unique gaming experience.

In the fight against Bacon and Chocolate who would win?
If bacon and chocolate need taking down, I always win ;-)

Fanterview: Eric

Eric

Name or your preferred online alias: Eric
- online hero code: Major Mortal, Guns A Blazin’, Ally K Zam
- online villain code: Tall Dark and Scary, Master Workshop

What do you for work in real life?
I manage a business systems configuration team for a major energy company. We are involved in supporting our field devices, testing process and system improvement solutions, managing change, adhering to audit guidelines and communicating updates to stakeholders… (dang I need a raise!)

What is your favorite food?
Pizza… and meatloaf…. ooo pizza meatloaf… or meatloaf pizza.

Favorite movies?
for a long time it was Brokeback Mountain.
More recently, the Incredible Hulk and Captain America: the First Avenger

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
My parents recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, a good time was had by all.

Still mourning the loss of my fav online game.

… went to the zoo the other day?

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
There are many ways to maintain the playability that we all enjoyed in COH, but with a modern spin, making the avatar creator available as an app on iphone and android would satisfy my innate alt-itis, I’d be able to work on my alt toons anytime or place, not just conceptualize them until I could get to the avatar creator.

There was a link to a kickstarter called Occulus something or other that a member posted, the concept would be brilliant, a truly immersive experience once the game has matured.

The key I believe is to maintain the spirit of the community, understand why we love the genre, and build on that.

The possibilities are only limited by our imagination.

What was your reaction to seeing the KS campaign explode in the first three days?
Mixed emotions, excited that the funding was becoming a reality, hesitant because a project like this is huge, concerned that NCSoft might take notice and pull a Galactus on the new world…. but mostly just really proud of our community for once again coming together.

Where do you think the campaign is likely to finish at?
hmm.. calls upon the mystic powers of Ally K Zam…. crystal balling it at about $700,000
(if she is wrong, its because she’s been out of practice for a year)

I know we’ve leaked very little so far about the game, City of Titans, but what are things you’d like to know about?
Big question…. game play, the landscape, power animations, mostly the lore.. I have yet to see an ingame model of one of the iconic NPCs, there has been some artwork, but I’d like to see the Statesman and LR of the new world. I’d love to see some online comic work focused on the lore background closer to launch. And I’d love to see more artwork!

Did you read Cube’s update about instanced content? If so, what do you think about the plans for an immersive environment experience? Link
Its all very exciting stuff, I enjoyed the interactive approach.. its like shooting an arrow at the dynamite that the trolls were moving around and doing damage to them in the process… with so many years of advancement in engine technology, it makes sense that this would be the next step.

Did you read the update on some of the first zones coming out? Link
I’m very excited for the zones (give me a dino zone and I’m yours! with dino mutant mobs, a dino AV and a weapon blinged GM T-Rex...sigh)

For me the key to becoming engaged with a new world and new mythology is choosing the correct names for the towns, the mobs, the NPCs, so far everything I have read feels right, like you have a team dedicated to the lore that feels as passionately about this genre as I do.

What will be the first thing you do in Titan City when the game launches?
likely spend a weekend creating characters and bases.. although if those are pre launched anyway.. I’ll be looking for my old team and getting the gang together for new missions.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
Apart from the obvious.. spandex and capes… the whole concept of the Superhero genre is one of inclusion. You can introduce elements of fantasy, aliens, future tech, monsters, mythology… it really is endless. There is no realm that can’t be introduced into a Superhero universe. Other worlds can be very enjoyable also, but when you can play with the entire menu, why limit yourself? All of this being anchored by the heroes that you create to live your life through their amazing experiences.

What is your favorite super power and why?
There was at one time a universe called the Ultraverse, and within that universe there was a character called Hardcase.. typical superman type… interesting backstory… he had a love interest, a superhero called Choice…. she had the ability to choose any superpower she needed.. but only one power at a time.. that concept always fascinated me.. in many ways, COH was like that.. some of the powers seemed very random and unrelated giving some of my toons that ‘Choice-ish’ feeling. so in conclusion… Choice’s power of choice… is my choice.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Thats a good question, I guess for me, understanding their motivation point. At what historical point does an individual make the choice to become a hero or villain… or to walk that fine line in between.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
The closest analogy I can think of to answer this question.. if today, every single person in the world were given a million dollars.. what would happen? To some, it would make very little difference, to others it would vastly change their lives, either for the better or for worse. Many would choose to do evil with the money, many would do good, many would make selfish decisions, others wouldn’t know what to do with it and it would be gone in no time.

So to answer the question.. I’m not sure too many people would know what to do with their superpowers.. it would likely be a burden.. just watch ‘Chronicle’ for the closest and most true interpretation of how I think it would turn out.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
I believe there are heroes all around us everyday doing the right thing for the right reasons. From the obvious cops and firemen, doctors and nurses, teachers and mentors. To witness them we only have to open up our eyes.

What is your favorite quote and why?
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Maya Angelou

If you are going through hell…. keep going…. - Winston Churchill

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for everything - Unknown

all of these quotes are about inner strength, its the way I live my life and partly why I am drawn to the superhero genre.

Fanterview: Capa Devans

Name: Capa Devans

What do you for work in real life?
Designer.

What is your favorite food?
Jaflongi (dish from a great Indian restaurant in Coventry, UK; it has pineapple).

Favorite movies?
I could watch Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country time and time again. Plus the first bit of Generations with the ToS crew, not so much the latter part. Anything action/comedy is preferred for relaxation; preferably without a lot of violence. (My main in CoX was a Stalker and I preferred red-side, so I understand the irony!)

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
Getting thinner! Lost a stone already and still working on another one! Exercising more and getting stronger, leaner and looking better.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
From Titan Network as a spiritual successor to the beloved and missed City of Heroes/Villians.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
Freedom. Their backgrounds mean they will understand flexibility and customizability is key. Who wants to look like everyone else? Who wants to play the same character all the time? I believe they will show real creativity and allow players to make very distinct characters in costumes, powers and playstyles.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
MMO’s miss two things: 

1) The freedom which I mentioned above and 2) a great community. 

If MWM provide 1) then we should be providing 2). By supporting KS we do what CoX players have always done and that’s pull together. Sometimes we pulled together to get through a Task Force or mission we have no right to expect to finish but do. Sometimes we pulled together to raise money for Real World Heroes; a charity supporting children and service men/women. Sometimes we pulled together to support each other in sad/hard times. No other community is like it, by supporting KS you help support that community.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
Nothing to be honest. I avoided playing it for months because I wasn’t interested in comics or anything like that. I couldn’t stand Superman and three attempts at watching Spiderman had me giving up in under five minutes.

But the flexibility of the game … that’s it for me. What can we do? What powers can we build to be truly unique? How can we use ‘odd’ power combinations to be effective? What else can I do in game?

What is your favorite super power and why?
Invisibility. I LOVED assassination strike.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
The player. How good or how bad is defined by their goals.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
A burden. I couldn’t sit by and leave people, I’d have to use them. I’d want to solve the problems of the whole world and while the idealist of me says “good”, the realist says “one person can’t do it all”. Now if I had a supergroup …

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
My other half stepping in front of someone who wanted to do me harm. Not a big guy but really appreciated. On a wider note, when you watch people coming back from wars, or stepping in to try and prevent harm coming to others … that’s inspiring.

What kind of content engages you in video games?
Flexibility. Sometimes I don’t want to play content, but if there’s the opportunity to do something else (design a base or a costume) that has me engaged. I loath grinding.

How do you like stories to progress in a game (i.e. cutscenes, battles, mission text, etc.) and why?
I prefer mission text. I can read it at my own pace. Cutscenes can hold up the action and it’s easy to be distracted by the voice acting (save us from faux accents). I love it when the mission text can be read by everyone and not just the mission leader. Much better for the whole team to keep up with the story that way.

What sort of missions in games do you enjoy the most?
Clear parameters. I’m not a puzzle person. I like to go to my mission door (which is much more preferable to open worlds), identify the objective and kill everything on the way. Speeding through doesn’t appeal.

What is your favorite quote and why?
"Strive to be happy”. It’s the last line of “Desiderata”. Because it’s not a bad philosophy; in fact the whole poem is not a bad philosophy. 

Fanterview: Rotten Luck

Name or your preferred online alias: Hunter aka Rotten Luck

What do you for work in real life?
At this time I’m unemployed a victim of layoffs.

What is your favorite food?
That would have to be Corn Beef, cabbage, and potatoes.

Favorite movies? 
Back to the future I,II,III the Original Star Wars trilogy (HON SHOT FIRST!)

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
My Nephew and his wife told us that she’s pregnant. So I figure the little one be old enough to teach how to play when City of Titans goes live.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
I was there at the beginning reading up on things on the Titans Forums and then later on Skype. So I was there even before there was a Missing Worlds Media.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
Player made content integration. Most of the player made content nowadays is tacked on systems even the AE system in CoH was an addition. This is getting more integrated into the newer games. With MWM idea of offering Players the same tools (though restricted in some areas) the split between DEV created content and Player content would be a very thin line. The Payoff is HUGE amount of things to do for us Players and well face it free development for the game.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
We seen it before and sadly we see it again. Publishers placing demands on Studios that damage the quality of the game. Games are art but the mentality of Publishers is it’s a commodity. The high demand for franchises make it boring. Assassin’s Creed awesome idea but how many have they done? Last I heard 13 it franchise overload. It’s time to cut out the Meddling Middle man. The Studios are our supplier the gamer the customer. Kickstarter allows us to cut out the Publishers. They will always be there but hopefully with games like Star Citizen and City of Titans going it alone without Publishers they get the message they need to rethink things.

The Kickstarter finally launched! Yay! Were you excited to see it finally go up?
Yes, very! I had Kickstarter up every day watching the numbers rise.

What was your reaction to seeing the KS campaign explode in the first three days?
Syntax Error brain still recovering from Awesome overload.

Where do you think the campaign is likely to finish at? I’m thinking between 750,000 and a million.

I know we’ve leaked very little so far about the game, City of Titans, but what are things you’d like to know about?
I have many things I want to know, but I focus on things for the Community here. Key Features needed for our Community is a Proper Chat system and social hubs how are these going to be implemented? Will we be able to make our own channels? Will Free players have chat system gagged to limit gold farmer spam? Supergroup bases and Supergroup framework how do you plan on the system working? Can you make a Supergroup Solo and invite your Alts via Mail? Would you limited in a way to reduce SuperGroup Invite Spam?

Did you read Cube’s update about instanced content? If so, what do you think about the plans for an immersive environment experience? Link
Great ideas and allows for greater gameplay. A stealthy character could do things different then a Bashem Brute or a High powered Blaster. This increases gameplay and replay abilities. Die try again using different tactics. Always a good thing.

Did you read the update on some of the first zones coming out? Link
I have but that was a little disappointing for me. Could have been better written or even better display some concept art for the locations talked about in order to better give a greater overall idea of the zones.

What will be the first thing you do in Titan City when the game launches?
Beside scream in utter joy? I be playing with the new power systems rolling rerolling and rerolling for about a month before settling down and going for levels. I have a lot of Alts that need reconing!

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
This is a tough one to answer because it’s very personal. I have issues major biological problems that make it hard for me to socialize or even handle normal activities I will never be able to drive for example. As you can imagine this make life hard and school was even worst I might as well put a target on my back for the bullies and go to school pre-wedgied. I’m more of a Marvel fan then DC… thought One More Day ended my buying Spiderman. -_- then DC did that whole new 52. So I’m not into comics anymore. I’m getting off subject.. superheroes done right face many challenges and they don’t let those challenges keep them down. When you lived your early life learning that your special snowflake is slightly misshapened. Then a Superhero who’s blind, in a wheelchair (ORACLE was Awesome!) or the victim of trauma or discrimination has even greater meaning. If they can suffer and stand up taller than others then you can to.

What is your favorite super power and why?
There are many powers on the list, when it comes down to it. Only one power I still fantasise about. Telekinesis flying and being able to use anything around you with just a thought. By the way I’m not talking about a minor bending of a spoon level telekinesis I’m talking about major heavy duty lifting of cars, tanks, buildings level of power here!

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Both are part of the same coin the same motivation can lead to either roads. The line for me is when a Goal becomes more important than morals. A good example I read is a story about an apocalypse two different people does the same crime. Brake and entering to steal food. One guy kills the person he finds the other apologizes and asks to help safeguard the house for a meal. Or as Stan Lee once said Spiderman would have been a Villain if it wasn’t for Uncle Ben.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
Being on the bad end of the gene pool I can’t help but think of having powers as a blessing. Even powers that seem a burden like being a Rock creature like the Thing. However it does depend on powers and how they are used. Wolverine I pitty massive healing factor yes but he feels the pain of whatever he suffers add to that he watched everyone he cared for grow old and die. The mental scars must be deep indeed.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
Not personally but news stories I heard made me feel better about humanity. People willing to face a fire to save a cat. A teacher using herself as a shield to protect a child. How can you not hear that and think Hero.

What is your favorite quote and why?
It’s from Galaxy Quest “Never give up, Never Surrender.” There been times I wanted to give up and surrender but kept on going just to live a “normal” life.

Fanterview: Kile

Kile aka Raging Nova aka Major Patriot

Name: Kile aka Raging Nova aka Major Patriot

What do you for work in real life?
Network Engineer

What is your favorite food?
Japanese Curry

Favorite movies?
Just about anything in the Action and Horror genre.

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
I left the Marine Corps after 10 years of service in April.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
Through Victory Global, which is one of the CoH pages I’m a member of.  We keep each other up to speed on the on going projects and other matters going on in our lives.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
Having a truly interactive combat experience.  By that I mean being able to move while attacking and being able to dodge or counter attacks.  Being rooted to the ground, or in the air, while performing an attack doesn’t make sense.  As much as I loved CoH that was the one thing that bothered me about the game.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
From what I’ve seen MWM has been the most transparent about the goings on out of the three projects trying to recreate our home.  MWM has kept everyone up to date on everything and really allows us to voice our opinions and give advice.  Having those opinions and advice taken seriously and implemented shows that their potential customers are truly appreciated.

Besides if anyone has seen or played the other two super hero MMO’s currently out there they know that the genre is in serious need of attention.  MWM is going to bring something fresh to the table and give the players something they will love to play.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
Everyone at some point in their life has imagined what it would be like to have powers and do incredible feats.  Being able to play a hero, or villain, allows me to live in that fantasy.  Plus punching people in the face and watching them fly across the room is bonus.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Being a hero means doing what is right at all times, even when no one is watching.  As for villains, all you have to do is have crazy schemes.  Those schemes can involve world domination, science projects aimed at causing horrific damage or death.  The list that can define a villain is much longer than for being a hero.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
Certainly would have been a blessing during my time in the Marine Corps.  Possibly could have prevented the deaths of some of my fellow Marines.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
Currently I play Starwars the Old Republic, Neverwinter, and WoW.

Do you prefer to play in groups or solo?
While leveling I like to go solo just so I don’t feel rushed when trying to read or listen to the story.  After hitting max level then I really enjoy playing in groups.

What makes a game “fun” for you?
Having a great story and great mechanics.  Also knowing that once I reach max level that there is more to do and will continue having things to do as time goes on.  I tend to become attached to one or two characters and I play them a lot.  Another thing is not having to worry about playing the auction house in order to gain in game currency or having professions for that matter.

What do you think builds a strong community in an MMO?
It depends on the game really I believe.  City of Heroes attracted people who wanted to be heroes and we all shared that bond.  Some of the other games I play you just don’t venture into their forums because the trolls are just waiting to pounce on you.

Do you enjoy PvP? If so - do you prefer open world pvp, PvP matches, or PvP minigames?
I really do enjoy PvP.  I loved how CoH had the zones so that if you wanted to PvP you could go and do so and not having to worry about being jumped while leveling.  With that said I hated the travel suppression implemented later in the game.  Being able to queue up for PvP matches is also fun and I’d like to see that incorporated in TPP.  In the other games I play I avoid PvP servers because there are so many griefers that ruin the fun for me.

What do you think could be done to make PvP enjoyable and less griefy?
If world PvP is going to be a factor in TPP the best way that I can think to keep griefers at bay is to put a cap on what levels people can attack one another.  Say max level is 50, they wouldn’t be able to attack someone lower than level 45.

Do you think mini-games (non-PvP) can work in MMO without distracting from the “main” game?
Very much so.  In World of Warcraft they came out with timed runs of certain dungeons that award special cosmetic armor.  The times are kept track of so people can compete to see who can get the best times.

What has been the funniest moment you’ve experience in an MMO?
Probably while farming on my Fire/Fire Blaster with my buddy on his Fire/Kin Controller.  I’d always end up killing his anchors for his transference and fulcrum shift and over vent nerd rage would ensue.  Some colorful language would always be thrown my way and all I could do was laugh because he was far from serious when he raged.

What is your favorite quote and why?
Don’t let the accent fool you.  -By me

I have used that quote for years because as I’ve travelled around the world people were quick to make fun of my southern accent and assume that I was stupid.  Time and time again I’ve proven that being from the south doesn’t inherently make one stupid.

Fanterview: Joseph Devon

Joseph Devon

Name: My name is Joseph Devon;  my friends and family typically call me Devon. My known online alias’ include Basta and Photuris.

What do you do for work in real life?
I am a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. My job in the Corps is that of an expeditionary airfield technician. To understand what that means, one must first understand what exactly an expeditionary airfield is. An expeditionary airfield is exactly that; expeditionary. It is a rapidly deployable airfield composed of interlocking pieces of aluminum “matting” that can be constructed/ deconstructed in an expeditious (with speed and efficiency) manner. These airfields are utilized to provide a flat, versatile surface for all manner of aircraft to conduct operations on in any environment. My job entails the construction, upkeep, and repair of multiple airfield systems to include the above mentioned airfield, “Legacy” EAF (expeditionary airfield) lighting, Fresnel Lens Optical Landing Systems (FLOLS), and M-31 Marine Corps Expeditionary Arresting Gear.

What is your favorite food? (The correct answer is “Bacon” actually)
My favorite food, by far, is pizza!

Favorite movies?
I love movies that offer an escape from the mundane; Magic, future dystopias, deep space exploration, ancient lore, and superheroes are all genres that appeal to me. Some of my favorites though are Watchmen, The Spirit, Sin City, The punisher (the old one!), The gladiator, The Hellraiser series, and so on and so forth.

Congratulations on being a new father (Soon™)! How does the experience feel?
Thus far, I cannot truly describe the experiences. It has been an emotional roller-coaster; full of ups and downs and loops! At first I was afraid, as I, myself, am so young! I can barely take care of myself, let alone a defenseless baby that relies entirely on me! Alas, as we get closer and closer (any day now, really.) I feel a calmness taking over; a sense of self-awareness and confidence washes over me and I find myself ready and excited.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
Well, funny story. Prior to the military, my life consisted of school, work, video games, and boxing. That’s really it. My imagination was on an insatiable rampage as I discovered all things fantasy and explored the never ending genres of video games, anime, and movies. Superheroes have always struck a chord within me; there is just something about that altruistic, super-powered individual that stands up for justice and for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Naturally, I discovered the COX universe and very quickly jumped into the mix. Finally! I had my turn to don the mantle of superhero and make the journey from zero to hero. I was there from the beginning and played pretty much up until I enlisted. The first couple years of my enlistment were too chaotic and hectic to even think about sitting down and devoting my precious off time to games which required so much attention and time. When the dust began to settle, however, and I found myself with a less sporadic schedule, I decided it was time to check back in with my favorite past time. Alas! I was met with “Farewell to City of Heroes”! My first thought was that it must be some kind of sick joke; very funny, NCSOFT, you got me. But with a little digging, I discovered the message was indeed true. I had missed “the final heroic battle between good and evil” by a mere few weeks! The disappointment was astounding; the feeling of loss and betrayal even worse. There were no other games out there that felt like COH, nothing to satiate my again rampaging imagination. I cannot quite remember how I came upon MWM, but I am very thankful that I did. The prospect of a resurrection intrigues me. Not in that the COX universe will be reborn, no. I feel deep down that something greater will rise from the ashes; a game unlike any we have seen before.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
I have high expectations of MWM as they are a group of fellow players with the same hopes and aspirations for this game. They all felt the untimely loss of a game far ahead of its peers and will do much more to see it rise again.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
I firmly believe that we have a chance here of playing a part in something bigger. The individuals constructing this game are all players like us with similar interests in mind. They share the same goal; the best superhero/ supervillain game out there.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
I have always been partial to superheroes (and supervillains). Whether they use their abilities for the never ending pursuit of justice, or to meet their own means, the concept of individuals with super powers has always intrigued me.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Defined, a hero refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice—that is, heroism—for some greater good of all humanity.
To me, a hero is anyone who stands up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. A hero is someone who, when faced with adversity, stands strong and proud. A beacon of hope. A hero makes the right decision even if it is not the easiest or most popular one.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
Personally, I believe having super powers would be a blessing. It would indeed be difficult however;  would it be possible to resist the temptation of using those powers for my own gain? As the late great Ben Parker once said, “with great power comes great responsibility”. I believe he was on to something there.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
I have been fortunate enough to witness many acts of heroism lately. They came not from scantily clad superheroes or mythological demi-gods, no. I see them in the daily duties of my best friend and wife, Elizabeth. At 37 weeks pregnant, she continues to work 30+ hours a week, studies relentlessly for her dental assistant certification exam, and manages to take care of me all at the same time. If anyone is deserving of the title “hero”, it is she.

What do you think are the most important things we can learn from heroes, in fiction and in real life?
We learn how to stand up, for ourselves, and for others when no one else will. We learn, also, how to make the right choice even if it isn’t the most popular one. We learn how to live by the most basic and necessary principles of honor, courage, commitment, integrity,  justice, unselfishness, and endurance. Basically, they teach us how to be decent human beings.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
After a brief encounter with  DCUO, I have decided to lay off the mmo’s for a while. Maybe until THIS game comes out, who knows. I just cannot find the time or patience to contribute anymore. I have been sticking with console games like The Last of Us, Skyrim, Call of Duty, ect..

Do you actively Role Play when playing video games, if you do what makes it an immersive experience for you?
I am often guilty of role playing when playing video games, be it mmo or console based games.  It is very easy for me to become submerged in the character or plot. In regards to what makes a game “immersive” for me, storyline, storyline, storyline!

How awesome do you think it’s going to be to play the same MMO with your son when he gets older?
I have always been envious of those families that play video games together. Obviously there are other equally entertaining and memorable activities to do as a family, but I love the prospect of sharing experiences which have always been so fun for me with my son. The thought of father and son, hero and sidekick, taking down the bad guys and saving the day is indescribable.

What is your favorite quote and why?
"The only way out, is through."-Robert Frost

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." - Henry Miller

“I wept not, so to stone within I grew.” - Dante Alighieri

"It's so damn hot... milk was a bad choice."  - Ron Burgandy

Fanterview: Shane

Shane and an unidentified Caucasian female
with hair and teeth.

Name: Shane
My main, my global and my Dad’s nickname for me is Mr. Shane.  I was named after the movie from the 50’s (The main character didn’t have a last name so everyone called him “Mr. Shane”.

What do you for work in real life?
 Police Officer in training

What is your favorite food? 
Just one? lol  Probably cheeseburgers off the grill.

Favorite movies?  
Ghostbusters is my all time favorite.  I’ve always been a D.C. comics fan and I love superhero movies.

Any special hobbies or interests? 
Playing CoH was my hobby.

I also am a league bowler with a 208 average, I like to run, I have a pretty nice comic book collection started and I like to read.

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about? 
I am graduating from the WV state police academy on Nov. 1st and I’ll be a full fledged patrolman in my hometown.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?  
When CoH went under my wife and I both lost a hobby and lot of friends.  I started following the recovery projects on facebook and really liked what I saw from MWM.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
Being able to use hindsight to look at not just other superhero MMOs but other MMOs in general to see what worked and what didn’t is going to eliminate a lot of trial and error as far as getting the core game ready to go and will allow for the devs to concentrate on new things that haven’t been tried or haven’t been perfected.  Community and ease of use is a huge thing that most other MMOs lack and MWM is addressing those issues right from the start.


Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
More financial support is going to mean a bigger game and more goodies from the start.  More money means more people and many hands make light work.  The freebies you guys are offering are nice too. ;)

What is your favorite super power and why?
Invulnerability. On of my favorite movie lines is from Rocky II.  Apollo’s manager said “I saw you beat that man the way I ain’t never seen a man get beat...and the man...kept...coming.”  Imagine the look on a criminals face when no matter how hard he hits you, he can’t take you out of the fight.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
The BioShock series is awesome.  BioShock infinite

What makes a game “fun” for you?
I am all about customization.  I can’t stand games, especially MMO’s where I get to create a character that looks like 1000 other characters in the game.  That’s need 1 to  make a game fun for me and a good community is reason 1A.

If you play MMO’s how important is it to have an ingame home?
It’s not that important to me.  I belonged to supergroups and guilds that had big elaborate bases and hideouts but along with those came tons of rules about loot and SG mode.  Some of them were worse to deal with than a bad job.  Ultimately I prefer to make as many friends as possible, regardless of what group they belong to.  I’m always looking for a team to help.

What do you think builds a strong community in an MMO?
Communication.  The more difficult it is to talk to your team, advertise for help, or send a tell, the less likely people will be to do it.  CoH had the best communication system, hands down.  It was easy to chat and easy to put a team together.  The interface system has to be there.  You also need community members that care about the game and the community itself.  If everyone is just after rare loot and xp, the community will suffer and the game will be left to the farmers and PLers.

Fanterview: Gavin

Gavin aka Sypher Vendetta

Name: Gavin aka Sypher Vendetta

What do you for work in real life?

Superhero/Martial Artist

What is your favorite food?

Chicken and villains.

Favorite movies?

Scarface and The Avengers

Any favorite hobbies?

Kyokushin kaikan karate 

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?

Funny thing that happened on the 7th of September as part of our 3 day grading i attempted to break a block of wood with my fist, as i did it i hit the breeze block instead, forcing my hand to break, the first i said to my colleagues was " can you take a pic to put on Facebook!" lol.

But after i went to hospital and was given a date to have surgery i came back in a cast the Saturday evening, i stayed at the dojo as part of our grading and competed in the Sunday morning at 5am in training and took part in Kumite (sparring).

Once the 3 day training finished i was awarded my first red belt for passing the grading, i am still over the moon about it.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?

Playing COH i was always close to the community and certain members so when the idea of a successor project come up i was not surprised but more happy knowing the strong will of our community was still there.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?

It is the best kickstarter in the world! do it now and i will personally give you a free cookie :D

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?

the ability of perseverance against all odds despite the outcome looking bleak.

plus the costumes!

What is your favorite super power and why?

Telekinesis, the mind is such a powerful piece of hardware and if we can come up with virtually anything then TK would be such a vast and immense power to have.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)

Being a hero isn’t about super powers or your costume, but when the timing is right, when you are needed, you will make the right choice that will impact the people you care about.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?

Yeah i have, i went through alot in  5 years, but a friend saved my life, gave me new meaning, i owe him a lot.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?

World of warcraft, champions online, neverwinter, diablo3, marvel heroes.

Do you prefer to play in groups or solo?

groups definitely, experience the world with others is inspiring.

If you play MMO’s how important is it to have an ingame home?

Very important, at first when coh was announced it was closing i was devastated this was a game i held close to my heart, it had been with me through my darkest times.

Those who don’t play mmos have no idea how it feels to lose a home like this.

What is your favorite quote and why?

"Why are we still here? Just to suffer? Every night...I can still feel my leg and my arm, even my fingers. The body I've lost, the comrades I've lost...won't stop hurting, it's like they're all still there.

You feel it too don't you? I'm gonna' make them give back back our past"

- Kazhura Miller.

If you follow the MGS series you will understand why.