All of the following is copied from Newsarama.com as they live blogged the CoH PAX East panel.
Some fantastic information in it and I will likely throw up a digest soon. Enjoy! I sure as heck did.
11:22 Thanks for joining us for NCSoft's panel on Superheroic MMOs
The panelists are Melissa Bianco, Lead DesignerSaturday March 27, 2010 11:22
11:22 Matt Miller, Lead Systems DesignerSaturday March 27, 2010 11:22
11:23 David Nakayama, Lead ArtistSaturday March 27, 2010 11:23
11:23 Eric Johnsen, Art ProducerSaturday March 27, 2010 11:23
11:23 EM Stock, Studio Community LeadSaturday March 27, 2010 11:23
11:26 The panel kicks off a few minutes early with EM Stock introducing the panelists.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:26
11:27 The panel plans to talk about the start with Cryptic Studios, the current Paragon team, and the future of the franchise.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:27
11:27 Jesse Caceres, Producer of the game was added to the panel in the stead of Eric Johnsen.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:27
11:28 The Cryptic Years was the first topic, with Caceres talking about the origins of the game.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:28
11:28 City of Heroes launched April 28th, 2004, almost six years ago. City of Villains then launched about 18 months later.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:28
11:28 They've also published 10 free expansions, and six paid ones.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:28
11:29 There are four members of the launch team that stayed with Paragon Studios and still work on the game, including Miler and BiancoSaturday March 27, 2010 11:29
11:30 When NC Soft bought the CoH license and founded Paragon Studios in November 2007, they offered the entire team jobs, and everyone accepted.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:30
11:31 Correction: They then released 6 expansions so far, with a seventh on the way, also all free.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:31
11:31 Caceres asked, "How do we keep things fresh?"Saturday March 27, 2010 11:31
11:32 He then showed a slide that listed about 60 things that have been added to the game, including Capes/Auras, Power Customization, and Weapon Customization.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:32
11:32 Caceres mentioned that NC Soft has been great at backing them on adding anything they want to the game, and giving them the resources to do.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:32
11:33 Level Pacting, where you can help level up your friends even when they're not online was a major innovation they were excited to bring in.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:33
11:33 Mission Architect, where players can create their own content for the game, is another major way that they keep things fresh for long-time and new players alike.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:33
11:34 Issue 17: Dark Mirror, the new expansion is next.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:34
11:34 Ultra Mode is a massive across-the-board graphical enhancement for City of Heroes that will be FREE with Issue 17.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:34
11:35 Nakayama explained how it will work in broad strokes to make the game look a lot better, and mentioned some specific new featuresSaturday March 27, 2010 11:35
11:35 Real time shadows, relevant to the time of day, are cast now by all objects and characters.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:35
11:36 Planar and cubemap reflections; Windows, water, and reflective materials, including metallic armor and costume pieces will reflect in real timeSaturday March 27, 2010 11:36
11:37 "If you fly by a reflective window, you'll see your character reflected"Saturday March 27, 2010 11:37
11:37 Screen Space Ambient Occlusion, recessed corners and dark spaces gain more realistic lightingSaturday March 27, 2010 11:37
11:37 "Issue 17 is just the beginning"Saturday March 27, 2010 11:37
11:38 Issue 17 will also have new content, including new story arcs for heroes and villainsSaturday March 27, 2010 11:38
11:38 Bianco mentioned also that they revamped the Positron Task ForceSaturday March 27, 2010 11:38
11:39 They split it in half to make it "not suck," said BiancoSaturday March 27, 2010 11:39
11:39 New Mission Architect features were added, including new more dynamic XP optionsSaturday March 27, 2010 11:39
11:40 Tails now move, you can send image attachments inside the in-game mail.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:40
11:40 And now there are Doppelgangers, enemies that are yourself!Saturday March 27, 2010 11:40
11:41 They can have a color swap, or have the same exact costume, and every character or party will have their own different missions with doppelgangersSaturday March 27, 2010 11:41
11:42 The CoH comic from Top Cow was mentioned, and issues of the comic give hints to new features in the game.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:42
11:42 Going Rogue is the NEXT next expansion, the first paid one since City of Villains.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:42
11:42 New 1 to 20 content tells a cohesive storylineSaturday March 27, 2010 11:42
11:43 Caceres said this will be the perfect time to jump in for new players as they'll have "nothing more to complain about!" to laughs from the other panelists.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:43
11:43 You'll start as a Praetorian, a loyalist or a rogue; not a hero or a villain thoughSaturday March 27, 2010 11:43
11:44 Praetoria is an alternate-Earth rebuilt after the defeat of HamidonSaturday March 27, 2010 11:44
11:44 The entire world was built with "Ultra Mode" in mind, and has buildings and objects made to make it look better than ever.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:44
11:44 There are Brand-new zones, Nova Praetoria, Imperial City, Neutropolis, and The UndergroundSaturday March 27, 2010 11:44
11:45 Nova is the base of operations to Emperor ColeSaturday March 27, 2010 11:45
11:45 Imperial is a NYC style city, Neutropolis is much more technology-enhanced of an areaSaturday March 27, 2010 11:45
11:46 There are also all-new enemy groupsSaturday March 27, 2010 11:46
11:46 The Praetoria Police Department will look familiar to fans of Top Ten, a super-powered police departmentSaturday March 27, 2010 11:46
11:46 The Seers are thought-policeSaturday March 27, 2010 11:46
11:47 The Resistance can either be your allies or your enemies, depending on if you choose to be a Loyalist or a member of the groupSaturday March 27, 2010 11:47
11:47 Praetorian Clockwork are "helper droids" that maintain the cities, but also have massive offensive capabilitiesSaturday March 27, 2010 11:47
11:48 the Syndicate is a new, more powerful organized crime groupSaturday March 27, 2010 11:48
11:48 The Ghouls stay mostly in the underground, and it's a mystery how they were createdSaturday March 27, 2010 11:48
11:48 There's also another enemy who will be revealed this sumemrSaturday March 27, 2010 11:48
11:48 The Going Rogue System starts at level 20Saturday March 27, 2010 11:48
11:49 You can change from being a hero to a villain or vice-versaSaturday March 27, 2010 11:49
11:49 It's a gradual progression. "Hero falling from grace, becoming a vigilante then eventually a villain"Saturday March 27, 2010 11:49
11:49 Villains become Rogue "A Han Solo type" then becomes a heroSaturday March 27, 2010 11:49
11:50 NEW POWERSETS (here you go, Jack!)Saturday March 27, 2010 11:50
11:50 Dual Pistols, are first up; if you pre-purchase the expansion, you get those RIGHT NOWSaturday March 27, 2010 11:50
11:51 Demon Summoning is next upSaturday March 27, 2010 11:51
11:52 it will hit servers with Issue 17, again for pre-purchasers. A world premiere of the video was shown, we'll have it for you on Monday on the site, as well.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:52
11:52 Demons themselves will have varying powersSaturday March 27, 2010 11:52
11:52 Flaming whip attacks are added for the masters tooSaturday March 27, 2010 11:52
11:52 TWO more powersets as well!Saturday March 27, 2010 11:52
11:53 first there was a joke of "Clown Summoning" showing an image of Pennywise from ITSaturday March 27, 2010 11:53
11:53 for real nowSaturday March 27, 2010 11:53
11:53 Kinetic Melee is added for Stalkers, Brutes, Scrappers, and TankersSaturday March 27, 2010 11:53
11:53 Electric Control for controllers and dominatorsSaturday March 27, 2010 11:53
11:54 All ten basic archetypes get a new powerset with this expansionSaturday March 27, 2010 11:54
11:54 Well have hands-on with a closed beta of Going Rogue for you in the next couple of weeks.Saturday March 27, 2010 11:54
11:55 A video was shown of Kinetic Melee, and screenshots of Electric Control, which we'll also have for you early next weekSaturday March 27, 2010 11:55
11:55 ISSUE 19: INCARNATES is announced nextSaturday March 27, 2010 11:55
11:56 All the details will come after Going RogueSaturday March 27, 2010 11:56
11:56 Incarnate System will be 10 Incarnate levelsSaturday March 27, 2010 11:56
11:56 the first level will be available in Going Rogue, along with new incarnate abilitiesSaturday March 27, 2010 11:56
11:56 Issue 19 will bring 9 more levels and more abilitiesSaturday March 27, 2010 11:56
11:57 New Rewards, new Zone Events, and the "End Game system"Saturday March 27, 2010 11:57
11:57 Going Rogue will be required to play the End Game systemSaturday March 27, 2010 11:57
11:57 Q&A Started next, with Em starting thingsSaturday March 27, 2010 11:57
11:58 She asked Jesse for Paragon's general philosophy of how to keep the game freshSaturday March 27, 2010 11:58
11:59 Jesse: "We want to continue to build on systems and listen to YOU to help continue to grow and stay the #1 superhero MMO"Saturday March 27, 2010 11:59
11:59 Q: When was Going Rogue born as a concept?Saturday March 27, 2010 11:59
12:00 Jesse: It was originally going to launch with "Issue 6"Saturday March 27, 2010 12:00
12:00 But they werent happy with the level they were able to bring it to, so delayed it until technology got there.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:00
12:00 David talked a bit more about Praetoria, which will include all glass facadesSaturday March 27, 2010 12:00
12:01 "We're trying to tell the design story better, everything is very specifically keyed to the zone it is in"Saturday March 27, 2010 12:01
12:01 Q: Favorite additions to the game since launch?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:01
12:01 David: ULTRA MODE!Saturday March 27, 2010 12:01
12:02 Matt: Going Rogue system, a lot of fun, especially for level 50sSaturday March 27, 2010 12:02
12:02 Melissa: Praetoria, being that she built it from ground up; "you won't recognize this is City of Heroes visually"Saturday March 27, 2010 12:02
12:03 Caceres: "The Flashback system"Saturday March 27, 2010 12:03
12:04 Q: Is Hamodon contained or defeated? and will we ever see him?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:04
12:04 A: he is contained, but you won't see him, at least not yetSaturday March 27, 2010 12:04
12:05 Q: Any plans for PvP getting some changes?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:05
12:06 A: It is something on the slate, but it will be a couple of Issues from now. Base Raids, Items of Power are also planned on being repurposed but fixed.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:06
12:06 Q: With Going Rogue, how will heroes and villains markets work?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:06
12:07 A: They won't be merged, but individual problems will be addressed for characters that are switching.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:07
12:09 The next fan had a question about pay models, and how they decided to do the subscription model they useSaturday March 27, 2010 12:09
12:10 Miller explained that NCSoft has experimented with several business models for their different games, and this one fits this specific game; it's just behind-the-scenes business decisions to make sure they're keeping the quality levels highSaturday March 27, 2010 12:10
12:11 Q: With supergroups, how will the new alignment system with members deciding to go rogue affect the supergroups?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:11
12:11 A: If you switch sides, you get temporarily removed from your group; if you switch back, you're back with all your prestige included.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:11
12:13 You MAY be able to join a villain group along with a hero group, but they're not sure yet.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:13
12:13 Q: Any plans to revisit old hazard zones?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:13
12:14 Bianco Yes, they do revisit sometimes, but only when it makes sense; they like creating new one a lot more.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:14
12:14 Q: Will difficulty go up with Going Rogue?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:14
12:14 A: Not as much in Going Rogue, but "you'll like the Incarnate System"Saturday March 27, 2010 12:14
12:15 Issue 17 will change Defenders inherent system to make them solo betterSaturday March 27, 2010 12:15
12:17 Storylines that mentioned praetoria will get updated in Issue 19 to reflect the events that happen in Praetoria between now and then.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:17
12:17 Energizing Ion, and other fans wondering about why no Market Merge, they did say that there are reasons with database issues that would create problems.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:17
12:18 Q: Any plans for other games set in the City of Heroes universe, like single-player games?Saturday March 27, 2010 12:18
12:19 A: We can't comment on future plans other than what we've talked about here.Saturday March 27, 2010 12:19
12:20 More maps ARE coming with Issue 17 and with Going Rogue for mission architect, though they couldn't specify an exact amount.
Saturday March 27, 2010 12:20
12:22 there are other new powersets "on the whiteboard" that will make it into future expansions, including staff use
Saturday March 27, 2010 12:22
12:25 That's all for now, folks! If you didn't get your question answered, never fear, we'll be doing an extensive interview with the dev team soon. Thanks for reading!
Link above will take you to the original article and thanks again to Newsarama.com for covering it.
(Disclaimer for safety, none of that above is my reporting)
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