NCsoft Releases City of Heroes Issue 6, Bringing Player Controlled Heroes And Villains Together

NCsoft(R) North America announces the release of Issue 6: "Along Came a Spider," the latest expansion to City of Heroes(R). The expansion, provided by the game's developer, Cryptic Studios(TM), will offer exciting new content, graphics and technology upgrades. It will also pit heroes and villains into direct conflict as it opens the doors to new player-versus-player (PvP) zones that will be shared with characters from the soon to be released City of Villains(TM). Issue 6 is free to all current City of Heroes subscribers.

The new features offered in Issue 6 include three new PvP zones, graphical improvements such as water refraction and bloom lighting effects, improvements to super group management and other quality of life changes that will help bring City of Heroes and City of Villains into alignment.

Once City of Villains, the stand alone sequel to City of Heroes, is released next week, the PvP zones will be shared by both games, allowing open hostilities between heroes and villains. The PvP zones include Bloody Bay, an area featuring the Shivan villain group for players level 15 and above. Siren's Call, for players level 20 and above, has heroes defending a breach in the Paragon City(TM) War Wall, allowing villains to create a beachhead. Warburg, the third PvP zone, is a labyrinthine military compound where conflicts with villains can occur at every turn. It is designed for players level 30 and above.

"Issue 6 brings major improvements to City of Heroes and at long last allows player controlled heroes and villains to scrap," said Jack Emmert, Cryptic Studio's creative director. "Now heroes will have a game that looks better and plays better. But what I'm psyched about most is that heroes can use their energies to subdue real player controlled villains that will be lurking about. Villainous players should remember that crime doesn't pay."

Existing City of Heroes' customers can enjoy the new content from Issue 6 on its own, or purchase City of Villains and pay a single subscription price of $14.99 that includes both games.

City of Heroes, which was named "MMORPG Game of the Year" (2004) from Computer Gaming World and "2004 PC or Console Game of the Year" by Billboard Magazine, is available at most North American computer game retail outlets. The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. To purchase the game or other City of Heroes merchandise, go to https://www.PlayNC.com.

For more information about City of Heroes, Issue 6, go to: https://Cityofheroes.com. For more information about City of Villains, go to: https://cityofvillains.com.

About NCsoft

NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is part of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company launched two massively multiplayer titles on the same day last year, Lineage(R) II and City of Heroes, and in April of 2005 the hit game Guild Wars(R). In the coming months, NCsoft is poised to launch two more massively multiplayer titles: City of Villains and Auto Assault(TM). More information about NCsoft can be found at https://www.PlayNC.com.

About Cryptic Studios

Cryptic Studios, Inc., located in Los Gatos, California, was established in July of 2000 and is an independent developer of massively multiplayer online games for the PC and next generation consoles. Its first game, City of Heroes, launched in April 2004. The game takes place in a virtual world where thousands of people play simultaneously, take on the role of super-powered heroes, fight villains and help create a dynamic story in a visually-stunning, 3-D graphical world.

NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, Lineage, Guild Wars, Auto Assault and all associated NCsoft logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation. City of Heroes, City of Villains, Paragon City, Rogue Isles and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc. and NCsoft Corporation. Cryptic Studios is a trademark of Cryptic Studios, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.