I've never liked preorder bonuses much, especially when they're for downloadable content. IGN's Direct2Drive service gives early adopters of Champions Online (at least those who use the service) access to the game's open beta and an exclusive in-game item. The game launches September 1st, so IGN loyalists have a little less than a month to get their preorders in.
CHAMPIONS ONLINE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER ON DIRECT2DRIVE
-Pre-Order Gives Fans Access to the Open Beta and an Exclusive In-Game
Champions MECHANOPPENDAGE BACKPACK-
Brisbane, Calif. – August 3, 2009 – Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainment’s
digital download store, today announced the launch of a pre-order
program for the highly-anticipated MMORPG Champions Online from Atari,
Inc. and Cryptic Studios. Beginning today, fans can visit
Direct2Drive (
www.direct2drive.com) to purchase the game online before
it goes live on September 1st, 2009.
Fans who pre-order on Direct2Drive gain guaranteed access to the open
beta of Champions Online, which is hosted by IGN’s FilePlanet
(
www.fileplanet.com). In addition to beta access, this special
preorder delivers an exclusive in-game item – the Mechanoppendage
Backpack – a multi-armed, multi-use backpack ideal for on-the-go
gadgeteers and heroes who juggle ideas, experiments…and enemies!
“By offering the exclusive Mechanoppendage Backpack and Open Beta
access Direct2Drive is able to offer a tremendous value to our
pre-order consumers and fans of Champions Online,” said Sutton Trout,
Vice President of Content for Direct2Drive. “We look forward to
continuing our successful partnership with Cryptic Studios and Atari
with the launch of their highly anticipated new MMORPG.”
“Direct2Drive is a great partner for us,” said John Needham, CEO,
Cryptic Studios. “We have enjoyed working with IGN Entertainment to
bring our Champions Online open beta test to gamers around the world
and we’re excited to partner with Direct2Drive to digitally offer
Champions Online to fans this September.”
Powered by the groundbreaking Cryptic Engine, Champions Online brings
super heroism to the MMORPG with fast-paced, epic combat. A boundless
character creator takes the experience to the next level: players can
create any superhero they can possibly imagine from thousands of
possible costume pieces. But that’s only the beginning. Players can
even choose the appearance of their powers, from its color to where it
emanates. A player can complete his vision with the unique Nemesis
system, where the player crafts an arch enemy who will stalk him at
every turn.
ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS
Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of
massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next
level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and
consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more
information on Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at:
www.crypticstudios.com
ABOUT INFOGRAMES ENTERTAINMENT AND ATARI
The Infogrames group, including the Atari brand, is a global producer,
publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for
all market segments and all interactive game platforms including
consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony Computer Entertainment,
advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games
are sold in more than 60 countries through an international
distribution network and direct to consumers via
www.atari.com.
Atari’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original
franchises (Alone in the Dark, Test Drive, V-Rally, My Horse & Me,
Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc.),
publishing properties (The Witcher, Legendary, Race Pro etc.),
international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie
Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the
video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).
© 2008 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.
Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.
ABOUT DIRECT2DRIVE
Direct2Drive (D2D) is IGN Entertainment's digital download store
(
http://www.direct2drive.com and
http://www.direct2drive.co.uk)
.
Launched in October 2004, D2D allows consumers to conveniently
purchase and download the latest premium PC games, comics and anime
titles directly from the Web to their desktops. D2D's AAA roster of
leading game publishers includes Atari, Activision, Blizzard
Entertainment, Electronic Arts, NCsoft, Rockstar Games, SEGA, Sony
Online Entertainment, THQ, 2K Games, Ubisoft and Vivendi Universal
Games. Since the site’s launch, more than one million games have been
downloaded on Direct2Drive.
