Press Release: Paragon Chat Realignment

[Codewalker]

Important Announcement!
For immediate release.

Over the 9 months that Paragon Chat has been in operation, we have been closely observing the demographics of our target audience so that we can take their preferences into account. One thing we didn't expect was how much attention the project received from non-City of Heroes roleplayers, especially those hailing from a superpowered metropolis set in Michigan.

With the aid of several supercomputers, we used advanced datamining and hyperbolic extrapolation techniques to get a better feel for the situation. This data suggests that non-COH roleplayers using Paragon Chat outnumber former COH players by as much as ten to one. That certainly shocked us!

To help make these players feel more at home, we're rolling out a series of changes to Paragon Chat.

Phase 1 is already complete. Not only has the user interface been simplified, but with the 1.0 update we have introduced extra lag and stuttering in player movement.

Phase 2 involves upgrades to the game's graphics engine. The look is just dated, and not very representative of the source media. We have hired a crack team of graphics engineers, and they have spent literally tens of minutes coding a new graphics engine to replicate that unique comic book aesthetic that everyone knows and loves. We expect to integrate this new engine into Paragon Chat very Soon(TM). Here are some teaser images to whet your appetite - click on a thumbnail for a close up look!

https://chat.cohtitan.com/announce/atlas1-sm.jpg https://chat.cohtitan.com/announce/ouro1-sm.jpg
https://chat.cohtitan.com/announce/imperial1-sm.jpg https://chat.cohtitan.com/announce/stmartial1-sm.jpg

If the population keeps growing at its current rate, we will consider a Phase 3 and possible rebranding of the project to Millennium Chat. These are exciting times!

[AnimeMoose]

So the artwork will be this instead of the classic COX game?  I will admit that I am not a fan of this cell-shading style of artwork and it is one of the reasons I never got into Cham.... or however we are suppose to call  that other game.

[FloatingFatMan]

So the artwork will be this instead of the classic COX game?  I will admit that I am not a fan of this cell-shading style of artwork and it is one of the reasons I never got into Cham.... or however we are suppose to call  that other game.

Dude... Look at the date...

[alltrueist]

This is savage, but hilarious

[Golden Girl]

You'll need to update the character models too to make them look properly subhuman.

[Valtyr]

Thanks for this. It's just what I needed.

[Mothers_Love]

Nice try guys!  ;)

[AmberOfDzu]

I'm looking forward to the new Paragon Chat Cash Shop, too.

[duane]

The graphics do remind of champions, but that's ok.  It still looks like home.

Thank you for all your work and effort.   

[Azrael]

Ok.  Even Codewalker has a sense of humour.

However, if he goes for a 'frogman' stoop main character animation there'll be a mob with pitchforks and flaming torches...

Seriously though, just maybe Codewalker really is teasing here.  He's showing his 'chops' around the CoH engine.  Perhaps he can leave the render style as an option for those that like/dislike it to turn it on and off.

I'm surprised how effective it looked.  But CoH has better artwork and design underneath supporting it.

Hmm.  Intrigue.  What else could Codewalker and the team do in the future...if he can 'merely' do this to celebrate Apple's 40th birthday... :P

Azrael.

[AjD]

I've gotten to the point in my life where I can't stand april fools jokes, but I approve of this  ;)

[FloatingFatMan]

Oh god it's horrible. Funny ha ha joke, but can you please turn it off now? I don't have a sense of humour on April 1st. It's the first into the wood chipper, just before the damned pranksters. :P

[Soul Resonance]

But this can only be done AFTER all good things are brought to dust, yknow..build diver-I mean-balance reasons :P(Don't know how you nerf chat but I believe in you, CW :3).

[Megajoule]

I admit it, I laughed.

[LaughingAlex]

Barbaric but so funny.  I guess CoX had to load up on hallucinogens sometime :).

[Codewalker]

But this can only be done AFTER all good things are brought to dust, yknow..build diver-I mean-balance reasons :P(Don't know how you nerf chat but I believe in you, CW :3).

A limit on the number of chat messages sent per day, so that everyone has a fair chance to be heard.

[LaughingAlex]

Make sure to also release over powered items, wait a while for the cash from them to flow in and then nerf them to cater to some people everyone else hates :).  After all, lockboxes are the be-all-end all! :)

[LaughingAlex]

By the way is the unreliable local chats part of the joke?  Now i'm getting bad memories :(.  My local text keeps disappearing on everyone elses screens.

Edit: NVM doesn't seem to be any more than 1.0 transition, derp.

[Noyjitat]

Should of took full advantage of april fools and posted a convincing article about the deal being done. It would of been mean but still funny.

[Nyghtshade]

Should of took full advantage of april fools and posted a convincing article about the deal being done. It would of been mean but still funny.

I think "cruel" might be the word, actually.  Glad you didn't.   :)