NowGamer speaks to Wes Yanagi, senior producer at SOE, about the company's upcoming MMO

Is the XP system a direct effort to attract a more casual audience to the MMO?
Not really. One of our fundamental goals is for our players to build their own legacy in the DC universe. Growth and progression are key mechanics to achieve this and provide a compelling 'hero's journey'.

DCUO has been dubbed a massively online action game – can you explain this?
Our combat feels more like a console action game rather than a traditional MMO. We want to deliver on a great superhero power fantasy, and the character's action/reaction feedback loop is a key component to this. When you push a button, you see it on screen with your character, and the environment reacts to your character's actions. In our game, you feel connected to your character through the action, which pays off on the power fantasy.

What does DC offer that other MMOs do not?
First off, it's the DC universe. Superman and Batman are probably the most well-known superheroes in the world. Being able to virtually step into a world you've grown up reading in the comics or seen in a movie is extremely exciting. Second, flushing out this world with actual comic creators like Jim Lee, Geoff Johns, and Marv Wolfman adds to the authenticity of the experience. Third, the visceral action combat takes the superpower fantasy to a level that hasn't been seen in the genre yet.

How did you find developing for PC and PS3 simultaneously?
Anytime you build something on multiple platforms, it adds a layer of complexity to the development process. However, the team is excited and committed to the potential of cross-platform play, so we're playing and addressing development issues on both platforms on a daily basis.

Do you think console gamers are ready for social gaming on this scale?
Absolutely. I think it's a natural progression of widespread online gaming on the console in general.

Was it difficult to map out the DC universe from scratch?
Yes and no. There's 75 years of content to pull from, so the challenge was really to agree on what aspects of the DC universe do we want to put into DCUO. In the end, we decided to build the 'ideal' version of the DC universe as a starting point so mainstream players can relate to the world. Clark Kent is Superman, Bruce Wayne is Batman, and so on.

What’s it like having Jim Lee on board?
One word – Awesome. In addition to being an extremely talented artist, Jim is also a huge MMO gamer, which has been invaluable in our collaboration with him. He understands what we're trying to build and can provide insightful feedback in all aspects of the game.

Locations have been announced but which famous faces will we see?
We aren't quite ready to reveal the full cast, but you'll definitely see a good range of heroes and villains like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, Joker all the way to Chang Tzu.

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