No, what is interesting about this is that the job poster is Cryptic Studios - home of quality MMOs Champions Online and Star Trek Online that - thus far - run on PC & Xbox 360 platforms.

"We have developed a flexible, cutting edge MMO platform to power games like Champions and Star Trek Online. It runs on PC and XBOX 360 - now we want to support PS3 too"

If you were thinking of applying (you will need to know about "Exploiting SPU parallelism", so don't bother if you glaze over even thinking about what that might mean) please remember that it is NOT Ok to contact Cryptic about other services, products or commercial interests.

Full Time PS3 Engine Programmer Needed – Game Studio [Craigslist - thanks to Traitor Jack for the tip]

“Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we’re thrilled to have him join our team,” said John Needham, Chief Executive Officer for Cryptic Studios. “His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio’s vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay.”

The news comes about four months after the publisher of Hellgate went belly up and Roper broke down why the shooter, MMO, RPG didn’t do so well. Hellgate, which seems totally rudderless now, officially closes its doors on Jan. 31.

“Cryptic has experienced huge growth over the past year and has exciting opportunities ahead of it,” said Bill Roper, Design Director, Cryptic Studios. “The company knows how to choose compelling IPs that have rich histories such as Champions and Star Trek. I’m looking forward to working with the team.”

Cryptic Studios Hires Industry Veteran Bill Roper

Los Gatos, CA – November 3, 2008 – Cryptic Studios™, one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced today that Bill Roper has joined the company as Design Director and will be working on Champions Online™.

“Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we’re thrilled to have him join our team,” said John Needham, Chief Executive Officer for Cryptic Studios. “His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio’s vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay.”

“Cryptic has experienced huge growth over the past year and has exciting opportunities ahead of it,” said Bill Roper, Design Director, Cryptic Studios. “The company knows how to choose compelling IPs that have rich histories such as Champions and Star Trek. I’m looking forward to working with the team.”

As a 14-year game industry veteran, Roper has worked directly on numerous top selling titles, including the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo series. He joined Blizzard Entertainment in 1994 to work in sound, music and voiceover, eventually being appointed as Vice President of Blizzard North and a Director of Blizzard Entertainment where he managed all external projects and coordinated internal development teams. In 2003, Roper co-founded Flagship Studios and Ping0 where he held the role of CEO for five years and oversaw the launch of Hellgate: London and development of Mythos.

Cryptic Studios, headquartered in Los Gatos, is currently in production of two highly anticipated MMO action games, Champions Online and Star Trek® Online. Champions Online, based on the popular Champions™ pen-and-paper RPG and published by 2K Games, will give players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe. Set in the year 2409, Star Trek Online will allow players to immerse themselves in the future of the Star Trek universe, exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations in an ever expanding vast universe.

For more information about Cryptic Studios, please log onto www.crypticstudios.com

About Cryptic Studios
Cryptic Studios, Inc., based in Los Gatos, CA, and established in July 2000, is one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online games. Cryptic is developing three major titles for the PC and current generation consoles, including Star Trek Online, Champions Online and an unannounced project. Cryptic Studios is an independent, employee-owned company committed to delivering the next level of MMOG gameplay. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit www.crypticstudios.com

Players will definitely be given full control. A large portion of starship combat in Star Trek Online is tactical – maneuvering your ship into position so you protect your vital systems as you attack your opponent's weakest side. You need to be “in control” of your ship in order for that to work well and be fun.

Exactly! Nice to see Cryptic understands where their prospective players are coming from. The latest update also goes over the skill-based melee combat, even mentioning a certain Vulcan maneuver that is sure to have fans of the pointy-eared logic-addicts grabbing ineffectually at collarbones for days to come.

Ask Cryptic (October 27, 2008) [Star Trek Online via Eurogamer]

Based on the tabletop RPG Champions, the game offers highly customizable player characters complete with back story and a unique Nemesis system that lets you design an arch enemy for your caped (or not! IT'S UP TO YOU!) crusader.

The beta kicks off in mid-November, with the full game expected in the spring. No word yet if your beta characters will be transferable to the retail title so best not get too attached, just in case.

Champions Online beta signups [Champions Online via Gamershell]

Ask Cryptic (September 17, 2008) [Official Site]

Back in January, development of this game went from Perpetual Entertainment to an unnamed studio, which around March sounded like it could be Cryptic. I guess we now know that it is. You might want to check back to Cryptic's site (or ours) after midnight PDT for the final word. Either this is a case of Cryptic HR as the left hand not knowing what Cryptic marketing on the right is doing, or they faced an early deadline with this ad, and figured no one would notice before the clock hit zero.

Cryptic Studios is Hiring ... for Star Trek Online! [Massively, via Joystiq, thanks Travis]

“2K Games is a terrific publishing partner for Champions Online,” said John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios. “Cryptic is proud that Champions Online will be 2K’s first MMO title and we look forward to working together towards a tremendous launch next year.”

An interesting move on the part of Take-Two's publishing arm, delving into this new industry segment while TT is still being eyed like a giant cartoon roast chicken by EA. I suppose it doesn't hurt to baste every now and then.

2K Games to Publish Cryptic Studios’ Upcoming MMO Champions Online™

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that it will be the North American and international publisher for Cryptic Studios’™ highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) action game, Champions Online™, being developed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft* and Games for Windows®. Champions Online is scheduled for release in spring of 2009.

“2K Games is excited to work with such a talented group as Cryptic Studios,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Given their stellar pedigree and amazing grasp of the MMO genre, we are confident that Champions Online will deliver an innovative and exciting action MMO experience to gamers.”

Cryptic Studios, based in Los Gatos, CA and established in July 2000, is one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online games for Windows PC and current generation systems. As an independent, employee-owned company, Cryptic is committed to delivering high quality, innovative cross platform MMO gameplay. Cryptic is best known as the creator of the award-winning City of Heroes® and City of Villains™ MMO titles. Based on the popular Champions™ pen-and-paper RPG, Champions Online will give players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe.

“2K Games is a terrific publishing partner for Champions Online,” said John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios. “Cryptic is proud that Champions Online will be 2K’s first MMO title and we look forward to working together towards a tremendous launch next year.”

Champions Online is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, log onto www.champions-online.com

While rumors abound that Cryptic Studios—now hard at work on Champions Online—were picking up the license, various sites are pointing more fingers at the Bay Area dev, with TrekMovie.com calling it "confirmed." It sounds like it's pretty much a done deal. Now all we need is the official word.

Cryptic Confirmed As New Developer for Star Trek Online [TrekMovie via GameSpot]

RED ALERT! CAPTAIN EMMERT TO THE BRIDGE! [w00tStudios - thanks, Mike!]

Nothing has been shown of the massively multiplayer online game save a pre-rendered teaser trailer since it was announced in September of last year, but Microsoft Game Studios and developer Cryptic clearly had high hopes for MUO. According to 1UP's report, "serious, potentially stalling, development troubles" may be responsible for reps at MS and Cryptic being mum on its progress.

That Cryptic recently sold intellectual property rights to the City of Heroes franchise, losing a portion of development staff in tandem, may have something to do with MUO's rumored problems.

As of right now, it's all unofficial and Microsoft doesn't seem to be providing any fresh details on the game. Keep your eyes on it though, as Marvel Universe Online's prognosis doesn't sound too promising.

Is Marvel Universe Online Dead? [1UP]

Matt Miller, Lead Designer on the City of Heroes project and formerly with Cryptic Studios said, "We're thrilled to be bringing the CoH franchise to the next level. And we couldn't be more pleased to be working completely under the NCsoft banner. We feel that City of Heroes' best days are in front of it."

NCsoft Announces New Studio in North California; Takes Full Ownership of Successful City of Heroes Property

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 6, 2007—NCsoft® Corp, the world's leading developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the formation of a new development studio in Mountain View, California. The announcement comes as the company begins a renewed push to further develop the City of Heroes® property, which is now 100 percent owned by NCsoft. Previous to today, ownership of the intellectual property (IP) was split between NCsoft and Cryptic Studios, the original developer of the project.

The new studio will be built around key members of the City of Heroes team from NCsoft and Cryptic Studios including the art, programming and design team leads.

"We're happy to announce that NCsoft has acquired full ownership of the City of Heroes IP," said Brian Clayton, NCsoft executive producer and manager of the new studio. "Our plans are clear. We are now in a position to make a major reinvestment in the City of Heroes product line. With our existing Cryptic and NCsoft team as the core, we will be able to run our current service without any interruption to our players, expand our studio to deliver triple-A content, and take City of Heroes to new heights."

NCsoft will soon be announcing formal plans for the City of Heroes IP, which will include expansions and sequels to the popular comic-book inspired massively multiplayer online (MMO) game.

Matt Miller, Lead Designer on the City of Heroes project and formerly with Cryptic Studios said, "We're thrilled to be bringing the CoH franchise to the next level. And we couldn't be more pleased to be working completely under the NCsoft banner. We feel that City of Heroes' best days are in front of it."

For more information about City of Heroes, go to http://www.cityofheroes.com.

"Our goal is to foster a community of animators by providing them the power to generate animations without having to worry about supporting a toolset. Since we were already developing the rig for our core technology team, we decided to release it to the public under the GNU GPL," said Shayne Herrera, Art Development Director for Cryptic Studios. "We feel that the development and gaming communities will benefit greatly from a professional tool like the Cryptic AR."

CRYPTIC STUDIOS RELEASES CRYPTIC ANIMATION RIG

Free Cryptic Animation Rig Now Available Under the GNU General Public License

LOS GATOS, CA - May 11, 2007 - Cryptic Studios, Inc., an independent developer of massively multiplayer online games, announced today its proprietary Cryptic Animation Rig (Cryptic AR) is now available free for download under the GNU General Public License.

"Our goal is to foster a community of animators by providing them the power to generate animations without having to worry about supporting a toolset. Since we were already developing the rig for our core technology team, we decided to release it to the public under the GNU GPL," said Shayne Herrera, Art Development Director for Cryptic Studios. "We feel that the development and gaming communities will benefit greatly from a professional tool like the Cryptic AR."

Cryptic AR allows animators of all experience levels to familiarize themselves with the same tools used in a professional development environment. Unlike other free animation rigs, Cryptic AR is not an approximation of production tools, but the very tools currently being used to produce next-gen game visuals at Cryptic Studios.

"We decided to add the ability to switch and create character skins called 'IDs,' or 'identities,'" said Sean Burgoon, animator and creator of the Cryptic AR. "Cryptic AR version 1.0 ships with three IDs and we plan to release more on a regular basis. We are encouraging user-submitted IDs through the animation community we are creating on our web site."

The Cryptic AR web site will also have forums to serve as the community home for aspiring AR animators. The forums will act as a place to inspire continued creativity in users and support animation needs.

Cryptic AR version 1.0 is now available for download at www.crypticar.com.

The game, first announced at ComicCon earlier this year, will be developed by Cryptic Studios, the team behind City of Heroes, for Windows Vista and the Xbox 360 and will support "seamless play" between the two platforms.
Kirshen said Marvel decided to go with Microsoft because they wanted a console publisher who was a first party and had experience with computer games as well.

"It was a natural fit for us," he said, adding that they are "delighted" to have Cryptic as the developer.
Emmert said that his team at Cryptic Studios has been working on the MMO for awhile now.

" We are focusing on trying to get the action style game play that console players expect and want," he said. "I really want to create a game that is distinct and unique."

While the game will allow both Vista and 360 gamers to play on the same server, one version will not be a port of another, Marvel's Kirshen said.

"Jack's team is working very diligently to make sure the PC game does not feel like a port of the console or the console is a port of the PC game," he said. "They are designing the game to be functional and fun. That's a huge challenge but I can't think of anyone else who can tackle that."

I asked the Microsoft Game Studio's Pape why they would want to get into the massively multiplayer online market when it is currently so dominated by World of Warcraft.

Not only is Microsoft Games not worried about World of Warcraft, Pape said, the game's tremendous success is one of the motivations for getting into the market.

"For us that is the impetus to make this game," he said. "We have always looked at the space, looked at the Everquests, at the games coming out, the Star Wars Galaxies," he said. "Ultimately you see a lot of the same things."

"When you look at it the World of Warcraft, it is a great game, but it has been a black hole, it has subsumed a large part of the audience," he said. "Marvel breaths fresh breath into the space."

"We believe that the Marvel IP transcends what you have seen before in this genre and will fresh life into massively multiplayer online games."

Kirshen added that World of Warcraft taps a very specific fantasy genre.

"If I was working for an IP with a medieval fantasy property it wouldn't behoove anyone to go out there and be against World of Warcraft," he said. "But the Marvel Universe is based in the real world of today. Super heroes are a fantasy, but it's a very different kind of fantasy."

And, while Marvel hasn't made any specific announcements about where gameplay might take place, there's always the possibility it won't in big cities.

"The Marvel Universe isn't just super heroes running around in big cities," he said. "We have Thor and Asgard, we have Atlantis and we have the Midnight Suns and the other dark slices of Marvel."

That depth is something that Emmert is looking forward to tapping into.

"Our passion for Marvel comics is pretty well known, especially my own," he said. "We wanted to do this thing because of our love of Marvel comics. The main thing we can't stress enough is the breadth of the Marvel Universe. Their entire history is at our disposal."

While Emmert is vocal fan of Marvel, Marvel has not always been a vocal fan of Emmert.

In November, 2004 Marvel Entertainment sued Cryptic Studios and NCSoft, accusing them of designing City of Heroes in a way that allowed gamers to create characters that look like the famed heroes of the Marvel Universe.

When asked about it during my interview, Emmert called the whole thing "water under the bridge."

"The reality is that was just business, Marvel wants to protect its IP which is terrific," he said. "They make their living off Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine. I appreciate that protection."

NCSoft, publishers of City of Heroes and City of Villains, declined to comment on the "business dealings of an independent company such as Cryptic Studios."

They did say that they expect to continue working with Cryptic on developing and maintaining both games.

"NCsoft is committed to delivering to its customers the best games possible and this news from Cryptic Studios should in no way affect the high-quality product that the fans of City of Heroes and City of Villains have come to expect," they wrote in a prepared statement. "The "City of" franchise recently released its seventh major content update in the summer and the next free expansion is scheduled to be released later this year. Additional details of future plans for City of Heroes and City of Villains have been spelled out by Cryptic's lead designer, Matt Miller, in an address to the game's community."

Robert Garriott, CEO of NCSoft North America, called the City franchise "an exceptional product."

"City of Heroes and City of Villains have cornered the market on comic-book themed massively multiplayer online games and any competition for this space is several years away," he wrote, "so these games still have a lot of open field running to do."