Champions Online Interview

Ars Technica has published an article-style Champions Online interview they conducted with Cryptic Studios' Bill Roper during this year's E3.
However, in a market that's already pretty crowded, how does a developer make a product that not only stands out from the crowd, but is capable of attracting new players? While the game is set to include a number of interesting features such as unique environments, complete character customization, and the ability to create a unique nemesis in order to serve as an arch-enemy to your hero Cryptic is working to embrace a class of players that most MMORPGs don't: the solo player who just isn't that much of a people person.

"We've worked hard to strike a balance between getting solo players into the game easily while also ensuring that our hardcore players have some real challenges and long-term goals in front of them," Roper said. If a hero wants to be a lone wolf and fight crime all on their own, they can easily do so. Advanced players that want the ultimate challenges, however, will join teams and form super groups to assault villain hideouts and lairs which are designed for multiple heroes... the career of a single hero is an exciting path, and we've done a lot of work to make it interesting and engaging, with over 900 missions to possibly uncover and explore. There are numerous small story arcs that occur for all players across the game represented in the various mission chains. There are also six major, overarching global story arcs that span all the zones in the world."