Developer Diaries

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Overview

Developer Diaries (or "Dev Diaries") were a commonly-used format for the developers of City of Heroes to introduce, explain, and provide behind-the-scenes information on new features which were soon to be added to the game. Some of these were posted on the official City of Heroes Web site, but many were also used as publicity tools on third-party gaming Web sites.

Alternately, game review Web sites frequently contacted Cryptic Studios and Paragon Studios for exclusive Q&A Interviews. These were often simple questionnaires that were submitted and replied to via e-mail, but other times were actual face-to-face interviews at conventions or in the studio offices.

This article gives a list of the various Dev Diaries, interviews, and reviews published during the development of City of Heroes, as well as when and where they appeared, and who wrote them.

Dev Diaries


Subject / Title

Author

Source

Date
Official
Announcement
Third-Party
Content
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 1
Jack Emmert
IGN
July 23, 2003
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 2
Jack Emmert
IGN
August 20, 2003
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 3
Jack Emmert
IGN
September 17, 2003
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 4
Jack Emmert
IGN
October 15, 2003
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 5
Jack Emmert
IGN
November 12, 2003
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 6
Jeremy Gaffney
IGN
December 10, 2003
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 7
Brian Clayton
IGN
January 7, 2004
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 8
Tosh Toida, QA Lead
IGN
February 4, 2004
City of Heroes Diary, Vol. 9
Michael Lewis
IGN
March 3, 2004
"Weaving the Threads: Storytelling in City of Heroes"
Gamasutra
September 24, 2004
Invention System
MMORPG.com
March 5, 2007
Inventing Wings
MMORPG.com
April 17, 2007
Issue 10
Ten Ton Hammer
July 31, 2007
"Standing Apart in a Crowd: Weapon Customization
Ten Ton Hammer
October 11, 2007
"You Are What You Are at Launch"
Gamasutra
February 21, 2008
Issue 12
PlayNC
March 12, 2008
Giving The Hollows a Makeover
Ten Ton Hammer
March 19, 2008
Issue 12: The Midnight Hour and Me
MMORPG.com
April 30, 2008
Massively
May 1, 2008
"Stretching the Genre: Creating Cimerora"
Ken Morse, Senior Art Lead
Ten Ton Hammer
May 19, 2008
Issue 13
GameSpy
August 27, 2008
Issue 13 PvE Power Changes
City of Heroes.com
October 2, 2008
Designing Issue 13's Day Jobs Feature
City of Heroes.com
October 9, 2008
Issue 13 New Missions
Ten Ton Hammer
October 29, 2008
"A Circle of Fifths" --
Designing the 5th Anniversary Task Forces
Ten Ton Hammer
May 27, 2009
"A Paragon of Customization" --
Character Customization in Issue 15
Massively
Ten Ton Hammer
June 9, 2009
Signature Rogues
City of Heroes.com
July 14, 2009
Power Customization
MMORPG.com
August 6, 2009
Power Set Proliferation
MMORPG.com
Ten Ton Hammer
August 13, 2009
August 14, 2009
Going Rogue ViDoc #1: Prelude to Going Rogue
YouTube
June 1, 2010
"How John Woo Inspired My Gun Fu" (Dual Pistols)
Nelson Tam
Massively
June 1, 2010
Demon Summoning
MMORPG.com
June 3, 2010
The Moral Genesis of Going Rogue
Massively
June 10, 2010
The Making Of: Super Booster V: Mutant
PC Gamer
June 24, 2010
Going Rogue ViDoc #2: Between Good and Evil
YouTube
June 29, 2010
Going Rogue ViDoc #3: The Consequence of Power
YouTube
July 27, 2010
"Be Water, My Friend" -- How We Made Kinetic Melee
PC Gamer
July 29, 2010
"Electric Slide" (Electric Control)
PC Gamer
August 5, 2010
Going Rogue ViDoc #4: Brave New World
YouTube
August 11, 2010
The Alignment System
Shawn "Pit" Pitman
Going Rogue.com
September 24, 2010
Going Rogue: New power sets, new enemies, new problems
Massively
October 20, 2010
Issue 19 Task Forces
Massively
October 27, 2010
"Challenging the Gods" (Incarnates)
Massively
November 11, 2010
Designing the expanded Incarnate trees
Massively
March 24, 2011
Designing the task forces for Issue 20
Massively
March 31, 2011
Issue 21: First Ward Concept Art
Gilbert "El Topo" Martinez
PC Gamer
August 16, 2011
Issue 21: Giant Monsters
Gilbert "El Topo" Martinez
PC Gamer
August 16, 2011
Issue 21: Rogues Gallery
Gilbert "El Topo" Martinez
PC Gamer
September 8, 2011
Signature Story Arc ViDoc #1: Who Will Die
YouTube
September 30, 2011
Signature Story Arc ViDoc #2: The Heroes of the Freedom Phalanx
YouTube
January 3, 2012
Signature Story Arc ViDoc #3: The Freedom Phalanx
YouTube
January 12, 2012
Issue 22: Designing Dilemma Diabolique
Chris "Baryonyx" Behrens
PC Gamer
February 22, 2012
Issue 22: Balancing story and combat in Bloody Bay
Cord "Think Tank" Carney
PC Gamer
February 28, 2012
Issue 22: Designing Darkness Control
PC Gamer
March 9, 2012
Design insights from the Magisterium Trial
Massively
May 31, 2012
Life after Statesman -- The aftermath of a major lore change
PC Gamer
June 1, 2012

Q&A Interviews and Reviews


Subject / Title

Interviewee

Source

Date
Official
Announcement
Third-Party
Content
Cryptic Studios Introduction
N/A
IGN
November 2, 2000
City of Heroes Announcement
N/A
IGN
September 26, 2001
City of Heroes
GameSpy
October, 2001
Link (4 pages)
City of Heroes
GameSpot
October 8, 2001
City of Heroes
ESCmag
December 17, 2001
City of Heroes
IGN
January 3, 2002
E3 2002 Preview
N/A
IGN
May 24, 2002
City of Heroes
Rick Dakan
GamersClick
May 29, 2002
Community Relations
Aura Manning
Stratics
October, 2002
City of Heroes
Michael Lewis
The Adrenaline Vault
February 10, 2003
City of Heroes Preview
N/A
GameSpy
December 27, 2003
City of Heroes Preview Part 2
Michael Lewis
HomeLAN
March 12, 2004
Powers Development
Al Rivera
Boomtown
April 14, 2004
City of Heroes vs. The Competitors
Michael Lewis
FileFront
April 20, 2004
Link (Page 1 only)
City of Heroes Review
N/A
Games Domain
April 30, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
GamersPulse
May 3, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
GameSpot
May 5, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
ESCmag
May 11, 2004
City of Villains
Chris Julian
IGN
May 13, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
IGN
May 28, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
GameSpy
May 30, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
The Gamers' Temple
May 30, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
ActionTrip
June 3, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
Gaming Nexus
June 3, 2004
Issue 1
IGN
June 9, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
GamerzAlliance
June 14, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
The Adrenaline Vault
June 16, 2004
City of Heroes and Issue 1
Chris Julian
HomeLAN
June 28, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
Worthplaying
July 3, 2004
City of Heroes and Issue 1
Jack "Statesman" Emmert
Brian Clayton
Kevin Sullivan
GameDAILY
July 12, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
1UP
July 27, 2004
Issue 2 Preview
N/A
GameSpy
July 30, 2004
City of Heroes
Unknown Devs
GamerGod
July 31, 2004
City of Heroes
The Armchair Empire
August 2, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
Boomtown
August 9, 2004
Issue 2
Kevin Sullivan
GameSpy
August 19, 2004
Capes
GameSpy
August 20, 2004
City of Heroes Review
N/A
GamesFirst
August 25, 2004
City of Heroes
MMO Radio / GameAmp
August 26, 2004
City of Heroes Wrap Report
IGN
August 30, 2004
Issue 2
JIVE Magazine
September 16, 2004
City of Heroes and City of Villains
IGN
September 27, 2004
Link (Login required)
Issue 3 Preview
N/A
GameSpy
December 3, 2004
Issue 3
Experience Gaming
January 13, 2005
Link (Page 1 only)
Issue 4 Preview
N/A
GameSpy
March 10, 2005
City of Villains
N/A
Boomtown
May 23, 2006
City of Villains
N/A
IGN
May 25, 2005
Link (Login required)
City of Heroes Collectible Card Game
David Williams
IGN
June 6, 2005
City of Villains
GameSpot
June 22, 2005
City of Heroes Comic Book
Mark Waid
GameZone
June 23, 2005
City of Villains
Gamecloud
July 22, 2005
(Missing)
Issue 5 Preview
N/A
GameSpy
August 9, 2005
City of Villains
Boomtown
September 21, 2005
"Truth vs. Fiction: Entering and Leaving the Gaming Biz"
Gamasutra
January 25, 2006
Issue 7
MMORPG.com
February 23, 2006
New Lead Developer
Boomtown
May 20, 2006
"A View from Atlas Park"
WarCry
July 26, 2006
Issue 8
Ten Ton Hammer
August 24, 2006
(Missing)
Issue 8
GameSpot
August 29, 2006
Cryptic Studios Interview
FiringSquad
September 21, 2006
AGC Interview
MMORPG.com
September 26, 2006
Issue 8
Boomtown
October 4, 2006
Europe Meet & Greet Interview
Boomtown
October 12, 2006
Community Q&A #1
MMORPG.com
December 1, 2006
Cryptic Studios Recruitment
Various
MMORPG.com
December 22, 2006
Community Q&A #2
MMORPG.com
January 9, 2007
Alternative Revenue Models
IGN
January 24, 2007
Issue 9
MMORPG.com
February 13, 2007
GDC 2007
Warcry
March 16, 2007
"Social Rewards in MMOs"
MMORPG.com
March 20, 2007
CoH Community Quiz #3
WarCry
April 9, 2007
Comic Book Contest
The David Lawrence Show
April 18, 2007
Releasing the Cryptic Animation Rig
Shayne Herrera
MMORPG.com
May 16, 2007
CoH Community Quiz #4
WarCry
June 13, 2007
Issue 10
Positron (Developer)
GameDaily
June 28, 2007
Issue 10
Positron (Developer)
Ten Ton Hammer
July 3, 2007
Issue 11
Positron (Developer)
MMORPG.com
October 5, 2007
CoH Community Quiz #5
Boomtown
October 9, 2007
XP Curve Smoothing
Ten Ton Hammer
February 8, 2008
"Real Numbers"
CW Bennett
Ten Ton Hammer
February 14, 2008
In-Game Advertisements
Ten Ton Hammer
April 10, 2008
City of Heroes Costume Creator Review
N/A
EuroGamer
April 14, 2008
Issue 12
WarCry
April 21, 2008
Issue 12
City of Heroes Podcast
May 6, 2008
Issue 12
Split Infinity Radio
May 6, 2008
Link (Missing)
Issue 12
Boomtown
May 19, 2008
Issue 12
Brian Clayton
MMOABC
May 27, 2008
Issue 12
MMORPG.com
May 29, 2008
Link (live stream)
Comic Con Video Interview
MMORPG.com
August 6, 2008
Sale of City of Heroes and Issue 13
MMORPG.com
September 8, 2008
Issue 12 Guides and Issue 13 Preview
N/A
MMORPG.com
September 17, 2008
"Five Most Annoying Griefs"
N/A
Massively
September 18, 2008
Combining City of Heroes and City of Villains
IGN
September 19, 2008
Issue 13 - Power and Responsibility
Massively
September 25, 2008
Link (3 pages)
Issue 13 - New Era for PvP
Issue 13 - Super Boosters and Beyond
Issue 13
MMORPG.com
September 25, 2008
Issue 13
Ten Ton Hammer
September 26, 2008
"Ask a Dev"
City of Heroes.com
October 6, 2008
Issue 13 Power Changes
w00t Studios
October 7, 2008
Link (missing)
Issue 13 Power Set Preview
N/A
MMORPG.com
October 15, 2008
Issue 13
GameZone
October 28, 2008
Issue 13
Boomtown
November 11, 2008
"The Line Between Good and Evil"
Ten Ton Hammer
November 12, 2008
City of Heroes Universe Revisited
N/A
Ten Ton Hammer
November 28, 2008
Issue 13 and Keeping CoH Relevant
Joystiq
December 1, 2008
Issue 13
Gaming Nexus
December 3, 2008
City of Heroes "First Impression" Redux
N/A
Ten Ton Hammer
December 5, 2008
"Most Improved Game of 2008"
N/A
Massively
December 16, 2008
"Hands On with the City of Heroes Mac Client"
N/A
Massively
January 8, 2009
Mac Special Edition
MMORPG.com
January 9, 2009
Mac Special Edition
Apple Games
January 27, 2009
Link (2 pages)
Mission Architect Full Details
N/A
Massively
February 26, 2009
City of Heroes Architect Edition Preview
N/A
Ten Ton Hammer
March 2, 2009
Issue 14
Ten Ton Hammer
March 2, 2009
Mission Architect Review
N/A
Ten Ton Hammer
March 20, 2009
GDC09: Mission Architect In-Depth
Massively
April 6, 2009
Creation of Paragon Studios
Brian Clayton
Gamasutra
April 14, 2009
How to Manage Mission Architect
Gamasutra
April 16, 2009
Mission Architect Launch
Gamasutra
April 17, 2009
Fifth Anniversary
Gamervision
April 28, 2009
Fifth Anniversary
OMGRPG
April 28, 2009
Fifth Anniversary
Massively
Ten Ton Hammer
April 28, 2009
Fifth Anniversary
ZAM Network
April 28, 2009
Going Rogue
MMORPG.com
May 12, 2009
Issue 15
Boomtown
June 27, 2009
"Creating and Maintaining City of Heroes"
Gamasutra
July 27, 2009
Issue 16
MMORPG.com
July 29, 2009
Issue 16 and Going Rogue
Ten Ton Hammer
July 30, 2009
City of Heroes - Here to Stay!
Gamesource
August 18, 2009
"The Future of City of Heroes: Going Rogue"
GameSpy
August 31, 2009
Going Rogue
Ten Ton Hammer
September 18, 2009
Mission Architect Rewards
MMORPG.com
September 30, 2009
Mission Architect Guest Author Program
MMORPG.com
October 28, 2009
Balancing Ranged vs. Melee
MMORPG.com
November 13, 2009
"Big Heroes, Little Gods" (Mission Architect)
Joseph "Dr. Turgenev" Schweinzer
Matt "Positron" Miller
Dustin "Witch Engine" Stroud
The Escapist
December 22, 2009
Mission Architect
The MMO Gamer
January 10, 2010
New Lead Designer Interview
MMORPG.com
January 21, 2010
Mission Architect
Dr. Aeon (Developer)
GamePro
January 25, 2010
Mission Architect Guest Authors
Mercedes Lackey
Troy Hickman
Austin Grossman
GamePro
January 26, 2010
Going Rogue
Massive Online Gamer
February 20, 2010
Going Rogue
Ten Ton Hammer
February 21, 2010
Ultra Mode and Going Rogue
MMORPG.com
April 2, 2010
Praetoria
Ten Ton Hammer
April 2, 2010
Veteran Supergroup Interviews
ICONS
Fusion Force
Massively
April 28, 2010
Going Rogue
Ten Ton Hammer Live
May 2, 2010
Going Rogue
BigDownload
June 18, 2010
Going Rogue Preview
N/A
IGN
July 16, 2010
Going Rogue Preview
N/A
Ten Ton Hammer
July 28, 2010
Going Rogue
MMORPG.com
August 17, 2010
Going Rogue
PC Gamer
August 17, 2010
"Secrets to Six Years of Success"
Gamasutra
August 19, 2010
Going Rogue
the electric playground
August 23, 2010
PAX 2010 Review - Going Rogue
N/A
Newsarama
September 7, 2010
Going Rogue
games.on.net
September 17, 2010
Going Rogue Music
Jason Graves
The MMO Gamer
September 18, 2010
Issue 19
New York Post
November 8, 2010
"Looking Back and Forging Ahead"
Ten Ton Hammer
January 11, 2011
"Checking in with City of Heroes"
MMORPG.com
January 20, 2011
The Future of City of Heroes
Examiner.com
March 9, 2011
March 10, 2011
Melissa Bianco
GamingAngels
April 18, 2011
Issue 20
PC Gamer
April 19, 2011
Issue 20
Ten Ton Hammer
April 19, 2011
"After Seven Years, City of Heroes Still Flies"
Gamasutra
June 17, 2011
City of Heroes Freedom
Brian Clayton
Gamasutra
June 21, 2011
City of Heroes Freedom
Brian Clayton
MMORPG.com
July 1, 2011
City of Heroes Freedom
Ten Ton Hammer
July 26, 2011
City of Heroes Freedom
N/A
PC Gamer
November 27, 2011
Death of the Statesman
MMORPG.com
January 24, 2012
Issue 24
MMORPG.com
August 10, 2012
"Behind the Scenes of the Paragon Studios Shutdown"
Gamasutra
April 10, 2013
"Digging up the History of City of Heroes"
N/A
Massively OP
July 28, 2018
"City of Heroes' Launch History and the Marvel Lawsuit"
N/A
Massively OP
August 12, 2018
"City of Villains, Enhancement Diversification, and Going Rogue"
N/A
Massively OP
August 25, 2018

See Also