Disc Releases
Overview
As with most AAA ranked MMOs, the City of Franchise got it start as a disc released to retailers' racks in a box format. Since that initial launch (actually, the pre-order boxes came first), many varieties of shelf releases have been seen, both for City of Heroes, and its expansion, City of Villains.
Below is a listing of all known box releases that we have information of, and to our best knowledge, is a complete listing of all commercial releases of this game.
Commercial Releases
(In order of release)
City of Heroes Pre-Order
please see Pre-Order (City of Heroes) for full article
A pre-order code for CoH. 4 different version where obtainable from various retailers, each granting the owner a special sprint power and allowing them to participate in the 3 day head start.
(Release date needed)
City of Heroes
please see City of Heroes (Boxset) for full article
Released on April 27, 2004, this was the original commercial release of the game and start of the franchise. With it came the first version of the long neglected player's manual, a map, and a few NCsoft inserts (as well as the actual CD). When installed, the game would load up Issue 0 of the game.
City of Heroes (Europe)
please see City of Heroes (Deluxe) for full article
February 4th, 2005
City of Hero
please see City of Hero for full article
The failed Korean version of City of Heroes. (release date needs researching)
City of Heroes, Collector's Edition
please see Collector's Edition (City of Heroes) for full article
For the holiday season of 2004, this DVD edition of CoH showed up on shelves. It contained not only normal activation or upgrade codes, but also several bonus items like maps and comics, as well as in-game upgrades.
Bootleg Edition
please see Bootleg Edition for full article
A disc in a specialized paper sleeve, this version of CoH was created to be given out at conventions, and later sold at GameStops and EBgames for $1. For most intents and purposes, it was a trial version of the game. At the time of its use though, trial accounts where identical to normal ones, except that they only granted 14 days of play instead of 30. Unlike most trials, the Bootleg Edition didn't require a full version to be purchased though to subscribe and was marked as bootleg edition on the account management screen instead of just as a trial.
City of Villains Pre-Order
please see Pre-Order (City of Villains) for full article
Released several months before Issue 6 went live, this package granted its purchasers access to CoV Beta, one of 4 Arachnos Helmets, and access to the 3 day City of Villains head start.
(Release date needed)
City of Villains
please see City of Villains (Boxset) and Collector's Edition (City of Villains) for full articles
Billed as a separate game from City of Heroes, this edition was actually issue 6 and released on October 31st, 2005. Unlike all other releases, there where 2 versions of this box, the first, a regular activation/upgrade code with a slightly upgraded player's manual, the second, a DVD collectors similar to the one hero side had received almost exactly a year before.
Good Versus Evil
please see Good Versus Evil Edition for full article
A box containing a code that unlocked both CoH and CoV. It was initially released to Walmart only on September 29, 2006 as a special (most Walmarts wouldn't stock it for a month or two later though), and later released to normal retailers late January 2007.
City of Heroes, Game Card
please see Game Card for full article
Released on <date here, 2008> along with similar cards for Tabula Rasa (now defuncted) and eXteel, this edition is literally a game card similar to standard time cards and comes with no disc to install content with.
Mac Edition
please see Mac Special Edition for full article
An upcoming, online only, special release of the City of Franchise geared to Apple Users. At this time no plans for a box release have been listed and the codes for this version can only be purchased online. It is a regular account activation/upgrade code though and can be applied to an account regardless of actual OS used.