Ironic how history seems to repeat itself. Last year, NCsoft bought the City of Heroes intellectual property (IP) from Cryptic Studios. Now, Cryptic Studios has bought the Champions and Dark Champions IP from DOJ instead of merely licensing the game universe from the latter company (Note that Cryptic Studios has licensed but not bought the Hero System IP from DOJ.).

Cryptic, however, is licensing the rights of that IP back to DOJ in perpetuity. The reason? To print RPG books of the Champions Online universe. The two companies will be working closely together to insure that content for both the MMORPG and the books remain consistent.

Below is a list of miscellaneous info revealed regarding Cryptic Studios' Champions Online:

• It will reportedly not be a Hero System MMORPG.
• There are plans for an "unprecedented level of character customizability" in the game.
• It will reportedly have a create-your-own nemesis feature.
• the DOJ books may have some useful info for players of the MMO.
• Champions Online will purportedly take place on a worldwide scale setting.
• The art style will apparently be a combination of 3D and cel shading.
• Champions Online has been scheduled for a 2009 release.