We sat down with Champions Online Producer Rob Overmeyer to get his thoughts on the Free for All update and Cryptic's future plans for the game.

ZAM: The change in payment format was but one part of the re-launch of Champions Online. What other major changes were implemented?

Overmeyer: We changed the leveling progression from levels 1-18. We made Westside in Millennium City the neighborhood you start exploring following the Qularr invasion in the Tutorial. After that, you’ll head to an improved early Desert experience. The missions and stories from Westside to the Radiation Pools in the Desert have been updated and tell a better story about those locations.

We also took a good, hard look at our power systems. One of the largest changes was to the Force power set. Several frameworks got buffed up and some gained new abilities that improved the overall framework and added more utility.

Then, we gave the UI a serious update. We gave it a new look, improved how we display information, and have given players more tools to customize their UI.

ZAM: If a veteran player came back today, what do you think would surprise them most outside of the new archetype features?

Overmeyer: If I had to pick from all the changes we’ve made over the past few months, I think it would be the content and powers changes. Pretty much anything a vet sees will be new and improved.

ZAM: When it comes to new players, have you changed any content to make it more inviting for beginners?

Overmeyer: We absolutely changed content to make Champions Online more inviting to new players. Starting in the Tutorial, we have updated the way we inform players about the basics of the game. A player will no longer have to click through various extra contact dialogs to learn about basic game mechanics. We use pop-ups that are contextually relevant to what you are doing.

Following the Tutorial, you will find yourself in Millennium City in the heart of the Renaissance Center, with a mission to speak to Defender. He will guide you through what Ren Cen has to offer and get you on your way to defeating baddies in Westside.

Starting in the city following the Qularr invasion and playing missions that are relevant to that recent invasion offers an improved and smoother transition than before.

ZAM: Are there plans to add new powers and Archetypes to the game?

Overmeyer: We have a lot of plans to keep growing the game and building powers and frameworks that Champs players want to see.

You can expect to see new Archetypes regularly. We get a lot of suggestions from players, and usually we are thinking along the same lines for what would be really cool to get in the game. One of the Archetypes we will be releasing in the near future is the Devastator. This Archetype will be using powers from the Heavy Weapon framework. Players have been asking for a Heavy Weapon Archetype since launch, so we’re really excited to get that to them.

ZAM: Will most new content be released as purchasable adventure packs, or can Silver players expect to see new zones and content as well?

Overmeyer: We will have some purchasable content for Silver Players but we also have plans to keep updating and building content for free. We want to grow and improve the game for everyone to enjoy.

ZAM: Can you give us any hints about future Champions Online content?

Overmeyer: We have a lot on deck and some really cool things that are in the design phase. Nothing is close enough to launch to talk about just yet, but I can say we are excited to get players more of what they like and what they have been asking for.

Generally, though, we will be adding new PvP maps and game types for our PvP community. We will be updating our existing instances to scale with team size. This will make our instances feel more alive and allow you to dish out even more justice. We are also working on Lair reviews that include Boss updates and an easier way to find and group with players for Lairs.