• Character Creation
  • When you create a character, you must immediately choose between hero or villain, and you won't be able to alter this choice. Blakely, @IGN
  • Players can choose to create a character with very similar power types and power sources to existing DC Universe heroes and villains, or can create characters completely of their own free choosing. Cao, @GameSpy
  • Players can start with a certain archetype, like Green Lantern, and customize their character working from that base.  AGDC Panel, Massively, @Massively
  • Character creation will allow characters look humanoid, will not necessarily have to be Human. -Cao, @DCUOSource forums, 'Humans, what's so special...'
• Races
  • Player characters must be human, though they can be made to look very different.
  • The DC Universe doesn't have a lot over-sized characters, so while there is a choice between basic body types, it doesn't seem as if very large or very small characters are possible.  Jim Lee, IGN PC Interview, September 16, 2008, @IGN
  • Size and Mass of Player Characters is assumed to be the same. No physical pro/con for being smaller or larger. -Ask SOE #5
    

SOE Spokesman to DCUO Source on 12/3/2008 - "[t]he game is progressing nicely, and we're thrilled with the results so far. However, we have not announced a launch date."

• Release Date
  
  • Sometime in 2009, but expect later rather than earlier. Playstation, The Official Magazine, October 2008.
  • The current plan is a simultaneous PS3 and PC launch. Blakely, @Massively
  • Early 2010, or possibly late 2009 - Geoff Johns interview at @MTV
  • SOE Spokesman to DCUO Source on 12/3/2008 - "[t]he game is progressing nicely, and we're thrilled with the results so far. However, we have not announced a launch date."
• System Requirements
  • Anything that will run the Unreal 3 engine is the minimum specification. Cao, @GameSpy
    
    

• Questing - Cases & Capers
  
  • John Blakely mentions "character invested storylines." @IGN
  • Cases and Capers" appears to be the name of a class of quests found in DCUO. It appears as if heroes would work cases, while villains would perform capers. Blakely, @IGN
  • A quest system known as the "surplus model concept" seems to create quest content on the fly. John Blakely stated, " We're also using what we're calling a surplus model concept, which means as objectives spin up in the area, as you consume those objectives, they spawn more objectives. Case in point might be an armored car rides though -- if you're a villain, that objective is hit the armored car, y'know? There's an opportunity for you, but as you hit the armored car, now more objectives pop up because, well, the police are alerted and the police come in. Now, if there are other villains in the area, they can participate." Blakely, @IGN
  • They are an example of our 'self-evident content system'. We have what we call 'encounters' in the game, and each encounter has a number of objectives in it. - Jens Andersen, interview with Massively - @Massively
  • But the knockout is still an obstacle and still an issue, because you have timers on all your encounters. So when you get knocked out, it's costing you a chance at success. When that timer goes away, that encounter goes away.  Chris Cao interview, Oct. 10 2008 @Massively.
  • Continuity will reflect the 'Ideal, Platonic version of the DC Universe' -Jim Lee Gamasutra Interview 12/23/08.
  • Different Story Arcs and Experiences for Heroes and Villains. -Ask SOE #5.
  • Marv Wolfman, prestigious comic writer and creator of Teen Titans will be writing story as well. -NYCC 09.
  • Cases/Capers will have the following objectives: Knockout, Secure, Transport, Protect, Observe and Reviving Allies. -Jens, CES, Gametrailers walkthough videos 1-3.
  • Content of the game scales to the size of the party and level of the character. -Jens, CES, Gametrailers walkthough videos 1-3.
  • Qualitative completion allows you to revisit content for greater rewards (i,e, defeat encounter in 10 minutes, etc,) -Jens, CES, Gametrailers walkthough videos 1-3.
  • The visual state of the environment will change based on Cases and what stage of that Case you are on. This will revert to normal after the case is finished (aka Phasing) -Jens, Allakhazam CES video
• Raiding
  • There are raids, and raid size is currently set at 16. Cao, @Videogamer
  • "Yes there are open world encounters of the iconics." (Ed. Note: possibly an indication of contestables?) - Jens Andersen, interview with The Older Gamers
    
    

• Secret Identities
  • Secret identities are a big part of the game, but no details to be released yet. Ask SOE at @DCUO Source
  • "I like the idea that your secret identity is really outside the computer. You’re a normal guy, and then when you log on to the game, you become the superhero." Geoff Johns, interview @MTV Multiplayer
• Guilds
  • Guilds are confirmed, and they'll be called "leagues" for heroes, and "legions" for villains. It appears as if heroes can't be in legions, and villains can't be in leagues, but that is not yet confirme
  • Cao, interview with Gametrailers.com, @GameTrailers
  • One of the great things about making DCUO here at SOE is that we get to tap into our deep MMO heritage. Guild leveling is just one example. I actually originally designed the system for EQ2, and you can bet that I’m bringing many of my favorite features with me. While we aren’t ready to delve into the particulars of our guild system yet, I can say that DCUO’s guild system will contain everything you expect from a traditional MMO as well as a few superhero-specific surprises. - Chris Cao, Ask SOE #4
  • Societies will be an available Guild type though it's unknown in what capacity. -Jens Andersen, MMOGA interview 1/19
    
    

• Camera
  
  • "The most powerful camera moves are in-combat, when players are fighting. You want the players to feel powerful and exciting; you don't want to 'jack the camera' away from you, but we're going to want to zoom in and show powerful knockouts or powers. It's not only a chance to showcase you, but the iconics as well."  AGDC Panel, Massively, @Massively
• UI
  • There is a "communicator interface." This seems to be a quest log or journal of some typ
  • Blakely, @IGN
  • Casebook records objectives of case completion. -Jens, CES, Gametrailers walkthough videos 1-3.
  • NPC's will contact you through your Mission Communicator to update you about Cases and Missions.  -Jens, IGN.com CES Video.