Just how damn long do we have to wait until we can play a superhero MMO on our home consoles?  Waaaaay back in 2005, when the Xbox 360 launched, one of the games listed on the console’s box was the Marvel MMO.  This game ended up mutating into Champions Online, a PC-exclusive superhero MMO that was supposed to come out for the 360, but the console version was officially scrapped in March of this year.  After a few hours playing teh PC version, that was probably a good thing.  That left us with DC Universe Online, another superheroic MMO designed for PCs and the PS3.  That game was announced in 2008, and slated for a November 2, 2010 release.  Today, though, Sony Online Entertainment pushed that date back to the nebulous “Early 2011,” leaving many me to wonder if the game will ever see the light of day.   Even if it does, will it ever reach the PS3?

SOE president John Smedley explained the delay, stating that it would give developers time to "address community feedback in a meaningful way."

Players hoping to get into the game’s beta test, however, actually got some good news to go along with the delay.  Those with VIP access codes and those registered with the game’s website will begin receiving beta invites next week, and players who preorder DCUO by November 15 have been guaranteed beta access by November 30.  Preordering after November 15 will get players beta access a week prior to launch.

While I may not be convinced that we’ll ever see DCU Online on the PS3, Sony is still firm in their belief that we will, and has announced that the console version will receive a Collector’s Edition smilar to the PC version’s.  This will include a DCUO Batman statue, the Art of DC Universe Online book, the DCUO Legends comic book with a variant cover, the DCUO Prestige comic presentation of the DCUO back-story and the limited edition Jim Lee-drawn poster version of the comic book variant cover.  It sounds like a good way to drop $100, so let’s hope that in February f next year, we’re all discussing how much better/worse the PC version is than the PS3 version.  That will mean that the PS3 version exists, and I won't have to rely on City of Heroes for my super power fix.