In an official blog post yesterday, Cryptic Studios invited players to participate in the closed beta for Star Trek Online happening later this year. For those who bought a six-month or lifetime subscription to Champions Online, Cryptic says not to worry; you’re already signed up. Hit the link above to check out the full article with all the details on the announcement.

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Folks looking to get their super hero on should be glad to know that Atari has finally unleashed Champions Online. The MMO is now available for Windows PC online and at stores across North America and will be available in Europe on September 4, 2009. Based on the award winning pen and paper role-playing game, Champions, from HERO Games and powered by the Cryptic Engine, Champions Online taps into a “rich universe of heroes and villains with unparalleled intrigue and adventure.”

“Champions Online is a great addition to Atari’s line-up,” said John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios. “After considerable anticipation and excitement, we are thrilled to present Champions to fans and gamers worldwide, and look forward to seeing what players create with the game’s limitless customization options. We are already hard at work developing new content and updates that will expand the Champions Online world even further.”

Here’s a description of the game:

Champions Online brings epic heroism back to the MMORPG genre with depth that will certainly challenge the most experienced online gamers, while its fast paced action promises to engage new entrants to the online superhero universe. Enter a world where the diabolical genius Dr. Destroyer has returned to wreak havoc. After he single-handedly destroyed the city of Detroit, many thought he had perished in the colossal explosion, but he is back to inflict his evil plans on the unsuspecting world. Join with Defender and the legendary Champions to stop Dr. Destroyer and his minions in an ultimate showdown of good versus evil.

Cool. For more, hit up the game’s official website.

Ready the steel and teach them why they fear the night, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish we check out the latest leaked footage from Modern Warfare 2, run down the details on the Gears of War 2: Game of the Year edition, laud the Xbox 360 Elite price drop, and ponder the fan-picked title for Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight.

Cryptic this week, announced that development on Champions Online for the Xbox 360 is nearly complete, but that Xbox Live isn’t ready to support an MMO. With DC Universe preparing to launch on PSN, we discuss MMO’s on consoles and how Microsoft and Sony are moving to support this über-popular genre. Next up, we take a look at statements made by an EA exec predicting a PS3.5 and Xbox 560 rather than true next-gen hardware updates to the popular consoles.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Sony for giving North America a Rock Band demo and Europe a full copy of Gran Turismo with the PSP Go, Trials HD the insane XBL motocross title, Fieldrunners, the ridiculously cool tower-defense game, heading to the PSP Go, and leaked game footage ruining the element of surprise in upcoming games.

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Down the cave wall and attack them from behind; its time for a new edition of EpicBattleCry! This week, we check out the original Left 4 Dead DLC that’s due in September, ponder the news that StarCraft II has been pushed back to 2010, discuss Best Buy’s new pilot program matching used games prices, and question the Champions Online sight-unseen lifetime subscription.

Then we tear into the main course with a look at the various Activision news that’s been floating this week; including getting spanked by Double Fine in the Brutal Legend countersuit and their partnership deal to get exclusive sections in various retail stores. Next up, we take a look at the new Batman: Arkham Asylum demo and discuss our thoughts on the game’s potential and what this will mean for comic book-based games.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Ben Heckendorn for his latest mod-project: Bill Paxton Pinball, Dark Void for chumping out and being pushed back to next year, Crytek for the very real possibility of being uprooted from their homeland if the German violent game ban becomes law, and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick for gleefully becoming one of the most hated figures in gaming.

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Eurogamer reports that the upcoming super hero MMO Champions Online will be offered with a lifetime subscription of $200, as well as a six month subscription plan for $59.99. These are currently only offered to the people that have pre-ordered the game and the lifetime subscription offer is said to last until the end of August. This could be a problem for those that are split on this game and didn’t have a chance to get in the beta.

Both the lifetime and the six month subscription will guarantee you access to Star Trek Online’s beta and an exclusive “art deco costume set”, whatever that means. The lifetime subscription will also feature an even more exclusive “retro future (?) costume set”, a unique mirror universe outfit for Star Trek Online at that game’s release, an in-game action figure and eight additional character slots.

Champions Online is set to fly onto store shelves September 1 in the US and September 4 in Europe.

Calling all current and future Champions.

According to VG247, they have details for current and future beta testers for the upcoming MMO, Champions Online.

For all of you lucky enough to be beta testing the game as we speak. On July 17, you will get a level cap extension to 17, with Millennium City open for extended beta hours to last full weekends.

Here are the dates:

• July 17 –20:  Friday morning 10:00 a.m. PDT (19.00 CET) to Monday morning 9:00 a.m. PDT (18.00 CET)
• July 24 – 26:  Same Times
• July 31 – August 10:  Same Times
• August 14 – August 16:  Same Times

For those of you itching to test this bad boy out, you will be able to jump in for open-beta on August 17 and the beta test for the game will remain open 24-hours until it’s finished.

So if you haven’t already doodled your new Champions costume and look.., then now is the time to start.

Attention future “Champions”, it’s time to upgrade your machine if you haven’t already in the pas 1-2 years. That is if you plan on playing the upcoming Champions Online MMO. Most of you will triumph this victory easily, while others may need to return to fight another day.

The required system specs for the game released by Cryptic can be found after the jump…GOOD LUCK Champions, and happy upgrade hunting….
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A new trailer showing off quite a bit of gameplay from Cryptic’s Champions Online has emerged and features a look at the game’s unique characters, mission types, and environments. We think it’s shaping up pretty well…What do you all think?
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Fans tracking Cryptic’s Champions Online MMO should be excited to see a few new screens from the game today which further enhance our understanding of the unique character creation capabilities afforded by the title. Plus, they have lots of pretty colors.

Go check em out.

Yeah, we know Champions Online was recently pushed back, but that doesn’t stop us from craving its sweet, sweet love and prospect of online awesomness. Thusly, we present several new screens showcasing said awesomness for your viewing pleasure.

Awesome.