Discussion: Upgrade to the NCsoft Launcher now!

We are introducing a new way to download and patch City of Heroes, through the NCsoft Launcher! For a limited time, all customers who use the NCsoft launcher will unlock the new Wisp Aura for free!

The NCsoft Launcher provides several new enhancements, including the ability to download patches faster through a content distribution network.

We will be discontinuing support for the current City of Heroes updater soon so bear in mind that when that happens, customers who have not upgraded to the NCsoft Launcher will be unable to log into the game using the City of Heroes updater!

But read on for more informations on the NCsoft Launcher!

The NCsoft Launcher FAQ

Question 1: What is the NCsoft Launcher?

Answer 1: The NCsoft Launcher is a separate game client add-on that allows you to update City of Heroes® to the latest version and launch it, from a single windows interface. Other NCsoft games can also be updated and launched from the same interface. The NCsoft launcher does not come included with City of Heroes, and must be downloaded from the City of Heroes website.

Question 2: Where can I download the NCsoft Launcher?

Answer 2: NA and EU customers who run Windows XP/Vista/7 can download the new City of Heroes game installer, which now includes the NCsoft Launcher, at http://www.cityofheroes.com/account/...taller_en.html


Question 3: What is the new City of Heroes installer?

Answer 3: The new City of Heroes game installer now includes the NCsoft launcher. If you already have City of Heroes installed, the new installer can also be used to make necessary client-side changes so that the client will be able to fully use the features of the NCsoft Launcher.

Question 4: I already use the NCsoft launcher. What do I need to do to prepare?

Answer 4: If you have already installed the NCsoft launcher and are using it, you will still need to download the new City of Heroes game installer from http://www.cityofheroes.com/account/...taller_en.html
. This will modify your game client so that it will be fully supported by the NCsoft Launcher. You will not need to re-download or re-install your game client.

Question 5: What new features does the NCsoft Launcher provide?

Answer 5: The NCsoft Launcher gives us more tools that we can use to enhance your gaming experience. For example, the NCsoft Launcher will allow you to download patches faster by using a content distribution network. The NCsoft Launcher also uses a newer API that will allow us to add more functionality throughout the coming months. Also, if you have multiple versions of City of Heroes installed (Live, Beta, Test), all of those versions will now be accessible through the NCsoft Launcher.

Question 6: Is migrating to the NCsoft Launcher mandatory?

Answer 6: Yes. In order to implement new game and account services, the NCsoft Launcher will soon be the only way to load the City of Heroes game client. After this migration is completed, the City of Heroes game updater can no longer be used to launch City of Heroes.


Question 7: Does the NCsoft Launcher continue to run in the background?

Answer 7: You can choose to have the NCsoft Launcher continue to run in the background, which will allow it to update your game for you. Or you can choose to have the NCsoft Launcher close upon loading the game. The very first time you close the NCsoft Launcher, it will ask if you want it to run in the background or not. You can change this behavior at any time in the NCsoft Launcher settings menu.

Question 8: How do I repair my City of Heroes client if I have a problem with the install? It doesn't seem to be doing it automatically anymore.

Answer 8: You are still able to repair your game by right-clicking on the City of Heroes game in your NCsoft Launcher. This will bring up a menu with "Repair (Consistency Check)" second from the top. This will then repair your game from within the NCsoft launcher and you can be on your way again!

Question 9: I'm on a Mac. Does the NCsoft Launcher work for that?

Answer 9: There will be a Mac OS version of the updated NCsoft Launcher. We will be giving you more information on this as soon as possible.

Question 10: Do I get anything from transitioning over to the NCsoft Launcher early?

Answer 10: As mentioned before, the sooner our PC players start using the NCsoft Launcher, the sooner they will get access to a brand new Wisp aura on your live account. As for our MAC users, you will all get the Wisp aura once the NCsoft Launcher is available for the MAC client.

Question 11: I’m in South America. Is there anything special I need to do to use the launcher?

Answer 11: Please follow the instructions here.

Question 12: I play City of Heroes through STEAM, what do I do?

Answer 12: STEAM users should continue to use the CohUpdater via STEAM. STEAM will release an update that is compatible with the NCsoft Launcher at a future date. The Wisps aura will be available to STEAM users at the time of the NCsoft Launcher transition.

Done it and it works great no bugs and it's easier to load everything up now. Thank you Devs.







Oh and first after a red name, score!

I can personally vouch for the NCSoft Launcher being a fairly harmless program. As stated above, you can set it to exit upon launching a game, and if you DO keep it running in the background, it doesn't take up that much memory. Downloading and application of patches seems to be quite speedier than through the old updater as well.

It's gone live! Run! Run for your lives!

WARNING: I bold names.

For people who have the CoH, Test, and Beta clients on their PC how or what do we need to do (if anything) to make the new NCsoft Launcher work with all of the clients?

Excellent. Now when will be be integrated with my NCSoft games already purchased through Steam and continue to monitor play time within Steam?

Wasn't this that thing that a bunch of people asked CoX to reconsider making us use?

Internet Security Person is leery of new software. ISP kinda wants to do things to it that would probably break the ToS and get her fired. ISP will just refer to herself in the third person and pout.

Aw, now it loads the normal City of Heroes start screen first.

How can I change it to the Praetoria one again?

Please confirm if we have to unlock the wisp aura on each character or can we log in one character and unlock it for our account.

Can run the launcher but not the game; when loading the launcher, I get this text:

Just to clarify if you've already previously downloaded Test, Beta and Live, does it try to reinstall them again? Or does it just download the launcher and link the necessary COH-related server connections to it?

Will it force us to verify all files for minor crashes? I have seen mention of this Launcher issue in the recent past, but nothing lately. Here's hoping I won't be verifying during the last few minutes of a ship raid/TF!

Thanks for any info in advance..
Karthol

im having trouble loading as it says the file nclauncher.exe is locked.
what does that even mean??

I D/L the new installer and ran it. I got the "Access to the path is denied" error message, and the NCSoft log is not too much help in finding what "path" it is talking about. Ran a registry cleaner and restarted the box (WIN/7 64-bit). Ran NCSoft again, and same error.

Is there a way to determine what "access path" it is having trouble with so I can fix it?

I'd already switched over to this when it was first available for testing - but it's nice to have it fully working now.

I'm using Win7 64 and have Norton Internet Security running. I updated the launcher so it now shows only Live and Test, no Beta, even though I had that installed. As far as I can tell, the only rule attached to it allows 2 way access.

Problem shows up when I choose the City of Heroes and hit PLAY NOW, it simply cycles the 'Launching City of Heroes/Villain' popup window constantly, unless I hit cancel. No game ever launches. It also seems to have rewritten all my shortcuts for my COH launcher, so I can't do jack.