DC Universe Opens Beta, Adds Joker

DC Universe Online, the giant MMO from DC Comics, Warner Bros. and Sony Online Entertainment is swiftly approaching. Sony began accepting applications for the open beta today (visit http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/en/beta/) both for the PS3 and PC versions of the title. They also let loose with some new screenshots of possibly their most twisted, and beloved villain: The Joker.

I’m a huge Joker fan myself. From Romero to Nicholson to Hamill to Ledger (and back to Hamill again) there’s no denying the iconic clown’s stranglehold-like affect on comics, movies, TV and games and if Sony had somehow managed to keep him out of a game that by definition encompasses all that is DC, you can be sure there would be a fan uproar that would crumble the walls of the Batcave.

Fortunately, SOE is smarter than that. The renders here are very reminiscent of Brian Bolland’s vision from the cover of The Killing Joke, though with a younger face. The screenshots suggest that Amusement Mile, a dilapidated Coney Island-style theme park, might be similar to the large group dungeons found in World of Warcraft.