MMORPG developer Cryptic Studios (City of Heroes) announced that it will use IBM's System x servers to power upcoming MMO action game Champions Online.

Based on the Champions pen-and-paper RPG, Champions Online will be published by 2K Games and will ship in spring 2009 for PC and Xbox 360 with cross-platform gameplay. The title allows players to customize a superhero and explore a comic book universe.

IBM's System x solution provides a scalable architecture that will enable Champions Online to accommodate thousands of simultaneous users and potentially millions of game downloads.

Built on X4, the fourth generation of IBM's X-Architecture design blueprint for Intel processor-based servers, System x is also designed to be power efficient, helping Cryptic manage energy costs.

“Cryptic Studios is dedicated to building strong player communities, and developing challenging, yet accessible games with deep and enjoyable gameplay,” says Cryptic Studios CTO Bruce Rogers. “Our development team aims to deliver the best player experience possible. With the high performance capabilities and scalability of IBM System x, Cryptic will be able to deliver the quality experience our players expect.”

[The preceding article by Eric Caoili originally appeared on Worlds in Motion sister site Gamasutra.]