Champions Online goes free-to-play

Cryptic Studios has decided to offer a free-to-play deal for Champions Online, but with many restrictions, similar to other free-to-play models. Players are divided into Silver (free) members and Gold (paying) members. Silver members have limited access to archetypes, character slots and many other features. Although I have never played this game, it seems you have to pay in order to excel at this game, similar to the free-to-play limits placed on Warhammer Online and Lord of The Rings Online. Cryptic says the free-to-play deal is in beta now, and it will be implemented in the first quarter of 2011.