Super Booster IV: Martial Arts is now available for $9.99 in the NCsoft store, so you might want to consider picking it up if you'd like to have access to a martial arts-themed costume set, ninja-inspired costume change emotes, or the Ninja Run power. This travel ability increase your run speed and leaping abilities without using one of your power selections.

In addition, Dr. Aeon has issued his first Mission Architect challenge with the theme of "a Hero doing evil for the greater good." The winner will receive a permanent title on the character of his or her choice. The contest ends Dec. 9 at 11:59 p.m. CST, so start thinking up an interesting arc if you'd like to participate. Check out the official rules for details on how to submit your entry.

Hero-Con may be over, but discussion surrounding the upcoming Going Rogue expansion is in full swing on the event's forums. A user on the forums has been collecting all of the information that was released about the expansion during the convention, and it looks like Paragon Studios is currently targeting a release in the second quarter of 2010. The beta will begin in waves starting early next year.

The post contains a wealth of information, from the new factions and powersets to details on the alignment system that will have both heroes and villains questioning their moral codes. Going Rogue will even include an optional ultra graphics mode that will improve shadows, reflections and water. Check out the full post after the jump, which was compiled by City of Heroes forum user Orion Star EU.

For more information on Going Rogue, you can watch the Hero-Con opening ceremony keynote on YouTube. Part one is the introduction, part two contains Matt "Positron" Miller's discussion about the expansion, and part three is a Q&A session.

Hero-Con kicks off tomorrow at the Doubletree Hotel in San Diego, Calif., and Paragon Studios has updated the full schedule and the list of panels and workshop in anticipation of the festivities. According to the game's Twitter page, the staff is currently at the hotel and setting up for the convention. Registration begins this afternoon and various events will be held throughout the evening.

In addition, Paragon has announced the nominees for the first Architect Awards. The winners will be revealed on Saturday at Hero-Con. Also, check out some of the City of Heroes merchandise that will be available at the Wentworth's Store.

Are you attending Hero-Con this weekend? If you are, let us know!

Halloween is less than two weeks away and NCsoft has its hands full with plans for holiday events in Aion, City of Heroes, Lineage, Lineage II, Guild Wars and Exteel. We've already told you about Aion's "Harvest Revel" event, which begins Oct. 25 and runs through Oct. 31. We've also reported on the festivities in Lineage and Lineage II, so let's jump right into the other MMOs.

The annual Halloween event in City of Heroes returns today as zombies, werewolves, Jack-o-Lanterns and other monsters descend upon Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. The attacks will end on Nov. 3, so you'll have plenty of time to participate.

Mad King Thorn returns in Guild Wars from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2 with a bag of tricks and treats. You can also participate in a new series of quests and a costume PvP brawl. Orange and purple paint will be free in Exteel from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, and players will receive +50% bonus credits during the Halloween celebration. You can read all of NCsoft's holiday plans after the jump.

City of Heroes fans are preparing to descend on the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose this weekend for Hero-Con, and Paragon Studios has just announced three contests that players can participate in while they're at the event. The costume contest will be full of cosplayers, while the live mission contest requires teams of eight players to run through a series of missions to obtain the 10 keys of the M.A.G.I. vault. If you're a master of City of Heroes lore, enter the trivia contest for a chance to compete against other players and show off your skills.

More information on all the contests can be found after the jump. Tickets are still available at $79 each if you decide to attend Hero-Con at the last minute.

NCsoft and Paragon Studios announced last month that they are inviting professional writers to create missions for City of Heroes using the Mission Architect system. Well, the companies just revealed that New York Times bestselling author Bill Willingham, creator of the "Fables" comic book series, has been added to the Guest Author program. He joins Scott Kurtz, the creator of the PvP Web comic, and Rooster Teeth, the masterminds behind "Red vs. Blue," on the inaugural team of authors.

The Guest Author missions will debut in-game on Oct. 13. Willingham and Kurtz have each added one mission to the game, while Rooster Teeth is adding two missions. With titles like "Mission: Awesome" and "OMG, it's the LOLBAT!" it looks like players will have some fun trying out these missions on Tuesday.

You can read more about these missions after the jump. In addition, Paragon has introduced players to the Official Hero-Con Mission Architect Arc "How to Save a Convention," so check that out as well.

The Hero-Con news just keeps pouring in! We recently reported that Paragon Studios has released all sorts of information about the event, including an overview and the list of panels. Well, now you can add another reason to attend to the list. The team just announced that players who attend Hero-Con will get the chance to participate in the Going Rogue closed beta.

In order to take advantage of the opportunity, you'll need to be present at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, Calif., to fill out a non-disclosure agreement. You also need to be a U.S. resident over 18 years old who doesn't work for a competitor or any of its affiliates.

Tickets for Hero-Con are still available and cost $79 each. Let us know if you plan on attending the event.

There's less than three weeks until the second annual Hero-Con kicks off at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, and Paragon Studios has released all sorts of information in anticipation of the event. Paragon Studios has revealed the overview of the event that includes a list of the panels that will be held throughout the weekend. All City of Heroes players should be excited to get a sneak peek at "Going Rogue" content during the welcome address on Oct. 24.

Attendees will get the chance to play board games with developers on Friday night or show their resumes to NCsoft recruiters during the convention. More information on both opportunities can be found here. You also have until Oct. 11 to submit your arc in Paragon's first Architect Awards. Do you have what it takes to win Arc of the Year?

The City of Heroes team is keeping track of the top five servers with the most players registered for Hero-Con, and Virtue is currently at the top of the list. Do you plan on going to the convention? Tickets for the event are still available and cost $79 each.

As we've reported, Paragon Studios is putting an exclusive "Praetorian Clockwork" costume in every Hero-Con goody bag. Whether you're attending the fan event or not, there's now another way for you to get some costume codes. To celebrate the convention, Paragon is giving away costume codes from previous conventions on the game's Twitter and Facebook pages.

Anywhere from two to four U.S. and European codes will be given away each day until Hero-Con starts on Oct. 24. Here are the five costumes you can win: Carnival of Shadows (Ring Mistress) from PAX 2009; Knives of Artemis Lt. from Comic-Con 2009; Freakshow Tank Boss from Comic-Con 2008; PPD Hardsuit from PAX 2008; and Carnival of Shadows Lt. from Hero-Con 2008.

In honor of the recent launch of Issue 16: Power Spectrum, Paragon Studios is hosting a double XP weekend from Oct. 8-11. All players will get double the XP, Influence and Infamy for their accomplishments simply by logging in during the event.

In addition, all inactive accounts in good standing are invited to play City of Heroes for free during the double XP weekend. It's a great opportunity to see what's new in the game and get some bonus experience at the same time.