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Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[MAG shutting down in January]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/16/mag-shutting-down-in-january/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/16/mag-shutting-down-in-january/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/16/mag-shutting-down-in-january/#commentsFiled under: Real-Life, MMO Industry, News Items, Sunsets, Buy-to-Play

MAG shutting down in January

MAG used to be a thing here at Massively. We wrote about it a fair amount way back in 2010, and some of us played a fair bit of it around that same period. Sadly, Sony has decided to shutter the PlayStation 3 shooter effective January 28, 2014.

The news came via the official PlayStation Twitter feed earlier today. MAG development studio Zipper Interactive closed its doors in March of 2012.

MAG shutting down in January originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-shooterconsolesmagmag-closingmag-sunsetmassive-action-gamemmo-shooterps3zipperzipper-interactiveTue, 16 Jul 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist dials up Phantasy Star Online: The players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/the-game-archaeologist-dials-up-phantasy-star-online-the-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/the-game-archaeologist-dials-up-phantasy-star-online-the-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/the-game-archaeologist-dials-up-phantasy-star-online-the-player/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Classes, Culture, Interviews, Consoles, The Game Archaeologist

PSO Blue Burst

After last week's foray into the colorful world of Phantasy Star Online, I knew I had to step it up for a great follow-through. That's why I got in touch with three excellent MMO bloggers who have long histories with PSO and were more than eager to share their perspective on this unique game world!

The Game Archaeologist: Who the heck are you and how did you first get into Phantasy Star Online? What class and race did you play?

David: I'm David Lambert, but many people know me better as Branick, host and producer of the LOTRO Academy podcast. I first got into Phantasy Star Online with the original Dreamcast release, which I picked up only about two weeks after it came out. I actually had eight different characters (I bought six VMUs in addition to the two I already had specifically for this purpose), but I definitely favored the HUcast. I wasn't big on using techniques, and the HUcast had the highest attack power in the game.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist dials up Phantasy Star Online: The players

The Game Archaeologist dials up Phantasy Star Online: The players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue-burstchristmascity-of-heroesdavid-lambertdiablodiablo-clonediablo-iidreamcastdreamcast-web-browserexploitexploitingexploitsfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xigamecubegamesharkhackinginterviewlotro-academymagmagspatrickPhantasy-Starphantasy-star-onlinephantasy-star-online-2phantasy-star-universePhantasy-Star-Zeropsopsuroguerogue-likessegasoexboxyeeboYeebo-Fernbottoms-MMO-Love-InTue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Defining the MMO shooter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/the-firing-line-defining-the-mmo-shooter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/the-firing-line-defining-the-mmo-shooter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/the-firing-line-defining-the-mmo-shooter/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Global Agenda, DUST 514, PlanetSide 2, The Firing Line

The Firing Line header - various spiffy shooter avatars

Hello shooter fans, and welcome back to Massively's Firing Line. Last week's inaugural column hit the ground running with a visit to Hi-Rez Studios and a preview of the company's new Tribes: Ascend title. This week I'd like to pull back a little bit and lay the groundwork for some of the things we'll be talking about over time.

When I talk about MMO shooters with friends and colleagues, one of the first things mentioned is the definition of the term. Everyone knows what a shooter is (or at least what he thinks it is), and everyone knows what an MMO is (although thanks to MOBAs and the social networking explosion, the definition of the latter grows murkier by the day).

Can we all agree on the definition of an MMO shooter, though? Probably not, and to be honest, that's perfectly OK.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Defining the MMO shooter

The Firing Line: Defining the MMO shooter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10v10agency-territorydefining-mmo-shootersdefining-mmosdefinitiondefinitionsdust-514featuredfirefallfiring-lineglobal-agendamagmassive-action-gamemmo-shootermmo-shooter-definitionmmofpsmmotpsopinionpersistenceplanetside-2shooterthe-firing-linetribestribes-ascendwhat-is-an-mmo-shooterzonesFri, 11 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EON Magazine issue 24 looks back at EVE Online's Apocrypha expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/23/eon-magazine-issue-24-looks-back-at-eve-onlines-apocrypha-expan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/23/eon-magazine-issue-24-looks-back-at-eve-onlines-apocrypha-expan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/23/eon-magazine-issue-24-looks-back-at-eve-onlines-apocrypha-expan/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Lore, MMO Industry, Opinion, Hands-On

Issue 24 of EVE Online's quarterly official magazine EON hit the shelves this month, bringing a fresh dose of internet spaceships to coffee tables and bathrooms everywhere. Produced by MMM Publishing and written by a growing cast of writers from within the EVE community, EON provides something solid for fans of EVE to hold on to and acts as a snapshot in time or record of the game as it evolves. Recent big news stories and nullsec wars are detailed in each issue, along with editorial pieces, fiction, interviews and guides.

The latest issue is a wormhole special, with a huge focus on 2009's incredibly successful Apocrypha expansion and the hidden wormhole systems it brought to EVE. In addition to the second part of Pottsey's background on the ancient Sleeper race locked away in wormhole systems, the magazine contains testflights of the four strategic cruisers produced from materials discovered in wormhole space. A fantastically insightful article on the making of Apocrypha also delves into the gritty details of how CCP put its entire weight behind one incredible expansion during a time of real world economic turmoil.

Skip past the cut for a breakdown of everything in EON Issue 24 and my impressions from reading through it.

Continue reading EON Magazine issue 24 looks back at EVE Online's Apocrypha expansion

EON Magazine issue 24 looks back at EVE Online's Apocrypha expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccpccp-eveccp-gamese-oneoneveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedissue-24magmagazinenoah-wardreviewreviewsrichie-shoemakersleepersleepersstrategic-cruiserstech-3templar-onetony-gonzaleswormholeszapateroSat, 23 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-planetside-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-planetside-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-planetside-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, PlanetSide, PvP, MMOFPS, The Game Archaeologist

Unlike fantasy, the sci-fi genre has had a rocky relationship with MMORPGs. While studios have tried just as hard to make and promote them, there seems to be a curse that hovers over most of these games. From the canceled (Earth & Beyond, The Matrix Online, Tabula Rasa) to the radically retinkered (Star Wars Galaxies) to the relatively niche (Anarchy Online, Star Trek Online), sci-fi struggles to be seen as relevant and embraced as its bigger brother. That isn't to say that these games or the genre is worthless, just that it's a harder sell to both investors and players to throw players into the future than the mythical past. Fortunately, the industry hasn't given up on these games, and some of these titles -- such as EVE Online -- have proven that they're worth pursuing.

And if science fiction is a difficult sell, first-person shooters are doubly difficult in the MMO space. After all, it's not as though the world is suffering a shortage of FPS titles that can be played without a monthly subscription. To convince players to part with a monthly payment, the studio has to make a powerful, compelling case as to why its MMOFPS is worthy of that premium price.

Enter PlanetSide, circa 2003. While sci-fi MMOs, multi-faction PvP and online shooters had been done separately at that point, PlanetSide stepped up to the plate to combine all three into a persistent war on an alien planet. Due to popular demand, this month we'll be setting our sights to the far reaches of the galaxy and beyond as we explore one of the more unique MMOs in existence.

Today let's take a look at what made PlanetSide a unique twinkle in SOE's eyes by counting down the highlights of this futuristic war.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The highlights

The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinanarchy-onlineapbauraxisdark-age-of-camelotearth-and-beyondeve-onlinefactionsfeaturefeaturedfirst-person-shooterfpsglobal-agendajohn-hewittjohn-smedleymagmmofpsplanetsideplanetside-nextreal-time-combatsci-fiscience-fictionsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiestabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinethree-front-warvehiclesworld-war-ii-onlinewwii-onlineTue, 08 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EON Magazine issue 22 tackles Incarna, surviving the EVE fanfest and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/eon-magazine-issue-22-tackles-incarna-surviving-the-eve-fanfest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/eon-magazine-issue-22-tackles-incarna-surviving-the-eve-fanfest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/eon-magazine-issue-22-tackles-incarna-surviving-the-eve-fanfest/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Hands-On

These days it seems like every MMO has some form of microtransaction system or merchandising deal. It's clear that players don't seem to mind spending a little extra on their MMO hobbies now and then, whether it's for an in-game item to cut out some of the grind or a geeky T-shirt to show off to friends. Several online games even have their own dedicated magazines, and EVE Online is no exception. Published four times per year, EON magazine by MMM Publishing provides guides, interviews, sneak peeks at upcoming expansions, fan-written chronicles, and big news from across New Eden.

Issue 22 of EON popped through my letter-box a few days ago, and I've spent most of today thoroughly absorbed in its pages. This quarter's mag focuses on the Sansha incursions happening across EVE and the upcoming Incarna expansion with its long-awaited walking-in-space feature. Also in this edition is a featured look at the rise and fall of the Band of Brothers alliance, a guide to surviving your first time at the annual Fanfest in Iceland, and all the usual features. This issue will be the first officially released under the name EON -- the previous name of the magazine being E-ON.

Skip past the cut for a roundup of what you'll find in EON magazine issue 22 and my impressions of its content.

Continue reading EON Magazine issue 22 tackles Incarna, surviving the EVE fanfest and more

EON Magazine issue 22 tackles Incarna, surviving the EVE fanfest and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>band-of-brothersbobccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zulue-oneoneveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefanfestfanfest-2011featuredincarnaincursionmagmagazinemagazinesMon, 31 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E-ON Magazine issue 21 round-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/e-on-magazine-issue-21-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/e-on-magazine-issue-21-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/e-on-magazine-issue-21-round-up/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Expansions, MMO Industry, Opinion, Hands-On

We regularly spend money on our favourite MMOs, be it in the form of a monthly subscription fee or a microtransaction purchase. We often spend more time and money on our favourite online retreats than we spend on other hobbies, and yet few MMOs have their own dedicated magazine the way other hobbies do. EVE Online players are fortunate enough to have the quarterly EVE magazine E-ON to spread out across their coffee tables. Produced by MMM Publishing, E-ON is guaranteed to be 100% EVE from cover to cover. Even the advertisements in it are for EVE corporations and services rather than paid ads for other games.

I've been slowly reading my way through Issue 21 since it popped through my letterbox and have definitely enjoyed it. This issue focuses on live events and the upcoming Incursion expansion, with a special feature on EVE's annual fanfest event in Iceland. The issue also contains guides to faction warfare militia fleets, EVE's various communication tools and the first of a series on Drones. Interviews this time around include CCP's video producer Stevie Ward and Technical Director in the fight against lag, Derek Wise. As usual, the magazine contains the latest war reports from nullsec, an awesome new piece of EVE fiction and the impressive layouts and graphics that readers have come to expect.

Skip past the cut for a breakdown of what you can expect from E-ON issue 21 and my impressions of the issue.

Continue reading E-ON Magazine issue 21 round-up

E-ON Magazine issue 21 round-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamese-oneoneveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeventeventsfanfestfeaturedguideguideslive-eventlive-eventsmagmagazinesanshasanshas-nationFri, 12 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG 2.0 to add in-game economy, PlayStation Move support, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/mag-2-0-to-add-in-game-economy-playstation-move-support-and-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/mag-2-0-to-add-in-game-economy-playstation-move-support-and-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/mag-2-0-to-add-in-game-economy-playstation-move-support-and-mo/#commentsFiled under: Patches, News Items, War, MAG

MAG's latest patch is so significant that the developers are actually referring to it as MAG 2.0, and it's less than a month away.

The developers have been working with the participants of theMAG Beta program, and a long list of suggested changes and additions have been made and are ready to be implemented.

Of course we knew that integration with the PlayStation Move was coming, but it's exciting to know that it's this close. MAG 2.0 will also add an in-game economy, and you'll be able to earn credits to spend on gear at the Supply Depot. Yes, the depot is also new.

Bug fixes, upgrades, even a news feature that brings you up-to-date on everything when you log in, and much more round out this patch. Check out the notes on the MAG site, and we'll keep an eye out for that patch date!

MAG 2.0 to add in-game economy, PlayStation Move support, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>in-game-economymagmag-2.0patchpatchesplaystationplaystation-moveZipper-InteractiveThu, 16 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG offers extra character slots, on the cheap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/mag-offers-extra-character-slots-on-the-cheap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/mag-offers-extra-character-slots-on-the-cheap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/mag-offers-extra-character-slots-on-the-cheap/#commentsFiled under: Patches, News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

If you're an altoholic playing Zipper Interactive's MAG MMOFPS, chances are you're probably a fan of the recently announced extra character slot promotion. The new service debuted yesterday, and allows players to create two new in-game avatars. For $.99 (US), you can purchase one of the two slots and take it for a 30-day trial run.

After your free month is up, you can opt to subscribe the new characters or keep them for a rainy day, locked up tight in cold storage, where they'll retain any gear and advancements you may have acquired. Check out all the details on the official MAG blog.

MAG offers extra character slots, on the cheap originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-slotsextra-character-slotsmagmassive-action-gameofficial-mag-blogplaystation-3playstation3ps3zipperZipper-InteractiveThu, 02 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG's Escalation 3-way battles revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/mags-escalation-3-way-battles-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/mags-escalation-3-way-battles-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/mags-escalation-3-way-battles-revealed/#commentsFiled under: Patches, News Items, War, MAG

OK, we should get this out of the way up front, because it comes up every time we cover MAG: yes, it is an MMO. Massively? Well, 256-player battles are about ten times larger than those your average MMO can handle without lagging to hell and back. Multiplayer? Covered that. Online? Duh.

Moving right along, Zipper Interactive's Jeremy Dunham has posted a new entry on the official MAG blog detailing the upcoming Escalation mode. The new game-type, which will be deployed as downloadable content in the near future, is a 96-man three-faction battle royale, the ultimate goal of which is to earn more points than your enemies before time expires. Points are earned by holding objectives, but unlike your standard "run to the flag and stand there for 20 seconds" capture model common to objective-based FPS titles, Escalation features a phased approach that encourages continuous frenetic combat.

You can get your first taste of the new mode by downloading the MAG beta client from the Playstation store on August 24th.

MAG's Escalation 3-way battles revealed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction-battleescalationescalation-game-modeescalation-game-typejeremy-dunhamMAGmag-blogmag-is-an-mmoplaystation-storePlaystation3Zipper-InteractiveThu, 19 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG patch 1.07 due out next week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/mag-patch-1-07-due-out-next-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/mag-patch-1-07-due-out-next-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/mag-patch-1-07-due-out-next-week/#commentsFiled under: Patches, PvP, MMOFPS, MAG

MAG's next patch, due out next week, will bring some very welcome free updates to players. While the full patch notes aren't available yet, the MAG team has provided a short list of updates to hold fans over for a bit.

MAG v1.07 will bring a number of fixes, content changes, and additions to the game, including a new happy hour feature. Happy hour is a double XP bonus that's applied to the first hour of every player's gaming session in a 24-hour period, giving you a little boost to start off with.

You'll also find better lighting, redesigned maps, a new faction neutral Supression gameplay mode, and new code that allows for faster patching. Check out the current patch notes on the MAG site, and keep an eye out for the complete notes, available nearer the time of the update.

MAG patch 1.07 due out next week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentdlcdouble-xpdownloadable-contentfree-contentfree-dlcfree-patchhappy-hourlightinglighting-fixmagmag-1.07mag-patch-1.07mmofpspatchsupressionzipperzipper-interactiveWed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite pseudo-MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-pseudo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-pseudo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-pseudo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

In recent years, the field of games that could conceivably be referred to as MMOs has exploded. Naturally, there has to be a cutoff at some point, and we here at Massively use finely tuned metrics to determine what does and doesn't qualify. (Our magic 8-ball is exceptionally tuned.) But just below that are games that are very similar to an MMO, even if they don't quite make it there, and with the border so fuzzy, players are bound to cross over.

Naturally, what constitutes a pseudo-MMO versus a full game is going to be a very subjective line, and there are games such as Global Agenda and MAG that straddle the line aggressively. So what game do you enjoy that's similar to an MMO, but doesn't quite make the cut? Is it one of the two aforementioned games? Are you still of the mind that Guild Wars isn't quite there but is still a lot of fun? Or do you dig on something else entirely, like League of Legends?

The Daily Grind: What's your favorite pseudo-MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gagenregenre-debatesglobal-agendaguild-warsgwleague-of-legendsmagonline-gamesopinionpseudo-mmotdgthe-daily-grindFri, 25 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG releases Interdiction expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/mag-releases-interdiction-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/mag-releases-interdiction-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/mag-releases-interdiction-expansion/#commentsFiled under: Expansions, PvP, News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

Zipper Interactive's PS3-exclusive MAG MMOFPS has released a couple of small content updates since its debut last January. This month however, the action title kicks off its first proper expansion pack, titled Interdiction, and is available to download from the Playstation Store for $9.99. The pack adds a new game type, unsurprisingly called Interdiction, three new maps (Iron Cree Quarry, Sovot Motorway, and Lake Bayano Spur), as well as a bevy of smaller gameplay additions.

These include new ribbons, medals, and trophies which can be earned both in the new Interdiction mode as well as over the course of your MAG career.

"MAG Interdiction is a brand new game mode built for 128 players. In it, two rival attacking factions fight to gain control of three different command posts while using armored convoys for every squad on the map (that's right, 16 APCs onscreen at once)," writes Zipper Senior Community Manager Jeremy Dunham on the official Playstation blog.

MAG is also featuring a double XP weekend beginning Friday, June 25th, for players with or without the new expansion.

MAG releases Interdiction expansion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcdownloadable-contentexpansioninterdictionmagmag-interdictionnew-mapsPlaystation3ps3Zipper-InteractiveThu, 24 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG announces double XP weekend and Fast Attack pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/mag-announces-double-xp-weekend-and-fast-attack-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/mag-announces-double-xp-weekend-and-fast-attack-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/mag-announces-double-xp-weekend-and-fast-attack-pack/#commentsFiled under: News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

MAG is offering players some new downloadable content that is awesome in and of itself, and even better because it's free. The newest DLC is the Fast Attack Pack -- three new sniper rifles and Improved Light Armor. Yes, it is 100%, honest to goodness free and available in the Playstation Store now along with the other PSN updates, so be sure to add it to your account.

That's not the only gift for MAG players this weekend, however. Players can put their new rifles and armor through their paces and earn extra XP in the bargain, thanks to the double XP weekend. The event lasts until 11:59 PM Pacific time on Sunday, May 2nd, and if you're a veteran who already has an XP boost: yes, the bonus stacks. It's important to note that you need to complete every game to enjoy the bonus XP, because it's not applied until the end of a match.

MAG announces double XP weekend and Fast Attack pack originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCdouble-xpdouble-xp-weekenddownloadable-contentMAGPlaystation3PSNFri, 30 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More free DLC coming to PS3's MAG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/more-free-dlc-coming-to-ps3s-mag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/more-free-dlc-coming-to-ps3s-mag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/more-free-dlc-coming-to-ps3s-mag/#commentsFiled under: News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

Zipper Interactive is treating the fans right by offering up another free downloadable content add-on for MAG, their multiplayer-only FPS for the Playstation 3. The latest round of DLC drops on April 29 and is known as the Fast Attack Gear Pack.

Jeremy Dunham, Senior Community Manager at Zipper, brings word of the freebie on the official MAG blog. "Our latest downloadable extra will likely cause marksmen to swoon," he writes.

The Fast Attack Gear Pack will feature three new special edition sniper rifles, each of which will incorporate both visual and performance variations when compared to the game's existing long-range weaponry. New armor types are also included, and Improved Light Armor will be available to all three factions for 400 in-game credits.

Check out the official MAG blog for all the details.

More free DLC coming to PS3's MAG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadable-contentfast-attack-gear-packfree-dlcjeremy-dunhammagplaystation-3playstation3sonyZipper-InteractiveThu, 22 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG explains the Electronics skill tree]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/mag-explains-the-electronics-skill-tree/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/mag-explains-the-electronics-skill-tree/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/mag-explains-the-electronics-skill-tree/#commentsFiled under: News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

If you're a MAG player, you know that the Electronics skill tree is one of the more confusing in the game. The fine folks at MAG realized it can be a bit much to figure out, and recently posted some help on the game's official blog.

It's a long entry, but very well done, breaking the explanation down by item. Each individual item is further broken down by effect, stacking and activation information, and miscellaneous important points, so it's fairly simple to navigate and figure out.

It's a valuable resource for players, made even more so by the addition of a discussion thread linking back to the blog entry, giving the fans a chance to discuss the skills among themselves and ask more questions.

If you're a MAG fan who has been a bit frustrated in the past by the Electronics skill tree, you'll definitely want to check this out.

MAG explains the Electronics skill tree originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electronics-skill-treeMAGmmofpsplaystation-3ps3SONYWed, 07 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First MAG DLC coming next week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/first-mag-dlc-coming-next-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/first-mag-dlc-coming-next-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/first-mag-dlc-coming-next-week/#commentsFiled under: MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

Jeremy Dunham, Senior Community Manager at Zipper Interactive, has dropped a post on the official Playstation blog detailing the first bit of MAG downloadable content coming next week.

Zipper is calling it the "Trooper Gear Pack," and among its features are the Flashbang Grenade, perfect for disorienting and otherwise annoying your opponents, additional Light Machine Guns, and two new trooper uniforms for all of your urban warfare fashion needs. As a bonus, the DLC pack is free of charge, and the MAG team will also be enabling double XP to reward long-time fans; expect that to go live on March 25 at 12:00am Pacific time and continue through 11:59 pm Sunday March 28.

The Trooper Gear Pack will be available for download beginning on March 25.

First MAG DLC coming next week originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcdownloadable-contentmagmmofpsPlaystation3ps3shooterZipper-InteractiveFri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take aim at big prizes in MAG tournament]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/take-aim-at-big-prizes-in-mag-tournament/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/take-aim-at-big-prizes-in-mag-tournament/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/take-aim-at-big-prizes-in-mag-tournament/#commentsFiled under: Contests, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

Amidst all the debate about whether or not MAG qualifies as an MMO, not to mention the recent Playstation Network brouhaha, it might be easy to lose sight of the actual game underneath everything. And it'd be a shame if you did, because you'd be missing out on a tournament centering around MAG run by Major League Gaming's Gamebattles site. The prizes? Straight-up cash money. Well, straight-up Sony Style gift cards and Playstation Home items, which is just about as good. (Although you can't rifle through a $1500 gift card like a pack of twenties.)

Here are the details: the tournament will have three phases, with each lasting one full month. Each phase is a contest to earn the highest score in a different area -- MAG XP for March, headshots for April, and total kills for May. There will be leaderboards available on the site, as well, to help track how well you're doing compared to all the entrants. If you think you've got what it takes to make the top of the charts, head on over and take a look at the official entry rules. And no matter what, it couldn't hurt to give it a shot.

Take aim at big prizes in MAG tournament originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitioncontestgamebattlesgift-cardsheadshotskillsmagmajor-league-gamingmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3playstation-homeplaystation-networkps3sony-stylezipperzipper-interactiveWed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What could the PS3 bug mean for console MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/what-could-the-ps3-bug-mean-for-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/what-could-the-ps3-bug-mean-for-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/what-could-the-ps3-bug-mean-for-console-mmos/#commentsFiled under: MMO Industry, News Items

If you're a PS3 owner, you probably already know about the difficulties surrounding the PS3 Phat consoles as of late. You're probably also wondering why we are talking about this here at Massively. Well, the problems that began this weekend left many players unable to log into the Playstation Network, rendering certain games unplayable. Games like MAG. We're betting the MAG population is looking a bit sparse right now.

Earlier today, Sony warned owners of the affected consoles to shut them down and leave them alone for the next 24 hours, while they work to repair the bug with the internal clock that's causing the problem. While it's great that Sony has isolated the problem and is working to repair it, it leaves us with some food for thought.

MMO developers are beginning to turn an eye to the console market, and this incident highlights a potential significant weakness. PCs rely almost entirely on software and individual hardware when it comes to gaming. It's the rare MMO gamer who doesn't know how to open his or her tower and create a custom machine. Consoles don't work like that. If a bad update comes down or there is some sort of internal glitch (with the internal clock, for example), everyone who owns that particular console is going to get it because everyone has the same hardware. That, in turn, will affect everyone trying to play an MMO from their console.

While this doesn't mean mass hysteria and the doom of the console MMO market, hopefully it will serve to alert MMO developers to a problem that they can address before it moves from "potential" to "actual".

In the meantime, here's a little something to look at while you wait for your PS3 to come back to the land of the living.

What could the PS3 bug mean for console MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Breakingconsole-mmohomeinternal-clock-bugmagmassive-action-gameplaystation-3playstation-homePlaystation3ps3ps3-fatps3-phatsodium-oneSONYMon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: My Fallout MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/the-digital-continuum-my-fallout-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/the-digital-continuum-my-fallout-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/01/the-digital-continuum-my-fallout-mmo/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, New Titles, Opinion, The Digital Continuum

There are times when I feel like being completely indulgent, and this week's The Digital Continuum is one of them.

The Fallout MMO has been a long while coming and probably will continue to be "on the horizon" well into the foreseeable future. So, it's with this knowledge that I've put together a grocery list of ideas that would be in my version of the game -- things that would make me decidedly excited to play as soon as possible. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised it took me so long to write these things down.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: My Fallout MMO

The Digital Continuum: My Fallout MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworkscall-of-dutycodfalloutfallout-2fallout-3fallout-game-mmofallout-mmofallout-new-vegasfeaturedinterplaymagmassive-action-gamenew-vegasopinionthe-digital-continuumMon, 01 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG moves to patch 1.03]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/mag-moves-to-patch-1-03/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/mag-moves-to-patch-1-03/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/mag-moves-to-patch-1-03/#commentsFiled under: Game Mechanics, Patches, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

For better or worse, most MMOs these days live and die by combat. That goes doubly so for the MMOFPS field, since it's difficult to have a game with "shooter" right in the genre descriptor without some form of lethal ordnance being unloaded. MAG, the massive squad-based shooter on the PS3, has made a major overhaul to its combat system with patch 1.03, designed to address several community concerns and elements that the designers felt were unfair and unfun. A large-scale weapon overhaul has taken place as the centerpiece of the patch, with the effectiveness of several weapons and strategies being re-tuned.

The short version: shorter-range weapons have been toned down in terms of their accuracy at range, sights have been toned down for a similar reason, and both battle rifles and rocket launchers have received notable buffs. There's also greater consistency in firing through thin materials such as tents. With changes to the warnings for charges, faster gear switching, and decreased respec costs, the patch also brings improvements not solely linked to weapon balance. MAG players have the patch available now, and we're hoping that the shifts are keeping players more entertained and less frustrated at someone sniping them from half a map away with a shotgun.

MAG moves to patch 1.03 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancefpsmagmag-patch-1.03mmofpspatchesplaystation-3pricingps3respecshootershotgunssnipingupdateszipper-interactiveSat, 27 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG resuscitates their medic class with update, prepares to launch stats on MAG.com]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/mag-resuscitates-their-medic-class-with-update-prepares-to-laun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/mag-resuscitates-their-medic-class-with-update-prepares-to-laun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/mag-resuscitates-their-medic-class-with-update-prepares-to-laun/#commentsFiled under: Game Mechanics, Patches, MMOFPS, MAG

Medics of the Shadow War, unite! MAG's latest patch did many favors for you, and even those who aren't of the resuscitation persuasion will find some tasty benefits in their latest version, patch 1.02.

The last patch has cleaned up the field support's HUD by removing resuscitation icons from those players who can't be resuscitated, resulting in a much cleaner field of view for medics. Downed players who can be brought back to life also now carry a distance indicator icon on their body, so now you too can GPS your way to help a teammate. The same tracking system has also been given to players who have equipped explosive detectors, pointing out the location of mines. Lastly, medic icons will only be given to soldiers carrying defibulators, so those only holding a healing gun will no longer be medics.

The patch has also improved server performance, resulting in reduced lag during high-end matches, and has made a change to the statistics system to prepare it for integration into MAG.com.

So, if you're going to be jumping into the medic class after this patch, MAG's art director Steve Suhy has some tips for you when playing support. We've got the video embedded for your viewing pleasure right after the break.

Continue reading MAG resuscitates their medic class with update, prepares to launch stats on MAG.com

MAG resuscitates their medic class with update, prepares to launch stats on MAG.com originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hudmagmassive-action-gamemedicpatchplaystation3ps3resuscitateserver-performanceshadow-warstatisticsupdatezipper-interactiveFri, 19 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG review highlights strengths and flaws of the console MMOFPS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/30/mag-review-highlights-strengths-and-flaws-of-the-console-mmofps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/30/mag-review-highlights-strengths-and-flaws-of-the-console-mmofps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/30/mag-review-highlights-strengths-and-flaws-of-the-console-mmofps/#commentsFiled under: Game Mechanics, Reviews, War, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

MAG is a PlayStation 3-exclusive MMOFPS title we've been keeping our eyes on at Massively. The inevitable debate aside about whether Zipper Interactive's title is an MMO or not -- yes, tanks and guns replace dragons and magic spells -- the game accommodates up to 256 players in a zone at a time. The idea of FPS gameplay with that many people at such a high degree of graphical detail is pretty mind-boggling, and it's something we've explored a bit in the MAG beta. Our parent site Joystiq recently sat down with the game now that it's officially launched and wrote a short MAG review.

Joystiq's Griffin McElroy gives a brief overview of MAG's gameplay and his assessment of the title's merits and flaws. That idea of 128 players per side doesn't mean you'll all be charging towards your opponents in one awesome wave, he notes. Rather, you'll typically be interacting with your fellow soldiers on a squad level (4-8 people) to achieve objectives, with multiple squads comprising platoons, and four such platoons forming an army.

Continue reading MAG review highlights strengths and flaws of the console MMOFPS

MAG review highlights strengths and flaws of the console MMOFPS originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolesgame-mechanicsjoystiqmagmmofpsplaystation-3pvpreviewsshooterswarZipper-InteractiveSat, 30 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG's Veteran Mode explained]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/mags-veteran-mode-explained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/mags-veteran-mode-explained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/mags-veteran-mode-explained/#commentsFiled under: Game Mechanics, PvP, War, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

MAG's official launch was only a few days ago, but developer Zipper Interactive is already explaining some of the benefits to having a high level character in the MMOFPS. Players who hit the level cap of 60 can enable "Veteran Mode", which Zipper Interactive has mentioned in the past. Now, they've clarified what exactly the advantages to doing so are in a blog post -- essentially it's an incentive to reroll once you've maxed out your character, and experience more of the game.

If you're looking to try something new, you'll be able to keep your past accomplishments (medals, ribbons, and related stats) when you reset your character to level 1. Even though your experience counter resets to zero, your lifetime experience will show everything you've ever earned -- a permanent record viewable on the stats page of your barracks. Players after trophies for hitting max level in all private military companies (PMCs) in MAG will want to take advantage of Veteran Mode and the experience boost it imparts. Veteran Mode gives players a permanent 10% bonus added to the experience total for each match, provided that players sticks through the entire round. Other players can easily recognize a Veteran by the gold insignia displayed beneath that character's rank. While we suspect it'll be a while before most players hit that level cap, Zipper Interactive detailed MAG's Veteran Mode on the game's official blog.

MAG's Veteran Mode explained originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolesexperience-bonusgame-mechanicsmagmmofpspmcprivate-military-companypvprerolltrophiesveteran-modewarxpzipper-interactiveFri, 29 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What MAG faction are you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/the-daily-grind-what-mag-faction-are-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/the-daily-grind-what-mag-faction-are-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/the-daily-grind-what-mag-faction-are-you/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

It's MAG's launch day! Yaaaaay! The servers are up, the sides are being formed, and the never-ending Shadow War and contract tossing has begun. Another MMO action game has invaded the console realm and that's a good thing, even if you may not be a huge fan of MAG.

Even if MAG isn't your thing, you can still participate in today's question, dear readers! MAG prominently features three different armies -- Raven, VALOR, and S.V.E.R. Each army has its own style and way of getting things done. Raven Industries leans heavily on technology, preferring to use devices and upgrades to carry out the mission in a suave, European style. Meanwhile, across the pond, VALOR Company recruits ex-soldiers from the American military, preferring to win conflict through grit, determination, and large guns. Then, coming from the cold climate of Russia, Seryi Volk Executive Response (S.V.E.R.) is all about finishing the mission with what you have available. They cobble together their weaponry, their uniforms, and whatever they need to get the job done.

Of these three factions, which one are you joining, or would you join in MAG? Why does that army pop out at you over the other two? Take your time, think it through, and then declare your allegiance in the comment threads. Go go go!

The Daily Grind: What MAG faction are you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>magopinionplaystation3ps3the-daily-grindzipper-interactiveTue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Going out to pick up MAG tonight?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/the-daily-grind-going-out-to-pick-up-mag-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/the-daily-grind-going-out-to-pick-up-mag-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/the-daily-grind-going-out-to-pick-up-mag-tonight/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Events (Real-World), Opinion, The Daily Grind, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

So today's the morning of the 25th, dear Massively readers, and that means tonight is the midnight release of MAG! The PS3 is going to get a little more MMO this evening as thousands of players log in for intense "I don't know where I got shot from" action with 256 players.

So, we'll make this short and sweet for you guys. Are you visiting the midnight release tonight to pick up your copy? If so, how early are you going to be there to take part in the "late night festivities?" Are you going to camp out at 10 PM or are you just going to show up 5 minutes before midnight? Bonus question: If you're getting MAG tonight, are you going to go home and spam it, or are you saving it for Tuesday?

Take your opinion, load it in your keyboard, and then fire it directly into the comment box below. We're waiting, maggots!

The Daily Grind: Going out to pick up MAG tonight? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>magmmofpsopinionplaystation3ps3the-daily-grindzipper-interactiveMon, 25 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: MAG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/first-impressions-mag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/first-impressions-mag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/first-impressions-mag/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Opinion, Hands-On, Consoles, MMOFPS, First Impressions, MAG

It's a technical marvel, really, to be able to shoot at 256 people at once. Very few games have been able to get this many players into one enclosed space, and even fewer have been able to do it without having everything lock down in lag. But Zipper Interactive's MAG is taking the bull by the horns and is following in the footsteps of games like PlanetSide to deliver a true "war" experience to the PS3.

With the impending release of MAG to the shelves of stores everywhere, my editor wanted me to get down to the front lines of combat and find out what the fuss was all about. To that end, I've joined up with Shadow Raven Industries to get a taste of the combat that MAG has to offer. Follow after the break, and let's break down how this "Massive Action Game" plays out.

Continue reading First Impressions: MAG

First Impressions: MAG originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>256-playersconsole-fpsconsole-mmofirst-impressionsmagmassive-action-gamemmofpsraven-industriesshadow-raven-industriesshadow-warzipper-interactiveTue, 12 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG in open beta until January 10th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/mag-in-open-beta-until-january-10th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/mag-in-open-beta-until-january-10th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/mag-in-open-beta-until-january-10th/#commentsFiled under: Betas, News Items, Consoles, MMOFPS, MAG

It's last minute, we know, but if you're a PS3 owner then you might want to scoot over to the PlayStation Store and download the MAG open beta client. The system's MMOFPS will be online until the 10th, when they take the game off the store and prep it for the official January 26th launch.

Beware you have room on your hard drive and time to leave your PS3 on to download, however, as you'll be looking forward to a 2 GB download. A headset is nice to have too, so you can communicate with your squadmates (they'll appreciate it,) but it's not required to play the game.

So this weekend enjoy conducting a war with 255 other people on the battlefield with you. Try not to get shot too much!

MAG in open beta until January 10th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>256-playermagmassive-action-gamemmofpsopen-betaplaystation3ps3psnpsn-storepublic-betazipper-interactiveFri, 08 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Your shooter of choice?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/the-daily-grind-your-shooter-of-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/the-daily-grind-your-shooter-of-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/the-daily-grind-your-shooter-of-choice/#commentsFiled under: PlanetSide, Culture, New Titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, All Points Bulletin, Global Agenda, MAG

Lots of shooter/action MMOs coming out in the future, and we here at Massively are eager to play them all. From the 256 player battlefields of MAG to the chaotic, persistent territory control of Global Agenda and even over to the streets of APB, more MMOs are taking the route of the action title and avoiding the point-and-click style of the MMORPG.

So, readers of Massively, what's your shooter of choice? Are you more of the first person, character development style of player that's embodied in MAG? Would you rather customize your character and your ride while shooting up the town in APB? Or are you up for some spy-fi jetpack action in Global Agenda? Or, do you want to take the none of the above option and lay down all of your chips on PlanetSide or PlanetSide 2? (Mmmmm... PlanetSide 2....)

Shoot your mouth off in the comment box below! See what we did there?

The Daily Grind: Your shooter of choice? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbglobal-agendamagmmofpsopinionplanetsideshooterthe-daily-grindSun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG interview talks about gameplay and development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/mag-interview-talks-about-gameplay-and-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/mag-interview-talks-about-gameplay-and-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/06/mag-interview-talks-about-gameplay-and-development/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Video, Game Mechanics, Interviews, New Titles, MMOFPS, MAG

You can argue the specifics about whether or not MAG qualifies as an MMO, but the game certainly fits the "massive" portion of the bill -- 128 characters to a side in battle, customized and developed characters, persistent world based on the performance in the skirmishes. The game's release is only a couple months away, and there's still a great deal more to learn about it if you haven't yet opted in to the preorder beta. Luckily for all of us, Giant Bomb has an interview with Seth Luisi which sheds more light on how the game will play and progress.

The interview is quite substantial, covering everything from MAG's skill progression to leadership roles in the game. Among the more interesting tidbits is the system for squad leaders and further command posts. In order to give some incentive to follow a commander's orders, the objectives they set give a bonus to experience when fulfilled, and as the objectives are fulfilled the leader gets points to help improve their character. It's an interesting dual-reward system that should help lead to people being a bit more inclined to give and take orders in a setting notorious for just the opposite.

But that's hardly the entirety of the interview -- it's only a tiny slice of a talk that ranges to the state of the world affecting map play, character specialization, and some of the problems that the team is facing and working on improving. Take a look at the full interview, which clocks in at around eight minutes long, and you might be inspired to place a pre-order and get your hands on the beta early.

MAG interview talks about gameplay and development originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasfpsgame-mechanicsinterviewsleadershipmagmmofpsnew-titlespersistenceseth-luisiFri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MAG pre-order beta has begun, game to launch on January 26th, 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/mag-pre-order-beta-has-begun-game-to-launch-on-january-26th-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/mag-pre-order-beta-has-begun-game-to-launch-on-january-26th-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/mag-pre-order-beta-has-begun-game-to-launch-on-january-26th-20/#commentsFiled under: Betas, New Titles, News Items, MMOFPS, MAG

If you've been itching to try out your trigger finger with 127 of your friends, then your wait is pretty much at a close. MAG's public pre-order beta has gone live as of Monday and you can jump in by simply going out to your local GameStop/EB Games and pre-ordering the game.

The beta will be continuing until November 20th for all of the pre-order beta players, while those who got in thanks to their Qore subscriptions will find their play time ending on November 8th.

MAG has been confirmed for a release on January 26th of next year, so there will be some downtime between the beta and the release of the game for Zipper Interactive to do some bug fixing and further polishing.

MAG pre-order beta has begun, game to launch on January 26th, 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabreakingfirst-person-shootermagmmofpsopen-betaplaystation3pre-order-keysps3public-betasceasony-computer-entertainment-americazipper-interactiveThu, 15 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wishes do come true, Planetside 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/wishes-come-do-true-planetside-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/wishes-come-do-true-planetside-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/wishes-come-do-true-planetside-2/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, New Titles, News Items

"X game sounds a lot like Planetside. I wish they'd make a sequel to that game." is something we've heard over the years as similar-yet-different titles have been announced and released. Well who says wishes don't come true? As it turns out, SOE is planning to "expand the Planetside universe with another game" and is asking players of the original for their input via survey. Rock Paper Shotgun picked up the scent of impending sequelosity, which is a word we've just made up that describes a sequel revelation of such ferocity that it slaps your jaw to the ground.

There are a lot of games, such as MAG, that are attempting a Planetside-ish experience. However, nothing new has really attempted the scope of the game, so hearing that another is on the way infuses us with a intoxicating blend of hope and curiosity.

Wishes do come true, Planetside 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingfirst-person-shooterfpsfpsmmomagmassive-action-gameplanetsideplanetside-2rock-paper-shotgunshootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentsurveyzipper-interactiveSun, 27 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: The Shooter Invasion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/redefining-mmos-the-shooter-invasion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/redefining-mmos-the-shooter-invasion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/redefining-mmos-the-shooter-invasion/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, Opinion, Massively Meta, Consoles, Crime, MMOFPS, Redefining MMOs

The MMO industry is always changing, and if we're going to stay ahead of the curve, we need to re-evaluate some of our views and ingrained notions from time to time. The Redefining MMOs series at Massively is our look at the state of massively multiplayer online games as it is today, and where we see it going. This week we're going to look at how shooters have invaded the MMO space, give you a run-down of some promising MMO shooters on the horizon, and finally tackle the question of whether or not they should be covered here at Massively.

Something we're seeing more and more is a blurring of the lines between formerly distinct game genres -- this is especially true of shooters and MMOs. There are a number of shooters on the horizon that fit the bill as MMOs (although not RPGs), but such games are a radical departure from the DikuMUD pedigree shared by most MMORPG titles we cover at Massively. These shooter-MMO hybrids may have quests, levels, and classes, but they cast few illusions about being true RPGs. They're shooters through and through, but have persistent settings or are massively multiplayer -- traits which catch our attention.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: The Shooter Invasion

Redefining MMOs: The Shooter Invasion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinconsolescrimedust-514featuredfirst-person-shooterfpsgame-mechanicsglobal-agendahuxleymagmmo-industrymmofpsopinionplanetsidepvpredefining-mmossci-fishootersthe-agencythird-person-shooterFri, 18 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is MAG an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/the-daily-grind-is-mag-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/the-daily-grind-is-mag-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/the-daily-grind-is-mag-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: At a glance, New Titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, MMOFPS

It sports 256 players on a map. 8 man squads, 32 man plattoons, and 128 men on one side in their company. It has a "shadow war" online mode where companies compete to win battles, pushing active warzones back and forth on the map, meaning that each battle has an effect on the online gameplay structure. Winning battles means securing contracts for your group, who works for one of the 3 in-game factions that are struggling for dominance.

MAG is, without a doubt, one heck of a first-person shooter. It's players per map rivals PlanetSide's 300 players per continent, coming only 44 players short of the popular MMOFPS's battles. However, with multiple objectives per map and the 256 players being squeezed into smaller battlefields than PlanetSide's continents, one could say that the game is going to be much more chaotic and interesting.

With all of this in mind, we ask you for your opinion on the following: Is Sony's MAG an MMO? It certainly sports the necessary components of persistence, character development, team mechanics, and player count, but we want to hear from you, the readers. Drop your thoughts into the comment box below, and let the discussion begin.

The Daily Grind: Is MAG an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>256-playermagmmofpsplaystation-3playstation3ps3the-daily-grindzipper-interactiveTue, 15 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Reign of the shooters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/the-digital-continuum-reign-of-the-shooters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/the-digital-continuum-reign-of-the-shooters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/the-digital-continuum-reign-of-the-shooters/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Digital Continuum, Crime, MMOFPS

This year, a bleating signal is ringing out from all corners of the MMO industry. It calls to our attention a new order on the horizon: the order of shooter MMOs.

Can it be coincidence that everywhere you look at this year's E3, most of the exciting upcoming MMOs are shooters in one way or another? I'm looking forward to Final Fantasy XIV as much as the next fan, but there's only one or two traditional looking concepts that have my interest.

Moving through my mental list of must-play MMOs reveals a very obvious pattern. Jumpgate Evolution, All Points Bulletin, CrimeCraft and even aspects of Star Wars: The Old Republic are looking shooter-like. I mean, come on, cover mechanics for the Smuggler class? Now you're just teasing me into a squelching geek heat, BioWare.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Reign of the shooters

The Digital Continuum: Reign of the shooters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbiowarecrimecraftfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfpsfrogsterjgejumpgate-evolutionmagnetdevilrealtime-worldsshootersquare-enixstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-digital-continuumMon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What does "MMO" mean, anyway?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/the-daily-grind-what-does-mmo-mean-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/the-daily-grind-what-does-mmo-mean-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/the-daily-grind-what-does-mmo-mean-anyway/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

What is an MMO, and what isn't? There was the central question in a hearty debate in the Massively offices yesterday after some of us watched (or attended) the Nintendo and Sony E3 press conferences. It's an old question, but it's all the more relevant in the context of E3 this year.

At the Nintendo conference, a game called Animal Crossing: City Folk was announced for the Wii. In that game, each player has his or her own persistent town hosted on Nintendo's servers. There are likely thousands of players, but only four players can be in each town at a time. Is Animal Crossing: City Folk an MMO? On one hand, you have thousands of players in persistent worlds. On the other: only four players per world? That doesn't sound very massive! We decided it's not, but what do you think?

A couple of hours later, Sony announced a PlayStation 3 game called MAG, which stands for "Massive Action Game." In MAG, up to 256 players battle over control points in a persistent battlefield. There's even character advancement. Is MAG an MMO? That depends on just how many players have to be in the world for it to be called "massive," doesn't it? You might say that there should be thousands. Then again, some first generation MMOs like Meridian 59 didn't usually have much more than a couple hundred people on each server. Tough call?

The Daily Grind: What does "MMO" mean, anyway? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossing-city-folkconsolesmagmassive-action-gamenintendoplaystation-3semanticssonytdgthe-daily-grindwiiWed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST