Hilariously enough, as soon as the Killzone 2 release hype has died down, it’s the turn of Massive Action Game (MAG) to be touted the new hipster on the block. It’s funny how the tide keeps changing but it’s also amazing how a title that was literally a blip on the gaming map some six months ago is now being dissected and conversed about like it’s the next killer app for the Playstation 3. Sooner or later, it’ll become blasphemous to say anything against MAG so now seems as good a time as any to criticize it.
If Sony is hoping the main hook for this game will be the number of people it can support online, it can quietly can it and do so quickly. Sony isn’t intentionally or unintentionally creating a subliminal connection that says, “Well , maybe the gameplay is no good. Hit ‘em up with numbers!” Yet after checking out the features, MAG seems like another run-of-the-mill military themed FPS.
Kit creation and character customization options are nice and all, but these are pretty much the mainstays of many online shooters, past and present. Ability to rank up and earn new perks? As if that hasn’t been done a thousand times already in Call of Duty 4 and Killzone 2. But really now, who honestly cares if there are PMCs vying for control in the future? How about some maps, gameplay footage, physics models, play-balancing, AI run-throughs and the hundreds of other things that would interest me in a title beyond simply blowing up bridges as a secondary goal? Bottomline: Less numbers, more gameplay.
MAG is quickly becoming a hot topic but Sony should show us more of the actual game. We could do well without all these “MAG Not Possible on the 360″, “MAG is Now FPS Only” and “MAG is Not an Iteration of SOCOM” headlines.
25 Responses to “Massive Action Game: [Insert Gameplay Here]”
Wait until E3. They aren’t just going to show gameplay footage for the heck of it.
I think we have to be patient, judgment cant be made on this game simply on a few details, definitely not until gameplay footage, dev walkthroughs and the like. 256 players is beyond just ‘hit em with numbers’, its a real head turner considering 100% of the games comin out today dont even do a 100 players. Furthermore, considering the amount of players, the gameplay cant be parralel to that of COD4 or Killzone 2 because it isnt going to work.
this article is full of rubbish for several reasons and this questions the intelligence of the journalist.
1) the journalists are hyping the game. If you talk about hype about this game in a negative manner, blame the right people for it atleast rather than making it out like it’s Sonys doing.
2) it’s an mmo, how can you compare an mmo to a regular fps?
3) it has been clearly explained that the 256 players will be split into 2 factions, then into squads and groups. That is nothing like CoD or Killzone2.
4) questioning wether it will cope 256 players and trying to critisize it at this stage is stupid especially if there is an article stating the length of time they have been play testing the 256 online function. If it weren’t ready, why would they even bother!
The writer of this article has done no research and has wasted his own time talking out of his rear end. I can’t believe I fell for actually Reading this article giving crap like this undeserved traffic!
Leg3nd, I don’t think you realize. Gameplay in MAG is going to be exactly like that of CoD4 or Battlefield (not really Killzone 2), the only difference as it was spelled out in Gameinformer is that there will be a much larger emphasis on squads. That’s how the developer plans on it working is that everything will be organized through squads. The emphasis on squads and the 256 players is basically the ONLY thing that separates this game from Battlefield or CoD along with dedicated servers, which is a major plus (no more lagging… ever
).
Seriously? Another “Run of the mill” FPS? Do the game modes seem that way? No, they’re different, except for Suppression. Several layers of defense for Domination Mode and there’s an escort-ish mode which is rare. Does the squad system seem run-of-the-mill? 8 to a squad, 4 squads to a platoon, 4 platoons to a company, and each platoon and even squad can have specific goals, and secondary objectives. We haven’t seen one gameplay video of it, so you can’t assume that it’ll be run-of-the-mill, and what I listed really makes it seem like it’s not. If you want to see something run-of-the-mill, go back to any of the Call of Duty games. Then read about MAG’s features and you’ll believe it’s not run-of-the-mill.
Whoever wrote this article really jumped the gun, you have no clue of what this game is going to be do you? Do your homework and learn a little bit more about the game first, then wait for more details before you start knocking on this game. I’m not at all interested in this game yet I’m defending it. You know why? Because kids like you that write 2 paragraph articles just for the title are killing reputable game info sites. Stop writing. Thanks.
I can understand not wanting to see “MAG Not Possible on the 360″ but there’s nothing wrong with “MAG is Now FPS Only” and “MAG is Not an Iteration of SOCOM”. That’s just new information about the game and what’s wrong with that?
I think it is funny that people criticize a new game that wants to give more involvement to players. Instead the author should go back to playing Halo (originality milked to death and then some). You certainly seem to make a point that it is Sony’s failure on the horizon because they are achieving something immersive and challenging and others a hyping it for them. Certainly it’s Sony’s fault that a game is being made for their console only. Had Gears or Halo came out with over 64 players at once it would be the talking point of E3 last year all the way till release. Please check your bias in the overhead compartment, the videogame world will await your learned good attitude to catch up to reality. The Headlines its grabbing are for clarification so the hype train doesn’t get ahead of itself.
Even if that game became the best game in the history of gaming you would still not like it. Run along now and go play halo and gears.
I was a bit excited over this game until I found out that it was a FPS. I originally thought this was just an improved version of warhawk. I think Sony developers are not attacking their problems correctly, I feel that this game is just going to be a better version of Call of Duty 4 but we will have to see.
Oh and that topic ‘MAG Not possible on 360′, if you read it the Sony rep doesn’t give enough justifiable points why it isnt, all he mentions is that the Cell is more powerful, when the IBM designer of both the CELL and the 360 CPU say that are equivalent.
There is also a nice topic on Killzone 2 where a CGI designer clearly points out that the Killzone 2 engine does not process light, which is handled in nearly every game on the market.
(Sorry about my english, i’m German)
@RJ
HAHA
“Killzone 2 engine does not process light”
Thats bullshit..
KIllzone 2 has the best lighning ever..
There are more than 200 light sources in a level!! HAHA, other games have max. 40.. Damn, the lights are nearly better than in crysis..
And the Cell is more powerful! Everybody knows it.. The Airforce and many universities are working with PS3′s, because of the power..
But you can also look to God of War 3, Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2, if you want to see the cell in action..
You are a dumb PS3 hater!
Fail, epic fail.
That’s all I have to say.
@fei-hung: youre right. this is not journalism, this ist writing about rumors.but it is funny anyway.
@Brylon:
‘“MAG is Now FPS Only” and “MAG is Not an Iteration of SOCOM”. That’s just new information about the game and what’s wrong with that’
While I can appreciate that MAG is an FPS and not an MMO, despite leaning towards that heavily like PlanetSide or Call of Duty 4, it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s a small detail. And by iteration, I don’t mean ‘sequel’. i.e. “MAG is not a Sequel to SOCOM”. I mean in terms of versions. i.e. “MAG is Not a Version of SOCOM”. Which is great, I appreciate they want to differentiate it but they haven’t shown any gameplay footage. And i really want gameplay footage to back up that claim rather than just Sony’s word.
@RJ:
Ah, yes. I checked out that article but there was a far superior one on KZ2′s use of soft and hard shadows that I found much more informative and technical. Will share the link with you as soon as I find it.
@vangus:
Dude, he’s not hating on Killzone 2. He’s just talking about some one who had something to say on the light sources. Geez.
@lady:
Like your comment.
@fei-hung:
“the journalists are hyping the game. If you talk about hype about this game in a negative manner, blame the right people for it atleast rather than making it out like it’s Sonys doing.”
http://news.spong.com/gateway?Sony:+MAG+Not+Possible+on+Xbox+360//article/17584/Sony_MAG_Not_Possible_on_Xbox_360
http://www.gamersdigest.net/2739/mag-not-an-iteration-of-socom/
Oh look at that. Useless statements hyping the game made by Sony reps. Huh. Yea, I can definitely see the journalists’ nefarious hand in this one.
” it’s an mmo, how can you compare an mmo to a regular fps?”
MAG is an FPS only. Not much of a surprise, but if you can’t get your facts straight, piss off.
“questioning wether it will cope 256 players and trying to critisize it at this stage is stupid”
Wow, where did I question it for that? Talk about shoving rhetoric down my way. Or just plain hallucinating. Don’t know what phase of puberty you’re in, but remember: Weed is not your periscope to objective judgment.
@Mad-elph:
“I think it is funny that people criticize a new game that wants to give more involvement to players.”
Wow, so a bunch of numbers DOES convince a Sony diehard that he’s in for a great game! Seriously though? This game has nothing so far that hasn’t been in Call of Duty 4 or Killzone 2. And the 256-player appeal can only go so far as it’s demonstrated. Saying Sony’s done it right means nothing unless they show it to us, running in full graphical glory.
“You certainly seem to make a point that it is Sony’s failure on the horizon”
If I made my point, what’s your problem?
@that:
“Even if that game became the best game in the history of gaming you would still not like it. Run along now and go play halo and gears.”
Get this straight kid: Ocarina of Time. Garou. System Shock 2. Half-Life. Baldur’s Gate 2. Street Fighter IV. God of War. Super Mario 64. Chrono Trigger. Star Wars: X-Wing. I’ve played some of the greatest games in history. You think MAG can step up so easily? Wipe away that big “if” from your sentence if you’re so damn sure.
@Lando2:
“Because kids like you that write 2 paragraph articles just for the title are killing reputable game info sites.”
It’s actually 4 paragraphs, thanks for counting so meticulously. I’ve also stated that Sony should wait and reveal the game rather than sharing nothing but numbers and lame details so I don’t see how you disagree with me (because I’m criticizing the Big S? Blasphemy!).
And you know so much about what this game is going to be about, please oh please send me your gameplay impressions and exclusive footage.
I applaud sony to change the fps genre even if it seems minor to those detractors who seem to love bashing the ps3…I for one cant wait to play this game just to see how different it really is…I hope it emphasises on tactics better than cod or any other fps that is the current mainstay.
Irony is lost on the stupid
How many times have xbox fans claimed that Halo is the best fps game ever for combining elements from all games and packaging them well in a complete version. If this game takes many successful elements from various different games then incorporates a new element of squads within companies it does offer new immersion that is previously unknown and delivers soemthing new. Way to avoid all the good points and keep sucking
” As if that hasn’t been done a thousand times already in Call of Duty 4 and Killzone 2. ”
You say it’s been done a thousans times in cod:4 and KZ2, but isn’t that just twice? You say nothing is really new in MAG and then you mention the mass number 256…Isn’t that something really good and new?
Im not gonna hype this game , cause hyping only leaves more room for dissapointment, but I’m certainly optimistic about it and hope it does well.
@Mad-elph:
Okay, but seriously? Look through the article and find one sentence with the word “Halo” in it. Go ahead. I double dog dare you!
You’re simply reinforcing the fanboy stereotype that if you criticize Sony for anything, you must be a Microsoft/Halo/Xbox lover. How about this? I HATE Halo games. Okey-dokey? With me so far, slick? I hate Halo games for their piss-poor squad AI that drove me off a cliff when I got in the gunner seat. I hate Halo games for being gobs of action with no real direction or substance. I hate Halo games for throwing all these hodge podge elements of sci-fi, FPS, military drama and lame characterization together to create a potpourri of “been-there-done-that-choking-self” cliches. I liked the Halo: Contact Harvest novel, which suggests that SOME aspects of this universe are appealing, and will check out the other books to see if they’re as good. But I’ve played the Halo FPS games, I haven’t completed a single one of them, and I feel all the richer for the time I didn’t lose.
But that’s not the point of this article. The point? No one has seen any gameplay footage of MAG nor have they played it. Yet it’s being hyped by Sony as “only possible on the PS3″ and “a unique new experience”, which morons like you willingly buy into? Fuck that and fuck you.
@saminseattle:
God, for idiots like Mad-elph, there are thankfully gamers like you who look for real conversation.
I didn’t mean it’s been done a thousand times in a thousand different titles (though I’m sure I could name a few more – Battlefield 2142, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Call of Duty: World at War all had some kind of ranking system). I meant that people have ranked up and gained new perks in those two games several thousands of times already, if not to earn the perks already shipped then to earn the new ones available for download. Like previous trends in the FPS genre – in-game events, the CS clones, bullet-time, etc. – I believe the perks system is at a phase where its use can increase and then fall, or just be included in a select few games before the next big thing comes around.
I’m neutral about this game, which is why I mentioned it several times before to generate awareness about it and criticized it now when it’s being hyped without much gameplay footage or impressions being available. It’s just that after seeing those features before in some game or other (and because this is Zipper Interactive, a dev I have lots of respect for since the first SOCOM days), I’m a little more skeptical about the uniqueness of the game. If it contains some shocking new, well-implemented twist or is just solid gameplay when I see the first footage, naturally I’d rave about it. Let’s see what happens.
@Ravi
I still don’t see what the problem is with releasing a little info on the game, every game developer does it… it keeps people interested in the game. If you want to see more info on the game buy the newest Game Informer and wait till E3 for some gameplay footage.
“I’m neutral about this game, which is why I mentioned it several times before to generate awareness about it and criticized it now when it’s being hyped without much gameplay footage or impressions being available. It’s just that after seeing those features before in some game or other (and because this is Zipper Interactive, a dev I have lots of respect for since the first SOCOM days), I’m a little more skeptical about the uniqueness of the game. If it contains some shocking new, well-implemented twist or is just solid gameplay when I see the first footage, naturally I’d rave about it. Let’s see what happens.”
Why wouldn’t they hype a first party exclusive? They’re paying a lot to make the game and they want people to buy it. The game won’t even be out till the fall (November according to my fake list date at EB Games). So footage appearing at E3 in June would be right on cue and the perfect time to show it’s colours. As for ‘uniqueness’ I don’t know, what really separates all the other good shooters right now? Not much. I don’t care for ‘unique’ if it equates to a gimmick, if it’s good is all the will matter in the end. So we’ll see then when Sony does put something out till then I wouldn’t worry.
Ravi, get a life!
Fine geez! (Ah, Metal Gear Awesome 2. I never tire of quoting from your holy bastion of reactions)
U guys stop saying that game sucks cuz i saw the previews and everything and that game will be the best… it will be REVOLUTIONARY… so guys that think 256 players dont work then shut the F up!!! okay???? dipshts
this game is going to be god like. whoever wrote that first load of cow turds is retarted. any game that can support this many ppl & have a leadership system that works is going to definitly be game of the year. no competition. (this is only if the game turns out to have a good control scheem like that of cod which i expect it does)
LOL these arguements get so funny….im known for bashing games early and lovin them later (not in the case of halo) but never this early and wats wrong with cod4 and socom they were good games im good for another play with a larger amount of players and this new squad stuff so how about everybody chill out and let ravi express his concerns and stop with this bitchassness
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