One real (low-res) pic of MAG

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 22nd 2008 at 4:15PM }

Well, here it is. The very first real-time screenshot of Zipper's upcoming massively multiplayer PS3 game, MAG. The creators of SOCOM up the ante for their first PS3 game, creating a battlefield that supports 256 players. For now, that's all the info we have. Undoubtedly, we'll find out more before its 2009 debut.

Tags: e308, mag, zipper

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

T-P-M @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:20PM

In the blog post it also mentions dirving vehicles (although no details).

Averna @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:08PM

There would almost need to be vehicles in a map that supports 256 players

frankym @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:21PM

Cannot wait for this game!!!

colinbell @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:23PM

The best part about the PS3 shooter scene is that players are almost being trained in the art of fighting effectively within a large squad - Warhark, SOCOM, then 60-player R2 and some months later 256-playe MAG. Otherwise if you were to drop players used to 8-player multi into a game like this, it would be chaos, everyone would be busy shooting or shelling their own team!

Lavat @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:33PM

I kind of thought that was the actual part of war.

Never expect anyone online to be suddenly organized. As it will only force people together if one wants to cooperate on a grander scale. Otherwise it is just a game that gets bigger on the eyes.

Such then it makes no difference from the Team Kills and chaos you can get from Warhawk. Other than a bigger Mad House to roam around in. And the TeamWork you receive....As it will give your enemies other people to shoot at.

The Aggie CEO @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:26PM

dammit we want bigger picture.......lol

Gunegune @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:57AM

As Rade Stojsavljevic stated in the comments, "The image was cropped to center on the action."

The Aggie CEO @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:06AM

maybe so.........

but hell they could used a camera phone and got a bigger picture.........lol

uh-oh polio @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:26PM

pleasssse let me go first person in this game.

Randy @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:30PM

this game looks way tight i cant wait!

Andrew @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:33PM

GODDAMN THIS GAME IZ GONNA BE SWEET NO DOUGHT ABOUT THAT CANNOT WAIT

ogvor @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:40PM

I really, really hope they can achieve the 256 players, but I just wouldn't be surprised if that target is cut by the time it's released. Either that or they'll have to charge a subscription fee to pay for all the servers, which I have heard rumors about happening.

Battlefield 2 on PC had really similar 8 member squad, 64 player matches that were really fun, so I hope this works out.

NotoriousJnX @ Jul 22nd 2008 4:40PM

Yes but what's the story going to be like?
I suggest this play into the MGS4 tidbit about FPSes training a whole generation for war. Or how maybe MAG is being used by our military by employing video game players to devise tactics that can be used in the battlefield. Ahh forget it, this game is just one huge deathmatch.

SaMav @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:14PM

No worries about this game going multi-platform =)

PSRT @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:46PM

Why, oh why, must everyone bring this up? It's a Sony first-party game, of course it won't be multi-platform. And even if it was, so what? COD4 was a great multi-platform online game, and simply making something exclusive doesn't make it good.

As for the game, I have every bit of confidence in Zipper's ability to pull this off. That said, the ambition is certainly there, and there's always a risk associated with developing a game based around what appears to be a bullet point.

stephen @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:14PM

No worries about this game going multi-platform =)

Are you slow? zipper is owned by sony. some people just should not be allowed to comment.

SaMav @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:25PM

@ Stephen. "No worries about this game going multi-platform" What does that mean to everyone else? You obviously are the one that shouldnt be posting because what I said and what was meant by my comment was that "There is no need to worry about this game going multi-platform."

I was well aware of Zipper being owned by Sony.

You sir, are an idiot.

StevenRafael @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:33PM

lol uber fanboy alert. Someone is overly paranoid and defensive.

PSRT @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:54PM

Sorry SaMav, but I'm going to have to side with Stephen on this one. 95% of the people visiting this blog know Zipper is a Sony studio, and the other 5% simply don't give a frack about its exclusivity in the first place.

You of all people should be careful who you call "idiot".

SaMav @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:15AM

I guess i worded my original post wrong. But I was trying to say. There is absolutely no reason at all to believe that MAG will be on any platform other than the PS3.

-I'm done arguing

Laurel @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:39PM

This game looks generic.

HAAS599 @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:53PM

yeah, reality is so generic.

please note my sarcasm

Nugent @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:04PM

Yeah, I agree with Laurel, it looks like all the other 256 player FPS games out there. :P

As for story, I'm guessing this is going to be kind of like Team Fortress, i.e., there is no story. You go out and kill the other team. The near-future setting just lets them get a little more creative with the weapons.

Since Sony has Planetside under its belt, and Zipper has the experience with the SOCOM games, I'm cautiously optimistic about MAG.

NotoriousB-O-B @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:13PM

This game sounds awesome~!

StevenRafael @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:34PM

FIRST ps3 game?? I thought a SOCOM title was announced for this year?

Fane @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:55PM

When Zipper was given the opportunity to make MAG, they turned over SOCOM to Slant Six, but Sony didn't want to announce MAG, so they apparently let people believe Zipper was working on a new SOCOM. Or so I surmise.

MexicanTerrorist @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:45PM

This game better kick some major ass, or else the debut of MASSIVE ACTION GAMES on consoles will be a total waste.
Yes, MASSIVE ACTION GAMES is a genre, not a title.

Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ Jul 22nd 2008 6:46PM

Has anybody else seen the 720p version of the Sony press conference on the PSN store? I watched the MAG trailer from that again and am almost certain that although the video was not real-time gameplay, it was actually rendered in-engine! Take a careful look at things like the gun turrets, wheels on the trucks and the masks/scarves of the dead soldiers, especially in the close up scenes. You'll see all sorts of instances of low-poly models and low-res textures upon zoom-in, and instances where textures are used in place of polygons to decrease model complexity (ala the truck wheels treads in MGS4). I'm no computer graphics artists, so it's hard for me to put words to all this, but for comparison, take the E3 05 Killzone trailer versus the MGS trailer from the same conference. There are certain things like less skin luminosity, lower res self shadowing, and if you look carefully enough, unsightly jaggies at places like elbows and fingertips that gave away that the MGS4 trailer was real time while Killzone was pre-rendered. This MAG trailer looks to be the same way.

If I'm right on this, Zipper is the first to make a massive online game that doesn't painfully compromise graphics to make up for scope.

Averna @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:11PM

Yeah I thought it was using the engine. Could still have been touched up via fps, but hell. If they have region servers Ill be getting this asap.

Region servers, or at least the option of region servers, needs to be in every multiplayers game these days. Battlefield has to be the worst awesome game out because as an Aussie there is no such thing as a lag free game.

Gambit07 @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:04AM

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is CG, it was confirmed on the PS blog.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/07/22/first-look-at-mag/comment-page-1/#comment-90242

Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:28PM

Actually, he doesn't confirm that at all. All he says was that it was a pre-recorded movie and people weren't actually playing it live. No mention of whether the movie was rendered in-engine at all.

Laurel @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:11PM

@Nugent

It's another military war game that has soldiers who carry and use guns. That's what i meant by generic looking. :P

Just like Resistance 2, Kill Zone 2 and Gears of War 2. It's more of the same. I yawned when i saw these games.

Johnny Lasley @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:43PM

I can imagine some insecure women with weight issues feeling the game is insensitive. I know these people have issues with not being accepted by society, and this game does add to that.

But the problem begins and ends with these fat so-called feminist. (I think they're just looking for something to rail against, not necessarily working for gender equality). But their reaction is hilarious over something that is only an issue for them.

I'm overweight and don't give a damn...I know some of the ladies think I'm still sexy. Sheeah...If Heavy D and the Notorious B-I-G can do it, I can too.