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Zipper dev diary reveals the three factions of MAG

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 30th 2009 at 10:00PM }

Out of all of humanity's social needs and desires, we all love the feeling of belonging the most. People just can't get along without the comfort and support that can be provided by bowling leagues, church groups, family circles or bloodthirsty para-military contractors.

The latest developer diary for Zipper Interactive's 256-man melee, MAG, reveals the three PMCs featured in the multi-multi-multiplayer shooter. You'll get to choose between the traditional military forces of Valor, the high-tech armada of Raven or the brutal, low-tech armies of S.V.E.R. (pronounced "sever"). Check out the three outfits in the video above, and let us know who you're thinking about enlisting with.

Second MAG dev diary talks framerate, inspiration for 256 players

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 24th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Are you excited for MAG? Zipper Interactive's PS3 follow-up to the SOCOM franchise will melt PS3s everywhere with its ambitious 256-player online multiplayer. In spite of the unprecedented number of players being tracked, Zipper's targeting a steady 30fps beat, even when all 256 players start converging on one point. The notion seems a bit staggering, and we have our doubts -- remember the framerate of 4-player N64 games?

Certainly, we want Zipper to deliver on all of its promises. The end of the dev diary makes us hungry for more, when the developers explain their vision: "In other first-person shooters, you might see big events, like helicopters going down, or explosions, and buildings on fire. Those things are all scripted; they're happening outside of the gameplay space. In MAG, it's the first first-person-shooter where all those things are happening around you as an effect of gameplay."

Gallery: MAG

MAG dev diary takes a look into the Shadow War

by Majed Athab { Jun 17th 2009 at 6:00PM }

By now, you must have heard about MAG -- an ambitious 256-player online shooter. We've seen it in action and have even tried it out for ourselves, but what's it all about, and what's this Shadow War we keep hearing of? Luckily, this developer video diary (posted after the break) gives us a look into the storyline of MAG and its fictional Shadow War backdrop and answers all those questions.

We get a closer look at the maps, weapons and characters seen in the game, while Zipper details the various PMC groups vying for power in the Shadow War. The clip also shows off some all-new gameplay footage, so make sure you don't miss it.

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Joystiq interview: Zipper Interactive's Russ Phillips on MAG

by Colin Torretta { Apr 30th 2009 at 6:00PM }

(click to massive size)

Last week we had the honor of being some of the first people outside Sony to try out MAG, Zipper Interactive's first game on the PS3. While you can find out a lot of information from our hands-on report, we wanted a bit more insight into one of the most ambitious shooters to come along in recent memory. Russ Phillips, art director for MAG, was kind enough to answer some of the questions that came up during our extended demo of the game. Hit the jump for the full interview.

With competitive shooters these days, one of the things that really drives the community is online integration. The ability to log on, see your character and his stats, see how your clan is doing, etc. Is that something that you guys are looking at integrating into MAG?

Definitely! We want you to be able to follow your character, build a career with him, and be able to get on any time of the day -- especially to follow your Faction's progress and what is actually going on in the 'Shadow War' so we'll have websites dedicated to providing this information. I think any player that has played a game like this will want to know where they sit and and where their faction sits. So yeah, we've given a lot of thought to that.

Gallery: MAG

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First MAG footage shown in new trailer

by Jem Alexander { Apr 29th 2009 at 1:00PM }

You've already read our hands-on impressions of MAG -- if not, why not? -- and now you can see it in action in the video above. Included is almost a minute and a half of footage, which will no doubt quench your thirst for some insight into the title. Surprise surprise, it's looking great.

Joystiq hands-on: MAG

by Colin Torretta { Apr 29th 2009 at 12:01PM }

Little has been heard about MAG, Sony's ambitious 256-person online shooter that was announced during last year's E3. In fact, other than the CG trailer shown at the conference, there has been an almost total lockdown on any information related to the game. Last week, however, all that changed during Sony's Seattle Gamers Day event.

The event was held at developer Zipper Interactive's Redmond, Washington headquarters, where studio heads Jim Bosler and Brian Soderberg took the stage to explain MAG, the technology behind it, and how the game actually works with 256 people.

With a long history of making online shooters (the developer was the first to bring an online game to the PS2 with the first SOCOM), Zipper has been working hard to make sure that players will experience a smooth and pleasant experience, even when playing against a couple hundred other people. In fact, it's been running weekly 256-player tests since late last year with SCEA folks in California in order to test the network technology -- Zipper says it's already achieved smooth gameplay.

Concept-wise, the idea behind MAG was to be able to re-create battles on the scale of Blackhawk Down, with hundreds of well trained soldiers engaging in highly coordinated battles across large areas. In order to do this, the developer has created one of the most robust command systems we've ever seen in a videogame.

Gallery: MAG

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MAG: May Also Get ... a subtitle

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 9th 2009 at 7:00PM }

Little is known about the upcoming PS3 shooter, MAG. Zipper Interactive is promising a 256-player online experience and has attached quite an appropriate title to the game (MAG, as you may know, is short for Massive Action Game). While it gets the point across succinctly, the marketing gurus at Sony may be looking for a beefier title. Sharp eyes have noticed another URL points directly to the recently opened MAG official website. MAGShadowWar.com is owned and operated by SCEA -- coincidence? We think not.

While it's far from concrete, it looks as though MAG will cover the Shadow War. Hopefully, it won't be long until Sony reveals some real info about the game, because it's obvious we're desperately looking for anything surrounding this anticipated title.

Official MAG site launches, hides secrets

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 7th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Looks like Sony is slowly starting to promote its upcoming Zipper-developed follow-up to the SOCOM franchise. MAG, or Massive Action Game, promises online multiplayer action for up to 256 players. The official website for MAG has just launched, and it's definitely hiding some secrets. Look around the map for a few hotspots. Pinpoint a certain location and you might get a very small glimpse into the upcoming game. If you find any cool tricks with the site, definitely let us know in the comments section.

[Via PS3center.net]

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Rumor: MAG screenshots leaked onto Flickr

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 4th 2009 at 5:30PM }

The pickin's have been mighty slim regarding details and sneak peeks for Sony and Zipper Interactive's upcoming 256-man shooter, MAG: Massive Action Game (the only official screenshot we've seen thus far is posted above), so we thought we'd bring your attention to some screenshots that would normally fall below our threshold of dubiousness. Flickr user 1337guyzorz recently posted 28 supposed images involving the title, including a number of in-game screencaps and a few character models.

The images are fairly attractive, though they may leave the viewer with a number of unanswered questions. Namely, where did they come from? Are they leaked from a Sony FTP server? An exclusive from some gaming journalism outlet? Summoned by some sort of ominous pact with a screenshot demon? More importantly, are they even real? They certainly seem massive, and the pictures contain elements of action, and, well, it looks like a game. The shoe seems to fit -- but where did the shoe come from? We may never know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Calendar clarification: God of War 3, MAG before March 2010

by Randy Nelson { Feb 26th 2009 at 6:34PM }

Had your hopes up that God of War III and Zipper Interactive's "massive action game," MAG, would be all up in your PS3 before January 1, Ought-10 rolled around? Better let them down ... gently. Following two disparate announcements -- one saying both games (among others) would hit within calendar 2009; the other citing fiscal 2009 -- Sony has confirmed to Joystiq that the release window is, in fact, the latter: before March 1, 2010.

Two other games listed in the original press release are pretty much locked for release within the year, though. Heavy Rain, Quantic Dreams' dreamy-looking adventure game, was confirmed for calendar '09 release last August. The Sucker Punch developed action-platformer, inFamous, is coming "this spring," according to a packaging insert going out with tomorrow's major release, Killzone 2.

Sony: God of War III, MAG coming within the year

by Griffin McElroy { Feb 20th 2009 at 6:40PM }

A triumphant Sony press release which heralded next week's arrival of Killzone 2 and, effectively, the kick-off for its 2009 line-up, contained a tentative list of the games that will likely cause PS3 owners to foam at the mouth with anticipation over the coming months. The list contained two mammoths in particular -- according to Sony, both God of War III and Zipper Interactive's MAG: Massive Action Game will be among the "blockbuster exclusives" which will land on the console "throughout the year."

The imminent launch window for the two titles (which were mentioned alongside inFamous, Heavy Rain, MLB 09: The Show and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves) is just a bit surprising -- though we suppose Sony's selective wording ("throughout the year") could mean that the listed titles will be dropping by this time in 2010. Still, barring any delays, 2009's shaping up to be a heck of a year for the enthusiastic supporters of Sony's monolithic home console.

Sony considering subscription fees for MAG, according to PSU survey

by Alan Tsang { Sep 29th 2008 at 3:45PM }

The Bitbag reported that a PlayStation Underground survey was sent out asking customers "15 questions related to payment plans" regarding a game that sounds a whole lot like MAG. The survey hints at plans for a monthly or yearly fee for the 256-player MMO title, as well as the possibility of paid DLC.

Videogamer contacted a Sony representative, who issued a standard reply of "we don't comment on rumor and speculation." Do keep in mind these types of surveys are designed for companies to hear consumer feedback, so if you receive one of them, be sure to let Sony know how you feel.

Source - The Bitbag
Source - Videogamer

[Via Joystiq]

Rumor: Survey gauges MAG subscription possibilities

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 29th 2008 at 12:57PM }

Sony has refused to comment on the "rumor and speculation" surrounding a possible monthly or yearly fee for PS3's Massive Action Game, reports VideoGamer. The rumor originates from website Bitbag, which cites a PlayStation Undergroud survey asking "15 questions related to payment plans" for MAG.

MAG is the 256-player online game by SOCOM developer Zipper Interactive. Considering surveys are designed to elicit feedback, Sony is probably getting an earful about this issue already.

Source - Sony to charge monthly/yearly fee for MMO MAG
Source - Sony refuses to comment on pay to play MAG reports

First real, tiny screen of Sony's 'Massive Action Game'

by Randy Nelson { Jul 22nd 2008 at 10:58PM }

Here, in all its compressed glory, is the first actual screenshot of Sony and Zipper Interactive's 256-player MAG: Massive Action Game. We say "actual" because it was clear to anyone with eyes that Sony had pulled another Killzone 2 with the MAG video debuted during its pre-E3 press conference. In other words, it was all pre-rendered.

MAG senior producer Rade Stojsavljevic posted the shot to the official PlayStation blog, calling it "a sneak peak from one of [Zipper's] internal play sessions." Stojsavljevic also said that the dev has used its experience working in online games with the SOCOM franchise to create an entirely new server architecture for MAG capable of supporting its, well, massive amount of players.

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.