MAGs innovation is not that 256 players can log on - it's that they can play together in an organised and focused way.
That's what MAG does that no game has done yet - you may not like MAG's style, but the fact that 256 can play in the same environment and not have it turn into chaos is the fun part and the impressive part too.
r.
Agree entirely Alpha - KZ, Halo, MAG, MW/CoD, MoH, all owe something to the real inspirations from the FPS genre.
Goldeneye proved FPS could work and didn't have to be crap on console and DOOM proved tehy could be fun at all.
Still, MAG is the best example of large scale FPS around right now - and that is something Zipper should be proud of - they went where others wouldn't or couldn't and made a game that works and is fun.
r.
Xbox costs £129 - but I could buy a PC with the spec of a 360 for about £50 and have it be much more useful to boot.
So you've got it the wrong way round - by your logic everyone with a 360 should sell it and get a cheaper PC - same games anyway lol.
r.
The sad thing is this is a game I'd probably prefer on console if for no other reason than you can sell it used (SP game = short lived).
But I won't get it for 360 - just too much risk the thing will explode so I try and save that for real exclusives (not that it's getting much use as a result lol).
In the meantime I've got this ready for DL on my PC but I have to say, if a PS3 version is released and it's better like Dragon Age and they throw in some goodies too - w...
Just because it hasn't been tried yet doesn't mean it shouldn't be tried does it?
Zipper have taken a gamble and gone further than anyone else for a long time and so far, all reviewers agree it works.
May not be to everyone's taste though, but if a community develops it will be worth the risk. Zipper have successfully provided the tools, now it's up to the players.
If it gets the kind of following SOCOM (even Confrontation) has then we're in good shape. ...
That's been true of almost every MP FPS though.
I remember those long minutes spent watching a sniper-camping de_dust while the T's casually plant the bomb.... There's always someone who doesn't get it.
But, at least in MAG's case, if you're that person - you're the one having no fun since you'll be the one who can't level, gets killed a lot by guy with better kit, and ultimately goes away.
r.
Israel huh?
American company + israeli tech - don't see this selling too well in the Islamic world hehe.
Then again, it's prolly just as well - don't need anyone getting raged with the Natal Lag and going loco ;)
SOCOM is almost like that now - join the wrong server with no headset and your spawn-knifed and kicked lol.
r.
Interesting problem...
What none of the reviewers of MAG have so far reviewed - in fact what very few reviewers actually review for MP games are - the people who play the games.
I don't know what'll happen to MAG from release. The extremes are that it gets no support from zipper, players get tired quickly and it's basically dormant in few months, or the other extreme is that zipper release new maps, modes, tweaks etc and gamers stick with it until MAG 2 appears on PS...
Planetside + WW2Online/BE.
Both v. old now, not really played, and due to major issues, never really became that popular either.
MAG is it for large scale FPSs right now - that's why Zipper have done such a good job.
The fact that it works where others haven't even tried, or tried and failed is good enough.
Not only that, but it's fun too.
r.
"And in our nominations for GOTY we have Mass Eff.... whoops, I'm afraid there's been a change to our published schedule....
Come back after these messages...."
Pretty cool? to have your choice of retailer limited to 1 if you wish to use all the functionality you're paying for available on day 1?
Seems like a disgusting move to me and one that should get Gamestop (and EA, but you can't hit them directly) a boycott.
Still, no problems with PC version so it's all good ;)
r.
As the review pointed out - there is no 256 player chaos. If you play as a lone-wolf and ignore the team objectives, you die and have no fun.
Play towards the objectives and it's fun.
That's where MAG has succeeded where the other 2 FPSs that managed >=256 players failed.
Still doesn't mean everyone enjoys that kind of game though and MAG has other problems so reasonable score.
r.
Seems like a perfectly reasonable review to me... Overall, the first paragraph is the point of the whole thing
"It works. That's the thing. It's not some empty, broken OMG-next-generation promise, it's not a glorified tech demo and it isn't just 256 people standing in a ring and taking it in turns to fall over. MAG is a first-person war game, in the vein of Battlefield or Enemy Territory, but oh-so-much bigger: 256 players facing off in 128-man teams scattered over enormous ...
Yeah I notice that none of the reviews have talked about any offline component - yet the beta had the option right there in the menu just locked.
Doesn't give much confidence in their opinion - particularly a site named Strategy Informer. Strategy implies, thought, consideration, deliberation and then action.
This guy seems to have pulled the trigger on the review before actually playing the final game :/
r.
EDIT : Oh wait wait wait. I thought...
So this is the 360 version. I take it the PC version is 10/10 then ;)
r.
While it's clearly a bit of labor of love, at least this guy takes a stab at a proper review for people who've never seen MAG, rather than assume everyone has played the beta and the reviewer just rants for a page or two.
Still, I think that score is too high - this isn't a game for everyone.
r.
Those screenies are taken from the release version - it's been patched to improve lighting.
Having said that, what screens there are in that review look pretty similar to what I was seeing on my setup...
r.
I preferred :
"MAG's clunky gear selection coupled with that dodgy communication issue almost makes for a game-breaking combination, but the solid and robust FPS action shines through and rescues MAG from being marred by these irritations. Zipper should be congratulated for looking beyond the success of the SOCOM franchise to craft a supremely slick and intuitive FPS that's as overtly ambitious as MAG."
At least this talks about things that MAG really does have pr...
It's not right, but if this can be "productised" then PS3 sales are gonna soar.
That'll be the end of the 360 almost overnight....
Problem for Sony is they can't afford for that to happen :/
r.