MAG: Massive Action Game
MAG stands for “Massive Action Game”. The game currently has a limit per game of 256 players…on the map…at the same time. Do you have any idea what kind of impact this is going to have on the multi-player first-person shooter world? Probably a lot. For a long time now the standard amount of players per match has been 32, sometimes 64. This is a major leap for the genre.
The matches themselves are generally held together by objectives that both sides must complete. However, in addition to main objectives there are also fragmentary orders, also known as FRAGO’s. MAG features something of a chain of command, and squad leaders can input orders and update objectives on-the-fly. This can keep things under control when you have 128 soldiers running around trying to figure out what to do. One mechanic intended to encourage cooperation with the leaders is that those near them gain certain advantages. Those near squad leaders can reload faster, those near platoon leaders can disarm explosives quicker, and those near an OIC gain higher resistance to gunfire. Those that engage in and conform with FRAGO’s, such as directions concerning squad movement and targets, will gain extra experience points.
Like in other recent shooters, experience points gained in online matches can be used to gain upgrades, such as increased speed, accuracy, and also gain new, more efficient equipment. Though it may be hard to believe, you would be surprised how much of a difference one person can make in such a large scale battle. MAG’s level are built of complex landscape, containing key landmarks like high ground, towers, bunkers, and turrets. There are plenty of ways the battle can be turned in your favor.
Published by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by Zipper Interactive, MAG is due to be released at the end of 2009, exclusively on the Playstation 3. MAG is a big project, and has required massive amounts of work and experimentation. They have been testing 256 player games over and over again since the end of last year, making sure everything will run smoothly. If it does, it will be one of the greatest online shooters in ages.
