M.A.G (Massive Action Game) (PS3 MMO) (Gameplay Vids added!)

[Ratman_tf]

Instancing is making MMOGs more like FPSes too. Has been since Guild Wars started fucking things up. 

I've never claimed Guild Wars was an MMO either though.  Guild Wars is Diablo with a 3d matchmaking lobby and shittier loot, but better pvp,

I tend to agree. But I also can see games continuing to blur the line between instancing and persistant world. I think the definition itself could become irrelevant, or at least not useful as a descriptor.

but this is a derail.

It's hard to stay on topic regarding a not-released game.

[Ard]

I tend to agree. But I also can see games continuing to blur the line between instancing and persistant world. I think the definition itself could become irrelevant, or at least not useful as a descriptor.

There's a difference between blurring the line, and the world being open to any number of players.  Guild wars is effectively an 8 person game, 16 in pvp, where you can interact with other people in hubs, but not actually in game where it matters, which makes the hubs basically battle.net with stores.  I don't really consider that an open world, but it's more open than MAG is going to be. 

MAG almost certainly won't have an open world of any sort except a text based matchmaking lobby.  If it goes down any other way, I'll be very happily surprised.  If there's a meta game sitting on top of it, so be it, but I seriously doubt there'll be any way to really organize the metagame in MAG, given how large the games are.  This probably isn't keep capturing like in WAR.  There's a large lack of information on MAG for pretty much anything except game size.  Find out more around E3 I guess.

[HaemishM]

Earning experience for obeying orders. An awesome, abusable mechanic.

Technically, both Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 2142 have been doing this for years.

[kildorn]

As long as you can request ammo from your commander and die when he drops it on top of you, we're all good with this game.

[DLRiley]

I tend to agree. But I also can see games continuing to blur the line between instancing and persistant world. I think the definition itself could become irrelevant, or at least not useful as a descriptor.

There's a difference between blurring the line, and the world being open to any number of players.  Guild wars is effectively an 8 person game, 16 in pvp, where you can interact with other people in hubs, but not actually in game where it matters, which makes the hubs basically battle.net with stores.  I don't really consider that an open world, but it's more open than MAG is going to be. 

MAG almost certainly won't have an open world of any sort except a text based matchmaking lobby.  If it goes down any other way, I'll be very happily surprised.  If there's a meta game sitting on top of it, so be it, but I seriously doubt there'll be any way to really organize the metagame in MAG, given how large the games are.  This probably isn't keep capturing like in WAR.  There's a large lack of information on MAG for pretty much anything except game size.  Find out more around E3 I guess.

Persistent is overrated. If the only thing mmoish about a game is the ability to crowd around hubs, I would be extremely happy. I haven't seen a non retarded persistent world pvp game, and I doubt I will see someone make one in the next 10 years. So bring on the Guild Wars.

[Ratman_tf]

There's a difference between blurring the line, and the world being open to any number of players.  Guild wars is effectively an 8 person game, 16 in pvp, where you can interact with other people in hubs, but not actually in game where it matters, which makes the hubs basically battle.net with stores.  I don't really consider that an open world, but it's more open than MAG is going to be. 

I've argued that Everquest (and DAOC, and WoW, etc...) are 6 or 5 person group games with a persistant world serving as the hub. WoW practically codified it with 5 man instances.

Seeing the captial cities instanced in Wrath tickled my funny bone.

[Ard]

I've argued that Everquest (and DAOC, and WoW, etc...) are 6 or 5 person group games with a persistant world serving as the hub. WoW practically codified it with 5 man instances.

Seeing the captial cities instanced in Wrath tickled my funny bone.

When I said an 8 player game for guild wars, I meant exactly that.  8 people enter the instance.  No more.  In WoW, EQ, etc, even though it's effectively a 1-6 person game, you can and will run into other players out in the field.  People who might be friendly.  People who might piss you off.  Unpredictable results in general that go beyond what the game itself offers.  It's not strictly limited to you or your party in this case. 

Now, instanced dungeons, that's blurring the line, since that's effectively tossing you and your closest 5-39 buddies into an FPS match vs the computer.

[Mrbloodworth]

Soooooowweeeeeeeeet.

Need actually gameplay footage.

E3 09: Base Assault Gameplay HD (Cam)

E3 09: Reconnaissance Gameplay HD (Cam)

E3 09: Show Floor Gameplay HD (Cam)

E3 09: Gameplay Montage

[angry.bob]

You guys are missing the most important thing about this game. It's not whether it's a MMO* or not, it's whether it will have keyboard/mouse support. If the answer is no, the whole thing is fucking fail. It doesn't matter how great the rest of the game is, playing a shooter with a controller is for tards. I realize using a mouse and keyboard doesn't let you slouch back on your couch with a bowl of chips after you've just smoked a bowl, but... anyway. There is not enough scorn in the world to describe shooters on consoles, or the people who think that they're even remotely equivalent to playing them with a mouse and keyboard.

[Malakili]

You guys are missing the most important thing about this game. It's not whether it's a MMO* or not, it's whether it will have keyboard/mouse support. If the answer is no, the whole thing is fucking fail. It doesn't matter how great the rest of the game is, playing a shooter with a controller is for tards. I realize using a mouse and keyboard doesn't let you slouch back on your couch with a bowl of chips after you've just smoked a bowl, but... anyway. There is not enough scorn in the world to describe shooters on consoles, or the people who think that they're even remotely equivalent to playing them with a mouse and keyboard.

This reminds me of a guy I know who tried to apply to a TF2 clan I was in for a while, who insisted on playing scout with an xbox controller, he just couldn't keep up.  I'll admit he did pretty well FOR SOMETHING WITH A CONTROLLER, but its just clunky compared to keyboard and mouse he never had a chance.

In any event, I'd rather just not play a game than play an FPS on a controller.  Thats not just hot air either, if I'm hanging out with friends and the options are 1) play Halo with them or 2) watch them play Halo, I will watch every time.  Ends up being a much more enjoyable experience for me.

[AcidCat]

You guys are missing the most important thing about this game. It's not whether it's a MMO* or not, it's whether it will have keyboard/mouse support. If the answer is no, the whole thing is fucking fail. It doesn't matter how great the rest of the game is, playing a shooter with a controller is for tards. I realize using a mouse and keyboard doesn't let you slouch back on your couch with a bowl of chips after you've just smoked a bowl, but... anyway. There is not enough scorn in the world to describe shooters on consoles, or the people who think that they're even remotely equivalent to playing them with a mouse and keyboard.

I as well prefer mouse/kb for FPS games, but for console exclusives I can adapt and play just fine with a controller. I've had a lot of experience with both input devices, so thankfully I don't have to cover for controller-incompetence with an angry superiority complex.

[Mrbloodworth]

You guys are missing the most important thing about this game. It's not whether it's a MMO* or not, it's whether it will have keyboard/mouse support. If the answer is no, the whole thing is fucking fail. It doesn't matter how great the rest of the game is, playing a shooter with a controller is for tards. I realize using a mouse and keyboard doesn't let you slouch back on your couch with a bowl of chips after you've just smoked a bowl, but... anyway. There is not enough scorn in the world to describe shooters on consoles, or the people who think that they're even remotely equivalent to playing them with a mouse and keyboard.

At the very least....



Link.

Splitfish FragFX Dominates in CoD4

[Falconeer]

Mmmmmm no shit this Splitfish thing looks good. I am so tempted...

[Mrbloodworth]

I think I'm going to get one, just because. Now to find a seller, and maybe a better price.

[MrHat]

I wonder if you could use it to play PC from your couch too (TF2 for instance).

No keyboard PC gaming ftw?

[Mrbloodworth]

I looked. it does not work with a PC.

[schpain]

I hate playing FPS's with a controller, but i prefer a controller to my splitfish.

There's a second delay between moving the mouse and the reticle moving on the screen, which gives me no end of frustration...

apart from that its an awesome idea.

[Mrbloodworth]

I hate playing FPS's with a controller, but i prefer a controller to my splitfish.

There's a second delay between moving the mouse and the reticle moving on the screen, which gives me no end of frustration...

apart from that its an awesome idea.

The Bluetooh wireless? or the wired?

[Falconeer]

Delay is unacceptable. That is a dealbreaker. But I can't imagine a wired mouse to have delay.

[Mrbloodworth]

Delay is unacceptable. That is a dealbreaker. But I can't imagine a wired mouse to have delay.

length of cable.

[schild]

Delay is unacceptable. That is a dealbreaker. But I can't imagine a wired mouse to have delay.

length of cable.

That shouldn't matter at all. Unless it's like a 100 foot cable. Which is very unlikely.

[Trippy]

Delay is unacceptable. That is a dealbreaker. But I can't imagine a wired mouse to have delay.

length of cable.

That shouldn't matter at all. Unless it's like a 100 foot cable. Which is very unlikely.

That would add a 0.1 microsecond (100 nanosecond) delay.

[Lantyssa]

Unless the voltage is so low that it has difficulty reading the controller input for that long a cable.  What's the max distance a controller cable can take?

[ashrik]

I tend to agree. But I also can see games continuing to blur the line between instancing and persistant world. I think the definition itself could become irrelevant, or at least not useful as a descriptor.

There's a difference between blurring the line, and the world being open to any number of players.  Guild wars is effectively an 8 person game, 16 in pvp, where you can interact with other people in hubs, but not actually in game where it matters, which makes the hubs basically battle.net with stores.  I don't really consider that an open world, but it's more open than MAG is going to be. 

MAG almost certainly won't have an open world of any sort except a text based matchmaking lobby.  If it goes down any other way, I'll be very happily surprised.  If there's a meta game sitting on top of it, so be it, but I seriously doubt there'll be any way to really organize the metagame in MAG, given how large the games are.  This probably isn't keep capturing like in WAR.  There's a large lack of information on MAG for pretty much anything except game size.  Find out more around E3 I guess.

Persistent is overrated. If the only thing mmoish about a game is the ability to crowd around hubs, I would be extremely happy. I haven't seen a non retarded persistent world pvp game, and I doubt I will see someone make one in the next 10 years. So bring on the Guild Wars.

Bullshot, persistence is the driving force behind the entire appeal to this game, and games like it. Whether it is personal persistence as seen the RPG-ness that has thoroughly invaded the FPS genre or world-wide persistence in having a map that you directly effect.

There's nothing particularly special about the gameplay. It's not particularly breath taking or action-packed. The graphics aren't particularly good, nor do the weapons or locations stand out particularly well. As HaemishM said, we've been seeing that kinda stuff in one or more forms for years now.

The main attraction is the ability to fight in these giant, epic 256-man battles which are, if nothing else, just a simulacrum of the persistence found in an MMO. It's hard to say that persistence is overrated when the entire point of these games are a safety shot at a close resemblance to a persistent world while hopefully avoiding the pitfalls (but also missing the peaks).

[schild]

DLRiley, nearly all of the time, has no clue what he's talking about. He continues to type, but it just reads like a bunch of marbles falling out of his hands and onto the keyboard.

[Venkman]

I looked. it does not work with a PC.

Why would you need it to? Get a breakfast tray

(having said that, I much prefer a wired keyboard/mouse)

[Bzalthek]

Wireless mice fall on the floor too often and break.  But then, I always have too much shit on my desk.  Regardless, the only thing I want to use a controller for is my rpgs.  Last time I tried to play a console shooter was Max Payne.  What an aptly titled piece of shit that was.

[Malakili]

There's nothing particularly special about the gameplay. It's not particularly breath taking or action-packed. The graphics aren't particularly good, nor do the weapons or locations stand out particularly well. As HaemishM said, we've been seeing that kinda stuff in one or more forms for years now.

I agree with this in general about the MMO genre.  Persistence is 100% of the appeal to me, these aren't games I woudl play otherwise (generally).   I think the focus on RPG elements in the MMO genre up to this point has been somewhat surprising though.  I love RPGs, but they have never really been a very popular genre in general.  Things like MAG I think have a potential to get a TON of popularity.  A well executed MMO action/fps game would be right up my alley.

Hell, I loved Battleground Europe (aka World War II Online), had it only been a little more fast paced I'd probably still be playing it.  I still read the newsletter when it comes in my e-mail because I love reading about the ongoing battle.  If they could capture that in a faster paced/modern or futuristic setting I'd be in gaming heaven.

[LK]

I don't know if I'll ever be able to play another FPS that doesn't have an XP counter pop-up over the cross-hairs after I make a kill. Thankfully, this game delivers.

[schpain]

Wired remote - the one you've put a picture of.  its about the same length cable as the ps2 controller.

Although it may be a personal thing.  I have a friend who occasionally plays on my splitfish and he finds it quite reasonable.  I'm not sure then why i find it so balls, but it has great features like a snipe mode (there's a button above the L1 which pulls sensitivity down to 0.01 while you hold it) and adjustable sensitivity below the thumbstick on the left hand.  And just for the record, it is completely useless for anything but a dedicated fps.  Playing FNR3 was the most hilarious thing i've ever seen (picture a bloke fling the mouse in random circles to throw a punch.

[Velorath]

January 26th bitches.

[LK]

Seems like a nice point in time where no other major games are coming out and I can focus on this little gem.