One of my favorite online FPS games for the PS3, MAG, is getting some serious love from developer Zipper Interactive. For those of you who may not be familiar, MAG is a groundbreaking war game which allows you to play in a server with up to 256 players (128 vs. 128), something no other console online FPS currently offers on the market. I’ve played the game extensively and I promise you there is nothing like the true chaos of being in a map with 256 players. There is also other gameplay modes (64 vs. 64, 32 vs. 32, etc) if such an environment is not for you.
Despite the fact the game came out nine months ago, Zipper has recently announced to the world that MAG will be fully compatible with the upcoming Sony PlayStation Move motion controller. This is really incredible news for fans of the game who have already sunk countless hours into the game’s immersive multiplayer mode and want something new. Zipper Interactive is rewarding its MAG players further by also detailing several new features that are also coming to the game, which you can test out in an exclusive beta set for release on August 24th. To participate in the new MAG beta, all you have to do is download the client software from the PlayStation Store when it becomes available next week, insert your MAG disc into the PlayStation 3, and sign-in to the beta client.
Here is further detail on some of the new features (click on the links for expanded detail from the MAG blog):
- Escalation Game Type — battle it out with all three factions at once on three never-before-seen maps
- New Weapons — each PMC has access to three new guns (9 total) for added firepower
- Clan Deploy — a highly-requested community feature that allows clan leaders to launch games with up to 128 clan members in a single match
- Updated Skill Tree — enjoy more customization than you’ve ever had before with new skills and an improved progression system
- In-game Economy System — earn “credit points” by completing objectives and killing enemies to purchase new weapons and gear
- Additional Character Slots — Create a persona for Raven, Valor and SVER on one account for maximum testing flexibility
I’m really excited and proud that Zipper Interactive is giving its existing (and new) players such great upgrades and PlayStation Move support for free; many publishers could learn from how Zipper is rewarding its gamers. I know that many of you, including myself, have paid around $60 for these PS3 games. Its nice to see a kick back down the road instead of having to upgrade every year like you do with other games (Madden, CoD, etc comes to mind).
