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Get the 128-person gang back together: MAG 2.0 patch available now
It's probably been a while since you rallied your clan beneath the sacred banner of your PMC of choice for a 256-player skirmish in the conflict-torn battlefields of MAG. Today's as good a day as any to call your old war buddies to arms -- Zipper Interactive has activated patch 2.0 for the game, which introduces a wide variety of sweeping changes to a number of gameplay mechanics and character progression systems. The developer also increased the game's level cap, added Move support, and introduced a "clan deploy" feature, which lets your entire clan queue up for a match. Convenient! Also, they bumped up the maximum number of players in a single game to 257, and man, you can really tell the difference. That one dude adds a level of intensity that -- okay, fine, that's not one of the changes. The real changes can be read after the jump.
CoD: Modern Warfare, Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time and more added to PS3 Greatest Hits
Sony has added seven more titles to its North American "Greatest Hits" collection, each with a suggested price of $30. We knew about a couple of these already, but check out the official list after the break.
MAG joins PS3 'Greatest Hits' library this week
Haven't picked up a copy of PS3's massively multiplayer first person shooter, MAG? If you wait just a few more days, you'll be able to get the Greatest Hits version for only $29.99. Available on September 28th, the budget re-release comes just in time for the big 2.0 patch, which adds support for PlayStation Move motion controls and a whole slew of online fixes and tweaks. Considering Zipper's upcoming game, SOCOM 4, won't be available until 2011, this may be a good way of satiating your tactical shooting urges. [Thanks, frank!]
MAG '2.0' due within a month; adds Move support, weapon purchases and more
No, MAG 2.0 isn't the supposed sequel we've seen pop up in at least one retailer's inventory computers. It's version 2.0 of the original game, and it's "less than a month away," according to developer Zipper Interactive's blog. The update looks to pack some pretty big additions -- hence the big two-point-oh. The previously announced PlayStation Move support headlines a roster of improvements, and will make MAG one of the first "core" titles to implement Sony's motion controller. Zipper is also upping the level cap from 60 to 70, introducing changes to the skill tree designed to give MAG "the deepest character customization and specialization ever found in a first-person shooter," boasts Zipper. Additionally, the update will institute an in-game economy where match winnings can be used to buy new weapons and gear from a "Supply Depot." Of course, 2.0 will also usher in a host of fixes and tweaks intended to "streamline the overall experience." And if you can believe it, Zipper is teasing that there's even more content in the upcoming patch to be revealed before it goes live. Now we just need to know exactly when that'll be, so we can start shoving aside all personal and professional obligations.
MAG 2.0 to add in-game economy, PlayStation Move support, and more
MAG's latest patch is so significant that the developers are actually referring to it as MAG 2.0, and it's less than a month away. The developers have been working with the participants of theMAG Beta program, and a long list of suggested changes and additions have been made and are ready to be implemented. Of course we knew that integration with the PlayStation Move was coming, but it's exciting to know that it's this close. MAG 2.0 will also add an in-game economy, and you'll be able to earn credits to spend on gear at the Supply Depot. Yes, the depot is also new. Bug fixes, upgrades, even a news feature that brings you up-to-date on everything when you log in, and much more round out this patch. Check out the notes on the MAG site, and we'll keep an eye out for that patch date!
MAG offers extra character slots, on the cheap
If you're an altoholic playing Zipper Interactive's MAG MMOFPS, chances are you're probably a fan of the recently announced extra character slot promotion. The new service debuted yesterday, and allows players to create two new in-game avatars. For $.99 (US), you can purchase one of the two slots and take it for a 30-day trial run. After your free month is up, you can opt to subscribe the new characters or keep them for a rainy day, locked up tight in cold storage, where they'll retain any gear and advancements you may have acquired. Check out all the details on the official MAG blog.
MAG now offering extra character slots for a buck a month
We know you're awfully loyal to your chosen MAG army (S.V.E.R.4.E.V.E.R., suckas), but haven't you ever wondered how the other half two thirds lives? A new option will give you the ability to do just that -- players can now purchase a second and third character slot for $0.99 a piece. Here's the rub: These paid character slots will only be active for 30 days, at which point they'll need to be reactivated with another $0.99 payment. Don't worry if said renewal slips your mind -- any additional characters' info will be stored on the MAG servers until you decide to reactivate the extra slot. Judging by the reaction to this announcement on the game's official forums, we're not sure everyone's going to spring for the extra slots. We know we certainly won't, because we wouldn't dare gird our loins with the colors of Raven and Valor, because that would be shameful.
G-Mate Mag Gun controller for Xbox and PS3 gets FCC approval; we'd like to see them try and stop it
digg_url = 'http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/g-mate-mag-gun-controller-for-xbox-and-ps3-gets-fcc-approval-we/'; Hopefully you had your Campbell's Chunky Fully Loaded Beef Stew this morning, because it takes a Man to look down the barrel of the G-Mate Mag Gun and live. The weapon just passed through the FCC unscathed, and now it's gunning for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. The basic operation is simple enough, with triggers, face buttons, a d-pad and everything else you'd need to ape a modern console controller. There's only one analog nub, but that's of course because the gun's own motion is meant to emulate the second. G-Mate isn't so clear on how that part of the gun works, but from what we can glean, it's basically an accelerometer and / or gyroscope, which you calibrate to the center of your particular screen with a dedicated button. A sensitivity knob completes the Mag Gun-specific functionality -- which probably won't revolutionize the FPS genre, but certainly might give those suspicious of the Move or too masculine for the XCM Fire something to watch out for. Check out some videos of it in action after the break.
MAG's Escalation 3-way battles revealed
OK, we should get this out of the way up front, because it comes up every time we cover MAG: yes, it is an MMO. Massively? Well, 256-player battles are about ten times larger than those your average MMO can handle without lagging to hell and back. Multiplayer? Covered that. Online? Duh. Moving right along, Zipper Interactive's Jeremy Dunham has posted a new entry on the official MAG blog detailing the upcoming Escalation mode. The new game-type, which will be deployed as downloadable content in the near future, is a 96-man three-faction battle royale, the ultimate goal of which is to earn more points than your enemies before time expires. Points are earned by holding objectives, but unlike your standard "run to the flag and stand there for 20 seconds" capture model common to objective-based FPS titles, Escalation features a phased approach that encourages continuous frenetic combat. You can get your first taste of the new mode by downloading the MAG beta client from the Playstation store on August 24th.
New MAG beta downloadable for existing players August 24
Move support isn't the only sweeping change (and change in sweeping arm movements) coming to the world of MAG. Several new gameplay additions are on the way, and Zipper is recruiting current players to make sure those changes don't ruin the game forever. The beta, downloadable from the PlayStation Store starting August 24, includes the "Clan Deploy" feature, allowing leaders to choose gametypes and clan members; a new skill tree (with new skills!); a system that allows players to earn and spend "Credit Points," and even, yes, multiple character slots. Players will also get early access to the upcoming "Escalation" gametype, which will be released for real in future DLC. That mode has 96 players, representing all three factions, facing off in the same maps. Smells like the kind of thing you'd want to beta-test before releasing.
MAG updated with PlayStation Move, Virtua Tennis 4 announced
You won't have to wait until SOCOM 4 to see PlayStation Move owners duke it out with standard DualShock players. During Sony's Gamescom press conference, Zipper showed off an enhanced version of MAG that adds support for Sony's motion controller. Hopefully, someone will coordinate a 64v64 battle of the controllers to see exactly which control scheme reigns supreme once this update goes live. In addition to MAG, another surprise announcement during the conference was Virtua Tennis 4. Sega's tennis franchise will be back next year to explore the sorely underrepresented motion-controlled tennis genre. The game will also support 3D.%Gallery-99650%
Sony Style offering free game with 120GB PS3 purchase
If you're in the market for a new PS3, and you don't mind waiting just a bit, Sony Style has an appealing offer. Through August 21, Sony's retail site is offering one of six first-party games for free with the purchase of a 120GB PS3 Slim. You can choose from Uncharted 2, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, MAG, Heavy Rain, ModNation Racers or White Knight Chronicles. Why the wait? The PS3 is currently on backorder at Sony Style, though the offer still seems to be good. So you can order now and actually receive your system later. Think of it as setting your future self up with a wonderful surprise. [Thanks, Pete!]
MAG patch 1.07 due out next week
MAG's next patch, due out next week, will bring some very welcome free updates to players. While the full patch notes aren't available yet, the MAG team has provided a short list of updates to hold fans over for a bit. MAG v1.07 will bring a number of fixes, content changes, and additions to the game, including a new happy hour feature. Happy hour is a double XP bonus that's applied to the first hour of every player's gaming session in a 24-hour period, giving you a little boost to start off with. You'll also find better lighting, redesigned maps, a new faction neutral Supression gameplay mode, and new code that allows for faster patching. Check out the current patch notes on the MAG site, and keep an eye out for the complete notes, available nearer the time of the update.
MAG update deploying in August, making Suppression mode 'Faction Neutral'
Zipper Interactive must have received some positive feedback from its recent decision to make MAG's Sabotage gametype "Faction Neutral," effectively letting any of the game's three armies attack and defend any map. The developer recently announced that v1.07 of the title will be launched in early August, giving a similar treatment to the game's deathmatch-esque Suppression mode. The update will also fix a few exploitable areas on a pair of maps, will improve visuals with additional lighting effects and will incorporate a "Happy Hour," which will give players double XP for the first hour they play online every day. That last part actually sounds like a pretty clever idea -- though we wouldn't suggest enjoying MAG's "Happy Hour" while simultaneously enjoying your favorite watering hole's "Happy Hour." All those Bloody Marys and boneless buffalo wings can't be good for your wartime instincts.
MAG's Sabotage gametype goes 'Faction Neutral'
Let's face it -- some of MAG's factions know how to build strongholds better than others. Many of the game's players have argued that the layouts of Valor, Raven and S.V.E.R.'s respective maps in the "Sabotage" gametype have given distinct advantages to ... well, whichever faction they don't belong to, most likely. Now, that argument has been rendered pointless -- Zipper Interactive recently made all three maps for the gametype "Faction Neutral." So, what does that mean? Well, the map which two teams are playing on will no longer determine who is attacking and defending. Zipper community manager Jeremy Dunham explained, "if you choose to play Sabotage and you're on Valor, you'll be able to defend SVER and Raven's map in addition to your own. On the flipside, you'll also be able to attack you're own map with another PMC defending it." But ... that's treason, isn't it? We're pretty sure that's light treason.
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite pseudo-MMO?
In recent years, the field of games that could conceivably be referred to as MMOs has exploded. Naturally, there has to be a cutoff at some point, and we here at Massively use finely tuned metrics to determine what does and doesn't qualify. (Our magic 8-ball is exceptionally tuned.) But just below that are games that are very similar to an MMO, even if they don't quite make it there, and with the border so fuzzy, players are bound to cross over. Naturally, what constitutes a pseudo-MMO versus a full game is going to be a very subjective line, and there are games such as Global Agenda and MAG that straddle the line aggressively. So what game do you enjoy that's similar to an MMO, but doesn't quite make the cut? Is it one of the two aforementioned games? Are you still of the mind that Guild Wars isn't quite there but is still a lot of fun? Or do you dig on something else entirely, like League of Legends?
MAG releases Interdiction expansion
Zipper Interactive's PS3-exclusive MAG MMOFPS has released a couple of small content updates since its debut last January. This month however, the action title kicks off its first proper expansion pack, titled Interdiction, and is available to download from the Playstation Store for $9.99. The pack adds a new game type, unsurprisingly called Interdiction, three new maps (Iron Cree Quarry, Sovot Motorway, and Lake Bayano Spur), as well as a bevy of smaller gameplay additions. These include new ribbons, medals, and trophies which can be earned both in the new Interdiction mode as well as over the course of your MAG career. "MAG Interdiction is a brand new game mode built for 128 players. In it, two rival attacking factions fight to gain control of three different command posts while using armored convoys for every squad on the map (that's right, 16 APCs onscreen at once)," writes Zipper Senior Community Manager Jeremy Dunham on the official Playstation blog. MAG is also featuring a double XP weekend beginning Friday, June 25th, for players with or without the new expansion.
European PSN releases for June 23
As you probably already know, Sonic the Hedgehog turns 19 years old this week. As a celebration for Sega's mascot's one-year anniversary of being able to buy pornography, smoke and vote, a number of Sonic titles and DLC for said titles have had their prices reduced for one week only. Check out these offers, as well as some other highlights (new MAG DLC! Monkey Island!) in the full list posted after the jump. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
PSN Tuesday: BFBC2's 'Onslaught' and MAG's 'Interdiction'
Battlefield: Bad Company 2's "Onslaught" mode (a de facto PSN timed exclusive) and MAG's "Interdiction" DLC are both available today on the PSN. So, squad up and get out there, solider! Check out the full update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
New MAG gametype and maps coming in 'Interdiction' DLC on June 22
As hinted at by a Sony survey distributed last month (and then a rash of recent unintentional Trophy unlocks), the world of MAG will soon expand rather drastically with the June 22 release of the Interdiction DLC pack. The bundle, which will cost $9.99, includes the titular Interdiction gametype, where two factions storm one of three brand new, completely neutral maps, vying to control three command posts. Each post your team holds adds to your score while depleting your enemy's, which could lead to some lengthy tug-of-war encounters. In addition to the new gametype and maps, the pack includes a "Heavy Improved" armor set for each faction, which promises to turn an ordinary soldier into a "walking tank." (Hardly sounds fair, does it?) Players will also be able to unlock a selection of new medals and Trophies -- if they haven't done so already. Click past the jump to see the full list of available accolades.
