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SOE Live 2013: PlanetSide 2 highlights Hossin and more
This year's SOE Live event saw the largest showing of PlanetSide 2 fans to date, and those fans were treated to a heaping helping of fun and facts over the weekend. With plenty of panels, a tournament (with impressive cash prizes), and even their own keynote address, the convention had more things dedicated to the game they love. And between all those avenues, a good amount of information was disseminated about current projects, future updates, and more. Add to all that our chance to speak personally with Senior Art Director Tramell Isaac and Creative Director Matt Higby! We've learned about (and seen, in what has to be the funnest presentation ever) the new zone of Hossin and the battle island Nexus, heard about upcoming player-generated missions and base ownership, and even got an update on the newly implemented Player Studio.
Free for All: You got your e-sport in my PlanetSide 2
I promised myself that I would not spend half of this column making silly jokes about e-sports. The simple truth is that I find e-sports about as exciting as collecting stamps. That might sound harsh, but remember how fanatical (and oblivious to my opinions) some people are for stamps. And that's just fine. What bothers me about e-sports is how the genre takes something that comes from a wonderfully chaotic place -- play time -- and wraps it in a set of rules and expectations. I used to say that humans could make a sport out of anything, and it turns out I was right. I joked that holding your arm into the air could be a game if they made rules concerning the activity. While it's not quite a spectator sport, I recently discovered that there are people in this world who literally hold an arm in the air -- sometimes for years -- to prove their dedication. All we need now is a bit of commentary and we'd have a sport. And now here we are with news that one of my favorite games, PlanetSide 2, is about to introduce major league gaming-styled instanced Battle Islands into a world that is unique because of its massive, open scale. This week I have heard the words "instanced" and "MOBA" and references to Team Fortress 2 enough to scare my pants off.
SOE drop-pods two new battleground videos into the PlanetSide 2 fray
The primary conflict in PlanetSide 2 centers on three factions fighting for control of three enormous continents. And while Esamir, Indar, and Amerish offer players hundreds of square miles on which to drive, shoot, and die, there's nothing quite like the thrill of a balanced team fight in a tight, controlled environment. At least, that's what Sony Online Entertainment is banking on with its next round of updates. The company recently announced the addition of Battle Islands, small continents designed for combat between platoons. While details are still limited, Battle Island matches will be set up based on some sort of ranking/certification system, will feature teams of 48 players, and are intended for those looking for more competitive engagements. The first such Battle Island due for release is Nexus, which boasts rocky terrain, icy caves, and forest-y hills. You can get a closer look at it via two new videos, both of which are after the break.
