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Watch the first gameplay video of The Agency
Yesterday we handed out some new The Agency screenshots from SOE's CES presentation. That was cool enough, but in case you still weren't satisfied, there's a video of the presentation up on GameTrailers. Oh, and it's embedded above, obviously.The presenter calls The Agency "24 meets Alias meets Counterstike," and that seems appropriate enough. The game can be played either in first person mode, or in a Mass Effect-esque over-the-shoulder perspective. It looks like you'll be able to run through instanced encounters with other players and/or NPCs, and there are scripted heroic moments in addition to the usual shoot-'em-up stuff. Our favorite moment occurs when the player revives a fallen ally with defibrillators.It looks like the game borrows a lot from single-player game conventions, so it's not super innovative, but it's still refreshing to see an MMO that's not an action-bar-based, numeric-stat-grinding, sword & sorcery, D&D-style DikuMUD clone.
New screenshots from The Agency
We're here at CES and in between long stretches of bedazzlement by hot gadgetry we had a chance to sit down with the SOE folks and have a look-see at their upcoming cross-platform, spy-themed MMOFPS, The Agency. Stay tuned for our upcoming impressions, but for now we'll leave you with some new eye candy from what looks to be a seriously promising title.%Gallery-12934%
Watch CES footage of The Agency
It's been a long time since we last heard from SOE about their upcoming PS3/PC MMO action game, The Agency. There's a lot of potential in this online initiative. Watch the SOE presentation from the CES show in Las Vegas, and tell us what you think. It appears the game isn't delivering on every level, but the concept has us excited.[Via NeoGAF]
PS3 games to look for in 2008: part 5
Also in 2008 %Gallery-3823% First revealed a while back, Sony's The Agency is touted to be the first major MMO title to get released exclusively on a console. It takes some stealth, some action, some FPS, and some RPG elements to make a pretty decent looking title that could swerve either into the "overhyped junk" pile or the "hidden gem of the PS3 universe" pile. We won't know until it gets a release date. Read More PS3 Exclusive %Gallery-12752% Saying that Final Fantasy XIII is a major PS3 exclusive is an understatement. Even if you don't like RPGs, it's ignorant to believe these games haven't shaped the console world as we know it -- the titles on the SNES rocketed the success of that console, the release of FFVII cemented the original PlayStation as the best console released and FFX greatly assisted in the adoption of the PS2. This latest installment looks drastically different from the others, but we're hoping it turns out as stellar as the other titles have been. Read More PS3 Exclusive %Gallery-12750% That Game Company made a weird title with flOw. They weren't scared to try new things and they're not scared to do it again with the spiritual successor, flOwer. We still don't know what you're supposed to be doing -- guiding a flower in a field? Guiding pollen from a flower in a field? Guiding the sunlight to vitalize flowers spouting pollen in a field? Who knows. Until it gets a release date, the mystery continues. Read More PS3 Exclusive %Gallery-12670% It's been a while since we've seen anything on The Getaway -- one of those PS3 titles announced long ago and subsequently swallowed up in the black hole of vaporware. We aren't giving up, though -- little drips of information appear every now and then and until we know when the game's coming out, we can only imagine what's in store. Read More PS3 Exclusive %Gallery-12672% Shown off at E3 as a secret surprise title, we don't know what to make of Infamous other than a sandbox hero/villain creation story where you can protect or destroy a city. We're making assumptions, but it's probably not too far off the mark. We've seen and heard nothing since the original trailer, so a release date is anyone's guess. Fall would be our assumption. Since we've made enough of those so far. Read More Some of our favorite games are on the next page! >
Glimpses of the next-gen HD MMOs
The MMOABC site has a bountiful screenshot buffet, looking at some of the high-definition imagery we'll be enjoying in the 'next generation' of Massive games. They have shots of Blue Mars, Huxley, The Day, The Agency, Stargate Worlds, and Global Agenda. They have descriptions of each game world as well; helpful, since some of these titles are very newly announced. For more info on Blue Mars, check out our sneak preview from E for All, and our screenshot gallery: Gallery: Blue Mars Gallery
Cross-platform support still up in the air for The Agency
While it hasn't been completely ruled out at this point, SOE hasn't made a decision on whether to make The Agency cross-platform compatible between the PS3 and it's distant cousin, the PC. Lead designer Hal Milton said, "we're evaluating cross-platform support" and then completely closed the topic with the declarative "we're not prepared to make a statement at this time." The Agency isn't the only game set to release on PS3 and PC without the confirmation of dual-platform support between the two. Seeing as how we're breaching a new frontier here, we are beginning to wonder if PS3 gamers can, or even want to live a happy co-existence with their PC brethren. Although critically flawed, Shadowrun seemed to offer a pleasurable cross-platform experience between the PC and the Xbox 360. What do you think? Can SOE pull it off with The Agency? %Gallery-3823%
Joystiq interview: Sherry Floyd, producer, The Agency
Sherry Floyd is the red-headed fireball who currently spends her days and nights producing Sony's upcoming The Agency. While you might think producing a spy and espionage MMO for PS3 and PC is all fun and games (nyuk, nyuk), apparently there's some work involved as well. We caught up with her to ask a few questions, which she managed to work in between the firing range and ... mud-wrestling?Read on, dear readers, to get the complete scoop -- and also check out our interview with the lead designer of the game.%Gallery-3830%
Joystiq interview: Hal Milton, lead designer, The Agency
How much more proof to do you need that Sony's The Agency has a devious lead designer working on things? Here's a picture of the guy as a young lad, suspiciously posing with a handheld Merlin game. Remember all the codes and secrets you had to punch into that little red devil? Plus the little raspberry sound it made when you got things wrong, ah ... the memories.Joystiq caught up with The Agency's Hal Milton recently, between secret missions and long hours up in Seattle where he's hard at work on this new MMO/RPG/CIA/FBI/U.N.C.L.E. title. Check out our interview with him after the break, and visit us tomorrow where we'll be hanging from guy wires and wearing a stealth suit into producer Sherry Floyd's office for some answers as well.%Gallery-3830%
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 24
PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed. Haze [PS3]Download MP4 (21.5MB) | Download JPG The following videos are featured after the break: The Agency (PS3), Soul Calibur IV (PS3, 360), Stranglehold (PS3, 360), Time Crisis 4 (PS3), The Darkness (PS3, 360), Mr. Bean's Holiday
Join up for an eventual beta with The Agency!
Yes, we know, there was a lot of anticipation for the big June 11th announcement. Some of you were disappointed about the announcement of MMOG The Agency for the PS3 and PC. Others of you were surprised and pleased. We're not ones to discriminate, so to both parties, we'd like to direct your attention to the official site of The Agency and help you navigate its seemingly empty flash page.After getting the loading screen up to the point where you view a smoking gun, go ahead and click on the bullet that mysteriously wrote out the name of the game -- The Agency -- and you'll be welcomed with a note detailing a mailing list where you will be "recruited" by one of two factions: ParaGON or U.N.I.T.E., which we can only assume means a public beta at some point in the future. We thought you'd like to know, so go on, everyone! Shoot them an e-mail with the stuff they ask for (just an e-mail address) and wait until further details make their way to your inbox.[via N4G]
Sony officially announces The Agency for PC and PS3
Back when we attended Sony Online Entertainment's event a few weeks ago, we didn't really discuss anything... out of the ordinary. Some Everquest expansions, some downloadable PS3 games, cell phone games (okay, God of War looked great), and a new IP that had everyone talking -- Sony's spy and espionage themed online game, The Agency. Only we haven't been allowed to say much about it until now, even though it's already been hinted at, speculated about, and analyzed around the web. Is anything watertight anymore?The Agency has been called a new MMO from Sony, though we don't think it's an entirely accurate label (neither does Sony's press release, which you can read after the break). At least, not an MMO in the traditional sense. You won't be running into the back alleys of Monte Carlo while tons of other players give chase with bullets and bombs -- as if you'd taken your Horde character strolling through Ironforge; instead, it will offer more mission-based gameplay, and will rely on coordination with other agents as you work your way through the stylized spy world they've created. *%Gallery-3830%
Become an elite spy in new online shooter, The Agency
Video games are all about wish fulfillment and role playing. Previous games have glamorized the life of the rock star (Guitar Hero), the football player (Madden), and the janitor (Mario Sunshine). Sony Online Entertainment is ready to make gamers turn into something cooler than all of that: an international spy. In The Agency, a new online shooter for the PS3, players will be globe-trotting all around the world, taking on missions ripped straight out of the James Bond series."The inspiration for The Agency came from the spy and espionage genre. We want to put players in the heart of the action to experience what it's really like to live the life of an elite agent," said Hal Milton, Lead Designer at SOE. "Players will jet set around this virtual world to exotic locales, infiltrate enemy organizations to steal secrets and perpetrate sabotage, all the while building their own agency with an eye towards global domination."Agents will have to use a variety of skills to achieve their objectives. Level objectives will range from sneaky assassination attempts to all out assaults. Not only will players want mastery of their guns, truly successful spies will also control a variety of vehicles, and partake in mini-games at the local casino.%Gallery-3823%
