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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%
SOCOM 4 takes its fight to 2011
Zipper Interactive's latest in the SOCOM series has seen its release delayed into 2011, the developer has confirmed via the franchise's official blog. Having appeared in playable form as early as GDC 2010, SOCOM 4 was scheduled to ship this fall and has been used by Sony as a key "core" title in demoing PlayStation Move. "While we're certainly aware that you've been looking forward to playing SOCOM 4 this year, we don't want to take any shortcuts. Instead, we want to deliver the best and most immersive SOCOM game we possibly can and we're going to use our extra time to do just that," read the statement, penned typed by Zipper community manager Jeremy Dunham. SCEA's senior corporate communications director, Patrick Seybold, told Joystiq, "We can confirm that SOCOM 4 will be released in 2011. The team is focusing on additional features which will help to deliver the most compelling and immersion SOCOM experience yet. Please look out for further updates and announcements over the coming months." As soon as a more specific release window for the title is announced, you'll read it here. [Thanks, Solace]
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.
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.
SOCOM 4 has a story ... trailer
SOCOM fans have been eagerly awaiting this: a story-driven PS3 game developed by franchise creators Zipper Interactive. In addition to adding PlayStation Move support, SOCOM 4 is promising a much more engaging and comprehensive story mode, evidenced by this new story trailer. Strangely, Shanghai comes under attack (yet again!), evoking -- for better or for worse -- an Army of Two vibe.
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.
MAG Update v1.06 deploying June 8
Accidental self-healing and friend-stabbing rates are expected to drastically decrease in the world of MAG on June 8 -- the recently announced release date for Update v1.06. In addition to changing the credit costs of a number of weapons and accessories, the patch will map the "heal self" and "heal ally" functions to two different buttons on the controller, making the act of battlefield triage much less frustrating for folks who subscribe to the Medic archetype. Also, your friends won't accidentally stab you in the head anymore, which is always nice. Check out the update's initial announcement to see all the changes that will come to MAG next Tuesday.
'Battlestar' composer Bear McCreary scoring SOCOM 4
The grizzly-named composer Bear McCreary, most famous for putting together the score on the recent Battlestar Galactica TV series, has announced on his blog that he'll be composing the music for Zipper Interactive's upcoming SOCOM 4. McCreary previously did the scoring work on Capcom's Dark Void (and 8-bit spin-off Dark Void Zero), and for SOCOM 4, he says he's written, "muscially, a franchise re-boot," with over eight hours of original music featuring "ethnic percussion, virtuosic Asian stringed and woodwind instruments, and the spectacular, other-worldly tones of the gamelan." Insert joke here about how that Indonesian ensemble's name actually looks like "game LAN." He also says that the soundtrack will fulfill his dream "of a video game score that would feel as if it were being composed specifically for each player, adapting and shifting perfectly to capture the mood of the individual gamer." Which sounds fun, but if we start hearing an orchestral version of "All Along the Watchtower" as our individual score, what exactly does that mean?
MAG patch 1.06 coming in June, Combat Medics rejoice
One of the most frustrating things for us players of MAG's most altruistic self-defined class, the Combat Medic, are those times when we make a heroic dash through raging crossfire to reach a downed ally, only to accidentally heal ourselves instead. Even worse: those times when we're knocking on death's door, but accidentally heal an adjacent, barely wounded friendly. It's happened to all of us -- but thanks to the v1.06 patch due out "sometime next month," according to the game's official blog, it will never have to happen again. The update will map self healing and ally healing to two separate buttons (genius!) and will enact a whole slew of other minor (but oft-requested) changes. For example, you can now no longer accidentally stab members of your PMC. Nor can you purposefully stab them, if you happen to be a team-killing bastard. For the full list of changes, just click past the jump.
Sony survey suggests new mode for MAG, additional paid character slot
A handful of tipsters recently sent in a link to a survey currently being distributed by Sony, which appears to test the waters regarding two updates considered for Zipper Interactive's big ol' shooter, MAG. The first article of interest in the survey is a reference to an "Interdiction" mode, in which 128 players from two factions would fight over three neutral objectives, removing the attacker/defender dynamic of the game's other main modes. The survey also inquires whether we'd purchase this content for $8.99 (or $12.99, depending on the participant's earlier answers). On the very next page, the survey mentions an offer which would give MAG players an extra character slot (presumably opening up the option to belong to more than one faction at a time) for a fee of $.99 per month. If this subscription plan is actually being considered, we don't know how popular it would be. We couldn't imagine cheating on our beloved PMC. (S.V.E.R. Forever!) Zipper community manager Jeremy Dunham has addressed these potential changes on the MAG forums, stating, "we haven't announced any DLC details whatsoever. Nothing is official unless it comes from us." While these details may not be "official," it's worth noting that the survey was distributed by an official Sony email address. Food for thought! [Thanks, Steve and Logan!]
New SOCOM 4 screens released, Operations Commander detailed
Operation Commander Cullen Gray has been through a lot. In his 36 years, he's seen military action the world over, been field-trained with various Special Operations units, worked with NATO and now he's about to star in a popular war-based video game franchise. SOCOM 4 has the fictional Cullen Gray acting as an addled operation commander who "will pursue success at all costs." The EU PlayStation blog has a rundown of Gray's entire dossier and a handful of new images (seen in the gallery below). And if you're wondering who it is that he resembles while you're browsing the images, it's obviously Lost's Matthew Fox. WE HAVE TO GO BACK, CULLEN! %Gallery-92173%
MAG doling out double the XP this weekend
You know how you were going to drive upstate to attend your sister-in-law's wedding this weekend? Forget it. There's a MAG double XP weekend going down and you've been drafted for duty. According to the missive on the MAG site detailing this weekend's operations, the promotion is currently underway and will last until 11:59PM PT Sunday night. Veterans who already have an XP bonus need not worry: this stacks on top of their current modifier. Also, a word of caution: make sure you complete every match, because the modifier isn't applied until the end. We wouldn't want you evacuating the battlefield, leaving all of those delicious points behind. So ... what are you still reading this for? Go get yourself some points! For S.V.E.R.!
Interview: SOCOM 4's Travis Steiner
SOCOM fans are by far some of the most vocal and opinionated people in gaming today. Having endured the rocky launch of SOCOM Confrontation, the revelation that SOCOM 4 would include support for the PlayStation Move motion controller was met with a large amount of skepticism. We spoke with Zipper Interactive about their plans to address fan concerns, and the challenges of balancing a game with two very different control inputs. Some fans didn't take well to the announcement that SOCOM 4 would use the Move controller. How do you address concerns that motion controls will "ruin" the experience? First and foremost, SOCOM 4 was designed with the DualShock in mind. When we started this game over three years ago, Move didn't even exist yet. I cannot emphasize this point enough: the game supports both controllers. And again, we designed SOCOM 4 with the DualShock in mind. What ended up happening is that when we found out about the Move, we decided to try it out and see if it fits with the SOCOM experience very well. And so far, the reaction of the people that have tried it is that it's actually integrated quite well. The key there is that it's an optional control mechanic, and in no way is any other part of the SOCOM game being hindered or negatively affected by Move's integration.
More free DLC coming to PS3's MAG
Zipper Interactive is treating the fans right by offering up another free downloadable content add-on for MAG, their multiplayer-only FPS for the Playstation 3. The latest round of DLC drops on April 29 and is known as the Fast Attack Gear Pack. Jeremy Dunham, Senior Community Manager at Zipper, brings word of the freebie on the official MAG blog. "Our latest downloadable extra will likely cause marksmen to swoon," he writes. The Fast Attack Gear Pack will feature three new special edition sniper rifles, each of which will incorporate both visual and performance variations when compared to the game's existing long-range weaponry. New armor types are also included, and Improved Light Armor will be available to all three factions for 400 in-game credits. Check out the official MAG blog for all the details.
MAG's free 'Fast Attack Pack' DLC coming next week
Once again, MAG developer Zipper Interactive plans to release another free chunk of content to its hugely huge multiplayer FPS. Fans of long-range weaponry and loose-fitting clothing will be delighted to learn the "Fast Attack Pack" DLC, which will hit the PSN next Thursday, April 29, includes new "Special Edition Sniper Rifles" and "Improved Light Armor" for all three of the game's factions. Then again, fans of shotguns, medical kits, light machine guns and repair tools probably won't be thrilled to learn that snipers will soon be faster and more accurate. Oh well! You win some, you get shot in the brain from 300 meters away ... some.
First MAG DLC coming next week
Jeremy Dunham, Senior Community Manager at Zipper Interactive, has dropped a post on the official Playstation blog detailing the first bit of MAG downloadable content coming next week. Zipper is calling it the "Trooper Gear Pack," and among its features are the Flashbang Grenade, perfect for disorienting and otherwise annoying your opponents, additional Light Machine Guns, and two new trooper uniforms for all of your urban warfare fashion needs. As a bonus, the DLC pack is free of charge, and the MAG team will also be enabling double XP to reward long-time fans; expect that to go live on March 25 at 12:00am Pacific time and continue through 11:59 pm Sunday March 28. The Trooper Gear Pack will be available for download beginning on March 25.
MAG gets free 'Trooper Gear Pack' DLC next week
Ten-hut, soldiers! HQ has just sent word that some new gear will be shipping to the front lines of MAG next week, free of charge: the Trooper Gear Pack. In this parcel, we'll finally get access to the Flashbang grenade -- which should help us confuse and outwit the enemy. But, that's not all: our supplier, Zipper Interactive, also reports it's bundled in some new LMGs (Raven's APEX 100SE, S.V.E.R.'s RTK-74 Vla, and Valor's Mk 46 Mod 1) and uniforms. The full rundown is available via Zipper's site, where it's also revealed that double XP will be available on the battlefield throughout next weekend (March 25 - 28). It's a nice bonus for our continued service, though we consider it bad timing. Operation PAX East will be in full effect by the 25th, so we doubt we'll find time to benefit from the extra incentive to hoist the S.V.E.R. flag.
Hands-on: SOCOM 4 (with PlayStation Move!)
There are two questions I'll try to answer with this quick hands-on preview. Firstly, is SOCOM 4 the true sequel to the SOCOM franchise we've been waiting for? Secondly, does the PlayStation Move controller work as intended? It's hard to answer the first question, especially within the constraints of a ten-minute demo. What I can say is that even in this early state, SOCOM 4 looks very good, sporting incredibly detailed environments. While the early code has a noticeably choppy framerate, there was already a large number of objects in the environment. Whether it's a car, a trash can, a thrown-out mattress, there are tons of objects to take cover behind in the world. Controlling your squad should be familiar to anyone that's played a recent SOCOM game. Holding L1 on the Move allows you to slightly slow down time and direct your team to move to position and await orders. You can even call in an airstrike by holding down the Move button and holding Down on a target. After sneaking down an alley, we were able to catch a large squad of soldiers lounging in an open field. They had no idea what hit them as the bombs dropped. %Gallery-87398%
