---

When Massive Action Game was first announced to games journalists and an audience of hundreds and thousands (via high-speed internet streams), people were impressed. Whether it was the idea of a semi-realistic military shooter, or the idea of a full chain of command system, or the promise of 256 online players per match, I don't know, but it's safe to say that Zipper Interactive's promise - to bring a true MMO shooter to a console - shook the gaming world a little, like the aftershock of a mild earthquake. Or something like that.

However, over time, everyone has grown up slightly, has slightly less hair, is a little tubbier than before - and many have forgotten about MAG in the light of other triple-A releases and the wonderful news that Gamer's Guide to Life will be live at the Eurogamer Expo this year. Which is sad, as MAG made such an impression at E3 '08. There are some who haven't quite forgotten about MAG, though - and they're already playing a pre-release beta version of it.

When I got home on 23rd September to find a rather slick-looking email from the lovely people at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, inviting me into the beta testing phase of MAG, I can honestly say that I was giddy with childish excitement. I had friends who were official SCEE beta testers, who had already been in the beta for around a month, and every competition I entered didn't see me come away with a shiny redeem code, so my hopes for getting to play MAG before retail release were considerably lower than they were a few weeks previously. I needn't have feared, it turns out - I was one of the lucky few who Sony decided could make a good job of beta testing what could possibly be one of the most high-capacity games ever published. And I'm ever so glad they did.

The beta test is by no means as large as the full game will be - each match only features 64 players - and yet it still impresses. The games are frantic, fun and - surprisingly and impressively for a FPS - teamwork is pretty much essential to deciding whether you win or lose. It does nothing much new at all for the genre, bar the command view and faction concept, but what it does do is decent enough.

Gameplay is fluid and works very well indeed. Featuring many of the guns which FPS gamers will have become accustomed to, or at least some variants of those weapons, the game's combat is fluid and has the same feel as many other FPS games. Weapons are good, and all feature the aim down sights (ADS) view customary when it comes to today's shooters; however, some weapons - particularly the starting loadouts - lack a punch which leaves you a little disappointed at first. The game features armoured personell carriers too, so those with a flair for driving are catered for - these vehicles are solid-feeling and work really well: each have three seats, of which one is reserved for the driver and one for the gunner, whilst the one left over can carry a passenger. The turret view in these vehicles is excellent, with a high-tech look and feel which works just perfectly when driving into the heat of battle.

Graphically, the beta doesn't deliver quite as much as you'd think it might. Menu screens are very nice and look sleek and high-tech, but in-game screen resolution isn't fantastic, despite being in high-definition. However, various sources claim that the beta version of the game only features a fraction of the graphical intensity which the full retail version will have to offer. Weapon and character models are good though, and textures are pretty much standard quality FPS textures. In fact, there isn't much wrong at all with the beta's visuals, apart from the low screen-res. I'm sure this'll be upscaled in the final release, though.

MAG is an online-only game, and you can tell that a huge amount of effort and work has gone into making it a good online experience. The lack of lag is certainly noticeable - there is only ever lag when someone has an extremely low connection, and even then it doesn't affect the entire game, only that single player. There's no peer-to-peer server kafuffledegook*, either, as all of MAG's matches run from official servers setup to do the job of hosting. Voice comms over microphones and headsets are clear, crisp and audible, and work well in-lobby and in the midst of battle. There are options for building clans and getting friends together in one lobby, with the only exception being that they must be in the same faction as you are. However, if you play with those friends option, then you should already know which faction you're going to join before even installing the beta.

In all, the Massive Action Game beta certainly does what Zipper promised it would do when they were stood on stage at E3 '08. The battles are frantic, and teamwork is almost essential to avoiding defeat. The maps are huge and the game handles a large number of players well (although there are only 64 per game during the beta - the game will feel even more frantic once the retail version is released and 256-player battles are waged). However, so far, I've not seen much which does anything new for the first person shooter genre, so those of you expecting something revolutionary - gauging this from what I've experienced of the beta - think again.

Linford

Unfortunately, we could not provide in-play screenshots from the actual beta for legal reasons.

Labels: Beta, Beta Impressions, Linford Butler, MAG, Massive Action Game, Zipper Interactive

As many of you will have realised, due to the fact you were probably one of the staggering amount of entries we had, a few weeks ago we ran a competition giving you the chance to win a Massive Action Game beta key. Well, the competition closed a week ago, and since then we've been busy at work collating the entries, discarding the invalid ones, sticking them all into a hat and generally doing all the post-competition stuff that's necessary for finding our winner. And, needless to say, we found one. See who after the jump.

We had a staggering amount of responses, but a big congratulations to gunner420_8[at]live[dot]com who was picked at random from a draw of all the valid responses. Your beta key will be emailed to you shortly.

All those of you who didn't win - commiserations and better luck next time. We'll be trying our best to get out hands on some more beta keys soon, but until then, be assured that the game is going to be excellent when you get it at release. Trust me - I know.

We'll be hands on with MAG at this year's Eurogamer Expo, so be sure to follow all our coverage over at http://eurogamer.gamersguidetolife.com/.

Linford

Labels: Competition, Linford Butler, MAG

---

Woah - you lucky people: I've got a treat for you PS3 owners that you'd be stupid to miss. Here at GGTL, we are extremely exited for Zipper Interactive's MAG, and we have manged to bag you - our readers - a beta code from our mates at Zipper Interactive.

Yep, this is your chance to get a place in one of the biggest beta tests this side of 2010. Unfortunately, the code is only valid for EU & US PSN accounts, as it has come straight from the Penny Arcade Expo in America. These things are like gold dust, but we prevailed in finding one and now we'd like to offer you the chance to take up your weapons and see what makes this game so awesome!

We will be sending the code out to the winner by the 20th September 2009 so get ready! To win you must answer the following questions correctly. Please send your answers to win@gamersguidetolife.com and we'll choose a winner at random. Once chosen we'll email you the code. Simples.

Question 1 - What other popular franchise does zipper Interactive make?
Question 2 - What is the American release date at this moment?
Question 3 - What's your favorite blog?
Question 4 - In one of the developer diaries a number can be seen on the back of a gun. What is this number?
Question 5 - What does PMC stand for?

And that's it. Of course, you'll need to bear in mind the terms and conditions, because they're very important. Other than that, get those answers in and I hope to see you on the battlefield!

Jacques

TERMS AND CONDITIONS This beta code applies to the Massive Action Game beta, and is only valid in the United States of America and Europe. To redeem the code, you must be at least 18 years of age and must have a North American or European PlayStation Network account. Beta trial members will be under a non-disclosure agreement, and must not write about, post screenshots of, speak about or otherwise discuss the Massive Action Game beta or the contents of the beta. These terms are subject to change at any time without prior consent. The competition will close at 12:00pm noon (BST) on 20th September 2009, and a winner will be drawn from the entries at random shortly after. Entries made after the closing time will not be counted.

Labels: Beta, Giveaway, Jacques Hulme, MAG, Massive Action Game

When Zipper Interactive first announced their 256-player, online FPS, calling it MAG, many were skeptical - it was an unfeasible number of players... or so people thought. They've been proven wrong, and in spectacular fashion, as Zipper haven't only proven that they can handle that number of players, but that they can do it in style too.

The weapons list is looking pretty good too, with a well-rounded roster of weapons which allow for all sorts of different playing styles. The weapons for each team also seem to reflect their individual characteristics, which should be good.

SVER: 17 TOTAL

AN-94: 30 rds, long rang Assault Rifle with low recoil and good stopping power.
RPG: Rocket Launcher
Bizon: 64 rds, Accurate SMG.
PKP: 100 rds, Powerful LMG.
SVD: 10 rds, Decent semi-auto sniper rifle.
AEK-971: Accurate Russian Assault Rifle with VERY low recoil in Full Auto.
M870: 8 rds, Standard Pump Shotgun.
P90): 50 rds, Advanced SMG with low recoil.
AK103: 30 rds, Accurate assault rifle that uses the old Ak47 round.
Galil: 35 rds, A rugged assualt Rifle with decent accuracy.
RPK: 75 rds, Standard LMG.
Kriss Super V: 30 rds, An SMG that fires .45 cal and has low recoil.
SV-98: 10 rds, Accurate Russian sniper rifle that can use a silencer.
M82A3: 10 rds, Accurate Sniper rifle that is semi-auto and fires .50 cal
RG-6: 6 rds, semi-auto grenade launcher
F57: 20 rds, accurate pistol with excellent range and penetration.


RAVEN:10 TOTAL

AUGA3: 30 rds, Accurate, decent Assault Rifle.
MP7A1: 40 rds, Advanced SMG with high accuracy and low recoil.
L96AW: 5 rds, Extremely accurate long-range Sniper Rifle.
G3A3: 20 rds, Powerful and accurate Assault Rifle.
HK417: 20 rds, Powerful and accurate long-ranged assault rifle.
MG4: 100-200 rds, Accurate LMG with a fast fire rate.
Panzerfaust 3: Advanced, standard rocket launcher.
M870: 8 rds, Standard Pump Shotgun.
XM500: 5 rds, Bolt action .50 cal sniper rifle.
F2000: 30 rds, advanced assualt rifle with moderate accuracy.


VALOR: 6 TOTAL

M4A1:30 rds, Accurate Assault Rifle.
FN SCAR LW: 30 rds, currently in use by SEALs as a rugged and accurate assault rifle.
M249: 100-200 rds, Accurate LMG with fast fire rate.
colt 1911: 7 rds, standard medium power pistol.
AT4: single shot standard Rocket Launcher.
M14 EBR: 20 rds, Accurate Assault rifle, good stopping power at long range.

Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how the MP7A1 is going to turn out. We'll have to wait and see how the weapons actually feel when the controller is in-hand when the game is released in January 2010.

Linford

A big cuddly 'thanks!' to LittleBigFerret of the EU PlayStation Forums for bringing this to our attention.

Gamer's Guide to Life provides this information as-is, for informative use only. We do not claim that this is the final list, and the list may change upon release. We just thought you might like to hear what we heard.

Labels: Linford Butler, MAG, Massive Action Game, Zipper Interactive

Wow! Thats one word to describe this bit of news. Recently the closed beta for MAG was opened up to the Sony Official Beta testers. In a remarkable revelation Andy Beaudoin of Zipper Interactive has revealed that soon, it's going to be open for the public to see.

"On September 17 we will begin the beta open to the public," confirmed Andy Beaudoin, chief designer at Zipper Interactive statements to German videogames site, Eurogamer.de.

I for one am very exited about this one! Tell us your views and opinions, or what you'd like from MAG in the comments section.

Jacques

Labels: Beta, Jacques Hulme, MAG

Just a quick little post. I've been surfing the net and have just found the MAG (Massive Action Game) Offical boxart, which you can see above. Is it just me or does it look a little focused upon the SVER faction?

Jacques

Labels: Jacques Hulme, MAG

An official website for upcoming MMO ‘Massive Action Game’ has been revealed on Sony PlayStation US’ Twitter account. The site, found here, isn’t really very interesting – it’s more a teaser site than anything.

Although, one thing that’s interesting about the site is the mouse hover. The circle, seen in the picture above, only highlights whilst over central Europe and the very top-left part of North America. When these highlighted areas are clicked for the first time, a picture of some sort flashes up for less than a second, before disappearing. Could this be a hint at where the game will take place? Could it be a hint at which factions will be involved in the game? We don’t know.

Take a look and see what you can find. If you find anything we haven’t, or have any theories as to what the mystic site might mean, comment and let us know.

Linford

Labels: MAG, Massive Action Game, MMO

It’s the game that’s been on everyone’s lips but not quite in the ‘hypescape’ for a while now. Since it was first announced at E3 last year, details on Zipper Interactive’s ‘Massive Action Game’ or MAG have been pretty thin on the ground. That is, until there’s a massive leak of images on Flickr.

That’s right; famous image-hosting site has played host to some of the screenshots which every gamer this side of Christendom has been searching for. Like gold dust, leaked shots always turn up in the least likely of places. And, like gold dust, they always cause a bit of a stir (understatement, much?).

Here’s the gist of it. MAG is an MMO shooter from Zipper, the same lovely people who brought you the SOCOM series. Squad and faction based, MAG will play host to – wait for it – 256-player, ongoing online matches, which is sure to make for some manic Saturday-night matches. “256-player deathmatch, anyone?”.

I have it on good confidence (in other words, extensive late-night forum browsing, screenshot hunting and general rumour gathering) that the gameplay will be the classic FPS genre. Players will be divided up into 8-player squads, many of which make up the three factions which will be at conflict in the game. Each squad will be led (yep, a full command structure) by a player who has advanced through the game’s ranking structure. Each basic battle will make up part of an ongoing campaign mode for each of the three factions.

For those fond of polygons, MAG is shaping up to be a rather sleek and stylish production. From leaked screenshots, textures seem very realistic, weaponry is shiny enough to pass as looking nice, and cloud and smoke effects are gorgeous. My only criticism is in the bullet trails – they just look like lines. However, I’m sure that, by the time MAG releases late this year, they’ll have the graphics absolutely spot on.

Online is bound to be epic. With a full command system, matches will have some sort of feeling of organisation and tactic to them. Furthermore, 8-player squads will make organising offences much easier to handle for those in charge.

If the original E3 trailer is anything to go by, MAG will feature huge landscapes, vehicles (apparently there’ll be tanks, APCs and planes) and parachute troops. Also, it has been said that the game will feature many classes for players to specialise in, from demolitions experts to field medics.

MAG is currently slated to hit shelves late this year.

Linford

Editor’s Note: Please bear in mind that screenshots shown here are not only very early alpha testing shots, but are also leaked shots. As such, they may not be in any way representative of the finished product. You can find the full Flickr screenshots set here.

Labels: Hype Train, MAG, Massive Action Game, MMO