Can MAG Offer Deeper Multiplayer than Call of Duty

Developers Compare MAG to CoD

Zipper Interactive, the developers of the upcoming PS3 exclusive first person shooter MAG: Massive Action Game, have claimed that their online only game will have “deeper” multiplayer than Call of Duty and the variety and multiplayer focus in MAG will offer an experience that is unique across all consoles.

Speaking to nowgamer.com, Zipper Interactive’s Tony Iuppa had this to say

“Call of Duty is a great franchise, and we expect them to continue to make great shooters, What really sets MAG apart from CoD and other shooters on the market, however, is our multiplayer focus. MAG is 100% multiplayer and has been since day one. This has let us spend all of our development resources on creating a deeper MP experience, which supports tight shooter gameplay seen in games like CoD, but that’s just the foundation of our offering.

The amount of gameplay variety in MAG, the depth of our skills and gear, the Shadow War (the ongoing tournaments between factions), and strong community tools all create an extremely rich MP environment, one we believe is truly unique on the consoles.”

MAG Feature list

• 2 to 256 players
• ‘Hopes’ for 30 FPS when all the action is going down at all times
• Dedicated servers with new network architectures to help reduce lag
• Streamline matches to reduce need to wait
• All audio cues (planes flying by, air raid sirens) are actual players causing it or player-triggered actions. This can happen in other regions and you can hear in distance.
• PunkBuster quality cheating detection. System tests for things like rate of fire/movement/damage to keep things in check
• First-person view only
• Set 20 years in the future, three major PMCs struggle for power in what has been dubbed “The Shadow War”. Each PMC will have its advantages and disadvantages. Zipper has released the names of all three but only released information on two. One is the Raven; they bear high tech weapons and black armor. They will appeal to Halo/Resistances fans. Sver, pronounced “Sever”, are fierce fighters from SW/ Central Asia, who will most likely have slightly weaker weapons, but have the advantageous ability to adapt to their environment due to extreme amounts of experience. The third faction is the Hammer, and as of 4/17/2009, Zipper has released nothing about them.
• 256-player Domination mode. Attackers and defenders. Outer layer of defense and inner layer. Once through the outer layer ‘hell breaks loose’. Anti-aircraft and radar are vulnerable. If your faction wins a lot it gets the contract for that game mode and gets XP bonuses and perks.
• Three other game modes: Acquisition (128-player escort-style mode. Steal 2 prototype armored transports and bring to extraction zone). Sabotage (64-player, control 2 points for X time then a demolition objective is revealed which must be destroyed). Suppression (64-player team deathmatch)
• Customize face, voice, armor.
• No soldier class system, but has a free-form kit creation. Can save three different load-outs. Depending on the choice of weapons, it can be told by looking at you so others can tell. Change your load-out to match how the battle is going.
• Snipers can get more than normal XP for killing people in designated areas of importance
• Ranking up gives access to new weapons/perks/leadership positions.
• Recognizes issues with large scale maps and the traveling.
• 8 players in a squad, 4 squads in a platoon, 4 platoons in a company (US Military)
• Certain goals for each squad/platoon etc. Have secondary goals like blowing bridges.
• Veteran ranks can enlist into leadership roles, give orders to their squad, then platoon, then their company (OIC)
• Officer-only communication channel to help organize the battle
• Want to be approachable to casual yet have many features for the hardcore.
• Developers have been running 256-player tests since Nov. 2008 and plan to have closed/open betas.

In-Game Footage

Official Trailer

With Infinty Ward keeping tight lipped for now about Modern Warfare 2 lets leave first judgement until some details on the new Call of Duty game are available.

Modern Warfare 2 Forum

Related posts: