MAG (Massive Action Game) Preview

MAG (Massive Action Game) is a new IP developed by Zipper Interactive, the studio behind the highly regarded Socom franchise. Moving away from their tried and tested Third Person Shooter roots, MAG is pushing itself forward as a First Person Shooter experience with a truly inspiring name *end sarcasm*. Building on the strengths of their exceptionally well implemented net code, Zipper is hoping that their online infrastructure will be able to handle MAG's main unique selling point, a 256 online player experience.

These 256 players are split down into eight player squads: four squads make up a platoon & four platoons equal a company. Starting out, you can only communicate with your squad and your leader; your squad leader can talk to the team as well as receiving orders from the platoon leader and finally the platoon leaders answer to the overall O.I.C. (Officer-In-Charge). This communication system should be quite brilliant in that sense that whilst it can cut out potential trash talk, it also aims to make you work together as a cohesive unit, but more on that later.

When you start you're asked to choose which faction you'll pledge your allegiance to in the 'Shadow War'. Which is pretty much a mix of events in 2009 and potentially 2010: global economic meltdown, food/fuel shortages and funds being diverted from humanitarian efforts into the pockets of Private Military Companies - I'm still waiting for the Saturday morning cartoon villain to crop up. The three factions: S.V.E.R, Raven and Valor are not only differentiated by their looks but also the type of equipment available, for example S.V.E.R is run from a war torn country and have pretty ramshackle looking bases plus fighting with cobbled together equipment. Those lovable rogues! Conversely Raven is a futuristic, Vienna based high-tech PMC which could be likened to the Blackwater Security Company. Finally Valor is a mix of USMC, SAS and Mexican Special Forces utilising status quo looking bases and equipment, with a spoonful of "ooo-rah" added in for good measure.

There's four modes in the finished product that we know about:

Sabotage, consisting of 32 players per faction, split into four - eight-player squads pitted against another faction in timed demolition objectives.

Domination is composed of a full 256 player match with 128 players per faction fighting over eight targets from the outside in until both factions reach the middle of the map for a colossal showdown.

Acquisition tasks you with a 128 player per faction escort styled mission where you're either trying to steal prototype armoured transports or protect said transports.

Finally Suppression is a simple 64 player team Deathmatch mode.

Progression is the name of the game in MAG and there's no constant levelling up chime chirruping all the time like in MW2. This game makes you work for your upgrades and you'll benefit by picking a class and devoting your time and precious experience points into it, after all it's not possible to fully spec out everything.

We're big believers in not reinventing the wheel and why developers still want to put together new control schemes when you've got the near perfect Call of Duty control set up available baffles us. The visuals scream generic and the world feels rather devoid of life, but sacrifices need to be made in order for 256 players to be in one match at once.

MAG is the epitome of Ying and Yang, whilst there's so much good stuff bursting to get out, it generally gets washed over by crap half of the time. The whole game is centred on the concept of teamwork and this is MAG's biggest problem, half of the time people don't communicate or just run around aimlessly. Whilst you do have to invest experience points into being a Squad Leader, Platoon Leader or O.I.C. you still find the idiots talking about cheese or shouting at their mum's rather than bringing any sort of order to the madness of a 256 player game.

When it gels and everyone is doing what they're supposed to, it can be an absolute blast, but otherwise it's simply a mess. Zipper have to be commended for their brilliant net code with virtually lag free 256 player matches. MAG however needs to be doing something different in the full release to prove it's more than just its unique selling point.