It’& rsquo; s hard to believe, however it has actually mored than ten years considering that MAG was launched on PS3 and also now we’& rsquo; re inching ever closer to the release of PS5 (even if we still put on’& rsquo; t know that day yet)
. It was, in the long run, a temporary game that released in January 2010. As an online only title without single gamer to mention, the web servers for MAG went offline on January 28, 2014 simply a couple of months after the launch of PS4. Sadly, the game has been dead longer than it had an opportunity to be played.
I obtained a PS3 in December 2009 as a Christmas present, and also some video games to choose it. However MAG was the very first video game I bought for PS3, pre-ordered as a matter of fact. Played the betas, as well as jumped in from day one of launch.
MAG was created by Zipper Interactive, the guys behind the preferred PS2 collection SOCOM united state Navy Seals. Regretfully, Zipper Interactive was closed down by Sony in 2012. They were establishing a SOCOM ready PS4 as well as an additional FPS that was to be a new IP, likewise for PS4. Both video games were obviously terminated when the studio shut down.
I’& rsquo; ve never ever been a huge multiplayer individual, or instead not of the PvP range.’I & rsquo; ve constantly liked co-op. There’& rsquo; s only been 3 video games where I have actually genuinely enjoyed
PvP. The initial was Black Hawk Down on computer. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of hrs I put into that video game’& rsquo; s 25v25 multiplayer. Certainly they had private servers with custom-made maps, which absolutely assisted keep the game fresh.
The 3rd has actually been Fate and also Destiny 2, which I’& rsquo; m abiding together. It’& rsquo; s not the most well balanced of experiences, and also there’& rsquo; s enough cheesy things to see to it it’& rsquo; s not in fact affordable, however I simply appreciate the Crucible in Destiny. It’& rsquo; s enjoyable, even if it is 6v6(I like larger battles). The 2nd though was MAG. That one was unique. It was the first console shooter I got into. It was a PvP multiplayer only video game. It was a substantial one also, method in advance of its time as well as we still sanctuary’& rsquo; t seen anything else like it.
Sabotage was a 32v32 unbiased mode that did influence the Darkness Battle. In this setting, as well as striking group would need to take control of 2 uplinks at the same time, as well as soon as that took place the 3rd objective would certainly open which would certainly be detonating a dynamite at the safeguarding teams base. This was the setting I liked and also played the most.
Acquisition was a 64v64 video game setting where an assaulting team had to catch two companion vehicles. It was basically 128 player Capture the Flag.
Supremacy was the video game specifying setting that supported 256 players. 128v128, although the means the maps were split it was mostly numerous smaller fights going on simultaneously. I didn’& rsquo; t play this one a great deal. I never played the two DLC settings.
MAG matched three private military firms versus each various other in a Shadow Battle. Each video game pitted a faction versus an intrigue, and also whoever won would certainly acquire agreements. The even more contracts an intrigue had, the much better they were carrying out in the Shadow Battle which included some incentives like enhanced XP. Honestly, it’& rsquo; s been a long time and the Shadow War element was constantly something that occurred behind-the-scenes that I didn’& rsquo; t pay a lots of focus to.
The 3 factions were:
- Raven Industries GmbH –– High tech, elite soldiers.
- S.V.E.R. –– Guerrilla design militants.
- Valor Company Inc. –– Skilled soldiers, based on modern American military.
I belonged to Raven. Things regarding MAG is that you were secured into the intrigue you choose until you struck the level cap, and after that you can “& ldquo; professional & rdquo; as well as start over either with the same intrigue or join a different one. This indicated if your good friends chose Valiance and also you picked Raven, you couldn’& rsquo; t play with each other until you strike experienced condition.
Gameplay was quite comparable to Call of Task and also Battleground. Ribbons, XP, acquire tools and also upgrades, however you did have a skill tree and also various paths you can take, so it was a RPG-ish too.
So it’& rsquo; s a’dead FPS that hasn & rsquo; t been playable in over 6 years. An entire generation of far better hardware went by with the IP left for dead.
I don’& rsquo; t expect that to change. For whatever factor, I simply wear’& rsquo; t believe Sony will certainly ever bring MAG back in any kind of form. I hope otherwise, else I wouldn’& rsquo; t be covering a video game that went offline six years ago and also is over a years old.
The game was popular in its day. With time it subsided some, obviously, however it’& rsquo; s likewise crucial to keep in mind that Xbox 360 was the choice for more individuals during that generation specifically when this game launched.
In the years given that MAG launched, PlayStation took back the lead over Xbox, Net connections for lots of people have obtained a lot much better, and also much more console gamers are utilized to online, multiplayer just video games.
Currently I understand what I’& rsquo; m about to state will likely rage some MAG followers, and also to be sincere I put on’& rsquo; t always like it myself. Yet if you hope for a revival of any type of kind, you also need to line up expectations with reality.
Today, the fact is a game like MAG would certainly be great as a “& ldquo; Games As A Solution” & rdquo; online only title with Seasons, a Battle Pass, as well as microtransactions. I understand, I recognize & hellip; however that’& rsquo; s where we are now. Maybe generated income from that way to where the video game might be free-to-play (I know!) and any kind of new maps or settings would certainly additionally be easily available to all.
As a PS5 unique, I wouldn’& rsquo; t be as concerned about cost-free to play due to the fact that you & rsquo; re not going to run into the cheaters that would certainly ruin it on PC for instance. And also I’& rsquo; m personally fine with cost-free to play with a Fight Pass and also cosmetic items like attire, weapon skins, nameplates, etc. Would certainly expect it to have those things even if it were a buy-to-play title also to be straightforward just because of how things are today. At least with free, you obtain a larger population.
Seasons would certainly obviously be a wonderful fit for MAG. The Darkness War would certainly last a season, which would certainly be about three months long. The winning side gamers would obtain an unique skin, symbol or something.
I delighted in the locked in nature of MAG, as well as rather than permitting several personalities (which you can do), I’& rsquo;d like to see that proceed with players being secured to their intrigue for the duration of a season. For lots of people, that would possibly be extra reasonable than only being enabled to switch after you struck the degree cap.
I would naturally want it to be as near the initial as feasible in terms of feel, yet certainly the game is over one decade old and things do evolve for the better (occasionally). As was, it was a respectable foundation that can’& rsquo; ve been built on as well as I suched as all the Sabotage maps and also would like to see them once more.
Broaden on the concepts of the original if demand be, however maintain it regarding the very same. No person desires a MAG Fight Royale mode (although 50v50 Elimination with revives can be fun).
Eventually, I think now more than ever before, a video game like MAG makes sense. It would certainly be more prominent now than it was in 2010. As an exclusive, if done right, it would certainly be an awesome title (especially if it were free, if only to a specific level). And with an increasing number of BR games, the affordable FPS multiplayer is broad open and also there’& rsquo; s still a huge target market there, particularly for something that no other video game is doing (big scale battles, be it 32v32 or 128v128 or more).
MAG was way ahead of its time. Six years after being provided unplayable, people still speak lovingly of it. It was among the best FPS multiplayer games ever before made. There’& rsquo; s an audience for it since’& rsquo; s bigger than it was in 2010, as well as in general there’& rsquo; s much better framework in position for such a huge scale video game to run on.
Will we see MAG, or a title like MAG, on PS5? Regrettably, probably not. Yet one can hope that Sony eventually sees they have what can be a massive “& ldquo; video games as a service” & rdquo; IP just going to waste. MAG had also short of a life expectancy, and also it was also excellent of a game to simply continue to be a warm pc gaming memory. The coming generation, the PS5, would be the best time to provide MAG the second chance at life that it is worthy of.
Bring it back Sony.
Gary is Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Vortainment. He’& rsquo; s usually publishing news as well as reviews, as well as doing all the back end stuff as well. He likes to play video games, view films, wrestling as well as university football (Roll Trend Roll).