MAG - Massive Acronym Game

[JubeiSaotome]

As explained on Wikipedia:
MAG, previously titled MAG: Massive Action Game, is a MMO First Person Shooter for the PlayStation 3 and was developed by Zipper Interactive. The game was announced at Sony's E3 2008 press conference. Various subtitles were being considered for the game, including MAG: Shadow War, MAG: Zero, MAG: Global Assault and MAG: Final Hour. The game was released in North America on January 26, 2010, Europe on January 27 and the United Kingdom on January 29. It is scheduled for release in Australia and New Zealand on February 11 2010.

The game uses a new server architecture to support online battles with up to 256 players, with users divided into 8-player squads, with 4 squads forming a platoon, and 4 platoons forming a company. Each squad is led by a player who has advanced through the game's ranking system.[ Character statistics and development also increase with frequent gameplay. The players most advanced in rank are able to either direct the battle or participate directly in combat.

Basic battles take place within ongoing, faction-based campaigns to encourage the player to actively play. The game's E3 unveiling trailer featured large landscapes, tactics such as air strikes and parachuting, and a variety of vehicles, from tanks and APCs to airplanes.

Players are able to customize the face, voice, and armor of their characters, as well as what weapons and kit they carry into battle. In game, the player can level up to 60 on any faction. After unlocking this, they may create a new soldier on another faction.

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Just played my first few rounds. Early stages might be 64p, but they still feel like 32. I'm playing on the Hot Topic crew (SVER), it plays this annoying nu-metal music when I get a kill streak. Playing a Sniper while I learn the ropes.

I do like the queueing system, though and I can't say I notice any lag when I'm playing with US and other INTL players.

[McChimp]

Going to borrow it and give it a spin tomorrow night. I'm a total n00b at multiplayer, but if it's good fun I'll still enjoy it while getting my a$$ kicked!

[borgster101]

It looks like you need a lot of paitence & time to get the most out of this game, with a backlog like mine, I wouldn't have the tolerance to get into this.

[Bokracroc]

Leveling out to 15-20 doesn't take too long and nets you enough EXP points to get a nice loadout.
Trying to shackle up a Valour clan, OzValour.

[McChimp]

Only played MAG briefly, but I didn't mind what I played. Not a big online mutiplayer gamer, so it was quite lost on me, but I actually found it more appealing than a Halo or MW2 or the like.

Liked the levelling-up aspect, and the game was hands-down the only lag-free experience I've had online, which I consider a major point. I actually got some kills too, which is something I can't do unless I play a game for a while and get a good handle on it. Felt easily accessible and I wasn't confused at any time as to what the hell was going on.

Only issues I had was getting dumped off PSN for some reason a couple of times (got an error message and the like), but that could be my connection, too, and games full of yanks that just kept moaning about how they got booted off the network a few times, rather than trying to talk strategy, or crapping-on how no-one else was on mic.

Glad I gave it a play, as I was rather dismissive of it at first glance, but can see it for it's true-worth now.

[TrinityJayOne]

My friend rants & raves about this game. Is there a demo available? If not, anyone know if EB won't accept returns on the game as if it was an MMO? Or are characters simply tied to your PS3 gamertag? My housemate has a PS3 and could probably be convinced to give it a try if return is possible.

[McChimp]

We've been 7-day returning it at GAME (people really AREN'T impressed with it), so I can't see why EB wouldn't. There's nothing that'd stop them from being able to re-sell it (cd keys, single-machine installs etc), so you should be fine in that respect.

Note: One customer returned it, saying "There's no single-player, it's online only! No-one told me that!". Uh, dumbass, it says so on the case. Open your eyes, f-tard.

[Creedy]

It seems that people that don't like it are people expecting Halo or Modern Warfare 2.
The people that like it are people that are looking for something "different".

[HiredMan]

I like the sound of this game. Will probably pick it up and give it a go when I get around to buying a PS3.

[McChimp]

Not an MP fan, but I'd definitely recommend it if you're after something slightly different than the usual. It felt a lot more 'fresh' than the other MP in games I've played recently, the whole 'levelling' aspect was a real stand-out point for me. Working your way up to leader makes it all the more appealing.

[JubeiSaotome]

It seems that people that don't like it are people expecting Halo or Modern Warfare 2.
The people that like it are people that are looking for something "different".

That's where people need to stop expecting X out of Y. I stopped hyping up games outside of "I want to play that" a few years ago, been burnt way too many times with expectations.

That said, I was expecting MAG to be average, but it's really fun and accessable so far.