LEFF
28-08-2008, 23:31
With dwindling subscription fees from Planetside and Star Wars Galaxies, SOE tries to fill the gap in their Online-portfolio with a new, action based Sci-Fi MMO
http://www.furious-angels.com/picture.php?albumid=28&pictureid=238
Genre:
MMOFPS with RPG elements
Developer:
Sony Online Entertainment
Website:
http://theagency.station.sony.com/
Gallery:
http://www.joystiq.com/photos/the-agency/270324/ (unofficial)
Setting:
DC Universe / Science Fiction
Engine:
unknown
Scheduled Release:
unknown
PvP Settings:
General Quotes regarding PvP:
"[...] On top of that we want to support the real hardcore shooter, the guy who does not even play the storymode but jumps right into PvP [...]"
"[...] From day one you will be able to jump straight into PvP which is a set of dedicated maps, gametypes, arenas [...]"
[Taken from gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/theagency/video.html?sid=6194243&tag=text-related-content;3)]
"We are not supporting Planetside style encounters with hundreds of players blasting each other at the same time. Our game is about social and encounter areas that support the appropriate number of folks to keep not only the gameplay amazing, but the speed where it needs to be for a real action shooter. "
"We're an action shooter, so our mantra is: Fun now with no waiting."
"[...] To that end, we're supporting a number of ongoing Faction challenges that should keep the more competitive of our player base fully engaged."
"After all, a bullet to the head is a bullet to the head. We want to ensure that an impeccably skilled player is not punished simply because they just started playing. If you can aim for the head and hit, you should be rewarded."
[Taken from an Interview with the game's Lead Designer Hal Milton oncomputerandvideogames.com (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169042)]
"High-skill players will have the opportunity to overcome a gap in resources by besting experienced, resourceful opponents with superior aim and strategy."
[Taken from shacknews.com (http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=454)]
Camera: First Person / Third person
Safezones: Yes
Lootdrop: No
Open or Instanced: Minigames and Instanced PvP will be possible, it's not said whether that excludes open PvP yet. The dev team is "experimenting with allowing out-of-instance combat" at the moment.
Guildwars-Feature: Yes
Player controlled territory and customizable bases: No Information
Playable Factions: 2
Background / General Info
Set for release on the PC and PlayStation 3, The Agency will be a persistent online shooter in which players can step into the world of international espionage, working for one of two main factions with the ultimate goal of controlling the world. As should be expected of a game that seeks to put players in the role of a Fleming-esque hero (or villain), The Agency will feature adventures in far-off lands, assassinations, illicit drug trade, sabotage, undercover sleuthing, and betrayal.
The theme of the game shouldn't be the only novel element to massively multiplayer online game veterans. SOE said it wants to provide pick-up-and-play fun accessible to any type of player, which might suggest a departure from the traditional MMO level grind. One change is that players won't need to pigeonhole themselves into any particular style of play. Calling the approach, "You are what you wear," SOE is allowing players to customize their character's specialties before each mission through the gear they outfit them with.
There will still be signs of the persistent character development from other online games, however. Players will develop skills over time, but they will also increase their influence over the world and have the ability to set up their own agencies. And since a single player does not a spy network make, there will also be non-player-character operatives that can be recruited and used as resources to build equipment, gather basic intelligence, and do other essential tasks.
SOE is promising a large assortment of story-based missions for players to take on competitively or cooperatively. And when gamers need a break from the physical danger, they can instead opt for financial peril at minigame-loaded casinos, take on other players at the shooting range, or engage in other diversions.
(Quoted from gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172303.html))
http://www.furious-angels.com/picture.php?albumid=28&pictureid=240
Feature List:
One-Shot kills / Headshots possible
There is a possibility players will not have to pay monthly subscription fees.
Vehicle Combat
[Taken from an Interview with Matt Wilson on Massively (http://www.massively.com/2008/07/21/e308-matt-wilson-briefs-us-on-the-state-of-the-agency/)]
"You are what you wear" Skillsystem. Switching/Changing 'classes' is easy and takes little time.
Episodic Mission-System to keep a "live storyline flowing over time". Constant adding of content over years to come is being promised by the dev team.
Players can recruit NPCs with special skills to create a team of 'Operatives' to command and lead into missions and Battles
(http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169042)
Playable with PS3 - Crossovers will probably not be supported as the PS3 version will offer automatic targetting, while the PC gamers aim for their targets manually.
Official Trailer with various Interviews, dev-statements
cKj2INKT4UA
http://www.furious-angels.com/picture.php?albumid=28&pictureid=238
Genre:
MMOFPS with RPG elements
Developer:
Sony Online Entertainment
Website:
http://theagency.station.sony.com/
Gallery:
http://www.joystiq.com/photos/the-agency/270324/ (unofficial)
Setting:
DC Universe / Science Fiction
Engine:
unknown
Scheduled Release:
unknown
PvP Settings:
General Quotes regarding PvP:
"[...] On top of that we want to support the real hardcore shooter, the guy who does not even play the storymode but jumps right into PvP [...]"
"[...] From day one you will be able to jump straight into PvP which is a set of dedicated maps, gametypes, arenas [...]"
[Taken from gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/theagency/video.html?sid=6194243&tag=text-related-content;3)]
"We are not supporting Planetside style encounters with hundreds of players blasting each other at the same time. Our game is about social and encounter areas that support the appropriate number of folks to keep not only the gameplay amazing, but the speed where it needs to be for a real action shooter. "
"We're an action shooter, so our mantra is: Fun now with no waiting."
"[...] To that end, we're supporting a number of ongoing Faction challenges that should keep the more competitive of our player base fully engaged."
"After all, a bullet to the head is a bullet to the head. We want to ensure that an impeccably skilled player is not punished simply because they just started playing. If you can aim for the head and hit, you should be rewarded."
[Taken from an Interview with the game's Lead Designer Hal Milton oncomputerandvideogames.com (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169042)]
"High-skill players will have the opportunity to overcome a gap in resources by besting experienced, resourceful opponents with superior aim and strategy."
[Taken from shacknews.com (http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=454)]
Camera: First Person / Third person
Safezones: Yes
Lootdrop: No
Open or Instanced: Minigames and Instanced PvP will be possible, it's not said whether that excludes open PvP yet. The dev team is "experimenting with allowing out-of-instance combat" at the moment.
Guildwars-Feature: Yes
Player controlled territory and customizable bases: No Information
Playable Factions: 2
Background / General Info
Set for release on the PC and PlayStation 3, The Agency will be a persistent online shooter in which players can step into the world of international espionage, working for one of two main factions with the ultimate goal of controlling the world. As should be expected of a game that seeks to put players in the role of a Fleming-esque hero (or villain), The Agency will feature adventures in far-off lands, assassinations, illicit drug trade, sabotage, undercover sleuthing, and betrayal.
The theme of the game shouldn't be the only novel element to massively multiplayer online game veterans. SOE said it wants to provide pick-up-and-play fun accessible to any type of player, which might suggest a departure from the traditional MMO level grind. One change is that players won't need to pigeonhole themselves into any particular style of play. Calling the approach, "You are what you wear," SOE is allowing players to customize their character's specialties before each mission through the gear they outfit them with.
There will still be signs of the persistent character development from other online games, however. Players will develop skills over time, but they will also increase their influence over the world and have the ability to set up their own agencies. And since a single player does not a spy network make, there will also be non-player-character operatives that can be recruited and used as resources to build equipment, gather basic intelligence, and do other essential tasks.
SOE is promising a large assortment of story-based missions for players to take on competitively or cooperatively. And when gamers need a break from the physical danger, they can instead opt for financial peril at minigame-loaded casinos, take on other players at the shooting range, or engage in other diversions.
(Quoted from gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172303.html))
http://www.furious-angels.com/picture.php?albumid=28&pictureid=240
Feature List:
One-Shot kills / Headshots possible
There is a possibility players will not have to pay monthly subscription fees.
Vehicle Combat
[Taken from an Interview with Matt Wilson on Massively (http://www.massively.com/2008/07/21/e308-matt-wilson-briefs-us-on-the-state-of-the-agency/)]
"You are what you wear" Skillsystem. Switching/Changing 'classes' is easy and takes little time.
Episodic Mission-System to keep a "live storyline flowing over time". Constant adding of content over years to come is being promised by the dev team.
Players can recruit NPCs with special skills to create a team of 'Operatives' to command and lead into missions and Battles
(http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169042)
Playable with PS3 - Crossovers will probably not be supported as the PS3 version will offer automatic targetting, while the PC gamers aim for their targets manually.
Official Trailer with various Interviews, dev-statements
cKj2INKT4UA