DUBLIN, Ireland, 23 September, 2009 - Faceoffgames attends a preview of M.A.G. (Massive Action Game) presented by Ed Byrne, Creative Director of Zipper Interactive, the developers.

The evening was hosted by SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) as this MMOFPS (Massive Multi-Player Online First Person Shooter) was developed exclusively for Sony’s PlayStation 3. The lucky few invited to the Merrion Hotel, venue for the preview looked around at what was once known as Mornington House, home to Lord Mornington, till all eyes fell on a few PlayStation 3 consoles, then the fighting began. The Georgian hotel stands opposite the Irish Parliament or Dáil Éireann, in the shadow of all these surroundings and history could M.A.G. stand up to the scrutiny of the press?

The presentation kicked off late, this was entirely Zipper’s fault as they have created a cocaine cocktail of fun - ready for any crack shot gaming addict to become hooked. According to Ed, “when the servers go offline for updates the beta testers complain.” The presentation had begun and as eloquent, entertaining and informative as Ed is, this game can speak for itself. It is a testimony to the talents of Zipper.

The game is set in 2025 where humanity is challenged and a global crisis rages due to food shortages. People riot, currencies are plummeting, fuel reserves are dwindling and the once oil-rich nations begin to ration what remains of their resources. Governments go to war until the populations cry halt. Politicians are forced to the negotiating table; the result is the Mellium Accord, a peace settlement. The world turns away from a nuclear war. Peace reigns or so it seems. In reality, the military landscape is changed forever. The official militaries of the world are disbanded according to the terms of the Accord.

S.V.E.R. In Action

This is the premise for the game. The governments of the world have disbanded their militaries and in day to day life there appears to be peace. However, states need to protect their interests. This gives rise to the hiring of contract armies or P.M.C.’s (Private Military Corporations). The P.M.C.’s namely, S.V.E.R., Raven Industries and Valour Company is where you will find the ultimate online shooter experience.

Each faction has different attributes, S.V.E.R. is a punked-up army who like to customise the way they wage war. Whilst Raven Industries are more like a special ops army, equipped with futuristic weaponry to serve their aims. Valour Company as Ed said, “are more like ex- vets who have been through war and are able to handle themselves, however, they have more standardised gear.”

Raven Industries Laying Down the Rounds

M.A.G. takes full advantage of the PlayStation 3’s capabilities, the graphics are wonderful, parachute into this arena and you will find yourself in a game worth playing. You won’t be alone – M.A.G. supports up to 256 players online – recipe for anarchy perhaps?

Ed explained that "Zipper employed a ranking system which allows highly ranked players to direct combat from the Commander of the faction down”, this keeps order in the game. Appropriately, your faction and rank determines who you can speak to over head sets. This is obviously done for logical reasons. But beyond that, it would reflect the chain of command in a real combat situation.  This is not surprising given Zipper’s SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALS games which were created in conjunction with the Naval Special Warfare Command of the United States.  To become any sort of leader in M.A.G. you have to earn your stripes. When signing up you chose your faction and from there you can establish yourself in the game, become a Squad Leader and continue to work your way up through the Command. There will be some renegade lunatic players who don’t fall into line before they get shot in the general game play, but this won’t spoil the overall game. It is the co-operative play that makes this game so intriguing. It is in achieving the overall objective set that you personally succeed in the game. The objectives are ever changing as there are many maps in this virtual warzone. Your objective could be to secure government resources or some other equally challenging task. The 'Shadow War' as it is known is a war hidden from the mass population where the factions fight for the future objectives of governments and to be the preeminent P.M.C. in the field. There is a lot of money at stake in winning government contracts.

The action is unrivalled, no other shooter supports this many players or is on such a vast scale. Players can drop into games when others drop out, however, a balance is always kept between the sides and the state of play in a particular task is respected at any given point in time. Somehow, the overall effect of this is to make M.A.G. feel more like a real war. If you play, you’ll be addicted and in that addiction you will find happiness. This game is going to be huge. The game should come with a warning! Play the game make up your own mind, it speaks for itself, Teddy Roosevelt once said:

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." Theodore Roosevelt (Paris Sorbonne, 1910)