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Newest MAG trailer airdrops televisions into battle

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 4th 2009 at 4:44PM }

There's nothing quite like seeing thousands of home theater setups falling from the sky, as evidenced above by the latest trailer for PS3-exclusive MAG. Aside from reminding us of the not-quite-an-MMOs impending release date, the video shows off a variety of different gameplay types, and asks if we have it in us to earn our fellow players' trust. We suggest that those of you looking to enroll with the toughest, most ragtag group of rumblers this side of the Colorado sign up right here. Can you earn our trust?

(Hint: You earn our trust by leaving friendly comments ... and maybe sending us booze. Maybe.)

Face off against Zipper Interactive in MAG beta's closing ceremonies

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 3rd 2009 at 3:15PM }

Got some complaint about MAG that you'd like to directly file with the game's creators? You'll have your chance to do so this Friday, when a number of Zipper Interactive staffers will join in the Shadow War as part of the beta's closing ceremonies. All you have to do is join in a fight, and keep an eye out for squads using the clan tag [ZIP]. According to the developer's blog, they'll be playing for two hours starting at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, present your suggestions in a courteous, congenial manner. For instance, "hello, Zipper Interactive employee. I think the game would be improved by limiting the number of times a first aid kit can be used in a single spawn. Thank you so much for listening. I'm going to fire bullets at you now, okay?"

[Via CVG]

Join Joystiq's MAG army and get a free beta code

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 23rd 2009 at 3:15PM }

MAG is a pretty ridiculous title, but it does perfectly sum up what the game is all about. Massive Action Game is the first console game to feature 128 vs. 128 online multiplayer matches, which you'll be able to try tomorrow with the debut of beta 4.5.

We want you to join the Joystiq army: a 128-person squad of loyal Joystiq readers ready to represent us online. The PlayStation Network will tremble, with the Joystiq team striking fear into all that dare to step into MAG. Together, world domination will be ours!*

But, you say you're not in the MAG beta? Well, we'll fix that right now! Become a Joystiq fan on Facebook and you'll be able to score yourself a code.

Gallery: MAG

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MAG Beta now pre-order exclusive, servers running 24/7

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 11th 2009 at 11:20AM }

The MAG beta program is getting one final, well-timed push before Zipper Interactive gears up to launch the impossibly oversized shooter. The game has officially moved onto Beta Phase 4 -- a shift which not only makes 6,000 changes within the game (including modifications to the skill tree and an increased level cap), but also makes the beta exclusively available to those who've pre-ordered the online FPS at GameStop.

Yes, if you've been playing the beta using one of the other promotional access codes, you'll be shut out of the proceedings. However, as a side bonus, Zipper is now keeping the game's servers open all day, every day. That's right, you no longer need to sacrifice your nightly Murder, She Wrote viewings to adhere to the beta's odd schedule. Thanks, Zipper!

Over 8,000 updates and bug fixes in latest MAG beta update

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 22nd 2009 at 11:45AM }

Looks like a certain beta testing community hasn't neglected its duties as a stalwart lookout for bugs, errors and other unsavory in-game snafus. This morning, Zipper Interactive launched a patch for the MAG beta client which includes over 8,000 updates and bug fixes. The patch will be automatically downloaded and installed next time you hop into the Shadow War.

A brief synopsis of the important changes can be found after the jump. We elected to not include the full list of 8,000 updates, as it would have delayed this post until mid-April, at which point it would have been fairly useless to you.

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7-Eleven wants you to reserve MAG there

by Justin McElroy { Oct 7th 2009 at 7:00PM }

We use 7-Eleven for all sorts of purposes it wasn't intended. For instance, since our diet consists solely of pizza burritos and bags filled with two different flavors of Doritos, it's pretty much our grocery store. They're happy with our custom, but they're not satisfied. 7-Eleven wants our video game dollars really bad.

In fact, they've set it up so that the best place you can pre-order MAG is probably the same place where you buy your Slurpees. Pre-ordering at 7-Eleven will net you an exclusive recruitment kit with background info about the game's factions and a poster, the best way to tell guests that you like to get your Parliaments, tampons and video games in the same transaction.

Uncharted 2 plundering Europe October 16

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 22nd 2009 at 1:13PM }

The time is almost upon us to saunter back into ancient ruins and murder hundreds upon hundreds of mercenaries in Naughty Dog's upcoming quarter-tucked adventure, Uncharted 2. Stateside Nathan Drake enthusiasts have known the date their bread would be buttered on for quite some time (October 13) -- now, Sony's confirmed to Eurogamer that the title will be hitting European store shelves just three days later. (Whoa, don't hurt yourself. That's October 16.)

If you're on the fence about your Uncharted 2 purchase, you'll be able to check out the game -- along with MAG, Heavy Rain and God of War III -- at the Eurogamer Expo, which runs October 27–28 in Leeds and October 30–31 in London. Tickets to the event are only £6, which we're fairly certain translates to about $0.16 in real currency. What a steal!

Sony accepting applications for European MAG Beta

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 15th 2009 at 2:45PM }

PlayStation.Blog recently dropped an announcement that will send European fans of acronyms and large-scale combat through the roof. Zipper Interactive is going to be handing out 16,000 beta codes for MAG to those living in Europe over the course of the next few weeks. To apply, go to the blog's "Competition" page and fill out the appropriate info. It's first come, first serve, so ... come! Be served!

If you're not fortunate enough to live on the West-Eurasian Peninsula, take solace in the fact that Zipper's going to eventually need to enlist everyone on the planet to test out the game's enormous server load. Also, remember that we've got freedom and liberty and stuff.

PAX 2009: MAG producer explains the game's original server technology

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 9th 2009 at 6:45PM }

Making online, 256-player battles unfold without lag or disconnection issues is nothing short of pure techno-wizardry. However, according to producer Alan Van Slyke, who recently spoke with us at a PAX preview event, that's exactly what MAG will bring to the table thanks to a groundbreaking new form of server architecture.

"Before we started working on the front-end client technology, we started building the servers. We wiped the slate clean and asked 'what do we need to do to scale to these numbers to make sure it's not laggy, and make sure people can't exploit,'" Van Slyke explained. What they decided was that peer-to-peer hosting was insufficient -- instead, the MAG team created their own networking solution which would host and authenticate game data from a (presumably beefy) central server.

Van Slyke couldn't reveal the specifics of the technology (the patent for which is still pending), but promised that it would reduce latency and completely eliminate connection griefing which has plagued other multiplayer shooters in the past. In addition, he said Zipper's not worried about having its servers crushed by a day-one rush of new recruits, explaining that "we've invested a lot in our server technology and our load test harnesses and the things we can do to replicate the scalability of it to ensure that it's stable and rock solid."

Sony details MAG pre-order bonuses: where to get what

by Randy Nelson { Sep 9th 2009 at 2:00AM }

Following a weekend of 256-player mayhem at PAX '09, Sony has unloaded more details on the pre-order campaign for its "massive action game," MAG, which releases on January 26, 2010. First up are three exclusive in-game characters, each corresponding to one of the game's three PMC armies -- with custom gear -- and available via a different retailer. GameStop has the S.V.E.R. ~~soldier~~ contractor for offer while Game Crazy is offering the Raven recruit -- we're not sure why, but Sony's keeping the wraps on where you can pre-order to receive a Valor grunt.

Reserving the game via Amazon will grant you access to your very own S.V.E.R. "personal space" (read: apartment) in PlayStation Home. If you want the most alluring incentive, however, it's back to GameStop for access to the public beta of MAG beginning October 10. (Qore subscribers will be let in on September 17.) Initially, the beta servers will only be online during specific play windows, but Sony has confirmed that they'll be up-and-running 24/7 after November 9.

If you want all of the goodies, you're going to need to mount your own MPC ("massive pre-order campaign").

Hands-on: MAG's 256-man multiplayer

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 5th 2009 at 6:30PM }

I, like most people, have never participated in a 256-player virtual battle (or, due to its uncannily enormous amount of participants -- is it a war?). Though Zipper Interactive's MAG is built on incredibly strong first-person shooter foundations, incorporating fast-paced combat and a plethora of unlockable character modifications, the takeaway impression from my recent time with the game during a Sony preview event at PAX is, as you might guess, it is enormous.

The game does an excellent job of partitioning players off into smaller, 8-man squads. Though most of your contact is with your immediate teammates, there's a constant sense that you're part of something bigger. There's nothing intangible about the cause for that feeling -- you are a cog in a much larger military machine, rewarded for spinning in accordance with your higher-ups' orders.

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You MAY have written part of this MAG trailer

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 4th 2009 at 6:00PM }

Did you partake in SCEE's MAG contest? If so, you may find your "inspirational" words in this new trailer for MAG. PSN users colingb20, Aday111, shenmue360, BioEye, playmartelli, OwNii, Dark_Jester, Bandicoot1980, MoeRonimoe and Klixx were all selected to have excerpts from their "battlefield speeches" inserted into the background of this cinematic trailer. Their prize for winning the contest? An entry into the MAG beta -- something you can purchase with an annual subscription to Qore.

September Qore heads to Skywalker Ranch, subscribers get MAG beta

by Xav de Matos { Sep 3rd 2009 at 10:00PM }

September's episode of Qore features a view from Skywalker Ranch, as the soundtrack to Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is mixed and mastered at George Lucas' famous estate. Qore also sits down with gear head Jay "Retired for 10 Seconds" Leno and talks about his involvement with PSP's long-in-development installment of Gran Turismo. But, the real meat of this month's episode is access to the upcoming MAG beta -- for gamers not lucky enough to have been invited already.

Users are automatically entered into the beta test -- set to begin later this month -- if they are Qore subscribers. If you're thirsty for large-scale online battles, users who subscribe to Qore on or before September 17 will also be invited. Sadly, purchasing September's episode alone will not net you the beta access. Even sadder, we're used to having to pay our way into these exciting bonuses.

Check out a preview for this month's episode after the break.

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MAG public beta now underway, first wave of invites sent

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 18th 2009 at 1:40PM }

Based on the hojillion tips we recently received informing us of this news, we wager that most of you probably already know this -- still, we thought we'd pass it along for those who don't check their email as religiously as the rest of us. The first wave of invites for the MAG beta have been sent out -- for all you know, there's one sitting in your inbox this very second.

See, now we know you're not reading anymore, because you're too busy checking your email. We could say something like "you have a dumb and ugly face" with no fear of retaliation. Of course, we won't do that, because your face isn't dumb, or ugly. It's precious and beautiful, like a beautiful alabaster doll's face.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

MAG deploying in North America on January 26, 2010

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 14th 2009 at 1:42PM }

The exact release date for Zipper Interactive's multi-multi-multi-man FPS MAG has been up in the air for a while now -- but a recent announcement on PlayStation.Blog has made the game's launch date decidedly cemented. It's hitting store shelves on January 26, 2010, landing atop an ever-expanding aggregate of first-quarter blockbusters. However, most of its seasonal competitors don't allow for four to the fourth power players to square off in a single battle, so we don't think it'll have any trouble holding its own.

Honestly, we'd hoped it would land a bit closer to the game's initial announced fall launch window -- but hey, at least now Zipper's got a bit of extra time to nail down an actual title for the game.