MAG

Overview

MAG will feature up to 256 people playing simultaneously, spread up amongst each side in 8-player squads. It will have the tactical feel of a squad-based shooter combined with the epic scale of a massively-multiplayer environment. Player's characters will level up on a complex character advancement tree, and the game's online presence will drive an ongoing factional campaign where players battle for territory.  MAG manages large scale battles by using a chain of command system, where some players control the actions of other players, and are controlled by another group of players, leading up the the highest ranked player, who can call in all manners of support (such as air strikes and troop drops).  Players in squads (called grunts, who have control over no one) can either join up with their friends to form a squad or be put into one.

The Ranking system has been articulated so far as consisting of low level soldiers, when the player achieves veteran status they will be able to enter the leadership tree starting out as a squad leader. Squad leaders are charged with commanding 7 other individuals an are able to plot waypoints and call in UAVs.  When the player has proven themselves as a competent squad leader they are promoted to platoon leaders, players of this rank can issue commands to the 4 squads in their platoon.  From platoon leader they then become Officer in Charge (OIC) capable of issuing commands to all 4 platoons also able to make mission dependent commands like air bombardments and precision strikes.  Commands are able to be communicated through a separate private channel linked to other officers.

Each squad, platoon, and company have high-level objective to be achieved by them in battle, these being scripted by Zipper.  During combat there are also secondary objectives that need to be achieved that can be issued by commanding officers.

Players will be allowed a great amount of customization of their character, able to mold their soldier's voice, face, and armor.  Their is no class structure in MAG rather a kit creation system, a player is allowed to carry a primary weapon, sidearm, melee weapon, and three gear packs.  Gear packs that have been noted so far include smoke grenades, frag grenades , rocket launchers, and med packs.  The player can create and save three loadouts that they will be able to switch between when they spawn.  This system will allow players to change their tactics to a changing battlefield.  Players gain more weapons, perks, and leadership points by gaining experience, which has been modified slightly.  An issue that Zipper has realized is that a player using certain loadouts, such as a sniper like loadout, can only hope to just kill a ton of people to gain experience where as assault type loaded players can destroy objective and such to gain their experience.  To counteract this imbalanced system they will give more experience, to sniper players in this case, when they kill enemies within the vicinity of objective allowing fellow squads a better chance at destroying the objective they all share.

Story

Gameplay

Factions

Upon starting the game, the player will be prompted to align themselves with a single faction, but will be given the option to change at a later date.  The three factions will not only vary in name, but also in user interface, music, home base, and the weapons available.  For instance, the Raven use high-tech futuristic weapons, wear black, and will appeal to fans of sci-fi shooters like Halo and Resistance.  The Valor troops are similar to the US Delta Forces, utilizing more traditional military equipment and camo outfits, with their base being located in Alaska.  The Sver have a less-sophisticated arsenal, wear brown and gray, but the soldiers themselves are battle-hardened and adaptable. 

Game types

There will be 4 game types in MAG: Domination, Acquisition, Sabotage, and Suppression.  Domination will be the main mode, supporting 256 players.  The attacking team (decided by which team has less prestige in the area) will have it's squads start scattered around the map's perimeter to the North, South, East, and West.  Each squad will have specific objectives to complete that ultimately add up to victory.  The defending team's squads will be in charge of defending specific areas of the base in the middle of the map.

Acquisition is a 128-player mode reminiscent of capture the flag, with the attacking team charged with stealing two "prototype armored transports" and taking them to extraction points before time runs out.

Sabotage is a 64-player mode where attackers must infiltrate enemy facilities and hold two control points simultaneously, then destroy a demolition objective.

Suppression is a 64-player team deathmatch mode of pure infantry battle.  This game type is considered a "faction exercise", and does not contribute to the overall standings of the three factions.

Clans

Much like the SOCOM series from Zipper, avid game players have started to create Clans. Clans are essentially "Groups" of game fans and players that organize scheduled game play times that they will login in to the PlayStation Network and play as a team.