It’s been a while since we heard news of the MMO’s heading to the PlayStation 3 but luckily Videogamer.com held an interview with SOE designer, Kevin O’Hara.
He explains why technically it is possible to enable cross-platform play but design concerns are proving a stumbling block.
We have not decided if you can play between the two. They are cross-platform. We’re able to do it – it’s more of a design concern. We’re doing a lot of focus testing and we’re finding that people just, ‘oh they’ve got a controller, it’s not fair! Well they’ve got a mouse it’s not fair!
On a release date O’Hare didn’t dare to name a month nor period but he was willing to let loose that we wouldn’t be expecting it in 2009.
The Agency is in development by Sony Online Entertainment and they have revealed some details about the game via a press release. The game is scheduled to be released in 2010.
The Agency is a fast-paced, action shooter set in an online persistent world—a modern setting of bullets, bomb blasts, and betrayal. Live the life of an elite agent in a world of superspies and rugged mercenaries, who use both high technology and low tactics to accomplish their missions and goals. Featuring cooperative and competitive play, The Agency is designed to provide instant action and long-term strategy for all fans of espionage, intrigue, and explosive gameplay on the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) and PC.
• Live the Life of an Elite Agent: The Agency requires spy world skills in combat, stealth, and style. Players jet around the globe to exotic locales picking up intel, forming networks and taking out criminal masterminds for a multitude of unique missions with numerous goals. With gameplay ranging from sneaky infiltration to all out firefight assaults, there’s something for every aspiring agent.
• Fun Now, No Waiting: The Agency blends the action of shooter gameplay with the persistence of an online virtual world. At any point, PS3 or PC players can jump right in and frag opponents in head-to-head combat or advance the ranks in a rich story packed with exciting missions.
• Mercenary or Spy – the Choice is Yours: Operate as a slick super spy or a gritty mercenary, administering arms deals, executing assassinations, managing espionage, counter intelligence, and more. Collect the right weaponry, gadgets, gear, attire and aliases to gain access to numerous locales and influence over the people within them.
• Put Operatives to work: Operatives are collectible non-player characters who provide the goods and services players desire, and the in-mission support to keep them alive. Operatives work 24/7 to help players concentrate on the mission at hand. Trade them with friends or sell them to the highest bidder.
• Build Your Own Agency: As players advance through the ranks of their faction, they’ll also begin building their own Agencies. Players increase their power even further by creating Joint Agencies with others.
January 9
SOE counting on PS3
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Part of of a interview with Gamedaily, John Smedley, President of Sony Entertainment Online told them that they are counting on the PlayStation 3 to bring in half of SOE’s future business.
SOE is known for games like Star Wars Galaxies, EverQuest, The Matrix Online and Vanguard Saga of Heroes to name a few.
And with upcoming titles like Free Realms, DC Universe Online and The Agency, Mr. Smedley is looking forward to the audience on the PlayStation Network.
I think PS3 will be close to half our business. There’s an audience now waiting for online games on the PS3. I believe PSN has over 15 million users today. It’s growing so quickly, we see a great user base potential there
He’s sure that MMO’s will bring a lot of new players to that genre. Mostly people that have played on consoles for years instead of the PC with games like Resistance, Metal Gear Solid and Killzone to name a few.
I think we can bring this kind of gaming to this audience and I think it’s going to be huge
November 29
No monthly fee but in-game ads for AgencySOE let slip in an interview that gamers of the upcoming game The Agency can expect micro-transactions and in-game ads instead of monthly payment schemes. Though not 100% certain that it will swing this way, it looks that this is the best option for SOE to enter the market in the current state.
We’re acutely aware that shooter players are not used to playing monthly fees, so I doubt we’ll go for an outright $15 a month, which works on some of our other projects.”
“So we’re checking out Free Realms to see how they’re going to do with their micro-transactions, and we might incorporate some of that. We’ll definitely have some ad revenue models. The Agency’s the perfect place for some in-game product placement
August 17
The Agency will not be cross platformFor those wondering if you’ll be playing PC gamers via the PS3 in The Agency will be left slightly dissapointed. According to Hal Milton, the lead designer, at Sony Online Entertainments annual Fan Faire in Las Vegas said:
“There’s no technological reason why you can’t play cross-platform, but there’s a philosophical reason why design doesn’t want to do it. If we have to compromise one platform to support both, then we won’t.”
“A couple of members of our team gained a lot of experience working on Shadowrun, and no matter how well you fine-tune it, you end up with a player-base that’s polarised,”
Design Director, Matt Wilson suggested that with a single account, you’ll be able to create characters on both PS3 and PC versions of the game. You will not be able to pick up on the PS3 where you left off on the PC version or vice versa.
May 30
4 new The Agency screenshotsSpy-themed massively multiplayer online shooter The Agency is being developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment studios. We think that The Agency will probably be released early 2009 to mid 2009.
Check out these 4 new screenshots of The Agency.
