General Discussion

When MMORPG.com writer Carolyn Koh attended this year's E3, one of the "must-see" games had to be The Agency from Sony Online Entertanment. A first in the genre, The Agency will put players into the world of super spies and mercenaries. Today, Carolyn files this report.

"It's a spy adventure. You go into it for the action, the lust, the adventure, the intrigue, the romance! Think of James Bond. Espionage. The Bourne Identity," enthused Corey Dangel, Art Director for The Agency. The Agency by Sony Online Entertainment was announced just weeks earlier at their Gamer Day. Set in the modern age, it will be their AAA spy thriller MMOG. Players can approach the world of espionage in two different ways. Join U.N.I.T.E or ParaGON. I asked Corey what the attractions of each faction were.

"Well," he answered, "U.N.I.T.E. is the 'official' agency. They project a suave, sophisticated image. Think of the James Bond type. ParaGON, on the other hand, will evoke images of the freelance bounty hunter types." He continued telling me of the variances in gameplay between the two. The U.N.I.T.E. agent might use sophisticated methods of getting through to an old booby-trapped warehouse to gain an objective, such as obtaining the codes to the security system or disarming it somehow, sleeping the guards with gas; while the ParaGON agent might just storm the gates with a truck and bazooka, tossing a few grenades along the way. Hmm... somewhat like Bruce Wayne in comparison to Frank Castle? I asked this question, comparing two famous comic book vigilantes. Corey admitted to not being familiar with Frank Castle (The Punisher), but told me that they were working on the creating the two agencies' recruitment videos which would be part of the game and show what the two groups are about.

Read the whole report here.

Sounds cool. Will have to wait to hear more and see where it goes. Sounds like it could be fun but have to see something that makes me think it is not going to be something like Planetside.

Yes I played SWG, yes I was burned but not as much as SOE themselves. Love the idea of this game and will be following closely, I think its a great, 'original' platform to bring to an mmo and one that I persoannly think will lend itself very well if done right.

I must admit, at this stage I dont have much faith, but I have much hope.

It's built for the PS3 so wonder how it'll turn out.

Originally posted by moostown

It's built for the PS3 so wonder how it'll turn out.

So it wont be for PC? This sounds great but, as usual with most MMOs, I hope the hype does not set up a false hope in players.

This is weird...

I look at this game...and I feel exhausted.  I guess I am getting old.  Or delusionned toward SoE.

I guess I will try to understand and figure this game later, now is just not a good moment I guess.

Originally posted by Dedthom

Originally posted by moostown

It's built for the PS3 so wonder how it'll turn out.

So it wont be for PC? This sounds great but, as usual with most MMOs, I hope the hype does not set up a false hope in players.

It will be built for both platforms.

Originally posted by Sylvene

 

Originally posted by Dedthom

Originally posted by moostown

It's built for the PS3 so wonder how it'll turn out.

So it wont be for PC? This sounds great but, as usual with most MMOs, I hope the hype does not set up a false hope in players.

 

It will be built for both platforms.

So it will essentially be a PS3 port like the game Final Fantasy was a PS2 port  Wonderfull.

This game has my attention.  I hope it can keep it.

I think this game will be a Very tough sell, unless they can come up with some major hook.  Just saying it's an espionage game "like James Bond" is way too vague to be compelling.  Also comparing it to movies is hazardous since the feeling of Suspense and Drama created by a film doesn't translate very well to an open ended mmog, unless maybe it's heavily instanced.  I dunno maybe they'll pull it off but at first glance it just feels like 'flop in the making'