PVP:Yes | Distribution:Retail | Retail Price:n/a | Pay Type:Subscription
Desktop Client | System Req:
The Agency: E3 2009 Preview
SOE showed off the project out of SOE Seattle. Ever wanted to be James Bond, Austin Powers? The Agency is a super spy shooter MMO.
For the last several years, SOE has shown their super-spy MMO The Agency. At E3 2009, it was the first time that the game looked like the end (launch) may be in sight. Of course, SOE had no comment on Beta or launch dates, but it looked like a game that has come a long way.
Visually, The Agency was by far the best looking MMO that people could actually play at E3. The few areas they showed had their own unique styles that felt alive, and the characters moved beautifully.
The Agency is a 3rd person MMO shooter, set in an exaggerated – but not totally comic – spy universe. Think more James Bond than Jason Bourne or Austin Powers. Players can play as either ParaGON, a brute force, over the top Rambo-style group; or as U.N.I.T.E., a subtler, fancier brand of super spy.
;)
“It’s still a shooter at its heart,” said Designer Kevin O’Hara. The action takes place in a 3rd person view that should be familiar to MMO gamers.
Like a lot of upcoming games at E3, though, the game combines shooter mechanics with a persistent world, common adventure areas and character advancement.
As players advance, they gain more options and skills to take into combat. “It’s not like a level 20 and a level one cannot play together,” explained O’Hara. Instead, these skills are, for example required to counter things that higher level enemies will toss at them.
The world consists of stylized versions of several major cities, for example Kiev and Prague in Europe. These are the common areas where agents can adventure, and take part in missions in a true MMO-style world.
A lot of the content, though, takes place in instanced areas off the map. From a fictional standpoint, this means that the spy leaves Prague and jumps into the mansion of some terrible tyrant somewhere.
;)
One new system they showed off at E3 is the Camera System. Every spy movie has that point where the hero has to gather some evidence. In The Agency, this is replicated. Characters will need to hunt down clues in the world. During the demo, Cassie – the iconic female U.N.I.T.E. spy – wandered around a high class party, covertly snapping photographs of key people and locations within the party.
She was, of course, undercover. This plays into their “you are what you wear” system. It’s a phrase they say often, but it is truly new to MMOs. In each situation, the traditional role or “class” of a character is determined by the equipment they bring. Dressed in a party dress, Cassie was clearly undercover. Equip her with a machine gun and a more athletic outfit, and she’s ready to run into action.
;)
And how does she get that outfit or that new gun? Every spy needs support. Players collect cards throughout the game. These “living loot” are the specialist that can help them out. They range from “Q” like characters who can build new cars (in real time, whether the player is logged on or off) to agents that provide key intelligence on missions.
At E3, the game was on display for the Playstation 3. They have not yet confirmed their plans, but while they plan to simultaneously release on both the PC and PS3, odds are that given the nature of the game, the two systems will not play on the same servers.
There is not yet a release date, Beta date or business model available for this game.
Looks interesting.
I wonder, will it be a spam your fire key kind of game or whether there is any actually skill involved.
I was mildly looking for this game ,to see its finished product.I have quite a bit of confidence in SOE to deliver quality and content,however this game sort of sounds like a very linear single player game.I don't really undersatand the card part,but it sure seems like they are pushing this card idea lately,i hope it is not just a money making scheme.IDK maybe this has to do with the guy they hired from the Sigil/VG game?he made that card idea for VG and it was good,but even he admitted to maybe not having anymore new ideas.IDK it is just a hunch,maybe he does not even work there anymore IDK.
I would have hoped for a little more versatility in the game than just two choices of character.It really really sounds like a single player game to me,too bad it won't survive if that is the case.
It is weird or maybe it shows the talent SOE has,but even if their game is not so great,they have the ability to make their games interesting enough to play.I am not so big on the spy theme nor on the 3rd person view but who knows ,maybe i will login to their game and find it fun.
A few points for those who don't follow the game closely.
Release date is for 2010 (was announced at the same time as for DC Universe) and was always planned after the results of the big experiment that was Free Realms (for its business model to be used in The Agency in a similar way)... and we all know how succesful this one looks hehe. :D
There are three main combat styles and six specialties (two for each), but don't see them as classes, you would miss the point. It is a "you are what you wear" outfit system... improving your skills, ranks and "goodies" npcs while you use them (no grind necessary, since no hard levels) :
As for the linearity of the game, it is story-driven and open-ended - you start your "spy career" in one of the two big names agencies : ParaGON (duct tape and big guns cliche) or UNITE (martini shaker and tuxedo).
Then you'll evolve in a persistent world (live story team, updates every two weeks, on top of world-changing actions players do) where mission opportunities come and go : some are the bread&butter style everyone will have, some depends on the operatives you favored, other are unlocked by the ranks you reached in your specialties, etc... even from mini-games you'll play around in the world.
Finally, you'll be able to create you own joint agency, recruit fellow players, put your operatives (workforce) on bigger (team) projects and really have a pushing action on the world.
PvP may be consensual, but there will be a lot of competitive missions out there and the usual arenas and modes, plus some more specific to this very game.
Voila, if you want to know even more, you can check the facebook page of the game. Good day and read to you. :)
Anyone getting overly excited about this should bear in mind that it's being simultaneously developed for the PS3. I have yet to have a good PC experience with any co-console developed game much less a MMO. Too many sacrifices are invariably made to accommodate the console limitations. FFXI being a good example. The interface is absolutely hideous trying to play it on a PC.
I am getting more concerned about this game as they release more and more material.