MMORPG.com: Players have a choice of three empires in PlanetSide 2 can you tell us what sets the New Conglomerate apart from the other empires?
Matt Higby: The New Conglomerate is the rebel empire on Auraxis. They are heroic freedom fighters to some, dangerous terrorists to others.
MMORPG.com: What are the goals of the faction, how do they go about achieving them?
Matt Higby: Freedom on Auraxis is the end goal of the N.C. They view the Terran Republic as a totalitarian military regime and the Vanu Sovereignty as a cult corrupted by alien influences. The N.C. will use any means necessary to liberate all the people of Auraxis from the oppression borne upon them by the T.R. and V.S.
MMORPG.com: Tell us about their weapons, what type of technology does the New Conglomerate have?
Matt Higby: As an insurgent fighting force, the N.C. make do with whatever armaments they can get their hands on, from repurposed mining equipment to “liberated” experimental prototypes. The N.C. weapons and vehicles are built around a hard hitting, long lasting philosophy. They’re not the most maneuverable or elegant, but they definitely pack a punch.
MMORPG.com: How can players access the vehicles? What types of weapons are on the vehicles?
Matt Higby: All vehicles in PlanetSide 2 are accessed via vehicle terminals and nano-constructed almost instantly, players can immediately acquire any of their empire’s vehicles as long as they have the resources available to construct it. The N.C. has access to a huge range of weaponry to their vehicles, ranging from magnetically propelled gauss cannons to more standard guided and unguided rockets, machine guns and anti-air cannons.
MMORPG.com: Can you give us a background on the New Conglomerate’s story and philosophy?
Matt Higby: The New Conglomerate was initially formed on Earth, as a mega-collective of civilian corporations who worked alongside the Terran Republic government on virtually every project throughout the solar system. After arriving on Auraxis, the New Conglomerate continued to work along with the Terran Republic on shaping and building up the new world. Over decades, tensions on Auraxis increased, with the civilian population growing more and more uneasy with the Terran Republic’s Marshall law and absolute military rule. After the military takeover of several “essential” corporate assets, and with continued crackdowns on civilian descent, the remaining corporations of the N.C. began rallying rebel groups on the fringe of the civilian population and began organizing a campaign of insurgency.
MMORPG.com: What type of player would choose the New Conglomerate over the other two empires?
Those who are interested in weapons that hit hard, tanks that can take a beating but dish out a bigger one and aircraft that can hang in battles longer than anyone else will feel really happy with the N.C.
MMORPG.com: Tell us about your favorite parts of the New Conglomerate faction.
Matt Higby: I love the feeling of N.C. weapons! They require precision and skill to get the most out of them, but if you’re a great shot and good twitch FPS player there’s not much more fun than assaulting a facility with a fully customized Gauss Rifle in your hands!