MAG just got a whole lot better

Over on the Official MAG Blog and the PlayStation Blog, Jeremy Dunham of Zipper Interactive has just posted the latest news on a huge update for MAG. The update will be released in early August and will contain the following fixes and improvements:

• A new “Happy Hour” Double XP bonus that’s applied to the first hour of any player’s gameplay session in a 24-hour period.

• Suppression will join Sabotage as a “Faction Neutral” gameplay mode, allowing any PMC to battle each other on any Suppression map.

• Faster download and patching code that allows us to update MAG with more content and bigger file sizes in a speedier way

• Redesigned versions of the Flores Basin (Raven) and Alyeska Terminus (Valor) Domination maps that include new obstacles and repaired exploits.

• New lighting effects for more attractive and realistic environments.

• Various fixes to address bugs or glitches to improve MAG’s overall performance.

From what MAG started out to be is now being perfected than ever before. MAG was released on January 26, 2010 and is rated “T” For Teen. Having somewhat mixed yet, generally positive reviews, MAG is the only console game to date that can have 256 players in one match and perform smoothly. If you haven’t tried out MAG yet then what are you waiting for!

The patch drops just like these guys.

Zipper has heard your cries and have released a patch note for the upcoming patch for MAG. while the game is still unbalanced this patch should have everything straight until another patch releases later on. Here is what patch (1.03) will contain as it drops tomorrow:

Patch v1.03

Available February 25, 2010 | 41MB (TPPS), 49MB (DLS)

Gameplay

• Overhauled tuning of multiple weapons of all types (see “Weapon” section below)
• Improved speed of weapon and gear swapping by approximately 500 milliseconds.
• Fixed bug in SVER’s Aralkum Mechanical Acquisition map and Absheron Refinery Domination map that allowed players to defuse a charge planted on a repaired gate or door.
• Added a “solid tone” sound effect near the end of a charge’s beeping detonation timer so that players know when the charge can no longer be defused and that they should vacate the area.
• “Medium Improved” Armor now works as intended with the speed properties of Medium Armor and a defensive value greater than Medium, but less than Heavy Armor.
• Changed resuscitated player’s camera orientation to match the last camera direction used while incapacitated instead of the pre-harm camera.
• Players no longer lose XP if a teammate is killed by an objective explosion caused by a charge they planted.
• Respec Point requirements in Barracks have been changed from 3K, 5K, 10K, 17K, 26K, and 26K-Repeat to 1K, 2K, 3K, and 3K-Repeat.
• Lowered the amount of damage necessary to kill an incapacitated enemy
• All fired projectiles (RPGs, Turret Rockets) have been given a steadier aim.
• Mines that haven’t been triggered are no longer removed from the map when the dead player that deploys them respawns unless that player changes their Loadout (note: The maximum number of mines you can plant cannot exceed the number you initially spawn with).
• Players no longer lose leadership points after entering “Veteran Mode”.

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The Shadow War has just begun. Which side will you choose?

MAG is finally out on PlayStation 3 but, does this 256 Multiplayer only game have enough for you to keep coming back?

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No Install! OH JOY!

As I decided to leave a comment on the Official PlayStation Blog wondering will any MAG gamers have to face the harsh installs that we’ve been dealing with from the beginning of every beta and Jeremy Dunham replied with a simple phrase:

“Ye olde disc.”

Nice to see that there won’t be another install to face when the game releases later this month.

"Incoming Trophies!!"

The moment that some people have been waiting for, the trophies for MAG. Now this will not be an easy Platinum since this is all Online only. So the moment is here, take a look at the Triphies to MAG thanks to the PlayStation Blog:

Bronze

• Angel of Mercy – 25 enemies killed in their in incapacitated state over a career
• Boom Town – Earn the Mortar Demolition, Total Blackout and AAA Demolition Ribbons
• Close Call — Earn three Bomb Squad Ribbons
• Clown Car – Awarded when a player destroys an APC or a Bunker, killing two players
• Commandon’t – Awarded when a player kills 50 of a certain specialty: Commando
• Coughing Killer – Killed an enemy while affect by poison gas grenades
• Dropping Like Flies – Destroy five enemy helicopters
• Duteous Maximus – Be on the winning faction for 10 Directive matches
• Efficiency Engineer – Earn three Bunker Buster Ribbons
• I Drink Your Milkshake – Awarded when a player kills 50 of a certain specialty: Field Support
• I Got 5 On It – Kill 5 enemies with a single Strategic Strike, excluding Poison Gas Barrage
• In Your Face – Earn five Combat Melee Ribbons
• Jack of One Trade – Awarded when a player reaches the bottom tier of a skill tree
• Junkyard Jockey – Earn three Mr. Badwrench Ribbons
• Lil Buddy – Earn two Purple Sidekick Ribbons
• Mia Culpa – Kill 50 enemies in a turret over a career
• Out of Scope – Awarded when a player kills 50 of a certain specialty: Sniper
• Screeching Halt – Awarded when a player kills 50 of a certain specialty: Rapid Assault
• Target Practice – Awarded when a player shoots down 25 paratroopers over a career
• The Harder They Fall – Awarded when a player kills 50 of a certain specialty: Direct Action

Silver

• A Whole Lotta Hurt – Earn five Combat Machine Gun Ribbons and five Combat Fragger Ribbons
• Baby Need a Bandage? – Earn 5 Silver Cross Ribbons and 5 Golden Cross Ribbons
• Chest Candy – Awarded when a player has earned one of every ribbon
• Devil Dog – Earn 5 Combat Assault Ribbons and 5 Combat Sidearm Ribbons
• Double Trouble – Earn the Golden Cross Medal and the Grim Reaper Medal
• Hammer of the Gods – Called in 50 cluster bombs or mortar barrages
• Headhunter – Earn 5 Silver Bullet Ribbons, the Longshot Ribbon and the Sniper Master Specialist Medal
• Precious Cargo – Destroy 20 Escort Vehicles over a career
• Silent But Deadly – Awarded when a player kills 25 enemies with Poison Gas over a career
• Steamroller – Have a 3-to-1 Kill-to-Death Ratio in any match
• Take Me to Your Leader – Earn 1 win as a squad leader
• The Streaker – Earn the Streaker Medal
• Triple Threat – Earn 5 Silver Cross Ribbons, 5 Master Engineer Ribbons and the Grim Reaper Medal

Gold

• Commandant in Chief – Awarded when a player reaches level 60 with a Raven character
• Eager Beaver – Awarded when a player has earned one of each medal
• Prima Noyan – Awarded when a player reaches level 60 with a S.V.E.R. character
• Sergeant Major – Awarded when a player reaches level 60 with a Valor character

Platinum

Massive Action Gamer – Won All Trophies

Not only has Zipper Interactive’s upcoming 256-player war epic, MAG, turned to gold status… tomorrow is when all North American players can begin readying up for the upcoming worldwide MAG Beta 5. In its fifth consecutive beta release, and final, the file that you’ll be able to download on the store tomorrow will permit access for anyone with a PlayStation 3 and an Internet connection for the ability to join the public beta for MAG starting on January 4th, 2010. MAG Beta 5 will run for about a week, ending its run on January 10th.

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Sony reveals the boxart to the biggest multiplayer game to come on PS3

Take a look at the stats of the MAG Beta as well as the official boxart of MAG courtesy of the PlayStation Blog.

More than 42,000 matches were played over the course of the full public beta (August 17 – December 5).

During October’s beta period alone nearly 534,000+ miles were traveled in-game by MAG players each week.

During the final month of the Beta 4 and 4.5 periods (November 9 – December 5):

• Of the more than 65,000 players that logged on, 17,000 of them qualified for Squad Leader, 3500 people qualified for Platoon Leader, 1100 folks made it all the way to OIC, and 206 dedicated warriors made it all the way to the level 60 experience cap.
• Nearly 18 million kills were made and an excess of 700,000 million shots were fired.

The Top 3 most played maps all belonged to the Sabotage mode. They were, in order, Syr Darya Uplink, Darien Network, and Copper Hills Relay.

I see you!

For those that are in Qore and for some who are lucky enough to have another code, the Mag Public Beta is now up and running. All you need to do it enter your code, download the beta and game updates and you’ll be in the 256 player war that you wanted to try out. See you on the Battlefield Solider!

You do want the beta yes?

Posted on the PlayStation Blog, you should pre-order at certain retailers such as Game Crazy, GameStop, and Amazon for MAG.  Why?, well if you pre-order at these select retailers you be able to get exclusive in-game characters to use on the battlefield except for the Amazon one which unlocks a S.V.E.R Personal Home Space for you to roam around in. Alright freebies are nice but what’s better to do then waiting for those freebies? Playing in the Public Beta, thats right if you pre-order the game at GameStop, you’ll be able to participate in the MAG Public Beta in November. For more details, head over to those sites and choose your side wisely.

Check your emails! sony has just sent these out.

You all remember our post about pending MAG Beta invites right?, well now they are going out to those that got accepted. Above, you see what the email states and of course at the bottom of the email is your code to play this chaotic, yet strategic game. Hope you guys got accepted, we want to get some hands on time while kicking some ass.