MAG: Shadow War - 256 players! (PS3)

[Matt]

We've all heard about it at E3. This is apparently a real game screenshot.

That is seriously in game? Wow (but how about a bigger version?)
Rade Stojsavljevic replied on July 22, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Yes, that?s an actual screenshot running on a PS3. The image was cropped to center on the action.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/07/22/first-look-at-mag/

Looks a lot more impressive than I'd have thought possible with this gen of consoles, given the game has 256 players.

Out 2009.

[EvilBoris]

I'll be interested to see how they work it all out, what is in place to stop all 256 players running around doing what they want, that kinda stuff.

[stormbreak]

Imagine the framerate if all 256 players were in the same area :| I'm a bit skeptical they will be able to make this game run well, as well as having the gameplay fun and balanced. If it turns out decently, then it'll be great, there will be a nice war scale atmosphere, but there is a huge risk that the game could bomb...

I'll hope for the former, SOCOM was great so I have high hopes with the developers.

[Number45]

I'll be interested to see how they work it all out, what is in place to stop all 256 players running around doing what they want, that kinda stuff.

I know it's not the intention of the game, but I'll buy it just to see what 256 in one place murderizin' each other looks like. It'll be utter carnage.

I quite like the 1Up Yours description of this, it was something along the lines of "For those people that don't think Resistance 2 supports enough players already".

Intrigued by this though. As mentioned, Zipper have a reasonable pedigree on the PS platforms and a really enthusiastic and sizeable fanbase. Really hoping that the name is changed (Or that they find a way to use the name without the crap acronym tied to it) before release.

[Kit]

256? Pff? I?ll believe it when I see it.

The most I?ve ever seen (running smoothly) is a 60 man CS server. Not sure what kind of numbers you see in MMO?s like World of Warcraft but I imagine it?s not even close to 256.

[charlesr]

You won't see them all in the same place. There will be zones. I predict. I read about the tech somewhere a while back.

[Number45]

Could everyone not just get together in the same place though just to see, or are there physical boundaries within the maps?

256? Pff? I?ll believe it when I see it.

The most I?ve ever seen (running smoothly) is a 60 man CS server. Not sure what kind of numbers you see in MMO?s like World of Warcraft but I imagine it?s not even close to 256.

There are thousands online in an MMO at any one time, but the infrastructure is obviously built around that and, unlike a shooter, resulting lag/latency can usually be easily dealt with.

[wicky]

256? Pff? I?ll believe it when I see it.

The most I?ve ever seen (running smoothly) is a 60 man CS server. Not sure what kind of numbers you see in MMO?s like World of Warcraft but I imagine it?s not even close to 256.

There is a pc game called planetside that is a MMOFPS in a single planet you can have up to 399 players fighting in a single fight and more players fighting on different planets. I play regularly and generally get a constant 60fps.

The game is 5 years old now too.

[MattyD]

You won't see them all in the same place. There will be zones. I predict. I read about the tech somewhere a while back.

This. There's bound to be some sort of contrivance in place to stop people breaking the internets. Probably something like in Battlefield: Bad Company solo mode, where you get conveniently blown up by artillery or mines etc if you stray too far from the mission area.

[PeteJ]

I believe you play MAG in 8 player squads, so I imagine that gets around the 256 players in one area problem.

[EvilBoris]

But are you going to be constrained to within a certain distance of your squad leader and with a certain distance from other squads/enemies.
It sounds like it would need witchcraft to run

[JP]

They've not really mentioned anything yet but I was thinking that it would possibly follow the Quake Wars way of handling this in that each team would need to be in a certain area to get a job done.

You could just go wherever you wanted but if you're not fulfilling your objectives then you're just not going to win.

[Mr M0by]

Oh come on we all know that the 256 refers to the number of people that will be able to be logged on at one time.

Seriously though, I'm intrigued by this. The socom series is easily one of my most played of all time (up there with ChampMan/FM & Civ) having been a part of the Sony beta's, managed a clan and been an admin for one of the leagues. I'll be getting it. Not convinced that it will be out in Spring 2009 though..... sure i read that somewhere recently.

[Number45]

You could just go wherever you wanted but if you're not fulfilling your objectives then you're just not going to win.

I don't want to win. I want 256 players in a small space trying to kill one another.

[JP]

I'm hoping that there will still be the option for an all in bloodbath as one of the game modes. 256 players, 256 teams!!!