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MAG golden, open beta due Jan. 4

Sony and Zipper Interactive's online-only 256-player military shooter enters mass production in advance of January 26 release on PS3.

Originally slated for a late 2009 release, Zipper Interactive's online military shooter MAG has been locked and loaded for a January 26 deployment on the PlayStation 3 since August. Today, Sony Computer Entertainment confirmed that MAG will only see the one release-date misfire, as the North American and Asian editions of the game have gone gold. Sony expects the European edition to pass certification in the next couple of weeks, though no release date was offered for the region.

Massive Action Game isn't an overstatement.

Massive Action Game isn't an overstatement.

Along with announcing that the game has been shipped to manufacturers for mass production, Sony also said that MAG's open beta test will commence on January 4. The open beta will be available in all regions and ends on January 10 at 11:59 p.m. PST. North American gamers can begin downloading the open beta client on December 22, though Sony reiterated that gamers won't be able to actually enter the game until the first week of 2010.

Developed by former SOCOM specialty studio Zipper Interactive, MAG is an ambitious online military shooter that will feature 256 players in a single game. Each player will assume a different rank on each side, viewing the battlefield according to his or her station. Commanders will see the action from a top-down view from which they can direct lower-level soldiers, who will see from a first-person point of view on the front lines.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of MAG.

198 Comments

  • meltedwater

    Posted Jan 9, 2010 1:17 pm GMT

    Ive been playing it since Monday, and everyday since. I think its better than most online shooters because you have no shortage of people to shoot at, or shooting at you. I like sabatoge the best. Did not like the 128 vs 128, way to many people at once for me. But there was no lag in the few sessions of those matches I played. Lag on the sabotage was very little, and wasnt bad. All that happened to me was cut a corner to close to a house, and all of a sudden you were back at the opposite end of the house as if you havent made it to the corner yet. They just closed the servers down for maintnance. Why do that now, it ends tomorrow, right? Overall, I liked it, and will play the full version when it releases.

  • Jedi_Dad

    Posted Jan 5, 2010 7:01 pm GMT

    @StJimmy15
    No. I was not talking about confrontation (which was not zipper, but its lag was bad also). All I am saying is that ALL online multiplayer games are only as fun as the lag will let them be. And to my knowledge, zippers track record with lag is not that impressive. I will not pass judgment on this game until I play it or read the reviews. If anything, I will rent before I buy just to be safe.

  • Racer850

    Posted Jan 5, 2010 8:40 am GMT

    MAG is my guilty pleasure of 2010. Love the combat, and zero lag

  • El_NuKE

    Posted Jan 5, 2010 6:53 am GMT

    Finally Maps you can actually BREATHE and HIDE with a SNIPER!!!!!! COD get ready MAG's a Keeper!! The fact that i was in a match with more than 30 and no lag! AMAZING!!

  • Dill_the_gunner

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 1:16 pm GMT

    It is good. The servers are down sooo that really stinks.

  • NECROMONGER223

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 11:59 am GMT

    well i guess the beta servers got messed the fudge up because i cant play no more

  • maxcomfort

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 10:40 am GMT

    Just finished playing a few rounds of the MAG beta and I'm thinking we've got a winner. In fact I dare say that, from the looks of it, it's going to give COD a run for it's money. I only played for an hour or so but in that time and considering that it's in beta, the game seemed quite fluid and comprehensive. I'm very excited and can't wait for Zipper to move through this phase and onto its retail release of the game. SKIP AHEAD ONE HOUR
    I took a breakfast break and returned to the game just now and, for the life of me, cannot get reassigned. It's seems either the servers are down, overloaded or some othe such situation that is preventing me from playing. I'm seriously bummed but I'll continue trying. I guess this type of thing is typical of a beta release. In fact I'm guessing this type of thing is actually the reason for beta and so it's all good. I'll just flip back over to playing UNCHARTED II while I wait for the MAG game to loosen up a bit.

  • _AxisofEvil_

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 5:25 am GMT

    beta is on the PSN. just view all games and go to MAG public beta

  • _AxisofEvil_

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 5:23 am GMT

    still waiting here.....i got like 6 people waiting with me as well

  • supertaperking

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 5:15 am GMT

    it's 8:15 and servers in eastern time zone not up yet!!!!!!!!

  • awesomearsalan

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 5:07 am GMT

    It should open at 1pm which is now but its still closed! 1pm uk time that is and 5am is America time.

  • Chainer323

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 12:47 am GMT

    4hr 15mins till servers open; hope i get off of work before then so i can be home and ready to play

  • ciredrawyah

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 2:00 pm GMT

    raven sucks

  • Danybrown

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 9:28 am GMT

    i dont know why they say their is no release date announced for europe because most video game stores and big names like virgin are taking preorders for a january 26 release(i live in france) and i don't see those stores taking preorders unless they know they are gonna receive those games for the due date

  • donmega1

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 7:04 am GMT

    6.0

  • StJimmy15

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 4:09 pm GMT

    @Jedi_Dad assuming you're talking about the most recent Socom, Zipper was not involved in that. I loved the PS2 Socom as well as Fireteam Bravo 2 on the PSP. I'm hoping this is just as good, provided the gun models don't look like they did when I last checked the game out... (Blocky) Here's to a good launch and lag free servers!

  • acer_062

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 4:17 am GMT

    Go baby go!!!!

  • DiamondBake

    Posted Dec 29, 2009 4:22 pm GMT

    How do i get the beta?

  • imaidiot

    Posted Dec 29, 2009 9:11 am GMT

    I downloaded the beta, waited while it installed, then had to download a patch...then at 2am I realized I can't play it until 1/4...I should have went to bed instead. I hope its better than the bc2 beta. ok, back to gow collection, ac2, and its a me mario.

  • Inconnux

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 8:13 pm GMT

    This is the first game that has me interested in buying a PS3... going to wait to see the reviews first though

  • Jedi_Dad

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 2:28 pm GMT

    I have not been impressed with Zippers last 2 Socom titles when it comes to online play. The lag has been terrible for only 16 and 32 players. The fact that they are moving to 256 does not get me that excited. The fact that it is also coming out on the Jan. 26th, I will be too busy playing Mass Effect 2 that releases the same day to care about this game until the first several patches anyway.

  • SibirskiyTigr

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 4:21 am GMT

    Camping is not hard to beat, have you guys heard of a term "chuck the 'nade?" Haha, thats how I smoke them out

  • WNxUSA

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 3:41 am GMT

    This game is AMAZING.. All the people dogging it are prob people who expected this game to be like that failure other online FPS That sold millions with crappy servers. Hah fail. This game you actually have a tactical side of it and you can't run and gun and expect to win.

    Oh no! A shooter that relies more on Squad based than i can pawn all. People who say its a camp fast obviously doesn't know the meaning to attack and defense. Amazing how a lot of people complain about camping but actually it's a defensive tactic that people fail to realize because their to lazy to think of any way to overcome it.

    In all this is one of the best TACTICAL shooters i've played. When you get a squad or two who actually work together to achieve a common goal.

  • robw_777

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 3:04 am GMT

    Is there going to be a beta in eurpoe?

  • mazza9

    Posted Dec 27, 2009 10:04 pm GMT

    comes out the day before my birthday looks sick go raven and they should have a patch for single player heard it the bomb

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Dec 27, 2009 10:26 am GMT

    is this just the usa, cus i still cant find it.even when i use the search box

  • sanoxsuke

    Posted Dec 26, 2009 4:05 pm GMT

    I really love playing the BETA but the 256 player match (domination) feels more like a 64 only player map, cause it "split" in 4 main section. BTW if u want in on the beta Listen to nazt99 and type MAG in the search and scroll down to find it. CREDIT on finding it goes 2 him.

  • dsbvusdbo

    Posted Dec 25, 2009 4:44 am GMT

    Hey wow! Thanks @nazt99! I was hearing a lot of complaints on how it wasn't on the playstation store and was worried. Thanks again!

  • OSUCherokee

    Posted Dec 24, 2009 10:45 pm GMT

    I'm definitely getting this game. My only hope is that they fixed the spawn issues with SEVR that gave them such a huge advantage. I played all three factions and SEVR was by far the easiest. Pretty much unfair. It was really my only complaint with the game.

  • Kelnaga231

    Posted Dec 24, 2009 10:02 am GMT

    this game should be good cant wait.

  • nazt99

    Posted Dec 24, 2009 7:47 am GMT

    For all those that can not find it on the Playstation store. Go to the Playstation store and then go to the top right and find the search icon, highlight and select it. Type in MAG and then click search. Then scroll down until you find MAG public beta.

  • BeaT_WavE

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 9:37 pm GMT

    @ IKIRYIPT,
    from your profile picture I can just see that you're a X360 fanboy...

  • joejoedodwell

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 9:03 pm GMT

    how can i obtain a key for the download?

  • narcrodi1

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 11:43 am GMT

    Nice game =D

  • BigBoi17

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 11:41 am GMT

    Why people think it's going to be 256 players just running around shooting? You'll have objectives that will encourage you to play as a GROUP. If you run around trying to play lone wolf....You will die, very quickly. You get the most points overall by completing objectives, then your WHOLE squad can buy better weapons, vehicles, armor etc. There is a story/plot to this game. Go to Wiki, you have to basically win battles, in order to fund your independent armies and have the biggest advantage on the battlefield. I have to get my internet back on so I can purchase this game when it comes out.

  • BigBoi17

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 11:29 am GMT

    People comparing Mag graphics to Call of Duty graphics HAS to be under 12 years old. Or the most technology-inept adult on the planet...

  • skabobabobaken

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 11:26 am GMT

    How many sales does a game need to be considered gold, is it 500,000 like in music?

  • rann89

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 9:21 am GMT

    You can't compare this game's graphics to Call of Duty. Call of Duty is going to look better because you can cross the entire level in about 20 seconds and there's like 12 people in the game. That's easy to run. Texturing a level that takes minutes to across with 256 people simultaneously running around randomly would take a ridiculous amount of processing power if they did as much detailing as in Call of Duty. You people trying to compare graphics don't understand that there's a balance between how a game looks and how many things are going on in that game. If there was a game with the number of things on in Mag with the texture detail of Call of Duty, the Playstation wouldn't be able to support it. It'd be a PC game.

    Crysis is a perfect example. Awesome graphics with huge levels. There's a reason only a third of gamers can actually play it, and PC gamers at that.

  • richioso

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 8:29 am GMT

    @Tylsamzx

    Why not..... Because you should be earning these by playing the game well, end of.

  • NoSoup4Me

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 7:48 am GMT

    Anyone curious about the technical aspects of it go to the MAG blog . They have a dev explain it all.

    Before you open your mouth , inform yourself.

  • tdawg2594

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 6:36 am GMT

    @ccputgat2m Thats what the beta is for and you can ask anybody that was in the private beta mag does not lag.

  • Timito1911

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 5:33 am GMT

    So the beta will be available for all people in the US ?

  • ccputgat2m posted Dec 23, 2009 4:49 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ccputgat2m

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 4:49 am GMT (hide)

    @coldfire

    if they indeed do have dedicated servers, you can strike the lag comment from my post. but I still see an epic fail. I just dont see how 256 players at once will be fun. no single player either.

    As for mw2, thats all i play on ps3. I went out and bought a ps3 only for that game. 95% of the time it runs without a hiccup. I dont notice any hit detection issues either. except for the last kill. but maybe cuz its in slow motion. we shall see soon enough who is right.

  • FlakeyCrust posted Dec 23, 2009 12:39 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    FlakeyCrust

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 12:39 am GMT (hide)

    Looks good, hope they make better use of the PS3's power than the platform ports like COD, and if I have to press L3 or R3 I'm NOT PLAYING THIS GAME.

  • TevoxZi

    Posted Dec 22, 2009 11:47 pm GMT

    Lol @ people who compare MW2 and this graphicswise.
    Graphics don't make the game any better, sure they make you feel more that you're in the game & makes the game look prettier, but it doesn't make it any better gameplay wise, MPwise this might turn out being better than MW2, because there's a lot of camping in MW2 and the servers are P2P (peer to peer) while this is on dedicated.

    I can't wait to try M.A.G.

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