|
|
Post by Morreion on Sept 18, 2009 7:02:40 GMT -5
MMORPG.com - Planetside Re-Review I remember playing Planetside right after release. Despite issues with the mechanics of base defense (attacking, conquering and then abandoning a base was better for experience than defending), this was the best MMOFPS game I've tried to date. The mechanics of character development are great- you basically are an FPS player that unlocked more weapon and vehicle capabilities as you gained experience.
|
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Jan 25, 2010 8:00:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Feb 3, 2011 9:08:14 GMT -5
What Planetside Next means to me (Smed's Blog)Planetside had a lot of really great things about it, but it also had some frustrating things. The whole Sanctuary concept is something that slowed things down too much. We also didn't get people back into the action quickly enough.
But the core of Planetside - massive battles with vehicles and infantry was something we nailed really well.
To me, Planetside Next means we get a chance to take the essence of everything that was fun in Planetside and make it a lot better. Massive battles on a scale no other FPS will touch. None of this 64 player stuff. REALLY MASSIVE. With much better organization, and a tight focus on making sure the action is always going on, with awesome graphics.Planetside: The 1% (Rock Paper Shotgun)There’s no glory in lying, so I’ll come out and admit that under the circumstances the TR didn’t last long. In maybe half an hour we were down to 4% of the server population and a handful of bases. The good news was that one of our commanders managed to locate his penis and blow the dust off it in time to send a global message ordering our scattered soldiers to relocate to the island of Forseral for a last stand. If every one of us crammed into just a couple of bases our hilarious number problem might be diminished.
What we weren’t counting on was the enthusiasm coming from t’other sides.A great war story! Planetside promotional video (Google Videos)2:44 video of what it was like to play Planetside. SOE's Smedley says MMO copycats incoming, drops hints on PlanetSide Next release (Massively)"We're looking at late first quarter, early second quarter [2011]," says SOE head honcho John Smedley in regard to the long-awaited PlanetSide sequel.Smedley entices us with the first image from PlanetSide Next (Massively)Imagine the speculation that erupted when Smedley tweeted, "NC ftw!" then a link to the picture above. What does it mean? We suspect "NC" stands for "New Conglomerate" from PlanetSide. Is that a New Conglomerate tank? It has to be; Rock, Paper, Shotgun agrees.Smedley tweets PlanetSide Galaxy transport image (Massively)Fans of the original PlanetSide will no doubt remember the Galaxy heavy troop transport, and an updated version of the model is now viewable along with the previously released image of what appears to be a New Conglomerate tank.
|
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Sept 13, 2011 12:47:26 GMT -5
Massively looks at Planetside- the original game The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The highlightsConventional wisdom says that three sides is an ideal number of warring factions for PvP-centric MMOs (see also Dark Age of Camelot), and a three-sided war was a cornerstone of PlanetSide from the very beginning. Players were offered a choice to fight for the authoritarian Terran Republic, the rebellious New Conglomerate, or the alien-happy Vanu Sovereignty, and faction pride quickly blossomed in the playerbase.
...If you ask PlanetSide fans, one of the greatest appeals of the game is this massive, ever-changing warfront. The game was not hacked up into tiny parcels of PvP instances but left open for a truly epic conflict of armies (it helped that there were no distractions from PvE mobs). At any given moment and position, hundreds of players could descend upon a valuable objective to fight for its control, throwing the landscape into glorious chaos. It wasn't a small, contained experience but a wild and woolly morass of laser blasts and rocket explosions.The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: The fansiteWhat makes PlanetSide unique or special in the online gaming space?
PlanetSide is in a class by itself because it was really the only game to successfully achieve the MMOFPS title. It brought together squad tactics and teamwork in a persistent world where one outfit could make a huge difference. The certification system made it so even as a very low-battle-ranked player you could easily fill a role that would make a difference and go toe-to-toe with players who have been in game for years.The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: Your journeysMike Jenner: The cloaker
I was a cloaker. I stole everything, especially tanks. When knives were OP, I would trail tank crews with my cloaking ATV and ambush them when they got out to repair. That got nerfed, so I would just hack the tank while the crew was out of it repairing, leaving them in the dust. I even "jacked" a CSR's BFR once. My lockers were full of enemy tank ammo so my buddies and I could go joyriding later.Rise and Shiny recap: PlanetSideYes, I know I just got shot while looking at the sky. That's kind of how I do things. I tend to lie back and slowly find my way into the battle. I make a great gunner (if I have a great pilot) and do really well as part of a group. One-on-one battles? Yeah, I have no chance in those. I've seen players who have memorized every map, who know every nook and cranny and possible enemy load-out and the proper reaction to an enemy's strategy. I respect those hardcore guys and gals -- they love their game. As long as they are having fun and are being generally pleasant (which I found to be true of most players) then more power, and bullets, to them.Planetside 2 Info Planetside Universe fan siteFive by five: PlanetSide Next reveals the Reaver (Massively)Like the ships in other screenshots we've seen, this is a model and not necessarily representative of the actual vehicle in-game. Still, it definitely looks like it means business, and evokes the image of modern attack helicopters minus the rotor blades.First PlanetSide Next character model revealed (Massively)He's tough, he's gruff, and he ain't going down without a fight: This is the Terran Republic Soldier in PlanetSide Next. While we've seen a number of vehicle models for the upcoming MMOFPS, this is the first PlanetSide Next character model to grace the public domain.PlanetSide Next producer's letter hints at dev team expansion (Massively)PlanetSide Universe has the early scoop on the document, which alludes to an expansion of the PlanetSide sequel's development roster to include "several team members from the original PlanetSide art, design, and code team."SOE Unleashes New Planetside 2 Trailer and Details (Ten Ton Hammer)First Details of PlanetSide 2 Revealed at Fan Faire 2011 (Ten Ton Hammer)The idea behind PlanetSide 2 is to make it a large sandbox game, Smedley said. This would include Outfit (or Guild)-owned bases and a large world in which the players can explore and conquer in a new territory control system.SOE Fan Faire 2011: Planetside panel and interview with Creative Director Matt Higby (Massively)Matt Higby went on to explain the importance of resources. Control of resources means a gain for the outfit, empire and self. There are rare and common resources, and players have to make a decision about what resources to pursue and how far to go in order to get them. In addition, players can capture territory in order to deny resources to the enemy. It adds a lot of variety to the game.
...There is also a skill tree for outfits. Skills can be chosen to make an outfit specialize in a particular style of combat, and Smedley used the example of the 101st Airborne Division as a type of outfit that players could aim for. It gives an incentive for players to join certain outfits based on what they can do and what skills they unlock.Planetside 2 to feature persistent territory control, huge battles, and player-generated content (Massively)Weapons, vehicles, and outfits are all customizable, and SOE's fact sheet also drops a curious player-generated content hint relating to the game's mission system. "Both SOE and players will be able to drive content, easing new players into the game and allowing veterans to feed content to players," says the press release.The Return To Auraxis: Planetside 2 (Rock Paper Shotgun)The skills tree is extensive, to say the least – Higby mentions thousands of skills. “Every vehicle will have its own skill tree, every weapon will have its own skill tree. You’ll be able to completely customise your soldier to the exact playstyle you want”. Squad leaders will retain their separate advancement tree, allowing them to command larger groups, whilst outfits will both be able to specialise further and customise their appearance. Higby envisages a purpose-built outfit for air cavalry with customised reapers and bonuses to air combat, or armour outfits so that “if you see these guys coming over a hill in customised prowlers, you’ll know who they are.”PlanetSide 2 may feature space-based gameplay (Massively)Speaking of iteration, Smedley also drew comparisons to EVE Online's "outside-in" approach (specifically, the fact that CCP began with a space game and added planet-based gameplay at a later date). PlanetSide 2 will reverse this process, beginning with a single continent, "then add[ing] more continents and eventually, planets," Smedley said. Plans for space-based gameplay are also on the table.Dancing To Different Beats: Planetside 2 (Rock Paper Shotgun)RPS: Flashing back, I used to always play as an anti-air max, and jump-jet my way on top of base antennae, to get the jump on aircraft. Is the Vanu’s vertical mobility still going to be one of their key features?
Higby: We have more than one ability that each class can have. You can slot different types of abilities. Right now our jumpjet class is our light assault class. Their purpose is to get behind enemy lines to do really quick strikes. They’re our anti-sniper role; if there’s one sat on top of a tower somewhere, the light assault guys can run around really fast, jump-jet up and hit quick with assault rifles.New PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action (Massively)These PlanetSide 2 pics show armor-clad soldiers getting into position for action. It's interesting to note the distinctive colors that will surely help teammates differentiate friend from foe. |
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Feb 1, 2012 14:25:18 GMT -5
www.youtube.co/watch?v=KE0UnH4mnTYPlanetSide 2 : Free To Play Confirmed (MMORPG.com)Smedley indicated that he was unwilling to reveal any details about the F2P model but did drop a small hint in the form of "we like League of Legends a lot".Twitter Q&A September 16th (Planetside Universe)Q: Will outfits be able to customize parts of their armour to make them stand out as an outfit on the battlefield?
A: Absolutely. the plan is to allow leader / designee to create a 'uniform' and then you, as a member easily select it.Coloring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac (Massively)As such, each of PlanetSide 2's three factions was designed from the ground-up to be visually distinctive, both in colors and shapes. The Terran Republic features smooth lines, circles, and a red, gray and black color scheme. The New Conglomerate's rougher tech is based more on squares and rectangles and uses blues and yellows. The odd man out, the Vanu Sovereignty, focuses on triangles with teal and purple overlays (the purple was chosen because it's a combination of the red and blue of the other two factions).SOE enlists comic book writer Marv Wolfman to pen PlanetSide 2 backstory (Massively)Wolfman is in charge of writing a series of fictional episodes depicting the life and history of the people of Auraxis and the rising war between the three factions of the game.PlanetSide 2 intel details the New Conglomerate (Massively)NC forces rely on "unconventional tactics and brute strength," though their equipment isn't quite as sleek or advanced as those of the Terran Republic and the Vanu Sovereignty.Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A (Massively)Each of the faction has a full range of completely unique weapons with their own feel and two unique vehicles. For the NC, the vehicles are the Vanguard medium tank, the most beastly of the tanks in the game, and the Reaver, a heavily armed and armored fighter jet, which makes up for its lack of mobility with sheer firepower.SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 faction video (Massively)Higby provides voiceover commentary for the game's three factions, and the dialog plays against various rotating schematic-type images of armor, equipment, and gear from the game's three factions.SOE accepting PlanetSide 2 beta signups (Massively)We'll keep our eyes peeled for further info, and we hope to see you in the beta, soldier!Games of 2012 – Planetside 2 (PC Gamer)Resources themselves are earned by engaging in battle against the two oppositional empires: capture an area on one of the game’s continents and you’ll gain resources. Matt explains further: “You’ll also gain resources while your empire holds that territory. So if you are a member of an empire and own 50% of a continent, you will gain resources just for playing on that continent all the time, even if you’re not capturing anything new. You can use those resources for doing things like upgrading your weapons, getting new weapons from an equipment terminal, or buying things from the store.”The Firing Line: The pleasures and pitfalls of PlanetSide 2 (Massively)I mentioned class systems above, and again, due to the absence of in-depth information, I can only speculate at this point. It does concern me that SOE is scrapping the flexible multi-role system of the original title for a class-based approach. Yeah, you had armor restrictions in PlanetSide, but you could basically fill any role on the battlefield (or create a new one) at any time. The only reason I'm not totally facepalming here is the fact that you will be able to switch classes in PlanetSide 2 at equipment terminals and respawn points. Supposedly this will give you complete access to all of the game's roles and equipment (at least for your faction) whenever you want, provided you've attained the certification requirements.New PlanetSide 2 gameplay footage spotted in the wild (Massively)The second clip is a mixture of similar gameplay footage along with some talking-head dev interview shots which you can view after the cut.Nanite Systems Common Pool Vehicles - Quad (Planetside 2 official site)For soldiers looking to get from point A to point B rapidly, the Quad fits the bill. It has the highest top speed of any ground vehicle and is easy to acquire. The only downside is that it is not very tough, relying on its amazing speed and agility as its defense. In a battlefield where men cannot permanently die, military commanders have seen value in the quad as a flanking vehicle and have created options for several front mounted weapons.SOE shows off PlanetSide 2's Galaxy transport (Massively)The Galaxy is a heavily armored troop transport designed to "hot drop" 12 soldiers into the heart of enemy territory. What's a hot drop? It's basically the game's sci-fi twist on the traditional parachute, and SOE says that it "automatically encapsulates any soldier or MAX unit that bails out with a protective barrier that slows their fall."PlanetSide 2's Sunderer carries troops, pushes tanks (Massively)The Sunderer looks like a cross between a tank and a Mack truck, and it's designed to pancake enemy defensive lines and deposit a load of troopers smack dab in the thick of the action.SOE's Matt Higby talks PlanetSide 2 resources, territory control, and more (Massively)"One of the things that we're trying to do with the game is reduce downtime, reduce a lot of the maintenance things that you had to do that were kind of inconvenient. We're not removing logistics or strategy [...] but trying to lessen those maintenance tasks that are less enjoyable as much as possible," Higby explained.
|
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Jun 7, 2012 15:22:33 GMT -5
GDC 2012: SOE's PlanetSide 2 gunning for the big time (Massively)As the Reaver left the biolab behind, infantry and tank forces clashed nearby on the surface, and Higby fired a few well-placed rockets while circling the fray. SOE's ForgeLight engine, an internal piece of tech designed specifically for PS2, really strutted its stuff here, as highly detailed terrain, brush, and rock formations whipped in and out of focus with the movement of the Reaver, and a kaleidoscopic lightshow of tracer fire lit the whole scene with a deadly beautiful glow. Since the lighting in the game is deferred, each round lit up the environment as it passed through the landscape, making an immersive experience that much richer.Deadly Piecharts: 30 Minutes Of Planetside 2 Footage (Rock Paper Shotgun)They’ve finally released details about the most important/worrying aspect: the business model. Succinctly: they’re selling customisation options, side-grade weaponry can be earned or bought, and anything that’ll directly affect the way you play (medkits or implants) are earned in-game. As is the way of these things, there will be a subscription option as well. The anatomy of a PlanetSide 2 battle in 2,000 words (PCGamer)That’s going to be a two-step process, where vehicles are coming in first, securing the ground down below. At the same time, you have infantry people coming in and taking out guys on the walls, moving in, capturing all those terminals. Eventually you have that big infantry-only fight that’s happening inside. Now, saying it’s infantry online, you’re still going to have the peripheral elements, the strafing aircraft, the tanks up on the hills that are firing down into the base. But the real clash is going to be the defenders trying to hold on to that base by securing those shield generators long enough for reinforcements to come and start clearing this out. You’re going to see groups of people breaking off to do things like recapture the vehicle terminals so they can respawn vehicles in the front.PlanetSide 2 Infiltrator (Planetside 2)Even though Rebirthing technology has nearly eliminated the concept of fear on Auraxis, the Infiltrator remains one of the few things soldiers are afraid of. Originally specializing in the assassination of high-profile political targets, the Infiltrator quickly found a home on the battlefield. Their presence alone has rapidly become synonymous with unease and paranoia, causing enemy soldiers to perceive even shadows in their peripheral as a very real threat. Fear combined with their specialized recon and sniping roles makes the Infiltrator a welcome addition to any empire’s ranks.I'm Matt Higby, 10 year online games industry veteran and Planetside 2 Creative Director - AMAA (Reddit)3) Other than squad spawn, what other benefits do squad leaders provide?
enhanced spotting and squad bonuses are two things, we have some other tricks up our sleeves which I don't want to get into quite yet...
5) Are there waypoint systems like PS1 where squad leaders can mark targets and objectives?
YesThe Firing Line: A couple of PlanetSide 2 concerns (Massively)Another concern I have about PlanetSide 2 is quite a bit larger than missing animations. It has to do with the overall ebb and flow of the game, and more specifically, the point behind all the bloodshed. As good as the GDC demo was, and as excited as I am to return to the world of Auraxis, my enthusiasm is tempered a wee bit by the very real possibility that PS2 will be nothing more than a kill-'em-all shooter (albeit on a grander scale than any other shooter can manage).PlanetSide 2 Engineer (Planetside 2)Though the Engineer has always had a vital role in defending Auraxis’s facilities, the introduction of nanites to the military sector caused a radical shift from their traditional role of vehicle and MAX suit mechanics. When factory-built tanks and vehicles were replaced by relatively disposable nano-fabricated versions, Engineers began training extensively in marksmanship and demolitions. Despite their recent shift in duties, Engineers have quickly proven themselves as effective soldiers, capable of either turning an ordinary warehouse into an impregnable fortress, or blasting the enemies fortresses to the ground. Exclusive Alpha Gameplay Walkthrough HD (GameTrailers)Epic Planetside 2 Fan Trailer (Planetside Universe)Strike like Lightning with PlanetSide 2's latest vehicle reveal (Massively)The lightning is a lightweight 75mm tank that uses its mobility and obscene rate of fire to rain havoc upon the battlefield while avoiding enemy counterattacks. The one-man tank can fire up to six rounds in under three seconds, "allowing the driver to quickly adjust [his] aim after [his] first shot." The modular turret can be swapped out for a variety of other turret types for those times when you just want to mix it up a bit..The Firing Line: PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby on the MMOFPS revolution (Massively)Massively: PS2 isn't just PS1 with better graphics. There are some new features, some old features didn't make it, etc. What would you say excites you the most about PS2 in relation to the original game?
Higby: I'll try to limit myself to three things I'm really excited about with PlanetSide 2 vs. PlanetSide.
1. Continent and level designs -- We've really hand-crafted the world of PlanetSide 2 to support awesome combat no matter where you are; this will mean that a lot more of the world will be under contention at any time and fights will tend to be a lot fresher and more dynamic.
2. Modern gameplay mechanics -- Everything from firing a rifle to flying a jet feels like a modern AAA shooter; there are no compromises to the gameplay mechanics in order to make the game massive, that's been a huge challenge and a tremendous accomplishment.
3. Free-to-play -- I know that a lot of people cringe when they hear it still, but F2P is really a great thing for PlanetSide 2. It means that populations are going to be able to support the massive-scale battles that make this game incredible.PlanetSide 2 unveils the Mechanized Assault Exo-Suit (Massively)Thanks to the game's modular weapons system, MAX suits can be customized to deal with specific threats, or they can be outfitted with a more generic loadout to provide all-around support on the warzones. Each faction's version of the MAX suit will come with abilities specific to that faction. Add to that a nice, hefty layer of armor plating, and you've got a force to be reckoned with in any battlefield situation.E3 2012: Crashing and burning in PlanetSide 2 (Massively)That ability to transport the player -- that ill-defined but all-important immersion -- is something that PlanetSide 2 has in spades. Yeah, it's early. And yeah, maybe part of my enjoyment comes from seeing a fantastic old game given a sparkly new coat of AAA paint, but at the end of the day, PlanetSide 2 is also shaping up to be a rock-solid game in its own right.The Firing Line: Epic SOE memories on PlanetSide's ninth anniversary (Massively)Andrew "rogue13" Risch: A tank had rolled into my tech plant and blasted away the folks in the courtyard. The driver popped out and started to run for the front door. I leveled my rifled at him and pow - headshot. I smiled when I saw the name of who I had just killed. It was Smed (SOE CEO John Smedley).
Dave Georgeson: Countless hours flying in the sky as an invisible camera node watching players play the game from "god mode". Watching their bridge battle tactics, tower assaults, AMS deployments, and behind-the-scenes air cavalry staging. Just simply amazing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Oct 5, 2012 15:46:48 GMT -5
[url=http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/the- firing-line-three-reasons-to-love-planetside-2/]The Firing Line: Three reasons to love PlanetSide 2 (Massively)[/url] PlanetSide 2 scratches that non-combat itch in a number of ways, though, despite the fact that it remains one of the hardest of hardcore combat-focused titles. No, you probably won't be roleplaying, decorating your player house, or crafting much of anything on Auraxis, but neither will you be forced to play the zerg-shoot-die-respawn game over and over again. Crucially, you don't have to be a pro at deflection shooting to enjoy yourself either. Here's a partial list of things you can do in PlanetSide 2 that don't require high twitch skills, years of aiming practice, or truckloads of Mountain Dew.
Be an infiltrator, spotter, or scout
Be an engineer, deploy turrets, repair equipment
Be a dedicated medic, possibly with AoE heals, revives, etc.
Be a vehicle gunner
Fly a troop transport
Drive a troop transport
Use lock-on targeting weapons (like rocket launchers)[url=http://www.tentonhammer.com/planetside2/news/mat t-higby-details-planetside2-beta-plans]Matt Higby Details PlanetSide 2 Beta Plans (Ten Ton Hammer)[/url] We will be opening up the test in multiple phases or stages, inviting more and more players for each phase. Our priority invitees are those of you who are PlanetSide vets, and those who have priority beta keys (i.e. keys from the PC Gamer magazines), as well as those who received keys from members of the dev teams or at E3. Just so I'm 100% clear, we're not going to be opening the floodgates by inviting all of the thousands of PlanetSide veterans on day 1, but you are still the highest priority to get invites as we expand the testing circle out.An Updated Hands-On Look at PlanetSide 2 (Ten Ton Hammer)The key difference in PlanetSide 2 is that weapons are considered sidegrades, meaning that all previously obtained weapons are still perfectly viable. So instead of a giant item recycling system, you’re instead broadening your weaponry ecosystem to have more options on how you want to approach combat with a given character.
The idea that there are 75 weapons in the game, each with subtle nuances to understand and eventually master, seems like it could be somewhat daunting to some players. That’s a lot of info to process on what may be the most suited to a specific combat situation, but at the same time it allows for a certain degree of depth to decision making that helps reinforce that PS2 is indeed an MMO and not just an FPS title that’s grown too big for its virtual britches. PlanetSide 2 will be available on Steam (Massively)Planetside 2 Factions: Why the NC Rocks (Ten Ton Hammer)The noble New Conglomerate soldiers are freedom fighters struggling against the oppression of the evil Terran Republic and the oppressive dogma of the Vanu Sovereignty. The NC story is one of struggle while over-coming adversity while selflessly sacrificing to achieve a noble goal, that of freedom. Compare that to playing with cool lights and toys like the Vanu, or marching in straight lines like the Terrans, and the NC are kind of the obvious moral high ground.
Story aside, the NC just have cool tactics. The Blues make themselves unassailable with solid armor and staying power, and then they focus on hitting hard and fast with that one perfectly placed shot. When the NC go on the offensive, they attack hard, fast, and with precision. It’s like the Samurai of Planetside where other lesser factions either spray out tons of lead in hopes of hitting something, or run around firing wildly while evading other shots. The NC hit hard. Once. It’s the single perfect strike of the freedom-loving samurai.Hands-On with PlanetSide 2 at gamescom 2012 (Ten Ton Hammer)Realizing that vehicles were probably where it's at in this particular show demo, I spawned in as a light assault, went to the terminal, and grabbed a Vanguard tank. Vehicles require varying amounts of resources - the polymers, catalysts, and alloys received on an individual basis from faction control of most regions. A fourth resource - auraxium - is needed for store purchases, but ownership of only the largest facilities provides auraxium. Josh noted that a big part of PS2's grand strategy revolves around knowing which resources the opposing faction needs most and depriving them of these resources, either by capturing regions or cutting off the region from the warp gates at the corners of the map.PlanetSide 2 Beta Hands-on Impressions (Ten Ton Hammer)One of the advantages was really noticeable when I was flying my Reaver and ran out of ammo. Rather than land and take time to open a menu and reload a saved configuration or even drag it in by hand, I just hovered over the platform for a sec and everything reloaded immediately. That gets you back into the fight fast, and cuts down on that dangerous time on the ground.PlanetSide 2 lifts beta NDA, heads to PAX (Massively)SOE released plenty of fun statistics about the beta process so far. According to the studio, 535 million shots have been fired, and out of those, 194.6 million hit a target. 6.3 million players were mowed down in the bloody conflict as well. The breakdown of the three factions is more or less even, with the Terran Republic edging out the other two sides by a couple of percentage points.First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob (Massively)The one continent open to us this time around was Indar. This massive continent consists of an arid desert region and hilly grasslands sprinkled with medium-sized trees. Although there isn't much foliage, it was certainly enough for a few unskilled aircraft pilots to get their vehicles caught in the trees. During one particularly funny incident, I saw a gunboat stuck in a tree, and despite the fact that the gunner was completely immobile, he was taking pot shots at our passing convoy anyway!
SOE outdid itself with the scenery. I spent some of the tour time just flying around in the Mosquito, taking in the sights. When ground-pounding, I found enough hiding places to be able to sneak up to enemy bases or take shots at passing vehicles. The day-to-night cycle makes for entertaining moments; the transitions at dusk and dawn give the environment life that you don't find in many MMOs.SOE working on two additional PlanetSide 2 continents (Massively)These continents are taking longer than we expected and it's possible we end up launching with two and delivering the third shortly after launch. We're working super hard but we have some resource bottlenecks. We also are going to see how the game plays with two continents before making any final decisions, so please do us a favor and don't judge any of this before you play the game with two.PlanetSide 2 New Player Guide (Ten Ton Hammer)Available Kits:
Infiltrator – Think James Bond as these guys pack a large assortment of toys to include Stealth Suits (“F” to Activate), Hacking Tools, Numerous Electronic Countermeasures and Counter-Intelligence systems, Sniper Rifles, Pistols, and some explosives.
Light Assault – Jump Packs allow these guys to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Lightly Armored and packing light assault rifles and some explosives, they're like the FedEx of destruction--they deliver anywhere.
Combat Medic – Every Soldier's best friend is the medic. Packing a light assault rifle, these guys aren’t defenseless, but it’s when they whip out their bag of healing tricks that they really turn the tide of battle. Various healing kits include several options like the Healing Hand Grenade of Antioch.
Engineer – For when it absolutely positively must be destroyed overnight, you call the corps of engineers to the fight. As they get upgraded through certs, these guys pack a plethora of explosives, various mines, and turrets for holding important choke-points or blowing things up in a hurry.
Heavy Assault – It’s hard to roll as one of these guys and not affect an Austrian accent. Heavy weapons specialists, these guys carry heavy assault rifles and various counter vehicle weapons (Anti-Air or Anti-Tank). Perfect for Terminating at will.
MAX – If Mac Trucks could pack heat, they’d be something like this. Heavily armed and heavily armored, MAX suits can take every-bit of what they can dish out, and that’s a lot. Their modular design allows them to equip a large number of various types of weapons from general guns, to flame-throwers, to several types of anti-vehicular weapon systems.Planetside 2 Beta Impressions at a glance (Keen & Graev)Here’s what you’re getting in Planetside 2:
Truly, without any smoke and mirrors, an open-world capable of accepting massive amounts of players.
A real FPS game with gun mechanics that feel like Battlefield’s past two entries.
A game driven entirely by the players. No NPC’s. All PvP.
Solid character progression with plenty of ways to improve your character.
Fun gameplay (I want to focus on this one quickly)PlanetSide 2's Higby talks member benefits, pay-to-win (Massively)He also went into details about the nature of the cash shop, saying that PS2 will not restrict characters from any type of gameplay based on paying money. "No weapon, vehicle, attachment, continent, class, or certification is unavailable to you as a free player. Everything and anything that can affect gameplay is available to unlock through gameplay."
Higby also spent some time discussing what SOE will sell (cosmetics and advancement-related convenience booster items) as well as the state of the game's membership benefits...SOE announces Esamir, PlanetSide 2's new, cold continent [Updated] (Massively)Before we delve too deeply into Esamir, it's important to understand exactly what a "continent" is in the context of PlanetSide 2. Unlike other FPS games that drop players into matches, ask them to capture or defend points, then reset those points when a new match begins, PlanetSide forces players to take a longer view of victory and strategy. Fights can last for hours, days or even weeks, meaning gains made during one play session will be left to other players to defend or abandon. There are three factions competing for resources, and the end goal is for actions on all continents to be tied together via a global resources system. In other words, it takes teamwork and strategy to be victorious, and victory is often the result of thousands of different players playing at different times.The beta player comments were interesting, too: I've been having a great time "soloing". I put soloing in quotes, because you never really are. I use the proximity chat all of the time, and you'd be amazed at how quickly people rally to your side when you do. I was rushing a hill in front of a pack of about fifty infantry and about 10 tanks, and as I topped a roll in the hill a sniper round wizzed past my head. I called, "Get against the rocks! Their sniping us!", and was proud to see everyone around me do just that, and then those that were behind followed suit. It's an incredible feeling to be working with and fighting along side so many random soldiers and working together. Every medic gets a "Thanks Doc", and snipers and heavies get a "Ammo on the ground behind you". The Prox Vox makes Planetside a whole new game and makes it so you don't have to segregate yourselves into Teamspeak Groups. |
|
|
|
Post by Loendal on Nov 23, 2012 0:13:21 GMT -5
So, if you happen to be prowling about and run across a New Conglomerate Heavy Infantryman / Engineer / Lightning Pilot named AerikDemarc; say hello... Hopefully not if you're in Red or Purple though... I tend to shoot first and say hello later. I really need to find the screenie key for this game; I've seen some lovely landscapes and some pretty cool assemblies of troops. Earlier today, I was following along with a pack of around 12 tanks, supporting / supported by at least 3 or 4 Sunderers (Troop transports, mobile spawn points). We were storming across Irdan (?) and taking facilities all along the road. It's amazing what you can accomplish when random strangers work on a common goal  |
|
|
|
Post by Morreion on Nov 23, 2012 17:50:24 GMT -5
Excellent! I was NC back in the original game! Will have to try this one out for sure. Lock and Load: PlanetSide 2 Launch is a Go (Ten Ton Hammer)Players can opt to play as one of six classes to aid their chosen Empire in global domination. They’ll fight for control of key territories and valuable resources on three playable continents – Indar, Esamir and Amerish. With an extensive skill tree and free-form class-based system, players will be able to customize their soldier, weapons and vehicles to match their play-style, as well as the needs of their squad, outfit or empire. Battles can last for days or weeks, so players will need to build alliances and specialized combat outfits to take on long-term strategic and tactical initiatives. With aircraft and ground vehicles, as well as infantry combat, the battles will be larger and more intense than ever before.PlanetSide 2 Review (Ten Ton Hammer)Pros:
*Can’t beat free, especially for a title of this quality
*Fight on some of the largest maps in any FPS
*Battle with thousands of other players on a single continent
*Roll tanks, bombers, or infantry as you head out to meet the enemy
* New in-game VoIP system makes communication a snap
*Very easy game to invest small chunks of time in, rather than requiring hours at a sitting
*In-game interface for recording videos for those who are in to machinima
Cons:
*The certification system de-emphasizes specialization in any particular class
*New players may find it a little hard to understand why they’re fighting and where
*There’s a lot going on, so new players may be overwhelmed at volume of unrelated activity around them until they get a better grasp of game mechanics
* The UI is a little clunky and takes getting used to
*Smaller world than its predecessor, and diffused battles makes it feel a little less epic
Overall rating: 90/100 GreatPlanetSide 2 Class Compendium #1: Infiltrator, Light Assault, Combat Medic (Ten Ton Hammer)Light Assault
Jumping fences like kids at Lollapaloopza, thanks to small rocket-packs, these guys are the mobile infantry. Working the standard side-arm and medium-ranged assault rifle or possibly a shotgun purchased from the online store, the Light Assault infantry can take the fight to the enemy wherever he may be. Their armor may be tougher than that of the Infiltrator, but due to their need for mobility, it’s not nearly as heavy as that of the Heavy Assault.PlanetSide 2: The Class Compendium #2 - Engineer, Heavy Assault, MAX (Ten Ton Hammer)MAX
So the MAX isn’t exactly infantry, and it’s not exactly a vehicle. What it might be is a self-propelled sandbag of psychotic terror with very large guns. MAX suits appeared in the first PlanetSide where they quickly earned the moniker of meat-shield. That old term still applies as no assault goes through a door that isn’t led by a MAX.The Road to Launch: Matt Higby Talks PlanetSide 2 (Ten Ton Hammer)What were some of the pitfalls you may have avoided by learning from the mistakes of the first PlanetSide?
I think the biggest was accessibility. We wanted to be sure we had a game that you could just jump into, find a huge battle and be awed and excited from the very first moment. PlanetSide 2 is a huge and complex game, but the fundamentals are simple to understand: point and shoot, dominate, conquer. We’re making efforts to pace out more complex concepts such as resources, territory control, etc. so that they are there to provide structure to the dedicated players, but aren’t barriers to jumping into the game and finding a kickass fight. |
|
