PS3 News: Escalation Joins MAG's Ranks On November 2 - PS3 News

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Escalation Joins MAG's Ranks On November 2

Attention MAG players: you know how far the game has come since its launch earlier this year. But believe it or not, it'll just keep getting better.

When Zipper Interactive was testing various new aspects of the game back in August, participants in the beta got a chance to play a new mode called Escalation. It's not part of the standard game experience but for $9.99, it can become part of your MAG entertainment next week. Escalation will be made available on November 2 to all players who wish to pony up the ten bucks; if you're unfamiliar, this new mode supports up to 96 players, where 32 players from each faction (Valor, SVER and Raven) go against one another. Each battle has two separate phases: during the first phase, all three factions try to hold 2 of 3 control points for a certain amount of time. Once done, the second phase starts where a fourth point opens up, and the team that created the changes must defend the final point until time runs out, or the goal score is reached. As a bonus, Escalation will include three new environments - Isla de Magma, Silverback Ridge, and Radiant Barrens - and three new weapons for each faction.

MAG is a very different game these days. If you haven't tried it in a while, you should hop on and check out all the huge improvements.

Related Game(s): MAG

Tags: mag, mag update, mag expansion, mag patch

10/28/2010 8:50:11 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (27 posts)

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 9:53:50 PM
Reply

Sounds like capture the flag, that wasn't already in there? I know the game is cheap but I still can't get into MP enough to purchase it.

I foresee an entirely online version of CoD coming soon to shatter all records though.

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SaintX
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 10:19:38 PM
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You know its great that zipper has been supporting this game all the way. I love this game very much, however its sad to see the number of players playing is dwindling. The price of these DLCs are not helping either, thats why theres so little people playing the DLC game modes. I think it should be priced cheaper like around $4.99 per map. They should also bundle both game modes for a cheaper price.

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oONewcloudOo
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 10:39:20 PM

4.99 per map is a bigger rip off then the 14.99 for 5 maps in MW2

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LegendaryWolfeh
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 2:22:10 AM

Hardly, at least for 4.99$ you're getting an entirely new map + game mode. CoD nabs you a few rehashed maps with some barely ok maps

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Clamedeus
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 6:21:20 AM

I'd take the 4.99 over the 14 or 15 any day. On the plus side you are getting a map and a game mode, i would rather not get rehashed maps and like 1 or 2 new ones.

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Simcoe
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 7:50:01 AM

I'm sure each of those new maps is like 10 times the size of any CoD map though, right?

Also, I'm surprised they didn't give it free or at least at a discount for those PS+ subscribers.

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Orvisman
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 8:00:07 AM

$4.99 a map x the three maps in this DLC is $14.97. That is more expensive than the $9.99 for this DLC.

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Clamedeus
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 10:13:37 AM

What I'm getting at is if you have multiple maps and new modes i would gladly pay $4.99 for it.

The MW2 map pack was not worth the 15 bucks for it at all all it had was old maps and a couple of new ones, so i got it off a friend.

But if you only get 1 map and 1 mode i would not pay, if it's a game i love and support i will buy the full 14 or 15 bucks or what ever it maybe for all the maps or what ever comes with it if it's appealing enough.

I probably should have worded what i said better.


Last edited by Clamedeus on 10/29/2010 10:18:56 AM

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BTNwarrior
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 10:26:35 PM
Reply

I believe that it is paid expansion packs that will be the downfall of MAG, just like paid expansion packs were in my opinion the downfall of Warhawk. Because if a game only has a select group of dedicated players and an expansion pack is splitting them in two than there are even less people who log on to play due to a lack of being able to get into a match. And it weaves down in a vicious cycle untill there is no one left but the elite players, making it impossible for anyone new to get into the game
Last edited by BTNwarrior on 10/28/2010 10:26:54 PM

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 10:32:09 PM

I agree, unfortunately we can't ask Zipper to keep making content without getting paid somehow. No one wants to work for free. MAG was ambitious, but ultimately maybe they weren't looking far enough ahead.

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BTNwarrior
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 11:20:18 PM

an easy solution would be selling smaller items like new guns, armor, or assessories. All while keeping the major gamplay changing updates free. A similer system is in place for Team Fortress 2 on pc and that game is still releasing free content all the time

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 11:34:36 PM

I don't know how extensive that could get with an FPS though. That's why micotransactions lend themselves better to MMORPGs. You can see all your alterations and notice them. Beyond new guns I can't think of much for an MMOFPS.

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frylock25
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 10:34:22 PM
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on top of this interdiction is going down to $4.99, it is a lot of fun for anyone playing mag i say pick it up. i saw this news earlier and was excited to see it was comin out.

off subject i got my playstation rewards invite today. reading through some fine print it says it starts today and ends march 31. given that it will lapse into public mode at that point i would say that april 1st is when rewards goes public. it also says that we will be rewarded points for what we do that we will get an email with a code to download things from the store.

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oONewcloudOo
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 10:34:34 PM
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that sounds like every other mode in the game take over or protect "A"B"or"C" zipper have 256 players in one game they could make something really fun but instead there just making mode where you have to attack or defend, considering how many modes the game shipped with i would expect this to be free and since its like every other mode its not worth 10 bucks, red dead redemption undead nightmares is 10 bucks and that comes with a 6 hour story mode 2 new MP modes and new weapons, i love MAG and all but RIP OFF

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ThePoetRazel
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 2:51:01 AM

Actually it's very different from other game types. It's all based on the same set up so of course it uses things that sound similar, but it's so different. In this you're constantly switching between attacking or defending and having to fight on many different sides. I prefer the more direct form of Domination but i enjoy the variation.
As for the size, look at how low Interdiction's numbers went before Zipper drop the double xp bomb on it. that's a 128, if Zipper put out a 256 dlc it could draw too many away from other game types or drop down as far as Interdiction once did with far less chance of recovery.
As for what it's worth, MAG as a whole has taken over 800 hours from me and i don't want that time back. I still play Interdiction and i'll get more time out of Escalation than most do from any dlc.

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maxpontiac
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 12:57:04 PM

I don't see it as a rip-off at all. I plan on playing this game as my FPS exclusively until Killzone 3 drops.

You want to see a rip-off? Look no further then the COD map packs.

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___________
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 3:33:55 AM
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thats a bad idea, excluding maps to payment.
will be hard to find enough players, i doubt anyones going to waste 10 bucks just for that.
like the KZ3 beta, i cant understand what the hell is going on!
10000 US people, 15000 EU people are in the beta, and every single time i go into a warzone match im the only one there.
hope GG fix this soon, playing against 1 person or by yourself gets really boring and annoying after 2 minutes!

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Simcoe
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 7:47:34 AM

lol Perhaps everyone on PSN has you on their block list, so when you log on to play the servers have no choice but to give you your own game. ;)

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___________
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 8:42:50 AM

ahhh, kinda hard since no one i know even has PSN+!
just too expensive.

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Zorigo
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 5:36:30 AM
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mean to pick this up. mean to.
oohhh, ill let a mate get it a a xmas present.

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frostface
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 6:18:20 AM
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They lost me when they started charging for the extra profile slot. This map sounds too pricey too.
Also I don't think FPSs make good MMO games. It works in RPGs because people interact and explore the enviroment. FPSs you may as well be playing 24 people as playing whatever 200+ players. You'll only be focused on one area of the map at any one time, doing the objective. Who cares that there's hundreds of others over the other side doing something else?
Nice try Zipper though. You took a chance but imo it fails.

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ThePoetRazel
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 4:39:40 PM

You obviously didn't get it when you played. A mistake many people make it too stay in the mindset of a much smaller game. Open your mind to what's going on and work together with others.
I've got a clan with over 70 members, all coordinating and working together across the map. It's so big that i can think several moves ahead and also be keeping track of what my teammates are doing.
256 is a very different kind of game once you stop playing it like it's MW2

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Alienange
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 8:19:08 AM
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The key to making money with fps dlc is making absolutely certain the core game itself is as good as it can be. It has to be so good and so fun that the players beg for more content. You can't just put out a mediocre fps with a plan to charge for more content later in hopes that people are blind to the cost involved.

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Amazingskillz
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 10:49:28 AM
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Why play Mag online when you can play Uncharted 2 online.

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frylock25
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 11:17:05 AM

because some of us dont want to play just one game

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maxpontiac
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 11:23:12 AM
Reply

Love MAG, and still play it every week. I will be purchasing this DLC because at $10, it's a good deal. Especially when you consider the new guns. That alone makes it deal to me.

Plus, Zipper's support of this title shames almost every developer out there. They actually have made attempts at listening to the community. Yes, people whine a lot, but Zipper is constantly striving to improve their product.

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Bigtuna1
Friday, October 29, 2010 @ 3:02:25 PM

I agree Max. Zipper's support of this title has totally won me over. I'm not even a big fan of Socom but I will be buying the new one just because of the rep Zipper has earned.

Although they really do need to fix somethings on Mag. The freezing issue is enough to quit and never play again.

I will be buying escalation also, maybe even the starter pack for 14.99. I already have interdiction but the extra themes and avatars almost makes it worth it.

What faction are you on btw Max?

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