Our impressions of SOCOM Confrontation made it clear: the game needed some extra work. The hotly anticipated PSN game looked great in the alpha build that we played, but nagging issues like a stuttering framerate and random network problems, made us think a delay was for the best. Well, looks like the SOCOM team agrees.
In a recent post on SOCOM.com, Seth Luisi notes that "Unfortunately, even working late into the nights and every weekend, we've had to re-evaluate our schedule. Our top priority is delivering the best SOCOM online experience possible. Tough decisions had to be made and we've decided to push back the release date to October 14th, 2008. We just had to face the facts and do what is best for the title. Rather than sacrifice features, quality and stability, we had to do the right thing and re-adjust our schedule.
Obviously, this means those that are eagerly awaiting the beta (in addition to the final game) will have to be a little bit more patient. In the case of SOCOM Confrontation, we're confident that the delay will be worth it.
Could it be? Is another anticipated PS3 game getting a delay? Maybe. But don't sweat this one! Gamestop customers have been notified that their upcoming pre-orders for SOCOM Confrontation may be delayed a month. Originally scheduled for a September release, it appears that the Slant Six team is getting an extra month to polish the title. The new release date? October 14th.
While this date has yet to be confirmed, we're told that the official SOCOM blog at SOCOM.com will update tomorrow with an official response. Stay tuned.
The Blu-ray retail version of SOCOM Confrontation will include a Bluetooth headset. However, expect something much classier than the one included in the Warhawk bundle so long ago. This one is made specifically with gaming in mind -- and as such, earns the official PlayStation branding. The headset, which will also be available seperately from the game, is designed for long use and even includes a much-needed Mute button, a feature uncommon to most Bluetooth headsets. The device will also include a USB cradle, so that it can be charged via the PS3.
While neither the design and price have been completely finalized, Sony plans on pricing this quite competitively. From the looks of its quality, we believe Sony will charge more than what they did for Warhawk.
This is SOCOM. On the PS3. That's SOCOM Confrontation, put simply. It's somewhat strange to think that the team that brought us the incredibly innovative SOCOM Tactical Strike (PSP) is bringing us a game that feels so by-the-numbers. But for the hardcore SOCOM community, this is the game they've been waiting for. It's been years since the last major console SOCOM game, and Slant Six must offer a product that delivers all the thrills that fans of the franchise have come to expect. Rest assured, Confrontation delivers everything SOCOM fans have come to expect from the series, and expands upon the formula by adding massive 32-player matches and a fully-fleshed online community component.
Many criticized the game when it made its public debut last year for having dated graphics. But, Slant Six had only worked on the game for 5 months when the initial screens were shown to the public. Since then, the game has made remarkable progress, and looks rather stunning. The lighting, heat blur, and smoke effects are all beautifully rendered -- and the scope of each of the game's seven levels is massive.
Did you buy Qore solely for access to the SOCOM Confrontation beta? Well, looks like you might've bitten too early. A small comment on the SOCOM official website shows that Qore guarantees access into the beta ... but two weeks after the public beta launches. Wha? According to a comment by David Brothers, "Qore gives access to the public SOCOM beta two weeks after the public beta launches."
Why would they delay beta access to Qore members? We're not entirely sure. However, there are other ways to go about getting access into the beta: "There are other ways to get into the public beta beforehand, like the upcoming preorder program, so don't worry about the ratio of non-SOCOM fans to SOCOM fanatics."
These comments were made three days ago, so it's unclear if the beta's policies have changed since then. We're going to try and find out the latest word -- stay tuned.
Update: Veronica Belmont has updated us: "If you buy the pre-order for SOCOM with the headset, and put $5 down for the beta, you'll get it a bit before ours (and that's depending on if everything ships as planned, too). They're not the same beta. Otherwise, our beta is still before anyone else will get it."
A few months ago, we reported that SOCOM Confrontation will release in retail stores with a brand new Bluetooth headset for $60 -- it's a similar package to the one crafted for Warhawk, but this new headset will be officially PlayStation-branded. An e-mail about an upcoming SOCOM media event made quick mention of the device, confirming its existence, but offered no new details. We hope to get some pictures and some ears-on time with the new headset later this month.
Our coverage of Judge's Day games ends for now with the latest batch of SOCOM Confrontation screens. Here, you'll be able to see some more shots of the game in action. Heck, we even have images of the game's UI. Promising up to 32 players online, this PSN title looks to bring back everything players loved in the original game ... and then some.
Like Warhawk before it, the game will release as both a downloadable and retail title, and will be supported through a number of DLC packs post-release. Considering how successful the SOCOM franchise was on PS2, we're pretty sure that there are going to be many, many people lining up to play Confrontation when it releases this summer fall.
Posted May 15th 2008 12:30PM by Majed Athab Filed under: News
Another recent interview with David Seymour, design director for SOCOM Confrontation, sheds more light on the game and, in particular, on the game's SIXAXIS controls. The tilt capabilities will be used in "the old SOCOM lean," said Seymour. "[It] lets the player use cover in the environment in a very open way."
For those new to SOCOM, the lean ability allows characters to stretch out behind their cover position and get a better shot at their target without exposing themselves to the enemy. Seymour explains, "By tilting the controller, you stretch your character up to full extension or lean him out or any combination of the two. So you can lean up and out just enough to clear the tip of your barrel, over the roof of a car, or to fire through a gap in a broken wall. Lastly, there is a "bailout" position that you access by tilting the controller down, causing your character to pull his head down for cover behind low objects." The SIXAXIS has a second function other than for leaning; it will be used to "roll, lob, or throw" grenades. To see the lean in action, check out the last minute of this video here.
Also, some further details on the game's seven maps were also discussed. Five of these maps will be scalable with support for 8, 16, and 32 players while the other two only support 8 and 16 players. Four of the maps are all new, while three are classic remakes. If you're interested to read more about the interview, you can do so at IGN.
Over at ThreeSpeech, there's a nice gallery of SOCOM Confrontation concept art and screenshots. The concept art are quite beautiful, so check that out. As suggested by the artwork above, the game incorporates day/night environments, very cool. The screenshots on the other hand are not as exciting as previous ones you may have seen before. This time around, you get to see mostly images of grunts posing for the camera. That's not revealing much, but SOCOM fans would probably still get a kick out of it. The game is coming on September 16, so mark it on your calendar.
SOCOM.com has been updating non-stop about the upcoming PSN title, SOCOM: Confrontation. With each update, they've included a screen or two, all of which we've compiled here. The title is being handled by Slant Six, which made the excellent (and underappreciated) SOCOM Tactical Strike on PSP. While Confrontation brings the series back to its roots, we have to echo the sentiment of many of our readers: this title doesn't look like it's pushing the PS3 very far, from a visual perspective. Hopefully, the gameplay will stay true to the SOCOM heritage.
The 1UP Show has some exclusive first footage of SOCOM Confrontation. In the video above, about half of the total eight minutes is dedicated to showing off some gameplay, as well as in-game interior and exterior environments. The map shown looks like it's set somewhere in the Middle East (as expected).
The other half of the video, you'll see Joe Rybicki (former senior editor of the now defunct but awesome OPM) interview SOCOM Confrontation director Seth Luisi and design director David Seymour. Luisi confirms that the game will ship with seven maps. Luisi says the goal is ultimately to push for new maps that will give a "next-gen" SOCOM experience; however, they're also still looking into "[seeing] what the interest level is for classic maps." With Luisi also confirming that DLC should come in regular monthly updates with huge content updates "every three months," it's possible to see some more classic maps (and of course new ones, too) in these updates. Pricing for DLC? None yet, but Luisi says "I think comparing it to Warhawk is a fair comparison."
David Seymour chimes in to clarify "destructible cover," as opposed to being misconstrued as destructible environments. Seymour says destructible environments "break the flow and intended design of a map," so instead, less intrusive but equally strategic destructible cover will turn safe spots into hotbed targets. Last but not least, the previously revealed retail bundle (with a headset) might also come with exclusive videos on the disc -- just another reason to choose the retail version over PSN.
The new SOCOM community site is up! Fans of the series can log on and get psyched up ready for SOCOM: Confrontation's release in September. The website includes a message board and a blog which, we're promised, is where a lot of new info and media will be shown between now and release. That's all that's available right now, but the SOCOM team have much bigger plans for when they implement what's called "Phase 2".
Phase 2 will be a "whole new website which will integrate your SOCOM Confrontation experience onto the web." This sounds like a Warhawk style stat-tracking system to us, but Seth Luisi isn't forthcoming regarding any further details. He does, however, mention a closed beta occurring sometime in the future. Those of you who fancy getting involved will need to become strong members of the SOCOM community. More details are coming soon, but Luisi says that "only the top contributors at the Official SOCOM Blog will be selected. We are on the look out for people who have intense knowledge of all the previous SOCOM games and can also demonstrate their leadership in the Message Boards and Comments section."
SOCOM Confrontation is coming in September. At least, according to a recent update by 1UP. The popular tactical shooter will make its debut on the PS3 as both a downloadable and Blu-ray title. Tomorrow, SOCOM.com will be launched, and will provide regular updates for fans as they await the official release of Slant Six's shooter. Hopefully, it won't be too long before everyone's favorite four letter word will be echoed through the interwebs: b-e-t-a.
The May issue of EGM will have a cover story, likely going into great depth about the upcoming PSN title, SOCOM Confrontation. However, 1UP has a small sneak peek: it's given readers a list of all the special forces squads that players can join. 1UP explains: "Joining a special force is now a perk associated with joining a clan ... special forces (and their associated uniforms, gear, and weapons) will only be available to clan members." As expected, the SEALs and SAS are available in the game. But what else can players find?
A supposedly leaked PowerPoint presentation revealed a new official Bluetooth headset for PS3. Set to launch in July/August, the headset would retail for $50 individually. More exciting, however, is SOCOM Confrontation bundle that's mentioned: both the game and headset would hit retail for $60.
The design of this rumored headset is an improvement over the one offered with Warhawk. However, don't get your hopes up quite yet. When asked for comment, a SCEA representative told us that "we have currently made no announcements for a new PS3 headset so any information is speculation and rumor."
Our impressions of SOCOM Confrontation made it clear: the game needed some extra work. The hotly anticipated PSN game looked great in the alpha build that we played, but nagging issues like a stuttering framerate and random network problems, made us think a delay was for the best. Well, looks like the SOCOM team agrees.
