PS3 Fanboy

At this week's Leipzig Games Convention, the president of Sony Online Entertainment John Smedley held a talk on "Subscriptions vs Micro-transactions" in regards to MMO games. During the briefing, he indicated that Sony was looking at making their upcoming pc/ps3 spy-themed MMO a free play title, meaning there would be no subscription fee (unlike World of Warcraft). Instead, SOE would fund the title via micro-transactions and a 'velvet-rope policy' where certain area are only available if people pay for access.

Smedley acknowledged that consumers are used to the subscription based model (as is SOE, considering their long history of subscription based MMOs), but said that they "believe very strongly that this is the future of MMO gaming, but we also know that it is something that players have an issue with... There's going to be an aftermarket, and we want to control it so that players don't get duped into having something switched out from them."

So instead of paying a gold farmer or a rare-item hunter to hook you up with in-game goodies, Sony wants to have you pay them for the loot in a controlled manner so you don't have to deal with shady dealers. Also, this way you don't have to pay a subscription fee -- you just pay for what you want, in an a la carte method. An interesting idea all around, but sure to be controversial. Which would you rather do, pay 15 dollars a month in subscription fees or pay 5-20 dollars a month (depending on what you buy) in micro-transaction fees?

Sony Online Entertainment has been responsible for some of the most popular MMO games ever. The studio behind Everquest (1 and 2), Planetside, Vanguard and a host of other massively multiplayer games has recently unveiled a new lineup of titles, including Gods & Heroes, The Agency, Free Realms, and the just-announced Ramayan 3392 A.D (see above image). Though only The Agency has been announced for the PlayStation 3, Nicholas Beliaeff recently tossed a bucket of gasoline on the rumor fire that we may be getting a couple more massively massive games on the PS3.

When asked by Gamasutra if SOE is looking more seriously at console MMOs, Nicholas said, "Absolutely. We have EverQuest Online Adventures that came out on the PS2 four years ago, and that was one of the first, along with Final Fantasy XI, to be a console MMO. For us as a company moving forward, all of our MMOs in development have a console component."

It's the last line that is the most exciting to us, it strongly indicates that SOE is going to be supporting the PSN in a big, BIG way. While this isn't as big as say, an announcement that Warcrack is coming to the PS3 -- the acknowledgment that every MMO that SOE makes from now on will appear on the PS3 is pretty amazing. So ... which SOE MMO do you want?

Yes, we know, there was a lot of anticipation for the big June 11th announcement. Some of you were disappointed about the announcement of MMOG The Agency for the PS3 and PC. Others of you were surprised and pleased. We're not ones to discriminate, so to both parties, we'd like to direct your attention to the official site of The Agency and help you navigate its seemingly empty flash page.

After getting the loading screen up to the point where you view a smoking gun, go ahead and click on the bullet that mysteriously wrote out the name of the game -- The Agency -- and you'll be welcomed with a note detailing a mailing list where you will be "recruited" by one of two factions: ParaGON or U.N.I.T.E., which we can only assume means a public beta at some point in the future. We thought you'd like to know, so go on, everyone! Shoot them an e-mail with the stuff they ask for (just an e-mail address) and wait until further details make their way to your inbox.

[via N4G]

Video games are all about wish fulfillment and role playing. Previous games have glamorized the life of the rock star (Guitar Hero), the football player (Madden), and the janitor (Mario Sunshine). Sony Online Entertainment is ready to make gamers turn into something cooler than all of that: an international spy. In The Agency, a new online shooter for the PS3, players will be globe-trotting all around the world, taking on missions ripped straight out of the James Bond series.

"The inspiration for The Agency came from the spy and espionage genre. We want to put players in the heart of the action to experience what it's really like to live the life of an elite agent," said Hal Milton, Lead Designer at SOE. "Players will jet set around this virtual world to exotic locales, infiltrate enemy organizations to steal secrets and perpetrate sabotage, all the while building their own agency with an eye towards global domination."

Agents will have to use a variety of skills to achieve their objectives. Level objectives will range from sneaky assassination attempts to all out assaults. Not only will players want mastery of their guns, truly successful spies will also control a variety of vehicles, and partake in mini-games at the local casino.