Dissection: MAG - Massive Action Game

MAG is an acronym for Massive Action Game,a new FPS from Zipper Interactive, creators of the once popular SOCOM series. Taking place after World War III, you have the choice of playing under one of three different rival factions, the thing that sets MAG apart from other popular franchises is the fact that it supports up to 256 players. Is this a recipe for overwhelming players or a breath of fresh air for the genre?


When starting the game, you have the choice of three factions: Valor – The classic American themed group of commandos, Raven – Dark clad Austrian soldiers with the most modern weaponry and S.V.E.R. – The Czech underdogs. Choosing a side really comes down to what faction suits you or which side your friends are on; offering no bonuses over each other. The only chance you get to change your faction is when you cap out at level 60.

Some online FPS games will throw you into the fray, offering the maximum amount of players possible within your first matches; forcing new players to learn the hard way. Fortunately in MAG, you’re offered a tutorial mission to begin with, followed by access to the smallest skirmishes the game has to offer. By the time players reach level eight and unlock the full fledged 128 vs. 128 monolith “Domination” mode, they would have had enough experience with the game to hold their own.


Players are given the opportunity to rise through the ranks with a unique skill tree system. Aside from the usual perks, such as sprinting stamina and heal bonuses; players will have to traverse different trees to gain access to new weapons and attachments, making for a strictly specialised affair. However, every few thousand points, players are given the chance to re-spec their points, rather than re-rolling a new soldier.

MAG starts players off with your standard fare 32 player Team Deathmatch skirmish – Suppression -- held within your own faction as a precursor to the more serious team based battles. Sabotage a 64 player objective based match, also unlocked from the beginning; seeing two teams battle to attack or defend capture points. Soon after, Acquisition is unlocked, offering 128 player action seeing teams destroy bunkers in order to acquire enemy vehicles. Finally, once a player hits level eight, they gain access to Domination the largest battle mode seen in an FPS game to date. Here, players must attack or defend towers, while holding or destroying bunkers and each point capture mode has a final target that ends the match.


Once players hit level 15, they are considered experienced enough to take on leadership roles, ranging from Squad Leader, through to Platoon Leader and Officer in Charge. Each rank giving more options and a commitment to watch over more players; it can be a very daunting thing to under-go when first able. Leaders get special bonuses that effect surrounding players; for example: faster reload time. Aside from bonuses, Leaders have control over mortars and airstrikes, where higher ranked officers can tell squads and platoons where they should be attacking or defending. It’s a beautiful thing to see this much co-operation work so well.

Squads are made up of eight players, who can only communicate within their squad, making for less noise and more focus. A platoon is made up of four squads, making for 32 players. Depending on the game mode you’re playing, it can have up to four platoons in the larger 128 player games. Each faction has their own maps, which they will defend, when not attacking other faction’s home maps. A squad or platoon in a larger map may only see one eighth of a map during the course of a 30 minute game – the maps are that big.


For a game that supports so many players, which would make for a large amount of explosions and other effects, MAG runs pretty well. In fact, in the 30 hours I played I'm yet to see any slowdown. Models and textures are a bit lo-fi when compared to Modern Warfare 2, but for the most part, the game looks nice enough to be considered realistic.

MAG may not have a Michael Bay inspired storyline or a hook outside of its maximum player size, but what it does offer is one of the most ambitious FPS experiences seen in this generation of shooters. Offering a strictly online only life, MAG is most definitely a game that will sink a large quantity of time to get the most out of.

What they got right:

Grandiose: 256 players, what’s not to love? And it’s handled so well!

Choose your destiny: Unique tree progressions means that the majority of players will be very different from their peers.

Co-operate: Player co-operation is as easy as can be with its intuitive HUD.

What they got wrong:

Maintenance times: As with all online games based in the US, maintenance times tend to hit when it’s peak hour in Australia.

Back track: Some spawn points and objectives will clash, making for a long hike across terrain, only to be sniped mid way.