Global Agenda First Impression
February 2 saw the release of two MMORPG. Both have subscription fees, both offer PvP and PvE content, they include guns and are set in science fiction universes. The similarities pretty much stop there. Cryptic Studios’ Star Trek Online is geared to satiate the hungered trekkies out there, while Hi-Rez Studios hopes to appease the Team Fortress 2 crowd. The main content, philosophies and core mechanics couldn’t be more different.
Global Agenda starts players off in an optional tutorial that explains the basic features of the game, squad-based third person shooting. The developer used this normally boring ordeal to explain the world, how the player came into existence and their reason for being. It’s a creative way to introduce players to a game, one that tackles two problems. First off, it details the absolute basics of the game – movement, jumping, crouching, etc. Things that MMOG players know. Thanks to the interactive story running alongside the tutorial players are not bored to tears. I rather enjoyed learning about the world as I was making my escape. Too bad I haven’t seen any interesting blend of gameplay and story since.
Pros:
- Gameplay polish – Too many MMOGs are being released with all sorts of bells, whistles, trinkets and garnish, but no meat and potatoes. Global Agenda has offered polished gameplay since the closed beta period. PvP combat is fast, accurate, relatively lag free and well diversified.
- Mission briefings – Mission briefings are exactly what they sound like. Short, non-interactive descriptions of the various PvP locations that a player may find themselves a part of. The briefings not only describe the objective(s), including a fly-by, but why the scenario is an important asset to claim.
- Timed missions – It doesn’t matter which you enjoy more, PvP or PvE, both types of combat are timed. This may annoy some players, but it definitely gives everyone a sense of urgency to finish the goal. Players seem to be a lot less likely to stand around in PvE, and far more aggressive in PvP when there’s a clock winding down.
- Bit-sized gameplay – The combination of instanced and timed mission along with Global Agenda’s own matchmaking system means that gamers can get in and out of a play sessions very quckly. Global Agenda is a title that is easily digestible in small bits, and easy to level without a guild. That makes it a good game for casual players until level cap.
- Payload – As characters level up they unlock additional items to equip on their character. Gear only offers small upgrades, so a player’s defensive and offensive skills are paramount to the success of a mission. The diversification is as extreme as a few teched out items, or a jack of all trades character.
- Semi-dynamic encounters – In damn near every MMOG, running the same dungeon gets boring as soon as the players learn the ins and outs of pulls, encounters and line of sight abuses. The developers at Hi-Rez Studios mix it up a bit by changing the positions, mobs, pathing, level layout and even bosses for each instance. Traps and environmental damage make dungeons even more replayable.
- Stable server & quick support – No MMOG launches without its issues, some game breaking, others just tedious. Global Agenda’s launch was relatively smooth. Little to no lag, no queues and with enough population and level distribution to carry out any mission in the game. That being said, there were small issues present. Most of them were quickly hotfixed and patched the week of release.
- Diverse PvP arenas – Global Agenda launched choke full o’ PvP arenas. Players can join a good range of scenarios including payload, attack and defense, king of the hill, objectives and escort. And soon we’ll be able to decide what we want, instead of it being random.
Cons:
- Stupid AI – The artificial intelligence for the PvE NPCs is atrocious. Robots can easily die before reacting. They may hide or cower in plain view and they’ll die to the traps in their own facilities. Sorry, but these robots and elite assassins should know they’ll get squished or melted in their own facility.
- No world or universe – The Mission Briefing feature I touted above would make you think there might be a universe, but there isn’t. There’s no where to walk around and take in the sights. Even Dome City, the game’s home base, is incredibly boring. There’s lore sprinkled in from the website and a dash in the PvE system, but the briefings will deliver the majority of context the game has to offer
- Ranges on guns – Global Agenda’s successful ad campaign lambasted the cliches of most MMOGs, but the game has some itself, including range. Various, but not all weapons, have undisclosed range limitations. It’s incredibly annoying when a weapon is fired and it doesn’t reach the intended target.
- Uninspired specialization trees – One way to specialize your character is through skill trees. By selecting one tree over another a class can change quite dramatically. For example, a medic, your typical healer, can morph into a healer that can deal a dangerous amount of poison damage to the other team. The specializations are nice in theory, but the talents within them are uninspired. Want to heal more, then select Beam Heal Boost (+4% healing), or Jetpack Power for addition flight (-50% power cost). Then move on to Beam Healing Boost II (+6% healing) or Power Pool Increase (+50% power pool)! It’s not only a lack of interesting spells, but a lack of spells in general. In fact, if you ignore the tiers of spells, then the healing tree only offers seven unique options.
- Lose of XP – Losing XP as part of a death penalty is one thing, but losing it to a disconnect or crash is another. If a player is dropped from a PvP or PvE match for any reason they are sent back to Dome City. Their place in the battle isn’t reserved for when they return, and it isn’t filled either. Because Global Agenda awards XP upon the completion of a mission, getting dropped means you’ve been robbed of whatever XP was coming to you. It doesn’t matter if you left in the first ten seconds, or the last, nothing is awarded. I’ve been stripped of XP around a dozen times now.
- Crafting – It’s clunky, time consuming, expensive and unfriendly. Thankfully, Hi-Rez is already working on an overhaul.
- Non-unique characters – Compound the boring skill selection with few cosmetic options and you have many characters that look exactly the same. There are costumes available, but few players bother to pick them up due to costs and because the outfit isn’t that different.
- Poor windowed mode optimization – One of the loading tips is that the game runs in Windowed Mode. It does, it just doesn’t run all that well. The game will sit on top of the taskbar, you’re forced to alt-tab out of the game to capture your mouse, it has uninspired taskbar art and defaultly spouts its sound whether the window is active or not. I can’t find a way to stop the sound either. All of the issues are minor, but they need to be addressed.
- Bad auto-grouping – The various auto-grouping techniques employeed by the multitude of MMOG developers have often been hailed as one of the best features of their respective games. Hi-Rez Studios’ effort is not in that category. I understand that getting people in a mission quickly is the utmost priority, but I am willing to wait a few minutes to avoid three medics or three recons in the same foursome.
- Tutorial – The introduction was great, but that’s all it was. There’s far more complex features, tactics, abilities and choices that are left unexplained in Global Agenda. The title needs additional tutorials to help new to intermediate players morph in to powerhouses..
I’ve yet to get in to a solid guild/alliance to really dive into the Alliance vs Alliance part of the game. I was lucky enough to partake in some AvA matches with developers and players during beta, and it was fun. Essentially, AvA battles are large scale PvP missions against pre-made groups. I’ll have more on AvA for you as I gain more experience. To me, half the fun in AvA is making the tactical decisions on the hex grid. It forces the leaders to be true officers.
The core of Global Agenda offers a well polished, fast paced battle against player combatants or not-so-smart NPCs. The game shines when you’re in the heat of battle against other opponents. The rest of the title is lacking in comparison. That being said, Hi-Rez Studios gave players two months of free play while the company works out the kinks. I’ll be around for at least that long.
Check out the rest of our Global Agenda coverage here.
Hi-Rez Going In The Right Direction
I’ve had my beef with many a company, from Comcast to Cryptic Studios, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing these companies prove me wrong. I don’t want the hassle of finding a new games, a cable provider or what have you. I want the service provider in question to win me back. Naturally, the best way to prevent me from getting upset with a company is to treat me, and the rest of the customers, right. Offer us incentives to stay on board, give us information on upcoming products and keep us informed – even if it’s PR fluff.
That’s exactly what the maker of the recently launched Global Agenda did yesterday. Even though the game has had a relatively smooth launch, Hi-Rez Studios is extending the free 30 days through March. That’s your incentive. Todd Harris followed that announcement up by explaining what’s in store for the Commonwealth’s immediate future. Based upon early community feedback the company will be adding the following features by the end of February: a Friends/Ignore list, the ability to chosePvP queues, Repair Kits (gear is currently unrepairable), and new AvA zones timed for other time zones.
There’s many more issues that Hi-Rez has to deal with in the game – window mode optimization, being removed from missions on disconnects/crashes, thus losing XP, etc – but the communication so far has been superb. Further ahead Hi-Rez promises additional content of all types (PvP, PvE, AvA), tweaks and overhauls to crafting, loot and prestige.
I mentioned in my “Why I Quit Champions Online” post that I believe MMOG companies and players live in a symbiotic relationship. By giving the companies money to fund the entertainment we want we are providing services to each other. It’s still early, but Hi-Rez has my trust, and thus my money, for now.
Hi-Rez Going In The Right Direction
I’ve had my beef with many a company, from Comcast to Cryptic Studios, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than seeing these companies prove me wrong. I don’t want the hassle of finding a new games, a cable provider or what have you. I want the service provider in question to win me back. Naturally, the best way to prevent me from getting upset with a company is to treat me, and the rest of the customers, right. Offer us incentives to stay on board, give us information on upcoming products and keep us informed – even if it’s PR fluff.
That’s exactly what the maker of the recently launched Global Agenda did yesterday. Even though the game has had a relatively smooth launch, Hi-Rez Studios is extending the free 30 days through March. That’s your incentive. Todd Harris followed that announcement up by explaining what’s in store for the Commonwealth’s immediate future. Based upon early community feedback the company will be adding the following features by the end of February: a Friends/Ignore list, the ability to chosePvP queues, Repair Kits (gear is currently unrepairable), and new AvA zones timed for other time zones.
There’s many more issues that Hi-Rez has to deal with in the game – window mode optimization, being removed from missions on disconnects/crashes, thus losing XP, etc – but the communication so far has been superb. Further ahead Hi-Rez promises additional content of all types (PvP, PvE, AvA), tweaks and overhauls to crafting, loot and prestige.
I mentioned in my “Why I Quit Champions Online” post that I believe MMOG companies and players live in a symbiotic relationship. By giving the companies money to fund the entertainment we want we are providing services to each other. It’s still early, but Hi-Rez has my trust, and thus my money, for now.
Global Agenda Preview (beta)
In the past I have been lucky enough to participate in the beta testing for City of Villains and Auto Assault. So when I got a chance to try out the beta of Global Agenda I jumped at it. What I find great about the whole beta testing process is getting a glimpse into a game before the final version gets released to the public. Even thought the game is already out, I haven’t had a chance to go get it yet, so this is my Global Agenda preview of the beta.
The game is set in a futuristic world where you have a choice of 4 archetypes to play with in recon, assault, medic and robotics. Each caters to different types of game play and has their own advantages and disadvantages. Missions are gained from a hub where you join a team of players to either complete a PvE or PvP mission. I was disappointed that there did not seem to be any solo play options. Character customization is initially limited to just changing the look of the face and hair, unlike games like City of Heroes or Villains which offer a wider range of appearance options. Any further changes in appearance comes at a price, from changing the paint color and armor upgrades that can be purchased later.
The archetype you choose to play really depends on your game style. With Assault you get a fair amount of weapon power with a chain gun, heightened armor and health regeneration abilities. While it was fun to blast away at your opponents I found it limiting and nothing that I have not played before. The only time I found the type truly effective was having a medic nearby to keep healing me as I dealt out the damage.
With a medic you are essentially the healer of the party, throwing off heal bombs and firing a gelatinous heal ray at your teammates. Low on offense power, this is great for anyone who likes to be the support member of the party. I found that if the medic is doing his/her job in the mission the chances of keeping a good tight team from constantly having to re-spawn members goes up considerably. Even though every player gets a jetpack, having to make your way back through the mission map to your team can be tiresome.
The recon class uses steath and speed to make it’s mark in the game. Essentially functioning as a scout you can use invisibility mode which looks great on screen but to me was not very useful when I used it. I am sure if I were to get into that type of game play it might be more interesting in later levels, but early on it did not catch my interest.
Of all of the classes I found robotics the most interesting. It offers the most variety of the four classes, offering both offensive and defensive abilities to the team. The ablity to create a shield or auto turret on the fly were fun and gave me something more to do than just shooting the heck out of enemy robots. It is definately a class I would be tempted to play more and see what could be done in higher levels.
Overall the key to playing this game seems to be teamwork. As long as you keep your party in a tight group and each class/archetype does their job the survival rate really remains high. Most times by playing this way you can finish in time with very little re-spawning. While you will do most of your fighting with range weapons, there are melee weapons for each class that seem to be more useful in the Player VS. Player Environment.
In addition to Player Vs. Environment play I also got a chance to try out Player Vs Player mode. In this mode it is basically a free for all in an arena where you just shoot at the enemy color and try and survive. For the most part I kept getting punked by the opposition as soon as I entered the zone. Playing the assault class I found the only way to survive was to find someone else on the same side to team up with on the fly, preferably a medic. While PVP mode has never been my favorite aspect of any MMO, I can see where this part of the game would appeal to some people.
So after trying the beta will I be tempted to pay to play the game, the answer is more than likely yes. Despite some flaws such as getting stuck in the tutorial with a non-functioning jet-pack (which you can skip through thankfully) and very awkward looking leg movements, which I am sure will be solved in the final product. The game works great as a futuristic third-person shooter with some interesting RPG elements and plenty to keep you coming back to it.
Global Agenda Preview (beta)
In the past I have been lucky enough to participate in the beta testing for City of Villains and Auto Assault. So when I got a chance to try out the beta of Global Agenda I jumped at it. What I find great about the whole beta testing process is getting a glimpse into a game before the final version gets released to the public. Even thought the game is already out, I haven’t had a chance to go get it yet, so this is my Global Agenda preview of the beta.
The game is set in a futuristic world where you have a choice of 4 archetypes to play with in recon, assault, medic and robotics. Each caters to different types of game play and has their own advantages and disadvantages. Missions are gained from a hub where you join a team of players to either complete a PvE or PvP mission. I was disappointed that there did not seem to be any solo play options. Character customization is initially limited to just changing the look of the face and hair, unlike games like City of Heroes or Villains which offer a wider range of appearance options. Any further changes in appearance comes at a price, from changing the paint color and armor upgrades that can be purchased later.
The archetype you choose to play really depends on your game style. With Assault you get a fair amount of weapon power with a chain gun, heightened armor and health regeneration abilities. While it was fun to blast away at your opponents I found it limiting and nothing that I have not played before. The only time I found the type truly effective was having a medic nearby to keep healing me as I dealt out the damage.
With a medic you are essentially the healer of the party, throwing off heal bombs and firing a gelatinous heal ray at your teammates. Low on offense power, this is great for anyone who likes to be the support member of the party. I found that if the medic is doing his/her job in the mission the chances of keeping a good tight team from constantly having to re-spawn members goes up considerably. Even though every player gets a jetpack, having to make your way back through the mission map to your team can be tiresome.
The recon class uses steath and speed to make it’s mark in the game. Essentially functioning as a scout you can use invisibility mode which looks great on screen but to me was not very useful when I used it. I am sure if I were to get into that type of game play it might be more interesting in later levels, but early on it did not catch my interest.
Of all of the classes I found robotics the most interesting. It offers the most variety of the four classes, offering both offensive and defensive abilities to the team. The ablity to create a shield or auto turret on the fly were fun and gave me something more to do than just shooting the heck out of enemy robots. It is definately a class I would be tempted to play more and see what could be done in higher levels.
Overall the key to playing this game seems to be teamwork. As long as you keep your party in a tight group and each class/archetype does their job the survival rate really remains high. Most times by playing this way you can finish in time with very little re-spawning. While you will do most of your fighting with range weapons, there are melee weapons for each class that seem to be more useful in the Player VS. Player Environment.
In addition to Player Vs. Environment play I also got a chance to try out Player Vs Player mode. In this mode it is basically a free for all in an arena where you just shoot at the enemy color and try and survive. For the most part I kept getting punked by the opposition as soon as I entered the zone. Playing the assault class I found the only way to survive was to find someone else on the same side to team up with on the fly, preferably a medic. While PVP mode has never been my favorite aspect of any MMO, I can see where this part of the game would appeal to some people.
So after trying the beta will I be tempted to pay to play the game, the answer is more than likely yes. Despite some flaws such as getting stuck in the tutorial with a non-functioning jet-pack (which you can skip through thankfully) and very awkward looking leg movements, which I am sure will be solved in the final product. The game works great as a futuristic third-person shooter with some interesting RPG elements and plenty to keep you coming back to it.
Global Agenda Has Arrived
Global Agenda doesn’t actually launch until the beginning of February, but I received a nice treat in the mail the other week, the Limited Edition. It’s not because I am some well known blogger, on a special list, or friendly with the developer. The reason I received the game nearly two weeks before the servers go live is just because Hi-Rez Studios is smart.
Hi-Rez has spearheaded a multitude of issues by delivering the game to players early – I am not the only one to have the game in hand. The most obvious is that the arrival of the game itself, and all of the extras included within, will create a bit of (hopefully positive) media buzz ahead of the official release. That’s something all video games would enjoy. The inclusion of beta access in the box only adds to this. While waiting for the live servers I’ve taken the opportunity to get a handful of hours in with each character class. Sure, I could have done that as part of the beta that’s been running, but I didn’t bother until the game was in hand for some reason.
Speaking of the beta process, I think it’s safe to assume that the developer is watching who’s in the beta, who’s a pre-orderer and who went from beta to having a purchased copy. By doing so the company could estimate how many players are signing up for the game, as opposed to being beta participants. Thus extrapolating what kind of server load can be expected on February 1, 2010. Hopefully this negates any over or underpopulated server issues that can decimate a game’s launch.
Being ready for that fateful day may be the best perk of all. By having the game already installed, patched and ready to go, everyone should be on the same playing field. No shipping delays, missed UPS delivery persons or other shenanigans to force your friends to leave you behind, never to catch up.
/me cleans his gun, readies his jetback and polishes his mines in anticipation.
It’d be nice to see other MMOG getting in our hands a few days early, don’t you think?
Global Agenda Has Arrived
Global Agenda doesn’t actually launch until the beginning of February, but I received a nice treat in the mail the other week, the Limited Edition. It’s not because I am some well known blogger, on a special list, or friendly with the developer. The reason I received the game nearly two weeks before the servers go live is just because Hi-Rez Studios is smart.
Hi-Rez has spearheaded a multitude of issues by delivering the game to players early – I am not the only one to have the game in hand. The most obvious is that the arrival of the game itself, and all of the extras included within, will create a bit of (hopefully positive) media buzz ahead of the official release. That’s something all video games would enjoy. The inclusion of beta access in the box only adds to this. While waiting for the live servers I’ve taken the opportunity to get a handful of hours in with each character class. Sure, I could have done that as part of the beta that’s been running, but I didn’t bother until the game was in hand for some reason.
Speaking of the beta process, I think it’s safe to assume that the developer is watching who’s in the beta, who’s a pre-orderer and who went from beta to having a purchased copy. By doing so the company could estimate how many players are signing up for the game, as opposed to being beta participants. Thus extrapolating what kind of server load can be expected on February 1, 2010. Hopefully this negates any over or underpopulated server issues that can decimate a game’s launch.
Being ready for that fateful day may be the best perk of all. By having the game already installed, patched and ready to go, everyone should be on the same playing field. No shipping delays, missed UPS delivery persons or other shenanigans to force your friends to leave you behind, never to catch up.
/me cleans his gun, readies his jetback and polishes his mines in anticipation.
It’d be nice to see other MMOG getting in our hands a few days early, don’t you think?
Most Anticipated MMOs of 2010
2010 has just started, but everyone knows true gamers never rest. Especially MMORPG gamers. So what better time to take a look at some of the most promising and popular games to be released? Below we will take a look at the most anticipated MMOs of 2010.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
The dream game of any Star Wars fan. Usually video games, especially MMOs, based on popular franchises such as Star Wars are everything else but promising. But this case is different. We have Bioware: one of the greatest developers of role playing games. Also, the game is based on an established series with a huge fanbase behind it(Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic). The release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic is not announced yet, but is set for somewhere around late 2010.
Star Trek Online
This game suffers from the same syndrome as SW: TOR. But it just looks so damn good to pass on. Star Trek Online, in development by Cryptic Studios(the guys behind City of Heroes and Champions Online), promises advanced avatar customization, an incredible world to explore and a great deal of content to pleasure even the most whimsical of fans. Besides, the game’s release is just around the corner – February 2.
Final Fantasy XIV
The console MMO genre evolved a lot with the release of the last Final Fantasy MMORPG – Final Fantasy XI. And now Square Enix want to prove once again that MMORPG’s are just as good on consoles as they are on a PC. Although the new Final Fantasy promises much, all we have for proof right now are a few shots and rumors. Final Fantasy XIV’s estimated release date is set for late 2010.
Global Agenda
Hi-rez studios’ debut game promises you a grand, elf-free exprience. Set in a sci-fi world during the 22nd century where player-made factions struggle for survival, this brand new shooter MMORPG is looking good. Especially with the Unreal 3 engine behind it. Global Agenda sets the bar to new heights with its dynamic PvP, player-driven world, strategy elements and just plain awesomeness. The game’s release game is closer than you think – February 1.
Guild Wars 2
The sequel to ArenaNet’s Guild Wars is a must-have for any fan of the original game. Bigger, better and more much massive. This is Guild Wars 2 in one sentence. ArenaNet also promise to continue the tradition of developing MMORPG’s with no monthly fees. The game is still in early development, but NCSoft have promised to release it no later than Q4 2010.
All Points Bulletin
All Points Bulletin or APB for short, is a Real Life MMORPG in development by Realtime Worlds, the guys behind Crackdown. All Points Bulletin will offer a robust character creation system, player controlled cities, two factions – Enforcers and Criminals and a very competitive gameplay experience. Not to mention the game looks amazing on screenshots and videos with the urban environment being a great alternative to fantasy dungeons and space ships. All Points Bulletin is set for release around Q1 2010.
Mortal Online
A first person MMORPG in development by Star Vault, Mortal Online promises to take the genre to take you on a glorious fantasy trip with its hardcore role playing system, brutal world and competitive gameplay where you are free to choice your own path. Mortal Online is powered by the Unreal engine which makes for a beautiful and slick visual experience. The game is currently in beta testing and the estimated release date is Q2 2010.
Most Anticipated MMOs of 2010
2010 has just started, but everyone knows true gamers never rest. Especially MMORPG gamers. So what better time to take a look at some of the most promising and popular games to be released? Below we will take a look at the most anticipated MMOs of 2010.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
The dream game of any Star Wars fan. Usually video games, especially MMOs, based on popular franchises such as Star Wars are everything else but promising. But this case is different. We have Bioware: one of the greatest developers of role playing games. Also, the game is based on an established series with a huge fanbase behind it(Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic). The release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic is not announced yet, but is set for somewhere around late 2010.
Star Trek Online
This game suffers from the same syndrome as SW: TOR. But it just looks so damn good to pass on. Star Trek Online, in development by Cryptic Studios(the guys behind City of Heroes and Champions Online), promises advanced avatar customization, an incredible world to explore and a great deal of content to pleasure even the most whimsical of fans. Besides, the game’s release is just around the corner – February 2.
Final Fantasy XIV
The console MMO genre evolved a lot with the release of the last Final Fantasy MMORPG – Final Fantasy XI. And now Square Enix want to prove once again that MMORPG’s are just as good on consoles as they are on a PC. Although the new Final Fantasy promises much, all we have for proof right now are a few shots and rumors. Final Fantasy XIV’s estimated release date is set for late 2010.
Global Agenda
Hi-rez studios’ debut game promises you a grand, elf-free exprience. Set in a sci-fi world during the 22nd century where player-made factions struggle for survival, this brand new shooter MMORPG is looking good. Especially with the Unreal 3 engine behind it. Global Agenda sets the bar to new heights with its dynamic PvP, player-driven world, strategy elements and just plain awesomeness. The game’s release game is closer than you think – February 1.
Guild Wars 2
The sequel to ArenaNet’s Guild Wars is a must-have for any fan of the original game. Bigger, better and more much massive. This is Guild Wars 2 in one sentence. ArenaNet also promise to continue the tradition of developing MMORPG’s with no monthly fees. The game is still in early development, but NCSoft have promised to release it no later than Q4 2010.
All Points Bulletin
All Points Bulletin or APB for short, is a Real Life MMORPG in development by Realtime Worlds, the guys behind Crackdown. All Points Bulletin will offer a robust character creation system, player controlled cities, two factions – Enforcers and Criminals and a very competitive gameplay experience. Not to mention the game looks amazing on screenshots and videos with the urban environment being a great alternative to fantasy dungeons and space ships. All Points Bulletin is set for release around Q1 2010.
Mortal Online
A first person MMORPG in development by Star Vault, Mortal Online promises to take the genre to take you on a glorious fantasy trip with its hardcore role playing system, brutal world and competitive gameplay where you are free to choice your own path. Mortal Online is powered by the Unreal engine which makes for a beautiful and slick visual experience. The game is currently in beta testing and the estimated release date is Q2 2010.
Global Agenda Four Pack + Females With Useful Gear
Those of you that have been on the fence about purchasing Global Agenda should grab your calculators. If the Global Agenda Limited Edition didn’t cause you to break you wallet, perhaps this new deal will. Following the recent (successful) trend of selling multiplayer games in bundles, Steam has just unveiled a Global Agenda four pack. The pack isn’t as sweet as Left 4 Dead 2’s or Borderlands’, but at $137.97 the purchasers will save $15 over normal retail.
As a consumer, I really wish Steam would stop running these four packs after the standard and limited edition versions have been made available. I probably would have purchased the LE for the perks anyways, but at the same time, I would have tried to round up three friends for the the discounted foursome. As a business person, I understand the reasoning behind catching the early adopters ASAP, and then going for the people on the fence.
In other Global Agenda news, Techland.com has a feature touting the sci-fi shooters “femme fatale” quadruplets. The females in Global Agenda break the genre convention of sexy body parts being immune to all damage. Instead, males and females alike will don heavy duty armor to protect them from the bullets and plasma that will be flying their way.
Lead character artist Sean McBride said “It’s a little easier in fantasy games as it could be explained away with magic, or her ability to finesse around the other characters. It’s a little different when you put guns into the mix and think about someone not wearing body armor around their heart.”
The art, and decision, goes along with Hi-Rez Studios “No Elves” campaign of breaking popular MMOG conventions. However, I can’t help but think some of the females are stuffing the wrong part of their armor.
