Want More SOCOM 3 Maps? 'Course Ya Do!
That was a rye reference, and it has nothing to do with SEALs shooting people.
Published: June 27, 2006
Microtransactions may have been something Sony was touting all the way back during E3 2001 (or was it 2002? They're all a blur now), but it never really came to fruition on the PlayStation 2 like originally intended. Remember the PS2 AOL service? The HDD add-on? The online service that would let you stream 5.1 movies and talk to people phone-style for free? Ohoo, it's so fun to bag on Sony these days. Sorry, guys.
That doesn't mean the concept of microstransactions are being held off until the PlayStation 3 hits in November, though. In fact, the folks at Sony Computer Entertainment America are using the strength of their 800 pound online gorilla, SOCOM 3 to drain a little juice from gamers' bank accounts in the form of the first downloadable Map Pack (we use capitals because it's that special).
Map Pack #1 is actually a collection of three older maps -- the stuff that you could only get if you had shelled out $100 for the HDD and had SOCOM II. Now pay attention here, this is important: starting today, you can download the Pack and play the games to your heart's content for the next two weeks. After that point, the maps will cost you $5.99. Think of it as a trial run, kinda like how HBO and Showtime are free for a week once a year -- except you don't have to listen to someone begging you to call your cable company and subscribe. At least we hope not.
The three maps are as follows (lovingly cut/pasted from Sony's own mouth):
[After Hours] is an urban map inspired by the Korean city of Seoul and is playable with up to 16 players in Suppression, Demolition and Control gametypes in a day or night setting.
[Liberation] is based on a North African seaside city. It is playable with up to 16 players in Suppression, Demolition, Control and Escort gametypes in a day or night setting.
[Last Bastion] is set in rural Albania at the ruins of a riverside castle. It is playable with up to 16 players in Suppression, Extraction, Breach and Control gametypes in day or night setting.
What are you waiting for, man? There's only... 325.5 hours left to play the maps for free! Go go go go go!
That doesn't mean the concept of microstransactions are being held off until the PlayStation 3 hits in November, though. In fact, the folks at Sony Computer Entertainment America are using the strength of their 800 pound online gorilla, SOCOM 3 to drain a little juice from gamers' bank accounts in the form of the first downloadable Map Pack (we use capitals because it's that special).
Map Pack #1 is actually a collection of three older maps -- the stuff that you could only get if you had shelled out $100 for the HDD and had SOCOM II. Now pay attention here, this is important: starting today, you can download the Pack and play the games to your heart's content for the next two weeks. After that point, the maps will cost you $5.99. Think of it as a trial run, kinda like how HBO and Showtime are free for a week once a year -- except you don't have to listen to someone begging you to call your cable company and subscribe. At least we hope not.
The three maps are as follows (lovingly cut/pasted from Sony's own mouth):
[After Hours] is an urban map inspired by the Korean city of Seoul and is playable with up to 16 players in Suppression, Demolition and Control gametypes in a day or night setting.
[Liberation] is based on a North African seaside city. It is playable with up to 16 players in Suppression, Demolition, Control and Escort gametypes in a day or night setting.
[Last Bastion] is set in rural Albania at the ruins of a riverside castle. It is playable with up to 16 players in Suppression, Extraction, Breach and Control gametypes in day or night setting.
What are you waiting for, man? There's only... 325.5 hours left to play the maps for free! Go go go go go!
