[E3 2008] SOCOM Confrontation
Slant Six takes a stab at replicating the kind of online success that Zipper Interactive had with taking SOCOM online -- this time on the PS3!
Published: July 25, 2008
The SOCOM series is almost single-handedly responsible for the PlayStation even having an online network. Think about that for a second. Sure, the PlayStation Network as it exists on the PS3 probably would have happened eventually, but the speed at which Sony adapts and upgrades their online service wouldn't be nearly as swift without the SOCOM games to provide the test bed on the PlayStation 2. In a very real sense, SOCOM helped found the PlayStation 2 online service and kept it afloat, moving Network Adapters and providing a prime conduit for prospective PlayStation 3 owners looking to upgrade.
It's even more amazing that there hasn't yet been a SOCOM game on the PS3 in the year and a half that it's been out, and though SOCOM Confrontation isn't technically a full-blown sequel, it's definitely going to sate those looking to play the online component, which was easily the most played half of the PS2 games to begin with.
We only got a brief look at the game, which should be hitting the PSN in just a few months, but what we saw, the remade classic map Crossroads was plenty promising. In addition to all the fancy pants visual upgrades to things like depth-of-field effects, motion blur, heat wave effects, and so on, we got to see little details like fully modeled bullet casings that would get ejected from rifles, land on the trunk of a car and then roll off the back with full physics interactions. No, it doesn't really add anything to the game itself, but it was still cool to see that level of attention to detail.
The map itself has been slightly altered to allow for better flow and to increase the overall size, plus account for some of the more basic changes like cars that will explode with enough rounds pumped into them and the increased mobility of the various special forces in the game. British SAS, French GIGN, German KSK, Spanish UOE and of course the SEALs will all be available when the game hits in October.
Though the game was being played online against QA folks up in Foster City and with Slant Six employees in Vancouver, we didn't actually get a chance to take it all for a spin beyond a quick bit of firing while running around the Crossroads map. We definitely want to spend more time with the game, but we're going to have to wait a few more weeks before we can get proper extended hands-on time with things.
One more little note for those interested in just how communications with the game will be handled: though it hasn't been finalized yet, the official PS3 Bluetooth headset was indeed on show, and will obviously be crucial to making coordinated attacks on the other team. Interestingly enough, the audio in the game will support broadcasting conversations into the actual game environment, modeling the voice chatter around the actual various nearby walls of the levels. It's actually possible to sneak up on the enemy and listen in on their conversations if you're good enough, and as a complement to the game's 7.1 surround audio, the voice communication in the game should offer plenty of oohs and ahhhs the first few times players hear them.
We'll have more very, very soon, but in the mean time be sure to check out the all new screens and video we've tossed up.
It's even more amazing that there hasn't yet been a SOCOM game on the PS3 in the year and a half that it's been out, and though SOCOM Confrontation isn't technically a full-blown sequel, it's definitely going to sate those looking to play the online component, which was easily the most played half of the PS2 games to begin with.
We only got a brief look at the game, which should be hitting the PSN in just a few months, but what we saw, the remade classic map Crossroads was plenty promising. In addition to all the fancy pants visual upgrades to things like depth-of-field effects, motion blur, heat wave effects, and so on, we got to see little details like fully modeled bullet casings that would get ejected from rifles, land on the trunk of a car and then roll off the back with full physics interactions. No, it doesn't really add anything to the game itself, but it was still cool to see that level of attention to detail.
The map itself has been slightly altered to allow for better flow and to increase the overall size, plus account for some of the more basic changes like cars that will explode with enough rounds pumped into them and the increased mobility of the various special forces in the game. British SAS, French GIGN, German KSK, Spanish UOE and of course the SEALs will all be available when the game hits in October.
Though the game was being played online against QA folks up in Foster City and with Slant Six employees in Vancouver, we didn't actually get a chance to take it all for a spin beyond a quick bit of firing while running around the Crossroads map. We definitely want to spend more time with the game, but we're going to have to wait a few more weeks before we can get proper extended hands-on time with things.
One more little note for those interested in just how communications with the game will be handled: though it hasn't been finalized yet, the official PS3 Bluetooth headset was indeed on show, and will obviously be crucial to making coordinated attacks on the other team. Interestingly enough, the audio in the game will support broadcasting conversations into the actual game environment, modeling the voice chatter around the actual various nearby walls of the levels. It's actually possible to sneak up on the enemy and listen in on their conversations if you're good enough, and as a complement to the game's 7.1 surround audio, the voice communication in the game should offer plenty of oohs and ahhhs the first few times players hear them.
We'll have more very, very soon, but in the mean time be sure to check out the all new screens and video we've tossed up.
