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The Agency (video game)
Encyclopedia
The Agency was a spy-themed massively multiplayer online
shooter
. It was being developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment
studios in Seattle for Windows
and PlayStation 3
. On March 31, 2011, production was discontinued after the closure of SOE's Seattle studio.
The game was to feature first-person shooter
-style gun fighting, with the ability to switch between third and first person views, with some driving and other vehicular segments as well. Skill would be the primary determining factor in the success of the player, though some RPG elements will come into play as well. It has been mentioned that one shot to the head would instantly kill any player, suggesting it will be a somewhat realistic shooter. The game would also include relevant subgames and minigames, among them casino games such as Texas hold 'em
, which could be played for fun or can be used to initiate instance
missions, such as losing or winning enough games to draw the attention of an NPC
.
In an interview on All Games Interactive, the developers had stated that the title would be primarily a shooter where a headshot is still a headshot, but other enhancements will be unlocked by the player depending on what they accomplish in the game. However, unlike other titles in which low level players have little to no chance in finishing off a high level veteran, it is possible to do so in the game. Although the high level player would take out many of the low level players in the example, they would "look cool" while doing so based on the skills and options that they have purchased in developing their character, but will eventually die. PvP will also be introduced as an option for players, not as a requirement for play. The user interface
would be streamlined in comparison to most massively multiplayer online games, operating more like that of a shooter
game to increase ease of interaction in the environment and streamline the combat and inventory processes.
Players would also be able to switch roles depending on what gear their avatar decides to wear. Players inclined to pursue an assault class will simply need to wear assault-type equipment, stealth players will wear stealthy equipment, and so on, negating the need to create a new character type every time they wish to experiment with a different play style. The amount of gear and costumes that each player will have access to will grow as they accomplish tasks within the game, allowing for more options. There will also be a firing range-type environment available for players to test weapons and gadgets.
The world is not a seamless environment encompassing the globe. The environment of the game is being developed around a hub and spoke system where public areas can branch off into other public zones or private areas. Players would be able to encounter other players in public areas who can join them as part of a team to help complete objectives for an assigned mission. Most of the title would be focused on player missions that can be tackled solo or with up to three other members as a team during a mission. This number can increase to eight players during what have been called "crossover" missions, up to thirty two players in any area during PvP battles. Players will also be able to walk to destinations close to them, but will be able to take trains, planes, or other means of transportation to get to far off locations such as other cities or areas.
Ground, water, and air challenges with vehicles were also being planned to be part of the title. Mission types would include assault, patrol, delivery, cross-over objectives, assassination, and others inspired by many sources such as espionage films. Mini-games such as casino style gambling would also be present. Missions would be divided into "short" missions that would take 10–15 minutes to complete, "medium-length" missions of approximately 30–60 minutes, and "set pieces" that would sometimes take well over an hour to complete.
in other MMOs. Networks in The Agency: Covert Ops would have access to special network missions that would pit rival player teams against each other in a competition to complete a common objective first. In an interview with AGI, the developers have stated that those clan-like groupings would also be called 'joint agencies'.
. They also stated that they would attempt to develop the title in order to use all of the available resolution capabilities present in the PS3. Voice communication was also a feature to be used in the title and the PS3 hard drive would feature heavily in their ability to deliver content to the player.
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
shooter
Shooter game
Shooter games are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common...
. It was being developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
studios in Seattle for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. On March 31, 2011, production was discontinued after the closure of SOE's Seattle studio.
Storyline
There was little released on the storyline, although it was hinted that there would be one that ties together all of the agencies within the game.Agencies
Upon starting the game the player would have the opportunity to join one of two agencies, which would determine the style of missions they would receive during gameplay.- The United Network of Intelligence and Tactical Experts (U.N.I.T.E) are the world's most elite secret agents. They are the forefront of the fight against terrorism, corruption, and rogue states around the globe. U.N.I.T.E. agents are deadly specialists in stealth and subterfuge, with access to technology the public has never seen before.
- The Paramilitary Global Operations Network (ParaGON) is one of the largest private armies in the world, serving clients both upstanding and unsavory. ParaGON's efficient, honorable, and often unconventional mercenaries can be found putting duct tape and high explosives to new and exciting uses on every continent.
Gameplay
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
-style gun fighting, with the ability to switch between third and first person views, with some driving and other vehicular segments as well. Skill would be the primary determining factor in the success of the player, though some RPG elements will come into play as well. It has been mentioned that one shot to the head would instantly kill any player, suggesting it will be a somewhat realistic shooter. The game would also include relevant subgames and minigames, among them casino games such as Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
, which could be played for fun or can be used to initiate instance
Instance dungeon
In massively multiplayer online games, an instance is a special area, typically a dungeon, that generates a new copy of the location for each group, or for certain number of players, that enters the area. Instancing, the general term for the use of this technique, addresses several problems...
missions, such as losing or winning enough games to draw the attention of an NPC
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
.
In an interview on All Games Interactive, the developers had stated that the title would be primarily a shooter where a headshot is still a headshot, but other enhancements will be unlocked by the player depending on what they accomplish in the game. However, unlike other titles in which low level players have little to no chance in finishing off a high level veteran, it is possible to do so in the game. Although the high level player would take out many of the low level players in the example, they would "look cool" while doing so based on the skills and options that they have purchased in developing their character, but will eventually die. PvP will also be introduced as an option for players, not as a requirement for play. The user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
would be streamlined in comparison to most massively multiplayer online games, operating more like that of a shooter
Shooter game
Shooter games are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common...
game to increase ease of interaction in the environment and streamline the combat and inventory processes.
Players would also be able to switch roles depending on what gear their avatar decides to wear. Players inclined to pursue an assault class will simply need to wear assault-type equipment, stealth players will wear stealthy equipment, and so on, negating the need to create a new character type every time they wish to experiment with a different play style. The amount of gear and costumes that each player will have access to will grow as they accomplish tasks within the game, allowing for more options. There will also be a firing range-type environment available for players to test weapons and gadgets.
The world is not a seamless environment encompassing the globe. The environment of the game is being developed around a hub and spoke system where public areas can branch off into other public zones or private areas. Players would be able to encounter other players in public areas who can join them as part of a team to help complete objectives for an assigned mission. Most of the title would be focused on player missions that can be tackled solo or with up to three other members as a team during a mission. This number can increase to eight players during what have been called "crossover" missions, up to thirty two players in any area during PvP battles. Players will also be able to walk to destinations close to them, but will be able to take trains, planes, or other means of transportation to get to far off locations such as other cities or areas.
Ground, water, and air challenges with vehicles were also being planned to be part of the title. Mission types would include assault, patrol, delivery, cross-over objectives, assassination, and others inspired by many sources such as espionage films. Mini-games such as casino style gambling would also be present. Missions would be divided into "short" missions that would take 10–15 minutes to complete, "medium-length" missions of approximately 30–60 minutes, and "set pieces" that would sometimes take well over an hour to complete.
Operatives
The concept of Operatives was meant to be a key feature in The Agency: Covert Ops. Players would complete missions to acquire new Operatives. Different types of Operatives would supply the player with anything from in-mission hints to advanced vehicles. Operatives can also initiate instance missions, by calling for help when they are in trouble. Better players would be rewarded with access to the better Operatives to add to their teams, making those players even stronger. Operatives will be stylistically represented as trading cards, which can be sold, auctioned, traded and given to friends and other players.Networks/Joint Agencies
Once players have achieved a certain level of prestige in the game they would be able to create or join "networks" with other players. In terms of functionality, networks are similar to guildsClan (computer gaming)
In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is an organised group of players that regularly play together in a particular multiplayer games. These games range from groups of a few friends to 1000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan...
in other MMOs. Networks in The Agency: Covert Ops would have access to special network missions that would pit rival player teams against each other in a competition to complete a common objective first. In an interview with AGI, the developers have stated that those clan-like groupings would also be called 'joint agencies'.
Black Market
The Black Market would have allowed players to browse through collections of high-tech weapons, surveillance equipment, and home decor.Technical details
The developers stated in an interview with All Games Interactive that 30 frames-per-second was their minimum target frame rateFrame rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. The term applies equally well to computer graphics, video cameras, film cameras, and motion capture systems...
. They also stated that they would attempt to develop the title in order to use all of the available resolution capabilities present in the PS3. Voice communication was also a feature to be used in the title and the PS3 hard drive would feature heavily in their ability to deliver content to the player.