From GameInformer (http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200801/N08.0104.1427.24837.htm)
Sony Online Entertainment’s upcoming game the Agency is full of “Why hasn’t anyone else thought of this,” gameplay concepts and ideas. As though the thought of playing an MMO shooter in a slick world of superspies and mercenaries isn’t cool enough, the game adds a collectible (and actually functional) Operative system and seemingly plenty to do between intrigue-filled missions. We spoke with lead designer Hal Milton about the game and got him to talk us through a mission, explain how the game got its start and describe how combat works. While he wasn’t ready to give up the goods on pricing yet, he gave would-be spies everywhere plenty to ponder between now and when the game is released.

http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/rdonlyres/C336E190-7CFB-4AD1-A624-69C6827E6599/14817/age1.jpg

We’re building places that are based on the world, but we can’t build the entire planet—that’s what expansions are for [laughs]. But Operatives put the whole world into play. They go everywhere that you can’t. So you can send a guy out to investigate a gang you’re going to go after in Prague, but they’re home base is in Lithuania. So they’re doing these things in real time, whether or not you’re in the game world. So what that means is you go into your PS3 or an alternate client, like a Web browser or even your cell phone, and you can set up Operatives on assignments that they’ll then execute.

Hrm, that sounds perfect for the PSP remote login :D

edit-
GI: You mentioned players being able to interact with the game via e-mails and cell-phone texts. Will the Agency support the PSP, too?

Milton: Oh, I’m not allowed to talk about that. Needless to say, the PSP is a very interesting alternate interface. [laughs] We’re not committing to anything there, but for a game that involves spies, mercs and technology, the PSP is a natural. We’re definitely looking at that platform for things in the future.

Bah..

http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/rdonlyres/C336E190-7CFB-4AD1-A624-69C6827E6599/14819/age4.jpg

I CAN'T WAIT for this game. One thing I'm not sure of though? Is this game a straight up MMO Shooter or does it have RPG elements? I'm obviously not looking to grind sewer rats in Paris for hours on end but I'd love to see some kind of simple RPG upgrade system that gives players who have been playing longer an advantage without taking away the possibility that a n00b could annihilate a vet if they're skilled enough.

Regardless this game looks awesome and I can't wait to lose part of my life to it.

I'm really looking forward to this. I believe it will have several RPG elements such as the contacts mentioned in the article above and upgradeable gear and abilities. Sounds to me like the mission and leveling set up may be a lot like how Dungeons and Daragons online is set up. Intially Sony also talked about PvP based missions.

All I know is that I signed up for the beta like 6-8 months ago. If I get passed over on this one too I'll be pissed.

I've been looking forward to more info about this game. Seems like they've been pretty quite for the last few months.

I'm guessing the shooter part of the game will be implemented like Tabula Rasa. If you're not familiar with it, aiming is simply another modifier to your "to hit rolls". It'll be an RPG for sure, and aiming should just effect your target selection and give you some bonuses to your hit and damage.

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched for this game. I like that he mentioned
If we just made moment to moment combat and that’s all we made, it would be done.
It means they are putting a lot of effort in to the other aspects of gameplay.

Seems cool.

I'm guessing the shooter part of the game will be implemented like Tabula Rasa. If you're not familiar with it, aiming is simply another modifier to your "to hit rolls". It'll be an RPG for sure, and aiming should just effect your target selection and give you some bonuses to your hit and damage.

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched for this game. I like that he mentioned

It means they are putting a lot of effort in to the other aspects of gameplay.

Nope, this ones a shooter first. Whereas Tabula Rasa was a run-of-the-mill MMORPG that tried to bring in shooter fans by actually letting you aim, The Agency is an MMO Shooter. There may be some RPG elements, hell I hope there are, but it's meant to be a shooter in a large open persistent world. Tabula Rasa's shooting sucks, it's slow-paced and pretty pointless. In the Agency if you're a noob you're not gonna immediately be trailing miles behind all the guys that have been playing for a year, but at the same time if you've been playing for a long time chances are you've got yourself some nice toys and operatives to give you an advantage.

Nope, this ones a shooter first. Whereas Tabula Rasa was a run-of-the-mill MMORPG that tried to bring in shooter fans by actually letting you aim, The Agency is an MMO Shooter. There may be some RPG elements, hell I hope there are, but it's meant to be a shooter in a large open persistent world. Tabula Rasa's shooting sucks, it's slow-paced and pretty pointless. In the Agency if you're a noob you're not gonna immediately be trailing miles behind all the guys that have been playing for a year, but at the same time if you've been playing for a long time chances are you've got yourself some nice toys and operatives to give you an advantage.

Huh.. the only info I can find about that is a Q&A (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14269) from back in June.

When we were watching the gameplay demo we saw there was a little FPS shooting. Is it an FPS?

It’s both first and third person shooting, but the main component there is shooting. One of the things we wanted to do is combine the best of the mainstream action genre. So if think of mainstream shooting games, you know you see a lot of them on the console and on the PC, we really want to take advantage of that and bring a new audience to what typically is a fantasy online world.

After that, we want to take the two [genres], the best of the MMO and the best of the shooter, and combine those to develop something that is new that is pushing the online space forward.

I guess it was the third person reference that made me think it was Tabula Rasa like. But, TBH I like your version better :D

Isn't this free for PS3 owners? Thought I heard that somewhere. Are they going to be charging for DLC?

JSLM

Last I heard they were heavily considering to not have any monthly fees, which for other MMOs are pretty pricey.

BTW, in case anyone didn't read that interview from the other thread, The Agency will support mouse & keyboard on the PS3!

Some gameplay from CES.

EDIT:
Crappy old footage removed. See bkchurch's post below.

Some gameplay from CES.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/156123.html

It looks even more stylized than I was expecting from the screenshots.

EDIT:
This may not be new. The game footage is from a year ago according to some reports.

OMG I WANT THIS GAME NOW!

If it doesn't have monthly fees that would be pretty sweet too.

Looks like it may not have quite as many RPG elements as I'd like but the combination of getting new gear and operatives should quell those desires.

CES Developer Walkthrough

Part 1: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29479.html
Part 2: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29480.html

CES Developer Walkthrough

Part 1: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29479.html
Part 2: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29480.htmlQ-bert?! Cool.

That's much, much better, looks all kinds of awesome. What's with the cameraman though? Zoom in on the damn screen!

Part 3: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29483.html

I have to say Unite (spies) sounds more fun than Paragon (mercs).

Part 3: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29483.html

I have to say Unite (spies) sounds more fun than Paragon (mercs).

Agreed, I'm pumped to make a suave Bond-like superspy. I may make an alt in Paragon just to give the crazy balls-to-the-walls act-before-you-think mercs a try though.

Edit: That was easily the best of the walkthrough segments. I really like the fact that the shooting actually looks really solid instead of looking like some tacked on afterthought. You can really tell they're focusing on the action first.

One feature I like that he mentioned was that your "class" depends on the outfit you wear, not what class you chose six months ago when you started to play. I'll keep an eye on this one.

One feature I like that he mentioned was that your "class" depends on the outfit you wear, not what class you chose six months ago when you started to play. I'll keep an eye on this one.

Yea that seems cool to. Again it makes me hope for RPG elements though. I'd like to able to improve with each class the more I play with them from both A) getting new skills and equipment for that class and of course B) actually becoming more skilled playing a certain class.

Here's a good hi-def interview (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/20509.html) showing some action from awhile back.

This game looks better each time they show it. I'm looking forward to seeing the PvP combat too.

Here's a good hi-def interview (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/20509.html) showing some action from awhile back.

Ahhh, why would you do that to me? I was gonna go to bed, now I have to sit up and wait for this dl then watch it because I want this game more and more each time I see it.

FFXIII may have competition for my most anticipated PS3 game.

Edit: Watched it, good stuff. The enviroments you could use some work, they looks kind've flat. But the character models are pretty good. The whole thing seems pretty stylized overall though.

Well those walk-throughs sold me on at least trying it out.

looks pretty good, however he lost about 80% of my interest when he said "consenual PvP" I hope they dont turn it into "Spy A is trying to attack you, do you wish to be attacked?" Hopefully consenual PVP is more along the lines of "If you go here you can be attacked freely" and have it be a huge section of the world or entire cities that you almost HAVE to visit to get most of the "l337" items in the game

I can't wait to be in my weekly staff meeting and get a text msg.....

Excuse me guys, my operative just finished my super car.

looks pretty good, however he lost about 80% of my interest when he said "consenual PvP" I hope they dont turn it into "Spy A is trying to attack you, do you wish to be attacked?" Hopefully consenual PVP is more along the lines of "If you go here you can be attacked freely" and have it be a huge section of the world or entire cities that you almost HAVE to visit to get most of the "l337" items in the game

100% agree. I would like completely open PvP (ala Shadowbane) but will settle for WoW-like PvP (open areas are PvP areas but you don't lose xp or loot if killed). This consensual BS will not fly.

You take a game like this and add the fear of loss (if you get ganked, you lose whatever you gathered that day and forgot to bank), you have a hit and I would gladly pay WHATEVER they decide to charge.

I'm all about hardcore PvP rules as well, but I get the impression from the interviews that they're going to take the fluffy bunny approach. The way he kept touting the fun and friendly stuff, I wouldn't be too surprised if PvP was purely consensual.

That being said, I like all the other aspects of the game from the videos. The art is cool, the gameplay looks varied(which is rare in an MMO), and the skills and operatives have a lot of potential.

I think the PvP would have to be consensual. Remember this is a shooter first and headshots count. I imagine you'd be pretty pissed if you were on your way to an instance only to discover a bunch of douchebags running around annihilating people or someone on a roof sniping (read: headshots) other players.

I'm all about hardcore PvP rules as well, but I get the impression from the interviews that they're going to take the fluffy bunny approach. The way he kept touting the fun and friendly stuff, I wouldn't be too surprised if PvP was purely consensual.

That being said, I like all the other aspects of the game from the videos. The art is cool, the gameplay looks varied(which is rare in an MMO), and the skills and operatives have a lot of potential.

After watching the videos, the care bear PvP is confirmed. It will indeed be consensual. As much as that sucks IMO, the other aspects of the game are great. I'll still be all over this. I was very impressed how it played as a shooter. Didn't I hear him mention someone from COD4 is helping develop or was that just a COD4 gamer playing Agency?

I think the PvP would have to be consensual. Remember this is a shooter first and headshots count. I imagine you'd be pretty pissed if you were on your way to an instance only to discover a bunch of douchebags running around annihilating people or someone on a roof sniping (read: headshots) other players.

True. I still think open pvp areas should be made available. Kinda like arenas in EQ where soon as you enter its open season. Would add some fun to the game I would think. I guess that qualifies as consensual in a sense.

In Guild Wars I was 90% PvP and 10% PvE, however for PvP it was in restricted areas which is how I like it. When I'm in solo mode I would hate to be ganked when I wasn't in the mood to fight back.

That is probably what they mean by consensual. Most, if not all, MMO's had some choice based on server or world location, rather than a 'Do you want to fight popup'.