SOE’s ‘The Agency’ Details Emerge

SOE has announced today they are working on the PS3’s first MMO. Not only that, but it will also be a cross-platform MMO between the PS3 and PC. The game is called ‘The Agency’ and it will be set in the mysterious world of espionage.

When the game starts, the players can choose between two different agencies: UNITE and ParaGON. The UNITE agency focuses on stealth and planning, while the ParaGON agency is more of the “in your face” guns blazing group. In other words, when the ParaGON agency is around, everyone knows.

Some other interesting gameplay notes follows:

• Become An Elite Agent: The Agency offers hundreds of unique missions with varied end-goals requiring combat, stealth, and style. With gameplay ranging from sneaky assassinations to all out assaults, from vehicle challenges to casinos loaded with mini-games, there’s something for every aspiring agent.

• Build Your Own Agency: As players advance through the ranks of their faction, they’ll also begin building their own Agencies. Players will increase their power even further by creating Joint Agencies with others.

• Mercenary or spy, the choice is yours: In the Agency, collect the right weaponry, gadgets, vehicles, gear, attire and aliases to gain access to various locales and influence over the people within them.

• Put Operatives to work: Operatives are collectible non-player characters who provide the goods player’s desire, the services to keep them alive, and allow them to concentrate on the mission at hand. Operatives work 24/7, regardless of whether players are logged in, and they can even keep them up-to-date through email and instant messages.

• Fun Now, No Waiting: The Agency is not about waiting for the fun to start. At any point, players can take a break from their high-flying career to engage in a number of other activities. Veterans and new players alike can take on other players at the card tables, the shooting range, or in head-to-head combat.

It sounds like a pretty interesting concept for an MMO. I’m glad to see SOE is taking the MMO market into a new and interesting direction rather than making another Fantasy game. I swear if I have to play another MMO where I’m deciding between an Elf and a Dwarf, I’m going to kill myself. One thing I’m unsure of is if the game has RPG elements or will strictly be a FPS. I guess we’ll have to wait and see when SOE reveals that information.