The Agency spies on PC and PS3 @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on June 11, 2007

News: New 'MMO action shooter' takes a secret agent slant.

Sony Online Entertainment has announced a new Massively Multiplayer Online Action Shooter (MMOAS) for the PS3 and PC known as The Agency.

?The inspiration for The Agency came from the spy and espionage genre. We want to put players in the heart of the action to experience what it's really like to live the life of an elite agent,? said Hal Milton, Lead Designer, Sony Online Entertainment. ?Players will jet set around this virtual world to exotic locales, infiltrate enemy organizations to steal secrets and perpetrate sabotage, all the while building their own agency with an eye towards global domination.?

The Agency will allow players to become an operative in one of two shadowy organizations: the UNITE spies or the ParaGON mercenaries. Once a side has been chosen, players will choose their class by "suiting up" before each mission with a variety of gadgets and other accessories.

?SOE is looking to take the online gaming industry to new places with The Agency, not only in terms of its theme, but also in its design. It's accessible to all types of players, blending genres and changing up established conventions. It's different from anything SOE has released before,? said Matt Wilson, Director of Development, SOE Seattle. ?Our goal is to break from traditional online games and provide players with a ?fun now, no waiting' gameplay experience in a dynamic, ever-evolving online world.?

Other features of The Agency include:

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.

We'll have more on The Agency soon.