With the help of a small squad of Navy SEALs, Sony Computer Entertainment America kicked off its Gamers’ Day with the unveiling of SOCOM: Confrontation. Significant not only in being the latest installment of an immensely popular franchise (over 10 million SOCOM PlayStation 2 and PSP games have been sold as of this writing) , this marks its first foray onto PlayStation 3. Big changes are on the horizon for the series as the game takes on next-generation hardware with a radically new approach. While we weren’t able to go hands-on with the game, we did receive an early glimpse into this interesting new version.
SOCOM: Confrontation will dramatically differ from any previous game in the franchise by focusing purely on multiplayer. Gone is the story-driven single player campaign, replaced instead by a bevy of multiplayer modes. Slant Six, the developer behind the game, explains that dropping single player is allowing them to craft a fully featured, compelling online experience. The idea being that with all the attention placed on multiplayer, that the online functionality and design will be razor sharp. That’s the theory, at least. The Vancouver-based studio is taking over the reigns from creators Zipper Interactive with the hopes of creating a dedicated multiplayer game true to the franchise.
We toured a nicely-detailed Middle Eastern level populated by terrorists. Armed with rocket-propelled grenades and semi-automatic rifles, the extremists took every opportunity to open fire on our small band of SEALs. In the short demonstration, we only witnessed interactions between this small group of terrorists and SEALs; however, Slant Six is promising “intimate 32 player real-time combat.”
Jumping into the game, you are able to play as an individual operative; moreover, you have the freedom to select from a range of factions. In line with previous installments, there is a wide range of customization options at your disposal for personalizing your online avatar. Join up with a clan and you can draw unique insignia and even tailor special uniforms to stand your group out from others online. As you gain experience, you increase in rank and open up further options for developing your character. How this system works is being kept under wraps, but expect an enhanced system as used in previous titles.
More details, as well as a fully playable build, are promised for E3 in July. We do know that when the game is complete it will be offered for download via PlayStation Network or on Blu-ray in retail stores. We’ll have additional dtails on this latest version of SOCOM in the coming months.
