What the MAG beta gets right and what it gets wrong Opening statement: While we have listed what the beta gets right and wrong it isn't a criticism of the game, the beta is there to give Zipper a chance to get feedback from the community which gives them time to change ideas before they are implemented into the main game. This is just our thoughts on it, each player will have their own ideas.  

Fans of MAG have been clamouring to get onto the new MAG beta launched last week but just what is the beta all about? Well rather than just a ploy to bring in new players, the new Beta is only for experienced players who already have the original  disk to test out some new improvements before they are thrust onto the community by being implemented into the full game. Also as with all beta’s they are used to work out the bugs and gain valuable feedback on the game. As there is quite a bit of new stuff being tested it is a worth while exercise. As the community rule on MAG, Zipper are going to great lengths to involve them in how the game goes forward. Lets look at some of the new features that are being tested and see if they will make the grade or not.

You need the original disk : If you are hoping to download the MAG beta to get a taste of the game then you are out of luck. The beta this time is just for experienced players to help build the future of the game rather than as a recruitment exercise.

What it gets right : For such a large amount of ideas to be tested properly and to gain valuable feedback, Zipper do need a lot of experienced players who are used to playing MAG and can tell instantly if the new features are improvements or mistakes to take part.

What it gets wrong : From Zippers point of view they need good feedback, having a load of new players playing generally wont be able to give them the feedback they require. But at the same time they may be missing an opportunity to get new players on board. Numbers have dropped off recently, not by drastic numbers but it is still noticeable at times. Especially with the new DLC pack which has been poorly received by the community and generally is quite hard to get numbers for a game quickly. Perhaps opening it up for a month once they are finished with the testing of the new ideas would be a good idea for some fresh blood..

New character slots : Players of the normal game will by now have noticed that the first and most warmly received feature of the beta has already been implemented into the main game. This is the new character slots so you can now have up to three different characters at once. This means you can now have a character from each faction. So you no longer have to wait until you rank all the way up to change sides.

What it gets right : As MAG is really a squad based game it is best played with people you know, although it is still fun to be put in a team with random players as long as they know what they are doing. But over the course of the last year many of my squad members who levelled up a lot faster than me jumped ship to other factions. As i was still stuck on level 50 with Raven i began to loose my squad mates to Valour and SVER meaning that it became more and more the norm that when i logged on to play, my friends where online but i could no longer play along side them. The extra character slots now allow me to have a player in each faction so no matter when i log on i will be able to find some of my old team and get a game. Also it is lots of fun to start fresh and ramp up new characters with new weapons, maps and vehicles without risking loosing my original player who i have refined to suit my style perfectly.

What it gets wrong : The character slots have been introduced already into the main game showing its popularity within the community but at a cost. Albeit quite a reasonable cost it is still an extra cost to the player. The price of 99cent a month is a subscription so it will cost you just under 12 euro a year. If you unlock both the other character slots that cost increases to almost 24 euro a year for something that really should be free.

Splitting the Skills tree : Up until now players unlocked abilities, new weapons and attachments at the same time by spending skill points they achieved for levelling up the character by winning XP in the game. This has now been split into two different options. The abilities are now on their own but still unlocked using skill points earned in game. There are a number of different categories for each ability upgrade. Weapons, medic and spec ops to name a few. Within each category there is an achievement tree allowing you to unlock different abilities by spending your skill points. Each tree has a number of different branches allowing players to follow the path most suited to them at the time.

The Weapons are now unlocked in the section called the supply depot. This is a new feature where you can spend the cash earned in game for getting kills and completing objectives, on new guns and attachments as well as new uniforms and helmets. An interesting idea here also lets you sell items you don't need so if you are short on cash you can sell the flash grenades you never use to fund you gun sights.

What it gets right : Splitting the two sections gives you greater control over upgrading your character as you have many different options in which to spend your well earned skill points. Using cash earned in the game to buy weapons and attachments is a welcome bonus as it splits it from the original method giving you greater control over the attachments you need and want.

What it gets wrong : The main gripe i have with the new Supply depot option is that you still need to level up your character at the same rate as before to be able to buy the weapons you want. So in reality it is still linked to your current characters level. for example the sights and grips for your gun was almost instantly unlockable in the old method, you now need to level your character up to over level 11 before you can start to unlock any useful attachments for your weapons. Starting a new character in new maps is difficult enough without having a sight on your gun, increasing the time until you can get this essential attachment just increases the level of frustration felt in the early missions. If the weapon unlocks where just related to your cash it would still mean you need to earn money to unlock it but you could sacrifice your heavy armour for a new gun sight giving you just that little bit more control over what you can use.

The abilities tree is a big improvement but still it is a little limited as to what you can unlock, with only a minimum amount of different branches to follow players all still level up the same skills at more or less the same rate. Giving more freedom here would give more variety in game as every player would be that little bit more individual in the game.