30 Days Of Planetside, Free!
<div class="IPBDescription">(If you happen to live in the UK)</div> As many of you may know, and ALL of you who have been on IRC with me will know, I like planetside. I like it a lot. This thread is, unsuprisingly, about planetside. If you simply wish to say "Planetside sucks", you needn't bother making the effort to click the "add reply" button.
With that out of the way, a long-winded post ensues! Please feel free to skip any sections which don't apply to you....
For the uninitiated: <u>What is Planetside?</u>
You know, I tried to explain it in words, but I think <a href='http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/PSMovies/PS_AD_LARGE.wmv' target='_blank'>this</a> sums it up best. Please note that everyone in that movie is a real player, with some vehicles containing multiple crewmen.
Combat in planetside is skill-based rather than "I'm level 17 so I pwn you level 6 noob". There is an experience system, but battle rank really only gives you more options rather than more power.
For the initiated: <u>Why should I play Planetside?</u>
Because I said so nub <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
In all seriousness though, you'll never find a game like this anywhere else. At a maximum of 400 players... PER CONTINENT, no FPS out there supports so many players per server.
You can drive tanks, transports, ATVs, Big freaking Mechs, fly gunships, bombers and dropships, or you can footslog, as you'll probably have to at some stage anyway.
For those who read the title and want their free 30 days:
You'll have to buy the April issue of PC format. Ok so it's not *technically* free, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a month of any other MMOG out there, plus you get a magazine and a DVD full of plenty of other goodies (including a very nice Splinter Cell 3 demo).
For those of you who don't live in the UK: I pity you.
Don't worry, there's still a 7-day free trial out there. You'll need to get a CD-Key <a href='http://cmt.ubisoft.fr/planetside_pcgamer/' target='_blank'>HERE</a> and then download the game client <a href='http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/psinstall.exe' target='_blank'>HERE</a>. Don't be scared by the small size of the installer; you have to download a gig or so of game files via the installer. This can be resumed if you turn it off mid-way, so don't worry.
For those who used to play and thought it sucked: It has improved.
Loading times have been drastically reduced by some nice code optimisations. The game has been plauged by balance issues since day one (you think NS is hard to balance? Try balancing THREE empires!), but we're definately closer to balance than we've ever been before.
The Jackhammer is no longer overpowered.
The Terran Republic MAX units are still a little worse than the other empire's, but are at least worth using now (I am a TR MAX user myself).
The Lasher no longer causes your computer to lag up with it's glowing framerate-killing disco balls of death (they were toned down).
The Maelstrom got nerfed.
ATVs now cost one cert point, and are well worth using at that price. Plus there's a new varient with a hellfire launcher attatched which just plain kicks ****.
There is now a point in playing after you hit BR20. Besides the fact that the maximum rank is now BR23, merit commendations are now available. A.k.a, little medals which show up on your character which you earn for killing stuff with a given weapon. Sadly I myself only have the 1-years long-service merit. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
WE HAVE EVENTS NOW! Little fun events once a month which advance the plot in some way. We've had meteor strikes, weird alien voices saying stuff into our brains (that was freaking COOL), and a run-for-the-guns event where the winner got their enemy's weapons for a week. There's another one coming up this month (and one with every patch from now on, at roughly monthly intervals) which promises to be interesting.
So now you have no excuse. Go. Log in. Play. And if you're on the Werner server (that's Europe), join the Terran Republic; I can hook you up with the organised outfits.
In fact, whatever server you join, join the Terran Republic. We get the stylish goggles as shown in my avatar to the left. Do eet for zee goggles!
Oh, and one last thing. If you've played planetside for any length of time, give <a href='http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/PSMovies/Day22.wmv' target='_blank'>this</a> a watch. Should provide a giggle or two
With that out of the way, a long-winded post ensues! Please feel free to skip any sections which don't apply to you....
For the uninitiated: <u>What is Planetside?</u>
You know, I tried to explain it in words, but I think <a href='http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/PSMovies/PS_AD_LARGE.wmv' target='_blank'>this</a> sums it up best. Please note that everyone in that movie is a real player, with some vehicles containing multiple crewmen.
Combat in planetside is skill-based rather than "I'm level 17 so I pwn you level 6 noob". There is an experience system, but battle rank really only gives you more options rather than more power.
For the initiated: <u>Why should I play Planetside?</u>
Because I said so nub <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
In all seriousness though, you'll never find a game like this anywhere else. At a maximum of 400 players... PER CONTINENT, no FPS out there supports so many players per server.
You can drive tanks, transports, ATVs, Big freaking Mechs, fly gunships, bombers and dropships, or you can footslog, as you'll probably have to at some stage anyway.
For those who read the title and want their free 30 days:
You'll have to buy the April issue of PC format. Ok so it's not *technically* free, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than a month of any other MMOG out there, plus you get a magazine and a DVD full of plenty of other goodies (including a very nice Splinter Cell 3 demo).
For those of you who don't live in the UK: I pity you.
Don't worry, there's still a 7-day free trial out there. You'll need to get a CD-Key <a href='http://cmt.ubisoft.fr/planetside_pcgamer/' target='_blank'>HERE</a> and then download the game client <a href='http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/psinstall.exe' target='_blank'>HERE</a>. Don't be scared by the small size of the installer; you have to download a gig or so of game files via the installer. This can be resumed if you turn it off mid-way, so don't worry.
For those who used to play and thought it sucked: It has improved.
Loading times have been drastically reduced by some nice code optimisations. The game has been plauged by balance issues since day one (you think NS is hard to balance? Try balancing THREE empires!), but we're definately closer to balance than we've ever been before.
The Jackhammer is no longer overpowered.
The Terran Republic MAX units are still a little worse than the other empire's, but are at least worth using now (I am a TR MAX user myself).
The Lasher no longer causes your computer to lag up with it's glowing framerate-killing disco balls of death (they were toned down).
The Maelstrom got nerfed.
ATVs now cost one cert point, and are well worth using at that price. Plus there's a new varient with a hellfire launcher attatched which just plain kicks ****.
There is now a point in playing after you hit BR20. Besides the fact that the maximum rank is now BR23, merit commendations are now available. A.k.a, little medals which show up on your character which you earn for killing stuff with a given weapon. Sadly I myself only have the 1-years long-service merit. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
WE HAVE EVENTS NOW! Little fun events once a month which advance the plot in some way. We've had meteor strikes, weird alien voices saying stuff into our brains (that was freaking COOL), and a run-for-the-guns event where the winner got their enemy's weapons for a week. There's another one coming up this month (and one with every patch from now on, at roughly monthly intervals) which promises to be interesting.
So now you have no excuse. Go. Log in. Play. And if you're on the Werner server (that's Europe), join the Terran Republic; I can hook you up with the organised outfits.
In fact, whatever server you join, join the Terran Republic. We get the stylish goggles as shown in my avatar to the left. Do eet for zee goggles!
Oh, and one last thing. If you've played planetside for any length of time, give <a href='http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/PSMovies/Day22.wmv' target='_blank'>this</a> a watch. Should provide a giggle or two
Comments
To make millions of dollars:
- Take planetside
- Apply Starcraft Theme
- Make money
Radeon 9600XT 256mb
AMD 64 3200+
512mb DDR ram
Asus K8V deluxe
Cheers for the heads up. If my system can run it at a decent level (The graphics card is the only thing that worries me. I have heard quite a few horror stories about performance in planetside), then i will definitely give it a go.
- Take planetside
- Apply Starcraft Theme
- Make money <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only if I can say
"I'm about to drop the hammer, and dispence some indescriminate justice!"
Oh and only if Geminosity would be the medic. For no reason at all...... <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Btw, <3 Vanu.
- Take planetside
- Apply Starcraft Theme
- Make money <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only if I can say
"I'm about to drop the hammer, and dispence some indescriminate justice!"
Oh and only if Geminosity would be the medic. For no reason at all...... <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
You can be an infested terran marine then, they got tentacles
On topic:
I may give up WOW for another MMO, How much is Pside and is it honestly worth it?
Nah, its all about the guns. In fact the only reason I tried to like SC (even though I still hate its guts) was the Terran army.
Because they were damn cool.
I'll just keep waiting for World of Starcraft...
Nah, its all about the guns. In fact the only reason I tried to like SC (even though I still hate its guts) was the Terran army.
Because they were damn cool. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
to bad rines sucked so bad in SC that SCVs, drones, and probes could beat them down easily.
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Too bad that SC plain sucked.
Well IMO anyway.
i mean on my x800 it lagged.
The Terran Republic MAX units are still a little worse than the other empire's, but are at least worth using now (I am a TR MAX user myself). <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Uhhhhhhhhh... some words of warning before anyone goes out to play this crap...
Terran Republic always was, and will continue to be the most overpowered faction.
So unless the TR got nerfed, I'll just base this off from so long ago...
1) Jackhammer was a gimp weapon. MCG would completely eat through people at up to moderate range, Jackhammer was only handy in ridiculously short range. Last time I played was after a massive rebalance of the Heavy Weapons, and honest to god, on all three of my faction characters, TR MCG users TRIPLED the amount of Lasher Spammers or Jackhammer users. ****, I used one myself. Attack base. Get to doors. Press mouse 1. Get 5 kills. Release mouse 1. Reload. Press mouse 1. Get 5 kills...
2) TR had, by far, the best weapons. Pistol rocks HARD CORE, I made an armor set with just two Repeaters, and I'd run out and get about 6 kills a run. Highly accurate, very damaging, and compared to the Beamer (LOL) and Magscat, the only pistol that actually worked. Statistically, mathmatically, and comparatively, the Cycler completely far-and-away beat the Gauss and Pulsar, and about 90,000 player-made tests and graphs proved so. Striker is, and will continue to be a total BS weapon. Nothing like giving only ONE out of three sides the capability to attack aircraft as infantry!
3) Terran MAX Burster was ridiculously overpowered. While it sucked you couldn't hit the flight ceiling from some bases, if any aircraft DID fly within range, you could kill it in, I kid you not, less then three seconds. NC Sparrow was SUPPOSED to be the best AA MAX, but it was plagued with nerfs and stupid bugs they never cared to fix.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->In fact, whatever server you join, join the Terran Republic. We get the stylish goggles as shown in my avatar to the left. Do eet for zee goggles!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Of course, you play Terran Republic - It's basically like explaining to a Shaman or an Undead Shadow Priest that they're completely overpowered BS as well.
As for Planetside itself:
Balance--
Aircraft were ridiculously overpowered. Since only ONE TEAM was given anti-aircraft weapons to use as infantry, this gives them a huge advantage. In addition, Reavers are basically cowboy killmobiles. Get in one, fly out, kill everything that moves, die, respawn, buy a new one. My first time out in a Reaver (Not counting my test flights) I flew behind enemy lines, blew up a tank and about two dozen infantry and literally exploded through about five BRs in twenty minutes. The 'counter' to the Reaver, the anti-aircraft 'fighter' the Mosquito, was terribly hard to use in an anti-aircraft role compared to how easy it was to use the Reaver to farm kills.
Game was plagued with hitbox and lag issues. See that Galaxy Dropship flying on your screen? Look at your missiles go right through it! Wee!
The Command Rank system is a joke. Any retard can easilly get CR5. There is ZERO authority if you are CR5, there is ZERO policing of the system to stop abuse. Expect to get [GLOBAL] LOLWTHNUB: HELP ME MY TANK GOT BLOWN UP ON CYSSOR LOLOMFG!!!!!! constantly.
If you don't buy their expansions, you're ****. The weapons they add in expansions are hilariously imbalanced, and without the expansion, you can't use them. You're totally gimped. Not to mention the expansions are just... BAD. Core combat? Bhaahhahahah, what a waste of polygons that place was.
Friend of mine plays it, and claims that their newest laughable expansion completely trashed the game - the 'mechs' are so overpowered it's hilarious. The balance is SUPPOSED to be: Infantry > Mechs > Vehicles > Infantry. The balance was instead: Mechs > Jesus
There's no point. Even after... what? Two years or something? Two years of players complaining about the same damn thing, you'll fight for a base in the exact same style you fought for the last thirty thousand, and just like the last thirty thousand, you'll lose it within an hour. It's like playing golf with a ball too big for the hole. Have they even given tactical significance to control of land OUTSIDE the SOI? Do they still even USE those stupid SOIs?
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For those that don't know, the SOI was a 'Sphere of Influence'. Around every base was an SOI. When inside the SOI, the enemy could get certain buffs, and you'd also be considered 'attacking', so when the base went down, you'd get experience for being in the SOI.
The problem is that the SOIs make up approximately 4% of the entire game world. You can have a massive, lush continent and only see the same three square miles of land, since day-in and day-out, you'll be standing inside the same tiny little SOI fighting. There's tactical places such as bridges located around the map, and there's almost never fighting on them - some of the best fights are bridgehead battles, and because Sony never got it in their heads to, you know, encourage fighting OUTSIDE the bases (You know, so you can't respawn zerg like everyone does), fighting in open ground is basically non-existant. (Not that it matters... they added a ton of hover vehicles and some flying brick that can carry them around so bridge battles are even MORE rare)
Also, when inside an SOI you also were able to communicate differently and get battle reports. So, in a nutshell, if you weren't inside the SOI (If you were playing a support role, for example), you weren't getting anything for it.
Players made MILLIONS of suggestions to remove SOIs and instead make 'Zones'. Zones would cover ALL the land of a continent, and just be like having states. Some zones would be bigger, and inside each zone would be tactical assets that would be UNIQUE to the zone. Basically you'd move from zone to zone, and fighting would occur throughout the ENTIRE zone (Imagine if you had to take out relay stations around the zone before you were able to attack the base). No, instead they stuck with SOIs. Woot for staleness.
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Developers don't really seem to have a clue - Tell me, after all these months, are Towers still easier to defend then the base itself? Did they EVER give towers an NTU silo like they promised (and then two months later I cancelled since it was obvious they were idiots)? Did they ever come up with a real solution to the fact that no one cares about dying, and every other player just suicidally runs out and blows things up?
Defense of bases was stupid and hard. If there were no players, you could just walk in and blow everything up. They used a stupid 'Lattice Link' system so you were FORCED to attack in a specific order. Bases gave upgrades, so like, one base would give you a bonus to vehicles... but they weren't unique. On some continents, three bases gave you the same bonus. In addition, towers were easy to defend, and had limitless spawning potential, so as soon as the Tower fell, the base was basically a gonner. They could've made this a LOT better if bases were attackable at ALL times, but were LOADED TO THE BRIM with AI defenses. Autoturrets indoors, heavy anti-vehicle cannons inside bunkers... the only turrets they had were pretty worthless.
Good things about Planetside:
Sniper rifles. Only game to have done them right (for the most part), and still holds that title.
Have they changed that so I can get the free month that I <b>already paid for?</b>
I actually plan to play Planetside, and SWG once more when I can finally purchase a computer capable of SoE's games...
I have fun playing anyway.
Seven day trial was fun, but not fun enough for me to devote sinking cash monthly into this game.
You WILL need 1 meg of RAM to play this. You WILL. 50+ players on-screen tends to eat up the virtual memory like candy. Your graphics card barely matters, just get lots and lots of RAM! A good processor can't hurt either. Most "lag" reported is CPU lag rather than actual server lag.
Supernorn, you really do need to get an outfit. If they're any good at all, they'll guide you through the game and answer all your nub questions. And yes, he killed a BFR with a cycler O_o
Dave G is gone, and a new head-dev has stepped up. He seems to have finally kicked the rest of the devs into high-gear. Sadly though, he is still clearly an SOE employee, but what can you do? <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Yes, you have to provide a credit card number (as you need to for WoW), but they don't check it until your trial expires, so just enter 11111111111111 as your card number and you won't be charged if you forget to cancel.
Poofle, go make that post on the planetside forums today and you'll get laughed out of there so fast. The MCG is now almost universally accepted to be the worst heavy assault weapon. It's not even the same gun anymore.
The Burster MAX is probably in the middle in terms of anti-air. The Starfire is undeniably the best of the three, with the Sparrow still somewhat lacking (although a lot of bugs have been fixed there). The burster can also no longer spam infantry with inpunity from a hillside. In fact it's pretty much defenceless against infantry.
If you think the Striker is overpowered, try using it against a tank.
The Cycler just sucks. All hail the Pulsar.
The Repeater is still the best pistol, but not by such a huge margin. They did a balance pass on the pistols a while back. Honest to god though, the repeater is probably the few good weapons the republic has left....
BFRs are no longer overpowered. The nerfbat has been swung. They are now a little better than a tank, and require 2 crewmen rather than 1. The flight varients still exist, but have been nerfed to the point that they can just barely take on a tank if the pilot is good and he has dual-anti-armour weapons.
You might come for the MMOG, but you'll stay for your outfit. My number one suggestion to anyone is GET A GOOD OUTFIT! Your outfit really will determine what you get out of Planetside.
I'll give you a hint, the GOOD outfits won't be the ones spamming "L33KILLZ0ROUTFIT IS LOOKING FOR MEMBERS, /TELL ME NOW FOR INVITE!!!!111" in sanctuary.
I believe you mean gig.
If the driver isn't retarded(which he is in 2 out of 3 cases), you'll rack up a ton of kills, simply because it's a dream to control in comparison to the others, and is essentially a splash-damage sniper rifle. Which does full damage to vehicles.
Best moment I ever had was when like 5 magriders sat on one end of a bridge and just pwned everything the NC tried to send over at us. Don't know why they even bothered trying. Oh, and Reavers get plucked out of the sky with the quickness.
By the way, Don't join the NC. You will get group-stabbed by the community.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>¤!"#¤& Phoenix penix... balanced my arse</span>
EDIT: I have a geforce 3, and 512 MB of RAM. It's quite playable, though the low FPS can be frustrating at times. <b>Don't forget to max the viewdistance in the graphics options!</b>
Skill really doesn't matter that much to most organised outfits, they just want to know you're going to do what they say.
I can recommend Battle Marines of Chaos, 75th Rapid Reaction Corps and Blood Legion on Terran Republic Werner, or Sturmgrenidier on New Conglomorate Emerald (Werner is the european server, Emerald is U.S.A east coast).
Other than that, you'll just have to play and see. That, or you could frequent the outfit recruitment forums; if their recruitment post looks profesional, give them a try. Try not to venture into the development discussion forum though; it's pretty much the I&S forum of planetside....
Any good outfit will use <a href='http://www.goteamspeak.com/news.php' target='_blank'>TeamSpeak</a>, so I thought i'd just give you a link right now <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
You want more convincing SkinnY? Did you watch the video in the original post?
I might give it a go but I still refuse to use teamspeak (not having a mic doesn't help though :p ). Uh... do they have female models and are they as ugly as your avi nil? XD
For Vanu, at least.
but not sure how much i can play. i have work to do <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> sadface