Anyone getting Socom?

[Durka-Dan]

My bro and I have been big fans of the series up until the last game and after getting a taste of what the beta has to offer I've come to a conclusion. Basically what made the game fun, any multiplayer game for that matter, is the community. For one I am glad that Slant Six went back to the roots of the game and made it more like the originals with a modern look and mechanics. However, the game now almost feels too much like the original series and as if the whole Socom thing is done, past it's prime so to say. So the conclusion I've come to is this: I will only get the game if somebody else does. There I said it. So if anyone shows an interest in getting the game and playing together or perhaps setting up a CoG clan I'm very much in, but otherwise I think I'm going to let this series rest.

[MalReynolds]

Played the beta it was OK but not gonna be picking it up fist day just b/c i cant afford it

[Durka-Dan]

Played the beta it was OK but not gonna be picking it up fist day just b/c i cant afford it
Indeed. I'm considering the $60 bundle with the new Sony mic, but still on the fence as mentioned. It's nice though that the full game is available online for $40.

[MalReynolds]

or disc version for 40 too :) but i need that money for fable 2 and fallout 3

[Squidbot]

The beta was just bland, so I doubt I will bother with this, considering the plethora of AAA titles ahead.

[National Kato]

I haven't played the beta and was considering it, because I love tactical shooters...but on my shelf right now? Halo 3, CoD4, R6V2...do I really need another multiplayer shooter? It would have to be stellar for me to buy.

[MalReynolds]

it really is worth the 40 bucks... I played one Map like 100 time over and it blows Halo 3 and COD 4 away in that its more tactical and id love to be able to buy it but im drowning in other games that ive been wait for like Fable or Fallout

[Restlessavenger]

I'm strongly considering picking this one up during the TRU sale this week, mainly for the headset really.

[MalReynolds]

TRV sale? Well then what may that be ?

[Inspector Fowler]

Well, I feel pretty on the fence about this.

I love tactical shooters, and the 360 doesn't really have one. CoD4 is, gameplay-wise, Halo 3 with a modern re-skin. I don't wanna hear any complaining - any game that lets you recharge your health, one hit kill with the insta-knife, etc, is not a tactical game.

I would like a game that has a slower, more realistic pace, with realistic gunfire and wounding. Remember how, in the first AA, with the medic came a patch that gave each wound an immediate damage rating followed by a bleed-out rating that only a medic could stop? Awesome.

So I'm looking for a game that relies less on instant/twitch reflexes and more on teamwork and tactical thinking.

I'll say this, though - I really doubt SOCOM will be it. There weren't any early reviews, and I haven't even seen many of the beta testers talking about it much.

If the reviews came in with the usual "7.6 - this game is too hard and tactical for most players" kind of statement, I'll get it. Otherwise, I'll keep waiting.

[National Kato]

Good thoughts, Inspector. I agree, 100%.

[Restlessavenger]

TRV sale? Well then what may that be ?

The annual Buy 2 get 1 free sale.

[cawblen]

i'll only get the bundle for the bluetooth headset...then i'll sell the game unopened.

[jeffbax]

I'm tempted to get it for the headset, but I've never played Socom before and am not big into tactical shooters.

[OldJadedGamer]

i'll only get the bundle for the bluetooth headset...then i'll sell the game unopened.

I think a lot of people are doing this. Socom is basically Sony's version of WiiPlay. A peripheral that comes with a super cheap game.

[cepwin]

I played the beta and I think unless you're in a clan there wasn't a lot of teamwork...I didn't hear a lot of talking between players. That's one big difference I noticed between PS3 online and 360. Since the 360 comes with a mic you're always chatting or hearing chatter when in an online game. So far my PS3 online gaming has been very quiet...seems odd.

[KingGorilla]

I find that the chat always on with the Xbox is more of a detriment:
Mouth Breathers
the colorful language
Fans
Speakers far too loud
Moms

And to say that having voice chat encourages strangers to work as a team...I have been waiting over a decade for in game chats to do that. Has not occurred once.

But can someone explain SOCOM to me? I remember the PS2 versions were big. But it just looks like a low rent SWAT or Rainbow Six (Circa late 90's).

[Disgustipated]

i'll only get the bundle for the bluetooth headset...then i'll sell the game unopened.

Amazon.com was selling Bluetooth headsets for $20 with a huge selection just a week or two ago.

[OldJadedGamer]

Amazon.com was selling Bluetooth headsets for $20 with a huge selection just a week or two ago.

But none of those are officially licensed by Sony. Again, the Socom headset will be guaranteed 100% to work with all games released because that is the headset that Sony themselves will use in the certification process before a game is approved to be released.

[Gorvi]

But none of those are officially licensed by Sony. Again, the Socom headset will be guaranteed 100% to work with all games released because that is the headset that Sony themselves will use in the certification process before a game is approved to be released.
All headsets work with all games now, it's not like there's ever been compatibility issues. The official one just has some added perks.

[OldJadedGamer]

All headsets work with all games now, it's not like there's ever been compatibility issues. The official one just has some added perks.

I have a hard time believing that every third party and Sony themselves are making sure that every Bluetooth headset out there works fine. While I'm sure the vast majority of them work just fine, I'm personally going to trust the officially licensed one because if there is only one single headset that all third parties will test their game with, it's going to be this one so you know that the PS3 itself and any game will be optimized for this headset. It's really worth the extra cash I think for that peace of mind knowing you have the best possible one you can get.

[Gorvi]

I have a hard time believing that every third party and Sony themselves are making sure that every Bluetooth headset out there works fine. While I'm sure the vast majority of them work just fine, I'm personally going to trust the officially licensed one because if there is only one single headset that all third parties will test their game with, it's going to be this one so you know that the PS3 itself and any game will be optimized for this headset.
Well, it's not that it may not work with certain games, it's if they work with the PS3 at all. It's a core system function, not something that's handled by the individual game. It either works or it doesn't dependent on the individual headset.

[Disgustipated]

I have a hard time believing that every third party and Sony themselves are making sure that every Bluetooth headset out there works fine. While I'm sure the vast majority of them work just fine, I'm personally going to trust the officially licensed one because if there is only one single headset that all third parties will test their game with, it's going to be this one so you know that the PS3 itself and any game will be optimized for this headset. It's really worth the extra cash I think for that peace of mind knowing you have the best possible one you can get.

Optimized? Bluetooth is a standard. This shit should work universally. I don't think there's any problems.

[MalReynolds]

i bought one and it use to make my PS3 controller not work

[cepwin]

I find that the chat always on with the Xbox is more of a detriment:
Mouth Breathers
the colorful language
Fans
Speakers far too loud
Moms


Good point! One think I like about push-to-talk is that people can only hear you when you want them to hear you. I have a tendancy to humm when I'm playing so I have to be very careful with an "open mike" or I'll annoy the other players. Often I'll mute my mike except when we're in the lobby to avoid any such issues.

[Vincent]

Good point! One think I like about push-to-talk is that people can only hear you when you want them to hear you. I have a tendancy to humm when I'm playing so I have to be very careful with an "open mike" or I'll annoy the other players. Often I'll mute my mike except when we're in the lobby to avoid any such issues.

I"m a big fan of the push-to-talk feature. I"m also big fan of Socom series, earlier today I had a chance to pick it. If anyone is interested in a game or two feel free to add me to your friends list. My handle is Vincent_Crawford. I hope the community for this game turns out to be as good as the previous incarnations of the series.

[Durka-Dan]

I"m a big fan of the push-to-talk feature. I"m also big fan of Socom series, earlier today I had a chance to pick it. If anyone is interested in a game or two feel free to add me to your friends list. My handle is Vincent_Crawford. I hope the community for this game turns out to be as good as the previous incarnations of the series.

I just picked it up about an hour ago. I'll be home later, still at the mall waiting for the girl to buy something already. I'll add you when I get home. Should be on around 6-7pm EST.

[National Kato]

Vincent and Durka, if you don't mind please post your impressions here when you get a chance. It's on my list of 'interest' titles but so far I've not heard much in the way of reviews or whatever.

[AliasRomanian]

Add AliasRomanian to your friends list. The wife picked this up for me last night so I got a good 2 hours of gaming in. . . I sucked it up big time.

[pomeroy]

They're still making Socom games?

That's really cute.

[Durka-Dan]

Vincent and Durka, if you don't mind please post your impressions here when you get a chance. It's on my list of 'interest' titles but so far I've not heard much in the way of reviews or whatever.

I think I might write a review for it on PIRI later this week, if not I'll post something on my blog. I'll let ya know.

[TheEvilNarwhale]

My bro and I have been big fans of the series up until the last game and after getting a taste of what the beta has to offer I've come to a conclusion. Basically what made the game fun, any multiplayer game for that matter, is the community. For one I am glad that Slant Six went back to the roots of the game and made it more like the originals with a modern look and mechanics. However, the game now almost feels too much like the original series and as if the whole Socom thing is done, past it's prime so to say. So the conclusion I've come to is this: I will only get the game if somebody else does. There I said it. So if anyone shows an interest in getting the game and playing together or perhaps setting up a CoG clan I'm very much in, but otherwise I think I'm going to let this series rest.

Who are you and what have you done with Dan? That game almost killed us in high school.

[Vincent]

My bro and I have been big fans of the series up until the last game and after getting a taste of what the beta has to offer I've come to a conclusion. Basically what made the game fun, any multiplayer game for that matter, is the community. For one I am glad that Slant Six went back to the roots of the game and made it more like the originals with a modern look and mechanics. However, the game now almost feels too much like the original series and as if the whole Socom thing is done, past it's prime so to say. So the conclusion I've come to is this: I will only get the game if somebody else does. There I said it. So if anyone shows an interest in getting the game and playing together or perhaps setting up a CoG clan I'm very much in, but otherwise I think I'm going to let this series rest.

A CoG clan for socom would be interesting, if we could scrounge up enough people. If a clan didn't pan out I think game nights would be a good alternative.

It seems the servers are down, can anyone connect?

[Durka-Dan]

A CoG clan for socom would be interesting, if we could scrounge up enough people. If a clan didn't pan out I think game nights would be a good alternative.

It seems the servers are down, can anyone connect?

Yea the servers are down for that mandatory maintenance thing for the new firmware and PSN update. It says until 11am - 4pm PST. I got home a little late tonight, but I guess I didn't miss anything seeing as how the servers have been down.

A CoG clan would be awesome. My bro and I have been thinking of starting one up for a long time. Either way if you guys decide to go that route I'm definitely in. A game night would be cool too.

[Durka-Dan]

Who are you and what have you done with Dan? That game almost killed us in high school.

Ha. alot has changed in the franchise since then. We'll see how it goes. The series has been progressively going down hill since Socom 2. As for almost dying in the lebaron in a head-on collision with a garbage truck... what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Besides, now we no longer fear death.

[OldJadedGamer]

They're still making Socom games?

That's really cute.

Well, not really. The company that made them previously moved on to other things but they handed it off to another dev so it's not a real Socom like World at War is not a real COD.

[Uno Ill Nino]

I'm on it. Anyone who is looking for a clan, I've started the "Moof Pack" clan. We've got like half-dozen members so far and need more. I'd like to play tonight when the network goes back up.

[Inspector Fowler]

How pissed would you be if you were a SOCOM developer, and on the big day when your (pretty good-selling) franchise makes it's current-gen debut Sony decides to mess with the servers all day? Oh, did I mention that your game is online only and a big selling point was the downloadable version that people could buy from the comfort of their couch?

Me? I'd be pretty damn angry.

[Durka-Dan]

How pissed would you be if you were a SOCOM developer, and on the big day when your (pretty good-selling) franchise makes it's current-gen debut Sony decides to mess with the servers all day? Oh, did I mention that your game is online only and a big selling point was the downloadable version that people could buy from the comfort of their couch?

Me? I'd be pretty damn angry.

11am - 4 pm PST? No, 5 hours on the day after opening day really isn't that bad. Now if I had gotten my console for Christmas and due to the rush couldn't play online for days due to lag, yeah I would be pissed.

[OldJadedGamer]

11am - 4 pm PST? No, 5 hours on the day after opening day really isn't that bad. Now if I had gotten my console for Christmas and due to the rush couldn't play online for days due to lag, yeah I would be pissed.

If only they had a beta to work things out beforehand...

[jeffbax]

I'm torn between buying it b/c I need a headset but have never played Socom and there are no reviews.

[Durka-Dan]

If only they had a beta to work things out beforehand...

Huh? I know you know there was a beta, I'm just surprised you think this downtime is because of Socom. The downtime is for the new PS3 firmware and PSN update, nothing to do with Socom. I've been apart of the Socom beta from day 1 and there truly has been huge progress made in ironing out the problems, hence the ~500 mb update available now for Socom which I helped provide feedback on.

[Durka-Dan]

I'm torn between buying it b/c I need a headset but have never played Socom and there are no reviews.

The prices are $40 for the game itself or $60 with a game including the bundled headset. Not sure if you knew that or not.

Edit: If you are interested in the game, what was actually done with this game is they looked back on Socom 1 and 2 and went with what made those games popular and created this Socom. So if you want to know what Socom is all about I suggest reading some reviews from S1 and S2.

[OldJadedGamer]

Huh? I know you know there was a beta, I'm just surprised you think this downtime is because of Socom. The downtime is for the new PS3 firmware and PSN update, nothing to do with Socom. I've been apart of the Socom beta from day 1 and there truly has been huge progress made in ironing out the problems, hence the ~500 mb update available now for Socom which I helped provide feedback on.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the firmware was done last night around 8pm. And isn't this a first party game that had access to the new firmware before anyone else?

Edit: Also, what other online game had downtime? Shouldn't they all have gone down if it was a firmware thing?

[Durka-Dan]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the firmware was done last night around 8pm. And isn't this a first party game that had access to the new firmware before anyone else?

Corrected (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/10/14/firmware-50-demo-playstation-store-on-psp/) and Again (http://socom.us.playstation.com/post/2008/10/Playstation-update.aspx)

[OldJadedGamer]

Corrected (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/10/14/firmware-50-demo-playstation-store-on-psp/) and Again (http://socom.us.playstation.com/post/2008/10/Playstation-update.aspx)

Then this is confusion on my part because I remember reading that the PSN was down before the upgrade came out... not after. Weird.

[Durka-Dan]

Then this is confusion on my part because I remember reading that the PSN was down before the upgrade came out... not after. Weird.

Yea the update came out before the downtime, I agree it is weird.

[MalReynolds]

All headsets work with all games now, it's not like there's ever been compatibility issues. The official one just has some added perks.

Of course its "OFFICAL" then its gonna be better then all the rest

[jeffbax]

Got it today, but the game is still sealed.

[KingGorilla]

Got it today, but the game is still sealed.

BOO! BOO! Get off the stage.

[Inspector Fowler]

Aaaggghh. Still no reviews and no demo. I really want this to be my next purchase. However, I'm very careful with my multiplayer picks - if you get a bad singleplayer game, well, you weren't planning on replaying it a hundred times. But a crappy multiplayer game can haunt you for a long, long time.

[Dukefrukem]

Who has it here?

[Telefrog]

Aaaggghh. Still no reviews and no demo. I really want this to be my next purchase. However, I'm very careful with my multiplayer picks - if you get a bad singleplayer game, well, you weren't planning on replaying it a hundred times. But a crappy multiplayer game can haunt you for a long, long time.

Take one for the team, man. Get it and let us know if it sucks or not. :D

[Inspector Fowler]

Take one for the team, man. Get it and let us know if it sucks or not. :D

I feel between a rock and a hard place. I don't have a good MP game right now that I'm interested in. But if I get this and it sucks, I won't have any money for Far Cry 2, which is what I'm interested in this month.

Sigh. If a really good review came out I might be interested enough to trade some games for it. But until then, I'll hafta keep waiting.

[Vincent]

I feel between a rock and a hard place. I don't have a good MP game right now that I'm interested in. But if I get this and it sucks, I won't have any money for Far Cry 2, which is what I'm interested in this month.


I would wait, Socom has several issues. The problems vary from not being able to play at peak hours to consistent lag in games with a large amount of players. There are also small bugs such as ones cross hair or gun not being visible. Also the menus are very laggy and inviting a friend to a game is cumbersome.

The gameplay is solid. It's really fun once I can get a game going. I"m on the verge of selling it but I'm going to wait what the patches bring.

If you have the game plz add me, my psn isVicent_Crawford

[Wilkz07]

waiting until xmas now. have too many 360 games to go through. I'll add anyone who has socom on psn when i pick it up then.

[KingGorilla]

I feel between a rock and a hard place. I don't have a good MP game right now that I'm interested in. But if I get this and it sucks, I won't have any money for Far Cry 2, which is what I'm interested in this month.


Then allow me to ease your pain. Do you want to pay 60 dollars for a Ubisoft shooter? Which as a multiplayer entity will mean you have to pay 10, 15 dollars for non-transferrable expansion packs to keep up with the other online players, until they release a new game in 9-18 months time?

Or more importantly, why are you sweating this when you should be thinking of you you can possibly afford Left 4 Dead and Fallout 3?

[Inspector Fowler]

Then allow me to ease your pain. Do you want to pay 60 dollars for a Ubisoft shooter? Which as a multiplayer entity will mean you have to pay 10, 15 dollars for non-transferrable expansion packs to keep up with the other online players, until they release a new game in 9-18 months time?

Or more importantly, why are you sweating this when you should be thinking of you you can possibly afford Left 4 Dead and Fallout 3?

Good GOD man! I forgot Left 4 Dead (runs off to check release date...)

I think I may get Far Cry 2 instead of Socom. The overall crappiness of the PSN (in my experience, anyway) and the (so far) problems with getting the game to actually work despite a decently long beta period, and the lack of reviews kind of makes me worry.

That's not to say I might not pick it up eventually. I always need at least one tactical shooter waiting in the wings.

[KingGorilla]

I suggest you go and get Peggle Nights this moment. My review will be up tomorrow even.

[Durka-Dan]

I forgot to make a post about Socom, sorry. The game is AWESOME and feels just like the older ones. If you're into COD4 style gameplay than this isn't for you. If you're into strategy than pick this up. Like was mentioned, the peak hours meant downtime for most people, but they have fixed the problems and the game runs great. I've started a clan up and have around 7 members so far. Add me as a friend if you're interested in playing.

[MalReynolds]

was thinking about trading stuff in for it