It’s not hard to imagine that Sony knew Microsoft would choose E3 to make its curtain-call announcement of Final Fantasy XIII for the 360. It’s likewise reasonable to believe they searched their catalog of works under development for the best candidate to generate any buzz. What we got was a mixed bag — the trailer of an incredibly expansive shooter, but it didn’t even have a title. It was just MAG: Massive Action Game. It sounded tempting, but very incomplete.

In fact it was shown to a focus group less than a month before E3. One among that group, after seeing the MAG E3 debut, reached out to me, under a promise of anonymity, to describe what was shown and asked of the group. Put simply, MAG — whatever title it comes out under — will be a mercenary combat MMO. We're told that it will more than likely carry SOCOM branding, as Zipper Interactive is behind it. And if so, it could be called SOCOM: Shadow War or SOCOM: Zero. Though Sony did stress it was a brand new IP at the press conference.

Sony saved the final announcement of its E3 keynote for a concept using the placehold title of "MAG: Massive Action Game," Unveiled by Andy Beaudoin from Zipper Interactive, MAG — whose trailer looked like "SOCOM set 15 years into the future," according to our eyes on the scene, will immerse players in large online battles of up to 256 players. The trailer featured multiple terrain types, complex tactics, and sounds very much like a SOCOM MMO at this stage.

Character growth will be accomplished through an advancement tree, which allows players to fine tune their players throughout massive campaigns. "MAG will deliver an intense and long lasting shooter experience," said Beaudoin, who also described the game as "a workout even for the PS3 architecture."

More on this title as it develops. No release date was specified. Gallery below.

Yeah, SOCOM On PS3 Has Been Delayed

We were resigned to the fact once retailers started pushing their release dates back to mid-October, but the dev team have gone and made it official, announcing that SOCOM Confrontation has been delayed until October 14. The usual short-term delay reasons are apparent - a desire to add a little more spit, a little more polish, so while you'll be waiting a little longer to get the game, you'll also hopefully be playing one that's a little better.

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Release Date [SOCOM]

SOCOM: Confrontation Map Flythroughs

If you think Quarantine looks nice, hit the jump for Crossroads - definitely my favorite of the two.

SOCOM Confrontation: Sixaxis, Running and Armor Bring Slight Changes

It doesn't look like there will be a whole lotta new coming to SOCOM Confrontation when the online-only shooter hits the PlayStation 3 in September. Sure, you're going to get new maps, and lots more detailed graphics, but if you were hoping for some paradigm shift, some major change in the way you play the popular PlayStation shooter, you're going to be disappointed.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing. A developer doesn't always have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to hardcore shooters, and SOCOM is about as hardcore as they come.

The team did talk up a few of the changes coming to this latest iteration while they were showing SOCOM Confrontation off during last Friday's SCEA Pre-E3 Judges Day held by Sony in Hollywood.

Sony's Pre-E3 Judge's Day is in full swing, and while Brian and McWhertor will be updating throughout the afternoon with hands-on, eyes-on, and whatever other body parts they can get onto the games featured at the event, we'll be here at home base gathering up the information, screens, and movies for your viewing and reading pleasure.

First up is SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, due out in September for the PlayStation 3. We've got screens, concept art, and a giant fact sheet after the jump that contains all you really need to know about that latest game in the SOCOM series. Enjoy!

SOCOM Confrontation Gamplay Vid

With all of the hoopla surrounding Mario Kart Wii hitting this weekend, and Grand Theft Auto IV hitting next week, lets not forget that there are still plenty of things to get excited about later in the year. Like SOCOM Confrontation. Can't. Wait.

Free SOCOM 3, Combined Assault Map Packs Announced

All eyes may be on the upcoming online only SOCOM Confrontation for the Playstation 3, but that doesn't mean that the SOCOM developers have completely forgotten about their PS2 fan base.

The team just announced the release of a new downloadable map pack for SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Combined Assault. This third downloadable map pack includes SOCOM and SOCOM II maps Crossroads, Fishhook, Frostfire and Guidance.

SOCOM Confronts PlayStation Store In September

The extremely popular SOCOM franchise will finally bow on the PlayStation 3 this fall when SOCOM Confrontation hits the PlayStation Store (at least in North America) on September 16, according to 1UP. The latest issue of EGM features a SOCOM blowout, with details on the new SOCOM.com, a revamped community web site with a heavy feature load out and additional details on Slant Six's multiplayer shooter.

SOCOM Confrontation Marching Out on September 16 [1UP]

In the upcoming PS# shoot-fest you will only be able to play as a member of a special forces unit if you are in a clan, solo player will be relegated to playing as either a commando or mercenary. Clan folks get their choice of these special forces units, as well as all of their uniforms, gear and weapons:

* Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEALs, United States)
* Special Air Service (SAS, United Kingdom)
* Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK, Germany)
* Unidad de Operaciones Especiales (UOE, Spain)
* 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RPIMa, France)

Interesting way to try and push gamers to team up more permanently.

SOCOM Confrontation Special Forces Unveiled [1Up]

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

It's crunch time over at the Kotaku West Coast Tower and this associate editor has a full plate... of responsibility! The bathroom looks like a truck stop's, the dishes need doing, Adobe Illustrator files need... illustrating, and there's a stack of games still in the shrinkwrap that need attention from daddy. BioShock, Zack & Wiki, and Jeanne D'Arc make up my current backlog, with a fresh copy of SOCOM: Tactical Strike showing up at my doorstep last night. So why am I about to beat feet down to ye olde game shoppe and pick up Manhunt 2 and Guitar Hero III? Because I've got a spending problem!

Yep, the first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem. Unfortunately, I've been on step one for about three years now. It seems this is as far as I'm willing to go.

While I play the above, I have to wonder: what are you playing this weekend?

SOCOM: Tactical Strike Gameplay

PS3 SOCOM "Not Possible On Any Other Console"

Second SOCOM coming to PS3