PlanetSide

Last updated
PlanetSide
PlanetSide updated logo.png
Genre(s) Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter
Developer(s) Rogue Planet Games
Publisher(s) Daybreak Game Company
First release PlanetSide
May 20, 2003
Latest release PlanetSide Arena
September 19, 2019

PlanetSide is a series of massively multiplayer online first-person shooter video games published by Daybreak Game Company. The first game in the series was published by Sony Online Entertainment in 2003 for Microsoft Windows and featured thousands of players fighting over territory in a persistent world. PlanetSide 2 , a sequel, was released in 2012, featuring faster-paced gameplay, modern first-person shooter mechanics and high graphical fidelity.

Contents

The main series games in the franchise chronicle the efforts of three factions (the New Conglomerate, Vanu Sovereignty and Terran Republic) as they fight for control of the planet Auraxis. Players have access to a vast arsenal of weapons and vehicles unique to their faction and engage in combined arms warfare to conquer territory in a persistent world.

Rather than featuring small, instanced matches like many other first-person shooters, the PlanetSide series features massive, seamless continents that allow battles potentially thousands of users can participate in. [1] Both PlanetSide and PlanetSide 2 have set the Guinness World Record for "Most players in an online FPS battle," with the latter still holding the record to this day; [2] [3] this record has since been unofficially surpassed by PlanetSide 2 players in both 2020 and 2022. [4] [5]

Plot

Factions

Left to right: NC, TR, and VS soldiers at the E3 2012 PlanetSide 2 showcase E3 Expo 2012 - Planetside soldiers (7640586184).jpg
Left to right: NC, TR, and VS soldiers at the E3 2012 PlanetSide 2 showcase

Terran Republic (TR)

The Terran Republic is an authoritarian colonial government that leverages military might to maintain strict control over the colonial citizens of Auraxis, ostensibly on behalf of the mother Terran Republic back on Earth. Obsessed with the preservation of law and order, the TR see the insurrectionary war against themselves as all the more justification for strong-armed countermeasures. They are thus seen by their opponents to be an oppressive and dictatorial force, but many also view the TR as the only hope for lasting security and peace. Their colors are red and black. TR forces are distinguished by their use of rapid fire conventional weaponry, large-capacity magazines, high speed medium tanks and fast flying fighter aircraft. [6] [7]

New Conglomerate (NC)

The New Conglomerate operates as a loosely organized band of self-proclaimed freedom fighters. Viewed as corporate-backed terrorist guerrillas by their adversaries, they violently oppose the stranglehold that the Terran Republic has on Auraxis. Led by an unusual quorum of outcasts, frontier industrialists, pirates, and turncoat military leaders, the New Conglomerate is unwavering and prepared to achieve freedom from oppression by any means necessary. Their colors are blue and gold. NC forces use hard hitting electromagnetic weapons such as gauss and railguns that are devastating at short and medium range but are bulky and unwieldy with moderate reload speeds. They employ durable, heavily armed shock troops with slow, well-armored heavy tanks and heavy fighters loaded with arrays of crushingly powerful ordnance. [8] [7]

Vanu Sovereignty (VS)

The Vanu Sovereignty are a secretive and cult-like group who believe that only through the untapped power of alien technology can humanity truly evolve towards the next phase of its existence. They are a technologically advanced and cunning faction, employing powerful reverse-engineered alien technologies on the battlefield. Their singular purpose is to uncover secrets hidden away in ancient artifacts scattered over the surface of Auraxis, and fight only to seize and retain exclusive access to research sites and materials. As such, they view the war with its shifting territories and militarized zones as a pointless impedance to their infinitely more important work. Their colors are violet and cyan. The VS use advanced plasma and laser weaponry, characterized by lack of bullet drop, high accuracy, low recoil, and quick-reloadable energy cells. They deploy highly maneuverable, levitating battle tanks capable of efficiently traversing almost any terrain or incline, as well as anti-gravity fighters capable of inertia-defying breakneck aerobatics. [7]

Nanite Systems Operatives (NSO)

Nanite Systems Operatives are not a unified group of soldiers, but rather robot mercenaries who hold no allegiance to any faction and fight on a contractual basis for the highest bidder. Nanite Systems staff operate these robotic units remotely by proxy, much unlike the fully human combatants the three factions typically employ. [9] NSO units are automatically assigned to the Terran Republic, New Conglomerate or Vanu Sovereignty depending on which faction has the lowest population, but can also remain loyal to one faction unconditionally (available only to subscribed players in-game). [10] Although they lack access to other empires' weapons and vehicles, NSO units can use all common pool equipment, which emphasizes versatility and utility, in addition to their own unique arsenal of weapons and vehicles.

Games

Release timeline
2003 PlanetSide
2004–2011
2012 PlanetSide 2
2013–2018
2019 PlanetSide Arena

Main series

PlanetSide

PlanetSide was released for Microsoft Windows on May 20, 2003. Multiple expansions for the game were released throughout its lifespan. Active development ceased and the game became free-to-play on April 29, 2014. [11] The game's servers were permanently closed on July 1, 2016. [12]

PlanetSide 2

PlanetSide 2 was released for Microsoft Windows on November 20, 2012. A port for the PlayStation 4 console was released on June 23, 2015. [13] The game is a re-imagining of the original game, featuring the same factions, setting and story as its prequel.

Cancelled

PlanetSide Next

PlanetSide Next was a version of PlanetSide with updated assets developed by Sony Online Entertainment's SOGA studio for release in Asian markets. [14] The project was cancelled after the studio was shut down.

PlanetSide Arena

PlanetSide Arena was a spin-off of PlanetSide 2 released for early access on Steam for Microsoft Windows on September 19, 2019. [15] The game supported matches with thousands of players and featured game modes including battle royale, capture the flag and team deathmatch. [16] A console port of the game was planned as well. [17] The game's servers were shut down on January 10, 2020 due to low player counts and competition from similar titles like Apex Legends . [18]

Related Research Articles

<i>StarCraft</i> (video game) 1998 real-time strategy game

StarCraft is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment for Microsoft Windows. The first installment of the video game series of the same name, it was released in 1998. A Classic Mac OS version was released in 1999, and a Nintendo 64 port co-developed with Mass Media and published by Nintendo was released in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boss (video games)</span> Significant and especially strong opponent in video games

In video games, a boss is a significantly powerful non-player character created as an opponent to players. A fight with a boss character is referred to as a boss battle or boss fight. Bosses are generally far stronger than other opponents the players have faced up to that point in a game. Boss battles are generally seen at climax points of particular sections of games, such as at the end of a level or stage or guarding a specific objective. A miniboss is a boss weaker or less significant than the main boss in the same area or level, though usually more powerful than the standard opponents and often fought alongside them. A superboss is generally much more powerful than the bosses encountered as part of the main game's plot and is often an optional encounter. A final boss is often the main antagonist of a game's story and the defeat of that character usually provides a conclusion to the game. A boss rush is a stage where players face multiple previous bosses again in succession.

<i>PlanetSide</i> (video game) 2003 massively-multiplayer online first-person-shooter video game

PlanetSide was a massively-multiplayer online first-person-shooter video game published by Sony Online Entertainment and released in May 2003.

<i>Star Trek Online</i> Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios based on the Star Trek franchise. The game is set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Star Trek Online is the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game within the Star Trek franchise and was released for Microsoft Windows in February 2010. At launch, the game required a game purchase and a recurring monthly fee. In January 2012, it relaunched with a tier of free-to-play access available. After a public beta testing period, a version of the game was released for OS X in March 2014. Due to technical issues with the port, support for OS X ended in February 2016. It was later released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2016. The game has received several expansions since release and has gotten mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Star Wars: Empire at War</i> 2006 real-time strategy video game

Star Wars: Empire at War is a 2006 real-time strategy video game developed by Petroglyph Games and published by LucasArts for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Set between Episode III and Episode IV, it focuses on the fledgling struggle between the Empire and the Rebels. It uses Petroglyph's game engine Alamo. In October 2006, an expansion titled Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption was released.

<i>Star Wars</i> video games Video games based on the Star Wars franchise

Over one hundred video games based on the Star Wars franchise have been released, dating back to some of the earliest home consoles. Some are based directly on films while others rely heavily on the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

<i>MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries</i> 2002 video game

Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries is a vehicle simulation video game for Microsoft Windows, released in 2002. It is a standalone expansion of MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, based on the BattleTech/MechWarrior game universe. The game was developed by Cyberlore in tandem with FASA Studio. This studio would also be responsible for MechWarrior 4's previous expansion, Black Knight - as well as both the InnerSphere and Clan Mech Packs.

<i>Sins of a Solar Empire</i> 2008 video game

Sins of a Solar Empire is a 2008 science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Ironclad Games and published by Stardock Entertainment for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that incorporates some elements from 4X games; its makers describe it as "RT4X". Players are given control of a spacefaring empire in the distant future, and are tasked with conquering star systems using military, economic and diplomatic means.

<i>Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic</i> Video game series

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is a media franchise of space opera role-playing video games created and developed by BioWare, which have seen releases on the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, IOS, Android and Nintendo Switch. The franchise takes place in the fictional universe of Star Wars by George Lucas.

<i>Lost Planet 2</i> 2010 third-person shooter video game

Lost Planet 2 is a third-person shooter video game developed and published by Capcom and Beeline Interactive, Inc. The game is the sequel to Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, taking place ten years after the events of the first game, on the same planet. The game was developed for BlackBerry, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Originally set to be released in early 2010, Capcom delayed the game's consoles release to May 11, 2010 in North America and Europe, May 13 in Australia and May 20 for Japan, while the BlackBerry version was released worldwide on April 28 and the Microsoft Windows version was released in October that year. The title sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide.

<i>Star Wars: Battlefront</i> (2004 video game) 2004 action shooter video game

Star Wars: Battlefront is a 2004 first and third-person shooter video game based on the Star Wars film franchise. Developed by Pandemic Studios and published by LucasArts, it is the first installment in the Star Wars: Battlefront series. It was released in September 2004 for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows to coincide the release of the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set. Aspyr released a Mac OS X port in July 2005, and a cellular phone version, Star Wars Battlefront Mobile, was released on November 1, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First-person shooter</span> Video game genre

A first-person shooter (FPS) is a video game centered on gun fighting and other weapon-based combat seen from a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action directly through the eyes of the main character. This genre shares multiple common traits with other shooter games, and in turn falls under the action games category. Since the genre's inception, advanced 3D and pseudo-3D graphics have proven fundamental to allow a reasonable level of immersion in the game world, and this type of game helped pushing technology progressively further, challenging hardware developers worldwide to introduce numerous innovations in the field of graphics processing units. Multiplayer gaming has been an integral part of the experience, and became even more prominent with the diffusion of internet connectivity in recent years.

<i>PlanetSide 2</i> 2012 massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game

PlanetSide 2 is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) game developed by Toadman Interactive. The game supports battles with thousands of players and incorporates modern first-person shooter mechanics. Six infantry classes and multiple vehicles available to players, allowing them to interact in combined arms warfare on the battlefield. PlanetSide 2 is a reimagining of PlanetSide and chronicles the efforts of the same three factions in their fight for control of the alien planet Auraxis.

ForgeLight is a proprietary MMO game engine developed and used by Daybreak Game Company. The engine has been used for Free Realms, Clone Wars Adventures, PlanetSide 2, Landmark, EverQuest Next, H1Z1: Just Survive, H1Z1: King of the Kill. The engine was nominated for the 2013 Game Developers Choice Awards Best Technology award.

A massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) is an online game which mixes the genres of first-person shooter and massively multiplayer online game. A MMOFPS is a real-time shooter experience where a very large number of players simultaneously interact with one another in a virtual world. These games provide large-scale, sometimes team-based combat.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Darktide</i> 2022 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a first-person action video game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, developed and published by Fatshark. It is a spiritual successor to the Warhammer: Vermintide series. It was released for Microsoft Windows on 30 November 2022. It also was released for Xbox Series X/S on 4 October 2023.

<i>PlanetSide Arena</i> 2019 video game

PlanetSide Arena was a massively multiplayer online first-person shooter developed by Daybreak Game Company. A spin-off of PlanetSide 2, the game supported over 1,000 players per match and featured match-based capture the flag, team deathmatch, and battle royale game modes.

Man vs. Machine was a team-based first-person shooter browser game developed by MuchDifferent. The game was playable only once, and created with the sole purpose of breaking the Guinness World Record for "Most players in an online FPS battle," which it achieved on January 29, 2012 with 999 players. The game was hosted on eight different servers and created with the Unity game engine.

BlackShot is a multiplayer first-person shooter game developed by Vertigo Games. It was initially released in Korea for Microsoft Windows on 15 November 2007. There were initially several different versions of the game for different regions of the world, but it is currently published by Vertigo's subsidiary Papaya Play for the global service.

<i>Silica</i> (video game) 2023 video game

Silica is a 2023 science fiction real-time strategy shooter video game developed by Martin "Dram" Melichárek and published by Bohemia Interactive, released for Microsoft Windows in early access exclusively through the Steam distribution platform. Set in the 24th century on the exoplanet Baltarus, Silica follows a three-sided resource war over Balterium, a valuable mineral capable of power manipulation. The game features a hybrid of shooter gameplay and strategy gameplay, with both modes accessible based on the player's role in their faction.

References

  1. ↑ "E3 2013: PlanetSide 2 Will Look the Part on PlayStation 4". Push Square. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Man vs. Machine vs. First-Person Shooter World Record". Game Rant. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. ↑ Savage, Phil (26 January 2015). "Planetside 2 breaks world record for most players in an FPS battle". PC Gamer. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  4. ↑ Neal, Chris (30 March 2020). "PlanetSide 2 enjoys a surge in activity and breaks its own Guinness World Record". Massively Overpowered. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  5. ↑ Brown, Joey (6 November 2022). "PlanetSide 2 Smashes World Record for Most Players in An FPS Battle". Game Rant. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "PlanetSide 2 Empire Debrief - The Terran Republic". PlanetSide 2. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "PlanetSide 2: Factions Trailer". IGN on YouTube. 3 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "PlanetSide 2 Empire Brief - New Conglomerate". PlanetSide 2. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Incoming: Nanite Systems Operatives Now Available". PlanetSide 2. 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  10. ↑ Fraser, Brown (21 November 2018). "Planetside 2's new faction lets you play as a robot mercenary who will fight for anyone". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  11. ↑ Sykes, Tom (25 January 2014). "SOE revise All Access Pass, Planetside 1 is going free-to-play this April". PC Gamer UK . Future plc . Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "PlanetSide shutting down July 1 after 13 years of service". PCGamesN. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "PlanetSide 2 PS4 Release Date Revealed". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Interview with Matt Higby - Original Creative Director for Planetside 2". YouTube . 4 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. ↑ December 2019, Vikki Blake 14 (14 December 2019). "Just 3 months after it launched in Early Access, PlanetSide Arena is closing down". Gamesradar. Retrieved 7 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Kain, Erik. "Everything You Need To Know About 'Planetside Arena'". Forbes. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  17. ↑ Palumbo, Alessio (13 September 2019). "PlanetSide Arena Interview - Devs on What Makes It Unique, Adding Story Progression & Third Person; Cross-Play Planned". Wccftech. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "PlanetSide Arena is Dead: Prepare For PlanetSide 3". ScreenRant. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.