CES 2008: Sneak a look at SOE's The Agency

SOE walked me through the game's world, first showing off the European UNITE headquarters. Our player ran through a lovely flower shop to find a hidden door to UNITE's underground base. The base seemed expansive, and contained everything from weapons testing facilities to a working Q*BERT arcade cabinet. I was told that this arcade game was actually running on Flash, and that any other games like this could be implemented in the future.

I was able to watch a networked multiplayer co-op mission that highlighted the roles of individual party members. Some were able to diffuse bombs and and unlock doors, while others can set traps and perform medical duties. All had to work together and use their various talents to complete a fast-paced mission. I this case, the mission was to prevent a group from bombing underground pillars. When completed correctly, the game presents players with an Agency Moments that, when triggered, shows them a rewarding cut scene to finalize the mission.

SOE also showed off some character customization. It seems that your choice of equipment and clothing can change your abilities, making a sort of "you are what you wear" system. If you want to be a hitman, you'd dress like a hitman. This enables you to change your role as easy as changing your clothing, and I'm told that more clothing and gear options open up as the game progresses.

One of the most interesting game features is the Operatives. Operatives are NPCs that work for you. If you give them a mission, they'll do your bidding, and the best part is that you don't even have to be logged in. SOE says that Operatives will even email and text message you when objectives are completed, and can even ask for specific orders.  

The Agency is still early, but What I've seen already looks incredibly promising. If done right, this could be a fresh alternative to all of the dwarfs in tights. SOE says there's no set release date yet, but I'm going to remain hopeful for a 2008 release.