[OP shamelessly based on the previous thread by KorJax. PM me things that you'd like to be placed in the current OP. I'm also working on making this a little more steamlined.]
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The short and sweet:
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Planetside 2 is the sequel to the infamous FPSMMO, Planetside. It's an FPS, mixed with MMO-influenced features, and is notably the worlds only major-scale first person shooter that can reasonably support up to 2000 players on a single map. It is also an MMO in the sense that you align yourself with one of three empires.. The Terran Republic, the New Conglomerate, or the Vanu Sovereignty, and must progress through the game's ranks and earn points as you go to make your character more versatile. (Explained further below)
Maps are large, confirmed to be up to 64 square kilometers in size. Each map is split up by hexes which your faction attempts to control by seizing outposts, facilities, towers, etc spread across the map. Hexes grant your faction a certain resource when held, which is handed out to every member of your faction on your current continent every 5 minutes - Resources are used to buy all manor of vehicles in the game, including Tanks, Aircraft, and presumably whatever else they come up with. Resources are also use to resupply you own explosives and medical kits. The game is class based in a way similar to BF3, except character progression is done via Certifications (or Certs), the main currency of the game that lets you get weapons, different abilities, etc. Certs are earned by just playing the game. You earn one cert point for every 250 points you earn doing things like capturing bases, getting kills, healing, repairing vehicles, and so on, as well as 16 free certs over a 24 hour period for just logging in every day.
It is completely free to play and was released in mid November, 2012. The game offers players the chance to purchase items from the ingame store with real money, which include New Weapons and Skins for your characters, vehicles and items. It should be noted that anything that actually effects gameplay (Weapons, new abilities, etc..) can be earned through gameplay. In fact, most things that affect gameplay can only be earned by playing the game and can't be purchased through the store with real money. Many weapons and upgrades in the game work more like "side-grades" instead of straight upgrades - Such as a tank cannon that does massive damage to tanks but has a bad AoE damage and is in turn bad against infantry. This is intended to keep the balance and make it so the game doesn't become "Pay to Win". Additionally, the primary form of character progression - Certs - can never be purchased.
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Screenshots:
Feel free to submit and screenshots you have from after release for use in the OP. PM me to do so.
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These screenshots are unknowing courtesy of Kfacat, Mislum, D4RkHaZz, and Whit3, and regular courtesy of lil_n00blett.
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Videos:
Same deal as the screenshots.
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Note that Physx is currently disabled.
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Helpful links:
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Official PS2 Facepunch Steam Group - Join to get announcements on outfit details, and/or to just organize play with Facepunchers!: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/fpplanetside2
Official PS2 Outfit Roster - If you want to join an outfit, go here to see which FP outfits are currently active for which server and which faction. (New OP note, this list may be very outdated. Nobody has stepped up to say any of these Outfits are active alive anymore.): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...fbHFsX2c#gid=0
Official Forums - All announcements and patch notes are posted here.: http://forums.station.sony.com/ps2/index.php
