• a) yes we are still working on the game, and
• b) no, there is no new information we can share at this time

No more! The flood of information is coming in the May issue of EGM. As to the hundreds of private messages and emails that we get every week, we read and appreciate all of them. Whether it’s a quick note to inquire

“What the [heck] is taking you [fine fellows] sooooo long??”

or an encouraging

“Please don’t [mess] up the new SOCOM!!”

we feel the love. The overwhelming message is that you want Confrontation to be great, and you want it soon. So to address those points, the game is looking, playing and feeling better than ever and we are working hard to get it in your hands as soon as possible. Hang in there, Confrontation is coming!

As for the just-released screens, here is a quick comment about each screen to address the flurry of forum posting that they have caused.

This is indeed Crossroads, the most fan-requested SOCOM map. This shot is taken from our new OTS camera, but the player is backed up into a wall here so it might look a bit confusing. This is the right in front of the SEAL spawn, looking down the street in the direction of the warehouse. The commando in the upper right is aiming a M87ELR, and his teammate by the tree is wielding a G36-C. The mercenary charging up the street is firing with an F90.

This is a brand new map, which has a 16 player core area and an expanded footprint for 32 player matches. This ruined shopping center is a great sniping location, and is a hotly contested control point in our internal sessions. The player here is aiming an M60-E3; eagle-eyed fans will also spot an AK-47, a USAS-12 and a SASR sniper rifle in this shot.

Also, SealTeam-6 requested that I specifically iterate this point “for the record”, so here we go:

There is an option to use classic SOCOM camera! It looks and feels like the original classic camera!

Repeat after me…

There is an option to use classic SOCOM camera! It looks and feels like the original classic camera!
There is an option to use classic SOCOM camera! It looks and feels like the original classic camera!….

Finally, I would like to welcome aboard the new community manager for all things SOCOM, Abigale. She is going to be working to keep the communication flowing between the SOCOM community and the dev team.

Cheers

I wanted to check in and let you know that we appreciate all of the positive feedback that we’ve received on SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike, which launched on November 6th. Tactical Strike is a departure from previous SOCOM titles on PSP, and I know that has been a source of concern for some of the SOCOM faithful. The team at Slant made TS for fans of the US Navy SEALs, for the SOCOM hardcore, for tactical gamer and for anyone that wants a puzzle/action/combat game made specifically for PSP. We knew that TS would challenge ideas of what SOCOM is about, and it has been very rewarding to read the forum posts by skeptical gamers giving the game a chance and then realizing that TS is a deep and addictive play experience.

A demo of the game became available on the PLAYSTATION Store for PC, which was launched yesterday. Be sure to download it and try it out over the long weekend if you don’t already have SOCOM: Tactical Strike in your PSP. I also want to highlight some of the excellent reviews that we have been receiving:

GameSpy: 4/5 stars
“There’s tons of genuine pulse-racing tension to soak up as you lay down the ground work, and the deep satisfaction delivered when a plan comes together is exhilarating.”

Poket Gamer: 9/10
“…this is fact turns out to be one of the system’s finest and it’s not difficult to see why: it looks great, plays just as well, and gets an exceptionally solid job done with remarkable style.”

PSPFanboy: 95/100
“This is an easy candidate for PSP GOTY. Gorgeous, believable graphics, innovative gameplay, and massive levels are just part of the game’s unique appeal.”

Have a great weekend!

Hi everyone! I am pleased to announce that SOCOM Tactical Strike for PSP has gone gold! The game is done, and will be on shelves in North America on November 6th. This is Slant Six’s inaugural release, and the whole studio is very excited! This game has been two years of hard work, and we hope that SOCOM gamers and fans of tactical shooters everywhere will give it a try. In addition to playing as the US Navy SEALs, there are eight additional international Special Forces that are playable in Tactical Strike. All are fully localized with voice and have authentic uniforms and weaponry. If you are a fan of the British SAS, the Australian SAS-R or the Korean 707th Special Missions Battalion, this is your chance to take a team into the field!

Ad-hoc and infrastructure multiplayer for four clients with voice chat is also included, and Tactical Strike can be played at T-mobile WiFi Hotspots.

Here is a link to the latest Tactical Strike trailer for your enjoyment.

Back to work on SOCOM Confrontation!