|
How do I get a custom title, larger avatar or signature?
Other than being assigned a title or moniker due to some odd incident or event, you can choose from the
subscrition options available:
- Larger Avatar - Allows you to have a larger avatar, up to 100x100 @ 50k
- Larger Signature - Allows you to buy some mercy from the almighty Sigbot. Your restrictions
will become 500x250 @ 60k
- Custom Title - Allows you to have a custom title for 3 months. The title is set in the User
CP under “profile”
- View Post COunts - Allows you to view user's post counts.
- Package Deal - You get a Custom Title, Larger Avatar, Larger Signature, and the ability to
view post counts.
Additionally, a “Contributor” tag will be added to your name. Be aware you MUST have PayPal.
No other payment options are accepted.
Can I just contribute to Planetside-Universe?
Yes. Donations are always welcome. Just click the Donate button on the web page and submit
the amount you wish to donate. Be aware you MUST have PayPal. No other payment options are accepted. A
“Contributor” tag will be added to your name.
General
When did Planetside come out?
Planetside was released on May 20, 2003.
What is a MMOFPS?
MMOFPS stands for Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter.
Will my computer run PS?
As long as it meets the following requirements, yes.
-
Minimum Requirements:
Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP
Pentium® III 1.0 GHz or greater
256 MB RAM
Direct3D compliant
video card with 32MB RAM*
DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card
56k + Internet connection
4X speed CD-ROM
3.25 GB hard drive space
DirectX 8.1 or greater
Recommended Specs:
Windows® 98/2000/ME/XP
Pentium® III 1.6 GHz or greater
512 MB RAM
Direct3D compliant
video card with 64MB+ RAM*
DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card
Broadband Internet connection
8X speed CD-ROM
3.5 GB hard drive space
DirectX 8.1 or greater
* Note: All Direct 3D cards not supported. (See complete
supported
video card list)
Is it pay to play?
Yes, the current subscription price is $12.95 a month. This fee goes toward the cost of bandwidth, server
maintenance, continuous feature improvements and content updates, as well as customer support.
Will there be a subscription discount if I play another SOE online game?
Yes, if you subscribe to other SOE online games, you may want to look into SOE's
All-Access Pass.
Are there Gaming Cards, for those without access to credit cards?
Yes.
Why should I pay for a monthly subscription to a FPS?
PlanetSide is much more than an FPS. Taking scale and submersion completely out of the equation, the joys of
a subscription base game are 3 fold: New weapons, vehicles, and other items, constant tech support, and a
more regulated playing field where cheaters and griefers will cease to present as large of a problem.
Is there a free trial period?
Yes. Purcase of Planetside comes with a free 30 day trial. Occasionally SOE offers a 7 day free trial period,
so check in often.
Game Aspects
What’s so special about PlanetSide?
PlanetSide offers the first ever MMOFPS (Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter) experience.
Never before has a game united FPS fans at this scale. There are usually anywhere from 3,000-5,000 players
playing on each server at any given time, while the servers themselves are capable of handling hundreds of
thousands of subscribers. This guarantees a battle won’t be too hard to find.
It combines classic FPS with the arcade like feel of Tribes, and encourages the use of teamwork like in
Clancy games. It also adds a touch of RTS, with the ANTs and the resource gathering. In terms of physical
scale, the game is enormous; the planet consists of thirteen continents (3 empire sanctuaries and 10
regular continents) each roughly 500 square kilometers.
What’s the goal of the game?
PlanetSide revolves around the constant struggle over bases. Each base contains one facility that gives its
owner a certain advantage. Every squad or platoon (3 squads unified under one leader) fights to capture bases
and facilities for their empire. Once a base is “hacked” there is a waiting period, where the
base is not owned by any empire, and once that passes, then the base enters the possession of the hacking
team’s faction.
How do you win?
It is possible that one faction will take over the entire planet, however, it is highly unlikely and it would
require thousands of players working together all at once.
What are the advantages of each empire?
The Terran Republic prefer massive amounts of fire power. They have traditional weapons with a very high
rate of fire. The New Conglomerate prefers massive damage over rate of fire or speed. They also use traditional
weaponry. The Vanu Sovereignty use laser weapons and prefer high speed over brute fire power. Their vehicles
also use a Vanu technology to allow them to hover and strafe.
Are there computer-controlled characters?
No. If you see someone in armor holding a gun, then it's a player. Guaranteed.
How many people make up a squad?
Up to 10 people make up a squad. Three squads make up a platoon.
What is a platoon?
A platoon is three squads banded together into one cohesive unit, under one leader.
What is an outfit?
An outfit is a group of players organized together for the sole purpose of playing as a team. Outfits in
PlanetSide are comparable to Player Associations or Guilds in other games. Outfit members will have their
outfit's name displayed directly below their names in game. The minimum number of members to form an outfit
is 10, however there is no maximum cap on members.
Can a faction “capture” a whole continent?
Absolutely. When all facilities on the continent are captured, the continent automatically enters “
lockdown” mode. The only access to the continent is through a Warp Gate linked from another continent.
What are the facilities?
Amp Station, Bio Lab, Interlink Facility, Tech Plant, and Drop ship center.
What are the towers?
There are 3 types of towers. 15 towers spread across each continent, which will provide choke points and
strategic respawning locations:
- Gun towers - 3 stories with turrets on the top
- Watch towers - the tallest at 5 stories with multiple ledges
- Air towers - 3 stories with turrets on the top provide a landing/repair pad for aircraft.
What is an ANT?
The ANT (Advanced Nanite Transport) is used to transfer NTUs, gathered inside a warp gate, to a
base's NTU silo. Bases use resources to perform their functions, and even drain NTUs when the base isn't in
use. Once the ANT is full of the NTUs you drive back to the silo at the base that needs the energy, park the
ANT next to the silo and engage the ANT, which transfers the NTUs. ANTs are not armed and not heavily armored
and will often require an escort in heavy fighting areas. The best plan is to team up with a Galaxy or
Lodestar pilot for quick transport.
What are the different vehicle types?
There are Air vehicles ranging from a heavy troop and vehicle transport to a small personal attack aircraft.
There are also land vehicles ranging from a small personal ATV “4 wheeler” to a buggy to a heavy
assault tank and a troop transport.
Can someone steal my ride?
Yes. You can set permissions on your vehicle to keep friendlies from stealing it, however, enemy Advanced
Hackers can, and will, jack your vehicle if given the opportunity. You'll at least be told about it when
“Vehicle Stolen” shows on the screen.
When I hack an enemy vehicle, does it change color?
Yes. If an NC hacks and steals a Vanu vehicle, the Vanu vehicle will get the NC “paintjob”.
What vehicles can be in stealth mode?
The Wraith is a small one man ATV that can be used in stealth mode only if the driver is wearing the
infiltration suit.
What’s the maximum altitude for aircraft?
400 meters.
What is the flight model like?
The flight model is very similar to what is seen in Tribes 2.
Can you manually land the aircraft
Yes. Originally the system was in place that you simply hit L, and the ship would land itself. Now you press
either E to ascend or C to descend.
What are the different armor types?
Standard (which you start and spawn with), Agile, Reinforced, Infiltration, and the Mechanized Assault
Exo-suit more commonly know as the MAX. Each empires MAX has a special ability unique to that empire.
Can I get out of my MAX?
No. MAX is armor, not a vehicle.
Can I carry a rifle while in the infiltrator suit?
No.
How do I get weapons?
You will get your weapons from an equipment terminal inside of a base, sanctuary, or AMS. Weapons do not
cost anything, however you must be certified in that weapon type to be able to use it.
Will my certifications improve my weapon accuracy
No. Combat skill is determined by your actual skill not your character's certifications. Your character's
accuracy will depend on your own hands and eyes.
Are there one shot kills?
Yes. The only one shot kill known is to the weakest armor. A direct hit from a tank round is also a one
shot kill.
Is there region specific damage?
No.
What happens when I die?
You have a choice. Either lie on the field and wait to be revived by an advanced medic, if one is close, or
choose from your faction's available spawn points:
- Nearest friendly facility
- Nearest friendly and deployed AMS
- Nearest friendly tower
- Manual bind at friendly facility
- Manual bind at friendly and deployed AMS
- Empire Sanctuary
The Empire Sanctuary will always be available. The other spawn points depend on whether or not that
resource is available when you die. There is a respawn timer that must expire before you respawn back into
the world.
What is the HART?
The HART (High Altitude Re-entry Transport) is a multiple player transport that leaves your Empire's
Sanctuary every 5 minutes. The HART you can select a destination on any of the 10 available continents to
“drop” yourself via a drop pod. You can select any continent that is not locked by another
empire or does not have a population lock. You can drop anywhere outside the Sphere of Influence of bases
and towers. Watch out for the water.
Are there large bodies of water?
Yes, there are very large areas of water. Each continent is surrounded by ocean and there are lakes, ponds
and marshes on various continents.
Are there water-based battles and vehicles?
No. The Magrider, Thrasher and Deliverer are able to cross calm waters.
Will I be able to swim?
No. If you are plunged into the water, you will sink to the bottom and have to walk out before the oxygen
meter reaches zero. If a vehicle is completely submerged in water, the driver will lose control of it and
have to dismount to get out of the water.
What is the damage model used for explosions?
PlanetSide uses a ray cast system, so other objects between you and the explosion will shield you from the
blast. So yes, you can take one for the team.
How maneuverable is my character?
With the lighter armors, the characters are fairly agile and swift, and as the armor increases, mobility is
reduced. There are no prone or “lean” actions in the game. The developer's felt that removing
these would greatly speed up the game play.
Can I jump out of planes/do a HALO (High Altitude Low Oxygen) drop?
While PlanetSide does not have parachutes, it has a futuristic equivalent of them, the Kinetic Dampeners.
You can jump from aircraft, and the Kinetic Dampeners will kick in at a predetermined altitude to prevent
your character from dying. No damage is taken.
What’s the planet like?
Auraxis (where PlanetSide takes place) consists of many different types of land ranging from volcanic
wastelands, icy tundra, barren deserts and lush green lands.
Are the buildings/terrain destroyable?
No. Since PlanetSide is a MMOFPS, everything would be a wasteland within weeks.
Is there weather?
Yes, there is a weather system in place that includes clouds, and affects visibility. The weather patterns
are visible from a global map view.
Is there a Day/Night Cycle?
Yes. While the exact length and day to night ratio is not known, it is in place. Night time only gets dark
enough to limit vision, not impair it.
Are the avatars in the game “skinnable”?
No. As a player you will have several graphical options for your avatar, ranging from facial features to
scars. This is done to help limit the amount of information that another player must download – thus
saving bandwidth, and to keep everyone on a level playing field, which will help eliminate cheating.
Is there blood or gibbs in this game?
No. PlanetSide has a Teen rating. When a person is shot an electrical effect is given off, that is visually
impressive, and helps you know if you hit your target.
|
