Global Agenda has become a forerunner in the "next generation" of MMOFPS hybrids, proving to be one of the most anticipated games of its kind in 2010. As promised, here is what we know so far…

Global Agenda, ZAM's "Best in Show" pick in last year's PAX Awards, is almost here! In anticipation of its February 1^st release (as well as ZAM's upcoming preview, which you can expect any day now), we're devoting this installment of "What We Know So Far" to Hi-Rez Studios' ambitious third-person shooter. More than a year ago, the indie developers at Hi-Rez promised a unique MMORPG/FPS hybrid; a sci-fi themed action shooter with a "secret agent" back-story, dubbing its unique genre as "spy-fi".

At the time, the mixture of MMO and first-person-shooter genres was just beginning to gain momentum among the mainstream—generally referred to as "MMOFPS" games. The genre was actually established much earlier, as evidenced by Planetside in 2003, among a few others. But it wasn’t until the last couple of years that the idea of an MMO/shooter amalgam really began to catch on. Global Agenda soon became a forerunner in the "next generation" of MMOFPS hybrids, proving to be one of the most-anticipated games of its kind in 2010. As promised, here is what we know so far…

Currently in the final week of beta testing, some gamers have already had the opportunity to get a first-hand look at Global Agenda's gameplay. Most of them were already familiar with the basic premise and game design; shooter-oriented (and melee) combat, team-based and co-op tactics, RPG-style character progression and competitive play on a massive scale between player-created "agencies" (similar to guilds). But if you haven't been following all the latest news and developments, don't worry; we have you covered.

Hi-Rez Studios developed Global Agenda using the Unreal Engine 3, the latest version of Epic Games' popular and industry-praised Unreal Engine. Many would consider it a fitting game engine for an MMO/FPS hybrid, because of the engine's huge success as a first-person-shooter platform. The Unreal Engine series is also considered to be highly optimized and scalable.

Global Agenda throws players ahead to the year 2155; following the cataclysmic "Third Great War," an oppressive world government rose to power. This government, known as the "Commonwealth," is hell-bent on world domination by seizing control of Earth's natural resources. Perhaps as an allegory to modern times, the only thing that stands between the Commonwealth and world domination are independent factions, each fighting for survival and the reclamation of land. Fortunately, these factions—or Agencies—are armed-to-the-teeth with the latest in high-tech weaponry, robotics and nano-technology.

Gameplay consists of both PvE and PvP combat, although, like most FPS-influenced titles, PvP is predominantly what Global Agenda fans are looking for (PvP gameplay is better-rewarded, as well). Both gameplay modes utilize "missions" to advance the story and aid in character progression, but these aren't your typical "Kill 10 Rats"-types of tasks. Players will unlock new PvE content as they progress through Global Agenda's campaign mode, pitting them against AI-controlled Commonwealth enemies and bosses. Missions are instanced scenarios, similar to the type of map layouts and objectives in popular standalone FPS games.

The "MMO element" of PvE content is a combination of factors; different classes with distinct abilities, familiar skill progression and gear upgrades, a semi-persistent world and more. Classes include Assault (tank/heavy weapon archetype), Recon (scout/sniper), Medic (healer/DoT) and Robotics (utility/support); each class is diverse and offers its own unique contribution to the team dynamic, yet each can hold its own in solo play. Each class also has its own skill tree, allowing players to develop various sub-classes. Further refinement can be accomplished via gear customization, upgrades and the in-game crafting system. Check out ZAM's interview with Global Agenda's executive producer last summer for more details.