At E3 2009, amidst all of the ultra hyped announcements and trailers, Rockstar and Sony quietly announced their next new IP to the world. Sitting in the theater, I could barely contain my excitement for the reveal of The Last Guardian and my head was still spinning from the surprise trailer for Final Fantasy XIV. Surprisingly, barely anyone ever mentions or even remembers the announcement of 'Agent,' a PS3 exclusive title in development at Rockstar North. It is easy to see why considering the only media that was released was a logo. With so little to go on, there is a lot of room for speculation. Thanks to Rockstar's signature style that was made popular after the release of Grand Theft Auto 3, it is hard to imagine Agent being anything other than an espionage story layered on top of this cookie cutter formula. With my intense love for last year's "Red Dead Redemption" and the stylings of the upcoming "L.A. Noire," I have high hopes that Rockstar might finally be ready to mix things up a bit with their next new IP.

What we know so far...

Not much. Agent was announced as a PS3 exclusive and is said to be a game based on espionage and assassination set during the cold war. This of course leaves a lot of room for speculation when it comes to plot, setting, and game-play mechanics.

If Rockstar is good at anything, it is the flawless re-creation of settings or time periods in virtual space. Oftentimes, the settings chosen by Rockstar are easily as intriguing and captivating as the mechanics that run them and the characters that inhabit them. Of course, this being a Rockstar title, this is a given when it comes to listing expectations. Not only does a game based on espionage present the possibility for a slew of new mechanics for the veteran developer to play with but it opens up a world of new possibilities for Rockstar to take us places that are rarely approached in video games. With each new world that Rockstar has created, they have further cemented there specific style and given players a clear picture of what to expect. With Agent already taking place in a time that is littered with Political unrest and the fear of world war looming on the horizon, Rockstar already seems to be working on something well outside of their usual fare. Exploring Cold War Cuba as an American spy or being alone in the Soviet Union during such a historic, global crisis is an enticing premise and a wonderful opportunity for Rockstar to show us a side that we have never seen before. Games like "The Godfather 2" and last years triple A, "Call of Duty Black Ops" have given gamers a taste of Cuba as a back drop but is is setting whose culture and beauty has yet to be full realized in a game.

[caption id="attachment_16111" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Welcome to Cuba"][/caption]

Before ever laying eyes on a screenshot or reading the first preview article, audiences already have an idea in their head of what Agent will be. I can't blame them; Rockstar hasn't changed their approach to game design since they struck gold with Grand Theft Auto 3. Even now, fans are picturing a third person character moving freely through a vast open world where missions and characters are marked on a mini map. With 'L.A. Noire' marking the fourth major franchise to use a variation of this formula, 'Agent' would be the perfect opportunity for Rockstar to go back to the drawing board and demonstrate that they can still create something different.  I want Agent to Invent a new way of prioritizing mission objectives, meeting new characters, or even simply change the perspective to first person. If it means introducing a refreshing game-play experience, I would even be open to narrowing the scope of their world into something a bit more linear.

Titles like Borderlands, Wolfenstein 2009, and Demon Souls have all done unique things with the way that players interact and progress a story in an open world. Later this year, Id is bringing us Rage, a FPS with a much more linear approach to open-world game design and it seems to benefit the game and believability of the world in a lot of ways. Perhaps the most impressive and relevant example would be the recent, "Dragon Age 2" which told an amazing story even when limiting the player to the confines of a much smaller open-world. I would love to see how Rockstar would change and adapt their game-play if one of their signature design philosophies was turned on its head.

From Vice City to New Austin, Rockstar certainly has a strong sensibility when it comes to developing worlds that cater to their style of humor and storytelling. Given the extreme popularity of titles like Grand Theft Auto, it's no wonder that Rockstar has established controversial humor and violence as part of their signature. With L.A. Noire, the company has certainly started to explore other options when it comes to gameplay but how long will they continue down this path? When L.A. Noire doesn't perform as well as Red Dead or GTA, how will Agent be affected? Looking back over the years at games like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid, it is clear that espionage certainly has a lot of potential when it comes to game-play mechanics. It is a genre that has given birth to many of our industries most highly respected franchises. With a team as talented as Rockstar (North) at the helm, there is great potential to create something special. By blending their knack for world design and storytelling with a fresh take on such a beloved genre, Agent may prove to be the game that the likes of 'Alpha Protocol' and 'The Saboteur' (**NOTE- I adore The Saboteur and urge everyone to try it despite its obvious shortcomings**)strove to be.

What are your thoughts? Any hopes or predictions? Chime in below!