The open beta allows gamers to be the first in North America to experience this exciting new title, which has been updated and enhanced thanks to the helpful input of everyone who participated in the closed beta, which ends this week.

"We have been working with Wicked Interactive from the beginning on M.A.T. Their team and dedication to make this game competitive is top-notch," said Stephen Tucker, CEO, World Online Gaming League (WOGL). "The  game has been well-received by our community. We look forward to moving into competition with M.A.T as we turn the corner to open beta."

"The M.A.T. closed beta community did a wonderful job," added Sam Ho, Director of Wicked Interactive. "For gamers that did not get a beta key, the wait is finally over! We welcome all gamers out there to join us in enjoying the new modes, new maps and other goodies we've added."

The highlight of the open beta patch is the debut of one of MAT’s most popular game modes, the Ghost Mode. Ghost Mode is a spin-off of the highly popular Bomb Mode.  In Ghost Mode, one team plays as the ghosts who are highly translucent figures that are difficult to see but are restricted to melee attacks only, and they’re out to bomb key locations around the world. The other team is identical to that of Bomb Mode--soldiers with anti-ghost training who are out to drive the ghosts back and save these locations from being bombed. 

Along with Ghost Mode are two brand new maps to keep the white-knuckled action of MAT fresh for the Closed Beta veterans. Pearl Research Institute is the first of the two, taking place in a research institute filled with highly confidential information about their origins that the ghosts want to destroy.

Tianshan Base is the second new map, consisting of a tactical training facility for elite soldiers at a secret location somewhere in the Antarctic where soldiers are given special anti-ghost training. The stakes couldn't be higher as the ghosts are out to keep their origin a mystery and prevent the training of new soldiers in the fight against them.  

Complementing Ghost Mode and the new maps are brand-new items. These include various clothing options that will be available in the item shop. Players can also look forward to a handy C4 Tool Clamp that will speed up the act of diffusing the bomb. Weapon aficionados will love the new weapons to test out on the battlefield as well. The P90, the M249, a Flying Tigers edition MP5, an engraved XM1014, and the lethal Broadsword make their debut for open beta.

Gamers looking for a serious shooter will be glad to know that M.A.T. was the only first-person shooter game good enough to be sanctioned for tournament play in 2009 by the China Electrical Gaming Committee, a nationwide online gaming tournament organizer that is part of the All-China Sports Federation.

To enlist in the open beta, players must download the client from the game's official site or via the links provided by the game's affiliate partners, beginning Sunday, September 19 (3:00 pm EDT).