For the few out there that have ever stopped and wounder what ever happened to F.E.A.R. and will there ever be a part two it looks like the answer is yes, the catch is the title had to change and I'm willing to bet you would like to know why and this piece by IGN.com has the answers you need.
The IGN report reads as follows: "It's a bit funny how the corporate world works. In 2005, Sierra and Monolith put out an acclaimed first-person shooter called F.E.A.R. that blended elements of Japanese-style horror with kinetic gunplay. But prior to that, in 2004, Monolith was acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which meant that things would get complicated for any follow-up. Sierra owned the name F.E.A.R., but Monolith was the company responsible for actually making it. So what happened next was a bit comical. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced Project Origin, a game that would effectively be the spiritual successor to F.E.A.R., while Sierra would make F.E.A.R. 2 with another developer."
"And then came 2008. Vivendi Universal Games, the parent organization of Sierra, merged with Activision to become the largest third-party publisher in the world. VUG's crown jewel, of course, is Blizzard, the studio responsible for World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and Diablo. Sierra's lineup was examined, and most of its games were recently dropped. Indeed, Sierra's future is in doubt."
"Senseing an opportunity, Warner Bros. and Monolith struck, and they are announcing today that they have acuired the F.E.A.R. name, meaning that the creator of F.E.A.R. once again has access to the name. To that effect, Project Origin is being renamed to F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. To learn more, check out the video interview above."
"Why not drop the Project Origin name altogether? Well, for one, there has already been quite a bit of branding associated with that name, but more importantly, when Monolith lost the F.E.A.R. name it asked its community for suggestions to replace it. In a contest, Project Origin was chosen, and thus, the name has ties to the F.E.A.R. community."
"Warner Bros. and Monolith have also announced a launch date. F.E.A.R. 2 is coming to the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on February 10, 2009, and the game picks up directly during the events of F.E.A.R. and following. We'll have more information on F.E.A.R. 2 tomorrow, including brand-new direct feed footage, so keep an eye out."
The guys over at OXM have gone to all the effort of checking out the Xbox 360's older games to see if you can still get a game online. Check out the list below for the full info.
The most popular games online are Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that.
So what happens to the lesser known games as time marches on and the smaller games are squeezed off the shelves? Do the communities live on? Do the hardcore refuse to let go? Do newcomers to Xbox Live wander into empty lobbies and try to figure out why nothing is working?
We take a handful of older games in the office and give them a whirl online, to see what's left of the original communities...
1. SMACKDOWN VS RAW
RELEASED: November 2006
TIME PLAYED: 30 MINUTES
TOTAL PLAYERS: 14
SIERRA ENTERTAINMENT’S AWARD-WINNING F.E.A.R.™ FRANCHISE RETURNS THIS HOLIDAY
F.E.A.R.™ Hits Retail with Stand-Alone Expansion Packs F.E.A.R. Files™ for Xbox 360® and Perseus Mandate™ for PC
LOS ANGELES – November 7, 2007 – Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, announced the latest installments for the award-winning F.E.A.R.™ (First Encounter Assault Recon), are now available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. F.E.A.R. Files, the complete stand-alone expansion pack series exclusive for the Xbox 360 and F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate, the second expansion pack to the award-winning PC title, are both currently available at major retailers nationwide.
In Perseus Mandate for Windows-based PC, players face off against new enemies as they take point on a second F.E.A.R. team investigating the mysterious paranormal phenomena at Armacham. Perseus Mandate features several robust multiplayer modes available to players online, including a deeply immersive storyline that runs parallel to the original F.E.A.R. and first expansion pack Extraction Point. The second expansion pack reveals a new perspective on the initial disturbance, challenging players to find out what Perseus actually is and why the Nightcrawlers have been called in to collect it.
In F.E.A.R. Files, exclusive for the Xbox 360, gamers will combat paranormal situations in two action-packed campaigns. F.E.A.R. Files is two games in one package – the brand new Perseus Mandate campaign and the award-winning expansion pack Extraction Point. F.E.A.R. Files features several new Instant Action and multiplayer maps, along with a variety of new weaponry available to the player. Gamers can look forward to the same psychological twists and turns they’ve come to expect from the F.E.A.R. franchise as they battle their way through each terrifying campaign.
“Since its launch, F.E.A.R. has been adopted by several million players around the world,” said Pascal Brochier, president, Global Retail for Vivendi Games. “This next chapter in the F.E.A.R. universe will further solidify the global success of the franchise, while giving the community an opportunity to experience another level of compelling F.E.A.R. content.”
F.E.A.R. Files was developed by TimeGate Studios in conjunction with Day One Studios. F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate was developed by TimeGate Studios. To get more information on both games please visit www.whatisfear.com.
The greatest year in the history of games continues this week with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Also making a splash this week is the PC arrival of Gears of War and Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Zombie Ninja Pro-Am. Are you grabbing any of these this week, or are you holding out for something more grand? Let us know what your plans are below.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 360, PS3, PC, DS
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga - 360, PS3, Wii, DS
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games - Wii
Gears of War - PC
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am - PS2 Read more for the entire listing.
The guys over at Xbox 360 Rally have done a fantastic job and gone to all the effort of writing up a Complete List of FREE Xbox 360 Live Marketplace Downloads..
Kudo's must go to the guys for putting in such a great effort..
Please remember that this is a US-based list! If you live in, say, Canada or the EU and see items on here that are region specific.
The Xbox LIVE Marketplace is a true cornucopia of stuff. Whether it be classic arcade games like Paperboy, Time Pilot and Contra, or downloadable content for your favorite games, like Santa Claus outfits for Saints Row and expansions for Oblivion, Xbox LIVE is chock full o’ stuff for just about everyone. If you have the MS Points, you can open the door to all the world’s delight and joy.
But what if you’re broke? Are you just left outside in the snow, to stare in the window from behind the bushes to see all the joyous boys and girls playing with their horse armor and their extra Crackdown skins? Of course not! There’s stuff for you, too, cheap ass!
In fact, there is a LOT of free stuff for you. Whether it be extra content for your favorite game, or the most worthless of things (*coughgamerpicscough*), there is a surprisingly large amount of free stuff for your downloading delight on Xbox LIVE.
Can’t get enough gore with your game? Read on to find out how Condemned 2: Bloodshot plans to deliver the goods and turn your stomach in 2008.
1) Monolith’s great track record of action games consists of F.E.A.R. and its currently in-development sequel; the No One Lives Forever series; and Tron 2.0. Oh, and the original Condemned: Criminal Origins, obviously.
2) Manhunt 2 will look like My Little Pony in comparison to Condemned 2’s ferocious violence. Producer Dave Hasle has confirmed they’ve talked about the game’s content in light of what happened to Manhunt 2, but have decided not to remove or even tone down anything already in there at this stage. (As of press, senior producer Constantine Hantzopoulos is saying otherwise).
3) Weapons can also be thrown. Bottles and billiards balls will split heads open, though it’s actually much more fun to lob something at an enemy’s feet as he’s running towards you, causing him to trip up and allow an easy instant-kill finishing move.
4) Teaser trailer gold: “I only believe in two things. Both of them are fists. And both of them are mine.” Awesome. “Life is funny. Not funny like a joke, but funny like a kick in the balls.” Sweet! And finally, “What does the sidewalk feel when a bird shits on it? Nothing!” We love him already.
5) Almost everything you see can be used as a weapon, leading to over 30 deadly items - double the first game’s weapon count - including bats, pipes, tasers, bricks, tire irons and mop buckets. There’s nothing more satisfying than the crunch of bone as pipe meets skull.
6) Part of the reason why this game feels so visceral is the wise decision to keep the action viewed from a first-person perspective. It’s pretty shocking to see your noggin looming into view towards an enemy’s for a vicious headbutt, and then see the injuries you’ve inflicted up-close when your head pulls away. Even the finishing moves are in first-person.
Click the read more link below to view the entire story from the gamesradar guys.
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