Software:Freedom Force (2002 video game)

From HandWiki
Freedom Force
Developer(s)Irrational Games (Windows)
The Omni Group (OS X)
Publisher(s)Crave Entertainment and Electronic Arts (Windows)
MacPlay (OS X)
2K Games (Steam)
EngineNetImmerse
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Release
Genre(s)Real-time tactical role-playing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Freedom Force is a real-time tactical role-playing game[2][3][4] developed by Irrational Games and published by Electronic Arts and Crave Entertainment in 2002.[5][6] The player guides a team of superheroes as they defend Patriot City from a variety of villains, monsters, and other menaces. The game's budget was around $2 million.[7] A sequel, Freedom Force vs The 3rd Reich, was self-published in early March 2005.[8] The games were made available on Steam on May 29, 2009.[9]

Setting

Players control the character Mentor across a series of locations and time periods in pursuit of and in contest with the game's primary antagonist, Lord Dominion. The game begins with a fight between Lord Dominion and Mentor resulting in the latter's ship exploding, releasing a substance named "Energy X" over the game's primary setting, Patriot City. The substance acts as a context specific agent that grants an individual superpowers based upon their personality or the environment wherein they made contact with the substance. This substance, "Energy X" acts as the driving plot device for the game as it generates allies for Mentor along with new environments for the player to pursue and fight Lord Dominion.

Development

The game used the NetImmerse game engine.[10]

Comic book tie-in

Cover of the first issue

From January to June 2005, the story of the first Freedom Force game was retold in a six-issue comic book miniseries published by Image Comics.[11] This series was scripted by Eric Dieter[12] and featured Jack Kirby[13]-influenced artwork by Tom Scioli.[14] Dieter also wrote the series "Bible" [citation needed] and served as community manager for the official website's forum, "Freedom Fans". [citation needed]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic90/100[15]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[16]
CGWStarStarStarStarStar[17]
Edge7/10[18]
Eurogamer9/10[19]
Game Informer8.75/10[20]
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[21]
GameSpot9/10[22]
GameSpyStarStarStarStarHalf star[23]
GameZone8.9/10[24]
IGN9.3/10[1]
PC Gamer (US)94%[25]
Entertainment WeeklyA[26]
Maxim6/10[27]

The game received "universal acclaim," according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15] GameSpot named it the best computer game of March 2002.[28]

Freedom Force won Computer Gaming World's 2002 "Strategy Game of the Year" award.[29] The editors of Computer Games Magazine named it the ninth-best computer game of 2002 and called it "the superhero game fans have been waiting for". It also received the magazine's "Best Voice Acting" award.[30] GameSpot presented it with its annual "Best Story on PC" prize.[31] Freedom Force was also nominated for PC Gamer US's "2002 Best Roleplaying Game",[32] The Electric Playground's 2002 "Best Strategy Game for PC" and GameSpot's "Best Music on PC", "Biggest Surprise on PC" and "Best Graphics (Artistic) on PC" awards.[31][33] During the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Freedom Force was nominated for "Computer Role-Playing Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[34]

Sequel

Freedom Force was followed by a sequel, Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich, which released three years after the original game.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sulic, Ivan (March 26, 2002). "Freedom Force". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/26/freedom-force. 
  2. ↑ "Freedom Force FAQ". Taktikzone. http://www.taktikzone.de/index.php?GameID=18&content=faq. 
  3. ↑ GameSpot staff (July 17, 2000). "Freedom Force Q&A". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/freedom-force-qanda/1100-2604600/. 
  4. ↑ Allman, Mark (October 22, 2000). "First Looks: Freedom Force". RPGPlanet. http://www.rpgplanet.com/features/firstlooks/freedomforce/. 
  5. ↑ "Freedom Force" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/freedom-force/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  6. ↑ "Freedom Force Review" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/freedom-force-review/1900-2859351/. 
  7. ↑ Grant, Christopher (May 8, 2009). "Ken Levine: Next project will cost 'a fair amount of money'". Engadget (Joystiq). https://www.engadget.com/2009/05/08/ken-levine-next-project-will-cost-a-fair-amount-of-money/. 
  8. ↑ "Freedom Force vs The 3rd Reich" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/freedom-force-vs-the-3rd-reich/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  9. ↑ "Freedom Force - Now on Steam - Save 10% for one week!". Steam. May 29, 2009. http://store.steampowered.com/news/2550/. 
  10. ↑ "A Freedom Force Update". September 2000. Archived from the original on February 4, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010204225900/http://www.ndl.com:80/freedom2.htm. Retrieved January 29, 2024. 
  11. ↑ "Freedom Force (Volume)" (in en). https://comicvine.gamespot.com/freedom-force/4050-22698/. 
  12. ↑ "GCD :: Issue :: Freedom Force #6". https://www.comics.org/issue/369744/. 
  13. ↑ "On the Irrationality of 'Freedom Force', Gaming's Forgotten Superhero Series" (in en). June 23, 2015. https://www.vice.com/en/article/7ba77z/on-the-irrationality-of-freedom-force-gamings-forgotten-superhero-series-145. 
  14. ↑ "GCD :: Issue :: Freedom Force #1". https://www.comics.org/issue/273266/. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Freedom Force for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/freedom-force/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  16. ↑ Deci, T.J.. "Freedom Force - Review". AllGame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=31418&tab=review. 
  17. ↑ Coffey, Robert (June 2002). "Freedom Force". Computer Gaming World (215): 80–81. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_215.pdf. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  18. ↑ Edge staff (May 2002). "Freedom Force". Edge (110). 
  19. ↑ Taylor, Martin (August 2, 2002). "Freedom Force". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_fforce. 
  20. ↑ Brogger, Kristian (May 2002). "Freedom Force". Game Informer (109): 92. http://www.gameinformer.com:80/Games/Review/200205/R03.0731.1540.44264.htm. Retrieved July 1, 2017. 
  21. ↑ The D-Pad Destroyer (March 27, 2002). "Freedom Force Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/22040.shtml. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  22. ↑ Dulin, Ron (March 29, 2002). "Freedom Force Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/freedom-force-review/1900-2859351/. 
  23. ↑ Chick, Tom (March 15, 2002). "GameSpy: Freedom Force". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/freedom-force/548642p1.html. 
  24. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (April 10, 2002). "Freedom Force Review". GameZone. http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r15847.htm. 
  25. ↑ Osborn, Chuck (May 2002). "Freedom Force". PC Gamer: 58. http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/freedom_force.html. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  26. ↑ Brooks, Mark (May 10, 2002). "Freedom Force". Entertainment Weekly (653): 84. http://ew.com/article/2002/05/10/freedom-force/. Retrieved July 1, 2017. 
  27. ↑ Steinberg, Scott (March 26, 2002). "Freedom Force". Maxim. http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_2948.html. Retrieved July 1, 2017. 
  28. ↑ ((The Editors of GameSpot PC)) (April 5, 2002). "PC Game of the Month, March 2002". GameSpot. http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/features/pc/gotm/040502/index.html. 
  29. ↑ Staff (April 2003). "Computer Gaming World's 2002 Games of the Year". Computer Gaming World (225): 83–86, 88, 89, 92–97. 
  30. ↑ Staff (March 2003). "Best of the Year 2002; 12th Annual Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Magazine (148): 58–61. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 GameSpot Staff (December 30, 2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002". GameSpot. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/. 
  32. ↑ Smith, Rob (March 2003). "The Ninth Annual PC Gamer Awards". PC Gamer US 10 (3): 48–50, 54, 58, 60, 66, 68, 70. 
  33. ↑ Staff. "Blister Awards 2002". The Electric Playground. http://elecplay.com:80/feature.html?article=10626#mr_toppy. 
  34. ↑ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Freedom Force". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2003&idGame=465. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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