Software:Freedom Force vs the 3rd Reich

From HandWiki
Short description: 2005 video game
Freedom Force vs the 3rd Reich
Developer(s)Irrational Games
Publisher(s)Irrational Games[lower-alpha 1]
Digital Jesters (Europe)
Producer(s)Jonathan Chey
Designer(s)
  • Dorian Hart
  • Alexx Kay
Programmer(s)Allan Richards
Artist(s)
  • Ben Lee
  • Lorne Brooks
Writer(s)Ken Levine
EngineGamebryo
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: March 8, 2005
  • EU: April 14, 2005
Genre(s)Real-time tactics, tactical role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Freedom Force vs the 3rd Reich is a real-time tactical role-playing game[1][2] developed and published by Irrational Games. The sequel to Freedom Force, the player guides a team of superheroes as they travel back in time, and help overthrow Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. In the game, players take control of a team of up to four characters and battle their way through completely destructible 3D maps in a series of missions based on classic superhero comics.

Plot

Supervillain Nuclear Winter steals Time Master's inert body and uses it to steal nuclear missiles from the Cuban Missile Crisis in an effort to start a nuclear war between the United States and the USSR. The Freedom Force foils his plot, but on the return trip, the timeline changes and Freedom Force finds that the Axis powers achieved victory in World War II. Using the disturbance in the timeline to guide them, Mentor projects the heroes back in the time-stream to battle the villainous Blitzkrieg, who created the disturbance. These superheroes meet and team up with the heroes of that age. In the course of Blitzkrieg's defeat, Alchemiss gains powers from Time Master's body and frees Man-Bot from the Celestial Clock, but goes insane over the sudden expansion of her powers and becomes Entropy, who threatens time and space. Entropy is eventually defeated by Freedom Force with the help of the awakened Time Master. Briefly asserting her original personality, Alchemiss prevents herself from ever existing so she cannot become Entropy, but suddenly finds herself face to face with Energy X.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic86/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarStarStar[4]
Edge7/10[5]
Game Informer8.25/10[6]
GameSpot8.7/10[7]
GameSpyStarStarStarStarHalf star[8]
GameZone8.5/10[9]
IGN9/10[10]
PC Format90%[11]
PC Gamer (US)81%[12]
VideoGamer.com8/10[13]

The game received "generally favorable reviews", albeit slightly less than the original Freedom Force's "universal acclaim", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3]

Freedom Force vs the 3rd Reich was a runner-up for Computer Games Magazine's list of the top 10 computer games of 2005.[14]

Legacy and modifications (mods)

Freedom Force vs the Third Reich followed its predecessor title, Freedom Force, by providing a game engine that could play campaigns (adventures consisting of multiple missions) other than the one released with the game. The developers released a suite of mod tools to allow fans to design their own campaigns and add their own art assets for use in the game.[15] This approach, using a format that was highly modifiable and open to third-party editing, has attracted a strong online community of modding enthusiasts, centered around a discussion board called Freedom Reborn, where modders have taken to creating their own content for the game. Subject matter for fan-created game mods ranges from new original characters and stories to characters from other franchises.

The game's modding community has created a wide variety of content, including new art assets like textures (called skins), 3D models (called meshes), visual effects (FX) and maps. Contributors have also created voice packs, new Rumble Room (a combat sandbox) missions and dozens of entire campaigns.[16] Custom content is often hosted at independent creator sites and many popular mods from the last few years can be found at ModDB. One such modification resulted in the unofficial expansion pack, called Freedom Force X,[17] or FFX, originally created for the Freedom Force and later expanded for Freedom Force vs the Third Reich. FFX adds artistic content and scripting to enable dozens of new powers, attributes and customization options for game characters.

Notes

  1. ↑ 2K Games published the game on Steam.

References

  1. ↑ Yam, Marcus (October 17, 2003). "For Great Justice!". FiringSquad. Archived from the original on December 31, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20031231190745/http://firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=5538. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  2. ↑ Adams, David (February 22, 2005). "Freedom Force at Full Alert". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/22/freedom-force-at-full-alert. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/freedom-force-vs-the-3rd-reich/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  4. ↑ Coffey, Robert (May 2005). "Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich". Computer Gaming World (251): 86–88. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_251.pdf. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  5. ↑ Edge staff (May 2005). "Freedom Force vs. the 3rd Reich". Edge (149): 89. 
  6. ↑ "Freedom Force vs. the 3rd Reich". Game Informer (144): 139. April 2005. 
  7. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (March 9, 2005). "Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/freedom-force-vs-the-third-reich-review/1900-6120073/. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Rausch, Allen (March 11, 2005). "GameSpy: Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/freedom-force-vs-the-third-reich/595379p1.html. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  9. ↑ Hopper, Steven (March 31, 2005). "Freedom Force vs. the Third Reich - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080215212553/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23056.htm. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  10. ↑ Butts, Steve (March 3, 2005). "Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/03/freedom-force-vs-the-3rd-reich. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  11. ↑ Griliopoulos, Dan (May 2005). "Freedom Force vs the Third Reich". PC Format (174): 95. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080206144757/http://www.pcformat.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=36387&subsectionid=680. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  12. ↑ "Freedom Force vs. the 3rd Reich". PC Gamer: 64. May 2005. 
  13. ↑ McCafferty, Iain (August 3, 2005). "Freedom Force vs The Third Reich Review". VideoGamer.com. https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/freedom-force-vs-the-third-reich-review. Retrieved July 2, 2017. 
  14. ↑ Staff (March 2006). "The Best (and Worst) of 2005; The 15th Annual Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Magazine (184): 42–47. 
  15. ↑ Park, Andrew (May 17, 2006). "New Freedom Force downloads available". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306211513/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-freedom-force-downloads-available/1100-2865157/. 
  16. ↑ "Comprehensive List of Mods". FreedomReborn.net. July 16, 2019. http://www.freedomreborn.net/forums/index.php?topic=48992. 
  17. ↑ "Freedom Force X Mod for Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich". freedomforceforever.com. Jan 1, 2012. http://ffx.freedomforceforever.com/. 
  • 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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