FEAR-2
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Alma's back in latest F.E.A.R. 2 trailer
With F.E.A.R. 2 arriving next week, we'll finally be able to turn down the lights, draw the curtains, and scare ourselves silly. Warner Bros. and Monolith have dished out a new trailer (it's rated "M," so you'll find it after the break) featuring plenty of gameplay, a fairly in-depth look at the game's story and several instances of that creepy Alma girl popping up at random times. Give it a watch and if you feel so inclined, hit up the BD link below and download the thing in HD. Those seeking out a more interactive vignette should download the recently released demo. Download the F.E.A.R. 2 launch trailer in HD (332mb)
Experience a F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin briefing
If you're a bit fuzzy on the details surrounding the F.E.A.R. 2 storyline and are even more clueless regarding the original F.E.A.R. plot, then we have just the video solution for you. After the break, you can view the latest Project Origin trailer that recaps the tale of Alma, what the First Encounter Assault Recon team is all about and why everything has gone horribly, horribly wrong. Maybe it's just us, but we really feel for Alma and the situation she was put in. If we were in charge, we'd get her get cleaned up, make sure dinner was eaten by 7PM and have her in bed by 9PM. Kids need structure.
The Best of Big Download: January 19-25
Once again its been a busy week for features, downloads and news at Big Download. So let's don't waste any more time and check out the week's highlights:Exclusive features A look at fictional US presidents in PC games: We celebrate the inarguration of a new president by looking at the fictional Commanders-in-Chief that have showed up in PC games over the year. From Ink to Bytes: Turning pen-&-paper RPGs into PC games: We look at a number of RPGs that have been adapted for the PC game platform and speculate on other titles that could get the treatment. Stardock reveals details on next version of Impulse Reactor: We chat with Stardock head Brad Wardell as he reveals how the the next version of Impulse Reactor could be a help in protecting games from piracy More Spore on the horizon: We chat with EA's Maxis team on the next PC game versions of their best selling alien evolution title Impressions: Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II multiplayer beta: We give our hands-on impressions of the multiplayer beta for Relic's upcoming RTS game Mirror's Edge PC review: We give our final verdict to the PC port of Digital Illusions' first person action game Mac Monday: Our weekly Mac game column looks at the fantasy-themed puzzle game 4 Elements. MODmonday: Our weekly mod column looks at the original Team Fortress for Quake. Indie Showcase: Our weekly Indie column this week looks at a number of new indie games including the contraversial title Kristallnacht along with The Manipulator, Mirror Stage, and This Game is Wizard. Big Ideas: Our weekly column on game themes asks what makes the perfect game experience. Big Iron: Our weekly hardware column this week looks at how processors are using smaller and smaller integrated circuit etchings. Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free games takes a look at the shooter-strategy title Tremulous. Virtual Bargain Bin: Our weekly look at cheap games checks out Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War Soulstorm.
PSN Thursday: Demos for F.E.A.R. 2, WipEout HD
No joke, writing this post about today's PSN update put the fear of Alma into us. In the parlance of the lolcats: she was in r computr, hackin r sistems. Every imaginable glitch that could go wrong ... did, but three hours later it's finally complete. This week, you can check out the demos for F.E.A.R. 2 and WipEout HD. There's all the standard rhythm game DLC and a special premium treat for all the slacker Skate 2 players out there. The full North American PSN update is after the break. PS3 Fanboy has the European PSN update, which finally adds Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 1. Wow, was Alma messing with their system too?
F.E.A.R. 2 demo now on Xbox Live, PC (PSN later today)
Finally, the long, strange journey of the-game-formerly-not-known-as-F.E.A.R.-2 is nearing its end. As the savvy among you already knew, the demo for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin has just arrived on the Xbox Live Marketplace as well as on PCs. Update: We've confirmed that it'll be available on PSN later today.As is so often the case, we've been so busy bringing you the news of the day that we've been unable to carve out a few minutes for ourselves and play it. The responsibility falls to you, beloved readers! What do you make of the demo?Download – PC demo [Big Download]Download – Xbox 360 demo [XBLM]
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin demo now available on the XBLM
Boo! Did we scare you? No? All right, what if we told you a demo for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin was available for download right now on the Xbox Live Marketplace? A single-player demo for Monolith's latest can be found on the XBLM as of early this morning in all of its 760MB glory. If you're looking for a scare today it might be worth checking out. F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin takes place [Spoiler Alert! from the original game] post explosion that devastated the city from the original game and stars a brand new protagonist, Special Forces operator Michael Becket. Oh and yes, Alma's still around and she's still looking to put the hurt on those who wronged her in the past. Run! Download the demo for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
F.E.A.R. 2 demo to cause soiled pants January 22
We thought we would warn you so you can prepare the extra pair of trousers now. You'll need it, because Alma and the gang are headed back to your Xbox 360 in a new F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin demo that arrives on XBLM next Thursday, January 22. We don't know what the demo will contain, but we're guessing it will involve (virtual) shooting, (virtual) hallucinations and (very, very real) abject terror. What would you expect? It's F.E.A.R. 2. Twice the fear, half the calories.
F.E.A.R. 2 scares up demo January 22
Using its guerrilla marketing firm's psychic powers division, Warner Bros. Interactive made us prick our fingers and write on the walls in blood: a demo for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is coming January 22nd. The press release Warner sent soon after was just as effective at getting the point across.The demo will be available to all on Xbox 360, PC and PS3 starting next week; however, the PS3 demo is available right now for Qore subscribers. Download it ... if you dare. Alma is waiting. (cue: rain noise, thunder and demonic laugh.)
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin demo now in Qore, free for all next week
Annual subscribers to Qore will be able to download an exclusive demo of Project Origin right now. Simply load the latest issue and download it from the Download Center. Those that don't have a Qore subscription will be able to get it for free in next week's PlayStation Store update. The horror-themed M-rated shooter has you fighting Alma, a girl with mysterious and overwhelming powers. You'll be able to download it on January 23rd. [Image Credit: PSP GadgetZ]
Qore episode 8 brings a Heavy Rain of F.E.A.R into the Killzone
Ready for another episode of Qore? This one is not to be missed as it will have footage and info from two of 2009's biggest PS3 exclusives, Killzone 2 and Heavy Rain. Veronica does some globetrotting as she visits the developers from these games (situated in Amsterdam and Paris, respectively). There's also some info on FEAR 2 and a look at what Street Fighter fans do to each other behind closed doors. If you enjoyed your free Christmas episode last month you can pick up the latest episode on Thursday when it releases on the American PSN Store. It will cost you $2.99 for a single episode or $24.99 for an annual subscription (13 episodes). Check out the trailer for episode 8 above for some more footage of Veronica Belmont in a motion capture suit.
Monolith designer blames loss of F.E.A.R. fans on expansions
The original F.E.A.R. garnered universal critical praise when it launched, but it seems like we've heard less and less about the subsequent installments in the series. In a recent interview with CVG, Monolith's Dave Matthews, lead art designer for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, blamed the Extraction Point and Perseus Mandate expansions (which were created by TimeGate studios) for "[killing] off a few" fans. Later in the interview, he did a positively heart-melting acoustic rendition of "Crash Into Me". Matthews' main qualm with the expansions is that TimeGate took the story in a direction that Monolith wouldn't have followed -- they took the focus away from the series' young, unsettling antagonist, Alma. With Monolith behind the PC version and console ports of Project Origin, Matthews is confident that the story will continue "the way we originally intended." This is great news for fans, and terribly unfortunate news for the faint of heart. [Via X3F]
Matthews: Ports and expansions contributed to loss of FEAR fans
Monolith's Dave Matthews, lead art designer for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, says multiple expansions and console ports have likely cost the shooter franchise some fans. In an interview with CVG a comment was made to Matthews that the TimeGate developed expansions and Day 1 Studios developed console-ports of the critically acclaimed shooter could be responsible for bringing new eyes to the horror-fueled FPS. "And killed off a few," Matthews noted. Matthews primary reason for the comment based on story decisions taken once the series was out of Monolith's hands. "[TimeGate] took the story in a direction that we didn't intend ... We look at Extraction Point and Perseus Mandate as an alternate universe," Matthews told CVG. "F.E.A.R. was about Alma, F.E.A.R. 2 is about Alma, and we wanted to continue the story the way we originally intended." This time around Monolith, who gained Xbox 360 experience from the Condemned series, has committed to develop all three version of the upcoming sequel. "While there will be some slight variations between the different versions ... our main goal is to make sure the experience is synonymous across all three platforms."
Trophies: F.E.A.R. 2
1 Platinum 2 Gold 7 Silver 49 Bronze Difficulty: Very Difficult Online Trophies? Yes Time to Completion: 100 hours DLC Trophies? Yes* *Trophies requiring DLC are highlighted in yellow. View Trophy List Read More About the Game %Gallery-21936%
F.E.A.R. 2 'unbanned' in Australia
Without requiring any edits, the previously "banned" F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin has received an MA15+ rating in Australia. The title was refused classification by the OFLC last month, but the decision has now been reversed, following an appeal by publisher Warner Bros.Upon review, the classification board deemed that the violence in the game could be "accommodated within the MA15+ classification." Of course, none of these semi-regular banning stories would be happening if games in Australia had the option of an R18+ rating.
F.E.A.R. 2 Australia ban lifted, set for 2009
Australian gamers were struck with relief last month when they learned that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin was effectively banned Down Under, thus protecting them from evil, creepy children. Bad news then, Australian gamers, because it looks like you'll have something to fear after all. IGN reports that Warner Interactive's appeal to the Australian Classification Board was successful, thus landing the game an MA15+ rating. Even worse, the game remains completely unchanged, meaning every terrifying moment, every grisly bit of gore is intact. The game is even scheduled to hit its original February 2009 release date. Sorry, Aussie gamers, the ACB did its best to protect you from Alma, but you will have to suffer her wrath like the rest of us.
FEAR 2: Project Origin going digital over Steam, Direct2Drive
Alma just won't be contained in a box. Warner Bros. sent word that the recently renamed F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin will be released over both Valve's Steam and IGN's Direct2Drive digital distribution services on February 10, 2009. If that date sounds familiar, it's the same day the survival horror FPS will scare up PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 retail shelves as well. Just think, now you won't even have to leave your house to get creeped out by Monolith's spooky little girl. [Via press release]
F.E.A.R. 2 trailer proves children are creepy
Let's face it. Kids are scary. Think about it. We tell them stories about cooking witches in ovens, tell them that cribs belong in trees and that the babies therein inevitably come tumbling down. Is it any wonder that they wind up so damned creepy? Just think of all the horror movies that use children*. The latest trailer for F.E.A.R. 2 -- which highlights that the game is now actually called F.E.A.R. 2 -- showcases lots of nasty monsters and sweet weapons, but we were particularly struck by Alma, the super creepy girl antagonist. More specifically, we were struck by her whispering "You can't hide from me" at the end of the trailer. Now, if you'll excuse us, it's time to hide. *Don't click this.
Project Origin bringing the F.E.A.R back
Did you know that Project Origin was a sequel to F.E.A.R? We're guessing there's a chunk of you who probably didn't, but from now on there's no excuse. Monolith Productions and WB Games inc. have purchased the F.E.A.R name off Activision Blizzard, who retained the license after Monolith switched publishers to work on the sequel. Seemingly Actiblizz feel that they don't need it anymore, along with a few other Sierra franchises. So why not just call it F.E.A.R 2 and have done with it? After all the effort they went to with their Name Your Fear contest, it would be a shame not to use the winning name, Project Origin, in some form or another. As a result the game will now be known as F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin. Lovely. Currently it's set for release worldwide in mid-February. That's around the same time Killzone 2 is due to hit, in case you're wondering.
Project Origin gets its F.E.A.R. back and a release
In a very weird turn of corporate events, Warner and Monolith just announced that they've acquired the F.E.A.R. name and license back from Sierra who initially was going to create their own non-Monolith involved F.E.A.R. sequel. So, with the new name purchase, Project Origin will no longer be the spiritual successor to F.E.A.R. but will instead be the official sequel, now titled F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. Even with the newly acquired F.E.A.R. name, Monolith will be keeping "Project Origin" in the name not only because of the branding they've already being doing, but because they promised the fans. Along with the name change, Lith has confirmed that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin will release to retail on February 10th, 2009. [Thanks, Rob]
Name change: 'F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'
Monolith and Warner Bros. sure appreciate all the hard work you put in to deciding the name of the "spiritual successor" to F.E.A.R., but let's face it, Project Origin doesn't quite ring like ... F.E.A.R. 2. But, as the backstory goes, Sierra owned the franchise name and, up until the Activision-Blizzard merger, the company was supposedly working on its own F.E.A.R. sequel. But then, well, Sierra hit a snag. Sensing that all was not well, Warner Bros. sent over a gift basket full of money, and back came the rights to the franchise name. So, here Warner Bros. and Monolith are with the original name and the name that's been used in all the marketing to date. Solution? Combine the two. And the final answer is ... F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin! In stores February 10th, 2009.
