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The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Jamming with Ben 'Rarebit' Chamberlain
When we started into The Matrix Online month last week on The Game Archaeologist, one of the comments caught my eye. Massively reader stealthrider wrote: Please, please do a tribute to Rarebit. MxO was his baby, and no one took its death worse than he. He did everything for that game, much of it single-handedly. Everything from playing the canon characters and co-writing the story to fixing hundreds of bugs and even creating a new zone from scratch. Not to mention developing and implementing the story missions, new items, the RP item vendors, and pretty much everything else in MxO's final couple of years. He even implemented and moderated a player-created minigame as part of the official story. He retired from game development in the months before MxO's shutdown. He was that dedicated to this game that he couldn't work on anything else afterward. He's a god among developers, and he is as sorely missed as the game itself. I think this sums up how many Matrix Online vets feel about Ben "Rarebit" Chamberlain. So instead of a mere tribute, we drove the MassivelyMobile over to Chamberlain's house (read: send a polite email request), and he graciously said he'd be glad to reminisce with us. So hit that jump to find out the last word on MxO from the dev who held it together!
The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: The highlights
It's not every year that a movie comes along that captures the pop culture zeitgeist so powerfully and so quickly as The Matrix did. I recall lugging a few college friends along to see this in 1999 -- having heard only a few sparse details about it beforehand -- and coming out of the theater feeling as if we we'd been electrified. The bold mix of science fiction, martial arts, philosophy, action, and leather ensembles became the smash hit of the year, and a franchise was born. And while we had great hopes that this would be this generation's Star Wars, The Matrix ultimately proved to be a lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenon, impossible to recapture once unleashed. Sequels, animated shorts, video games, comic books -- none rose to the height of the original film, and eventually the franchise petered out. During this period, an odd duck of an MMO was born: The Matrix Online. When you think about it, an online virtual world where people log in and fight against programs was a really short hop from the movie series. MxO, as it was abbreviated, was an audacious game with unique features, story-centric gameplay and a sci-fi bent in a field of fantasy competitors, and while it only lasted four years, it was enough to make a huge impression for its community. So by popular demand, this month we're going to revisit the 1s and 0s of The Matrix Online to see just how deep the rabbit hole (and well-worn cliche) goes -- and what made this game stand out!
F.E.A.R. 3 set to terrorize March 22, pre-order items detailed
In an effort to appease all of its retail partners while simultaneously inconveniencing fans, Warner Bros. this morning detailed F.E.A.R. 3's pre-order bonuses -- different and exclusive to three separate retailers -- alongside announcing the game's official release date: March 22, 2011. Best Buy and GameStop pre-orders will pack the Shredder and the Hammer weapons, respectively, while Amazon pre-orders get a 12-page Fear-based comic book. The Shredder is described as "a sidearm specially developed by Armacham Technologies for their elite guard as an effective way to stop experimental super soldiers that have gone rouge," while the Hammer is said to be "Fettel's original sidearm which was lost when he was killed by his brother, Point Man." And though the new trailer after the break doesn't feature either weapon in action, it does feature a creepy, backwards walking humanoid thing just in time for Halloween.
F.E.A.R. 3 trailer piles on the cheese
Dear Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Look, we get what you're trying to do here with this F.E.A.R. 3 trailer, but you aren't getting the desired result. The live-action portions don't make the world more believable -- in fact, they do the complete opposite. It just comes off as hokey and low-budget. Did you really watch this before sending it out? Bush league, guys. The gameplay portions of the trailer, however, are more our speed. There's slow-mo gunplay, creepy monsters and plenty of that wonderful ragdoll physics we've grown to love. That's the winning formula! Please keep that in mind for next time. Sincerely,
Rumor: F.E.A.R. 3 to be revealed by Spanish magazine as 'F.3.A.R.'
Alright, folks, story time -- about five days ago, a tipster sent us the three box shots in the gallery below, claiming they were asked to take part in a survey that essentially revealed the existence of a third game in the Monolith-developed F.E.A.R. series. Further, the game's title on the boxes didn't read "F.E.A.R. 3," but rather "F.3.A.R." Fast-forward four days later and one of the box shots turns up on gaming forum neoGAF as an image (sans box) alleged to be from an unnamed Spanish magazine, with the words "próximo número" ("next number" literally, or, in this case, "next issue") cascading down the left side. Normally we wouldn't tell you about any of this, except for the fact that when we contacted publisher Warner Bros. Interactive for comment, we were told by a representative, "We have no info to share at this time." While that's certainly not solid confirmation, the fact that WB didn't outright falsify the images strikes us as notable to say the least. We'll let you know if the publisher decides to be any more candid, but for now we're leaving this one firmly in the rumor bin. %Gallery-88961%[Thanks Jan!]
Condemned to Games on Demand
Now that Sega's Condemned has been added to the Xbox Live Games on Demand service (for $19.99), you can get started with the suspense even before you play it! Turn the lights off, curl up on the couch with some popcorn and just watch it download. When will it be finished? No one knows! Condemned is available everywhere but Australia, India, Japan and New Zealand. Instead, in Japan -- and Japan only -- Guilty Gear 2: Overture has been added to Games On Demand for ¥2,940 ($32.75). Additionally, in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, Ridge Racer 6 is now available -- also for ¥2,940 in Japan, with prices varying by region. Shortcut: Add Condemned to your download queue [via Xbox.com]
Best of the Rest: Dave's Picks of 2009
Resident Evil 5 I've long been a fan of the Resident Evil series, and while the campaign here has problems and should never be played solo, the Mercenaries mode is what kept me coming back. Those action-packed levels spent trying to survive while running low on ammo and health were some of my most chaotic, yet highly enjoyable, experiences of 2009.
Anti-Aliased: What is Love?
So what is love? That's certainly the metaphysical question of the ages, isn't it? Is it simply an attraction to another gender, or is it a deep bond between two people that goes beyond mere friendship, and more into the realm of headbanging, suit and sunglasses wearing pride? Do I have the authority to take on questions such as this in my editorial column?Heck no! That's why we're going to spend this week talking about Eskil Steenberg's indie-MMO, Love! We've been covering Love extensively this week, announcing that the alpha was available and showing off some really beautiful in-game footage. But, even with all of that, we never got into the meat of the game. What is Love about? What do you do in it? Why is it so special to us on the Massively staff?Those questions and more will be answered in this week's edition. So come on in, the Love is great!
Steam Weekend Deal: F.E.A.R. 2 and Reborn DLC
If you've been too frightened by the prospect of Alma's return (or too frightened by the prospect of dropping $50+ on her new game), know that this weekend's Steam deal is none other than F.E.A.R. 2 and the recently released Reborn DLC. If you fall into the former grouping, we suggest you draw the shades, turn off your computer for the weekend and even take the phone off the hook just to be safe. However, if you're in the latter group, now's the time to pounce as Valve has slashed 50% off of the price of each, offering them at a reduced $24.99 and $4.99, respectively. You can't be in both groups though – if you spend the weekend hiding, you'll miss the deal which is available for "this weekend only."
FEAR 2: Reborn trailer is our second favorite
You've got to feel for the FEAR 2: Reborn DLC trailer. Don't misunderstand, the sample of the single-player add-on looks really good. Heck, we'd even go so far as to say "great" if it didn't symbolize a project that was taking Monolith's attention from the No One Lives Forever sequel that America needs.But sadly for this newcomer, our heart (or at least the part of our heart reserved for FEAR 2: Reborn trailers) has already been spoken for.
FEAR 2's 'Reborn' DLC priced at $10
FEAR 2 is almost ready to be Reborn with new DLC, which Eurogamer notes will set you back 800 or $10. The addition of Reborn to the supernatural FPS is so momentous, it warranted a demo last week. The single-player add-on, set to be available on Xbox Live Marketplace, PlayStation Store and ... the internet for PC, joins the free, slo-mo multiplayer update scheduled for September 3rd. Don't let Thursday sneak up on ya.
New Fight Night and FEAR 2 demos land on Live
We know what you're thinking. "Hey, aren't there already Fight Night Round 4 and FEAR 2 demos?" The answer to that question is ... yes. However, these are new Fight Night Round 4 and FEAR 2 demos. The new Fight Night demo adds the ability to punch using the face buttons instead of the right stick, so it might be worth a look for those who were turned off before. It also features a "body spamming fix." We're not sure what that is, but it sounds gross. The FEAR 2 demo is actually pretty interesting, as it's a demo for the upcoming single-player DLC pack, "Reborn." It's not very common to see demos for an add-on, but it seems like a pretty good idea. If you're hankering to see what "Reborn" has in store, download the demo and give it a try. The DLC itself was originally scheduled to release this month, so it should be available any day now. Add the Fight Night Round 4 demo to your Xbox 360 download queue Add the FEAR 2 demo to your Xbox 360 download queue
FEAR 2 gets free Slow-Mo Deathmatch DLC on September 3
It's been a long time since Monolith Productions unleashed FEAR 2: Project Origin on the world. Seven months after release, the game is experiencing a rebirth of sorts, through an upcoming single-player expansion and brand new multiplayer update. "Slow-Mo Deathmatch," a staple of the first game, is finally coming to FEAR 2 through a free update that will be available on September 3rd. Free? A price like that is certainly going to make us revisit the game. In addition to toiling on the various FEAR 2 updates, Monolith has created this hilarious and thematically-inappropriate trailer for the update. Watch as the magic of "SCIENCE" explains the process behind this DLC.
What you missed in The Matrix Online pt. 2
Hiding in plain sight After the vampires and lupines were quelled, a new issue of the Sentinel and a concurrent game update brought new images into the Matrix. Colorful billboards advertising bug spray began appearing all over the city, confusing some and intriguing others. The first visual puzzle of The Matrix had been covertly unleashed on players. The solution wasn't hard, but far from obvious. The second page of the new in-game newspaper, The Sentinel, showed a colorful "terrorist alert level chart." While it was an obvious mockery of everyone's favorite homeland security poster, astute players saw that the same colors were being used on the in-game billboards. Each billboard contained a number somewhere in it's slogan, such as "Blue brand pesticide kills bugs four times faster than the competition!" These numbers, along with their corresponding colors and the terrorist alert level chart were the keys. Players took the numbers and re-arranged the terrorist alert level in that order. If the blue billboard had the number four on it, then it went fourth in the order. If red had one, then it went first in the order and so forth. As the chart was re-arranged, the first letters of the "alert" status began to spell out a word. Definite, Elevated, Likely, Possible, Huge, Imminent -- DELPHI. The final part of the puzzle was a small poster that had appeared in certain clubs, advertising an extermination service that could be contacted by e-mailing an address at Monolith Entertainment, the game's current developer. Players e-mailed the address, asking to consult The Oracle of Delphi. Wishes were soon granted as Seraph appeared in-game to not only fight players who solved the puzzle, but also wisk them away to meet with the Oracle herself. Other players got to consult the Oracle via their real life e-mail, creating an alternate reality game of sorts with The Matrix. Either way, the event made one thing clear: The Assassin was made entirely of blowflies and could be destroyed with specially designed killcodes -- bug spray. And that was just the beginning... This entire article has simply focused on two of the first events in The Matrix Online's storyline. Every bit of it was unrepeatable and lead to some amazingly memorable moments in the game. The type of moments that stay with you forever. Very few, if any, games are able to accomplish this phenomenon. Who cares if you kill Yogg-Saron? Who cares if you defeat the Witch King of Angmar? Other players are going to eventually do that in droves because the content is repeatable. But the Matrix was able to wrap everybody up into an evolving storyline, philosophy, and sense of community. Players worked together and fought one another on more levels than just PvP and PvE. They formed bonds with characters who didn't even exist while forming bonds with others around them that were willing to believe in the same things they did. They roleplayed willingly in order to keep the story going beyond what the developers had planned. All of this was amazing, and I can only hope to see another game take the same ideas and drive them to a level beyond what that Matrix could offer. These were amazing ideas, but just too far ahead of their time.
New F.E.A.R. 2 DLC flips the script in August
Next month, Monolith's F.E.A.R. 2 will receive an injection of fresh DLC, IGN reveals. This time around, the content won't be focused on multiplayer. Instead, F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn adds four new single player missions, with the player controlling replica soldier Foxtrot 813 through an all-new adventure.There's no word on exact date or price, but we'll be sure to inform all eight of you that care when we find out.[Via Big Download]
Monolith hiring for new 'first-person action game'
Monolith Productions -- the developers behind titles such as F.E.A.R., Condemned, and, if you're an older gamer, No One Lives Forever -- are looking for a software engineer for a "triple-A next-generation console title," as a recent job posting on the developer's site points out. Further down into the nitty-gritty of the listing, you'll find a brief description for this new Xbox 360, PS3, and PC title: "Work closely with engineers, designers, and artists on the creation of game systems for a cutting-edge first-person action game on PlayStation 3, XBox 360 and PC." And, sadly, that's about all of the information on the game the job listing provides. With F.E.A.R. 2 releasing this past February, we'd be hard-pressed to consider a new entry in that series, so we're crossing our fingers for a new No One Lives Forever. [Via IGN]
Get your mech on with a FEAR 2 Armored Front trailer
A new trailer has been released for the upcoming FEAR 2 DLC "Armored Front." The trailer shows off both new maps -- "Conductor" and "Decoy" -- and plenty of mechanized destruction courtesy of the game's power armor. The DLC will also come with new character skins, possibly making the price -- 540 MS points on XBL or $6.99 on PSN -- a little more palatable. "Armored Front" releases on May 21.
Free F.E.A.R. 2 'Toy Soldiers' map pack coming April 16
Warner Bros. Interactive is thinking small with its first DLC for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, due April 16. Small as in the comical scale of the "Toy Soldiers" map pack's levels, and small in price -- it'll be a free download via Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store.The DLC will include three maps: "Full Tilt," which places players inside a pinball machine; "Cockroach," which shrinks them down and sees them scurrying up walls; and "Recess," which is set within a sand castle. WBIE says the pack is the first of three it intends to release this year. Maps dedicated to Elite Power Armor combat will be coming in May, followed by additional single player levels by the end of the summer. No word on whether they'll be free, but we fear they won't be.
F.E.A.R. 2 'Toy Soldiers' DLC will be free for all in April
Click to embiggen tiny soldiers The accidental release of F.E.A.R. 2 DLC on Xbox Live Marketplace caused some confusion -- especially after it was suddenly pulled hours after release. The "Toy Soldiers" DLC was, according to Monolith Productions, meant to release in April and best of all, was always meant to be free on both the Xbox 360 and PS3.As you can tell from the screenshots, the "Toy Soldiers" pack places players from a rather unique perspective. Shrunken down to miniature proporations, where players will duke it out in a pinball machine, hospital room, and playground.%Gallery-47689%
F.E.A.R. 2 maps yanked from XBLM, back in April
Microsoft has removed the free F.E.A.R. 2 DLC, released yesterday, from the Xbox Live Marketplace. According to Big Download, the Toy Soldiers pack will be available again sometime in April, as was Monolith's plan all along. So, no miniature F.E.A.R. 2 toy battles for anyone 'til next month. Hey, there's always, um ... the Army Men series?
