Frontlines: Fuel of War
Developer - Kaos Studios
It's always great to see a modding team get a shot at the big time, and no amateur developers were more deserving than Trauma Studios, creators of the acclaimed Desert Combat mod for Battlefield 1942. After being bought out by Swedish developer Digital Illusions CE, the Trauma team helped complete the would-be hit multiplayer FPS Battlefield 2. Immediately after that title went gold, DICE dissolved Trauma Studios and shorted the developers $200,000. Despite the acrimonious parting, designer Frank DeLise and team are throwing their hat in the ring again, this time with a full game based on new IP. The New York-based game studio was given a lift by THQ, who acquired Trauma Studios in 2006 after a pitch by DeLise for a new game. Now christened Kaos Studios, DeLise and crew are about to release Frontlines: Fuel of War, a multiplatform FPS which is currently available in the form of a multiplayer-only beta.
Leipzig GC 2007 Trailer
A Return To The Big TimeThe Unreal Engine 3-powered Frontlines is set for release on the PC and Xbox 360 in late February, with a Playstation 3 release to follow a few months later (like some other licensees of Epic's engine technology, Kaos Studios have been candid regarding the difficulties in moving Unreal Engine 3 titles to the Playstation 3). Cross-platform play isn't planned, which is just as well considering the reception that Microsoft's Live Anywhere service has received. Though the game features a full single-player campaign, Kaos Studios has spent considerable effort honing the multiplayer component, an unsurprising turn considering the developer's past titles. In an effort to buoy the game's multiplayer experience, THQ is hosting dedicated game servers around the world, further reinforcing the notion that Frontlines is aimed squarely at the online FPS market. Before delving into a discussion of gameplay, it's helpful to understand the game's back story. Set in 2024, the world's energy supplies are quickly running low. Diplomacy is eschewed and replaced with conflict, and nations form new alliances in the battle to control energy reserves. The United States and European Union member nations form the Western Coalition, while China and Russia have partnered as the Red Star Coalition. It's a full-on global conflict for natural resources in the dystopian not-too-distant future, a theme which anchors the story of a handful of upcoming action games. If video games are a reliable barometer of the young generation's world view, then we're all set for a wild and dangerous ride (woohoo! - easily excitable Ed)
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