Infantry (video game)
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| Infantry Online | |
|---|---|
 Screenshot (from Mechanized Skirmish) of Infantry Online. |
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| Developer(s) | Harmless Games LLC |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment |
| Distributor(s) | Station Pass |
| Designer(s) | Player Content Team |
| Version | 1.54 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Combat MMOG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| System requirements
Pentium 90; 16 MB RAM; 28.8 kbit/s modem; 2 MB video card; Windows 9x or newer |
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Infantry Online is an isometric perspective multiplayer combat video game[1] with sprite animation graphics, using complex soldier, ground vehicle and space-ship models on typically complex terrains.[2] Players may choose from a list of game zones to enter, each zone having a unique style of gameplay and many offering a wide diversity of weapons, player classes and objectives.[3]
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[edit] History
In 1997, the now-defunct development team Virgin Interactive Entertainment (VIE) released the 2D Space Shooter, SubSpace. Members of the SubSpace development team banded together afterwards to form Harmless Games LLC. This new team designed and released Infantry during the late '90s.
The game was developed and was picked up by Brainscan Development Corporation, also known as Brainscan Interactive, as publisher. GameFan, the parent company of Brainscan Interactive, went bankrupt. Sony Online Entertainment announced its acquisition of Infantry on October 5, 2000. Rod (Rodvik) Humble, the lead designer of Infantry, was offered a job with Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and left Harmless Games. Larry J. Cordner (LJC) also found another job, but stayed with the development team until shortly after Harmless Games was bought by SOE. Harmless Games, and its sole game, Infantry, was bought by SOE from Brainscan Interactive for an undisclosed sum. The two remaining developers, Jeff Petersen (programmer) and Jerimy Weeks (artist and zone designer), were hired by SOE to continue development of the game. Some time later, SOE had them develop Cosmic Rift (CR), an offshoot of Infantry meant to compete with the still popular SubSpace.[2] CR had gained a small portion of Infantry's and SubSpace's communities, but its population still paled in comparison. In October 2001, Petersen was transferred to EverQuest 2 development and Weeks later was laid off. Game development stagnated.[4]
In May 2002, SOE rehired Weeks and introduced a monthly $6.95 pay-to-play system for SOE's three small action games: Infantry, CR and Tanarus; however, both Infantry and Cosmic Rift remained free to play with limitations.[4] Infantry's and CR's populations have since declined drastically from daily highs of thousands at a time to a mere hundred or fewer players. In October 2005, Weeks was laid off again and a new developer was put to the task. Hope for the game's future was questionable, as the new developer was Joe Nelson, whose only prior experience with Infantry involved customer service duties, who held the position for only a few months. As of May 2006 there were three SOE employees delegated either full or part time to the game: Bill Corning, Jose Araiza and recently re-hired developer Jerimy Weeks, although Weeks' contract with Sony Online Entertainment expired at the end of April 2007.[5]
In May 2007, Sony Online Entertainment announced full and free online gaming access to Infantry and the rest of their "Station Pass" games, starting on June 26, 2007.[6][7][8] "Station Pass" games started in May 2002 as a monthly $6.95 pay-to-play subscription, for Sony Online Entertainment's three action titles: Infantry, Cosmic Rift, and Tanarus. However, both Infantry and Cosmic Rift featured a free play mode that gave players access to a limited version of the game. Infantry itself was restricted to a limited playtime on servers (a player could only stay connected for half an hour before being disconnected), the inability to accumulate money, no statistical tracking and no personalized options. In July 2007, Sony Online Entertainment released a Map Editor for Infantry, available for free download via the official website.[9]
Alternative servers to the official Infantry Online have spawned over the recent years, initially to provide a free option to the game, most notably "Free Infantry".[10] However, with Sony Online Entertainment's announcement that has made Infantry and Cosmic Rift free of charge, the role of these servers transitioned to providing alternative maps and gameplay from the official server. They inevitably slowly faded out of existence as players went back to SOE's version of the game.
Infantry's versatile game style provided for the expansion of community squad development and implementation of squad vs. squad consisting of players worldwide. The public servers also featured some of the first instances of massively multiplayer online battles, with over a hundred players in each Mechanized Skirmish battle.[11]
[edit] Player Leagues
There are a series of Leagues established and running on the Sony Servers, all with dedicated Zones. Each of these dedicated zones have custom maps and settings not always available or found within the public zones.
The leagues available are:
-Capture The Flag Players League (CTFPL)- This league is arguably the biggest available that also requires the most skill and strategy.
- Player organized League where teams of 10 players compete on a modified I:CTF - Twin Peaks map.
- Teams are taken from established squads, found at Ctfpl.net.
- CTFPL is now permit-free. In the past, due to hackers, players must request a permit to enter CTFPL. Since the hack patch, CTFPL became permit-free.
- CTFPL games are played on Sunday nights usually starting between 7pm EST and 10pm EST (GMT -5).
-Unified Skirmish League (USL)-
- Players Compete in teams of between 6 and 8 taking place on a modified I:SK - Kliest Ridge map.
- Teams are taken from established squads, found USLZone.com.
- The Object of this game is to out kill your opponents after 30minutes of play.
- This League does play with class limitations in place. This is per team.
-Skirmish League (SL)-
- Each team starts with only 8 team slots which may be filled with players from their starter list. This takes place on a Modified I:SK map.
- When 3 deaths have been reached in one team slot the player in that slot will spectate and that slot will be removed leaving that team with one less team slot.
- Teams can also win the match by holding all flags for 20 seconds.
- All matches are best of 3 games. First to two victories by either wiping out the other team or flagging. Takes the Match.
- SL is permit only. Players must private message administrators in game or on the public forum located at SkirmishLeague.com
-Soccerbrawl League (SBL)-
- This game is loosely based on Soccer (Football) with one exception, checking/killing your opponent is allowed. Played on a modified I:SB Indoor soccer map.
- Teams may start with a minimum of 6 players, max of 8 if agreed by both captains. However, 7 is the usual amount played with.
- Team members must be part of a squad to play in this zone.
- Object of the game is to outscore your opponents within a 30minute game. If scores are even after 30 minutes, sudden death overtime automatically takes over. Next to score takes the victory.
- For more information and to see the squads, standings, forums and more visit SBLeague.net
-Gravball League (IGBL)-
- This is a league based upon the zone GravBall where players on bikes must navigate a mazed map with their team. Scoring goals by bouncing a ball over a set goal area.
- Teams consist of 6 players, playing for 20minutes each game. Overtime of 10 minutes if even after 20 minutes.
- To gain a win, the team leading at the end of 20 minutes or to take a 3 goal league takes the win.
- Each match is a best of 3 series, First to two wins takes victory.
- For more information and to see the squads, standings, forums and more visit IGBL.net
[edit] References
- ^ [www.freeinfantry.com/index.php?id=infantry/whatis Portail d'informations Ce site est en vente!][dead link]
- ^ a b [infantry.station.sony.com/en/info_press.jsp Sony.com][dead link]
- ^ [infantry.station.sony.com/en/info_features.jsp Sony.com][dead link]
- ^ a b [www.freeinfantry.com/~sevem/indexA.html Freeinfantry.com][dead link]
- ^ [forums.station.sony.com/station/posts/list.m?topic_id=11500003696 Sony.com][dead link]
- ^ Press Center | Sony Online Entertainment Announces A Diverse Lineup Of Games Available At Newly Revamped Station.Com
- ^ Multiplayer Online Games Directory / News / Sony Announces 3 Free Online Multiplayer Games - Find Multiplayer Games Here
- ^ Multiplayer Online Games Directory / News / Infantry Goes Free Again Today - Find Multiplayer Games Here
- ^ Sony.com - Infantry
- ^ [www.freeinfantry.net/ Freeninfantry.net][dead link]
- ^ http://www.soe.com/casualProduct.vm?Id=039
