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Steam Weekend Deal: F.E.A.R. 2 and Reborn DLC

by David Hinkle { Sep 26th 2009 at 1:15AM }

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."

New Fight Night and FEAR 2 demos land on Live

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 27th 2009 at 12:45PM }

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

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 12th 2009 at 12:00PM }

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.

Monolith hiring for new 'first-person action game'

by David Hinkle { Jun 30th 2009 at 11:45AM }

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]

Warner appoints former MGS exec to oversee Seattle studios

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Feb 13th 2009 at 2:59PM }

"Utilising her expertise to direct our Seattle studios in several key areas, we are looking forward to developing quality games under her leadership in the most efficient ways." That's what Samantha Ryan, Warner Interactive's senior vice president, has to say about the company's latest appointment. Former Microsoft Games Studios executive producer, Laura Fryer, will now oversee Warner Interactive's Seattle studios, which include Snowblind Studios and the FEAR-ful folks at Monolith Productions.

There's no word yet on which quality games are due to be developed under Fryer's leadership in the most efficient ways, but here's one that can't be made efficiently enough: No One Lives Forever 3. We all look like we need a monkey.

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin demo now in Qore, free for all next week

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 16th 2009 at 12:42PM }

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]

Monolith designer blames loss of F.E.A.R. fans on expansions

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 28th 2008 at 5:00PM }

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]

Trophies: F.E.A.R. 2

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 18th 2008 at 3:30PM }

	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: FEAR 2: Project Origin

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F.E.A.R. 2 Australia ban lifted, set for 2009

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 16th 2008 at 11:00AM }

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

by Jason Dobson { Oct 27th 2008 at 9:45PM }

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]

Project Origin bringing the F.E.A.R back

by Jem Alexander { Sep 10th 2008 at 1:00PM }

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.

Name change: 'F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin'

by James Ransom-Wiley { Sep 8th 2008 at 4:50PM }

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.

Project Origin pushed back to early 2009

by Jason Dobson { Aug 23rd 2008 at 4:30PM }

Project Origin, Monolith's everything-but-the-name follow up to F.E.A.R., has slipped on all of that spilled gore, sliding back from the game's previous fall release until sometime in early 2009. The news came from Project Origin art lead, Dave Matthews, who took time during the Leipzig Games Convention to break the news -- and fans' hearts – confirming that players will have to wait until the first quarter of 2009 to find out just what Alma has been up to.

Softening the blow a bit, new details surrounding the upcoming shooter also emerged from last week's event, including news that the sequel will include more interactive and varied environments than those seen in F.E.A.R., while enemy A.I. has also been amped up as well. According to Monolith, the story itself will also be improved over the original, giving us all the more reason to think that maybe Project Origin is worth waiting for after all.

Source – GC 2008: Project Origin Progress Report, IGN

Project Origin's FEARsome E3 trailer

by Ross Miller { Jul 13th 2008 at 6:30PM }

A new trailer for Project Origin (a.k.a. "The F.E.A.R. sequel) has surfaced in time for E3 2008. It's got everything you expect: in-game cut scenes, bloodied walls, demons climbing on walls, robot war machines, and a girl on a swing. Your date with destiny is embedded above.

Video: Again, we begin to F.E.A.R. a swinging Alma

by Dustin Burg { Jul 13th 2008 at 1:30PM }

Late yesterday, Monolith release a dark and fresh Project Origin trailer especially for E3. And while we're sure the main focus of the trailer is supposed to be the in-game footage, gory visuals and explosive action, we couldn't help but focus on Alma and her creepy as hell swing. Seriously. An evil supernatural being is scary enough, but when that evil entity is a little girl AND she's swinging on a swing under moonlight ... now that's messed up. Check out the new Project Origin E3 trailer after the break as we hope to get our hands on the game sometime during E3 this week and gauge whether or not swing sets play a major role in the storyline.

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