Homefront Message Board

Discovering that THQ and Crysis developer Crytek today announced a partnership wherein Crytek will hereby take over development duties on the next installment of the publisher's Homefront franchise might leave people with some mixed emotions. For some, cautious optimism may creep in, with the understand that the original Homefront, while kind of a shoddy mess, did show occasional flashes of potential. For others, this is probably a little bit like learning that the Foo Fighters' next record will be a Limp Bizkit tribute album, or that Steven Spielberg is going to give the Twilight franchise a shot. Which is to say, a sort of bizarre, mildly fascinating situation that is, nonetheless, perhaps not the best use of the studio's time and creative efforts.

Regardless, here we are with a press release full of pre-approved niceties exchanged between THQ's EVP of Core Games (is that a real job?) Danny Bilson, and Cevat Yerli, Founder and CEO of Crytek. I'll save you the deluge of verbal bro-hugging contained in the release, and simply explain that Crytek's plan is to assign the sequel to its UK studio, the team formerly known as Free Radical Design. Crytek UK is already hard at work on a fourth Time Splitters game, so presumably this second Homefront title will be squeezed in somewhere in between that deal. The good news? They have plenty of time, as THQ doesn't expect the title to release until at least 2013.

At one point, THQ had pegged its own Montreal studio to take over the reins of the franchise after original developer Kaos Studios was shut down earlier this year. Evidently someone at THQ, sensing the potential behind the CryEngine (which will definitely be powering this latest sequel), scrapped that plan and opted to go with this deal instead. As for Crytek's motivations, we can all just go ahead and assume they were paid gobs and gobs of money. Seems reasonable, right?

Regardless of all of that, a Homefront sequel seemingly can't turn out any less interesting than the first game did, especially in the hands of Crytek and its mighty CryEngine. All I can think now when envisioning those dirty North Koreans savaging my hometown and murdering everyone I hold dear is how gorgeous it will all look.

Maybe it'll play better, too. That'd be great.

Having closed down Homefront developers, Kaos Studios, earlier this year, THQ have had to look elsewhere to create a sequel for the massively disappointing shooter. They seem to be going straight to the top. It has just been announced that the publishers are partnering with Crysis creators, Crytek, for the project. The company, currently rumoured to be working on Timesplitters 4, and certainly developing a 360 exclusive, Ryse, for Microsoft, is certainly diverging away from its previous EA-only development. And with multiple studios and presumably Crysis 3 a good way off, it makes sense for them to be picking up work like this.

(more…)

Having closed down Homefront developers, Kaos Studios, earlier this year, THQ have had to look elsewhere to create a sequel for the massively disappointing shooter. They seem to be going straight to the top. It has just been announced that the publishers are partnering with Crysis creators, Crytek, for the project. The company, currently rumoured to be working on Timesplitters 4, and certainly developing a 360 exclusive, Ryse, for Microsoft, is certainly diverging away from its previous EA-only development. And with multiple studios and presumably Crysis 3 a good way off, it makes sense for them to be picking up work like this.

(more…)

THQ has been on something of a "strategic re-alignment" tear lately, first closing down Homefront developer Kaos Studios alongside the publisher's UK studio, Digital Warrington, and then just a short bit ago announcing that the Red Faction series would no longer be pursued, due to less-than-stellar sales.

That house-cleaning continued late yesterday, with THQ's announcement that 200 employees would be laid off following the closure of two Australian studios, as well as the elimination of development employees from the company's Phoenix studio. While all of these employees are apparently eligible to apply for other global positions within THQ, no citation was made as to whether they would be given any kind of specifically preferential treatment, or even assisted were they to pursue another job with another team.

All of this comes as a result of the usual culprit, known as "strategic re-alignment" of the publisher's portfolio. In corporate speak, that typically translates to, "This stuff isn't selling, so we're doing something else." In this case, the company plans to move away from "licensed kids titles and movie-based entertainment properties." It also plans to no longer pursue the MX vs. ATV franchise, after the previous entry, MX vs. ATV Alive, failed to produce significant sales.

The move is interesting, given that at the company's most recent press event, titles like Puss In Boots and Barbie Jet, Set and Style were among the titles pushed as part of the publisher's holiday catalog. Perhaps from here on out, these will be the aberration, while titles like Saints Row: The Third, WWE '12 and, god help us, Deepak Chopra's Leela will become the norm.

That said, while it's always lousy to hear about developers losing their jobs, this rings especially lousy given the current state of the game development scene in Australia. Often echoed throughout articles on the situation at Team Bondi were comments from Australian developers who bemoaned the lack of employment options within the country. Now the country has two less places to go--possibly three less, if the Team Bondi sale rumors turn out to be true.

This seems like some pretty bloody odd timing, but perhaps it’s THQ taking advantage of a temporary lull in glossy manshoots and seeing if there’s room to sell a few more copies of their noisy March release Homefront, which was their own take on CoDiness. The game, made by now-shuttered NYC developer Kaos, sold pretty well but received what could generously be described as a mixed reaction. Did it deserve praise, sneering or the all-too-rarely traversed middleground? Now you can decide by having a go at the newly-released PC demo, now available via Steam. Power-up the independent thought nodes: where you’re going, you don’t need us.

If, following that, you feel this tale of North Koreans invading America and the resulting resistance is for you, the download version of the game is now selling for half-price until June 27: that’s £14.99 in Britisher-coins. Also, here’s John’s verdict on it.

Soon, Kaos Studios will no longer exist. The New York-based developer of Homefront is being shuttered by THQ, just months after releasing the game itself, and reportedly following an extensive crunch period by the whole staff. The news was oddly timed with the release of downloadable content for Homefront containing new map packs, ironically titled "Fire Sale."

The Homefront license will continue forward, with THQ Montreal taking control. People did buy Homefront, though, and continue to shoot each other online. Who's looking over those folks?

"It’s Kaos with Montreal," said a company spokesperson. "The studio is not closed 'today.' It’s a process. We are supporting the DLC all the way."

THQ is shutting down THQ Digital Warrnington in the UK, but said all employees will have the chance to interview for positions at other THQ studios, including Austin, Montreal and Vancouver.

Whatever the plans are for Homefront, it won't involve Kaos Studios in its current form.

"Everything we learned from [the original] you'll see executed in other games going forward, and including that franchise going forward," said THQ executive Danny Bilson to Eurogamer. "We'll have some really interesting announcements in the future about the future of that brand."

IP! It’s all we really want. IP! It’s all games really are. IP! It’s more precious than gold. IP! Creators don’t matter, only owners do. IP! It’ll eat your children, and your little dog too.

Another Homefront game has been confirmed (to Eurogamer) by THQ, in spite of middling to scathing reviews, which is because it sold pretty well. Sadly, apparently not well enough to ensure the future of its primary creators, New York studio Kaos. They’re being closed down as we speak, with the given reason being “a strategic realignment.”(more…)

#davidjaffe The co-creator of Twisted Metal, David Jaffe, wanted to make a game about the Chinese military invading the United States once upon a time. Heartland for the PSP would have been "a very liberal response to the Bush administration and the Iraq War," Jaffe has said, a first-person shooter that evoked intense emotion. More »

Another week, another Spotlight On Biscuit, wherein we direct you to one of prodigious gaming commenter Total Biscuit’s videos for the week, and also discuss a biscuit. This week, it’s Homefront Multiplayer and the humble Bourbon biscuit.

I wouldn’t say I’m starting to regret this idea just yet, but I have realised that there are more weeks in the year than biscuits that I could name. Hm. (more…)