http://pc.ign.com/articles/998/998719p1.html
That was actually a pretty complete interview.... though no love for us?
Im more interested in seeing some of that concept art start popping up as hexed meshes...
Quote from: GogglesPizanno on June 27, 2009, 05:05:33 AM
That was actually a pretty complete interview.... though no love for us?
Im more interested in seeing some of that concept art start popping up as hexed meshes...
ok, i'm all for making some of those meshes. gonna make the manbot. gonna use the current manbot as a base. anybody else interested in this? i'll gladly release my max file if anyone wants to work on some animations.
or if anyone has any animation suggestions.
it's awesome to read kevin levin. i've chatted with him before, in the old chatshack, and he always impressed me. thanks for the link!!! inspired me no end.
It's a thrill to know that people are still interested in a sequel. Especially those people connected with game review sites such as IGN, because they can conduct interviews such as these and tell the game makers that many fans would still love a sequel. It was a great interview. Plus the new concept art for what could have been Freedom Force 3 was a real treat. I've been waiting for something like this, new news about Freedom Force and what it's developers think about doing a sequel. I'm glad that the door is not entirely closed. Thanks for sharing this! :)
Quote from: GogglesPizanno on June 27, 2009, 05:05:33 AM
Im more interested in seeing some of that concept art start popping up as hexed meshes...
I agree! :cool:
Quote from: bearded on June 27, 2009, 06:02:35 AM
ok, i'm all for making some of those meshes. gonna make the manbot. gonna use the current manbot as a base.
That would be awesome! :thumbup:
i'm super hyped. gonna start first thing in the morning.
who is the herc type dude in this shot?
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030405616.html (http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030405616.html)
I believe it's Order (or to be more precise Pre-Order...LOL).
Dana
That was a good read. I'm glad Levine and the gang had so much fun making the game. I'm not holding my breath, but I think that will give it the best shot it has at ever seeing a threepeat.
Looking through some of the screenshots (like this one (http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030426600.html?page=mediaFull)), I wonder what the third bar was in the hero portrait in the early versions of the interface?
Some of that concept art is really cool. And, I know it was just a photoshop effect, but I would love to see blur and shimmer FX like we see in this Microwave pic (http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedomforce_021302_21.html?page=mediaFull).
It's sort of too bad that the multiplayer was such an afterthought for IG. It's clear in the article they added it because the publisher insisted and, if I understand events correctly, the Danger Room was somewhat adapted from that. Not that I have ever played MP, but 1) know people who do and it's too bad it's not very mod-able because of scripting limitations and 2) I think some of the trouble we have in dealing with the Danger/Rumble Room originates from the fact that MP was put together quickly and not tested much.
i didn't notice the 3 bars, but i did notice the minimap. too bad they abandoned that idea. i've got to wonder if there might be a way to activate it? i doubt it, but wouldn't it be neat if it was in the source code somewhere?
think we should swamp the comment section?
Great interview. :cool:
Awesome and depressing at the same time.
Quotethink we should swamp the comment section?
Sounds like a plan. I just posted there! :D
Too bad we wont be seeing FF 3. I really like those designs.
Really liked the concept and images for FF 3, would love see this game. The "grown up Titans" idea for Liberty Lad and Sea Urchin was very interesting and the new designs are great. We need the good old "teenage super-heroes in love" subplot for FF, it is a classic! :D
Not much impressed with "Ultimate FF", too "modern age" for my tastes.
I believe the interview was a "signal" to community, they want see how many people are interested in a sequel (the Steam version should give new visibility to the franchise). So, how we can be make "noise" and show support to a new game?
A petition? Don`t know how effective would that be, though.
I think a big part of FF's charm is the campiness of the golden/silver age characters and situations. A modern or ultimate FF just wouldn't have the same appeal to me as FF and FFvstTR.
Quote from: Tortuga on June 27, 2009, 08:36:23 PM
I think a big part of FF's charm is the campiness of the golden/silver age characters and situations. A modern or ultimate FF just wouldn't have the same appeal to me as FF and FFvstTR.
Golden/silver age era is the way to go with these characters that's for sure. I'm not sure I would want to see Freedom Force in street level, ultra-violent, softcore porn adventures that plague comics these days.
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 27, 2009, 08:58:21 PM
I'm not sure I would want to see Freedom Force in street level, ultra-violent, softcore porn adventures that plague comics these days.
If you weren't from Canada, I would call you un-American for that comment.
You can never have too much violence or softcore. Hello?!
> So, how we can be make "noise" and show support to a new game?
Go on IGN and comment. Contact former FF community members and tell them to go to IGN. Go to Steam, comic book forums, etc. and do the same. Run an ad in the Boston Herald and PC Gamer.
Quote from: Tortuga on June 27, 2009, 08:36:23 PM
I think a big part of FF's charm is the campiness of the golden/silver age characters and situations. A modern or ultimate FF just wouldn't have the same appeal to me as FF and FFvstTR.
Precisely! I want to see me an early 70's cosmic type adventure. Kree/Skrull War anyone? While I won't say I flat out wouldn't buy an Ultimate FF, it would make it a pretty tough choice for me. There would be NO choice about a true FF3. I would buy three copies. I wish we had gotten a bit more about the possible plot of three, but that was still a great interview. It was really thrilling to me to hear the team talking about the game again. It's nice to know that they haven't simply moved on and forgotten about it.
Quote from: AfghanAnt on June 27, 2009, 09:05:41 PM
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 27, 2009, 08:58:21 PM
I'm not sure I would want to see Freedom Force in street level, ultra-violent, softcore porn adventures that plague comics these days.
If you weren't from Canada, I would call you un-American for that comment.
You can never have too much violence or softcore. Hello?!
*Smack!*
Also, these character designs? Totally awesome!
Let the rampant speculation begin!
Check this guy out:
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030303399.html
What do you think? 70's Kung Fu villain?
I LOVE the design for Son of Liberty:
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030212009.html
This definitely needs to get made.
Big Top and Side Show totally have to be villains. My money is on a Ringmaster kind of thing.
This Red Dwarf guy looks very cosmic:
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030223275.html
I'm saying alien invader, or misunderstood traveler like a more militaristic Silver Surfer.
I love the humanoid looking Microwave. I'd love to see his character explored some in the next one.
I hate the modern redesign for MM.
Quote from: AfghanAnt on June 27, 2009, 09:47:45 PM
I hate the modern redesign for MM.
Yeah, I don't like it either. This fellow looks neat though:
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030310586.html
Looks like FF was going to get its very own version of Shield.
Holy Crap! I like these designs!
Really glad to see that FF has stayed (somewhat) in the public eye. One can only hope this will spark a little interest in a threequal or something.
Quote from: BentonGrey on June 27, 2009, 09:50:05 PM
Quote from: AfghanAnt on June 27, 2009, 09:47:45 PM
I hate the modern redesign for MM.
Yeah, I don't like it either. This fellow looks neat though:
http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/15161/freedom-force/images/freedom-force-20090626030310586.html
Looks like FF was going to get its very own version of Shield.
Yeah he was my favorite of the that bunch as well. I'm not really digging the "Ultimate" modern versions of Freedom Force as a whole. But the 60's and 70's characters are pretty cool and have a lot of whimsy. That Microwave is really cool! DAMMIT!!!!! This just wets my appetite for a new game! AARRRGGGHH!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Why'd they have to do that article. :(
Ha, I know! Still, there is a chance that we could see an FF3 one day. It may not be LIKELY, but it is still possible. Heck, they've already done a lot of the concept work for an FF3. I'm going to pretend that there is no chance of an "Ultimate" FF.
So, what role do you think their version of S.H.I.E.L.D. would have played in FF3? My money says that they come after FF after the destruction wrought by Entropy.
Well, the Ultimate Freedom Force thing already had a publisher lined up, they just had to choose between that and Bioshock, so it's certainly possible we may see another game. Personally, the Ultimate idea would probably do better commercially.
Quote from: catwhowalksbyhimself on June 28, 2009, 12:12:31 AMPersonally, the Ultimate idea would probably do better commercially.
That's my take as well. While I
love the sixties FF setting and camp flavor of the game, I also want the game to be a commercial hit and I think a more modern setting would help that. Not that I particularly want to see an FF version of
Sin City or anything - and I
really don't want the time jump to be so large that most of my FF favorite characters are retired. But, I think something accessible to more gamers increases the chance that FF3 would get made.
In addition, if the past is any indication, I think the best campaigns will come from the mod community. With that in mind, IG releasing a swath of more modern maps and objects will open up a lot more storytelling opportunities for modders whose stories are set against a backdrop of modern-looking cars, buildings, civilians, etc.
Bah says I! I want the game to be a commercial success, but I don't think they have to go too far forward to do that. I think if they put together a more complete game than FF2, they'd be much better off. After all, FF1 was a success, just not a major one.
Quote from: Tortuga on June 27, 2009, 08:36:23 PM
I think a big part of FF's charm is the campiness of the golden/silver age characters and situations. A modern or ultimate FF just wouldn't have the same appeal to me as FF and FFvstTR.
That's also part of what killed the franchise. It was cool for the first game... but the sequel should have moved forward into the silver/bronze age at the very least. An 'ultimate' version set in modern times would... ummm... ultimately have been the best direction for the franchise as it would have had a much broader appeal to the younger and primary gaming/comic audience. Many people just could not relate, nor did they care about a setting dealing with WWII characters and such.
Quote from: stumpy on June 28, 2009, 12:40:24 AM
That's my take as well. While I love the sixties FF setting and camp flavor of the game, I also want the game to be a commercial hit and I think a more modern setting would help that. Not that I particularly want to see an FF version of Sin City or anything - and I really don't want the time jump to be so large that most of my FF favorite characters are retired. But, I think something accessible to more gamers increases the chance that FF3 would get made.
I agree.
When I create my characters... in my mind I see them in a modern, high tech world... not something out of the 40's, 50's or even 60's. I don't think I'm alone with those thoughts.
But the thing is... even if the core FF story had stayed set in the golden age... the really missed the ball by not putting together map, fx and mesh packs which could have introduced modern elements to the game.
If FF3 goes forward or even if IG throws out some new stuff for the current games, there's only a few things I'd wish for. More up-to-date tutorials, more max files, and a better editor.
Tutorials: I think a lot more could have been done for this game if we didn't have to spend soooo much time trying to decipher what IG already did. To this day, no one knows how to create a working animated beam. There's coding hooks and such outlined in the manual that don't actually work in modding situations or randomly break when used (E.G., explode()). A few extra max files could have also alleviated some of these problems.
Editor: Compared to NWN, coding for this game is much more of a chore. NWN had an easy to use editor that pretty much outlined what each command could do + they had several user-made generators. I think something like that for FF could have done a world of difference.
----------------
As for this modern vs. old school/silver age debate, I find it pretty amusing as I recall several people going wild when The Reformed made use of a more modern setting. Also, I remember many complaining about the brightness of FFvtTR in comparison to FF1. Not only that, but most of the herofiles I see are based on more up-to-date versions of the characters. Modern doesn't automatically mean gory, over-sexed, and gritty... those things aren't just modern-only as they were around in the other ages as well, no? I was never sure why the so-called modern age got such a bad rep when it was just a progression of the bronze age. I mean, isn't Watchmen and Batman: The Dark Knight part of the modern age and don't most here love those series?
The Bronze Age occasionally had more integrity than the modern...but it's pretty much all one to me, Prev. What I want from comics has never really existed on a large enough scale to fit into any age, although I suppose the 70's books are somewhat closer than Silver Age or Modern. I don't have anything against a modern setting per se, except that it would preclude the use of most of the cast that I've grown to love. I know you're a heartless monster who isn't particularly attached to the FF'ers, but those of us with the ability to feel are quite attached to Minute Man, Man 'O War, El Diablo and the rest. If the story was set in modern day they wouldn't really be options. I don't have anything against them putting out some more modern art assets. I think that'd be really cool, and I can definitely see the benefit of having those from a modding point of view. However, I do really love the FF games for their original campaigns, and I'd like to see something that was in the same spirit for the next one. The logical next step is the cosmic adventures of the 70's.
All I'm gathering from your post, BG, is that you don't have much faith in IG and their writers. Me not being uber in love with the cast has nothing to do with it. We can't all be uber enticed with them like you are with your Aqua-dork. BTW, I'm surprised you didn't try to kill me again. Maybe next post. :P
And no, it doesn't necessarily preclude them either. It hasn't stopped DC, Image, Archie, and Marvel from using characters thought up in the golden age and there's no reason for it to stop IG's cast from being in their version of what is christened the "Modern Age." That's just a conclusion you leapt to. Also, I don't find anything wrong with having a mix of the old cast plus a new cast. Not every change is bad especially if they want to boost the fanbase a bit more.
Quote from: BentonGrey on June 28, 2009, 04:19:26 AM
If the story was set in modern day they wouldn't really be options.
i disagree. if they really wanted to do it comic book style, they would simply have the same characters at the same age, with no real explanation. how old is spiderman? or billy batson? how long have they been that age?
Quote from: Previsionary on June 28, 2009, 05:29:29 AM
I don't find anything wrong with having a mix of the old cast plus a new cast. Not every change is bad especially if they want to boost the fanbase a bit more.
One of DC's better titles, Justice Society of America, does just this.
IMO, the love for the game's core characters have been only a very small part of why people have enjoyed the game. I would wonder just how many people played the game using the core characters after they finished the initial campaign? I know I never touched them again. Most, I believe couldn't wait to figure out how to get their favorite comic book characters and originals into the game. There are a few fans who really fell in love with Minute Man. Sea Urchin and the rest as a preference to mainstreams and originals... but I'm pretty certain they are the minority by a large margin.
While I can only hope they decide to create a new installment of the game, I would be satisfied to get meshes of those unused characters!
Mama Bear, Watchdog, Gold Fang, Big Top & Side Show, Red Dwarf.. some pretty cool stuff there.
if i can get some suggestions for animations from you guys, i'll do mama bear. that method worked well with my deadman animations. it would be nice to get the professional version, of course.
I'm pretty sure the Ultimate FF was pretty much a modern reboot of the setting anyways, much like Ultimate Marvel, but presumably not quite as nasty at times.
Besides, just about every here, including Benton, loves the DC Animated Universe, and that was set in modern times. A modern setting and appeal does not mean you have to give up what made the silver age good.
To satisfy both camps...in the campaign...make the original Freedom Force time travel to the future and battle along side the modern day Freedom Force to stop a common foe. Similar to FFvsT3R obviously...but that way we get the best of both worlds. Modern day heroes, villains, maps, pedestrians, cars, etc.
I would have no problem if they stick to the DCAU as a modern day guidline cat. :cool:
I'd be ok with either type of game. But I don't really get some of this aversion to a modern setting. Like others said the DCAU is a modern setting. Modern doesn't mean you're getting blood, sex etc.
I actually be ok if most of the 'human' characters were retired in a modern setting, maybe have a couple acting as mentors, and guys like Microwave and Mentor could still be active, Liberty Lad and Sea Urchin would be grown up. We'd find out what happened to everyone and do a new story. Would be fun.
Okay, hold on a moment here. I see that I need to clarify my position, as most of you seem not to have read the same article I did. :P So, YES, they could easily just plop all the characters in a modern setting and just be like "it's comics, they never age!" but from what they've said, and from the very clear dates on the previous games, that seems like something of a departure. In that article they were talking about two different possibilities, a FF3 set in the future, (but NOT in modern times) and Ultimate FF, which, as the name implies, they said would have drawn heavily on Marvels' Ultimates series. What I've been saying I want is what they indicated FF3 would have been, a 70's adventure in which Liberty Lad and Sea Urchin have grown up a bit, but the team is still around and active.
The reason I have said I don't want them to do a modern setting game is that I hate the Ultimates with a passion. To me, it seems like a rather adequate shorthand for the trends that I abhor in modern books. Since that was to be their source, just as the work of Lee and Kirby was in the first two games, then I don't want to see it. Yes, I love the Timmverse toons, and I don't have anything against a modern setting as far as the simple aesthetics go. In fact, I don't have anything against the setting as far as the themes explored in Batman:TAS or JLU. I even love the more complex narrative options that are available in modern comics, but if we are talking about "modern" in terms of the Ultimates? No thank you. If we're talking about modern in terms of DCAU, well heck, I'm all for it. That show knew how to make stories mature, in the true sense, which has much more to do with complexity and emotional depth than with the sex and violence that are what makes up most of the "maturity" in comics these days.
As far as not having faith in Irrational? Well, I think that they are an incredibly talented group of guys, but they have shown in Bioshock that they have a capacity for a level of darkness that, given their professed admiration for The Ultimates, worries me in relation to my favorite game franchise.
C6, I could totally get behind that.
It was a bit depressing to read their comments about multiplayer. I think they really missed the boat with not having a good MP side to the game and they don't seem to know it.
That said, it is good to know they would at least CONSIDER another FF game - even if it remains a very outside chance.
Aw man, an ultimate FF team would be awesome! MM could be in a love triangle with two of the other members. Diablo could be addicted to heroine as he copes with his powers dissipating. Alchemiss could be moonlighting as a female escort/high priced prostitute 'cause being a super hero doesn't pay the bills. Mentor could be a talk-show host using his psychic powers to help overly dramatic, and attention starving couples solve all their problems. The possibilities are endless!
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 28, 2009, 06:28:11 PM
To satisfy both camps...in the campaign...make the original Freedom Force time travel to the future and battle along side the modern day Freedom Force to stop a common foe. Similar to FFvsT3R obviously...but that way we get the best of both worlds. Modern day heroes, villains, maps, pedestrians, cars, etc.
I would have no problem if they stick to the DCAU as a modern day guidline cat. :cool:
That's the idea behind the mod that I want to do. ^_^
Quote from: murs47 on June 28, 2009, 11:46:22 PM
Aw man, an ultimate FF team would be awesome! MM could be in a love triangle with two of the other members. Diablo could be addicted to heroine as he copes with his powers dissipating. Alchemiss could be moonlighting as a female escort/high priced prostitute 'cause being a super hero doesn't pay the bills. Mentor could be a talk-show host using his psychic powers to help overly dramatic, and attention starving couples solve all their problems. The possibilities are endless!
...hahaha.
Which heroine would El Diablo be addicted to: Alchemiss, Eve, Law, Green Genie, Sea Urchin or Blackbird?
Quote from: wickerman on June 28, 2009, 09:19:01 PM
It was a bit depressing to read their comments about multiplayer. I think they really missed the boat with not having a good MP side to the game and they don't seem to know it.
That said, it is good to know they would at least CONSIDER another FF game - even if it remains a very outside chance.
Agree completely. Two huge selling points in modern games are customizability (which FF has if you're willing to put in the time and effort) and multiplayer. IG totally missed the boat on multiplayer. A co-op mode and easier support for customs could've helped keep FFvstTR alive.
Quote from: Blkcasanova247 on June 29, 2009, 12:29:46 AM
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 28, 2009, 06:28:11 PM
To satisfy both camps...in the campaign...make the original Freedom Force time travel to the future and battle along side the modern day Freedom Force to stop a common foe. Similar to FFvsT3R obviously...but that way we get the best of both worlds. Modern day heroes, villains, maps, pedestrians, cars, etc.
I would have no problem if they stick to the DCAU as a modern day guidline cat. :cool:
That's the idea behind the mod that I want to do. ^_^
"Great minds..." and so forth.. :cool:
Quote from: yell0w_lantern on June 29, 2009, 01:05:34 AM
Which heroine would El Diablo be addicted to: Alchemiss, Eve, Law, Green Genie, Sea Urchin or Blackbird?
El Diablo would be heavily addicted to all of them I'm sure....all except the under age
heroine that is. :D
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 29, 2009, 02:50:46 AM
El Diablo would be heavily addicted to all of them I'm sure....all except the under age heroine that is. :D
Which according to Tombstone he marries :P
Quote from: Podmark on June 29, 2009, 03:13:24 AM
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 29, 2009, 02:50:46 AM
El Diablo would be heavily addicted to all of them I'm sure....all except the under age heroine that is. :D
Which according to Tombstone he marries :P
I'm convinced that's Tombstone's idea of a joke. ;)
Some awesome costumes there. Really liking the new Eve, Nuclear Winter and Ant. LOVE Son of Liberty's costume!!
But I'm not too happy with Minuteman.
The interview... Seemed a bit more looking back rather than looking forward. Lots of good things mentioned there and good justification of FF's shortcomings (Multiplayer). But I didn't feel there was much talk about the future of FF. A few mentions of 'we could have done this' or 'we would like to have done that', but I'm a little upset to see theres nothing definite.
Good read, though. Nice to read the makers' words again.
Eve looks better in green to me. I'm not getting the whole nature is purple thing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Courtnall6/freedom-force_green_eve.jpg)
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 29, 2009, 10:11:07 PM
Eve looks better in green to me. I'm not getting the whole nature is purple thing.
Spoiler
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/Courtnall6/freedom-force_green_eve.jpg)
nope.
Eve looks
horrible. Cheap xmen knockoff style which suggests nothing about her other than that she is one of a billion "hawt chicks with teh gunz*". (and yes, I can see its a quiver on her leg not a gun. Still looks dumb and awful.)
Meh, meh, and meh again.
Manbot at least makes some sense.
Eve now looks like Rogue/Psilocke/Viper/Anyone drawn by a Jim lee wannabe etc etc etc. True, she used to look like Poison Ivy, but that at least is a distinctive look. This is horribly, painfully generic. And dumb? I mean, you have a bikini/loincloth combo, but you wear a hood? And that over the shoulder cape must work great with the bow. That's not getting in the way at all.
No. No. No.
Oh I agree the look is all wrong for Eve. I'm just saying she needs to be green.
Quote from: Tortuga on June 29, 2009, 02:45:30 AM
Quote from: wickerman on June 28, 2009, 09:19:01 PM
It was a bit depressing to read their comments about multiplayer. I think they really missed the boat with not having a good MP side to the game and they don't seem to know it.
That said, it is good to know they would at least CONSIDER another FF game - even if it remains a very outside chance.
Agree completely. Two huge selling points in modern games are customizability (which FF has if you're willing to put in the time and effort) and multiplayer. IG totally missed the boat on multiplayer. A co-op mode and easier support for customs could've helped keep FFvstTR alive.
In theory, I'm obviously in favour of coop MP for FF, as it's a natural for this kind of game.
In practice, however, I'm afraid it's almost a given that multiplayer is opposite with customization.First, of course, implementing multiplayer is far from free, it requires a lot of work which you won't be able to spend on other aspects. Second, it requires major game code and gameplay compromises.
For example, the skirmish mode codebase of the existing FF games is severely limited because it's based on the (half-baked) MP mode ? FFX would be much better if the skirmish mode was a clean implementation. Also, gameplay could have been fully optimized for single player (thrown object KB in FFvsTTR might be a casualty of MP). And, who know if with the time and money not spent on MP, IG would not have instead given us better mod tools?
The studios behind games like Morrowind, Oblivion and the Sims, with enough development money to push both customization and multiplayer, have still chosen the former over the latter exclusively? and have sold reasonably well, apparently.
Wow! These pics are great!
I have to agree that, while I think green makes more sense for Eve than purple, the first time I saw that concept art, I thought it was Man-Bot and Alchemiss, not Man-Bot and Eve. Eve isn't a mysterious, hiding-in-the-shadows type character; I don't see her in a hood. And a long cape and a bow seems totally impractical.
Quote from: Courtnall6 on June 30, 2009, 01:34:57 AM
Oh I agree the look is all wrong for Eve. I'm just saying she needs to be green.
I'd like several shades of green at the very least, and some colourful foliage wouldn't hurt.
But, yep, green is where she should be at.
Quote from: stumpy on June 30, 2009, 07:13:17 AM
I have to agree that, while I think green makes more sense for Eve than purple, the first time I saw that concept art, I thought it was Man-Bot and Alchemiss, not Man-Bot and Eve. Eve isn't a mysterious, hiding-in-the-shadows type character; I don't see her in a hood. And a long cape and a bow seems totally impractical.
Funny, I thought she was Alchemiss too.
I have to side with the 'that outfit sucks' crowd. It always bothered me that Wonder Woman and Psylocke etc fight in their underwear. Jim Lee's Huntress redesign a few years ago with the open midriff and hot pants with these huge boots always made me cringe too. Because, you know, street types like to leave as much skin exposed as possible while the rest of their skimpy outfit is made of the most sophisticated and expensive Kevlar armor Bruce Wayne can finance.
Alchemiss in a skirt might fall into that category, but I chalk that up to the era FF is trying to reflect more than anything else.
In a "What's New" strip from Phil Foglio awhile back, they explored fantasy fashions, Itstarted with Dixie in a chain mail bikini, and then she changed into a "sensible" outfi for going out adventuring (her face was uncovered). It ended with Phil confronting a wandering monster while wearing only a chain mail jock strap...
I keep forgetting to check this out when I get home, since I cant see the article or pics at work.
I will comment that I would love to see a grim and deconstructed freedom force world, with the freedom force heroes in it. You know, it would be like the JSA battling The Authority, trying to prove that you can be light hearted and heroic and still win at the end of the day.
I think that is a great subject that does not get explored that much, except when superman fought The Elite.
I actually love the mythology behind the game storyline, so I'm geeking out over seeing those unreleased characters like Golden Fang (Iron Fist?), and WATCHDOG (Nick Fury?), as well the characters upgraded costumes, like The Ant.
I've gotto say that a lot of the charm of the games was from the Silver Age setting ... I'm not sure it would have the same appeal with a more modern "Ultimate" context.
One of the first characters I made was a short glowing red guy named Red Dwarf! Smegheads!
This is a really good article, I think commenting is a good idea. It's nice to hear from the designers, really cool guys.
I actually completely love Eve's outfit, it's definitely in the style of modern comics. Sure it's skimpy... but, really, more skimpy than her original getup? ^_^
I'm totally digging this Man-Bot, though.
This reminds me that I need to upload my future freedom force characters somewhere... I have a great grownup Sea Urchin that looks pretty similar to the one shown there.
I insist though that after Bioshock 2KBoston could pull off another freedom force.
They could. But will they?
We all the the rise of superhero movies as the blockbuster of the summer. And frankly, after 3 spiderman, 2 batman, 2 hulk, 2 ironman and a bunch of other (capt amerca, green lantern, flash, thor and every other upcoming movie) I really think that they are not gonna catch the ball mid air (i don't know if that expression exist in the US actually...well...).
They should have gone with it from the begining. They even could have renegociate the almost contract they were planing to make with dc to make an official expansion pack with Dc characters. if they had had an ad ( say it out loud) before "dark knight" in the theater the sells would have exploded all record.
But the fact that superhero movies ar still here (i really didn't see that coming. i gave it 5 years top at the begining, and now thay have movies planed up to 2012. without the follow up) actually give us more and chance to see a new freedom force. Superhero are still in, and it seems it's gonna stay that way for some time. We should really start to make petition again, but not only to 2KBoston, but to dc to (they were the one who tried negociating the dc expansion in it's days).
But yeah, I really don't understand why freedomforce was backed up when superheros were "non-existant" (caricatural i know) and now that they are everywhere nobody seems to believe in freedom force.
i'd love to see a man-bot skin made for gren's ironman.that way he'd have boot jets.the concept art for the freedom force characters could be made real with ALL the talent here.that eve look would fit alchemiss much better but in any color but green.
I'm with the hating of "Ultimate" Eve's outfit too (it doesn't look like anything Eve would wear, "Ultimate" or not, although...These look more like 90's versions of the characters instead of "Ultimate" versions). I'm not a fan of anything "Ultimate" really.
Dana