IGN interview about future of Freedom Force.

[FOR_LIBERTY]

http://pc.ign.com/articles/998/998719p1.html

[GogglesPizanno]

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...

[bearded]

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.

[Outcast]

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! 

Im more interested in seeing some of that concept art start popping up as hexed meshes...

I agree! 

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! 

[bearded]

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

[cmdrkoenig67]

I believe it's Order (or to be more precise Pre-Order...LOL).

Dana

[stumpy]

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), 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.

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.

[bearded]

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?

[Courtnall6]

Great interview.

Awesome and depressing at the same time.

think we should swamp the comment section?

Sounds like a plan. I just posted there!

[bat1987]

Too bad we wont be seeing FF 3. I really like those designs.

[John Jr.]

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!
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?

[bat1987]

A petition? Don`t know how effective would that be, though.

[Tortuga]

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.

[Courtnall6]

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.

[AfghanAnt]

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?!

[Epimethee]

> 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.

[BentonGrey]

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.

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.

[AfghanAnt]

I hate the modern redesign for MM.

[BentonGrey]

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.

[The Hitman]

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.

[Blkcasanova247]

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!! Why'd they have to do that article.

[BentonGrey]

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.

[catwhowalksbyhimself]

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.

[stumpy]

Personally, 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.

[BentonGrey]

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.

[House Quake]

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.

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.

[Previsionary]

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?

[BentonGrey]

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.

[Previsionary]

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.

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.

[bearded]

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?