Homefront (video game)
Encyclopedia
Homefront is a first-person shooter
video game developed by now defunct Kaos Studios
and published by THQ
, in which players play as members of a resistance movement
fighting against a near-future Korea
n military occupation of the United States
. The story was written by John Milius
, who co-wrote Apocalypse Now
and wrote/directed Red Dawn
. It was released for Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
on March 15, 2011 in North America
, March 17, 2011 in Australia
, March 18, 2011 in Europe
, and April 14, 2011 in Japan
. Its tagline is: "Home is where the war is."
, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reunites North and South Korea
to form the Greater Korean Republic. The influence of China
and the United States decline in the face of continued economic stagnation and a war between Iran
and Saudi Arabia
that disrupts Middle Eastern oil supplies, while oil and gas to Western Europe is cut off by a Russia
n-Ukrainian
"mutual interest" deal. As the United States withdraws overseas troops to deal with domestic instability, including the Texas secession debate and an outbreak of bird flu known as the Knoxville Cough, the Greater Korean Republic annexes Japan and Southeast Asia. By 2022, the United States faces extreme economic turmoil and massive social unrest, culminating in complete economic collapse. On January 16, 2025, a satellite, launched under the cover of a program to replace the decaying Global Positioning System
, detonates a high-altitude nuclear weapon over the continental United States. The destruction of above-ground electronics across the country by the massive resulting electromagnetic pulse
is followed by the Greater Korean Republic seizing Hawaii
, an invasion of San Francisco, paratrooper deployments across the Midwest, and the irradiation
of the Mississippi River
to divide the United States in half, leaving the American military isolated and scattered and U.S. residents to resist the invasion on their own.
Two years after the occupation begins, Protagonist Robert Jacobs, a former Marine Corps
combat helicopter
pilot, is awakened in his makeshift house in Montrose, Colorado
and ordered to a re-education camp in Alaska
for failing to answer occupational military draft-notices. Jacobs sees that the Korean troops have seized control of Montrose, Colorado
, taking potentially valuable residents into custody and executing resistors. However, the bus carrying Jacobs to a detention facility in Montrose is ambushed by American resistance fighters Connor, and Rianna, who lead him to Oasis, a resistance hideout founded by local state patrolman Boone Karlson. Boone, Connor, and Rianna are aware of Jacobs's background as a pilot and recruit him to help recover fuel for the scattered U.S. military forces mounting up in San Francisco. Boone initiates the operation with himself, Jacobs, Connor (a former U.S. Marine from North Carolina
), Rianna (a hunting expert), and Hopper (a Korean-American technical expert from Oakland).
They plan to steal several tracking beacons in a school used as a labor exchange facility, using their "inside man" Arnie. However, Arnie betrays the team in order to protect his children, forcing the team to kill the contact and eliminate all forces in the camp. They discover a mass grave and narrowly escape Korean reinforcements by hiding among the bodies. Shortly after Jacobs, Connor, and Rianna succeed in locating the trucks and planting a beacon on one of them, they return to Oasis, only to find that Boone and all of the base's inhabitants have been killed by Korean troops. They soon understand that American residents are now being slaughtered as an example to others
of the consequences of harboring resistance fighters, but the residents are now rising up against the invaders as the American resistance depended on breaking through the wall. They narrowly escape with other Colorado resistance fighters by breaching the walls enclosing the town, destroying their semi-autonomous attack vehicle Goliath in the process.
Jacobs, Connor, Rianna, and Hopper are able to escape from Korean forces within Montrose with the information that a usable helicopter is located in a survivalist encampment in Utah
, but, unfortunately, the camp inhabitants prove to be paranoid and completely psychotic. The team infiltrates the camp and manages to steal the helicopter, pursuing the fuel convoy nearing Carson City, Nevada
. With the convoy successfully hijacked and Jacobs providing air support, the team continues their trip to San Francisco, where they deliver their jet fuel to aid the scattered U.S. military in their attempt to liberate the besieged city as the resistance is now ready to make history.
As the guerrilla resistance and the scattered American military forces begin to close in on San Francisco, they succeed in taking most of the city via the Golden Gate Bridge
with their anti-aircraft guns and fighter aircraft. Despite heavy Korean resistance and taking massive casualties, the Americans proves to be stronger than the KPA forces. Nearing the other side of the bridge, the team finds itself outnumbered when a large Korean convoy tries to push the combined resistance forces back across the Bay. Outnumbered and with little other choice, Connor advances towards the convoy with a flare and orders an air strike, sacrificing himself in the process in order to allow the remaining forces to proceed in retaking the bridge as the city falls into American hands. The news of the successful operation is reported by British
media, and soon all of Europe is filled with reports that American resistances fighters are now joining U.S. military forces throughout the United States in launching a new offensive attacks against the KPA invaders. The San Francisco offensive attack proves to be the turning point for America's guerrilla warfare
against the Korean occupation. The United States has turned back to its tide of being the powerful nation on the planet as the Greater Korean Republic has rapidly collapsed when the European Union
calls an emergency meeting in order to consider giving aid to the United States.
and the reality of economic interdependence between America and China
that made the Chinese "not that scary" said Tae Kim, a former CIA field agent and consultant on the game's backstory. "We went to a very rigorous, academic research process to make sure to not only look at North Korea's current state but to look at historical examples how things could parallel and turn events. History repeats itself. From today to the day the invasion starts in the game, if you combine everything, the odds are very very slim this becomes true. But when you look at the storyline step by step, every step is a coin flip but a plausible step. So once you get there, it's plausible. And from there the next step is plausible as well. Even though the whole thing is fictional, it comes with plausible baby steps."
The finalized version of Homefronts timeline was released at end of January 2011.
, focusing on a more cinematic, character-driven experience.
David Votypka, the design director of Homefront, stated in an interview with G4TV that the gameplay will be based around guerilla style tactics, inspired by Half-Life 2
. The same interview also contained information stating that one of the important facts concerning your surroundings is that they are built to try to establish a connection with the user by using real companies and brands. The campaign is said to be 5–10 hours long depending on experience.
When the game was released, the Online Multiplayer Servers were overloaded, and Online Gameplay had to be shut off. Users were only allowed to play Private Matches.
Each new copy of Homefront contains an online pass, enabling users the full multiplayer experience. Although the online pass is not required to play multiplayer, those who play without an online pass will be capped at level 5 out of 75. This "Battle Code" was also released in March 2011, on XBox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
, a Canadian
developer responsible for numerous Unreal Tournament
games and Bioshock
ports. Frank Delise, the executive producer of the PC version has stated that the PC version of the game will feature exclusive content and dedicated servers. Additional exclusive features include clan support, DirectX 11 graphics, and first person vehicle cockpits. Homefront has been released on Steam,
as well as the OnLive
gaming service. Also, spectator mode and demo recording will be included along with a dedicated server executable, server tools and RCON.
and the recent artillery strike on Yeonpyeong Island
, causing mainstream media coverage of the advertising campaign. THQ has denied that the game was developed to piggyback off the tensions on the Korean peninsula, saying that "Homefront is a work of speculative fiction, set in the year 2027. Recent real-world events on the Korean peninsula are obviously tragic and, like everyone, we hope for a swift and peaceful resolution."
For sales of Homefront to Japan
, the game has been censored by removing all references to North Korea
including pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il
. They are replaced by references to and the . Spike
, the game's Japanese/Asian publisher, justified the censors because they said to "use their real names would have been 'malicious' to an 'existing person' and an 'existing country.'" The game has been banned from all types of sales in South Korea
.
THQ's promotional balloon stunt for the game at the GDC angered San Francisco residents after 10,000 balloons fell into San Francisco Bay
.
generated a score of 70 out of 100 across all platforms.
CVG
has given the game a 8.6/10. Play has given it 69%, praising Kaos studios for the different campaign mode and multiplayer, but criticizing most other things. GamingExcellence awarded the game an 8.4/10, praising the cinematic story-driven gameplay, but criticizing the short campaign. IGN awarded the game a 7/10, praising the setting and presentation, while criticizing the short campaign. GameSpot
gave the game 7.0 of 10, praising some memorable moments and the well crafted multiplayer, however it criticized the short length and that it felt too familiar compared to other first person shooters. GameZone
gave the game an 8/10, stating "With a few tweaks and a fresher coat of paint, Homefront would have been outstanding, far outshining either of those titles. As is, it’s still worth a playthrough, and the quality multiplayer makes an excellent alternative to your current, aging FPS of choice."
Despite mixed reviews, Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz expects THQ FPS Homefront to sell two million units. Writing in an analyst note about the game's 72 Metacritic rating, which led to a drop in the publisher's share price, he said: "With over 20 reviews now reported at the Metacritic website, it is clear that Homefront has not lived up to expectations in terms of game quality. We note that EA's Medal of Honor
earned a similar 74 aggregate review score last year but has still sold over 5M units to-date, in part due to aggressive marketing by EA and positive pre-release buzz. Homefront has been building buzz up to the launch date so we believe the title will still be a decent seller for THQ despite mixed reviews."
and Raymond Benson
, that follows a group of reporters making their way across America, exploring the early days of the occupation. The book involves characters from the game and sets the stage for its story. The book was released ahead of the game on January 25, 2011 as part of a "vast transmedia strategy" for Homefront.
has been shut down, THQ has recruited acclaimed European developer Crytek
to develop Homefront 2. Gaming news site Joystiq was able to confirm that Crytek's Nottingham, U.K. studio will develop Homefront 2 which will use the "latest" CryEngine tech.
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
video game developed by now defunct Kaos Studios
Kaos Studios
Kaos Studios was an American video game developer based in New York City, New York. Kaos Studios was formed in 2006 when publisher THQ hired the core members of Trauma Studios, the team behind the popular Desert Combat modification, to create a new studio based in New York City to focus on...
and published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
, in which players play as members of a resistance movement
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
fighting against a near-future Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n military occupation of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The story was written by John Milius
John Milius
John Frederick Milius is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of motion pictures.-Early life:Milius was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elizabeth and William Styx Milius, who was a shoe manufacturer. Milius attempted to join the Marine Corps in the late 1960s, but was rejected...
, who co-wrote Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The central character is US Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard , of MACV-SOG, an assassin sent to kill the renegade and presumed insane Special Forces...
and wrote/directed Red Dawn
Red Dawn
Red Dawn is a 1984 American war film directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Kevin Reynolds. It stars Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen and Jennifer Grey....
. It was released for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
on March 15, 2011 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, March 17, 2011 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, March 18, 2011 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and April 14, 2011 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Its tagline is: "Home is where the war is."
Plot
In 2013, one year after the death of Kim Jong-IlKim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reunites North and South Korea
Korean reunification
Korean reunification refers to the hypothetical future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government...
to form the Greater Korean Republic. The influence of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the United States decline in the face of continued economic stagnation and a war between Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
that disrupts Middle Eastern oil supplies, while oil and gas to Western Europe is cut off by a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
"mutual interest" deal. As the United States withdraws overseas troops to deal with domestic instability, including the Texas secession debate and an outbreak of bird flu known as the Knoxville Cough, the Greater Korean Republic annexes Japan and Southeast Asia. By 2022, the United States faces extreme economic turmoil and massive social unrest, culminating in complete economic collapse. On January 16, 2025, a satellite, launched under the cover of a program to replace the decaying Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
, detonates a high-altitude nuclear weapon over the continental United States. The destruction of above-ground electronics across the country by the massive resulting electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
is followed by the Greater Korean Republic seizing Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, an invasion of San Francisco, paratrooper deployments across the Midwest, and the irradiation
Irradiation
Irradiation is the process by which an object is exposed to radiation. The exposure can originate from various sources, including natural sources. Most frequently the term refers to ionizing radiation, and to a level of radiation that will serve a specific purpose, rather than radiation exposure to...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to divide the United States in half, leaving the American military isolated and scattered and U.S. residents to resist the invasion on their own.
Two years after the occupation begins, Protagonist Robert Jacobs, a former Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
combat helicopter
Attack helicopter
An attack helicopter is a military helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the capability of engaging targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry and armored vehicles...
pilot, is awakened in his makeshift house in Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
and ordered to a re-education camp in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
for failing to answer occupational military draft-notices. Jacobs sees that the Korean troops have seized control of Montrose, Colorado
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
, taking potentially valuable residents into custody and executing resistors. However, the bus carrying Jacobs to a detention facility in Montrose is ambushed by American resistance fighters Connor, and Rianna, who lead him to Oasis, a resistance hideout founded by local state patrolman Boone Karlson. Boone, Connor, and Rianna are aware of Jacobs's background as a pilot and recruit him to help recover fuel for the scattered U.S. military forces mounting up in San Francisco. Boone initiates the operation with himself, Jacobs, Connor (a former U.S. Marine from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
), Rianna (a hunting expert), and Hopper (a Korean-American technical expert from Oakland).
They plan to steal several tracking beacons in a school used as a labor exchange facility, using their "inside man" Arnie. However, Arnie betrays the team in order to protect his children, forcing the team to kill the contact and eliminate all forces in the camp. They discover a mass grave and narrowly escape Korean reinforcements by hiding among the bodies. Shortly after Jacobs, Connor, and Rianna succeed in locating the trucks and planting a beacon on one of them, they return to Oasis, only to find that Boone and all of the base's inhabitants have been killed by Korean troops. They soon understand that American residents are now being slaughtered as an example to others
Collective punishment
Collective punishment is the punishment of a group of people as a result of the behavior of one or more other individuals or groups. The punished group may often have no direct association with the other individuals or groups, or direct control over their actions...
of the consequences of harboring resistance fighters, but the residents are now rising up against the invaders as the American resistance depended on breaking through the wall. They narrowly escape with other Colorado resistance fighters by breaching the walls enclosing the town, destroying their semi-autonomous attack vehicle Goliath in the process.
Jacobs, Connor, Rianna, and Hopper are able to escape from Korean forces within Montrose with the information that a usable helicopter is located in a survivalist encampment in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, but, unfortunately, the camp inhabitants prove to be paranoid and completely psychotic. The team infiltrates the camp and manages to steal the helicopter, pursuing the fuel convoy nearing Carson City, Nevada
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
. With the convoy successfully hijacked and Jacobs providing air support, the team continues their trip to San Francisco, where they deliver their jet fuel to aid the scattered U.S. military in their attempt to liberate the besieged city as the resistance is now ready to make history.
As the guerrilla resistance and the scattered American military forces begin to close in on San Francisco, they succeed in taking most of the city via the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
with their anti-aircraft guns and fighter aircraft. Despite heavy Korean resistance and taking massive casualties, the Americans proves to be stronger than the KPA forces. Nearing the other side of the bridge, the team finds itself outnumbered when a large Korean convoy tries to push the combined resistance forces back across the Bay. Outnumbered and with little other choice, Connor advances towards the convoy with a flare and orders an air strike, sacrificing himself in the process in order to allow the remaining forces to proceed in retaking the bridge as the city falls into American hands. The news of the successful operation is reported by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
media, and soon all of Europe is filled with reports that American resistances fighters are now joining U.S. military forces throughout the United States in launching a new offensive attacks against the KPA invaders. The San Francisco offensive attack proves to be the turning point for America's guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
against the Korean occupation. The United States has turned back to its tide of being the powerful nation on the planet as the Greater Korean Republic has rapidly collapsed when the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
calls an emergency meeting in order to consider giving aid to the United States.
Development
The antagonists in Homefront were originally intended to be Chinese, but were later replaced by a unified Korea for two reasons: the risk of a possible backlash by the Chinese Ministry of CultureMinistry of Culture of the People's Republic of China
The Ministry of Culture is a ministry of the government of the People's Republic of China which is responsible for culture policy and activities in the country, including managing national museums and monuments; Astroturfing and promoting government policies; promoting and protecting the arts The...
and the reality of economic interdependence between America and China
Chimerica
Chimerica is a neologism coined by Niall Ferguson and Moritz Schularick describing the symbiotic relationship between China and the United States, with incidental reference to the legendary chimera....
that made the Chinese "not that scary" said Tae Kim, a former CIA field agent and consultant on the game's backstory. "We went to a very rigorous, academic research process to make sure to not only look at North Korea's current state but to look at historical examples how things could parallel and turn events. History repeats itself. From today to the day the invasion starts in the game, if you combine everything, the odds are very very slim this becomes true. But when you look at the storyline step by step, every step is a coin flip but a plausible step. So once you get there, it's plausible. And from there the next step is plausible as well. Even though the whole thing is fictional, it comes with plausible baby steps."
The finalized version of Homefronts timeline was released at end of January 2011.
Single-player
Homefront's gameplay has been completely reworked from its origins in Frontlines: Fuel of WarFrontlines: Fuel of War
Frontlines: Fuel of War is a first-person shooter game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. It was released February 25, 2008 in North America. It was produced by Kaos Studios...
, focusing on a more cinematic, character-driven experience.
David Votypka, the design director of Homefront, stated in an interview with G4TV that the gameplay will be based around guerilla style tactics, inspired by Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 , the sequel to Half-Life, is a first-person shooter video game and a signature title in the Half-Life series. It is singleplayer, story-driven, science fiction, and linear...
. The same interview also contained information stating that one of the important facts concerning your surroundings is that they are built to try to establish a connection with the user by using real companies and brands. The campaign is said to be 5–10 hours long depending on experience.
Multiplayer
The multiplayer component of Homefront is focused on large-scale vehicle based combat reminiscent of Kaos' first title, Frontlines: Fuel of War. The defining innovation of Homefronts multiplayer is its battle points system, which is an in-game currency that allows a player to purchase weapons, gear and vehicles. Players earn points by taking objectives and getting kills and are forced to choose between many small purchases such as weapons versus larger, higher cost items like helicopters and tanks. It has been confirmed that the multi-player will support up to 32 players in one match, with 16 players on each team. According to rumors, there will be 7 maps for the PS3 and PC and there will be 8 maps for the Xbox 360. Nothing has been confirmed. Homefront on Xbox 360 will be getting a limited exclusive map called "Suburbs", which will be set in the Suburbs of America and will be infantry / drone only.When the game was released, the Online Multiplayer Servers were overloaded, and Online Gameplay had to be shut off. Users were only allowed to play Private Matches.
Plot and online pass
The Multiplayer takes place in the period before the U.S. Armed Forces were completely scattered.Each new copy of Homefront contains an online pass, enabling users the full multiplayer experience. Although the online pass is not required to play multiplayer, those who play without an online pass will be capped at level 5 out of 75. This "Battle Code" was also released in March 2011, on XBox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
PC version
Homefronts PC version was developed by Digital ExtremesDigital Extremes
Digital Extremes is a Canadian computer and video game developer founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, specifically noted for its part in the highly successful Unreal series of games...
, a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
developer responsible for numerous Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament is a futuristic first-person shooter video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. It was published in 1999 by GT Interactive. Retrospectively, the game has also been referred to as UT99 or UT Classic to differentiate it from its numbered sequels...
games and Bioshock
Bioshock
BioShock is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston and designed by Ken Levine. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on August 21, 2007 in North America, and three days later in Europe and Australia. It became available on Steam on August 21, 2007...
ports. Frank Delise, the executive producer of the PC version has stated that the PC version of the game will feature exclusive content and dedicated servers. Additional exclusive features include clan support, DirectX 11 graphics, and first person vehicle cockpits. Homefront has been released on Steam,
as well as the OnLive
OnLive
OnLive is a cloud gaming platform: the games are synchronized, rendered, and stored on remote servers and delivered via the Internet.The service is available using the OnLive Game System, PCs running Microsoft Windows and Intel-based Macs with OS X 10.5.8 or later...
gaming service. Also, spectator mode and demo recording will be included along with a dedicated server executable, server tools and RCON.
Controversy
Advertising for Homefront has simulated a declaration of war in mainstream websites and media, creating confusion amongst many non-gamers. The nature and timing of the advertising created concern in the wake of the ROKS Cheonan sinkingROKS Cheonan sinking
The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen...
and the recent artillery strike on Yeonpyeong Island
Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
The bombardment of Yeonpyeong was an artillery engagement between the North Korean military and South Korean forces stationed on Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, 2010. Following a South Korean regular artillery exercise at waters in the south, North Korean forces fired around 170 artillery shells...
, causing mainstream media coverage of the advertising campaign. THQ has denied that the game was developed to piggyback off the tensions on the Korean peninsula, saying that "Homefront is a work of speculative fiction, set in the year 2027. Recent real-world events on the Korean peninsula are obviously tragic and, like everyone, we hope for a swift and peaceful resolution."
For sales of Homefront to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the game has been censored by removing all references to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
including pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
. They are replaced by references to and the . Spike
Spike (company)
is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. Most of the staff were part of Human Entertainment. Human's Fire Pro Wrestling series is owned by Spike.-Games developed:*Crimson Tears*Dangan Ronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei...
, the game's Japanese/Asian publisher, justified the censors because they said to "use their real names would have been 'malicious' to an 'existing person' and an 'existing country.'" The game has been banned from all types of sales in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
THQ's promotional balloon stunt for the game at the GDC angered San Francisco residents after 10,000 balloons fell into San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
.
Reception
Homefront was met with mixed to positive reviews across all platforms. Some critics praised the atmosphere and story, while others panned those same aspects, along with the short length of the single-player campaign. However, the multiplayer aspect of Homefront was generally well-received. Review aggregator GameRankings generated a score of 68.23% for the Microsoft Windows version, 70.23% for the PlayStation 3 version and 71.45% for the Xbox 360 version. Review aggregator MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
generated a score of 70 out of 100 across all platforms.
CVG
Computer and video games
A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device, but following popularization of the term "video game", it now implies any type of...
has given the game a 8.6/10. Play has given it 69%, praising Kaos studios for the different campaign mode and multiplayer, but criticizing most other things. GamingExcellence awarded the game an 8.4/10, praising the cinematic story-driven gameplay, but criticizing the short campaign. IGN awarded the game a 7/10, praising the setting and presentation, while criticizing the short campaign. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the game 7.0 of 10, praising some memorable moments and the well crafted multiplayer, however it criticized the short length and that it felt too familiar compared to other first person shooters. GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
gave the game an 8/10, stating "With a few tweaks and a fresher coat of paint, Homefront would have been outstanding, far outshining either of those titles. As is, it’s still worth a playthrough, and the quality multiplayer makes an excellent alternative to your current, aging FPS of choice."
Sales
THQ previously stated first day sales in North America reached 375,000 copies sold. THQ announced an estimated 1 million copies across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific markets have been sold. It has also shipped 2.6 million units to retail since launch.Despite mixed reviews, Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz expects THQ FPS Homefront to sell two million units. Writing in an analyst note about the game's 72 Metacritic rating, which led to a drop in the publisher's share price, he said: "With over 20 reviews now reported at the Metacritic website, it is clear that Homefront has not lived up to expectations in terms of game quality. We note that EA's Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor (2010 video game)
Medal of Honor is a first-person shooter video game and remake to the original Medal of Honor. Developed by Danger Close, a team within the EA Los Angeles studio, and DICE, it is the twelfth installment in the Medal of Honor series and was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
earned a similar 74 aggregate review score last year but has still sold over 5M units to-date, in part due to aggressive marketing by EA and positive pre-release buzz. Homefront has been building buzz up to the launch date so we believe the title will still be a decent seller for THQ despite mixed reviews."
Novel
THQ announced a tie-in novel, Homefront: The Voice of Freedom, written by John MiliusJohn Milius
John Frederick Milius is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of motion pictures.-Early life:Milius was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elizabeth and William Styx Milius, who was a shoe manufacturer. Milius attempted to join the Marine Corps in the late 1960s, but was rejected...
and Raymond Benson
Raymond Benson
Raymond Benson is an American author best known for being the official author of the adult James Bond novels from 1997 to 2003. Benson was born in Midland, Texas and graduated from Permian High School in Odessa in 1973...
, that follows a group of reporters making their way across America, exploring the early days of the occupation. The book involves characters from the game and sets the stage for its story. The book was released ahead of the game on January 25, 2011 as part of a "vast transmedia strategy" for Homefront.
Track listing
- "War EnsembleSeasons in the AbyssSeasons in the Abyss is the fifth studio album by the thrash metal band Slayer. It was released on October 9, 1990 through Def American Records, and later through American Recordings after the company changed its name. The album's recording sessions began in January 1990...
" - As I Lay DyingAs I Lay Dying (band)As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
(Originally by SlayerSlayerSlayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
) (4:51) - "Fight the PowerFight the Power"Fight the Power" is a single by American hip hop group Public Enemy. First released on the soundtrack for the film 1989 Do the Right Thing, a different version was released on the group's third studio album, Fear of a Black Planet . The single reached number one on Hot Rap Singles and number 20 on...
" - The Dillinger Escape PlanThe Dillinger Escape PlanThe Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
featuring Chuck DChuck DCarlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
(Originally by Public Enemy) (3:57) - "UprisingUprising (song)"Uprising" is a song by English rock band Muse, featured on their fifth studio album The Resistance. Written by lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew Bellamy, the song was released as the lead single from the album on 7 September 2009...
" - iwrestledabearonceIwrestledabearonceIwrestledabearonce is an American heavy metal band formed in 2007 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. They have released one EP and two full-length albums, and have toured with acts such as August Burns Red, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dance Gavin Dance, The Human...
(Originally by MuseMuse (band)Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
) (4:16) - "War PigsWar Pigs"War Pigs" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1970 album Paranoid. It is generally believed that the band wrote the song as a protest against the Vietnam War; however, when Sabbath played "War Pigs" in the mid-'70s, they projected scenes from World War II.As explained in...
" - The Acacia StrainThe Acacia StrainThe Acacia Strain is an American deathcore band from Chicopee, Massachusetts. Originally founded in 2001, the band itself has undergone numerous changes in the member line-up...
(Originally by Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
) (8:15) - "OneOne (Metallica song)"One" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third and final single from their fourth album ...And Justice for All. "One" was also the band's first Top 40 hit single, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" – PeripheryPeriphery (band)Periphery is an American metal band from Bethesda, Maryland , formed in 2005.- Formation and lineup changes :Periphery was formed by guitarist Misha Mansoor in 2005...
(Originally by MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
) (7:12) - "Fortunate SonFortunate Son (song)"Fortunate Son" is a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival on their album Willy and the Poor Boys in 1968. It was released as a single, together with "Down on the Corner", in September 1968. This song reached #14 on the United States charts. It won the RIAA Gold Disc award in December 1970...
" – The Ghost InsideThe Ghost Inside (band)The Ghost Inside is an American Melodic Hardcore band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2006.As A Dying Dream, they released one EP, Now or Never. Not long after, they changed their name to The Ghost Inside, and released a full length studio album entitled Fury and the Fallen Ones...
(Originally by Creedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
) (2:29) - "For What It's Worth" – Winds of PlagueWinds of PlagueWinds of Plague is an American deathcore band from Upland, California, formed in 2002. They are best known as one of the only deathcore bands to incorporate symphonic elements into their music....
(Originally by Buffalo SpringfieldBuffalo SpringfieldBuffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
) (2:40) - "Us and Them" – Misery SignalsMisery SignalsMisery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
(Originally by Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
) (7:41) - "Masters of WarMasters of War"Masters of War" is a song by Bob Dylan, written over the winter of 1962-63 and released on the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in the spring of 1963. The song's melody was adapted from the traditional "Nottamun Town"...
" – Arsonists Get All the GirlsArsonists Get All the GirlsArsonists Get All the Girls is an American deathcore band from Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 2005, they are currently signed to Century Media Records and have recorded and released four full-length studio albums, Hits from the Bow, The Game of Life, Portals and Motherland.-Biography:Arsonists...
(Originally by Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) (4:15) - "War" – OceanoOceano (band)Oceano is an American deathcore band from Chicago, IL formed in 2006. The band signed to Earache Records and released their debut album, Depths on April 7, 2009. Their second album, Contagion was released on November 9, 2010.-History:...
(Originally by Edwin StarrEdwin StarrEdwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
) (3:58) - "Sunday Bloody SundaySunday Bloody Sunday"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song by U2.It may also refer to:*Sunday Bloody Sunday , a 1971 film*"Sunday, Bloody Sunday"...
" – Veil of Maya (Originally by U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
) (4:25)
Sequel
Despite mixed reviews, publisher THQ have confirmed that a sequel to Homefront is in development. As developer Kaos StudiosKaos Studios
Kaos Studios was an American video game developer based in New York City, New York. Kaos Studios was formed in 2006 when publisher THQ hired the core members of Trauma Studios, the team behind the popular Desert Combat modification, to create a new studio based in New York City to focus on...
has been shut down, THQ has recruited acclaimed European developer Crytek
Crytek
Crytek is a German video game company founded in 1999 by three Turkish brothers: Cevat, Avni and Faruk Yerli. Crytek's main headquarters are in Frankfurt, Germany, with five other studios in Kiev, Budapest, Nottingham, Sofia and Seoul. The company is best known for developing the game Far Cry and...
to develop Homefront 2. Gaming news site Joystiq was able to confirm that Crytek's Nottingham, U.K. studio will develop Homefront 2 which will use the "latest" CryEngine tech.