Information AboutKillzone |
''Killzone'' is a '' for the PlayStation Portable and '' Killzone PS3 '' for the upcoming PlayStation 3 . INTRODUCTION ''Killzone'' is a '', which has been released for its Xbox gaming system. ''Halo'' was a huge success, and was the best-selling Xbox game at the time, which led to PlayStation fans to dub ''Killzone'' the "Halo Killer". This label was intensified later in 2004 when the Official PlayStation Magazine (OPM) in the United States published an issue with a lengthy article on Killzone. The issue was wrapped in plastic which read "Halo Killer." STORYLINE The game is set in an era of planetary colonization where the Helghast Empire has recovered from its defeat in the First Helghan War and launched a blitzkrieg against the outer ISA colony planet Vekta . Vekta's defense platforms fail during the initial assault, allowing the Helghast to land swarms of soldiers onto the surface. This makes it all the more difficult for the outnumbered ISA forces. The Helghast are the descendants of humans who colonized the planet Helghan many generations ago. The planet's harsh environment forced the Helghast to adapt and mutate so much that they can no longer be considered human. They are stronger, faster and more resilient than their cousins, and possessed of a burning hatred for humanity, but, save for a small number of half-breed Helghast, they require a gas mask and air tank with air similar to the planet Helghast's atmosphere. Vekta's only hope rests with an elite squad of four soldiers who will become heroes. The player takes control of ISA Squad leader Jan Templar , fighting off the Helghast invasion. Templar and his men are called back to the base for reassignment, and are promptly sent to find the ISA operative Hakha and the key in his possession. During the course of the game, the player also takes control of several other characters, such as a special operations agent, a Helghast defector, and a heavy weapons specialist. GAME DEVELOPMENT Dutch based Guerrilla Games , formerly known as Lost Boys Games , developed this game and caught Sony's eye. The gaming company showed Sony a demonstration of a first-person shooter that they were currently developing for Windows . Sony was impressed by the game and made a deal with Guerrilla to develop ''Killzone'' exclusively for the PlayStation 2. Sony then commissioned award-winning sci-fi author Joe Dever to develop the storyline and contribute to the game design. Making the switch from Programming for the PC to the PlayStation was not an easy task. Guerrilla spent two years learning the programming techniques of the console while they were still in pre-production. In 2001 , ''Killzone'' was ready to be created. The public knew little about ''Killzone'', but as information started to leak out about the game hype started to grow. A single blurry scan of a VHS was posted in a British Video Game Magazine , and eventually made its way onto the Internet . When ''Killzone'' was officially announced, expectations for the game were very high. On release, rumours of online cooperative play and Hard Disk support were proven untrue. The game received mostly average reviews but was a commercial success, with Guerrila staff members confirming the game had sold a million copies "a few times over".[http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=killzone&message.id=77144&view=by_date_ascending&page=64 REACTION There are many severe problems with ''Killzone'': It includes inconsistent and sometimes awful AI , occasional bugs resulting in random game crashes, bad frame-rates, peculiar LOD ( Level Of Detail ) system, repetition of the same voices, short draw distance, and sloppy death animations. The game mostly received only average reviews. On the positive side, ''Killzone'' was admired for its sound effects, its soundtrack and the presentation of a gritty war zone. It was also credited for its unique art design. Game reviews
(The average review score is 72.7%) In recent months, ''Killzone'' has been added to the Playstation 2's greatest hits library been dropped in price to $19.95. As a result, the game has sold very well due to its massive pre-release "Halo Killer" hype and large advertising budget. FUTURE ''KILLZONE'' TITLES
Just before the original game was released in late 2004 , a sequel was announced that was to be a PlayStation 2 game. But ever since Sony showed the PlayStation 3 ''Killzone'' demo at the 2005 E3 in Los Angeles , rumors became rampant that the sequel will be developed as a next generation game instead. Sony has recently announced an acquisition of Guerilla games and that the company is working on ''Killzone'' games for the PSP and PS3. Developers at the official forums of ''Killzone'' have confirmed that no additional PS2 title is in development. {Link without Title} ''Killzone: Liberation'' (PSP) has being designed from the ground up as a handheld title, eschewing the first-person shooter format of the PS2 and PS3 titles in favour of a third-person perspective. Liberation takes place two months after the events of the original Killzone in the familiar postapocalyptic battle zone of southern Vetka. Players will take up various futuristic arms against the Helghast and their maniacal leader, Metrac, as Templar, one of the playable characters from the original. The storyline for ''Killzone PS3'' may involve either mop-up operations following the first game, the second wave involving the reinforcements from both Earth and Helghan, a prequel showing the story of the first Helghan war as it seems from the Sony Press conference trailer the game takes place on Helghan itself, or an attack of Helghan during the current Helghan War, a retaliation of sorts. It is thusfar unclear whether or not any of the characters from the first game will be involved. RUMORED HOLLYWOOD MOVIE Rumors have started flying around the web that Sony, through its MGM label, will produce a live action movie based on the game. Although nothing has been confirmed, the reports state that the movie will closely follow the game's storyline, its features and a gray and gritty interpretation of the future. Some rumors suggest that actor Will Smith will play the lead while some reports state that MGM is considering director Michael Bay to be both producer and director. Bay is rumored to be a fan of ''Killzone'' on the PlayStation 2 console. It has yet to be confirmed if this rumored ''Killzone'' movie is another expensive gamble of Sony's in possible reaction to the upcoming ''Halo'' movie, which will be produced by Peter Jackson ('' Lord Of The Rings '') and jointly released by Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox . EXTERNAL LINKS
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