double-helix-games posts

If you are one of the few folks who bought the recent mech-theme action game Front Mission Evolved from publisher Square Enix last month, you will be getting some DLC for the game starting on October 28. Siliconera reports that there will be four DLC packs available for the PC version via Steam and that one of them will be free, although the article doesn't say which one will be priced at $0.

Two of the DLC releases for the game will be weapon packs with one containing the Darkhog machine gun, the Blackstone shotgun, and the Sieger rifle. The other weapons pack adds a bazooka, a rocket launcher, and a missile launcher. The other two packs add new Wanzer mechs to the game with one containing the Tower and the Stork and the other adding the Wildgold and the ISV-Prototype. The weapon packs will cost $2.99 each while the Wanzer packs will cost $3.99 each.

This action-packed trailer for Front Mission Evolved goes a little deeper into the story of Front Mission Mission Evolved in addition to providing glimpses of gameplay. Most importantly, the trailer shows the game's recently announced September 14th release date.

"The first of its kind in the series, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED is an action-packed Third-Person Shooter and the next instalment in the classic FRONT MISSION franchise. Players will take full control of the Wanzer, a massive humanoid, fully customizable war machine, in single player campaign and online multi-player."

Download HD Front Mission Evolved Trailer (75 MB)
Check out all Front Mission Evolved downloads

It's a game that hasn't gotten a lot of publicity of late but now publisher Square Enix has announced that the mech action game Front Mission Evolved will ship for the PC and other platforms on September 14. The game, a new entry in Square Enix's long running Front Mission series, is being developed by US-based Double Helix Games. The press release states that the PC version will have support for "stereoscopic 3D" although specifics are not mentioned.

Unlike the previous Front Mission games, which have been turn-based tactical titles with RPG elements, Front Mission Evolved is a real time third person action game with players piloting the mech machines (known as Wanzers) on Earth 150 years in the future. In addition to a single player campaign the game will also feature several multiplayer modes.

What will set Front Mission Evolved from previous Front Mission games is the emphasis on real-time combat that still retains some of the tactical elements that gives the series its signature feel. In addition to the up close battles and challenging bosses, the developers at Double Helix Games will be packing in plenty of online gameplay so fans can customize their wanzers and prove their skills against each other. The early gameplay footage looks impressive and should get fans excited for its release later this year.

Download HD Front Mission Evolved Developer Diary #1 (205 MB)
Check out all Front Mission Evolved downloads

Perhaps the single biggest independent game developer in North America is Foundation 9 Entertainment but like everywhere else the poor economy is hitting the multi-studio company. VentureBeat is now reporting (which Foundation 9 has confirmed) that the company will be merging two of their studios, Amaze and Griptonite, both of which are based in Kirkland, Washington. It will close down yet another dev studio, Fizz Factor, in Austin, Texas.

VentureBeat is also reporting that Foundation 9 will be cutting back on yet another of its studios, Double Helix Games. That studio completed work last year on Konami's Silent Hill Homecoming (released for the PC via Steam last fall) and is currently working on Square Enix's action game Front Mission Evolved, which is due out for the PC and other platforms in 2010. VentureBeat did not go into details on how many people will be affected by these cutbacks.

There were a few game announcements on Friday but one we missed at that time was for Front Mission Evolved. The game is set in Square Enix's mech-themed strategy universe but is actually a third person shooter title and it's coming to the PC and other plaforms.

Developed by California-based Double Helix Games, Front Mission Evolved will have players take control of the massive machine called the Wanzer in both single and multplayer campaigns. The game's official web site has already launched along with the game's first screenshots. Little else about the game has been revealed, including a release date, but we suspect we will learn more at E3.

During a live demo of the PS3 and Xbox 360 title Silent Hill: Homecoming (the fifth game in the Silent Hill series), the game's developers revealed that a PC port is planned, although no time frame was specified. We doubt it will be day and date, but this is still good news. Lots of PC gamers have enjoyed the past three games in the series, although the original PlayStation title never saw a Windows release.

Just in case you're not familiar with Silent Hill: it's a Japanese-developed survival horror game. It's not much like the Resident Evil games, though; the characters you play in Silent Hill are not trained professionals. They're regular Joes or Janes who are faced with vastly superior and horrific monsters, as well as psychological trauma. The series is known for its deep storyline, multiple endings, and apallingly disturbing monster design.