Alien Front Online is a 2001 video game released for the Dreamcast. It is an online version of the arcade game Alien Front, where it was bundled with the Microphone accessory. It was only released in North America.
The Microphone accessory, which is compatible with the game
In the game, players use armored vehicles to fight battles staged in arenas. Players can choose which side to fight for; the Triclops or the military. Players can also choose one of three different vehicles, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Although the game is fully playable for one person, it was primarily designed as an online game in which up to 8 players (up to 4 on each side) can play. Players move around the arena attempting to shoot each other, while also looking for power-ups for their vehicles. The game is played for a set number of minutes, after which the team with the most kills are declared the winners.
Developmentedit
Art director Gerardo Sprigg was working at Acclaim's struggling coin-op division on Magic: The Gathering: Armageddon, and before the studio closed, Sega employees paid a visit looking to buy arcade projects or people to recruit. Several months passed, when Sprigg received an email from Makoto Uchida, who had a small Japanese development team that were living in the US and working at Sega of America. Uchida's boss had mandated him to find some Americans to work with, with the idea to make their titles feel more American. Sprigg and Uchida met, where it was decided that the old Acclaim art team would reunite and join Wow Entertainment in the US to work on a new project that would appeal to American audiences. Uchida was a big fan of Tokyo Wars which was popular in arcades, and wanted to create a vehicle game as he noticed that people enjoyed cabinets with steering wheels and pedals. In contrast to Tokyo Wars, Uchida was adamant on including destructible environments. During development, someone had suggested a premise of the US military fighting off an alien invasion, which the Americans liked but the Japanese were somewhat sceptical. Once a functional demo was running, testing for the Alien Front arcade game began in several California locations, and the game was brought to E3 2000, where it appeared to be fairly popular, despite being in the back corner of the Sega booth. Following the success of the cabinet, a home port was planned. New levels were added to the Dreamcast version, and online connectivity between the arcade and Dreamcast versions was even considered, but because the arcade never released outside Japan, the feature was scrapped.[6][7]
Releaseedit
Alien Front was released exclusively in Japanese arcades on January 23, 2001, and Alien Front Online was released on the Dreamcast exclusively in North America August 7, 2001. It was originally slated for release in Japan, but was cancelled.[8] Copies of Alien Front Online were packaged with the Microphone accessory due to poor sales of Seaman.[6] A related game, simply titled Alien Front, was announced by Sega for the N-Gage in 2004, but was eventually cancelled.[9] A prototype ROM image of the N-Gage version was leaked online in 2019.[10]
The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11] Rob Smolka of Next Generation said that the game was "not terribly original, but the basics are solid enough to make it fun, especially when you can taunt your foes and coordinate your attack with teammates online".[19]
Referencesedit
^. sega.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2002. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
^pcwzrd13 (November 6, 2016). . Dreamcast Live. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^pcwzrd13 (December 12, 2016). . Dreamcast Live. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^petter3k (November 6, 2016). "Game resurrected – Alien Front Online". dcserv.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Alien Front Online". SegaRetro.org. September 2022.
^ abWallace, Mitch (July 2017). Jones, Darran (ed.). "The Making Of: Alien Front Online". Retro Gamer. No. 169. Future. pp. 86–89.
^"Alien Front Online E3 2000 Impressions". GameSpot. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
^Ahmed, Shahed (June 29, 2001). "Sega cancels two Dreamcast games in Japan". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^IGN staff (February 9, 2004). "Two New Sega Titles". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
^"Alien Front (found cancelled Nokia N-Gage port of action game; 2004) - The Lost Media Wiki". lostmediawiki.com. 2019. from the original on January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
^ ab"Alien Front Online for Dreamcast Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^EGM staff (October 2001). "Alien Front Online". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 147. Ziff Davis. p. 150.
^Kato, Matthew (September 2001). . Game Informer. No. 101. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^Four-Eyed Dragon (August 9, 2001). . GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 22, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^Liu, Johnny (September 2001). "Alien Front Online Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^Torres, Ricardo (August 8, 2001). "Alien Front Online Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^Vash T. Stampede (August 15, 2001). . PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^Chau, Anthony (August 3, 2001). "Alien Front Online". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^ abSmolka, Rob (October 2001). "Alien Front Online". Next Generation. No. 82. Imagine Media. p. 80. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
^Keil, Matthew (September 28, 2001). . Extended Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on February 17, 2002. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alien Front Online.
alien, front, online, 2001, video, game, released, dreamcast, online, version, arcade, game, alien, front, where, bundled, with, microphone, accessory, only, released, north, america, developer, entertainmentpublisher, segaproducer, makoto, uchidakevin, klemmi. Alien Front Online is a 2001 video game released for the Dreamcast It is an online version of the arcade game Alien Front where it was bundled with the Microphone accessory It was only released in North America Alien Front OnlineDeveloper s Wow EntertainmentPublisher s SegaProducer s Makoto UchidaKevin KlemmickGerardo SpriggDesigner s Makoto UchidaComposer s Howard DrossinMakito NomiyaPlatform s Arcade DreamcastReleaseArcade JP January 23 2001Dreamcast NA August 7 2001 1 Genre s Vehicular combatMode s Single player multiplayerArcade systemSega NAOMI The game was brought back online by fans through private servers in 2016 2 3 4 5 Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Development 3 Release 4 Reception 5 References 6 External linksGameplay edit nbsp The Microphone accessory which is compatible with the game In the game players use armored vehicles to fight battles staged in arenas Players can choose which side to fight for the Triclops or the military Players can also choose one of three different vehicles each having its own advantages and disadvantages Although the game is fully playable for one person it was primarily designed as an online game in which up to 8 players up to 4 on each side can play Players move around the arena attempting to shoot each other while also looking for power ups for their vehicles The game is played for a set number of minutes after which the team with the most kills are declared the winners Development editArt director Gerardo Sprigg was working at Acclaim s struggling coin op division on Magic The Gathering Armageddon and before the studio closed Sega employees paid a visit looking to buy arcade projects or people to recruit Several months passed when Sprigg received an email from Makoto Uchida who had a small Japanese development team that were living in the US and working at Sega of America Uchida s boss had mandated him to find some Americans to work with with the idea to make their titles feel more American Sprigg and Uchida met where it was decided that the old Acclaim art team would reunite and join Wow Entertainment in the US to work on a new project that would appeal to American audiences Uchida was a big fan of Tokyo Wars which was popular in arcades and wanted to create a vehicle game as he noticed that people enjoyed cabinets with steering wheels and pedals In contrast to Tokyo Wars Uchida was adamant on including destructible environments During development someone had suggested a premise of the US military fighting off an alien invasion which the Americans liked but the Japanese were somewhat sceptical Once a functional demo was running testing for the Alien Front arcade game began in several California locations and the game was brought to E3 2000 where it appeared to be fairly popular despite being in the back corner of the Sega booth Following the success of the cabinet a home port was planned New levels were added to the Dreamcast version and online connectivity between the arcade and Dreamcast versions was even considered but because the arcade never released outside Japan the feature was scrapped 6 7 Release editAlien Front was released exclusively in Japanese arcades on January 23 2001 and Alien Front Online was released on the Dreamcast exclusively in North America August 7 2001 It was originally slated for release in Japan but was cancelled 8 Copies of Alien Front Online were packaged with the Microphone accessory due to poor sales of Seaman 6 A related game simply titled Alien Front was announced by Sega for the N Gage in 2004 but was eventually cancelled 9 A prototype ROM image of the N Gage version was leaked online in 2019 10 Reception editReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScoreMetacritic76 100 11 Review scoresPublicationScoreElectronic Gaming Monthly6 5 10 12 Game Informer8 10 13 GamePro nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 14 GameRevolutionB 15 GameSpot7 6 10 16 GameSpy7 5 10 17 IGN8 5 10 18 Next Generation nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 19 X Play nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 20 The game received generally favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic 11 Rob Smolka of Next Generation said that the game was not terribly original but the basics are solid enough to make it fun especially when you can taunt your foes and coordinate your attack with teammates online 19 References edit Alien Front Online sega com Archived from the original on February 4 2002 Retrieved December 29 2023 pcwzrd13 November 6 2016 Alien Front Online Resurrected Dreamcast Live Archived from the original on November 9 2017 Retrieved November 8 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link pcwzrd13 December 12 2016 Game Night Highlights Alien Front Online 12 7 2016 Dreamcast Live Archived from the original on November 9 2017 Retrieved November 8 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link petter3k November 6 2016 Game resurrected Alien Front Online dcserv org a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Alien Front Online SegaRetro org September 2022 a b Wallace Mitch July 2017 Jones Darran ed The Making Of Alien Front Online Retro Gamer No 169 Future pp 86 89 Alien Front Online E3 2000 Impressions GameSpot Retrieved 2021 09 26 Ahmed Shahed June 29 2001 Sega cancels two Dreamcast games in Japan GameSpot CBS Interactive Retrieved January 5 2014 IGN staff February 9 2004 Two New Sega Titles IGN Ziff Davis Retrieved January 5 2014 Alien Front found cancelled Nokia N Gage port of action game 2004 The Lost Media Wiki lostmediawiki com 2019 Archived from the original on January 22 2020 Retrieved January 22 2020 a b Alien Front Online for Dreamcast Reviews Metacritic CBS Interactive Retrieved May 27 2020 EGM staff October 2001 Alien Front Online Electronic Gaming Monthly No 147 Ziff Davis p 150 Kato Matthew September 2001 Alien Front Online Game Informer No 101 FuncoLand Archived from the original on January 21 2008 Retrieved May 27 2020 Four Eyed Dragon August 9 2001 Alien Front Online Review for Dreamcast on GamePro com GamePro IDG Entertainment Archived from the original on December 22 2004 Retrieved May 27 2020 Liu Johnny September 2001 Alien Front Online Review GameRevolution CraveOnline Archived from the original on September 8 2015 Retrieved May 27 2020 Torres Ricardo August 8 2001 Alien Front Online Review date mislabeled as May 17 2006 GameSpot CBS Interactive Retrieved May 27 2020 Vash T Stampede August 15 2001 Alien Front Online PlanetDreamcast IGN Entertainment Archived from the original on January 24 2009 Retrieved May 27 2020 Chau Anthony August 3 2001 Alien Front Online IGN Ziff Davis Retrieved May 27 2020 a b Smolka Rob October 2001 Alien Front Online Next Generation No 82 Imagine Media p 80 Retrieved May 27 2020 Keil Matthew September 28 2001 Alien Front Online DC Review Extended Play TechTV Archived from the original on February 17 2002 Retrieved May 27 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alien Front Online Alien Front at the Killer List of Videogames Alien Front Online at MobyGames Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alien Front Online amp oldid 1223706045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
