Red Faction
Developer(s)	Volition, Inc. Monkeystone Games (N-Gage) Blue Beck (Mobile phone)
Publisher(s)	THQ
Engine	GeoMod Engine
Platform(s)	PS2, Windows, N-Gage, Mac, Mobile phone
Release date	May 22, 2001 (PS2) September 18, 2001 (Windows) November 28, 2001 (Mac) December 16, 2003 (N-Gage) October 20, 2005 (Mobile phone)
Genre(s)	First-person shooter Top-down shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Mature (M) BBFC: 15
Media	CD (2), DVD
System requirements	System: PII 400 or equivalent RAM:64 MB RAM CD-ROM: 4X CD-ROM Video Memory: 8 MB VRAM Sound Board: Yes DirectX: DirectX v8. A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual that creates Video games A developer may specialize in a certain video Volition Inc is a Video game developer for consoles and Windows -based PCs Volition is located in Champaign Illinois. Monkeystone Games was a Video game developer and publisher founded by John Romero, Tom Hall, Stevie Case, and Brian Moon THQ Inc ( Toy Headquarters) is a global American developer and publisher of Video games. A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of computer and video games In Computing, a platform describes some sort of Hardware architecture or Software framework (including Application frameworks, that allows Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. The N-Gage is a Mobile telephone and Handheld game system based on the Nokia Series 60 platform Macintosh, commonly nicknamed Mac is a Brand name which covers several lines of Personal computers designed developed and marketed by Apple Inc Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also [[Game classification]] Video games are categorized into Genres based on their Gameplay interaction A first-person shooter ( FPS) is an action Video game from the Shooter game The initial development of Maze War A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large In video gaming, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session A multiplayer game is a Game which is played by several players. A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of Video games into suitability-related groups The Entertainment Software Rating Board ( ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, Advertising guidelines and The British Board of Film Classification ( BBFC) originally British Board of Film Censors, is the organisation responsible for Film, DVD Digital media (as opposed to analog media) usually refers to Electronic media that work on digital Codes. A Compact Disc (also known as a CD) is an Optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is 0
Input methods	Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad

Red Faction is a first-person shooter video game that was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh by THQ and Volition. A first-person shooter ( FPS) is an action Video game from the Shooter game The initial development of Maze War A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Macintosh, commonly nicknamed Mac is a Brand name which covers several lines of Personal computers designed developed and marketed by Apple Inc THQ Inc ( Toy Headquarters) is a global American developer and publisher of Video games. Volition Inc is a Video game developer for consoles and Windows -based PCs Volition is located in Champaign Illinois. A version for the Nokia N-Gage was developed by Monkeystone Games. Nokia Corporation (pronunciation /'nɔkiɑ/),,) is a Finnish multinational Communications Corporation, headquartered The N-Gage is a Mobile telephone and Handheld game system based on the Nokia Series 60 platform Monkeystone Games was a Video game developer and publisher founded by John Romero, Tom Hall, Stevie Case, and Brian Moon The game was also re-developed as a top-down shooter for the mobile phone version. A shoot-'em-up (also known as shmup) is a Video game genre of Shooter game in which the player controls a vehicle or character and fights large ^[1]

Red Faction takes place on Mars in the 21st century. The player controls a miner named Parker who helps lead a rebellion against the Ultor Corporation. The premiere feature of the game is its "Geo-Mod" technology, short for "geometry modification", which provided destructible environments, allowing the player to destroy certain sections of the scenery in the game. Geometry ( Greek γεωμετρία; geo = earth metria = measure is a part of Mathematics concerned with questions of size shape and relative position In Video games the term destructible environment, or terrain deformation, refers to an environment within a game which can be wholly or partially destroyed by the For example, instead of opening a door, a player could blast through the rock surrounding the door. ^[2]

Plot

Parker confronts Capek, who uses a "nanotech" shield to protect himself.

Red Faction takes place on Mars in the 21st century, more specifically around the year 2075. Earth’s minerals are being depleted and humans need more of them to survive. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 The vast Ultor Corporation runs the mining operation on Mars. The living conditions are deplorable, Human rights for the miners are few and a disease called "The Plague" is running rampant throughout the colony with no known antidote available - predominantly within the confines of the mine complex. A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly Parker, a downtrodden miner, came to Mars to make a new start in his life - taken in by the promises and advantages Ultor has to offer in the mines of Mars. After a routine day in the mine with the typical aggression toward miners and cramped living conditions and poor nutrition, he witnesses the spark that starts a rebellion. Rebellion is a refusal of obedienceIt may therefore be seen as encompassing a range of Behaviours from Civil disobedience and mass Nonviolent resistance When a security guard abuses a miner at the end of his shift he heartlessly kills him. A security guard or security officer is usually a privately and formally employed person who is paid to protect Property, assets or people ^[3] Parker takes up arms, with the help of Hendrix, a rebellious Ultor technician who guides Parker through the complex. Hendrix tries to get Parker to join up with a group of miners who are about to steal a supply ship and escape the complex. Parker arrives too late. The ship takes off but is destroyed by missiles. ^[4]

Parker traverses through the Ultor complex, eliminating any resistance Ultor throws at him, and even kidnapping a high-ranking Ultor administrator, Gryphon, for Eos, leader of the Red Faction. In Business, administration consists of the performance or management of business operations and thus the making or implementing of major decisions ^[5] Parker learns from Gryphon about Dr. Capek, who created "The Plague". Capek has been experimenting with nanotechnology, and the Plague is a side-effect. Nanotechnology, sometimes shortened to nanotech, refers to a field of Applied science whose theme is the control of matter on an Atomic and Molecular Hendrix directs Parker to Capek's secret underground laboratory, where he and Eos meet up and take down Capek. A laboratory (informally lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific Research, Experiments and Before Capek dies, he tells Eos how to cure the Plague. ^[6] After sending a distress call to the Earth Defense Force, Parker stows away on a shuttle to an Ultor space station in Martian orbit to deactivate a laser defense system. A stowaway is a person who travels illegally by aircraft, Bus, Ship or Train. A space station is an artificial structure designed for Humans to live in Outer space. ^[7]

After destroying the space station, Parker lands back on Mars via an escape pod, Ultor brings out its reserve of mercenaries to help them in their fight against the miners. An escape pod is a capsule or craft used to escape a vessel in an emergency usually only big enough for one person A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national or a party to the conflict and is "motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by Hendrix tells Parker that the mercenaries have orders to destroy the mining complex, covering up any proof of Ultor's wrongdoing. A cover-up is an attempt whether successful or not to conceal evidence of wrong-doing error Incompetence, or other embarrassing information ^[8] After fighting his way through the mercenary base, Parker confronts Masako, the mercenary leader. After he kills Masako, Parker sees that Eos is tied up and sitting on the floor next to the bomb, which has been set to explode. After deactivating it, the Earth Defense Force arrives just in time to save Parker and Eos from a fighter aircraft. Eos tells Parker that an antidote for the Plague has been made and it is being given to any sick miners. An antidote or counterdose is a substance which can counteract a form of Poisoning. She also tells him she is leaving Mars, and that Parker should enjoy his new status as a hero. ^[9]

Gameplay

With Geo-Mod, the player can destroy this bridge, causing the APC to fall into the chasm below.

One of the main "selling points" of Red Faction was the game engine's GeoMod technology, which allowed players to significantly alter and otherwise affect the surrounding terrain and buildings, either with explosives or otherwise. A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of computer and video games In Video games the term destructible environment, or terrain deformation, refers to an environment within a game which can be wholly or partially destroyed by the An explosive material is a material that either is chemically or otherwise Energetically unstable or produces a sudden expansion of the material usually accompanied Past games had allowed limited alteration of the environment through scripted means, or special triggered areas which would add or remove certain predefined level elements. Red Faction was one of the first games to allow players relatively limitless level-altering possibilities. In fact, many of the areas in the first few levels, such as a hidden underground lake, serve little purpose other than showcasing the capabilities of the GeoMod technology.

GeoMod allows the player to alter (and destroy) the environment so significantly because of the way it designates altered (or "GeoModded") areas. Whereas other game engines would have to modify the shape of the altered object to create a similar effect, GeoMod creates special objects which represent empty space. When, for example, an explosion blows a hole in a rock wall, the GeoMod technology creates an "empty space" object which is the approximate size and shape of the explosion. The training level uses a much larger "empty space" object than the rocket launcher is able to produce in other circumstances, simply because tunnelling is required to complete part of the level.

The use of these "empty space" objects is not limited to in-game environment alteration. Some of the objects in the game, such as the wastebaskets found in certain office areas, are stored as one solid shape with another "empty space" shape defined within it. 'Wastebin' redirects here For the temporary deletion of a computer file see Recycle bin (computing.

Geomod has become popular in multiplayer as players tend to build "tunnels" with explosive weapons. For example, in the warlords level, players could create caves using rocket launchers by repeatedly shooting a wall with the rocket launcher or using the remote detonators (or occasionally the fusion rocket launcher and grenades). A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter Fusion power is power generated by Nuclear fusion reactions In this kind of reaction two light atomic nuclei fuse Some players build tunnels for an advantage because they could hide in them and use a sniper rifle to pick off enemies. In Military and Law enforcement terminology a sniper rifle is a Rifle used to ensure Accurate placement of Bullets at longer In CTF games, players build tunnels as a shortcut into an enemy base to gain an advantage in capturing their flags.

One of the main criticisms of the game was inconsistency in the use of GeoMod, mostly owing to the design limitations of linear first-person shooters. The word linear comes from the Latin word linearis, which means created by lines. Where the game needed to halt the player's progress, locked doors and appropriate nearby walls were invulnerable to attack; players were not allowed to circumvent the obstruction using their own initiative, except in a few cases presumed to be glitches. A glitch is a short-lived Fault in a system The term is particularly common in the Computing and Electronics industries and in Circuit bending Another debilitating issue was lack of ammunition for the explosive weapons needed. Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which It was sparse throughout the single-player experience, meaning opportunity for GeoMod experimentation was severely limited. Other, less justifiable inconsistencies in the use of GeoMod could be found in the game; some players noted how it was possible to blow holes in the rocky caverns of the mines, yet at the same time the partitions in office cubicles were completely indestructible. "Cubicle" is also used to refer to a toilet stall in a Washroom. Despite these and other GeoMod issues in the single-player game, critics were essentially unanimous in their praise of the system in multiplayer matches.

Red Faction and Descent 4

Descent 4 was a game being developed by Volition as part of the Descent game franchise (as a prequel to Descent 1). Descent 4 is a planned fourth installment in the Descent series published by the re-emerging publisher Interplay Entertainment. However, it was canceled for unknown reasons and its technologies (As well as some of the plot) was incorporated into Red Faction. Examples include the main character Parker as well as the GeoMod engine. ^4[10]

Online Multiplayer

Red Faction's included online multiplayer game component is popular among fans of the game, but suffers from numerous technical issues. At the forefront of the issues is the lack of server-side dominance; a running multiplayer server will accept most data given to it by any connected players (information like player name, position, and chat text) without checking to see if that data is permissible, possible, or desired under the rules the server is using. Server-side refers to operations that are performed by the server in a Client-server relationship in Computer networking. Initially this allowed for numerous cheats and exploits (e. g. players who can fly, walk through walls, automatic fire for all weapons, and so on) to be used on multiplayer servers, in some cases unintentionally. The version 1. 2 patch was produced shortly after the game's initial release to fix some of these issues, but numerous exploits and cheats are still possible even with the patch applied. No further official patches have been released for the game, though a subsequent, third-party, "version 1. 3" patch was released which addresses most of the remaining exploits left in version 1. 2. A recent unofficial online multiplayer anti-cheat known as "Pure Faction" is currently in the public beta stage. Pure Faction is designed to address the numerous cheating holes that "1. 3" left behind, along with an advanced launcher offering quite a few more options than the original. Nonetheless the Red Faction online multiplayer community remains at a relatively low number of players and servers but is still hoping to grow. However, efforts have been made by enthusiastic programmers and development teams, in an attempt to attract more players and even bring back the players who had previously moved on to more recent games, by enhancing the multiplayer experience.

nVidia 8xxx series bug

The aforementioned "Pure Faction" offers a fix for users of Red Faction who experience strange texture glitches while in-game with an nVidia 8-series graphics card.

Sequels

Main articles: Red Faction II and Red Faction: Guerrilla

The sequel, Red Faction II, was released for PlayStation 2 in October 2002, and then PC, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. Red Faction II is a sequel to the hit game Red Faction and takes place on Earth as opposed to the Mars of the first Red Faction Guerrilla is a Multi-platform Video game in development by Volition Inc IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. The, often abbreviated as GCN, is Nintendo 's fourth home Video game console and is part of the sixth generation console era. It takes place on Earth and tells the story of a group of super soldiers, including the main character, who are physically enhanced by the nanotechnology originally developed by Capek on Mars. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 Aside from that tenuous link, the only relation to the original Red Faction is the presence of nanotechnology, the name "Red Faction", and the organizations Ultor and the Red Faction themselves. Red Faction II does not support network gaming, but provides some multiplayer-style games with 'bots'. Also, while the original Red Faction experience included many instances of exploration similar to the original Half-Life, the sequel did away with this aspect in favor of a fast-paced "on rails" sort of shooter.

On February 2, 2007, THQ CEO Brian Farrell confirmed that Red Faction 3 was in the works via a conference call with investors. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Little is known about the project, other than that it is scheduled for the 2008 fiscal year. ^[11] On August 1, 2007, the sequel was pushed back till the 2009 fiscal year. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[12]

On Feb. 5th, 2008 THQ CEO Brian Farrell said Red Faction III, officially titled Red Faction: Guerrilla, is being made by Volition Studios for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Reception

Upon its release Red Faction was well received by critics. The Playstation 2 version currently has an 88% rating at Gamerankings while the PC version has a rating of 79%. Game Rankings is a Website which keeps track of Video game reviews from other sites and combines them to present an average rating for each game

See also

• Red Faction II
• Red Faction: Guerrilla (Red Faction 3) To be released
• Fracture (another game featuring destructible environment)
• Warmonger (Ageia/NetDevil game featuring destructible environment governed by physics)

References

External links

• Official site (archive)
• IGN review
• Red Faction at MobyGames
• Pure Faction: Unoffical Anti-Cheat Also makes Red Faction playable with Nvidia 8 series GPUs