Section 8: Prejudice is a science fiction, first-person shooter video game developed by TimeGate Studios. It is the direct sequel to the 2009 game Section 8.[2] Unlike its predecessor, Prejudice is a digital download-only title that contains more content than the previous game. It was released for Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and PlayStation 3 between April and August 2011.[3]
| Section 8: Prejudice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | TimeGate Studios |
| Publisher(s) | TimeGate Studios Atari (PC) |
| Director(s) | Alan B. Chaveleh |
| Producer(s) | Tom Ashley |
| Designer(s) | Keith Turkowski |
| Programmer(s) | Alina Easterday Callahan |
| Artist(s) | Zachary Forcher |
| Writer(s) | William J. Coakley |
| Composer(s) | Cris Velasco Jason Graves |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| Release | Xbox 360 (XBLA) April 20, 2011[1] Microsoft Windows (GFWL) May 4, 2011 PlayStation 3 (PSN) |
| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
The game features a single player campaign and several multiplayer modes. In multiplayer games teams compete to control points and complete a range of mission objectives to gain victory.
Plot
editThe single-player campaign explores the conflict between the 8th Armored Infantry and the Arm of Orion. The player again takes control of Alex Corde, the protagonist of the first game, who must complete eight objective-based missions taking place in four different environments.[citation needed]
Gameplay
edit
Like its predecessor, the characters in Section 8: Prejudice wear powered armor suits. The player can use "overdrive" to move horizontally at superhuman speeds, or activate their jet pack to achieve new heights. Instead of having fixed spawn points, the player chooses where to "drop in" and their character is subsequently launched into the battlefield from orbital dropships that are 15,000 feet above the surface. While burning in, the player character can be attacked by enemy players and anti-air turrets, but the dropping player can instantly kill another player by landing directly on them.[4]
In multiplayer, players are encouraged to work in teams to achieve objectives and defend one another. They may purchase the following defensive structures: Mini-Gun Turrets, Rocket Turrets, Anti-Air Turrets, Supply Depots, and Sensor Arrays, to protect friendly-controlled objectives. Players may also purchase a tank, a bike, and a mech. Players are able to purchase these using "Requisition Points" which are awarded to the player for various feats they perform through play.[citation needed]
Players are also able to choose their primary and secondary weapons, such as assault rifles, pistols, machine guns, shotguns, pulse cannons, and sniper rifles, as well as grenades, explosives, knives, mortar launchers and engineering tools. The player is also able to create their own player class through various stackable modules that determine the player's speed, stealth, or the regeneration of the limited-use jetpack.[citation needed]
Multiplayer
editSection 8: Prejudice has four multiplayer game modes, Conquest, Swarm, Assault, and Skirmish. Conquest is a multiplayer game mode where two teams compete to capture Control Points, complete DCMs, and Destroy enemy players. The team that reaches the score limit first or has the highest score at the end of regulation time wins the match. Players can compete in Conquest mode with up to 32 players on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 or up to 40 players on the PC. Swarm mode is a co-op multiplayer mode where four players defend a single Control Point against waves of attacking enemy bots and try to prevent the Control Point from being captured for 15 minutes. Every five minutes in Swarm, players are rewarded with an Airstrike that eliminates all enemy bots on the battlefield.[citation needed] A new multiplayer game mode, Assault, was released to the public in May 2011. Assault mode is made up of the two warring factions. One team takes on the role of the Defenders, whilst the other team is the Attackers. The Attackers have to capture all of the Defenders Control Points within ten minutes. Once the Attackers have captured a control point, it cannot be taken back by the defenders. Once there is one Control Point left, the game goes into sudden death mode during which neither team's players can re-spawn after being killed. If the Attackers capture all of the control points within ten minutes, the time it took them to capture the Control Points will be the new time limit, and the teams switch sides. The defenders spawn early with a sum of Requisition points to fortify their bases. Skirmish multiplayer mode was released in July 2011. Skirmish is a type of team deathmatch and is similar to Conquest mode, but without the ability to capture control points.
Like the original Section 8, Section 8: Prejudice supports dedicated servers for Xbox 360. TimeGate made a partnership with GameServers.com to provide dedicated server rentals for fans.[citation needed]
Development
editIncluding testers, the development team consisted of about 80 developers who took about 18 months to complete work on the game.[5] The game was intended to be a full-priced, but while under development TimeGate Studios decided the game would be self-published and distributed digitally, allowing for a lower price point with the potential to gain a larger audience.[6] The low price was planned to entice impulse purchases.[citation needed]
Section 8: Prejudice uses the Unreal Engine 3 game engine. The art direction was influenced by the films Aliens and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.[6] The developers choose to implement the drop in feature for players and objects such as turrets. Because players are able to drop in anywhere on a map, the level design had to be paid particular attention.[6] The developers also listened to critics of the first Section 8 title and ensured that gameplay issues were addressed.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS3 | Xbox 360 | |
| Metacritic | 77/100[26] | 70/100[27] | 76/100[28] |
| Publication | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS3 | Xbox 360 | |
| Destructoid | N/A | N/A | 7.5/10[7] |
| Edge | N/A | N/A | 6/10[8] |
| Eurogamer | N/A | N/A | 9/10[9] |
| Game Informer | 8/10[10] | N/A | 8/10[10] |
| GamePro |   [11] | N/A | [12] |
| GameSpot | 7.5/10[13] | 7.5/10[14] | 7.5/10[15] |
| GameTrailers | N/A | N/A | 8/10[16] |
| IGN | 6/10[17] | 6/10[18] | 6/10[19] |
| Joystiq | N/A | N/A |  [20] |
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | N/A | N/A | 8/10[21] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 80%[22] | N/A | N/A |
| PlayStation: The Official Magazine | N/A | 8/10[23] | N/A |
| The Daily Telegraph | N/A | N/A | 8/10[24] |
| The Escapist | N/A | N/A | [25] |
The PC and Xbox 360 versions of Section 8: Prejudice received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 3 version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[26][27][28]
IGN cited a plentiful amount of content but poor execution.[19]
Cancelled sequel
editA sequel was planned, but due to the development of Aliens: Colonial Marines, TimeGate shifted their focus. In addition, the company was shut down after declaring for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, owing US$10 – 50 million, thus resulting in the cancellation of the next title.[29][30][31][32]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Kaye, Darryl (April 6, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Dated For Xbox 360, PC". Gaming Union. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ Mitchell, Richard (March 16, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice preview: Once you drop, you can't stop". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Section 8: Prejudice goes download-only". New Game Network. December 15, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
- ^ "Game Info". Section 8: Prejudice. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Section 8: Prejudice Developer Interview". XBLA Ratings. April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c Thang, Jimmy (May 3, 2010). "Section 8 Prejudice: How Good Can a $15 Downloadable Multiplayer FPS Be?". GeForce. Nvidia. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^ Sterling, Jim (April 20, 2011). "Review: Section 8: Prejudice (X360)". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ Edge staff (June 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice (X360)". Edge. No. 228. Future plc. p. 94.
- ^ Whitehead, Dan (April 20, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Ryckert, Dan (May 9, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice (PC, X360)". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- ^ Terrones, Terry (May 2, 2011). "Review: Section 8: Prejudice (PC)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ Terrones, Terry (April 20, 2011). "Review: Section 8: Prejudice (XBLA)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ^ McShea, Tom (May 3, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ McShea, Tom (July 27, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (PS3)". GameSpot. CBS Interaactive. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ McShea, Tom (April 20, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interaactive. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Section 8: Prejudice (X360)". GameTrailers. Viacom. April 29, 2011. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ Gies, Arthur (May 4, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ Gies, Arthur (August 3, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (PS3)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ a b Gies, Arthur (April 20, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ Mitchell, Richard (April 22, 2011). "Section 8 review: It's raining men (X360)". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ Dyer, Mitch (July 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. p. 80. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ "Section 8: Prejudice". PC Gamer. Vol. 18, no. 7. Future US. July 2011. p. 68.
- ^ "Review: Section 8: Prejudice". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 50. Future plc. October 2011. p. 84.
- ^ Bell, Sean (May 11, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ Tito, Greg (May 24, 2011). "Section 8: Prejudice Review (X360)". The Escapist. Defy Media. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "Section 8: Prejudice for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Section 8: Prejudice for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ a b "Section 8: Prejudice for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (March 5, 2013). "TimeGate Studios has filed for bankruptcy". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Schreirer, Jason (May 9, 2013). "The Studio Behind Aliens: Colonial Marines Just Laid Off Its Staff". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (May 10, 2013). "Aliens: Colonial Marines co-developer TimeGate Studios has been shuttered - report". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Hafer, T.J. (May 9, 2013). "Colonial Marines devs TimeGate Studios reportedly laying off all staff". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved June 28, 2018.