Re: Bye Bye, Monolith

On Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:15:26 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:

>
Remember F.E.A.R. Combat that was a standalone multiplayer game?
>

Actually... no. And that's a very unusual admission for me to make.

Huh, it came out in 2006.

     "F.E.A.R. Combat is a standalone multiplayer component based
     on F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon, but released
     for free, less than a year after the original game. F.E.A.R.
     already had full multiplayer options, but this 1.76GB
     component allows everyone to join the online battles, without
     needing to buy the game. It includes 22 multiplayer maps, 10
     game modes, all the weapons and updates, and the ability to
     play user-generated content. You only need to apply for a free
     CD key. Users of this version can also play against the owners
     of the original game. The game modes include Deathmatch,
     Slowmo Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Slowmo Team Deathmatch,
     Elimination, Team Elimination, Capture the Flag, Slowmo Capture
     the Flag, Conquer All and Control."

Apparently the website for the game still is up
https://fearcombat.org/

     "During the next years, Monolith, Punkbuster, Sierra
     (Activision) and WBGames ended their support for the game. The
     Original page of the game stopped offering new CDKeys. This
     meant that new players could not play and led to a decline in
     the game. With the FEAR Master Server Shut down by GameSpy on
     December 5, 2012, the game couldn’t find running servers,
     and servers couldn’t be run anymore. "

Fortunately, modders to the rescue again! They've patched the game and
provide the game-files so you can keep playing.

    (Queue DMCA from WBGames in 5...4...3...2...)

I used to like replaying same games, but I just don't have time. I do
love trying out the new games when I have resources like free time,
energy, hardware, etc. I'm grumpy too as Grumpy Anty. Get off my lawn,
you young whippersnappers. :P

I don't have any issue with replaying existing games (although the
sheer glut of new games and the endless games I've already acquired
but have yet to play make that a difficult proposition). I do take
issue with publishers reskinning last year's model and calling it a
day.