SWAT 4 Expansion Announced

SWAT 4 Expansion Pack Announced is the press release officially announcing the SWAT 4 expansion first hinted at in August (story) for which more details just emerged the other day (story). The first SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate screenshots are online, and here's a bit on the add-on, due in Q1 2006:
Entitled 'The Stetchkov Syndicate', the expansion pack brings a host of new levels, weapons and enhancements to the highly rated SWAT 4.

Crime is on the rise. More guns and drugs are appearing on the streets and the city is in crisis. SWAT is called in to take on a series of disturbances that eventually lead them to the root of the problem, an eastern European crime family that has taken up residence in the city. A final showdown will place legendary SWAT tactics against the most dangerous and ruthless criminals yet, the Stetchkov syndicate.

New features for SWAT 4 - The Stetchkov Syndicate include:

    • 7 new single and multiplayer player levels
    • Voice over IP - Built in voice communication between teammates.
    • 10 Player Coop - Up to 2 teams of 5.
    • New multiplayer mode - Smash & Grab
    • New weapons and equipment for both SWAT members and suspects
    • Stat tracking and ladders and rankings for multiplayer
    • Held commands - Orders can be held in single player until the leader gives the GO command.
    • Unique Leader in Coop - Option to have only one person issue commands and lead the team.
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Re: No subject
Sep 23, 2005, 00:11
25.
Re: No subject Sep 23, 2005, 00:11
Sep 23, 2005, 00:11
 
A very good question. But I think the connection is that Swat4 is an Irrational game, and many still blame them for the Tribes: Vengeance no patch debacle. I guess they feel Swat4 should be boycotted as punishment, or something.

true. Its a bit overkill for everyone to blame Irrational, they were just doing their job, which was primarily to make a Tribes game that had a decent single player game and to ease the game down for new players.

The anger, however, stems from Vivendi's direction of reducing the game down and not focusing on the most popular aspect of the game by "its fanbase" which is the mulitplayer game. Its obvious how incomplete the MP and server piece were when the game was released, plus the fact that they changed the game quite a lot and removed core features. Folks just stew over Swat 4 because it was built on the mofified Unreal engine built for Tribes vengeance.

I'm sure its good for game like SWAT 4, but it wasnt really the best choice for a Tribes game. Plus, Irrational is a well respected dev team, they make good games, but I dont think they were really the best choice to make a Tribes game. The hard truth is that Vivendi will just hold the franchise, and the only devs worthy to make another Tribes game are the old Dynamix folks at Garage Games or a dev team thats actually familiar with the nuances of Tribes gameplay.

I do agree though, the SWAT 4 bashing by Tribes fans is a bit much. Let the SWAT 4 folks enjoy their game, they've been ignored a long time as well. The fact is that someone "in the know" will make another Tribes game. The franchise has a large devout fanbase that marketing folks cant guage because most of them are hardcore MP gaming enthusiasts. That market hasnt even been cracked yet because the game industry is in the hyper goo stage of mass console sales and pretty games.

One thing Tribes fans should ask themselves is why the core old Dynamix group at Garage Games seems oblivious to care about the gem they created? Seriously, even though they mention it and cracked some jokes about TV, do you ever see or hear them actively discuss or do anything about getting their game back etc. I dont think you'd see John Carmack or the folks at Valve just not care about the franchise and games they created. I hate to say it, but part of Tribes failure can be blamed on the very devs that created it.

This comment was edited on Sep 23, 00:17.
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