Special Force (2004 video game)

Special Force (named Soldier Front in North America) is an online free-to-play first-person shooter developed by the South Korean game developer Dragonfly. Dragonfly continues to expand the game around the world and plans to expand into the Middle Eastern, Indian, and Russian markets.[1] The Indonesian version of the game was discontinued in March 2012.

Not to be confused with Special Force (2003 video game).
Special Force
Developer(s)DragonFly GF Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s) DragonFly GF Co., Ltd.

True Digital Plus
LaMate Taiwan
Asiasoft Online Pte Ltd
Asiasoft Online Pte Ltd
Asiasoft Online Pte Ltd
Asiasoft Online Pte Ltd
Asiasoft Online Pte Ltd

XI‘AN SKY Online Co., Ltd.
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • KR: July 2004
  • TH: April 2006
  • TW: October 2006
  • JP: November 2006
  • NA: February 2007
  • CN: May 2007
  • PH: March 2008
  • EU: October 2009
  • SG: September 2010
  • BR: February 2011
  • ID: August 2011
  • VN: June 2005
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Soldier Front is currently being published by Aeria Games for North American users. In October 2009, a European server was added to this version of the game. The North American version of the game has been transferred over to Aeria Games due to the acquisition of ijji by Aeria Games.[2]

In January 2016, Aeria Games announced that Soldier Front would be shut down on January 29, 2016.[3]

Gameplay

Special Force provides several game modes including team battle (bomb planting, escaping, object stealing, etc.), single battle, team death match, horror mode, and more. Most modes consist of a red team and a blue team, with the exceptions of single battle, training, and horror mode. The game allows for a maximum of 16 users to be in the same room playing together.

Players have the ability to purchase from a range of character forces including French GIGN, German GSG 9, Malaysian PASKAL, Republic of Korea Marine Corps, US Army Delta Force, Russian Spetsnaz, and mor. One is also able to rent equipment for speed and armor. A range of weapons are available including rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns, handguns, shotguns, melee, and grenades. Weapons have durability and must be repaired often. Weapons are not mod-able like other first person shooters, but once they are purchased, they are permanent and stay in inventory until they are resold by the player.

Players rank up after receiving enough experience points, gained after each match, with bonus rewards at certain ranks.

Graphics update

On July 14, 2009, Dragonfly provided a patch to the Korean version which had a completely redesigned UI and reorganized game items for the celebration of the game's 5th anniversary.[4] Along with this, many of the older weapons graphics looked outdated and were updated to a new and sleeker look to compete with newer games.[5] This patch was applied to all other versions of the game in the following months.

Game Modes

Special Force currently has 11 modes available in the North American version of the game.

  • Training – Targets are placed everywhere on the map where players can shoot them down. This mode is used for practicing aim and strategies.
  • Single Battle – It is free for all and the player who reaches the set number of points wins.
  • Team Battle – Red team must complete the objective while blue team must prevent red team from doing so. Depending on the map, the objective could be planting the bomb, escaping the map, or retrieving an object.
  • Clan Battle – Same as Team Battle except the red team must be all from the same clan and also the same goes for blue team. Clans are not able to face each other. This mode is often played in 5 vs 5.
  • Team Death Match – The team that reaches 100 points first wins the round. Each kill grants 2 points and special kills will grant extra points.
  • CTC – One player from each team is selected as the Captain who will be granted extra HP, along with an over-sized head. The team to defeat the opponent's Captain wins the round.
  • CTC 2 – Similar to CTC, except every player will be a Captain. The team to defeat all the Captains on the opposing team wins the round.
  • Horror Mode[6] – Each round, some players are selected as zombies. Zombies must kill all the humans while humans try to stay alive until the time limit is up. Humans that get killed before the time limit will turn into a zombie. Zombies win the round if no humans are left alive and humans win the round when at least one survives by the time limit.
  • Sniper – Players are only allowed to use sniper rifles and knives on this mode's exclusive maps. The team that kills all the opposing team's members wins the round. With a premium item, there is an option to allow secondary weapons.
  • Rage Mode – The team that reaches the target points first wins the match. Every time a player is killed, their rage meter increases. Once the rage meter is maxed, the player is given extra HP in order to take revenge.
  • Horror Mode 2 – Teams switch from zombies and players each round. The team that reaches the target points first wins the round. There are additional zombies compared to Horror Mode.
  • Pirate Mode – Players to win should get 500 points, and conquer each of the treasures.

In Single Battle, Team Battle, and Clan Battle, there is the option to allow sniper rifles only, but the host must have a premium item to do so.

Sequel

The second iteration of the game, Special Force II, uses Unreal Engine 3 and is currently available in Canada, USA, China, Europe, South Korea,[7] and as of June 2012, Japan. Aeria Games announced in March 2013 that Special Force 2 would be released in the North American market as Soldier Front 2, in August 2015 Aeria Games closed the North American version of the game, in October 2016 the publishing rights for the North American version of the game were handed to Gameforge and the game was re-released in North America under the same name as other regions. The European and North American versions of the game were owned by Gameforge until August 20, 2018 when the North American and European versions of the game were closed.

Professional leagues

S.K.I.L.L. – Special Force 2 is a professional league run by Electronic Sports League in Western Europe that began in 2013.[8][9] The Special Force II Pro League in Taiwan that is run by Taiwan eSports League and broadcast on Fox Sports 3.[10] The inaugural season kicked off on October 2, 2015.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Joymax and Dragonfly Announce Global Publishing Partnership". IGN. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  2. "AERIA GAMES Acquires ijji Games in Conjunction with Investment Funding". Aeria Games. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. "Soldier Front Shutdown Announcement". Aeria Games. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  4. 스페셜포스' 5주년 맞이 대규모 이벤트 실시 (in Korean). ajnews.co.kr. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  5. 7/14(화) 업데이트 내역 안내 (in Korean). pmang. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  6. "Zombie Outbreak Leaves Millions Undead in ijji.com's Twitch-Happy Online Game Soldier Front". IGN. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  7. 스페셜포스2 "中서비스 앞두고 인기 후끈" (in Korean). Media IT. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  8. http://en.skill.gameforge.com/
  9. Younger, Paul (November 12, 2013). "S.K.I.L.L. – Special Force 2 eSports ESL tournament dated". PC Invasion. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  10. "Taiwan to hold Special Force 2 Pro League video game tourney". FOCUS TAIWAN. March 25, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  11. "電競螢幕好壞 和選手表現有關嗎?". United Daily News. October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
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