''Infantry Online'' is a

multiplayer A multiplayer video game is a video game in which more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally on the same computing system ( couch co-op), on different computing systems via a local area network, or ...

combat

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

. Originally released in 1999, the game was taken offline by Sony Online Entertainment and the servers shut down in March 2012. The Infantry community subsequently took control of the game and re-launched it independently at freeinfantry.com.Infantry Online Server
''"A server emulator for the game Infantry Online, aimed at emulating the latest version 1.55."'' on sourceforge.net

Gameplay

Infantry Online uses sprite animation graphics to model complex soldier, ground vehicle and space-ship models on typically complex terrains. Players may choose from a list of game zones to enter, each zone having a unique style of gameplay and many offering a wide diversity of weapons, player classes and objectives.

History

In 1997, the now-defunct development team

Virgin Interactive Entertainment Virgin Interactive Entertainment (later renamed Avalon Interactive) was the video game publishing division of British conglomerate the Virgin Group. It developed and published games for major platforms and employed developers, including Westwo ...

(VIE) released the 2D Space Shooter, SubSpace. Members of the SubSpace development formed Harmless Games LLC and developed Infantry during the late 1990s. Brainscan Development Corporation, also known as Brainscan Interactive, became publisher until

GameFan ''GameFan'' (originally known as ''Diehard GameFan'') was a publication started by Tim Lindquist, Greg Off, George Weising. and Dave Halverson in September 1992 that provided coverage of domestic and import video games. It was notable for its ex ...

, the parent company of Brainscan Interactive, went bankrupt. On October 5, 2000

Sony Online Entertainment Daybreak Game Company LLC is an American video game developer based in San Diego. The company was founded in December 1997 as Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but was spun off to an independent investor in ...

(SOE) announced its acquisition of Infantry. Harmless Games, and its sole game, Infantry, was bought by SOE from Brainscan Interactive for an undisclosed sum. Infantry lead designer

Rod Humble Rodvik Humble (June 1, 1964) is the former Chief Executive Officer of ''Second Life'' creator Linden Lab, Chief Creative Officer at ToyTalk and former Executive Vice President for the EA Play label of the video game company Electronic Arts. He is ...

, together with other developers, was offered a job with SOE to continue development of the game. Cosmic Rift (CR), meant to compete with the still popular SubSpace, was developed as an offshoot of Infantry.Sony.com
(archived) In May 2002, SOE introduced a monthly $6.95 pay-to-play system for SOE's three small action games: Infantry, CR and Tanarus; however, both Infantry and Cosmic Rift remained free to play with limitations. Starting on June 26, 2007, SOE gave full and free online gaming access to Infantry and the rest of their "Station Pass" games. On February 29, 2012, via mass-email, Sony Online Entertainment said that they would shut down the Infantry Online servers at the end of March.sony-shutting-down-4-niche-mmos-this-month
on geek.comSOE-Pulls-the-Plug-on-Four-Games
The Escapist

References

External links

Official Infantry webpage
on (2004, archived)
Official Infantry webpage
on (2007, archived) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Infantry Online (Video Game) 1999 video games Massively multiplayer online games Sony Interactive Entertainment games Video games developed in the United States Windows games Windows-only games Inactive massively multiplayer online games