Monolith has announced a contest in which gamers have the opportunity to name the forthcoming sequel to the company’s smash hit FPS, F.E.A.R.
Monolith finds itself in the unusual position of being forced to change the name of the follow-up to its successful FPS due to legal difficulties with F.E.A.R.’s original publisher, Vivendi. Since the release of the original game, Monolith has split with Vivendi, joining forces with Warner Bros. Interactive instead. While Monolith owns the F.E.A.R. “universe,” Vivendi still holds the rights to the name, and are actually planning on coming out with their own F.E.A.R. 2 sequel, meaning Monolith will be able to develop their game in the established F.E.A.R. setting, but will have to name it something entirely different.
Contest submissions will be narrowed down to three finalists, each of whom will be flown to meet the development team, and will also have their names and likenesses inserted into the game. Public voting will then be held to determine the final winner and the name of the sequel.
Released in 2005 for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, F.E.A.R. received widespread critical acclaim and high review scores for its intense, explosive action, frenetic firefights, and excellent AI. While some gamers criticized the title for its drab environments and ham-fisted story-telling, it is widely regarded as one of the finest FPS titles to be released in recent years, and cemented Monolith’s reputation as a top-flight development studio.
According to reports, the sequel will feature an enraged and immeasurably-powerful Alma Wade roaming free, wreaking insane vengeance on the city and its helpless inhabitants. The player must unravel the mysteries surrounding Alma’s fury in a desperate attempt to halt her destructive rampage. Further details have not been released, but further information about the contest, as well as a “refresher course” on the original game’s story, a discussion forum and a mailing list for updates regarding the sequel are available at the Name Your Fear website.
