''Infantry'', also known as ''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 A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

. 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 Avalon Interactive Group, Ltd., formerly known as Virgin Interactive Entertainment, was a British video game distributor based within Europe that formerly traded as the video game publishing and distributing division of British conglomerate the V ...

(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 imported video games. It was notable for it ...

, the parent company of Brainscan Interactive, went bankrupt. By October 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) began an acquisition of ''Infantry''. Harmless Games, and its sole game, ''Infantry'', was bought by SOE from Brainscan Interactive for an undisclosed sum. The lead designer Rodvik Humble, together with other developers, was offered a job with SOE to continue development of the game. '' Cosmic Rift'', 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'', ''Cosmic Rift'' and '' Tanarus'', but both ''Infantry'' and ''Cosmic Rift'' remained free to play with limitations. Starting in June 2007, SOE gave full and free online gaming access to ''Infantry'' and the rest of their "Station Pass" games. Sony Online Entertainment shut down the ''Infantry Online'' servers at the end of March 2012.SOE-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 Inactive massively multiplayer online games Video games developed in the United States Windows games Windows-only games