Point Blank (2008 video game)
| Point Blank | |
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 Point Blank Official Logo | |
| Developer(s) | Zepetto Co. |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Distribution | Download |
Point Blank (also known as Project Blackout) is an online tactical first-person shooter developed by Zepetto, a South Korean company.
Gameplay
Point Blank is a fast-paced online first-person shooter, which is very similar in terms of gameplay to Counter-Strike. It also features destructible and dynamic environments, as well as deeper character and skill customisation options.
In Point Blank, players join either the Free Rebels or CT-Force team (the Free Rebels are based on the Terrorists from Counter-Strike, while CT-Force is based on the Counter-Terrorists). Each team attempts to complete their mission objective and/or eliminate the opposing team. Each round starts with the two teams spawning simultaneously, usually at opposite ends of the map from each other.
A player can choose to play as one of four different default character models (Acid and Keen Eyes for CT-Force, and Red Bull and Tarantula for the Free Rebels). There are four purchasable deluxe character models: Fennec and Pit Viper for CT-Force or Cheshire and Shadow for the Free Rebels. Players are generally given a few seconds before the round begins or before the respawning to change the weapons and/or equipment.
Game points are awarded for winning a round, losing a round, killing an enemy, making a headshot, and killing other team's players in a row, etc.
Story
There are two background stories. Project Blackout is an alternate background used with the North American version of the game.
Point Blank / Point Blank Revolution
In the mid-20th century, the new nation of Koroga was a developing country. It grew rapidly and in less than twenty years became one of the most powerful nations in the world. During the rapid growth, the country had to face industrialization, growth in individualism and a dwindling population. When several national policies to increase the population failed, the government turned to immigration for the answer. The nation enjoyed the cheap labour and increases in population; however, there are now increasing conflicts between the natives and the new immigrants. The natives enjoy the prosperity the immigrants bring, but treat them as a servant class with few rights and no legal or political representation. The immigrants have tried to use passive means to express their grievances and gain influence with the more liberal-thinking natives, but government oppression has made it impossible. The heightened tensions have forced the natives to crack down on immigrant unrest and in turn has encouraged the immigrants to support the more radical political groups. The increasing conflict of interest caused to divide people between the native CT-Force (Blue Team) and the immigrant Free Rebels (Red Team).
The CT-Force's mission is to protect the native social order and its privileges. To this end, it has declared an all-out war against the militant Free Rebels. Meanwhile the Free Rebels have been trying to overthrow the establishment. Some wish to force the government to recognise their demands, some want to replace it with a different form of government or a more diverse social order, while others just want to destroy it utterly.
Project Blackout/Piercing Blow (North American version)
The nation of Korogese is crumbling. Although a technologically-advanced industrial world power, its government is weak, ineffective, corrupt and divided along sectarian lines. Its swelling decaying cities are ruled by powerful criminal gangs. Its corporations have a great deal of influence over its democratically-elected government and the gap between rich and poor is increasing. Prosperity and a recent era of global peace has made its citizens willing to trade their rights for comfort and security.
The corporations have the view that they know what is best. They hope to create a social utopia in which free market forces will control society and the political system will be reduced to figureheads. One part of this goal was to replace The Corps, Korogese's volunteer and conscript defense forces, with a corporate-trained-and-controlled paramilitary mercenary army called Aegis Incorporated. With the support of anti-military and anti-war activist groups financed by the corporations, the government disbanded The Corps and handed over its facilities and equipment to Aegis Inc. This was followed by a series of laws restricting personal freedoms that were supposedly enacted to combat the rising crime rate but were really created to aid in controlling Korogese's citizenry.
A large faction within The Corps went underground and hopes to overthrow the corporate-run oligarchy that runs Korogese and replace it with a true democracy. Through support from civilian anti-corporation groups, funding from wealthy patrons, and black market connections in the criminal underworld The Corps built up an impressive and well-armed underground army. They plan to wear down Aegis with a guerrilla war campaign, strike at the corporate leadership cabal that runs the oligarchy, and eliminate any civilian collaborators and traitors who support them.
The player will have to choose between the sides. Aegis Inc. (the Blue Team) supports law and order, but represents tyranny and oppression. The Corps (the Red Team) supports democracy and freedom, but represents indiscriminate violence and anarchy. The side that survives the conflict will impose their social views on the masses.
Development
Point Blank was originally developed by South Korean software company Zepetto, who licensed the game to other companies. It has been launched in South Korea (published by NCSoft in March 2008, closed July 2011), Thailand (published by NCTrue in February 2009 and managed by Garena from January 2013), Indonesia (published by PT. Kreon, July 2009), Russia (by INNOVA, December 2009), Brazil (published by OnGame, August 2010), China (by Shanda, 4th quarter 2010), North America (in December 2010, transferred in 2014), Turkey (by Nfinity games, August 2010) and Italy (by Accelon Italy in April 2011).
The latest version of the game brings about some gameplay changes as well as new features, including a new skill and avatar system. Point Blank 1.5 was released in Singapore and Malaysia in January 2014, published by Garena.
Each local edition has different weapons, skins and options to meet local tastes. For instance, the North American variant has a different backstory and is called Project Blackout. The available weapons lists are different for each version and developers add or drop weapons depending on popularity.
Point Blank International Championship
The Point Blank International Championship Tournament, known mostly as PBIC, is the Official Tournament event that represents the entire game, and all of the countries who have their own version of Point Blank. In 2011, The first PBIC Tournament was held in Seoul on February 28, 2011. Zepetto brought out the idea of a worldwide league hosted by the developer itself. 6 teams, each representing their country (Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Brazil and Korea), participated in the first PBIC, with Thailand winning the first tournament. Indonesia won the following year and Russia's team, "AoeXe", has so far won 2 years in a row in 2013 and 2014. AoeXe later changed their name to 'M5' in 2015.
Winning Nations
Service changes
In January 2014, Point Blank's second game version, Project Blackout (formerly ran by SG Interactive) was shut down for undisclosed reasons. In February 2014, Zepetto (North America) began hosting Project Blackout. Information on any official services to run Project Blackout has yet to be released.
Later in 2014, Zepetto Co. stated that they will be re-releasing the South Korean version of Point Blank, which had been shut down in 2011. Before, NCSoft was the host of Point Blank KR. Zepetto Co. remains the service host for South Korean servers.
Former publishers
- NCSOFT Point Blank KR 2008 - 2011 (game shut down, re-released in 2014 by Zepetto Co)
- SG Interactive Project Blackout NA 2010 - January 13, 2014
- Level Up! Games Point Blank PH 2011 - 2014
Current Publisher
- Kreon Point Blank ID 2009-
- Zepetto N.A Project Blackout N.A 2014-
- Zepetto Co. Point Blank KR 2014-
- Garena Point Blank PH 2014-
Point Blank Revolution
In January 2014, Garena released Point Blank Revolution, an improved version of the game with a new interface and character customizations. The game was initially available only in Singapore and Malaysia but was later released in Thailand and Philippines (acquired from Level Up! Games).
Project Blackout's New Look and New Name
On June 24, 2014, Project Blackout NA adopted the Point Blank Revolution (Point Blank Malaysia/Singapore) UI/Interface, becoming the first old-school Point Blank game to adopt the Revolution Look.[1] On April 22, 2015, Project Blackout had released an update changing the name of the game completely to go along with the Revolution UI/Interface. Project Blackout's new name is now Piercing Blow in another Major Update.[2]
Point Blank Second2Round
In 2014, Zepetto Co. re-released the South Korean version of Point Blank. In 2011, the South Korean Servers were shut down for unknown reasons. Previously, NCSoft ran the KR servers of Point Blank. It is unknown if NCSoft will be brought back in to host the South Korean servers again but most likely, Zepetto Co. will remain as the Korean Host for Point Blank KR.
References
External links
- Singapore and Malaysia Point Blank (English)
- North America Piercing Blow (English)
- South Korea Point Blank (Korean)
- Point Blank International Championship Website (English)
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