Homefront PC Features Revealed, Shows LAN

News
By Kevin Parrish
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THQ revealed details surrounding the PC version of Homefront, including support for LAN gaming.

Over the weekend, THQ, Kaos Studios and Digital Extremes released an update with details regarding the PC version of Homefront, the upcoming Unreal Engine 3-powered FPS for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows PC and OnLive. Digital Extremes is handling the PC version.

According to the report, Homefront for the PC will come packed with Valve's Steamworks even though brick-and-mortar retailers aren't keen on games with the embedded digital distribution platform. The PC version will also offer 3D visuals thanks to full Nvidia 3D Vision support as seen during CES 2011.

"From a gameplay standpoint, we’ve done some additional work on the vehicles," the update reads. "On PC, you’ll be able to control all vehicles from the 1st person cockpit viewpoint as well as 3rd person. We also added additional control options for helicopters, to give those players looking for more sim-like controls (Ace, Veteran and Rookie)-- something to get their teeth around."

There will also be a Practice Mode so that players can get the hang of vehicle controls before jumping into live matches. "No need in wasting your hard earned Battle Points!" the update added. "Lastly, we added some extra vehicle abilities for co-pilots, such as a Recon function to the Scout heli, and we obviously support joystick control for all vehicles."

Homefront for the PC will also feature a squad management system with squad-based VOIP, clan support, stat tracking, multiplayer match recording, a dedicated server browser executable for setting up servers just after the game's launch, SLI/CrossFire compatibility, and support for LAN. Unfortunately, a toolset will not be included at launch.

As for a demo, the possibility is still up in the air for now. "Right now the teams at Kaos Studios & Digital Extremes are working hard on finishing the game at the highest level of quality possible," the update reads. "Of course we’d love to release a public Demo, but this would detract efforts from the main game. Rest assured, we have conducted a lengthy private Beta on the PC to help us fine tune the game, so any Demo would be for promotional purposes only."

Here are the minimum and recommended specs along with the requirements for playing in 3D:

Minimum Spec

  • Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7
  • Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 2.8 GHz
  • 2 GB RAM
  • Shader Model 3.0 graphics card with 256 MB of memory
  • NVIDIA GeForce 7900GS or ATI Radeon 1900XT
  • 10 GB of free hard drive space

Recommended Spec

  • Windows Vista or Windows 7
  • Intel or AMD Quad Core 2 GHz+ CPU
  • 2 GB RAM
  • NVIDIA GeForce 260 or ATI Radeon 4850
  • 10 GB of free hard drive space

Nvidia 3D Vision Recommended Spec

  • 3D Compatible NVIDIA GeForce 480/570 Series GPU
  • NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit
  • 3D Vision-Ready Display
  • Intel Core i7 processor
  • 2 GB RAM
  • Windows Vista or Windows 7
  • 10 GB of free hard drive space
Kevin Parrish
18 Comments Comment from the forums
  • plznote
    It'd amazing how many games use the Unreal 3 engine.
    Reply
  • joytech22
    I didn't even hear about this game until today and i have no idea what it's about, it looks like you're part of a swat team trying to combat crime or something.
    Reply
  • hamitaltintop22
    joytech22I didn't even hear about this game until today and i have no idea what it's about, it looks like you're part of a swat team trying to combat crime or something.No. North Korea invades the U.S. sometime in the future/alternate reality. They are successful in occupying a significant portion it seems. The guys with armor in the picture are actually N.Korean troops i think (because of the red colors). The civilians are Americans. My only problem with the game is that the setting/plot are not believable. North Korea? Seriously, North Korea!? China, Ok. Russia, maybe. But North Korea? No way. They don't have the means (population, army, resources, wealth, food even) to successfully invade Hawaii if Hawaii was its own country, let alone the U.S.
    Reply
  • halodude23
    Can't wait till crysis 2. I hope it's good and not a dissapointment like black ops
    Reply
  • azconnie
    I just hope this game isn't as big a failure as it's predicessor "Frontlines: Fuel of War" That game had so much potential, but I don't thing the implementation could have been worse. Althought this one is likely to be, since the biggest advertising point is "Script written by the "Red Dawn" author."

    Though it may succeed in setting the lowest "new to bargan bin" time to date...
    Reply
  • 84supreme
    Story is somewhat believable but ofc has added dramatic flare. United Koreas creating an alliance in the region, collapse of U.S. dollar after "peak oil", just a series of downward spirals.
    Reply
  • thegreathuntingdolphin
    I saw a vid of this on Xbox Live Gold. The game looked really, really dumb. The mechanics looked like a copy of COD games (even the knife move was almost identical). The story is beyond dumb and is supposed to be "new" and "edgy" because it takes place a lot in American suburbia (which MW2 already did...). Also, N. Korea soldiers invading America?! WHAT?! They have so little money and so few people actually military ready. Their navy is pitiful as well so I am not sure how the crabcakes they are getting to the US (by air would be a turkey shoot for us).
    Reply
  • Read the story you idiots. I cannot stand it when people start speculating on why North Korea was chosen. The whole thing was written by the Red Dawn author and a CIA agent who specializes on future plausible situations like this.

    Typical American that believes nothing could ever happen to him. Japan was basically a little island and yet they took over every Pacific island that they wanted to during WWII. They could have easily taken over Hawaii if they wanted. That was not their mission at the time but they could have done it.

    Homefront is basically a repeat of typical history. America will fall as a nation and we probably aren't far from it based on our debt. Ruthless military nations prey on the weak and someday we will be weak.

    This game is going to be epic. First game that will actually get you emotionally involved. You will fight with hate, compassion, fear, etc. All the things felt during a real occupation.
    Reply
  • azconnie
    mwicken1Read the story you idiots. I cannot stand it when people start speculating on why North Korea was chosen. The whole thing was written by the Red Dawn author and a CIA agent who specializes on future plausible situations like this. Typical American that believes nothing could ever happen to him. Japan was basically a little island and yet they took over every Pacific island that they wanted to during WWII. They could have easily taken over Hawaii if they wanted. That was not their mission at the time but they could have done it.Homefront is basically a repeat of typical history. America will fall as a nation and we probably aren't far from it based on our debt. Ruthless military nations prey on the weak and someday we will be weak.This game is going to be epic. First game that will actually get you emotionally involved. You will fight with hate, compassion, fear, etc. All the things felt during a real occupation.
    Agreed, this game has alot of potential, lets hope marketing and deadlines didn't turn it into another run of the mill crapfest *cough* Black Ops *cough*.

    But seriously, what happend to good games? I mean the new MOH had one of the best stories I have seen in a game in a long time, it was engaging, and made a heart felt point. Honestly, MOH felt like watching Hurt locker, COD felt more like Avatar... Or is that what happened to gaming?

    Your all morons, and for those who aren't you know who you are.
    Reply
  • Trialsking
    mwicken1You will fight with hate, compassion, fear, etc. All the things felt during a real occupation.The only emotion I will be feeling is, LMFAO as I knife you while you are trying to snipe my teammates. Assuming this game isn't a lame ass port.(are listening Crysis 2)
    Reply