Point Blank (2008 video game)

Last updated
Point Blank
Pointblanklogo.jpg
Point Blank Official Logo
Developer(s) Zepetto Co.
Publisher(s)
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
  • KOR: October 2008 (Re-Released 2014)
  • TUR: 2009
  • THA: 2009
  • IDN: June 2009
  • USA: 10 December 2010
  • PHL: 5 May 2011
  • UAE: 9 November 2011
  • MYS/SGP: January 2014 (Re-Released 2023)
  • AZE: March 2019
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Multiplayer

Point Blank (also known as Piercing Blow) is a first-person shooter video game developed by the South Korean company Zepetto for Microsoft Windows.

Contents

Gameplay

Point Blank is a fast-paced online first-person shooter, and is 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 respawning, to change weapons and/or equipment.

Game points and experience are awarded for winning a round, losing a round, killing enemies, and completing mini missions.

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 increase in population; however, conflicts arose between the natives and the new immigrants. The natives enjoy the prosperity the immigrants bring, but treat them as servants 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.

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. Supposedly enacted to combat the rising crime rate, they 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 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 was launched in South Korea (published by NCSoft in March 2008, closed July 2011 and re-released in 2014), Thailand (published by NCTrue in February 2009 and managed by Garena since January 2013), Indonesia (published by Gemscool in 2009 and managed by Garena since 2015 before being transferred to Zepetto themselves in January 2019), Russia (by INNOVA, December 2009), Brazil (published by OnGame, August 2010), China (by Shanda, 4th quarter 2010, closed October 2014), North America (in December 2010, transferred in 2014, shut down on September 21, 2018 [1] ), 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 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 name change, redesign, and closure

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. [2] An update was released on April 22, 2015 changing the name of the game completely to go along with the Revolution UI/Interface. Project Blackout was renamed Piercing Blow in another major update. [3]

Two new servers were opened up under the Piercing Blow host for Europe and India in 2015. The server for India closed in 2017, and on September 21, 2018 Piercing Blow closed its servers completely for the N/A, and Europe Regions, due to very low General Population. Along with this, the Zepetto N.A. Offices also closed and moved back to South Korea.

Point Blank Global

In January 2021 a new server was opened with headquarters in Peru and servers in Canada, giving service to all areas of the world published by (Global).

Related Research Articles

<i>Gunbound</i> 2002 video game

Gunbound is a free-to-play, multiplayer, turn-based artillery game developed by South Korean developer Softnyx. It has been compared to the Worms series as it shares many common gameplay features.

PristonTale is a 3D fantasy MMORPG that centers on action-based role-playing. It was originally released in South Korea by Yedang Online in 2001. It was created by Triglow Pictures Inc. and has since been published for Japan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Brazil and the Spanish-speaking countries. In 2004, the English version of PristonTale went out of public beta and became a commercial pay-to-play game. On May 17, 2007, PristonTale announced free-to-play service for everyone; instead of paying for the game, PristonTale has a cash shop in which players can pay real money for game items. On September 30, 2008, the English server for Priston Tale closed; Suba Games opened a new English server three days later. There are more players in the private servers.

<i>SOCOM II U.S. Navy SEALs</i> 2003 video game

SOCOM II U.S. Navy SEALs is a tactical shooter video game developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2. It is the sequel to SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs.

Closers is a free-to-play 3D MMORPG developed by Naddic Games and published by Nexon in South Korea with Naddic Games self-published the game worldwide.

<i>SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault</i> 2006 video game

SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault is a tactical shooter video game developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 2.

The Battle of Trà Bình was fought in the Trà Bình village, Trà Bồng District, on February 14–15, 1967 during the Vietnam War. The 11th Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Brigade defeated a regimental-sized attack in four hours of close quarters combat. The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Viet Cong (VC) penetrated the company's perimeter on two occasions. The 11th Company Marines fought using every weapon available; much of the fighting was hand-to-hand. Two U.S. Marines assigned to Sub Unit One, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), Lance Corporals Jim Porta and Dave Long, were instrumental to the company's success, killing enemy infiltrators, coordinating air support, joining a counterattack to restore the perimeter and aiding the wounded.

List of abbreviations, acronyms and initials related to military subjects such as modern armour, artillery, infantry, and weapons, along with their definitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garena</span> Singaporean digital entertainment platform

Garena is a Singaporean game developer and publisher of free online games. It is the digital entertainment arm of parent company Sea Ltd, which was formerly named Garena.

<i>Firefall</i> (video game) 2014 video game

Firefall was a science fiction free-to-play massive multiplayer online open world shooter video game developed and released by Red 5 Studios in 2014. Officially announced in 2010, the game entered closed beta in 2011 and open beta in 2013. It was the first and only game to be developed by Red 5 Studios, combining elements from both the shooter genre and some role-playing aspects from the massive multiplayer online genre. Firefall was shut down in 2017.

<i>Alliance of Valiant Arms</i> Online video game

Alliance of Valiant Arms is a free-to-play online first-person shooter video game, developed by now-defunct Red Duck, Inc. using Unreal Engine 3. Since then, Neowiz has taken over the development and publishing of the game after acquiring its intellectual property.

Special Force is an online free-to-play first-person shooter game developed by the South Korean game developer Dragonfly. Dragonfly is a South Korean video game developer and publisher based in Seoul. While a small company, it is notable for releasing many popular games both in Korea and globally including Special Force and Karma and continues to release games both domestically and abroad.

FIFA Online 3 is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online football game which was announced on 13 August 2012 and entered the 1st closed beta on 20 September 2012 to 23 September of that same year in South Korea. On December 18, 2012, it was released in South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Level Up! Games</span>

Level Up! Inc., more commonly known by the trademark Level Up! Games, is a Philippine game publishing studio owned by Asiasoft since 2014. According to their website, they currently have operations in the Philippines, Brazil and Latin America.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - First Assault Online, also known simply as First Assault, was a free-to-play online first-person shooter video game developed by South Korean developer Neople and published by Nexon. It was one of adaptations of the anime series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

<i>Arena of Valor</i> Multiplayer online battle arena video game

Arena of Valor, formerly Strike of Kings, is an international adaptation of Honor of Kings, a multiplayer online battle arena developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Level Infinite for Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch for markets outside Mainland China. As of September 2018, the game has grossed over $140 million outside China. Arena of Valor was one of six Esports video games featured at the 2018 Asian Games, 2019 Southeast Asian Games, 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and 2021 SEA Games as part of the competitive sport. Arena of Valor was published in other regions by Garena, DeNA, Actoz SG and TiMi Studio Group.

<i>Dauntless</i> (video game) 2019 video game

Dauntless is a free-to-play action role-playing video game developed by Phoenix Labs and published and distributed by Epic Games. The game initially launched in beta in May 2018 for Microsoft Windows. An early access version launched on May 21, 2019 for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, including full support for cross-platform play, and was fully released for those platforms on September 26, 2019. A Nintendo Switch version was released on December 10, 2019. Versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were released on December 2, 2021.

EA Sports FC Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online football game developed by EA Spearhead and published by Nexon. It was announced on 2 November 2017, and released on 17 May 2018 in South Korea. It was then released in China on 11 June 2018, in Thailand on 12 June 2018, and in Vietnam on 14 June 2018.

<i>Ring of Elysium</i> Free-to-play online game

Ring of Elysium was a free-to-play, multiplayer online battle royale game developed by Aurora Studio and published by TCH Scarlet Limited, each a subsidiary of Tencent Games, and is available to download for free on Steam, DMM & Garena. In North America, Europe and parts of Asia it was released on Steam on 19 September 2018 as a free-to-play early access game on the North American servers, and on 25 November 2018 on the European servers.

Free Fire is a free to play battle royale game developed and published by Garena for Android and iOS. It was released on 8 December 2017. It became the most downloaded mobile game globally in 2019 and has over 1 billion downloads on Google Play store. In the first quarter of 2021 it was the highest grossing mobile game in the US. In November 2019, it surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenue. As of 2021, Free Fire had surpassed 150 million daily active users.

References

  1. "Termination of Service | News | Piercing Blow". us.fps-pb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  2. "Project Blackout Grand Update".
  3. "Piercing Blow Update". Archived from the original on 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2015-04-22.