Beyond the Red Line

Infobox VG
title = Beyond the Red Line - Demo
developer = Beyond the Red Line team
engine = FreeSpace Open
platforms= Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
released =
genre = Space simulation
modes = Single player and Multiplayer
media = Direct downloads or torrents (~360 MB)
input methods = Keyboard, mouse, joystick

"Beyond the Red Line" is an unofficial and free stand-alone total conversion for the award-winning game "FreeSpace 2", based on the reimagined TV show "Battlestar Galactica". It allows players to fly into combat as either a Colonial Viper pilot, or a Cylon raider.

Gameplay

"BtRL" features an original soundtrack with pieces inspired by or remixed from Bear McCreary and Richard Gibbs' soundtrack. It also includes character-based gameplay and voice acting. The three-mission demo campaign follows a storyline that precedes the episode, "Scar", adding some background to the events of that episode. Online play, including "Deathmatch" and "Team vs. Team", is supported and a large multiplayer community has sprung up. The Mk II and VII Vipers are featured with authentic weaponry, flight controls, and semi-Newtonian physics (the development team state that, "if you've seen it on the show, you can do it in "BtRL").

Development

On March 31, 2007, a demo was released that allowed players to play a tutorial, two single player missions and multiplayer. This demo has since been noted or reviewed in various gaming related websites and magazines such as The Escapist [cite web
last = Howard
first = Wen
title = So Game We All
publisher = The Escapist (magazine)
date = 2008-02-26
url = http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_138/2971-So-Game-We-All
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] , Macworld [cite web
last = Hodge
first = Karl
title = Battlestar Galactica: Beyond The Red Line Review
publisher = Macworld
date = 2007-09-03
url = http://www.macworld.co.uk/macsoftware/reviews/index.cfm?reviewid=2298
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] , PC Gamer UK [cite news
title = Beyond the Red Line
pages = 98
work = PC Gamer UK
publisher = James Binns
date = 7/2007
accessdate = 2008-03-19 ] and Pelit [cite news
last = Mäkinen
first = Marko
title = Paahdinjahtia
pages = 34
work = Pelit
language = Finnish
publisher = SanomaWSOY
date = 5/2007
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] . The development team has been interviewed on several occasions [cite web
title = Mod is Dead: Beyond the Red Line
publisher = Shacknews
date = 2007-07-31
url = http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=489
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] including a "making of" special in pelit [cite news
last = Kankola
first = Tuomas
title = Pitkä tie punaiselle viivalle
pages = 35 - 36
work = Pelit
language = Finnish
publisher = SanomaWSOY
date = 5/2007
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] . The BtRL demo has also been featured on the covers of two Ukrainian magazines as well as in cover DVD of Finnish computer magazine Mikrobitti [cite web
title = Huvi & Hyöty DVD 2008
language = Finnish
work = Mikrobitti
date = 3/2008
publisher = SanomaWSOY
url = http://www.mbnet.fi/nettijatkot/2008/03/hh2008/
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] .

Though no set release date has been specified, the project remains under continued development with updates and previews being released often.

Reception

In February 2008 "Beyond the Red Line" received Mod DB's "Mod of the Year Award" for "Best Independent Game". [cite web
title = 2007 Mod of the Year Awards
publisher = ModDB
date = 2008-01-29
url = http://www.moddb.com/events/2007-mod-of-the-year-awards/winners
accessdate = 2008-03-18 ] That same year the game was also recommended over the official "Battlestar" video game (released: 2007 for XBox Live Arcade and Windows PC), citing the latter game's low production values and publisher's mishandling of the license. [cite web
last = Buckland
first = Jeff
title = Battlestar Galactica PC Review
publisher = AtomicGamer
date = 2007-11-04
url = http://www.atomicgamer.com/article.php?id=488
accessdate = 2008-03-19 ] In 2008 the game was featured in Popular Science magazine. [cite news
last = Chuck
first = Cage
title = Have a blast
pages = 81 - 82
work = Popular Science (magazine)
publisher = Bonnier Corporation
date = 4/2008
accessdate = 2008-03-19 ] In December 2007 the game was featured in Computer and Video Games' "The Best PC Mods. Ever!" review.cite web | title = The Best PC Mods. Ever! | publisher = Computer and Video Games | date = December 28, 2007 | url = http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=177035 | accessdate = 2008-06-21]

Player feedback was initially very positive, and a number of dedicated Beyond the Red Line gaming clans sprung up. However, the limited number of ships in the demo, as well as netcode-related lag, hampered the multiplayer experience, and most of these clans have since become defunct or broadened their activities to Battlestar Galactica fandom in general.

References

External links

* [http://www.game-warden.com/bsg/ Beyond the Red Line Home Page]