The Thing (VG)

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The Thing Cover art from The Thing (2002) Release Date: 2002 Developer: Computer Artworks Publisher: Black Label Games Series: The Thing Platforms: Playstation 2 PC Xbox Genre: Action-survival horror

The Thing is a 2002 third-person shooter/survival horror video game developed by Computer Artworks and published under the "Black Label Games" banner, a collaboration between Universal Interactive and Konami. It was released for PlayStation 2, Windows and Xbox.

The game is a sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film The Thing, and follows the story of Captain Blake, a member of a U.S. Special Forces team sent to the Antarctic outpost featured in the film to determine what has happened to the research team.

The Thing was a commercial success, selling over one million units worldwide across all platforms, and received generally positive reviews. A sequel was in the early stages of development, but was cancelled when Computer Artworks went into receivership in 2003. The game was endorsed by John Carpenter, who voices a character in an uncredited cameo.

The following weapons appear in the 2002 video game The Thing:

Pistol

The Pistol seems to be a hybrid between a Heckler & Koch Mark 23 (trigger guard and muzzle) and a two-tone Beretta 92FS with a 20-round magazine capacity, an inox finish and a brigadier slide (rear and front sights, grip, receiver, hammer, slide, barrel and finish).

A Heckler & Koch Mark 23 - .45 ACP.

Two-Tone Beretta 92FS - 9x19mm.

The Pistol from The Thing.

Machine Gun

The weapon is incorrectly referred to as 'Machine Gun' in-game and in the manual, when it is actually a submachine gun. The Machine Gun's visual design is ambiguous, but it seems to incorporate elements from the Chilean FAMAE SAF suppressed (the removed stock, ejection port, trigger guard, barrel, grip, rear and front sights) and the Heckler & Koch MP5SD1 (the receiver, the removed stock, the 15-round magazine, the grip, the trigger guard, the rear and front sights). In the game, the Machine Gun has a 50-round magazine capacity, despite its clearly short 15-round magazine.

FAMAE SAF suppressed.

MP5SD1.

The Machine Gun from The Thing.

MP5-N

The Machine Gun was originally an actual MP5 in the beta version, before being modified extensively, probably to avoid licensing issues. The beta MP5 closely resembles an MP5-N, with a compact folding stock and a 30-round magazine capacity (in the manual image it appears its magazine holds up to 20 rounds). The beta MP5 can still be seen in-game on ammo boxes, in the game's trailer, in the soldier class icon in the squad menu, in the game's manual and in the cover artwork.

Heckler & Koch MP5-N with Navy trigger group and threaded muzzle - 9x19mm.

Beta MP5-N from The Thing (2002) manual.

Beta MP5-N from The Thing (2002).

Shotgun

The Shotgun appears to be a gas-operated, rotating bolt, 12 gauge semi-automatic combat shotgun, with a 12-round magazine capacity, a folding telescoping stock and a finish in inox. It appears to incorporate elements from semi-automatic combat shotguns such as the Benelli M4 Super 90 (the receiver, ejection port, rear sight, front sight, Picatinny rails, magazine loading port, barrel and stock), the Mossberg FLEX 590 Tactical (the pistol grip and the magazine cap), the FN Tactical Police (the trigger guard and fore-end) and the Remington 870 Marine Magnum (the barrel and finish).

Remington 870 Marine Magnum 12 gauge.

FN Tactical Police.

Benelli M4 NFA - 12 Gauge.

Mossberg FLEX 590 Tactical.

The Shotgun from The Thing.

Sniper Rifle

The Sniper Rifle's design is ambiguous, but it is clearly a semi-automatic sniper rifle with a large magnifying scope, a 6-round detachable box magazine and a wooden finish. Since the Sniper Rifle is first found in the Norwegian Weather Station, it could be a heavily-modified and upgraded rifle, converted from a Norwegian Våpensmia NM149 rifle, a British L42A1 or similar semi-automatic sniper. This rifle also somewhat resembles a Heckler & Koch PSG1, albeit with a wooden finish. The Norwegians in the 1982 film used a Heckler & Koch assault rifle with a sniper scope, the Heckler & Koch HK93A2, so it would make sense for the Norwegians in the game to use German Heckler & Koch weapons. The rifle could also be based on a Accuracy International AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum), particularly its detachable magazine box.

Heckler & Koch PSG-1 Sniper Rifle - 7.62x51mm.

Vaapensmia NM149.

Enfield Enforcer with Harris bipod - 7.62x51mm NATO.

Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum.

The Sniper Rifle from The Thing (2002).

Grenade Launcher

The Grenade Launcher appears to be based on a Milkor 37/38mm and 40mm Stopper, a South African single-shot grenade launcher. It also incorporates elements of the German Heckler & Koch HK69A1 and the Polish Pallad wz. 1983, such as the elongated barrel, a synthetic pistol grip and a lightweight telescopic metal stock with a rubber shoulder pad.

Heckler & Koch HK69A1

Milkor Stopper - 38mm

WZ.83 Pallad D - 40x47mm

The Grenade Launcher from The Thing (2002).

M60 Machine Gun

In the 2002 video-game, the M60 machine gun appears only mounted in military helicopters. It is only usable in first person mode in one sequence, during the final boss fight. In the game, the M60 has infinite ammo and does not overheat.

M60 machine gun with bipod folded - 7.62x51mm NATO.

The M60, mounted in a military helicopter in The Thing (2002).

A close-up of the M60.

Blake firing the M60 at the Cloud B4 carrier.