When Microsoft bought up longtime Nintendo second-party affiliate Rare, Nintendo owners felt bitter and Xbox owners jubilant. But in the entire lifespan of the MS console there will be two Rare games: the irrelevant Grabbed by the Ghoulies and the more promising - and still forthcoming at the time of writing - Conker Live and Reloaded. It's no secret that many of the people who made games like GoldenEye great have long since left to form companies such as Free Radical. Recently, when some highly uninspiring screenshots of Perfect Dark Zero were circulated on the internet, a certain amount of gloating went on and not only from sequel-denied Gamecube owners.
It's even more surprising, then, that images released and impressions formed of the game at this year's E3 are really quite impressive. Could it be that Microsoft's avuncular and cosseting protection of the once universally admired studio has finally given them the freedom to make an amazing game? Shots of the game look gorgeous. Joanna Dark, who at best could be compared to a gym instructor on the original N64 game, is now a funked up, gun-toting, hot sex kitten. The feature list is promising. The number of online players possible, originally intended to be 64, has been dropped down to a still impressive 50. Environments are huge, scaleable, and in real time. The range of special effects - dust particles, heat shimmer, cloaking and motion blur, look as tidy as you like. Graphics are crisp and nicely styled. Claims that the version currently being demoed are only running at 30% of final projected capacity should be taken with a pinch of salt. But it's more than likely the finished product will look this good and run at 30fps.
Bungie have, it seems, a much shorter development time to make the next-gen Halo 3 than they did for either of the first two games. Could Perfect Dark Zero, something of an industry laughing stock until this week's expo, be the definitive FPS for the 360 when it releases at the end of the year?
It's even more surprising, then, that images released and impressions formed of the game at this year's E3 are really quite impressive. Could it be that Microsoft's avuncular and cosseting protection of the once universally admired studio has finally given them the freedom to make an amazing game? Shots of the game look gorgeous. Joanna Dark, who at best could be compared to a gym instructor on the original N64 game, is now a funked up, gun-toting, hot sex kitten. The feature list is promising. The number of online players possible, originally intended to be 64, has been dropped down to a still impressive 50. Environments are huge, scaleable, and in real time. The range of special effects - dust particles, heat shimmer, cloaking and motion blur, look as tidy as you like. Graphics are crisp and nicely styled. Claims that the version currently being demoed are only running at 30% of final projected capacity should be taken with a pinch of salt. But it's more than likely the finished product will look this good and run at 30fps.
Bungie have, it seems, a much shorter development time to make the next-gen Halo 3 than they did for either of the first two games. Could Perfect Dark Zero, something of an industry laughing stock until this week's expo, be the definitive FPS for the 360 when it releases at the end of the year?
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Comments
Autobot 20 May 2005 13:48
1/8
I have a really weird feeling about the XBOX360, it just feels like Microsoft is holding back on purpose. They keep repeating that all games are running on 1/3 of the final hardware. Are we as the public being dupped by Microsoft as a planned move? I think so, I think the so called "final" specs for the system were just a red herring to force Sony to lay its cards all out for everyone to view then they were going to match it by the time the system rolls out and say they made some final changes to the hardware right before it ships. Microsoft is not going to lose this time and you can tell from there attidude. The system has been conformed by J. Allard himself that its not ready for shippingjust yet and that anything could change. He was mostly refurring to Backwards compatability and Hard Drive size but I'm sure he was also hinting at major proccessing components also. The last XBOX system had a few changes right before it was shipped so we will soon see if history repeats its self.
If I am right about MS making a false Spec sheet to trick Sony, the all the people involved in that plan should be ashamed of themselves (not really,...... good job :) ).
If I am right about MS making a false Spec sheet to trick Sony, the all the people involved in that plan should be ashamed of themselves (not really,...... good job :) ).
king skins 20 May 2005 14:45
2/8
I would be supprised if they did it on purpose, but I would not be at all supprised if they upped the specs of the machine before launch.
The PS3 does seam to be more powerful but all that extra power seams to be coming from the GPU, so maybe they will get ATI to speedup and improve the GPU's performace before the launch.
The PS3 does seam to be more powerful but all that extra power seams to be coming from the GPU, so maybe they will get ATI to speedup and improve the GPU's performace before the launch.
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ozfunghi 20 May 2005 16:00
3/8
highly doubt that. Don't forget the claims about 360 having to pay off, not taking a blow like the original xbox... that hardware was marginally more powerfull than Gamecube and costed 3x as much to produce. Why did they take the GCN route this time around you think?
OptimusP 20 May 2005 16:02
4/8
Well, generally, when they change the known specsheet to the finale spec sheet they always tone down the hardware for balancing issues (aka heat).
And coming from microsoft i don't believe that "owh it's only running at a 1/3 of the power" I'll believe half but not a third. Same if Sony comes out with "PS3 can do a TRIZILJIOEN POLY's!!!!!!1111!!!!" we all know it's only going to be a hunderth of that.
And coming from microsoft i don't believe that "owh it's only running at a 1/3 of the power" I'll believe half but not a third. Same if Sony comes out with "PS3 can do a TRIZILJIOEN POLY's!!!!!!1111!!!!" we all know it's only going to be a hunderth of that.
claudioalex 20 May 2005 17:27
5/8
The only way i buy a XBOX 360 is that they bring Killer Insctint to live again.
Of course all this companyes are well known for theyr true-lies campaings.
It is sad that nobady trust them when they talk about specification, this industry need more serius and honest campains to obtain the credibilty from the public.
Of course all this companyes are well known for theyr true-lies campaings.
It is sad that nobady trust them when they talk about specification, this industry need more serius and honest campains to obtain the credibilty from the public.
Joji 20 May 2005 18:36
6/8
Yeah I agree Perfect Dark looks great but how long did it take Rare to get to this stage is ridiculous. If Rare were an independent developer they'd be gone like the wind long time ago. Hope PD shows them getting their arse back in gear again.
As for 360 I think it sounds cool (and I especially love the look of Capcom's Dead Rising) but I feel sorry for those people who might not get their backward compatibility.
I no longer care for specs as we all know it's down to developers to sort content. they have enough space to play and create what they want for who they want. (some might say too much sometimes as bigger games cost more time and money and we only ever have so much time to play)
All in all it's gonna get down and dirty from here on in, Like three hot chicks in a naughty mud wrestle. Place your bets.
As for 360 I think it sounds cool (and I especially love the look of Capcom's Dead Rising) but I feel sorry for those people who might not get their backward compatibility.
I no longer care for specs as we all know it's down to developers to sort content. they have enough space to play and create what they want for who they want. (some might say too much sometimes as bigger games cost more time and money and we only ever have so much time to play)
All in all it's gonna get down and dirty from here on in, Like three hot chicks in a naughty mud wrestle. Place your bets.
nolf 21 May 2005 21:18
7/8
Are You Blind? it looks Like No One Lives Forever 2
which, for those of you who cant do the math is like three years old. Consoles suck.
im out
p.s. for something that looks "LOVELY" check out F.E.A.R.
which, for those of you who cant do the math is like three years old. Consoles suck.
im out
p.s. for something that looks "LOVELY" check out F.E.A.R.
jiminykrickit 21 May 2005 21:48
8/8
Totally PWNagraphic.
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talk more at www.greenhillzone.co.uk