Perfect Dark in Limbo – Xbox 2 Bound?
Insider gossip suggests generational leap for Joanna
Maddening gossip abounds in the UK over the Christmas break that puts Perfect Dark Zero well off the radar, being, as it allegedly is, an Xbox 2 launch title.
According to insider chatter, the game, which was originally being developed for Nintendo’s GameCube, has been all but scrapped with a complete Xbox 2 build salvaging the remnants of any useful code.
Indeed, Rare’s spokesman Andy Wilson said recently, "We're just not putting a date on Perfect Dark yet. Anything you read on a website is speculation, we're still in the process of getting the game ready. I won't commit to a date. We know when we're aiming for, but we're not ready to reveal that date yet. We've got other games in the works that are going to be appearing first and we want to concentrate on those."
However, Wilson lent credence to speculation that the game will be shown at E3 this year. “Well, there's E3 next year, or there's the X0 conferences, they're the big ones,” he said.
And talk breaking puts Microsoft showing Perfect Dark Zero, more than likely to be renamed, at its conference at E3 2004, as part of the anticipated Xbox 2 sneak preview.
Common sense also dictates that the Xbox in its current incarnation has more than enough shooters, and even more amazing shooters on their way. Half-Life 2, Doom 3, Deus Ex 2 an, of course, Halo 2 will all be hitting Xbox next year. Put simply, Perfect Dark Zero is somewhat surplus to requirements at this moment in time.
E3 this year is expected to see full running PSP games and the first glimpse at Xbox 2, PlayStation 3 and some big mysterious surprise from Nintendo.
Remember to keep it locked in May for all breaking news, direct from the showfloor.
According to insider chatter, the game, which was originally being developed for Nintendo’s GameCube, has been all but scrapped with a complete Xbox 2 build salvaging the remnants of any useful code.
Indeed, Rare’s spokesman Andy Wilson said recently, "We're just not putting a date on Perfect Dark yet. Anything you read on a website is speculation, we're still in the process of getting the game ready. I won't commit to a date. We know when we're aiming for, but we're not ready to reveal that date yet. We've got other games in the works that are going to be appearing first and we want to concentrate on those."
However, Wilson lent credence to speculation that the game will be shown at E3 this year. “Well, there's E3 next year, or there's the X0 conferences, they're the big ones,” he said.
And talk breaking puts Microsoft showing Perfect Dark Zero, more than likely to be renamed, at its conference at E3 2004, as part of the anticipated Xbox 2 sneak preview.
Common sense also dictates that the Xbox in its current incarnation has more than enough shooters, and even more amazing shooters on their way. Half-Life 2, Doom 3, Deus Ex 2 an, of course, Halo 2 will all be hitting Xbox next year. Put simply, Perfect Dark Zero is somewhat surplus to requirements at this moment in time.
E3 this year is expected to see full running PSP games and the first glimpse at Xbox 2, PlayStation 3 and some big mysterious surprise from Nintendo.
Remember to keep it locked in May for all breaking news, direct from the showfloor.
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Comments
Spartan III 16 Mar 2004 09:28
1/3
Perfect Dark Zero may not be the "beef" that everyone is waiting for. Ever since Free Radical were formed, Rare became a quivering mess, with badly executed titles like Starfox Adventures or Grabbed By The Ghoulies.
Sure, if Rare actually get an operational team, then i may actually look forward to the release of this game, if there is one...otherwise...nah!
Sure, if Rare actually get an operational team, then i may actually look forward to the release of this game, if there is one...otherwise...nah!
config 16 Mar 2004 12:59
2/3
Spartan III wrote:
>Perfect Dark Zero may not be the "beef" that
>everyone is waiting for. Ever since Free Radical
>were formed, Rare became a quivering mess, with
>badly executed titles like Starfox Adventures or
>Grabbed By The Ghoulies.
>
>Sure, if Rare actually get an operational team,
>then i may actually look forward to the release
>of this game, if there is one...otherwise...nah!
I've never really been a fan of Rare. Not because I don't like their stuff, but because I've never really been into the Nintendo platforms. In fact, I'm prolly more familiar with Rare's former self, Ultimate.
Anyway, the point being, I can't comment on whether Rare's output quality has declined since the Free Radical boys left.
It my opinion, however, that Starfox Adventures was poor because half way through development Rare began talking with Microsoft. They made the decision to sell out, so had to wrap the GameCube titles uip ASAP.
Having played SA through to the end, I got the very distinct impression that the levels had been blessed with increasingly less design, planning and passion as the game progressed.
I gave Grabbed by the Ghoulies all of five minutes of my life. That was too much, in retrospect. One might argue that I shouldn't base my opinion on five minutes of play, but I'd argue that a game that doesn't show even a hint of fun in that time deserves such short shrift. Just like Manhunt, which I gave 1.5 hours - I would dearly love that time back.
To sum up, I agree.
Rare are for the pile.
Long live Free Radical
>Perfect Dark Zero may not be the "beef" that
>everyone is waiting for. Ever since Free Radical
>were formed, Rare became a quivering mess, with
>badly executed titles like Starfox Adventures or
>Grabbed By The Ghoulies.
>
>Sure, if Rare actually get an operational team,
>then i may actually look forward to the release
>of this game, if there is one...otherwise...nah!
I've never really been a fan of Rare. Not because I don't like their stuff, but because I've never really been into the Nintendo platforms. In fact, I'm prolly more familiar with Rare's former self, Ultimate.
Anyway, the point being, I can't comment on whether Rare's output quality has declined since the Free Radical boys left.
It my opinion, however, that Starfox Adventures was poor because half way through development Rare began talking with Microsoft. They made the decision to sell out, so had to wrap the GameCube titles uip ASAP.
Having played SA through to the end, I got the very distinct impression that the levels had been blessed with increasingly less design, planning and passion as the game progressed.
I gave Grabbed by the Ghoulies all of five minutes of my life. That was too much, in retrospect. One might argue that I shouldn't base my opinion on five minutes of play, but I'd argue that a game that doesn't show even a hint of fun in that time deserves such short shrift. Just like Manhunt, which I gave 1.5 hours - I would dearly love that time back.
To sum up, I agree.
Rare are for the pile.
Long live Free Radical
almondVanHelsing 16 Mar 2004 20:37
3/3
If Perfect Dark comes out on any X-Box it will be in limbo!
Serves Rare right for selling their souls to Redmond, if they had stayed outside of MS, they could have released games on all platforms and got more sales.
Serves Rare right for selling their souls to Redmond, if they had stayed outside of MS, they could have released games on all platforms and got more sales.