Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumor: Perfect Dark prequel to get a new sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/rumor-perfect-dark-prequel-to-get-a-new-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/rumor-perfect-dark-prequel-to-get-a-new-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/12/rumor-perfect-dark-prequel-to-get-a-new-sequel/#commentsFiled under:

Here's the no-brainer rumor of the day: Rare will release a sequel to its million-selling shooter Perfect Dark Zero. The Rumor Mole section of the May 2007 issue of Official Xbox Magazine reports that the sequel was revealed "by way of a press release announcing the next novel in the paperback series that also mentions a follow-up to the game."

We haven't been able to locate the press release ourselves, but the paperback series is an official tie-in to the series. If a sequel does come to fruition, we wouldn't be surprised. In fact, we've heard it from an official, anonymous, trustworthy source that Rare has been deep in the early development phases (pre-pre-alpha, if you will) just trying to figure out the best numerical nomenclature. Perfect Dark One is off limits, PD Zero Two is pretty meh, PD Negative One (shortened to PDNO or PD-1) could work for yet another prequel, or perhaps they'll go the Lion King route and make it Perfect Dark Zero (point) Five, or PD.5 for short.

Still, we side with our Fanboy brethren: the Xbox 360 has enough shooters, Rare should focus on meeting their sequel quota with a return to platformer Kameo.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

JoystiqRumor: Perfect Dark prequel to get a new sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joanna darkJoannaDarkmicrosoftpdzperfect darkPerfectDarkrarerumorrumorsThu, 12 Apr 2007 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Ad critic retro: Perfect Dark (N64)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/15/ad-critic-retro-perfect-dark-n64/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/15/ad-critic-retro-perfect-dark-n64/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/15/ad-critic-retro-perfect-dark-n64/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One of the nice things about hanging on to old gaming magazines is the archive of classic ads they provide. I found this promo for the original Perfect Dark in the 10th anniversary issue of Entertainment Weekly (Spring 2000). Rare's sultry heroine is ready for war against the evil dataDyne corporation and those menacing Skedar -- notice the subtle alien presence in the upper right-hand corner.

But how does this Joanna Dark model stack up (pardon the pun) against the lovely ladies who portrayed Ms. Croft? Her hairstyle and skin-tight, black leather outfit certainly seem to have inspired the wardrobe department for the Aeon Flux movie and game.

It's interesting to note that a key promotional element persistent in today's gaming ads is absent here, which is a little surprising given the influence of the Internet on the gaming community at that time. Maybe Rare was too busy making a kick-ass game to bother with a web site (anybody remember if there was one?). In retrospect, it didn't really matter as Perfect Dark became one of the most popular and successful titles for the Nintendo 64. In fact, it was so good, I bet they'll make a sequel some day!

Update: Thanks to RyanH for helping my tired old eyes. There is indeed a tiny "www.perfectdark.com" URL embedded in the fine print. Also, thanks to NothingShocking for posting URLs of the game's viral marketing campaign.

JoystiqAd critic retro: Perfect Dark (N64) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Jul 2006 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ad CriticAd Critic retroAdCriticAdCriticRetrojoanna darknintendo 64perfect darkrareSat, 15 Jul 2006 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Xbox Live Gold week, or free virtual girlfriend? It's all so confusing! [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/26/free-xbox-live-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/26/free-xbox-live-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/26/free-xbox-live-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As we were just saying in the previous post, Microsoft's got a lot of irons in the fire. The "free Xbox Live week" promotion seems to be particularly well-liked by the folks at Microsoft and Verizon, as the two companies have made plans to make the week of May 8th through May 14th free to broadband-connected Xbox 360 owners.

The newest promotion is timed to coincide with E3, and will also include a giveaway of one million Microsoft Points and a "backstage" E3 pass (did you boys pick those up on Craigslist, by any chance?).

Just because we're borderline obsessive-compulsive, here's everything that Joanna Dark says upon loading the promotion page (with our comments in brackets):

  • Don't keep me waiting [I'm hurrying, but these damned foil packages are so hard to open in the dark!]
  • I'm free all week [As opposed to for-pay the rest of the time... undertones of prostitution here. Sure, why not?]
  • You got a week. Come get some. ["Some what," we wonder, as we stare at Ms. Dark's fetching hindquarters.]
  • Don't arrive early. [A joke about premature arrival? Totally unexpected.]
  • Are you ready to play?
  • I'm game. Are you?
  • You want a piece of me? [Can't get much more explicit than this.]
  • Hope your couch is comfortable [It's fine for playing games. Here, put down that riding crop and have a controller.]
  • Hey, you got me all week [Why does she punctuate only some sentences? This annoys us.]
  • I'll be there. Will you? ["She told me to come but I was already there." -- AC/DC]
[Via too many tips to count.]

[Update 1: Neither Microsoft nor Verizon have announced this deal yet, so we eliminted language in the first paragraph that suggests that the companies have made an official proclamation. A Microsoft spokeswoman notes, "we plan on releasing more information early next week."]

JoystiqFree Xbox Live Gold week, or free virtual girlfriend? It's all so confusing! [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Apr 2006 01:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>E3joanna darkJoannaDarkpdzperfect dark zeroverizonxblxblaxbox liveXbox-360Wed, 26 Apr 2006 01:39:00 EST