Feature: Here’s Why Perfect Dark Has Three Different Covers
Perfect Dark is perhaps one of the most accomplished games in the N64 library. It built on the solid work seen in the sublime GoldenEye 007, pushing the host hardware to its limits and making excellent use of the N64 Expansion Pak to deliver the kind of visuals that rival systems could only dream of. It remains one of Rare’s best Nintendo efforts, and is fondly remembered by fans even today.
However, there’s one mystery surrounding this game that has bugged us for years: why did such a high-profile release have three different cover designs for its regional releases?
Now, swapping cover artwork isn’t anything new; companies have been doing it for decades. Back in the 16-bit era, it was common to see perfectly good Japanese artwork get replaced by horrendous western efforts, the vast majority of which were almost always inferior to the original.
However, Perfect Dark is unusual in that the North American and European boxes have different (but thematically similar) designs, whereas the Japanese box opts for a totally unique red-and-black image which is perhaps the best of the lot; it shows Joanna Dark reclining on a sofa, gun in hand and sniper rifle nearby. It’s one of the most understated covers you’ll see for any home console AAA action title, and it works brilliantly – but why was it used for the Japanese version, and why did the western releases use two different takes on the same design?
We needed the US one ultra quick and there was no model at all to use for the artwork
Keen to get to the bottom of all of this (because we’re sad like that), we got in touch with former Rare Art Director Kev Bayliss. It turns out that Bayliss – who now works at Yooka-Laylee studio Playtonic Games, along with many other Rare alumni – was involved with the creation of the two western covers.
“We needed the US one ultra quick and there was no model at all to use for the artwork,” he explains. “So I had to quickly make some eyes and create a box art in about a day. That’s what we ended up with and as a consequence of that, I was given the task of creating a proper Joanna Dark model – so that’s when I got involved in the series. I made the model that was then used for the European box art and all promo material at the time.”
Open up the Japanese packaging – which includes the vital Expansion Pak – and you’ll find a somewhat less appealing cover design
Sadly, Bayliss is at a loss when it comes to explaining why the Japanese version of the game doesn’t use the same cover art. He asserts that the decision to use a completely different image was entirely Nintendo’s, not Rare’s. Still, Bayliss approves of the choice.
I love that there are three different pieces of artwork for the game
“I’d never seen the Japanese box art until I saw it on fellow Rare staffer Simon Farmer’s shelf one day, and I loved the artwork style,” he says. “In fact, I was really close to buying a mint condition boxed Japanese copy a few months ago for about £60 but I got wrapped up in moving house so I put it on hold. I love that there are three different pieces of artwork for the game, but I kind of like the European one I did. It was a bit more realistic than the Killer Instinct models I’d made Previously.”
So there you have it; the North American box has a different main image because there wasn’t a ‘cover-worthy’ version of Joanna Dark available until Bayliss quickly put one together, and the reason the European cover has different eyes is because it’s based on Bayliss’ more detailed character model – which, ironically, appears on the back of the Japanese packaging. We still don’t know who at NCL is responsible for that amazing Japanese cover, but perhaps one day we’ll find out.
Bayliss’ Joanna Dark render does appear on the Japanese back, but it’s on the back
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Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare DLC Comes To PS4 First
The newly revealed Call of Duty game for 2019, Modern Warfare, features some major changes to the usual formula: cross-play between Xbox One, PS4, and PC, and the end of the season pass format. But one important aspect is remaining the same. As has been the case for the past few years, post-release content for Modern Warfare will launch first on PS4 before coming to Xbox One and PC. This was confirmed in a trailer for the game posted on PlayStation's YouTube account.
The message states: "Play new content first on PlayStation 4." The fine print goes on to clarify that the exclusivity period is one week. "New playable content, when available, will launch on PS4 seven days prior to launch on other platforms." This matches the week-long duration in last year's Black Ops 4, which is less than the month-long window that Call of Duty games used to have.
What is different with Modern Warfare is that all post-release maps will be free, whereas in the past Activision charged for them. The publisher confirmed as part of the game's announcement that it will not sell the traditional season pass that locks new maps and content to only players who pay for it. There's no word on what might replace this, although battle passes have become increasingly popular thanks to Fortnite.
It remains to be seen how cross-play might be impacted when PS4 players have access to content that Xbox One and PC players do not. We've followed up with Activision in an attempt to get more details.
Modern Warfare--which is a reboot of sorts of the popular sub-brand that began in 2007--launches on October 25. GameSpot recently visited developer Infinity Ward's studio to learn more about the game; check out the story below for more.
This weekend, I’ll actually be digging into some old GameCube games, as I found an indigo system online for just $30 – and in fantastic condition, too. Insanity! So there will probably be some Animal Crossing, a little bit of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, and also Pikmin, Ocarina of Time, Luigi’s Mansion and Metroid Prime (I really went all out with the reclamation of my GameCube years). Should be a nostalgically good time!
Gavin Lane, staff writer
Having caved to Reggie’s scare-mongering, I picked up a SNES Classic Mini earlier in the week. So this weekend I shall be diving into that mini console to see what pearls I can find within. I’d like to think I’ll find the time to try Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the first time, but I’ll likely end up blasting around a few circuits in F-Zero and briefly testing Star Fox 2 before wishing my N64 could connect to my TV so I could play Star Fox 64.
Gonçalo Lopes, contributing writer
Video games? How can you even think about them these days? Don’t you know what’s coming? Can’t you feel it? Like an electrical current buzzing, zapping, flowing through the air around you, whispers, rumours, leaks, dates… oh no, I got myself some dreaded pre-E3 jitters! Press kits, trailers, live events, news to cover… Will it be this year that we finally get a new F-Zero? Best not to think about any of that while playing F-Zero GX on Gamecube this weekend just to keep ye old reflexes razor sharp, you never know when they may come in handy…
Well, still had time to find a game of the week: Gato Roboto is proof you can still make a lovely fresh Metroidvania with just two colours. Good Kiki!
Liam Doolan, news reporter
As we get closer to yet another E3, I intend to play as many games as I possibly can before the annual event. You see, I have a very bad habit of boarding the hype train around this time of year and completely dropping all of the titles I’ve been slowly chipping away at for weeks or months on end to instead play some unproven release.
Bandai Namco Might Be Releasing Existing Physical Games With Download Codes
If there is one thing a good amount of video game collectors don’t particularly appreciate, it’s finding a paper code instead of a cartridge inside a plastic case. Since Nintendo’s hybrid device has taken off, this has become an increasingly common practice. Now, six peculiar listings have popped up on Amazon Spain, suggesting the Japanese publisher Bandai Namco will be selling a number of its existing Switch titles in physical form, without a game card.
At this point in time, it’s unknown if this offer will remain limited to this location (assuming it is an accurate listing), or if Bamco will eventually roll out the same deal across Europe and perhaps even beyond this region. One of the main reasons publishers remove cards from cases is to reduce manufacturing costs. The cost of a Switch card also depends on the size of a game.
What are your thoughts about this? Have you ever bought a physical release with a paper code inside? Tell us below.
Unreal Engine Free Marketplace Assets For June 2019
Every month for the last several months, Epic Games have made several assets available free on the Unreal Engine marketplace, and June 1st, 2019 is no exception. You need to purchase the assets during the month to be able to keep them forever, but the purchase cost is zero. Additionally, a few assets are made available each month permanently free on the market place. Let’s take a look at the free marketplace assets for June…
June Free Assets:
Permanently Free Assets:
You can also find all of the above assets in the marketplace in the Epic Game Launcher. Learn more about the June giveaway on the Unreal Engine blog available here.
Square Enix Has Just Filed A Trademark For Collection Of Mana In Europe
Square Enix has been busy filing Final Fantasy and Mana trademarks for almost half of the year now and this latest one seems to be yet another sign the collection will be released here in the west. Following on from the “Collection of Mana” trademark in Japan in February, the company has now trademarked the same title for Europe.
This trademark has been previously linked to the Japan-exclusive, Seiken Densetsu Collection. This Switch release includes Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (Final Fantasy Adventure / Mystic Quest), the sequel Seiken Densetsu 2 (Secret of Mana) and the third game Seiken Densetsu 3, which has never been localised. Perhaps we’ll hear more about this recently trademarked title at this year’s E3.
Video: See How The Digimon Games Have Evolved In This Developer Diary
Nintendo fans might be more familiar with pocket monsters, but digital monsters have also been quite popular in certain parts of the world for many years now. To be more precise, we’re talking about the Digimon series.
These video games started out life exclusively on the PlayStation in 1999 and eventually became accessible on more systems as time passed. The Nintendo DS, in particular, got a handful of Digimon titles and this year the Switch will receive the strategy RPG, Digimon Survive.
To help promote the upcoming release of this title and the 20th anniversary of the Digimon series, Bandai Namco has uploaded a 15-minute developer diary to its official YouTube channel. It features the producers, Habu Kazumasa and Tsuzuki Katsuaki of the new game, reflecting on series and talking about how they’re applying all of their previous knowledge to the latest entry.
Are you interested in playing a new Digimon game on the Switch? Tell us below.
iTunes social media blackout hints at app break-up at WWDC
By Malcolm Owen Saturday, June 01, 2019, 03:07 pm PT (06:07 pm ET)
Apple may have confirmed the breakup of iTunes into a collection of separate apps is in the works, by taking time in the days before WWDC to remove content from view on the main social media accounts associated with iTunes.
Rumors and leaks have hinted at Apple splitting apart its long-standing iTunes app into multiple separate elements, but outside of data mining finding evidence, there have been relatively few clues from Apple itself. Ahead of the WWDC keynote on Monday, Apple seems to have let slip something in its renovation.
As spotted on the Apple subreddit by u/MalteseAppleFan, posts on some of Apple’s social media pages for iTunes have started to disappear. While the post says “all” posts have gone, this is not quite true, but the changes strongly suggest some major renovations to its social media strategy are on the way.
The Facebook and Instagram pages for iTunes no longer include any posts for the service or its content at all. While basic social media images, like the profile logo and headers, exist, the Instagram profile also points users towards the AppleTV account for “more entertainment updates.”
The official iTunes Twitter account is in a mixed state, as it bears the same profile photo and header as the Facebook account, but it still has many posts. The last post made on the account was on May 22, but it has retweeted a few messages from the AppleTV account.
Apple is currently believed to be separating out its Music and Podcasts elements from iTunes on macOS, with an app for TV also touted, taking them out of the all-in-one iTunes app completely.
AppleInsider will be reporting live throughout WWDC 2019, starting with the keynote on Monday, June 3. Get every announcement as it happens by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and by making sure to follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider, Facebook and Instagram.
In a world ravaged by war and dominated by magic, you must rise up to face the Chaos hordes. Playing solo or with up to four players in local or online co-op, choose a hero from four character classes and prepare for epic battles wielding some of the most powerful artefacts of the Old World.
Fortnite Downtown Drop: Where To Find Every Jonesy Location
We're still in the early days of Fortnite Season 9, but it's already proven to be quite different from previous seasons. In addition to the standard array of weekly and Utopia challenges, Epic has introduced a new collectible to the game called Fortbytes, which can only be obtained by completing certain tasks. On top of that is the ongoing Downtown Drop limited-time mode, which features its own unique set of challenges to complete and rewards to unlock.
Unlike a standard game of Fortnite, Downtown Drop takes place in a self-contained area and is all about momentum. The mode has players sliding around as though they were on a pair of skates, and the map is littered with boost pads and ramps to send you rocketing around. This also makes your character much trickier to handle, however, which can be a pain when you're searching for specific items hidden around the map, as many of the Downtown Drop challenges have you do. If you find yourself having a hard time completing these, we're here to make your life a little easier.
A handful of the Downtown Drop challenges are to find Jonesy--one of the original Fortnite characters--in various places around the map. There are three separate challenges of this nature. The first is to find Jonesy hidden behind a fence. That's an awfully vague hint, but if you hug the north side of the map, you'll eventually come upon a drop that'll dump you behind a curved wooden fence, changing your momentum. Head to the end of that alleyway and you'll see Jonesy behind a chain-link fence.
The second challenge is to find Jonesy in the sewers. This one is fairly easy to spot. On the eastern side of the map is a secret tunnel--you'll see a trail of coins leading you into it. Head into the tunnel and you'll be dropped onto a boost pad, which will send you hurtling along other pads into the sewers, where you'll come across the Jonesy cutout before trampolining back up to the surface.
The final challenge has you finding Jonesy in three different locations: near the basketball court, near the rooftops, and in the back of a truck. The basketball court can be found at the end of the first slope down at the beginning of the map; head inside and you'll spot Jonesy against the back wall. The rooftop is a bit trickier. Find the crane that's dangling a car and use an Impulse Grenade to send yourself up onto the building that is still being constructed, where you'll see the Jonesy cutout. The truck is also easy to miss, as it's located at the end of an alley near the beginning of the map. If you need more help finding them, we walk you through where every Jonesy is located in the video above.
