Rare Gambles On Dark Discs

Next Generation reports on the risky choices Rare made with Perfect Dark Zero. They actually began stamping the discs before the game was certified so that they could make the Nov. 22nd launch date. From the article: "The certification process is the final stage a game goes through before manufacture. Microsoft's team picks through the game making sure there are no bugs, that menus all work correctly, and that there are no compatibility issues. Games that fail, even in the smallest detail, are sent back to publishers and developers for changes. The process can take days, or even weeks."

Wow, that is some risk

[Edgewize]

Holy crap, a Microsoft-owned developer released a key Microsoft XBox 360 launch title to manufacturing ... before Microsoft had a chance to give it the OK! I mean, this could have been a disaster.

This kind of extreme guts is why I love Microsoft! They're so hardcore! In fact this makes me want to buy another XBox 360.

Wait a minute

[tktk]

From the article: The certification process is the final stage a game goes through before manufacture. Microsoft's team picks through the game making sure there are no bugs, that menus all work correctly, and that there are no compatibility issues.

So let me get this straight....Microsoft checking for bugs?

Shouldn't be a problem

[steveo777]

Shouldn't be a problem. I mean, some of MS's biggest distributions are betas. Like, say, Windows '98 was the beta for Windows '98 SE. Same with '95. Same with NT, 2000, XP. Heck even the Office suites got service packs.

In all seriousness, though, as long as the game runs on both SKU's and can be completed without too much frusteration and the multiplayer works. It'll be fine. If not, two things can happen.

1) only those with the HDD will get to play the patched version.

2) Rare gets screwed in a few orifaces. First oriface, they'll have to bite the costs of all the discs and destroy them. Second, Microsoft will take it out of Rare's rear because their precious release game won't be a release game. Third oriface, the public may rip them a new one because they may not trust rare (very unlikely, especially because even crap games tend to sell well at launch).

Either way, if the game has bugs it will effect Rare's reputation in public eyes some way or another. I sincerely hope they make it through, I always liked that studio.

Re:This is about gameplay and interface, not conte

[Anonymous Coward]

I can anomymously confirm this.

Re:Trickle-down QA

[Anonymous Coward]

Did you see the scene in Conker where he crushes the boiler-boss' balls with two bricks? That is going to happen.

Re:Wow, that is some risk

[Winckle]

So do I!
But there aren't any left, my country only got 2.

Re:This is about gameplay and interface, not conte

[Psykechan]

* various in-game messages regarding system events (memory unit access...

That's just downright silly. I bet Sony would never force developers to use the exact same message every time someone uses their Memory Card (8MB)(for PlayStation2) to save their game.