NEWS - Monday, March 21, 2005
The Darkness Coming In 2006
The Darkness Coming to Next-Gen March 21, 2005 - Continuing its rise from small-time publisher to significant force in the gaming industry, Majesco officially announced today it would publish The Darkness a next-generation videogame developed by Starbreeze Studios. Starbreeze was last seen with the hit The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay on Xbox and PC. The up-and-coming developer is now setting its sights on the next-generation of consoles. Set for a 2006 release, The Darkness, based on the comic book and upcoming Dimension Films motion picture, lets players assume the role of Mafia hitman Jackie Estacado. When Jackie is possessed by a mystical power beyond his comprehension his life turns to crap, as often happens when possessed by anything mystical. Using an enhanced version of the Starbreeze engine, which brought to life Riddick’s incredible world, The Darkness promises first and third-person non-linear gameplay as gamers attempt to control the powers of The Darkness and wipe out the mob in the process. Darkness comic book scribe Paul Jenkins is tapped to script both story and dialogue for the upcoming game. Fans of The Chronicles of Riddick are well-aware of the one glaring omission from the first-person shooter -- multiplayer. Not to worry, The Darkness enables players to adventure solo or to hop into online multiplayer matches with other gamers around the globe. "We are excited to have secured Starbreeze, a highly talented and respected team, to develop one of our first titles for the next generation of video game consoles," said Jesse Sutton, president of Majesco. "Combining the top-tier development talent and technology of Starbreeze with the compelling content of Top Cow’s The Darkness comic book series provides a solid foundation for success." The comic book series, which launched in 1996, sells more than a half-million copies worldwide with each issue and generates more than $25 million annually. That tidy sum looks to expand with the release of the game in 2006 and the feature film in 2007. No systems have been specified, but it’s safe to assume The Darkness is being developed for PS3, Nintendo Revolution and Xbox 2. Those eager for a glimpse of The Darkness in action will have to wait just a bit longer. The Darkness makes its debut at E3 2005 in Los Angeles May 18-20.Source: http://www.ign.com
