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Post by Robyn on Jan 3, 2009 11:17:03 GMT -3
So, in case you don't know, Darkstar is a game that's been in development hell since forever, and it stars many of our beloved MST3K alumni (all the Cinematic Titanic gang, actually). Satellite News recently made an announcement saying that Darkstar might actually be coming out possibly maybe, just in time for Christmas '09. I had never really paid attention to it before, thinking it was just a pipe dream, but now since it's finally coming out (maybe), I figured I should check it out. And honestly? I'm getting pretty excited. Yes, the graphics are a bit dated, the novelty of having real people in video games went out of style years ago, and the cutscenes look a little cheesy, but it looks like it could be fun, and besides, it's an excuse to see our favorite people doing something different. First, the story. You are Captain John O'Neil (actor Clive Robertson), awakening from suspended animation aboard a battle damaged starship after over 300 years, a period of time that exceeds the design capability of the equipment. As a result, you are physically unharmed, but you suffer from a complete and permanent loss of memory.
You explore the starship to find clues as to who you are and complete your mission. The beautiful pilot, Paige Palmer (Beez McKeever) is still in hibernation. One sleep chamber is empty, it's inhabitant, First Officer Ross Perryman (Trace Beaulieu) is missing and one of the ship's two shuttles is away. Ship's Navigator Alan Burk (Frank Conniff) lies dead in the final chamber, glass shattered with the right hand severed and missing. The ship's computer Westwick Main (voiced by Mary Jo Pehl) assists you as best she can despite the fact that much of her memory has been deleted by someone unknown. She is usually embodied by a small hovercam that that wanders the ship. There is also a small service robot named Simon (voice by Frank Conniff) that provides clues and information, albeit reluctantly. Simon (Semi-intellingent Motorized Observation Network) has gone a bit awry after 312 years of no maintenance or interaction with humans. Okay, I'm starting to understand why there were so many rumors that Darkstar is really just an elaborate hoax. XD Here's some pictures of the lovely Beez McKeever as Paige Palmer. You know it's the future 'cause she's wearing a leather bra. You can also see her in action in the Cinematics section of the site. Sorry, I'm not sure how to embed the videos...you'll need Quicktime to see them. Also, you're rewarded with a brief cutscene with her if you complete this sample puzzle. Here's Trace in his role as Ross Perryman (or as me and Kat call him, Sidekick McStudly). Oh my God. *crosses fingers* Please let Darkstar be part dating sim, pleasepleaseplease! And now, TV's Frank! Or in this case, VG's Frank hahahaaaaa...see 'cause it's a video game and uh...yeah. I'm sorry. Also check out Simon's awesome room, full of MST3K-related thingies (requires Quicktime to view). Neat, now let's meet some of the other characters! Okay, now, remember when I told you Darkstar's story? Uh, there's actually a ton of backstory, which is where these characters show up. It's a bit confusing, so if you're really curious, check it out in the Gallery section of the site. Otherwise, remain here to see the relevant pictures. You can also see them in action in the trailer in the Cinematics section. And finally, in an stunning twist, Joel plays a bad guy! A "rogue captain"? Oh behave! *fans self* Wait...what is he wearing? What the hell!? I don't know whether to laugh or cry. XDDDD (Okay, okay, I'm mostly laughing. ) But look, even forgetting the ridiculous costume (I know it's hard to forget *brick'd*), is Joel seriously gonna be able to pull off being a dastardly villain? I mean, from what I've read around the site, the character destroys his own mothership! You know he's gotta be a scary sonofabitch. Now Joel, the only time he's scary to me is when I'm in line to get an autograph/picture. XD I mean there is just nothing remotely threatening about this man, and I have a visual aid to prove it! (Okay, I just wanted an excuse to put at least one nice picture of Joel in here, sue me.) *whew* So...what do you, the viewers at home, think? I think there's probably a million things that could go wrong with this, but I'm still looking forward to it, if only because it looks like it'd be a lot of fun to mock. XD
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Katana
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Post by Katana on Jan 3, 2009 16:10:49 GMT -3
But we'd mock it lovingly. XD Oh Darkstar...oh, oh Darkstar...where to begin with you. So yeah, you're working with a video game that was developed earlier this decade [that's so weird to say ] and, as we know, there have been leaps and bounds in not only CGI, but stylings. You don't make these kids of games anymore, you know? But that's something I'm finding I like; the throwback to the visual novel, point-and-click stuff. I don't care how much they seem to be mocked, I always had a soft spot for them. And this one looks pretty! Well, it looks pretty and cheesy at the same time. >_O; I can't quite decide yet. Since we're going image-heavy, I'll throw these into the mix:
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Anchan
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Post by Anchan on Jan 3, 2009 17:24:04 GMT -3
Yay, my screenshot came in handy! XD But not only does Joel not look evil, he has the most un-evil voice! It's slow and sweet...*melts*
Jeez, with every one of those pictures Mary Jo starts to look more and more like the administrator at my elementary school...
And is it just me or does Serious!Frank tend to look really funny? XD; He's all squinty and stuff...
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Post by Robyn on Jan 3, 2009 17:27:36 GMT -3
Yay icons! ;D I should probably explain a bit - I was watching the "Why Study Industrial Arts?" short, and there's a bit where Crow says "But why the hat? Why not a kicky beret?" So I said to Kat...what you see in the icon. XD As for the second one, it all started 'cause I was calling John O'Neil "Hero McStudly", because MST3K taught me that all heroes in sci-fi epics need silly names. But now, really looking at the guy, he's a bit on the scrawny side, isn't he? I think we should boot him out and make Trace the star of the game. XP Btw, I have an idea for another icon - Beez's character saying "I have no idea who the hell you are, or where the hell I am, or what the hell is going on here, or who the HELL wrote this dialogue!" XP Come on gang, let's make a fandom outta this game! Icons, fanart, fanfic, slash fanfic! OMG you guys, McStudly/Simon OTP, their love is soooo canon! *dodges tomatoes* Okay fine, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. ;D Oh btw, I predict Trace's character is gonna betray McStudly. Just throwing that out there. And before I forget, I just wanna point out that Joel's character's name is Kane Cooper. Kane...Cooper. Kane: scary! Cooper: Not so much. But not only does Joel not look evil, he has the most un-evil voice! It's slow and sweet...*melts* Maybe the character is mute. That's the only way I can see this working, either that or they'll digitally disguise his voice. Oh God, what if Joel attempts an accent? "Ah, ve meet again, Comrade McStudly...for the last time!" XDDD
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Post by Queen Shadowrama on Jan 3, 2009 18:11:13 GMT -3
So we might get to finally see this bitch eh? It's about time! I'm sure it will look dated as all getout, and I've always felt a bit sketchy about SaddamHussein!Joel, but I'll roll with it. It'll be interesting if he can really scare the crap outta us! I look forward to it!
BTW Robyn, that flow chart of Joel's non-violent qualities is bloody brilliant! ;D
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Katana
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Post by Katana on Jan 3, 2009 18:23:45 GMT -3
Y'know, the only thing I'm really worried about with Joel's voice is if they use that over-dubbing mechanical evil robot voice thing, like Satoris in The Final Sacrifice. When that happens, I'm uninstalling the game before going out to choke some bitches.
On the whole "let's build the fandom" thing, I'll be the icon supplier, since I'm already doing that. I demand more videos with Sidekick McStudly, though! B(
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Post by Robyn on Jan 3, 2009 21:32:46 GMT -3
I've always felt a bit sketchy about SaddamHussein!Joel *facepalm* THAT'S who he looks like! Way to pay attention, me. *sigh* We Joel fangirls have to suffer from so many poor fashion choices. XP If there's an epic boss fight with Joel at the climax, it'll make it all worth it. From what I've read, the climax seems to involve chasing Cooper in an ancient alien temple that houses a horrible sea monster, so it's gotta be good!
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Post by Katana on Jan 3, 2009 22:31:29 GMT -3
From what I've read, the climax seems to involve chasing Cooper in an ancient alien temple that houses a horrible sea monster, so it's gotta be good! You know what that means, right? Uh-huh. You're going to have to kill Joel... Unless he does a heel-face turn at the very end WHICH WOULD BE LAAAME.
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Post by Creepy Girl on Jan 3, 2009 22:52:55 GMT -3
Haaah, this thread makes me so happy, where do I begin? xD
I'd kinda forgotten about DarkStar...I remember going through the site awhile ago and browsing through all the cast photos and getting a general idea of what it's all about. I'm glad to hear that it might actually come into existence someday! :]
About the more dated feel of the graphics and such, I fell like because it's come out so late, it'll be almost retro? I mean, think of games like Myst, which involve solving a plethora of puzzles and near-carpal tunnel inducing levels of clicking. Games like that haven't been out for awhile, so it might be a bit of nostalgic fun to go back to that style of gameplay.
Little tidbits that don't fit in anywhere else:
- I really like MJ's hair color. - Robyn, you deserve a prize for the Joel diagram. <3 -Concerning DarkStar!Joel, I adore the idea of him in a sexy military uniform...but the mustache...not so much. >____>;; Ah, well. It'll be worth it just to see him. - I don't wanna watch Joel dieeee! D;
Do you gals think that DarkStar will get any attention/gameplay outside the MStie world?
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Post by Robyn on Jan 4, 2009 21:40:20 GMT -3
Do you gals think that DarkStar will get any attention/gameplay outside the MStie world? I'm thinking no, but then, like you said, it's got that retro thing going for it, and people loooove nostalgia. Me, I never played games like Myst (I grew up with stuff like Nintendo and Oregon Trail), really my only experience with these kind of FMV point-and-click type games comes from watching this guy's humorous reviews, so it's possible my expectations for Darkstar are somewhat skewed. By the way, I just watched the news report in the Cinematics section - the reporter called Darkstar an "interactive video game." Wow, really!? XDDDD
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Post by Robyn on Mar 21, 2009 17:36:54 GMT -3
Hey guys, remember this thing? XP Okay so a little while ago, me and Anchan checked the site on a whim and were surprised to see most of the pictures in the Gallery gone, and the News section completely missing. I checked again today and it turns out they were updating the site! ZOMG! There's been a few changes - for one, you get a spiffy new picture when you go to the title page: They've also expanded and organized the Gallery so you don't have to dig through the News archives to see the pictures there. I recommend checking out the Screenshots, there's some neat things I don't think we've seen before. And there's this interesting update in the News section - 03.18.09 Parallax at Game Developers Conference® March 23-29 in San Francisco The DARKSTAR Interactive team is converging in San Francisco to attend the GDC (Game Developers Conference), voted the most important event on the busy industry calendar, with over 40 percent of those surveyed by GamesIndustry.biz who labeled the show as essential. Producer/Director J. Allen Williams is converging with his management, legal and production team based out of Los Angeles with meetings scheduled with industry leaders from all over the globe. Armed with a finished product, the team is confident of a productive presentation process, and hope to find the perfect fit in a publishing partner that will see DARKSTAR to the marketplace in late 2009/early 2010. Industry response to the "Rock & Roll Space Opera with a twist" has been overwhelming and unanimous.
"Darkstar is the perfect blend of art, story and style." says Mark Walters, formerly a Cinematic Director at ActiVision. "This is a fresh approach to interactive entertainment. Darkstar is a visual, musical trip that every fan of sci-fi, or art rock, or just plain escapism, will want to take." Walters has recently joined forces with Darkstar Interactive to act as Producer for the second phase of Darkstar's development to the consoles. His game credits include Shrek SuperSlam, Shrek the Third, and Spider Man Web of Shadows for all platforms. Mark also has extensive film and television credits, including the sci-fi classic series, Babylon 5.
Clive Robertson portrays lead character John O'Neil in Parallax Studios' interactive epic. The actor created the role of Alan Turing in the West End in London and is the star of "Wicked Wicked Games" opposite Tatum O’Neal, sci-fi series "Starhunter" and Aaron Spelling’s "Sunset Beach" and has a following in over 120 countries worldwide. "Seeing this all come together as a finished product has been very exciting." says Robertson. "When I flew out to Missouri 5 years ago, we started with nothing but a script, a pile of storyboards and a big green canvas in a sound stage, and I've watched it grow from there into a sci-fi epic. " Robertson has remained involved with Darkstar long after wrapping his on-screen work on the project, and has played a vital role behind the scenes as a close confidant to Director J. Allen Williams on matters pertaining to both the creative and the business side. "As soon as I met Jeff, I knew he had something amazing here, there's just nothing like it out there, and I'm anxious to see the responses from industry leaders at the Game Developers Conference". Clive is scheduled to attend the GDC with the Parallax team on at least one day of the conference.
Actor/Writer Trace Beaulieu of Sci-Fi Channel's "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and currently "Cinematic Titanic" spoke about DARKSTAR in a recent interview while performing live with CT February in San Francisco. "The game is looking great. My wife is a huge MYST fan and she's very impressed with all the graphics." Trace went on to say "The world of DARKSTAR is completely realized and amazingly interactive. This is as close to being on a real spaceship as you can get." Frank Conniff, another MST-3K and Cinematic Titanic performer quipped "I played an assistant mad scientist, and I've played an overgrown infant on national TV, but now that I've finally been cast as a wisecracking robot, there are no acting challenges left to me and I can finally retire and rest on my laurels."
Last minute requests for meetings may be made through this website in the contact area. Parallax staff will return to the studios on March 30th.I am getting pumped, you guys. I am positive there is no conceivable way this game could let me down. 8P Okay but seriously, I am excited.
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Post by Katana on Mar 21, 2009 19:30:07 GMT -3
I was JUST thinking about this! Lo and behold, the sisters are on the same wavelength...
So I popped over to check out the Gallery, and when that little pop-up menu came up, I thought I was seeing things when it said "Trace Beaulieu Sequence". But no, no I wasn't. Fack yeah, Darkstar is catering to my fangirl whims! XD
Eee, excited again. I could really use a new video game to play, and since we've been jittering about this one, I'll be glad when it comes out. Oh my God, we should all like, pre-order it and then play simultaneously and give feedback and squee - *shot*
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Post by Queen Shadowrama on Mar 21, 2009 22:23:53 GMT -3
I swear they better not delay this AGAIN or I will scream. ;D
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Post by Robyn on Jul 13, 2009 18:00:10 GMT -3
Darkstar is still a go, by the way! WTF, I dunno how I missed these updates til now, I swear I check at least once every week. WHATEVER. 06.05.09 Parallax Producers attend E3 Expo June 2-4 at Staples Center, LA The Darkstar team fielded meetings with industry greats representing game publishers from all over the globe during the three day convention. Also on the agenda was a meeting with some of Hollywood's most respected filmmakers. Industry insider Andy Cheren at Production Road commented on the state of the gaming industry during this depressed economy, and said that optimism was high, and that the next quarters will see more adventurous spending on third party projects.
"We have offers on the table for publishing, but not yet on the kind of distribution deal we're looking for" said Parallax CEO Jeff Williams. "And we're in ongoing meetings with many others that do look really good. But everybody's spent their 2009 money, so we're going to use the rest of this year to do market research, P&L analysis, and some realistic sales projections to better understand how Darkstar should go out into the marketplace. That will help us better recognize the right publishing deal, and also bolster their confidence in our product." Williams went on to say he could not disclose what companies that meetings or negotiations are ongoing with until the team had inked a deal. "I wish we could tell you because it's all pretty exciting, but it could influence things and possibly even close a few doors, and right now we want them all open."
Co-Producer Mark Walters said "We're also looking at different ways to sell this, maybe in stages and with multi-publisher strategies to optimize our reach and potential. We're looking at the consoles of course, but we're also exploring on-line possibilities, domestic and foreign market strategies and options as well. We're putting out some surveys in key market areas to gauge what the potentials are, who our demographic will be, and what platforms are going to be the most in demand. Myst has just hit the marketplace with a very successful iPhone version that is really shaking things up for games like ours, and reinvigorating the adventure game market. We believe Darkstar will help reinvent it, and take it to the next level."...Can you guys see Darkstar on a console? I'm kinda skeptical that it would be hot with the X-Box crowd. 8P Also, they posted some pictures from "the recent studio session with Clive Roberts and Producer, Jeff Williams' daughter/aspiring actress, Maggie." ...Folks, we have a LITERAL "producer's mistress/wife/daughter/etc", I have a baaaad feeling about this. xD Also the character she's playing is a robot called MAGS...Motorized Artificial Girl for SIMON. "For SIMON"!? Frank's character!? Wait just a doggone moment, this girl is eleven years old! Somebody get Robot Chris Hansen in here! 8P
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Post by Katana on Jul 13, 2009 18:19:32 GMT -3
Wait, that means - FACK WE'RE NOT GETTING IT THIS CHRISTMAS. *head/desk* Waaahahaaa. DDX
Aw, but she's so cute. XD And please don't think it creepy, but if Frank was 12 they'd look good together. UGHUHHH please shoot my imagination...
"...emulates the purple robot character..."
Gypsy tribute? XD
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Post by Robyn on Jul 13, 2009 18:56:52 GMT -3
Well she's apparently been made from spare parts (probably by the lonely SIMON), and one of those parts is a vacuum cleaner...and she kinda looks like she has Crow's torso and Tom Servo's hoverskirt and arms... (and Diembadio's head LOL) Also she and SIMON are apparently two wisecracking robots on a marooned spaceship. I'm just sayin'. And please don't think it creepy, but if Frank was 12 they'd look good together. Oh god, now you have to incorporate MAGS into the AU somehow. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. >
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Post by Katana on Jul 13, 2009 18:59:04 GMT -3
And please don't think it creepy, but if Frank was 12 they'd look good together. Oh god, now you have to incorporate MAGS into the AU somehow. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. > GOD DAMMIT YOU CAN READ MY MIND. XD
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Post by Robyn on Jul 27, 2009 15:56:01 GMT -3
I almost forgot - at Comic Con I happened to check the Darkstar site, and they expanded on the MAGS update. Check it out:
06.24.09 New Scene Added to Darkstar Yes, we know, Darkstar is complete. But during dozens of presentations to worldwide industry insiders, one character seemed to get a lot of attention, that of a quirky female robot named MAGS. "MAGS was something we added while enlarging the presence of the SIMON robot character voiced by Mystery Science Theater 3000's Frank Conniff." explains Jeff Williams, Darkstar's Producer. "Some tests back then showed that Frank's character added a lot to the Universe, so we drug him back into the studio to add about a dozen more encounters with SIMON. Part of that involved the creation of a companion that SIMON had built out of a vacuum cleaner, toaster, food processor, and parts of a laptop computer, a strange, cheeky robot named MAGS (Motorized Artificial Girl for Simon). It was never meant to be a big role, but one my daughter Maggie insisted I allow her to audition for."
Nine year old daughter of Williams, Margaret Noel won the role with her breathless readings in a faux British accent that seemed to come from nowhere. "All of our jaws dropped in the studio back when she read the script originally," laughed Williams. "I'd never heard her do an accent before, and it was hilarious and convincing, so we kept it in." Maggie voiced three scenes and even helped design the robot character she plays. "It had to be purple. She insisted" said Williams.
Fast forward about a year and a half, and the Darkstar executives are showing the finished product in dozens of meetings. "Mark and I noticed that they all lit up when MAGS was on screen, and often commented about it later as well. So while we're doing all of this sales and marketing work, why not? So we went to POP Studio in Santa Monica with a new script, Clive Robertson and my little girl and recorded a scene that I think will add a lot to the end of the story."
I dunno guys, I have a reeeeaaaally bad feeling about this. I know, "oh NOW you have a bad feeling, the extremely dated graphics and cheesy acting and Joel as a goddamn mustachioed villain with a beret didn't do anything for ya?" xD But once you get kids involved it can be very hit-and-miss. Especially if it's a kid doing a "faux British accent", oy. At least it's nice to know that Darkstar IS complete, apparently.
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Post by Katana on Jul 27, 2009 17:18:23 GMT -3
I know, "oh NOW you have a bad feeling, the extremely dated graphics and cheesy acting and Joel as a goddamn mustachioed villain with a beret didn't do anything for ya?" xD But once you get kids involved it can be very hit-and-miss. Especially if it's a kid doing a "faux British accent", oy. At least it's nice to know that Darkstar IS complete, apparently. Oh, NOW you have a - oh, you covered that. I'm remaining optimistic. I think the kid's going to do us proud. I mean, you got a bunch of other talent doing things, are you really going to ruin it for one kid? Faux British accent, huh...interesting...
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Post by Robyn on Aug 3, 2009 6:53:48 GMT -3
Okay what the hell, Darkstar website? When you add a new movie clip, you have to freaking mention it in the news section or something! I'm not psychic! While on an alien planet to procure water for the Westwick's dry cooling tanks, John O'Neil discovers an ancient temple. In this alternate ending (one of many) the Starship Captain meets the sole inhabitant of the temple.WARNING: You WILL pee yourself laughing when you see the "sole inhabitant" and see what it does to Hero McStudly. Also, the narrator? None other than Peter Graves!
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