PDC Darts trying again on Xbox 360

By Robert Purchese Published 25 July, 2008

Visual overhaul due September.

Oxygen is working on an Xbox 360 revamp of PDC Darts and aims to release it this September.

This was rubbish on Wii, as Ellie explained in her review, which called the game ugly and dull. Oh dear. But Oxygen promises the 360 version will be much better.

There will be a complete graphical overhaul for starters, plus online matches, refreshed World Rankings data, plenty of modes and hopefully a better throwing mechanic, which we're told will change depending on the difficulty level.

All of your caravan and TV favourites return, including Phil "The Power" Taylor, Raymond "Barney" van Barneveld, Kevin "The Artist" Painter and lots more. You can make your own silk shirt-wearing jewellery-laden disaster, too.

There are Xbox 360 Achievements on offer as well, of course, but otherwise little seems to have changed. Buying a real-life darts board still seems more attractive.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (18) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • BadBoyBonner #1 4 years ago

    How did they get the throwing mechanic so wrong on the Wii?

  • Raz76 #2 4 years ago

    The problem is that darts isn't even fun in real life.

  • spammage #3 4 years ago

    Does the Special Edition come with an obesity suit and stick on bad tattoo kit? Sounds good to me.

  • ccfb #4 4 years ago

    Just play darts in GTA4.

    Then finish up, total a stolen car, set fire to a hooker and crash a chopper into a police station. It's the only way to make darts enjoyable.

  • jonsaan #5 4 years ago

    IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNN one!

    A deluxe Caravan holiday for 2.


    IIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnn Two


    A set of his and hers curling tongs...

    etc.etc.

  • jonsaan #6 4 years ago

    Nothing can compare to the majesty of Sega Touch darts on DS.

  • BadBoyBonner #7 4 years ago

    Jonsaan

    Agreed my GF played that more than any other game - we were playing it together sat in the Airport after being delayed for 4 hours - time flew by - and we nearly missed the plane! lol

  • Greychapter #8 4 years ago

    Why pay £30 to play darts on console when you can pay £20 to buy a dartboard and some darts and play for real?

  • BaggyAnt #9 4 years ago

    Why buy Pro Evo for £40 when you can buy a football for a £5?

  • paulf #10 4 years ago

    so bad on the wii - could be quite fun if they got it right - but i think its all about the presentation, this is one genre that needs a bit of the ea sports touch. I wonder if 'frosty the throwman' will be in there ?

  • Whizzo #11 4 years ago

    How did they get the throwing mechanic so wrong on the Wii?

    Was the James Wade model that bad?

  • BadBoyBonner #12 4 years ago

    Whizzo

    No the 20g Unicorn darts of wade and his animation were fine - it is trying to throw one with the Wiimote that was terrible. Only bought it as the GF had enjoyed the DS darts game so much on our Hols. After her expectations being channelled through playing that and Wii Sports - she was most disappointed and frustrated by this game. I could do it after a bit but she struggled.

    For the Wii control - I'd suggest the model implemented by bloom blox ( i.e. point, lock position, flick power - determining the arc of the dart) - with a time limit (that reduces based on skill level selected) to take the shot. Failing to take the shot in time would result in a random auto throw - with mild after touch allowed - to keep interaction and excitment up for casual players.

    Challenges could be made based on the darts arc - where you have to flight the dart through rings of differing arcs types (shaped like the ones in Pilotwings) and board placement .

    Could also have made several other modes based on this throw dynamic i.e. shooting galleries with objects spinning to be shot through, moving targets where your predicting target path against dart flight etc.

    Could also do a Bloom Blox inspired level where not only do the darts impact the blocks to move them, but the darts stick in and weight that creates a chance of the blocks tipping etc.

    As for why buy this - children get to have a go at something they probably would not be allowed to do otherwise and are much less likely to be injured flicking a WiiMote about (bar the odd blackeye from over zealous bowling and tennis ;-)

    Or really lazy people who can't be bothered to walk the 14 foot to reclaim the darts or bother to add and subtract or who don't want to have to constantly use filler and paint on the walls for wayward shots.

    A little like people who spend hundreds of hours on Guitar Hero without ever picking up a real Guitar I guess - baffling to some obvious to others.

  • CrunchinJelly #13 4 years ago

    This has taken a leaf out of WSC Real's book by being constantly delayed since about April.

  • MrChuckles #14 4 years ago

    I remember seeing Frank Skinner Live, he did a sketch on Bullseye:

    'Innnn One, Make her your wife, she'll do the washing up for life...It's a Filipino Prostitute!'
    'Innnn Two, Put it on tight, it'll keep you up all night.....It's a cock ring'.

  • wewillselfdestruct #15 4 years ago

    I'm really excited. But not about this. I'm seeing Dark Knight tonight.

  • martlev #16 4 years ago

    if you are desperate to play go grab some £5 darts and get down the pub, lol.
    I enjoy playing darts IRL but wouldnt ever give getting this game a thought.

  • Whizzo #17 4 years ago

    No the 20g Unicorn darts of wade and his animation were fine

    My post was a joke on the basis of what James did professionally, now only part time, he's a car mechanic by trade. In fact he's fixed my car a few times and he does a lot of work for my brother-in-law's company.

  • BadBoyBonner #18 4 years ago

    Whizzo

    No the 20g Unicorn darts of wade and his animation were fine

    Sounded much more ironic when I first wrote it lol.

    Had to look him up on Wiki (not a massive darts fan) - which obviously made the post funnier to me! lol

    I did recognise him when I saw the picture. Clearly not that much money in darts or he loves being a mechanic.