PDC World Championship Darts 2008
Encyclopedia
PDC World Championship Darts 2008 is a sports video game
, published by Oxygen Interactive and developed and designed by Mere Mortals. It was released for the PlayStation 2
, PC
, and has seen releases for the Wii
, Nintendo DS
, Xbox 360
and the PlayStation Portable
. The game features sixteen professionals from the Professional Darts Corporation
, and seven tournaments from the PDC circuit. It is a direct sequel to the previous year's PDC World Championship Darts
.
through the functions of the controller and rules set within the game. A variety of new and returning modes are also available for play.
The game almost exactly follows the rules of the classic 501 darts game. Two professionals (one or two controlled by the player) throw darts onto the dartboard to decrease their score to 0, but they must end with a double. The only exception is the World Grand Prix where players must also start with a double. The dartboard's numbers are positioned just as they are in real darts.
Each player throws 3 darts at a time before the next player takes his turn. In standard rules, whoever reaches 0 first has won the leg. Varying amounts of legs comprise sets, a certain amount of which must be gained to win the match. An alternative format is matchplay, where certain amounts of legs must be gained to win the match.
Once the desired amount of power is reached, pushing forward on the analogue stick will throw the dart. Any deviation to the left or right while throwing the dart will also affect the dart's flight. The game also takes into account real-life darts physics, such as under- or over-stacking of darts, flights falling out, and bounce-outs. The former can be used to tactical advantage. These were not present in the first game.
All new graphic enhancements - player improvements and real-world sets and tournament locations, based on the locations from the PDC calendar.
Enhanced audio including calling, commentary, convincing dynamic crowd sounds, and darts atmospherics.
Enhanced A.I - player A.I. is calculated using real life averages from major tournaments and also based on actual playing characteristics i.e. stamina, belief, pressure, complacency and accuracy.
Improved and in-depth career mode, realistically reflecting a player's progress through the PDC calendar, featuring 7 of the major PDC tournaments each season.
All new character editor, supplying a greater range of options to customise your pro. Elements include male and female character models, skin tone, eye colour, nationality, name, hairstyle, hair colour, eye wear, shirt style and colour, throwing angle, level of difficulty and preferred checkout. Also includes options for dart barrel weights and flight designs.
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
, published by Oxygen Interactive and developed and designed by Mere Mortals. It was released for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, and has seen releases for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. The game features sixteen professionals from the Professional Darts Corporation
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
, and seven tournaments from the PDC circuit. It is a direct sequel to the previous year's PDC World Championship Darts
PDC World Championship Darts
PDC World Championship Darts is a sports video game, published by Oxygen Interactive and developed and designed by Mere Mortals. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and PC. The game features ten professionals from the Professional Darts Corporation, and five tournaments from the PDC circuit...
.
Gameplay
Much like its predecessor, the game attempts to recreate playing real DartsDarts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
through the functions of the controller and rules set within the game. A variety of new and returning modes are also available for play.
Rules
- See also Playing darts and Scoring for full rules
The game almost exactly follows the rules of the classic 501 darts game. Two professionals (one or two controlled by the player) throw darts onto the dartboard to decrease their score to 0, but they must end with a double. The only exception is the World Grand Prix where players must also start with a double. The dartboard's numbers are positioned just as they are in real darts.
Each player throws 3 darts at a time before the next player takes his turn. In standard rules, whoever reaches 0 first has won the leg. Varying amounts of legs comprise sets, a certain amount of which must be gained to win the match. An alternative format is matchplay, where certain amounts of legs must be gained to win the match.
Controls
After aiming where they want to throw with the left analogue stick, the player uses the right analogue stick on the DualShock 2 or keyboard to pull back their dart and increase the power behind the throw. In 'Amateur' mode the power can be seen with a blue that fills a power meter; in 'Professional' mode this aid is not present and the power can be seen via the movement of the character's arm. A new difficulty added is 'Master' mode where extra precision is required.Once the desired amount of power is reached, pushing forward on the analogue stick will throw the dart. Any deviation to the left or right while throwing the dart will also affect the dart's flight. The game also takes into account real-life darts physics, such as under- or over-stacking of darts, flights falling out, and bounce-outs. The former can be used to tactical advantage. These were not present in the first game.
Modes
There are numerous modes of play within the game. Aside from a simple Exhibition between one or two players, a single player can also create his own character and begin a career to become the world's best dart player. Another mode allows any of the tournaments in career mode to be played individually. Or, the player can create his or her own tournament with their own preferred format and play that individually or with others.Professionals
Sixteen professionals were included the game. This was six more than the previous game joining the original ten. The in-game players are below (listed along with their achievements at the time of production):- Phil Taylor - 'The Power' - Fourteen-time World Champion and the greatest darts player of all time
- Raymond van BarneveldRaymond van BarneveldRaymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
- 'The Man / Barney' - Five-time World Champion, including 2007, the year the game coincided with. The greatest darts player in The Netherlands
- John PartJohn PartJohn Part is a Canadian professional darts player, who is nicknamed Darth Maple.Part is one of only five players in darts history to be a three time World Champion...
- 'Darth Maple' - Three-time World Champion (1994, 2003, 2008) and Canada's greatest darts player
- Dennis PriestleyDennis PriestleyDennis Priestley is an English professional darts player. He has won two world championships, and was the first player to win both the BDO and WDC world championships, in 1991 and 1994 respectively...
- 'The Menace' - Two-time World Champion (1991, 1994)
- Colin LloydColin LloydColin Lloyd , nicknamed Jaws, is an English professional darts player on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit. He is a former world number one ranked player and he has won two major television titles in the PDC - the 2004 World Grand Prix and 2005 World Matchplay...
- 'Jaws' - World Matchplay champion (2005) and World Grand Prix (2004) champion
- Peter ManleyPeter ManleyPeter David Manley is an English professional darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He is nicknamed One Dart as he is known for hitting doubles with his first dart...
- 'One Dart' - Las Vegas Desert Classic champion (2003) and three-time World Championship finalist (1999, 2002, 2006)
- Alan Warriner-LittleAlan Warriner-LittleAlan Warriner-Little is an English professional darts player. He currently lives in Crosby, Cumbria and plays with the nickname The Iceman...
- 'The Iceman' - World Grand Prix champion (2001)
- Mark DudbridgeMark DudbridgeMark Daniel Dudbridge is an English professional darts player.-Darts career:He started playing in his very early teens, citing Dennis Priestley as one of his heroes...
- 'Flash' - World Championship finalist (2005)
- Wayne MardleWayne MardleWayne Mardle is a darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation, and former player in the BDO. He now lives in Romford...
- 'Hawaii 501' - World Championship semi-finalist (2004, 2005, 2006)
- Adrian LewisAdrian LewisAdrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
- 'Jackpot' - World Matchplay semi-finalist and Taylor's protege
- Roland ScholtenRoland ScholtenRoland Scholten is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC...
- 'Tripod' - UK Open champion (2004)
- Terry JenkinsTerry JenkinsTerry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
- 'The Bull' - Five-time runner-up in various televised competitions over 2006 and 2007
- Kevin PainterKevin PainterKevin Painter is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments, where he is known as "The Artist"...
- 'The Artist' - World Championship runner-up (2004) and two-time semi-finalist (2003, 2008)
- Ronnie BaxterRonnie BaxterRonnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
- 'The Rocket' - Two-time BDO World Championship runner-up (1999, 2000), World Matchplay and Desert Classic runner-up
- Andy HamiltonAndy Hamilton (darts player)Andy Hamilton is a full time professional English darts player widely known for his "aggressive" style of play. He is nicknamed The Hammer and is currently ranked 12th on the PDC Order of Merit....
- 'The Hammer' - Grand Slam of Darts runner-up (2007)
- Andy JenkinsAndy JenkinsAndy Jenkins is an English darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events. Jenkins had trials for Southampton Football Club while at school.-BDO career:...
- 'Rocky' - World Championship semi-finalist (2007)
Special features
PDC Pro animations - throw styles and walk ons - have been motion-captured and are fully integrated.All new graphic enhancements - player improvements and real-world sets and tournament locations, based on the locations from the PDC calendar.
Enhanced audio including calling, commentary, convincing dynamic crowd sounds, and darts atmospherics.
Enhanced A.I - player A.I. is calculated using real life averages from major tournaments and also based on actual playing characteristics i.e. stamina, belief, pressure, complacency and accuracy.
Improved and in-depth career mode, realistically reflecting a player's progress through the PDC calendar, featuring 7 of the major PDC tournaments each season.
All new character editor, supplying a greater range of options to customise your pro. Elements include male and female character models, skin tone, eye colour, nationality, name, hairstyle, hair colour, eye wear, shirt style and colour, throwing angle, level of difficulty and preferred checkout. Also includes options for dart barrel weights and flight designs.