In
the Land of the Lotus Eaters
February 2001

By Mr.
Sunshine

Hello, hello, hello. Mr. Sunshine here, and today we are
going to take a look at all that is positive this month in the world of adventure
gaming!

Well, Mr. Sunshine was at his local Electronics Boutique the other
day, and he had the honor to watch the sales clerk ring up not one but two
copies of The Messenger and two copies of Dracula Sanctuary. Goodness
gracious, who says adventure games aren’t selling? But wait, there’s more! I had
a talk with the store manager, who is a close personal friend of mine thankyouverymuch,
and he told me that there is a huge demand for Dreamcatcher strategy guides. Right
now the guides can only be purchased online, but you can be sure Mr. Sunshine
will be keeping close tabs on this story.

It looks like March will be a
big month for adventure gamers who have magazine subscriptions. The April-dated
issue of PC Gamer will contain a feature article on the future of adventure
gaming, and Computer Gaming World will name its choice for adventure game
of the year (even though that evil, evil Mr. Randy already spoiled the surprise).
Seems like the gaming magazines are finally recognizing the adventure genre again!
But is it because the products are getting better or that adventure gamers are
finally speaking out? Which came first, the chicken or the egg, you tell Mr. Sunshine.

Oh
my, it seems that there is no lack of good news in the adventure community. Have
you seen those sales figures for The Crystal Key? Over 200,000 copies sold.
If this doesn’t qualify as a blockbuster, then please slap Mr. Sunshine silly.
And how about that Escape from Monkey Island? Over 50,000 sold! Expect
Dracula Sanctuary to also be a big seller. Mr. Sunshine also hears that
there will be huge advertising campaigns for In Cold Blood and Myst
3. To this, Mr. Sunshine can only say goody, goody!

Mr. Sunshine recently
had a chat with the marketing department at Fox and was able to ferret out some
juicy inside information. Seems that the oft-delayed Planet of the Apes action/adventure
will be based on the original movie version starring Charlton Heston and not on
the remake being directed by Tim Burton. Now Mr. Sunshine is wondering what Tim
Burton has done to the remake! There’s nothing Mr. Sunshine likes better than
watching a big hairy gorilla devour a banana.

Mr. Sunshine’s not done yet,
boys and girls. The editor of Just Adventure, Mr. Randy (ooh, just writing that
name gives me prickly chills down my back) informs me that Just Adventure will
soon be sponsoring a contest with a grand prize of $1,000! Wow, Mr. Sunshine is
impressed, and it really takes something big to impress Mr. Sunshine! The contest
will tie in with a new, unannounced adventure game that will be available on a
future PC Gamer demo that will link to Just Adventure. Mr. Sunshine has
also been informed that Just Adventure will soon begin sponsoring a whole slew
of online adventure games from Cryonetworks. Mr. Sunshine is drooling in anticipation
of playing with adventure gamers from all over the world.

Myst 3: Exile
has had its release date pushed back from early April to May 7th, but Mr.
Sunshine wants everyone to know that this is good news! The prerelease orders
for Myst 3 are so large–already 500,000 preorders–that Presto pushed
back the release date to ensure that all of the orders could be fulfilled. In
fact, Myst 3 could possibly end up being the largest-selling game in history.
Mr. Sunshine sincerely hopes that some of you can get refunds on those funeral
wreaths that you have strewn on the genre’s premature grave.

Mr. Sunshine
thinks that the boys and girls over at Mixnmojo are just doing a yummy job of
promoting the Monkey Island games! While Mr. Sunshine realizes that not
everyone may like this type of sophomoric humor, Mr. Sunshine also believes that
we should not belittle those with inferior taste. Why, Mr. Sunshine was at a dinner
party the other night and the hostess was actually wearing a Bill Blass. Ugh!
Avant-garde … not!

Mr. Sunshine understands that Just Adventure had decided
to no longer support Eidos products: partly because of their provocative advertising
campaigns for games that are aimed at children and partly because of their marketing
department’s refusal to support the people who help them to market their products
for free. A little bird tells Mr. Sunshine that some of these companies seem to
have no problem asking webzines to run marketing blurbs and links to their new
products, but when it comes to advertising, contests, and review copies, then
the little guys are left out in the cold. Mr. Sunshine says, “Cant’ we all
just get along?” Mr. Sunshine hopes that everyone will just kiss and make
up. Well, at least just kiss. Look out, Mr. Sunshine is blowing a big one your
way!

Mr. Sunshine sees by the swinging ruby slippers on his Judy Garland
clock that the time has come to say toodles. Never fear, though, Mr. Sunshine
will be back again next month with more positive news from the wonderful world
of adventure gaming.