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IGDA looking for feedback on L.A. Noire development conditions
The International Game Developers Association, a game industry non-profit organization, is responding to this past weekend's report of continuous "crunch" and dictatorial working conditions at LA Noire development studio Team Bondi by launching a full investigation. According to IGDA chair Brian Robbins, the organization will be soliciting reports, "positive or negative," from "any Team Bondi employee and/or family member." Robbins told Develop, "Reports of 12-hour a day, lengthy crunch time, if true, are absolutely unacceptable and harmful to the individuals involved, the final product, and the industry as a whole," echoing sentiments made in the past by a variety of game industry leaders. He also encouraged the aforementioned folks tied to Team Bondi to shoot an email to "qol@igda.org," before he added, "But no lolcats please ... okay, maybe a few."
LA Noire has shipped 4 million copies
Hidden within the announcement of a PC version of L.A. Noire is a clue as to Take-Two's motivation for making the game available on another platform. "Since its release on May 17," Take-Two said, "L.A. Noire has shipped approximately 4 million units worldwide to date." We don't know exactly how many of those 4 million copies were sold to consumers, except for the 899,000 that were sold in the US last month. In addition, we know that ... a lot of copies have been sold in the UK.
LA Noire arriving on PC this fall, with 3D support and improved graphics
After Red Dead Redemption failed to make an appearance on PCs, computerologists may have worried that Rockstar had abandoned the platform entirely, in favor of totally wimpy consoles. But the publisher just announced that Team Bondi's L.A. Noire "will be arriving this fall for the PC" with porting being handled by Grand Theft Auto Stories-developer Rockstar Leeds. Okay, so Rockstar hasn't abandoned the platform, but what about the performance issues that plagued the initial PC release of Grand Theft Auto IV? The press release promises that not only will the PC release feature 3D support and "improved graphical enhancements" but it will "run on a wide range of PCs" – naturally, we'll wait until its release, when PC gamers will inevitably assault the game with every hardware permutation imaginable while clinically taking frame rate readings every 15 seconds. L.A. Noire will find its way to PCs this fall, in both retail and digital formats.
PSA: LA Noire's 'Nicholson Electroplating' DLC out today
If you're ready to return to the beat as LA Noire's Cole Phelps, heed this friendly reminder that the "Nicholson Electroplating" DLC case will be available today on both Xbox 360 (for 320 Microsoft Points) and PS3 (for $3.99). Or, as we prefer to call it, "The Case of the Totally Huge Explosion." In this arson case, the titular facility explodes in downtown LA, and Phelps and partner Biggs have to figure out whether this was due to intentional arson or accident. Our first clue: OSHA was established in 1970.%Gallery-126814%
Cole Phelps takes a stilted walk around 'Real Life LA Noire'
Like any good comedy, Funny or Die's interpretation of LA Noire protagonist Cole Phelps is a bit over the top, but it also does a great job of pointing out some of the game's oddest missteps. For instance: why are there so, so many useless bottles to look at?!
Rumor: Developers claim to be uncredited for LA Noire work
For the past seven years, Team Bondi and Rockstar Games have been toiling away on LA Noire -- an effort that, at least from a critical standpoint so far, has been totally worth it. But some developers who supposedly had a hand in solving the case of how to launch a game have gone uncredited and taken to the internet for justice by ... launching a website and Facebook page. T.K. Rose, an alias of one such member (why hide your name?) of the group looking for recognition, told Destructoid that unless individuals were involved during "the final month or two of production" were left out of the game's credits, affecting about 100 individuals who apparently worked on the game. "A significant portion of these people did not leave Team Bondi by choice," Rose detailed, "they were made redundant as the art production wound down, and as Quality Assurance was shifted off-shore to Rockstar's studios." Rockstar has yet to comment on the claims of these individuals. We've reached out for comment and will update accordingly.
A whirlwind tour of LA Noire's Rockstar Pass DLC
Okay, so you're not convinced whether LA Noire's "Rockstar Pass," which gives you access to all the DLC for a flat $10 ($12 after June 14), is a good deal. Well, what if you were to see a couple of seconds of each DLC case? Would that help you reach a conclusion?
LA Noire DLC and Rockstar Pass pre-order scheme revealed
Detective, thank goodness you're here! We've got a hot case that just came in and we're stumped. Here's what we've got so far: Rockstar has revealed a steady slate of LA Noire DLC, coming until late July, that includes four new cases for Cole Phelps to bring his seething congeniality to. (Yep, the previously Best Buy-exclusive Nicholson Electroplating arson case is on the list.) You could buy all the content piecemeal for $20, or you could pre-purchase all of it for $10 with the newly announced Rockstar Pass. After June 14, the price of the pass will increase to $12. In even better news, two of the cases -- The Naked City and A Slip of the Tongue -- are available today, assuming you have the 360 version. Sadly, trying to access the PS Store on the PS3 version still causes the game to crash, but hopefully the store will be working soon. If this seemingly smart gambit works as planned, it would give players a reason to keep their copies off of the used game shelves until just before August -- after all, they've already paid for the DLC, right? -- so we'll be interested to see if it plays out that way. ... So, the boys in the lab have been going over it and they can't make heads or t-- whaddya mean it's all laid out there in its entirety, rendering your services pointless? What about a list of all the DLC with prices? ... Oh, right after the break? You don't say.
LA Noire is 'a powerful new franchise' for Take-Two
During this afternoon's Take-Two investor call, CEO Strauss Zelnick said that though he wasn't interested in comparing every new intellectual property to the "extraordinary success of Red Dead Redemption," Rockstar's latest has all the makings of a key franchise. "We have every reason to believe L.A. Noire is another strong franchise for this company," Zelnick said. "No matter how you slice it, it's a very successful release and to be able to say that again is extraordinary." Of course, Rockstar's many successes colored much of the call, from the announcement that Red Dead Redemption has now sold over 8.5 million units to the news that Rockstar's core creatives have renewed their employment contracts. "And if it needs to be said, this management team is just immensely grateful to Rockstar for delivering another superb title," Zelnick reiterated to investors. "One can never take that for granted. The hit ratio for this group is nothing short of extraordinary." When asked about downloadable content plans for L.A. Noire, Zelnick predictably side-stepped the question -- "We'll leave it to Rockstar to announce" any plans, he said -- but he again said that L.A. Noire is a "powerful new franchise" for Take-Two. Earlier in the call, Zelnick defined Take-Two's strategy, saying, "the core of which is to produce and distribute a select number of triple-A titles and support them with add-on content distributed both on disc and digitally." He continued, "Add-on content generally produces incremental revenue and profits and keeps gamers engaged with our titles for longer periods of time, thereby extending the life of the product, increasing the value of the brand, and ultimately converting it into a franchise." Following this math, L.A. Noire is going to need some more add-on content before it can really claim that "franchise" moniker ... So how about getting on the horn with the good people at Roger Rabbit Licensing, Inc.? No price is too high!
First LA Noire patch goes live today, won't take your guilt away
Rockstar Games' official blog recently announced that the first patch for LA Noire went live earlier today for Xbox 360 and PS3. Title Update 1.00 improves stat tracking for the game's Rockstar Social Club functionality, adds an age verification feature for DLC purchases and includes a few fixes for "minor gameplay bugs and graphical issues," as well as "several minor plot/objective/conversation issues." We're still trying to figure out exactly what those issues entail, but one thing's for sure: This update won't patch away the guilt we feel for clearly throwing the wrong guy in jail during that one totally botched case. That kind of guilt is forever, you guys.
Be a better L.A. Noire interrogator
We know how it is for a rookie cop on the streets of L.A. Noire. You and alter ego Cole Phelps are doing your best to dig deep to get the real dirt, the straight poop, and all you're getting to aid in your investigation is a bunch of Lying Leos and Dishonest Deborahs. To help you navigate these mendacious waters, we've put together a little guide to interrogations that we hope you'll find helpful -- and that we know you'll find right after the break. %Gallery-112378%
LA Noire's 'Nicholson Electroplating' DLC case opens June 21
"Nicholson Electroplating," L.A. Noire's first DLC add-on will be released via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network on Tuesday, June 21. Vouchers for the apparent arson case -- outed earlier this week -- were handed out, sparingly, at Best Buy launch events for the game. Rockstar has posted a redemption page for the vouchers, which notes the release date of the DLC. We've contacted Rockstar to find out how much the case will cost those of us who got to Best Buy just a little too late.
Are you playing L.A. Noire in black and white?
You might miss it if you don't know to look for it, but right there in the options for L.A. Noire you can activate a "black and white mode." The resulting look is reminiscent of the classic films the game attempts to emulate. "We always knew we would create a proper noir mode with the black & white setting for L.A. Noire considering how much inspiration for the game came from classic noir films like The Naked City and The Asphalt Jungle," art director Rob Nelson told us. "Playing in black & white adds a somewhat nostalgic, cinematic feel to the game, and we'd definitely recommend that players experiment with this setting and see what they prefer best." That got us wondering: Which mode are you using? For our part, we liked the monochrome look, but kept feeling like we were missing something by not playing in color. Fill us in on your preference after the break.
Read 'Naked Angel' from L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories
Known for his "Hap and Leonard" tales, Joe R. Lansdale is one of the crime novelists lending their skills with prose to the upcoming L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories eBook from Rockstar. Today you can read his contribution, "Naked Angel," in its entirety for the low, low price of free. Complex has posted Lansdale's short story, which is one of several that will comprise the full collection, due out June 6 as a digital-only release at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the iTunes Store. That timing's just right for investigating more of the L.A. Noire universe after solving finishing the game.
LA Noire film reels and landmarks guide
We get it: You're too busy taking down thugs and murderers in LA Noire to bother snooping around for film reels and pointing out landmarks in the City of Angels. But what about later? What will you do when there isn't a single lowlife left to bust? Then you'll probably want to go sightseeing. Thankfully, GamesRadar has prepared a quick, yet comprehensive guide -- detailing all 30 landmark and 50 film reel locations -- that you can either check out now or bookmark for later -- bookmark as in mark down in a real paper notepad. It's supposed to be the '40s, remember? Play along, you blockhead!
See how a 1920s daredevil inspired the L.A. Noire we know today
The methods -- that is to say, witchcraft -- used to create the eerily accurate faces of L.A. Noire's suspicious characters were previously exposed, but how did Team Bondi create the face of the game's titular city? The story is more thrilling than you might imagine: Much of the gameworld was designed using photographs taken by 1920s daredevil Robert Spence, who snapped photos of Los Angeles using a 46-pound camera while hanging out of the cockpit of his biplane. You can check out some of the images on PopSci, though really, we think the camera might have been facing the wrong way. Yes, the vintage shots of L.A. are neat, but not nearly as neat as a dude hanging out of his biplane while holding a 46-pound camera!
Metareview: L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is the game we found "too interesting to ignore." As for other folks? Giant Bomb (5/5): "The world already has enough open-world action games, but a game which marries that open world to such a methodical style of gameplay, with a budget this big, is a rare thing indeed." 1UP (A): "Despite the shortcomings of the combat, it still doesn't detract from the overall experience of L.A. Noire. By the end of the game, I felt like a seasoned gumshoe with years of experience under my belt. The evidence-gathering gameplay, and conversation-based puzzles requiring actual logic took me completely by surprise -- not just because of how "real" it seemed, but by how entertained I was just doing it all." Gamespot (90/100): "L.A. Noire is a unique game with a terrific sense of period atmosphere, absorbing investigation mechanics, and a haunting tale with plenty of moments that would be right at home in a classic film noir. Those smoky nights spent listening to jazz at the Blue Room, and the price you paid for them, will stay with you long after you've retired your badge and gun. " Eurogamer (80/100): "But where Ace Attorney carries you through on winning characterization and a swift interface, L.A. Noire's realistic, low-key style gives this process a very different pace and flavor. To begin with, it's disconcertingly slow, but you soon relax into and start to enjoy its steady, methodical tempo."%Gallery-120245%
Grab LA Noire at Kmart this week, get $20 credit and a free game
Most of you early adopters have likely already secured your copy of LA Noire, but if you've been holding back, Kmart's deal might just bring you down off the fence. From today through Saturday, May 21, any purchase of LA Noire will secure you a $20 credit good towards a future gaming purchase, good through July 2, the Kmart blog has announced. If you head in-store, you also earn a free game (no accessories or points cards), valued at $19.99 or under. A nice little list is available over on CAG, showing off a wide variety of games to choose from including Alpha Protocol, 3D Dot Game Heroes, Mirror's Edge, No More Heroes and a lot more. There is a catch: you need to be a Shop Your Way Reward member and head in-store in order to get the deal. But, honestly, it's not much of one since signing up is free and you don't need to be a detective to know people always want more for less. [Thanks, Eric]
LA Noire DLC 'Nicholson Electroplating Arson Case' outed by Best Buy
LA Noire's first downloadable content pack has been announced unceremoniously in Best Buy's latest ad circular. As seen above, the ad promises that the first 16 customers to purchase the game at any Best Buy midnight launch event will receive a code that will unlock "the first DLC pack," known as the 'Nicholson Electroplating' Arson Case, as soon as it becomes available for download. The fine print notes that every midnight launch location will have a "minimum of 16 Xbox 360 and PS3 codes per store" -- if you're number 17, don't despair. Rockstar has yet to release info on the first DLC pack, and the developer could not be reached for comment as of publishing. [Thanks, Steven]
LA Noire launch trailer is all good cops and grimaces
Being a good cop in '40s-era Los Angeles isn't as simple as sticking to the book. If LA Noire's launch trailer is any indication, detectives will need to rely and relay a lot on his face. Specifically, that look he gets whenever he bites into a lemon.
