mafia-2
Latest
Preview: Mafia 2
For a story that has so much in common with a Godfather film, Mafia 2 still manages to stand out from its influences. The world crafted in 2K Czech's Illusion Engine is truly impressive, with a snow-covered Empire Bay of the 1940s giving way to a sunny version ten years later. The progression of time gives the already realistic locale even more life, and the change in weather represents a turning point in the game's story. The two story missions that I played at a 2K press event last month were structured similarly to any old Grand Theft Auto mission, though I found myself enchanted by Empire Bay -- a mashup of various cities, I was told -- and its fiction, complete with music appropriate for the era. I was not to be sidetracked into a sandbox murder spree on my way to the job. %Gallery-97815%
'Betrayal of Jimmy' is exclusive PS3 launch DLC for Mafia 2, 'Jimmy's Vendetta' to come later
If you're a PS3 player and were all excited to see the exclusive "Jimmy's Vendetta" in your Mafia 2 DLC offerings, hold your horses there, Daddy-O. Turns out "Jimmy's Vendetta" is actually the second DLC pack coming to the game. The first is the one that's PS3 exclusive, and it's called "The Betrayal of Jimmy." Boy, this Jimmy guy, he's got some trust issues. "The Betrayal of Jimmy" will be available exclusively for the PS3 at launch, free with a code inside the new game, or from PSN for $9.99. The pack will allow players to experience "dozens of intense newly created arcade-style, city-based missions" as Jimmy, a mob mercenary. "Jimmy's Vendetta" is another pack coming down the line (pricing and availability not yet announced) that will offer new locations and new missions and have the player working alongside Jimmy around Empire City. Those previously leaked trophies are for the second pack, then, not the first. And we don't yet know if that pack is exclusive to the PS3 or not. Hey, it's confusing, but you're no mafia meathead -- you gotta be smart to outwit the feds, see? %Gallery-97645%
Mafia 2 PS3 exclusive DLC revealed - 'Jimmy's Vendetta'
Finally, the first details on Sony's exclusive Mafia 2 content (announced at E3) have surfaced. An early look at the game's Trophy list reveals that the PS3 version the game (see update below) will have free add-on DLC titled "Jimmy's Vendetta." From the Trophy descriptions, it appears the add-on includes several missions and an arcade-style points system, multiplier included. With one Trophy requiring 1,000 kills, it would appear that the add-on is lengthy (or repetitive!) enough to allow players to rack up such an impressive body count. Update: An official statement from 2K Games on July 16th tells us that "Jimmy's Vendetta" is actually the second planned DLC pack for Mafia 2. "The Betrayal of Jimmy" is the first, PS3 exclusive pack, available for free at launch with an in-box code, or from the PSN for $9.99. "Jimmy's Vendetta" will come later, and pricing and availability have yet to be announced as of this update. The trophies after the break are presumably from the second pack.
Mafia 2 takes a tour of Empire Bay
In a new Mafia 2 developer diary, 2K Czech explores the fictional city of Empire Bay. Seen during two distinct time periods over the course of the game, the city is the product of thousands of photographs and intense bouts of wireframe modeling. There's so much to see there -- certainly more than you could process in a single drive-by.
Mafia 2's swag suitcase is full of brutal truths
Oh those crazy publishers, always sending us crazy stuff for their crazy games. Why, just today we received the suspicious looking red suitcase seen above for Mafia 2 -- one which we presumed to be full of human heads (that's what early 20th Century gangsters carry around, no?) until we crowbarred it open and looked inside. Lo and behold, it actually contained a dossier detailing some of the game's main characters, as well as a note for "Paulie," which we've catalogued for you in the gallery below. Now make with the clickin', wise guy!%Gallery-96480%
Preview: Mafia 2 (and Mafia 2 3D)
Mafia 2 feels, from the demo we played, like it could just as easily be called Grand Theft Auto: Godfather. If that's what you're looking for from the mob-o-rama sequel, then celebrate by throwing someone off a pier with cement shoes. It's actually pretty hard to note anything unexpected or different in the Mafia 2 demo. Almost everything you'd expect from a game that borrows heavily from the GTA IV template is there, both the good and the bad. %Gallery-6189%
Overheard@E3: What to do with a Playboy magazine
Mafia 2 has vintage Playboy centerfolds in it. This we knew. Sitting down for our hands-on with the mob simulator the 2K Games representative mentioned on the sly, "If you want to know how one of the Playboys work it's on the kitchen counter." Our eyes widened and heart raced as we began the demo. The dim lighting and comfortable couch in the room urged us to make the game's protagonist approach the magazine. With a press of the X button we were presented with the first of five centerfolds in the demo (out of 50 in the game). So that's how it works if you care about that sort of thing. %Gallery-6189%
Mafia 2 'Made Man' trailer teaches about family ties
In more ways than one, being the "new guy" in your local mafia chapter is similar to your first day at high school. Check out the following trailer for Mafia 2, and witness the plight of Vito Scaletta, relative newcomer to the Empire Bay crime syndicate. Watch the bizarre hazing rituals his new family subjects him to, and catch a glimpse of the sweet life that awaits players who ascend the ranks of the mafioso. But those who betray their brothers in crime could end up getting pantsed during gym class. Or rather, shot to death in a discreet warehouse. Okay, so it's not exactly like high school.
Mafia 2 demo pumps Xbox 360, PS3 and PC full of lead in August
During today's quarterly earnings call, Take-Two's Ben Feder confirmed that 2K Czech's wise guy sim, Mafia 2, will be chopped up into little pieces -- you know, for a demo release. "In August, 2K will launch a comprehensive demo program on Xbox Live Marketplace, PSN and the internet that will allow gamers to experience the game up until its launch," he said. Feder offered no exact date for when the demo was expected to fall off the back of the (virtual) truck. Mafia 2 shakes down retail on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on August 24.
Mafia 2 collector's edition and pre-order offers announced
Believe it or not, Mafia II finally appears to be on the way, for real. In advance of the August 24 release date, 2K Games announced a Collector's Edition for the PS3/Xbox 360/PC gangster game. The Collector's Edition includes the standard bonuses for this kind of thing: an art book, soundtrack, and SteelBook case. It also comes packaged with a "high quality, tear-resistant map" of Empire Bay, and a code for a downloadable "Made Man Pack" with two luxury cars and two suits, including a tuxedo. In addition, retailers are offering the following bonuses with pre-orders of (any edition of) Mafia II: GameStop has the "Vegas Pack" featuring Vegas-inspired cars and suits, and a "War Hero Pack" with two military vehicles and uniforms. Amazon offers the "Renegade Pack" including '50s-style cars and leather and lettermen's jackets for Vito, so you can live out your Happy Days crime fantasies. You also get a $10 discount on a future game purchase. Best Buy has the "Greaser Pack" with two "hot-rod speedsters" and two racing-style outfits. Walmart.com is offering a "$10 Gift Card" which will allow you to buy $10 worth of merchandise at Walmart. We know it might be tempting to acquire the game in a thematically appropriate manner (having it "fall off a truck,") but these bonuses provide a compelling reason to actually purchase it from a retailer. Also, the whole "jail time" thing.
Mafia 2 dev diary takes care of some business
For gangsters, it's not all slick suits and waiting around to scoop up whatever has fallen off the back of the truck. Sometimes, you have to roll up the sleeves of that expensive suit you can't explain how you have come to possess and put in some work -- some dirty work. And that's the focal point of this Mafia 2 developer diary. Protagonist Vito Scaletta shows he's just as good at slinging lead as he is throwing his fists around. But, he's also not afraid to do more damage by setting cars on fire and leading the coppers on a chase around the city. Our personal favorite, however, has to be his proficiency at rolling grenades beneath cars. We like to call that move "The Lebowski." Anyway, hit the play button on the player above and enjoy. Consider it an offer you can't refuse.
Point and click your way through Mafia II's Story of Frankie Potts
We kind of like this trend of free Internet-based games made just to promote their big-release cousins. Dragon Age Journeys is the standout so far, but Mafia II is entering the ring with a free point-and-click game called The Story of Frankie Potts, playable right now on the game's website. There's not much to see yet (just a few clickable scraps of paper and a darkroom where you can develops a new screenshot), but the timeline feature hints that there will be new content every day to check out. And not only will you get to learn about Mafia II, but eventually there will be "four challenge games" in which you can compete with other players around the world for "limited edition swag," and even a copy of the game along with a PS3 and 60" TV with surround sound system to play it on. Yes, it's "promogaming" -- the goal is to sell you on the game. But especially if these free experiences are intriguing, we'll welcome a little extra gameplay for no extra charge. It's better than just reading a press release, right?
Mafia 2 dev diary introduces us to Vito's mother
She may only play a cursory role in the first Mafia 2 developer diary from 2K Czech but main character Vito Scaletta's mother really stood out to us when we watched the video you see embedded above. She's certainly not lacking in the character department, with "character" being one of the two themes the clip focuses on, and "story" making up the other half -- even though she's only allowed a few short lines in welcoming "her boy" back home. We're hoping, however, for some good old-fashioned early 20th century maternal scolding as Vito dives deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld of 1940s slash '50s America. He's just doing what he's gotta do to get by, Ma! %Gallery-6189%
Mafia II ready to hit retail August 24, 2010
Take-Two announced today that Mafia II is ready to offer North American retail an August 27, 2010, release date -- we doubt they'll refuse. We guess that leaves LA Noire or Max Payne 3 (we'll be shocked if it's Civilization V) as the game that could potentially be delayed by the publisher. (Umm, assuming this final date doesn't get gunned down at the last minute.) The game will also be playable by the public for the first time at PAX East, which starts tomorrow in Boston. Update: August 27 in the UK.
Q4 release for Mafia 2 (re)confirmed; Payne, Noire, Civ V still on hit list
Earlier this month, Take-Two announced the potential movement of one of the titles planned for release in its fiscal fourth quarter, extending from August to October. The choices were: LA Noire, Mafia 2, Max Payne 3, or Civilization V. During our demo of Mafia 2 on Wednesday, we were told the game would make its Q4 release, removing it from the list of potentially delayed titles. If we were the betting type, we'd be looking at one of those two Rockstar titles; after all, we've seen Civilization V at this point while LA Noire and Max Payne 3 remain shrouded in mystery.
Interview: Mafia II producer Denby Grace
Three delays later, Mafia II looks like it's finally (finally!) getting ready to launch. It's been a long journey, and we spoke with 2K senior producer Denby Grace during GDC about the development time and what we can expect from the ambitious crime saga: We've been waiting a very long time for this game haven't we? Denby Grace, senior producer: The reason for the delay is polish. You'll see the game looks great as you play today. It's just not quite perfect, which is what we at 2K generally strive for. It's what we want to be known for, the quality of our games. Just having come so long, it would be foolish to release it too early. Are there any specific reasons for the delay? What needed to be polished? Technically there are a few things: the framerate isn't quite on the money yet. It's just the whole experience. One of the things we're spending a lot of time doing is focus testing. We're testing about twenty people a week. And it's getting that difficulty curve right. We want it to be hard, but we don't want it to be impossible like Mafia I. I don't know if you played the first game, but there was one mission when we shipped the game. Literally everyone failed until we released a patch. So we're really, really conscious about delivering a really balanced, proper difficulty curve. And then it's just bugs. It's an open world: ten square miles, fifty vehicles, a hundred environments. There were quite a lot of bugs in it! %Gallery-87797%
Hands-on: Mafia II
It seems like almost a year ago that I first saw Mafia II. That's probably because it was almost a year ago that 2K Czech (formerly Illusion Softworks) demoed live gameplay from the title (which had been announced nearly a year and a half before that.) Today, it was time to finally get my hands dirty as a virtual wiseguy, but first I had to put some clothes on. In all seriousness, protagonist (I guess he's that, right?) Vito Scaletta had just woken up after a pretty wild night (judging by the various undergarments strewn around his bachelor pad) when my demo kicked off, so I of course jogged around turning on faucets and flicking light switches before actually doing what the game was instructing me to do: Get dressed. Leaving Vito's apartment, I stepped out into a world as pitch-perfect in its depiction of the 1950s -- the cars, the clothing, the architecture, the music -- as I can imagine. So what if the car that I hopped into and the place I was driving around -- Empire City -- never existed in any real era? I spent the first few minutes of the demo causing all sorts of mayhem. Heck, the very first thing I did was get into a fender bender (putting it mildly) from which I fled, only to learn that the punishment for a hit-and-run in the '50s was, evidently, only a few dollar fine. But my trouble with the fuzz didn't end there. %Gallery-87797%
Vintage Playboy centerfolds grace Mafia II
It appears mobsters aren't the only things getting rubbed out in Mafia II, as 2K Games announces it has signed a license agreement with Playboy magazine for the mob saga. The pictorial publication will have over 50 of its "vintage covers and Centerfolds" inside the game when it eventually releases. The iconic publication first premiered in 1953, so unless the game, which covers the '40s and '50s, is rewriting history, the Playboy collectibles won't show up until the latter part of the game's story. The magazine apparently won't merely be window dressing either, as players will have the ability to "collect virtual copies of the iconic magazine" -- to read the articles, of course. If you have roommates, we recommend investing in Purell hand wipes. We're not implying anything, simply "safety first." It is still flu season, after all.
Mafia II trailer needs guys like you
It doesn't take much to excel in this thing of ours. You have to have brass whatnots, be willing to do some unsavory acts and put the family above all else -- basically, don't be Fredo. It's not that hard, when you think about it, but the latest trailer for 2K Games' Mafia II disagrees. Apparently, in post-WWII, there weren't a lot of guys who had the stomach to use cover-based shooting mechanics and traverse a sandbox-style environment. Frankly, we're shocked that The Greatest Generation had any shortcomings at all!
Take-Two may delay major 2010 release; L.A. Noire, Mafia, Max Payne and Civ V named
Take-Two's financial results briefing today suggests that one of its upcoming titles could be subject to a delay. "L.A. Noire, Mafia II, Max Payne 3 and Sid Meier's Civilization V are all planned for release in the fourth fiscal quarter [August–October, 2010]," the announcement confirms, "however, the Company's fiscal year 2010 guidance reflects the potential movement of one of these titles into fiscal 2011 [beginning November 1, 2010]." If Take-Two is already adjusting its financial estimates based on one of these titles being delayed, it sounds like more than just potential. Folks have been waiting a long time for pretty much all of these games. Max Payne 3 was already moved from winter 2009 to "late 2010"; L.A. Noire has just been given a expected September date after an extraordinarily lengthy development time; and the very fact that Mafia II is said to release between August 1 and October 31 already represents a delay from its last known release window. That leaves Civilization V, which was just announced two weeks ago, and thus hasn't had time to be delayed yet. This could be its first, people!
