Max Payne
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Rumorang: Max Payne 3 won't stay dead
According to CVG, Xbox World 360 magazine (also owned by Future Publishing) claims that Max Payne 3 is being produced internally at Rockstar Toronto, the team behind The Warriors. This follows rumors by EGM that the game is currently in development. Original Max Payne developer, Remedy, is currently picking its nose hard at work on Alan Wake. There's currently no timetable for when (or if) Max Payne 3 will become official. We've contacted the folks at Take-Two in the hopes that they'll shed some light on the issue.
Steam's 50% off weekend on Rockstar titles, many games only $5
Valve's Steam service has a seriously sweet 50% off sale this weekend on its Rockstar games catalog. Both Max Payne titles are only $5 apiece ($7.49 for the set). Also, Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City are $5, while San Andreas is only $10. Steam is also offering its whole Rockstar collection (10 games in all) for $30. Not every game in there is a classic (lookin' at you, Manhunt), but the price is certainly right for all the hours worth of gameplay in the package.
Max Payne trailer seems familiar, looks awesome
There has never been a movie based on a videogame that wasn't ... oh what's the word... non-ass. Sure, game-based films are always entertaining but that's always for the wrong reasons. After watching the new Max Payne trailer, titled Angels & Demons, we're starting to get hopeful for the flick. Taking the story from both Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne the film look promising but like a short guy at a urinal, we're going to stay on our toes. Just in case.
Max Payne film rated PG-13, DVD to include "Gamer" cut
Film director John Moore has won a hard fought battle with the Motion Picture Association of America to secure a PG-13 rating for the upcoming film, Max Payne -- based on the first and second games from Remedy. Originally rated R by the MPAA, the director of the violent video game adaptation starring Marky Mark Wahlberg called the MPAA out saying the film was as intense as other summer blockbusters. Moore compared the situation to The Dark Knight, accusing the MPAA of sucking up to Warner Bros. when rating the comic adaptation, although Moore's choice of words were far more colorful. Of course the fight was based on dollars as Moore fought the R rating to secure a more financially viable PG-13 mark on the film which hits theatres on October 17. Fans of the game will be happy to know that the original uncut vision will eventually see life on DVD in what Moore calls, the "Gamer Dedicated Cut." But don't expect sunshine and rainbows now that Max Payne landed a PG-13 rating. "The movie you see in the theaters will be an intense experience and the movie you see on DVD will be as intense an experience with some extra sensibilities for people who really adore the game," Moore told GameDaily. [via Shack News]
Max Payne noir-ly gets an 'R,' MPAA settles on 'PG-13'
Director John Moore has confirmed that the film adaptation of Max Payne will receive a PG-13 rating when it releases Oct. 17. Earlier this month, the director admitted he was in a fight with the Motion Picture Association of America after being told his movie "feels R."In an interview with GameDaily, Moore states that they merely "trimmed some frames," but didn't make any major changes. It's certainly amusing that a kid will be able to purchase a ticket to the movie adaptation of an M-rated game s/he shouldn't be able to purchase in a store.
Max Payne director upset about potential R-rating
Max Payne director John Moore is knee-deep in the battle to get a PG-13 rating for his movie. In an interview with Das Gamer, Moore really lets the expletives fly as he expresses his frustration with the MPAA ratings board, which allegedly told him his movie "feels R."Moore goes on to express that after seeing The Dark Knight, he felt good about Payne getting a PG-13 rating, but that was obviously not to be. The as-yet unrated Max Payne is still a month away from its Oct. 17 release. On the bright side, if Moore has to make cuts to the film for those outrageously priced multiplexes, at least we'll get the unrated version on DVD in ... what, like three months? For the record, both Max Payne games received Mature ratings (17+) from the ESRB.[Via Big Download]
We might actually go see the Max Payne movie
Perhaps it's the sight of a former rapper flying awkwardly through the air with guns blazing, or the amusing result of That 70's Show's Jacky pretending to be a real toughian, but we're feeling slightly optimistic about Max Payne's journey from game to film. Sure, it's a journey that's been attempted and failed by many blithering idiots who could barely stand upright, but we're intrigued by this film's gloomy atmosphere and winged, are-they-real-or-hallucinatory demons. Plus, you know, Brett Ratner isn't directing it. See the theatrical trailer after the break. Gallery: Max Payne
Quartermann: Rockstar making Max Payne 3 internally
Of all of the people who make crap up on the internet, the enigmatic EGM rumormonger Quartermann seems to be the most accurate. This could be because Quartermann is just an amalgamation of different EGM editors and they hear some fairly juicy stuff in their day-to-day, like (for example) the rumor that the same Rockstar team that made The Warriors is busy toiling on Max Payne 3, presumably to cash in on the upcoming movie. With original devs Remedy hard at work on Alan Wake and Rockstar Toronto not working on anything that we know of, it would seem to add up. In a more nebulous vein, Quartermann also says that Rockstar North, the team behind GTA IV, is hard at work on a PS3 exclusive. You'll know if this rumor is ever confirmed, however, when you see PS3 fanboys with an otherworldly glow and floating a few inches off the ground as a choir of angels sings in the background. Also, 360 fanboys will start throwing themselves off buildings, Happening-style.
Wahlberg: Max Payne 'is my favourite role so far'
Boogie Nights' well-endowed Dirk Diggler? Nope. The Departed's wise-cracking Dignam? Uh-uh. Maybe Planet of the Ap ... yeah, not that one obviously. We're just wondering what Mark "y Mark" Wahlberg's favorite role has been in his brief, but illustrious, career. Turns out we don't need to guess, big Mark is here to tell us. Comparing his "out of control" childhood and the accompanying life lessons it provided in the latest issue of Total Film magazine with Max Payne's inner demons, Wahlberg says, "Maybe that's why this character is my favourite role so far."Great, more data. So now you're tasked with weighing the various pieces of evidence at your disposal – he hasn't played the video game; the posters are great; he loves the role; Beau Bridges is in it – and making a snap judgment on a movie that isn't out yet. Quick! Does it suck? Is it going to be great? Citizen Kane or Max Payne, pick one!
Brace yourself: Mark Wahlberg hasn't played Max Payne
Sadly, we've gotten used to Hollywood muckety-mucks not actually playing through the source material when they're creating a movie based on a video game. But Mark Wahlberg's answer as to why he's avoided Max Payne while playing the title role in the film is almost breathtaking as both evasion and backhanded insult."I didn't want to play because I have an addictive personality," he told People Magazine. "I got more responsibility now than I've ever had with the kids and everything else. I don't want to be spending 14 hours on the videogame and then eight hours on the set. It's not going to work out."That's right, video game fans: With one wrong decision, Mark Wahlberg could have turned into you, and that's just not a risk he's willing to take.
See first posters, date for Max Payne flick
If there's one entertainment genre that has a worse track record than movies turned to video games, it's video games that have been transformed into movies. At least movies to games have a few bright spots; when people have to summon up Mortal Kombat as the most admirable adaptation of a medium, you know something's gone awry.So it's with a spirit of mild skepticism that we present the first two posters for Mark Wahlberg vehicle Max Payne. The problem is that we think the above poster (and the one after the jump) look pretty outstanding. AICN has some bigger versions; take a look and let us know what you think.
The Max Payne movie trailer
Maaax! Dearest of all our friends. After the break you'll find the trailer for the Max Payne movie, starring Marky Mark Wahlberg as the title character who knows how to deliver a noir monologue. The trailer gives us a glimpse of femme fatale Mona Sax and a taste of the guaranteed bullet time action. They've definitely captured the look and feel of the game, now we'll have to wait and see if the movie is any good.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
Can a crime MMO actually work?
A crime MMO might seem like a great idea, riding on the coattails of such gaming successes as the GTA series and Max Payne, but what about in the MMO space? Would killing the mafia boss or jumping your car over a moving train be quite as fun and translate as well if it were done as an online multiplayer experience? Well, so far we have two shots at it (pun intended): All Points Bulletin and the recently-announced CrimeCraft. Will these games, and the possible onslaught of copycat games be able to recreate the success of their single-player ancestors? In a recent article at MMOcrunch, they take a look at these possibilities and break down the genre according to what most interests us. They make a very good point about how most of the fun in these games is usually the destructive environments and generally screwing with the AI by blocking the streets with burned-out cars and downed telephone poles. This would not work quite as well in an MMO setting, unless someone at Realtime Worlds or Vogster Entertainment can prove us wrong.
Chris O'Donnell joins Max Payne cast
As each member has been added to the cast of the Max Payne film, we've been progressively more impressed by the Hollywood weight being thrown behind it. But the addition of Chris O'Donnell? That's a wash. Sure, we like O'Donnell, but his name isn't exactly a box office draw. (Oh, Batman & Robin, if you're reading this, we still totally hate you.)What is interesting is that O'Donnell will be playing executive Jason Colvin, which isn't a name we recognize. That has us wondering: How important is fidelity to the original plot for you? Would you rather they stick by it, or just do what works for the film?
Beau Bridges steps out of Stargate, onto set of Max Payne
The list of names for the upcoming Max Payne movie adaptation continues to grow as Stargate SG-1's Beau Bridges has become the latest actor to join the cast, following the addition last week of That 70s Show and Family Guy's Mila Kunis as an as-yet-unnamed assassin. Bridges looks to step into an altogether different role as a character named B.B. Hensley, which The Hollywood Reporter describes as "a former cop and mentor figure to Max Payne, who helps him track down a cunning, ruthless killer." The storied actor has played a number of different roles over the course of his career, but after three years of associating his face with that of Stargate's Major General Hank Landry, it's difficult for us to imagine him watching Mark Wahlberg's back without wanting him to pull out random quotes from Patton or Dr. Phil.
Take 2 News: GTA DLC into 2009 & more
We reported previously that hidden in the depths of a Take 2 shareholder's announcement lurked official news of a sequel to Bioshock, but in fact that announcement held a few other interesting gems as well. First, the news that there will continue to be DLC for GTA IV through the year 2009 (the confirmed Microsoft exclusive ones are set to hit in 2008.) Second and on the Bioshock front, was of course the sequel news, but also that Ken Levine is at work on some form of original IP. The other news regards games confirmed to be releasing this year and next year, which are Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, Top Spin 3, and Don King Presents: Prizefighter all for 2008, then Mafia II, Borderlands, and Bioshock 2 for 2009.
Mila Kunis joins Max Payne cast
We know, we know. We just brought you some Max Payne info and a pic, but for fans of the series, this new nugget was just too interesting to pass up. According to Variety, That 70s Show and Family Guy's Mila Kunis has just joined the cast as "an assassin who teams up with the title character to avenge her sister's death." If you're familiar with the series, that sounds like it could be Mona Sax, even though the character's name hasn't been revealed yet.We're a little bit nervous about the casting, as we've never seen Kunis in something that's required her to be particularly hard-boiled, but we guess everybody has to start somewhere. What say you?[Via AICN]
Pics of Mark Wahlberg as Max Payne emerge
We're going to be honest and admit that we still don't get the Max Payne movie project. It's been five years since the last game in the series, and the brand power in the mass market has to be hovering around nil. We weren't even sure we believed it last month when we heard that filming was to start this month. That was, until we received this pic of Mark Wahlberg on the set of the film.To us he looks ... well, like Mark Wahlberg in a dark jacket. But since Max's face has looked completely different in both of his games, we don't know exactly what we expected. But if you're in the Toronto area, you may be able to help us get a better idea of how things are coming along. One of our readers sent in a list of shooting locales and times where you might be able to catch a glimpse, we've put it right after the jump. You know where to send it if you find anything juicy.[Via Eurogamer]
Max Payne filming to start next month
OK, think fast: Of the many rumored game-based film projects you've heard of on the horizon, which one would you guess is actually, really getting ready to start filming? Did you say Max Payne, which last graced game shelves with a new title five years ago? No? Well, then, you'll be as surprised as we were to learn that the film starts shooting next month. Oh ... and it stars Mark Wahlberg. We knew that already, we just hadn't really dealt with it yet.As for a pedigree, it's being directed by John Moore of Behind Enemy Lines and Flight of the Phoenix fame from a script by Beau Thorne on what is his absolute first IMDB credit. Ah well, everybody has to start somewhere, right? What better place than on an IP we're not sure anybody cares about anymore anyway?
Rockstar games 10% off on Steam during launch
Rockstar's line of PC games are now available for download on Valve's Steam digital distribution service with an additional 10% off during this launch week. The whole Grand Theft Auto series is available, including Midnight Club II, Manhunt, Wild Metal Country and the Max Payne games. Oh Max, dearest of all our friends, we wish you'd come back. Almost every game except for GTA: San Andreas is under $10. Go ahead and gift a title to a gamer buddy you forgot this holiday season -- these actually are some great deals if you somehow missed any of these titles.
