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Take-Two: Red Dead is 'permanent,' BioShock stays with 2K Marin
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick noted Red Dead among the company's "permanent franchises" at the Cowen and Company's Technology, Media and Telecom Conference this week. "It's obvious that GTA is a permanent franchise as long as we keep delivering this incredible quality; it seems quite obvious that Red Dead is a permanent franchise, again with the same caveat," he said. The Rockstar Games-developed series has two entries: 2004's Red Dead Revolver and 2010's Red Dead Redemption, and the CEO's phrasing strongly indicates that another Red Dead game is on the way. "But not everything is going to be a permanent franchise," Zelnick added. "We can do very well even if it's not. I would like to see us grow with a couple more great franchises in the next couple years and we're launching Evolve, we have very high hopes for that." Zelnick also commented on the BioShock series, saying the publisher thinks it is "beloved, we think it's important [and] certainly something that we're focused on, something 2K Marin will be responsible for shepherding going forward." 2K Marin suffered layoffs in October following the launch of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, prior to reports that the studio was on the verge of shuttering entirely. The developer launched BioShock 2 in 2010 between the two entries created by the Ken Levine-led studio Irrational Games. Irrational downsized to a small team of 15 in February, at which point Levine said the developer was "handing the reins of our creation, the BioShock universe, to 2K so our new venture can focus entirely on replayable narrative." [Image: Take-Two]
Red Dead Redemption looks 'revolutionary' in new trailer
We want everyone to be in the right frame of mind when watching this new Red Dead Redemption trailer, so first we'd ask that you to watch this gameplay clip from Mad Dog McCree. Now, had you told us back in 1990 that this is where we'd be in 20 years, we're not sure we could have handled it. A Western-themed game with digital characters, and not real FMV actors? Are you insane, sir? Alas, here we are, as the digital John Marston somehow finds himself embroiled in revolution. The trailer doesn't explain exactly who is revolting from what (it sounds a bit like the Mexican Revolution, which began around the time Redemption takes place), but it does look like train heists will be involved, so we're completely down.
Some guy got a Red Dead Redemption tattoo
You have got to have some huge cojones to go and get a giant tattoo of a dude from a video game that isn't out yet. What if the game is a real stinker? Then you have to be that dude nobody likes who goes around defending the game, saying people just didn't get the symbolism or whatever other excuses those people make up to justify their decision. It's a real mine field. That's why the above tattoo (via iGrandTheftAuto) of James Marston, from May's Red Dead Redemption, is so odd to us. It's not like the guy who got the tat will be the next Zune guy, but, well -- whatever makes you happy, we guess. [Via Rockstar]
Sources: Red Dead Redemption development in trouble [update]
When we recently spoke with our trusted sources from Rockstar San Diego, in addition to yesterday's information regarding the Midnight Club franchise, we were also told about the allegedly troubled state of Red Dead Redemption. One source said that the game "was a complete disaster for most of 2009 and previous ... it has since turned around a little bit, but there are huge problems with it still." Unsurprisingly, the issues with the game are repeatedly claimed to be the result of mismanagement -- along the same lines as what was mentioned in the recent "Rockstar spouse" letter. "Red Dead [Redemption] has been in production for six years (mainly because of horrible management/lack of direction due to fear of disrespecting Rockstar NY) and it will never get the money back in sales it cost to create for those six years," claimed another source. We asked Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter to estimate how many copies he thinks Red Dead Redemption needs to sell to make back its development costs and, more importantly for Take-Two, to be profitable. "I'd say realistically, if everybody [at Rockstar San Diego] was working on it this whole time -- so let's assume it's four years to be fair [Red Dead Revolver was released in March 2004], that's $40 million (about $10 million a year to run the studio) -- to make that back and just break even you need at least $80 million in sales; 1.75 million units. For profit: $160 million/3.5 million units." Pachter added that "it's got a shot" and that, from what he's seen of the game, "it looks phenomenal." Our sources are less hopeful, unfortunately: "The functional team that was Midnight Club was shattered. All the people who didn't quit or get fired were thrown onto Red Dead Redemption, many of them being demoted. The completely disfunctional team that is RDR was put to top priority. The people who had floundered on that project or outright screwed it up were promoted and are now in complete control of the studio, and they're running it into the ground." We'll have to see when the game arrives in stores this April -- if it does. We contacted Rockstar for comment on this story and have yet to hear back as of publishing. Update: We were contacted regarding this story by one Rockstar source, who told us: "It will take 5 million 4 million sales at full price to recoup the development costs of Red Dead. The good news is they [Rockstar] are not expecting to make money with Red Dead Redemption. At this point, that project is just supposed to prove that the San Diego studio can make a great quality AAA title." If you'd like to contact us regarding this or other stories surrounding the "Rockstar spouse" letter, we'd love to hear from you.
PAX 2009: Red Dead Redemption lets you kill ... everything
Red Dead Redemption's promised Wild West sandbox came to life in a build shown off to attendees at PAX over the weekend. One of the first things we noticed is that you can end a life whenever you want. What kind of lives? See a bunny bouncing by? Kablam. Attacked by a wild bear? Kapow. Angry at your horse and want to put him down? Kablang. You can kill literally every living thing in the game and, in some cases, skin them and sell their hides to the furrier in town to make some dough. We doubt he deals in horse skins, however. There's more beyond the break, just mind you don't get shot.%Gallery-72189%
Red Dead Redemption gets first trailer
Red Dead Revolver is a great game that never got the credit it was due. That's enough to keep us awake anticipating this fall's follow-up, Red Dead Redemption, but we realize the non-believers among you may need some convincing.To that end, we present this stylish, piping hot trailer. Sure it still seems a little weird to have former lead Red Harlow replaced by former outlaw John Marston, but with a dearth of solid western games on the market, we'll take it where we can get it.%Gallery-43816%
Rockstar goes west with Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar San Diego is kicking the dirt off its boots and returning to the American west with Red Dead Redemption. Developed using Rockstar's proprietary RAGE engine, the sequel to 2004's Red Dead Revolver promises an open-world complete with "strong plotlines in a massive vibrant, rural environment" when it pulls into town this fall for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Few gameplay details have been revealed regarding the upcoming title, which looks to cast players not in the role of Revolver's bounty hunter lead Red Halow, but instead a former outlaw named John Marston during the turn of the 20th century. Open world. A bad guy turned good. Just throw in Miss Kitty and her band of hookers and we're all set for GTA in the Wild West. Yee haw!%Gallery-43816%
