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Next Red Dead Redemption title update hunts down cheaters
And not just any cheaters, but no good, dirty cheaters. According to a post over on Rockstar Games' site, the next title update to Red Dead Redemption will bring with it "measures to counter hacking and cheating" on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Furthermore, a handful of "anti-grief" features will be added to the game's Free Roam online mode. Apparently, cowpokes enduring repeated harassment from other online players will be given the choice to jump to another point (of their choosing) on the map. The culprits doing all the griefing will get branded as such after six consecutive kills, earning them a Most Wanted status and wrangling the game's NPCs against the offender. Rockstar also promises to continue monitoring online play for those doing bad deeds after said title update goes live "within the next month," but then, isn't the existence of outlaws an inescapable reality of the Old West?
Dutch gamers break world record by playing for 50 hours straight
A group of six Dutch gamers played Red Dead Redemption for 50 hours straight over the weekend, garnering them recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records. The event took place at a Dixons store in the Netherlands, where six players started out as competitors, but eventually decided to keep playing and get the world record together. All six will receive recognition from Guinness, a $1300 prize and a Twistdock connector from the event's sponsor. There are two things that make this stand out from your average weekend-long play session. First, we're talking 50 hours for all six gamers with no breaks. While that's definitely been done before (with less than healthy consequences), Guinness was there to put the official stamp on everything. So, until you get them to watch you play Final Fantasy XIII and all of its optional missions all in one sitting, this record will probably stand.
Red Dead Redemption's 'Legends and Killers' screens revealed
One of the upcoming DLC packs for Red Dead Redemption -- henceforth referred to as "the one without the zombies" -- has been captured in screenshots. Titled "Legends and Killers," the pack includes nine multiplayer maps, eight playable characters from the original Red Dead Revolver, a tomahawk projectile weapon, and new Trophies and Achievements, which you presumably unlock by implementing the tomahawk in an unorthodox manner. Like, for spreading mustard on a delicious ham sandwich. The "Legends and Killers" pack will land on Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store next month for 800 MSP ($9.99). Check out a few screenshots of the new content in the gallery posted below. %Gallery-97637%
Red Dead Redemption studio lays off 40 employees
Red Dead Redemption developer Rockstar San Diego has let about 40 employees go, according to a statement given to IGN. "As Rockstar San Diego transitions from the launch of Red Dead Redemption onto future projects," studio manager Steve Martin said in the statement, "we are realigning our resources in order to continue to develop games as effectively as possible." The remaining team members are " hard at work on the development of downloadable content for the game." It's common for development teams to grow during the creation of a game and shrink following that game's completion, a tendency that Martin himself notes. Regardless, we wish the best to all of those who find themselves riding into the sunset.
Red Dead Redemption will be profitable, Take-Two CEO says
Take-Two Interactive CEO Ben Feder recently told VentureBeat that runaway stagecoach hit Red Dead Redemption, which supposedly ended up having one bucking bronco of a budget after six years of development, will be profitable for the company. Take-Two announced last month that the western had shipped over 5 million units, putting it en route to surpass the alleged 4 million units in sales it needed to recoup costs. The executive added that Red Dead Redemption "sucked the oxygen out of the room" upon its release, leaving little room in the market for anything that launched around the same time. The UK sales charts would agree, with RDR having held a prominent place since launch. Now, we wait for the US NPD figures (which will cover two months of data) to give us an idea of how the game's been doing in the States. %Gallery-43816%
Rockstar has 'no current plans' for Red Dead Redemption on PC
Sorry, keyboard cowpokes, it appears Rockstar Games has "no current plans" to mosey Red Dead Redemption over to PC. A Rockstar rep dropped the info nugget on the company's site when asked whether a PC version of the console exclusive hit was in the works. Red Dead Redemption has turned out to be a surprise hit for Take-Two Interactive, shipping over 5 million units since it rode onto the scene in May.
Red Dead Redemption surpasses 5 million units shipped
More than 5 million copies of Red Dead Redemption have been shrink-wrapped and shipped to retailers across North America and Europe since the game's May 18 release -- and, presumably, folks are buying 'em. Publisher Take-Two announced the mailing milestone today, amidst its quarterly earnings, celebrating the commercial and critical success of Rockstar's little Western that could. Just five months ago Red Dead Redemption appeared doomed. At that time, an anonymous Rockstar source told us, "It will take 4 million sales at full price to recoup the development costs of Red Dead. The good news is they are not expecting to make money with Red Dead Redemption." The accuracy of that estimate notwithstanding, today's shipment announcement suggests that Take-Two and Rockstar now expect to enjoy strong, continued sales of Red Dead. Of course, let's not get too celebratory over a measly 5 million shipped. As if to put the upstart Western in its place, Take-Two also revealed today Grand Theft Auto IV's lifetime global numbers: 17 million sold.
Red Dead Redemption 'Outlaws to the End' DLC due on June 22
If you think Red Dead Redemption's desolate landscape is best explored and conquered with a band of gun-toting ne'er-do-wells at your side, you'll be pleased to note that the free Outlaws to the End DLC pack has roped in an official release date: June 22. It'll toss six online co-op missions (for two to four players) into the sandbox and take your posse uphill, downstream and in-between several shootouts. You'll need a PSN account or an Xbox Live Gold Membership to partake, of course, but we're assuming most of you have access to such wonderful luxuries. Spare a thought for life in the olden West, where folks had to get by with just 28.8k modems and AOL keywords. %Gallery-94335%
Review: Red Dead Redemption (single-player)
Although Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar San Diego's long-awaited open-world game, may look nothing like GTA IV, the two easily invite comparison. Like GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption is an incredibly powerful, polished sandbox game. But, it also carries many of the same flaws as its Liberty City counterpart. While set in drastically different periods, the similarities between these two games cannot be ignored: from gameplay mechanics to mission design to narrative direction. While not cosmetically apparent, even the premises of these two titles are strikingly similar: both are about ex-criminals in new lands attempting to forge new lives for themselves. Both characters are dragged back into murder and vengeance; and both John Marston and Niko Bellic are forced to do odd jobs for odd characters in order to accomplish their goals. It's these odd jobs that make up the majority of Red Dead Redemption's core gameplay, which is a mixed bag. Most of the missions involve going from Point A to Point B, shooting enemies along the way, and it won't be long before you start to ask yourself the same question Marston asks: "Why am I doing this?" RDR has a number of explosive moments. As John, you'll hijack a moving train, engage in duels and race away in a mine cart. But too much of the game is devoted to herding cows, shopping and shooting hats -- odd jobs indeed for a bloody murderer. To say that RDR sometimes loses its focus is an understatement. %Gallery-43816%
Metareview: Red Dead Redemption
As you'd imagine, Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption ain't the depiction of the west your daddy used to see on Bonanza every week. It's a violent, immoral west and, if the reviews below are to be believed, it actually makes for a pretty darn good game. And here we thought Mad Dog McCree was the most dastardly dude the high plains had to offer. 1UP (A): "This is simply a beautiful game, and it's provided more than a few moments where I completely forgot where the hell I was supposed to be going while riding over golden hills at sunset or through the desert in the middle of a nighttime lightning storm. It doesn't quite convey the loneliness of the real empty spaces, but does compress the essence of all the varieties of land and weather native to those parts into a few hundred miles ride." GamePro (5/5): "Although this is said of almost every single new Rockstar product, Red Dead Redemption is arguably their best effort to date, if only because it distills all of the lessons they've learned from their previous titles into an engaging, expansive, and enthralling world. But the best part of Rockstar's open-world oater is its honest and open appreciation for the iconic Western genre." Game Informer (97.5/100): "To succeed where other Western games have failed, Red Dead Redemption deftly recreates a sandbox playground of a tumultuous historical period swept away by technological progress. The game perfectly captures the expansiveness of frontier life and the gritty gunplay of spaghetti westerns, rightfully earning its place alongside the great Western films and the best Rockstar games." IGN (97/100): "Red Dead Redemption is a must-play game. Rockstar has taken the Western to new heights and created one of the deepest, most fun, and most gorgeous games around. You can expect the occasional bug or visual hiccup, but you can also expect a fantastic game that offers the Western experience we've all been waiting for. Red Dead Redemption is a complete game in every sense -- both the single player and multiplayer modes are excellent -- and still manages to offer an attention to detail you rarely see from a game of this scope." Edge (90/100): "If the story leads us through well-trodden territory – blending The Good, The Bad And The Ugly's adventurous sweep with Unforgiven's morality, as played by Deadwood's perverts and bigots – the greater game is more digitised Westworld: an impeccable example of world building begging to be interrupted with a bullet. As one character notes: "I dreamt of documenting the last days of the old west. The romance, the honour, the nobility! But it turns out it's just people killing each other." There's no shame in that." %Gallery-43816% Source - Metacritic (Xbox 360) Source - Metacritic (PS3)
Red Dead Redemption gets exclusive content on PS3
Although its official release date is May 18th, some retailers are selling early copies of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. To the surprise of the few that hijacked an early copy, the PS3 version includes exclusive content, marked by a special sticker pasted on the box. According to the packaging, it includes "PlayStation 3 exclusive content" like "Solomon's Folly Gang Hideout" and the "Walton Gang Outfit." There is no sticker on the Xbox 360 version. We're surprised neither Rockstar Games nor Sony have yet to announce this potentially platform-deciding detail; thankfully, there's still time to change your pre-order, for those of you that absolutely need to ride around the Wild West wearing a top hat. Assuming, of course, you haven't already purchased the game from your local street date-breaking store. [Thanks, MLC!]
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.
Red Dead Redemption Achievements aren't horsing around
Up until about 15 minutes ago, our excitement for Red Dead Redemption was limited to our ability to create online posses in the game's open-world multiplayer mode. Thanks to a certain listing in the title's recently released Achievement (and, presumably, Trophy) list, however, our fascination has radically shifted. The listing in question? "What About Hand Grenades," which is unlocked when the player throws their first ringer in a round of horseshoes. We've posted the full list of Achivements after the jump, though we seriously doubt we'll unlock anything other than the one mentioned above. How are we supposed to embark on frontier adventures when there are horseshoes to be played?
UK: Download Red Dead trailer, get 400 MS Points
When it comes to effective marketing strategies, it's kind of hard to beat "give away free money." It looks like that's exactly what Rockstar is doing in the UK, as any Xbox Live Gold or Silver member that downloads the Read Dead Redemption "Multiplayer Free Roam" trailer from Xbox Live between April 26 and May 10 will receive some free goodies. Specifically, grabbing the trailer will net you a token to download a Red Dead Redemption dashboard theme and -- more importantly -- 400 Microsoft Points for free. The points and token will be sent to the associated Live ID email address used to download the trailer within four to six weeks. It's worth noting that the points expire on December 31, 2010, so don't plan on hoarding them. Also, the promotion is limited to the first 5,000 downloads (amounting to $25,000 in free money, incidentally). We're not sure how high the hype for Red Dead Redemption is in the UK, but we get the feeling this trailer is going to be pretty popular. Full details here.
Red Dead Redemption screens make us think of the posse-bilities
Click to posse-size Ever since we first saw the trailer for Red Dead Redemption's free-roaming multiplayer mode, our minds have been feverishly attempting to come up with a name for our rag-tag group of desperados. Sadly, we've yet to come up with anything better than "The Frontier Sunshine Squad." Perhaps the latest batch of screenshots for the title, arranged in the gallery below, will provide us with the inspiration we need to come up with something more intimidating. How about "Revolver-Having Super Friends?" Is that any better? %Gallery-90843%
Red Dead Redemption's online 'Multiplayer Free Roam' revealed
Rockstar Games has today unveiled one of Red Dead Redemption's multiplayer modes. Just like in Grand Theft Auto IV, "Multiplayer Free Roam" lets players explore the full single-player gameworld in an online, multiplayer environment. However, this mode remains separate from the single-player story and is not a means by which to progress through the "campaign" with other players. In Free Roam, players can explore by their lonesome or band together to form "posses" of up to 8 hombres. While possied-up, players can take on other posses, hunt down criminals or start a "group activity," like a traditional multiplayer deathmatch. Up to 16 players can be in the same online lobby simultaneously. As with GTA IV, experience points are gained as you play multiplayer modes. There are 50 levels of character progression, with experience points unlocking new weapons, mounts, characters and challenges. Today's announcement emphasizes that Free Roam is just one part of the Red Dead Redemption multiplayer experience. "There are more structured competitive modes that we'll reveal soon," Rockstar promises.
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]
Red Dead Redemption trailer explains a cowboy's choices
Morality wasn't just a black and white issue back in the Wild West, you know. There were plenty of gray areas as well, such as: Shoot that outlaw, or don't shoot that outlaw? Shoot that horse, or don't shoot that horse? Shoot everyone in that town, or don't shoot everyone in that town? Rockstar will contextualize this moral ambiguity in Red Dead Redemption, forcing protagonist John Marston to make some difficult choices, as previewed in the trailer above. (As you might have guessed, all decisions are shooting-based.) As you watch the video, think about what type of gunslinger you'd like to become. We're thinking Gene Hackman from The Quick and The Dead. Or, possibly, Gene Hackman from Wyatt Earp. Or, better yet, Gene Hackman from Welcome to Mooseport. %Gallery-43816%
Hands-on: Red Dead Redemption
I love Westerns: Shane, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Rio Bravo, Unforgiven, Open Range. These are the immersive stories that I've always wanted to play in games. There have been some decent efforts, like Dead Man's Hand, Gun, Call of Juarez, and even Red Dead Revolver, but they all confine the player to narrow paths. What happened to the wide-open Wild West? Enter: Red Dead Redemption. This is the largest world Rockstar has ever created. Can you quantify that? "It's big," a representative assured me. %Gallery-43816%
Meet 'Gentlemen and Vagabonds' in this Red Dead Redemption trailer
Rockstar has released another trailer for Red Dead Redemption, entitled "Gentlemen and Vagabonds." The trailer gives us a glimpse at the many colorful characters John Marston will meet on his quest in the Wild West. And they are colorful, ranging from a traveling doctor to stereotypical Irishman to a particularly nasty, smelly hillbilly. They don't all look very friendly, either, particularly that hillbilly, who appears to be burying Marston in the final scene. It's hard to say what Marston did to wind up in that situation but, trust us, if a hillbilly is digging your grave, things have taken a turn for the worse. Red Dead Redemption releases May 18.
