max payne 3
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Rockstar's Dan Houser still cold on 3D
As Max Payne reinvents himself for the modern generation, don't expect him to lean too hard into the brave new world of 3D. Rockstar's Dan Houser told Variety he's still unimpressed with the tech (even if it's possible Max Payne 3 will include it on PC). "I don't think anyone has solved the riddle of how you make 3D an integral part of the gaming experience," he told the publication. We'd like to take a moment here to take a firm stance in favor of utterly non-integral gaming innovations. Isn't that the whole point of 3D, sort of a George Mallory on Everest "Because it's there" type thing? We want to say here and now that the moment 3D has a purpose, we're gonna start pushing for 4D, and just wait until you see the glasses you'll need for that.
New Max Payne 3 screens go horizontal
When Max Payne isn't busy looking like a broken man, head in hands, he's exacting vengeance, as seen in the latest volley of screens from upcoming shooter Max Payne 3. If said vengeance just so happens to take him fully horizontal while in mid-air, firing two guns, then so be it!%Gallery-137235%
Max Payne 3: A man on fire
I watched Max Payne take cover, and I inhaled sharply. I watched him jump out of it into bullet time, and I let out my breath. Max Payne 3 is the most precarious situation Rockstar has gotten itself into in years. It's been eight years since the last Max Payne title, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. To give you a bit of perspective, Max Payne 2 came out just a few weeks after Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and Grand Theft Auto 3 had just released on the Xbox. Feel old yet? If not, there's a good chance you haven't played a Max Payne game before.%Gallery-135972%
Max Payne 3 trailer, now with informative pop ups
"Hey rookie, got another post for ya." Chief Grant tossed a manilla file folder onto my desk, acrid cigar smoke pouring from his mouth as he walked by. His brightly colored suspenders contrasted his gruff, guttural disposition and worried brow. The haphazard mess of papers spilled out of the folder like blood into my hands, and the face of Max Payne filled my vision. "But Chief," I said. "Our readers have already seen this Max Payne 3 trailer." Chief Grant stopped dead in his tracks, like a dead thing. He took the cigar from his mouth and looked at me with his cold, lifeless eyes. "Not like this," he said. As I sat back down at my desk, the evening's orange glow painted shadows through the blinds. In the distance, some other film noir stuff happened.
Max Payne 3 will stay true to the 'core element of Max,' retain noir narrative style
A lot has changed since 2003, not only for Max but for the gaming industry. What may have worked back then doesn't necessarily cut the mustard-stained tanktop nowadays, Rockstar VP of product development Jeronimo Barrera explained to GameSpot. Thus the radical departure in setting and look for Max Payne 3. Barrera said that while Max Payne 3 is very modern, most of the game's wrappings will be familiar to those who played the first game. The change of setting from snow-covered New York to the hot and muggy tropics of São Paulo, Brazil, doesn't mean that Max Payne 3 will lose the series' iconic noir narrative and Max's internal monologues. "While we've revealed the setting as São Paulo, the game stays true to all the fundamentals of the first two games, from the noir themes and visuals to James McCaffrey's iconic voice-over and even a version of the graphic-novel-style panels," Barrera said. And if you doubt Rockstar's commitment to Sparkle Motion delivering an authentic Max Payne experience, original developer Remedy was consulted early on to ensure the game's direction was on course. "Staying true to each core element of Max was always a major focus, and that's actually something that we discussed with Remedy during development, and they've been extremely supportive of our work." Rockstar did change the story of Max Payne 3 to stretch over the course of a few weeks, as opposed to taking place over the course of a single evening like the previous two games. Finally, Barrerra teased that we'd get to see Max in "some familiar locations," but we won't get to hear about that until later this year.
Max Payne 3: first trailer heads to a seedy Brazil
The first trailer for Max Payne 3 is here. As Rockstar's gritty artwork has indicated before, Max has gone from ruffled anti-hero to dilapidated mess. Luckily, trading in his bullet-proof vest for a stained, cotton variant hasn't robbed him of slow-mo shooting prowess. It seems the game will use flashback sequences to connect Max as we knew him, to the bald man who "ain't a cop no more." Shaving his head is almost symbolic of the life Max leaves behind once he becomes entangled in a Brazilian crime ring. Also, it's way easier to render. Max Payne 3 is scheduled to appear on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March 2012.
Max Payne 3 emerging in March 2012, multiplayer included
Max Payne 3 will launch on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March 2012. That's the word from Rockstar Games, which has been nothing short of enigmatic during the game's protracted development. The third-person slow-mo shooter sees Max traveling to São Paulo, Brazil, and protecting a family targeted by society's more illicit elements -- he might have gotten better at doing that sort of thing since the first game. His solo criminal crackdown is accompanied by a multiplayer mode, which marketing guys describe as "a compelling experience that dynamically alters maps and mode progression for all players in a match." You can also expect the obligatory leveling system, clans and load-out selection. To steel yourself for said "compelling experience," we suggest you stock up on testosterone, John Woo movies (not Windtalkers, obviously) and facial expressions that convey either familial anguish, or excessive chili burrito consumption.%Gallery-132955%
Max Payne 3 screens come with a promise of more news
Rockstar sent out two new screens of Max Payne 3 today, featuring a stylized broken window and a stealthy hallway encounter. Two screens doesn't seem like much, but this is a game we've scarcely seen or heard from, so even a couple of screens seem like a rare treat. We'll likely be seeing this media with a higher frequency now. Rockstar calls Max Payne 3 "our next big release on both consoles and PC" and promises " a lot of news in the next few months."%Gallery-131938% [Thanks, Skodjereite]
Max Payne 3 and Agent 'still in development'
We think we cracked the code of delayed games. You don't really need to worry unless the title of a game can be easily worked into a headline gag about the delay. Madden? Call of Duty? Boring. Those games are destined to come to market on time. But dangle "The Max Payne of a long wait ahead" or "Agent to stay secret for a while longer" in front of Fate and it just can't help itself. If there's one thing the gaming gods love, it's a rib-tickling blog pun. It goes almost without saying then that in an investor call today Take-Two would say only that Max Payne 3 and Agent are "still in development," declining even to give a calendar year in which either would be released. It's a tough situation, but if Take-Two would just relent and change the names to Dependable Cop 3 and Trustworthy Spy it could all be fixed.
Max Payne 3 screens bring back bald Max
New screens of the surprisingly real Max Payne 3 bring us a variety of looks from Max's repertoire. Bald, tank-topped Max, as seen in his 2009 reveal, makes an appearance, along with "classic" leather-jacket Max, Max in a Hawaiian shirt, a t-shirt, and a button-up shirt and tie. What a versatile fellow! At least, in terms of clothing. He's pretty much holding both arms straight out and shooting people 100 percent of the time, no matter how he's dressed.%Gallery-122099%
Max Payne 3 re-emerges in Edge cover story
Last week's Max Payne 3 teaser from Rockstar has turned out to be a surprisingly timely lead-in for Edge Magazine's latest cover story. Edge posted the cover art for its new issue today, featuring Payne (back to a full head of hair), and noted that the magazine would hit UK newsstands on April 12. Of course, it's already in the hands of some subscribers -- and you know what that means. While few details can be gleaned from the short excerpt that Edge itself posted online, full scans and article summaries have emerged across forums and gaming sites, spilling all the beans. The Edge preview gives no indication that, even during all this time laying low, MP3 has undergone any starts and stops -- it's still set in São Paulo, Brazil, and Payne will still be all bald and brutish during points in the chronologically nonlinear plot (the game's missions are going to bounce around). Instead, the article suggests that Rockstar's meticulous pursuit of perfection has slowed development to a crawl (the release date is still noted as "to be confirmed"). Lead development studio Rockstar Vancouver has labored over delivering "a more fully realized cinematic experience," according to art director Rob Nelson (in Edge's excerpt), using NaturalMotion's Euphoria animation engine to blend the cinematic and interactive elements of the game into a seamless experience -- and Edge marvels at the result in the level demonstrated to the magazine.
Max Payne 3 lives on in two new screens
Some of the more pessimistic members of staff had almost given Max Payne 3 up for dead. A game gets delayed a few times, stops showing up in release calendars, and you start to expect the worst. This morning Rockstar went on the offensive, tweeting two new screens from the game with a simple, definitive message: "He's coming." The "he," of course, refers to the titular hero, only a much less slovenly version of Max than we were exposed to when the game was first revealed. %Gallery-120015%
XCOM, Spec Ops listed for fiscal 2012 release, Max Payne 3 not listed at all (again) [update]
Take-Two has updated its release calendar in coordination with the publication of its lastest financial report. Most of the entries aren't too surprising, including already known release dates and windows for LA Noire, Duke Nukem Forever and BioShock Infinite -- however, XCOM and Spec Ops: The Line, both of which were formerly scheduled for this calendar year, are now listed as "Fiscal Year 2012" (April 2011 – March 2012) releases. That means they could still both arrive this year -- Strauss willing and the creek don't rise -- but the publisher has opened up the possiblity for delays to the first quarter of 2012. Also, Max Payne 3 has again failed to make an appearance on Take Two's release calendar. When this happened last December, Take Two was quick to reassure fans that the title was still in development. We have our fingers crossed for a similar assurance in the company's conference call, which is due to start any minute. Update: During the Q&A portion of the investor's call, Take-Two CFO Lainie Goldstein spoke about the fate of Max Payne 3, saying, "There is no update on that title at this time." That's a really not great answer. We've emailed other Take-Two contacts in search of something more concrete.
Max Payne 3 not dead, presumably trapped in bullet time
It seems like development of Max Payne 3 is running even more slowly than a slow-motion dive from its protagonist. It's already been delayed more than once, and when Take-Two failed to mention it at all during its financial conference call earlier this week, and it didn't appear on the company's release schedule, we feared the worst. Said fears appear unfounded, however, as Take-Two reps have informed Kotaku that the publisher is "still working hard" on Max Payne 3, and more information is expected "in the coming months." Yeah, it's not much, but at least we know Max isn't dead. Not yet, at least.
Max Payne 3 delayed beyond October; L.A. Noire & Civ 5 still due this fall
We have a winner! Well, a "winner." Back in March, Take-Two named four titles: Max Payne 3, Mafia II, L.A. Noire, and Civilization V, and floated the possibility that one of them would be delayed out of fiscal 2010 (which ends October 31). Today, the publisher revealed that the near-illusory Max Payne 3, which had already faced a delay, was the one. No further specifics about the delay were revealed in the company's earnings release, but Take-Two affirmed that the other three titles are still on track. Mafia II currently has a release date of August 24, and L.A. Noire and Civ V are set to be released in the fiscal fourth quarter -- which means they should be out by the end of October. Though, just because Max Payne took the (slow-motion) delay bullet this time doesn't mean the other games are entirely safe. Update: Take-Two CEO Ben Feder addressed the delay in a related investor call. "While we do not take the movement of any title lightly, our recent success with Red Dead Redemption illustrates the importance and the benefit of giving a title the time it needs in order to fulfill its potential in the marketplace," he explained. "The team at Rockstar is focused on making this the best experience in interactive entertainment." %Gallery-66603%
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!
Source: Max Payne 3 development allegedly also suffering from mismanagement
As the week goes on, more and more current and former Rockstar Games employees have come forward to us (and other outlets) with information corroborating the repeated allegations of substandard working conditions at the developer's various studios. Today, however, we received news from a former Rockstar Vancouver employee regarding the status of "late 2010" title Max Payne 3 -- a title currently in development at the Canadian dev house. According to our source (who, unsurprisingly, asked to be kept anonymous), "Virtually everything said in the original 'Rockstar wives' letter and by current and former Rockstar San Diego employees in the comments applies to my experience at Rockstar Vancouver." The source also alleges an "August 2010" completion window for development of the game, though the source isn't optimistic that'll happen. "The game's story just went through another total re-write earlier this month (the third that I am aware of in the past two years) and that [means] the team would have to have all of the content done by April or May to make that August release date." Further claims about the studio range from an "enforced crunch mode through to the end of the project" that results in "14 - 16 hour work days, six or seven days a week" to a canceled two weeks of vacation over the past holidays. We've once again contacted Rockstar Games for comment and have yet to hear back as of publishing. If you are an employee of Rockstar Games and would like to tell us more about your experiences, we'd love to hear what you have to say.
Mafia 2 coming before July 31, 2010
During the always thrilling Take-Two Interactive quarterly investors call this afternoon, the ever-elusive Mafia 2 received an almost, kinda sorta release date: Q3 2010. When applying Take-Two's Q3 dates to the Gregorian calendar that most folks on this planet use, we can infer that the game will arrive somewhere between May 1 and July 31. This isn't to say that the title is a shoe-in for release, though, with company CEO Strauss Zelnick saying the game is "scheduled to fall in our third quarter." Remember when Max Payne 3 was scheduled for release in Winter of 2009? Exactly. %Gallery-6189%
Max Payne 3 delayed until late 2010
In a new financial earnings and projection report, Take-Two has dished out news of Max Payne 3's release. The game's been pushed back -- we like to imagine in incredibly slow and dramatic fashion -- to the company's fiscal Q4 2010. In real time, that translates to a three-month period spanning August–October, 2010. The game was previously pegged for an unlikely Winter 2009 release. Based on what we've seen of Max Payne 3 so far, we'd say that bumping back its release is a good move. Max is in serious need of some Jazzercise and a decent dry cleaner, so this extra time will hopefully get him into better shape to handle the countless waves of bad guys he'll be indiscriminately shooting in the face.
Supposedly leaked Max Payne 3 teaser is rad, chronologically unsound
A couple of weeks ago, our attention was turned to a demo reel produced by a commercial sound designer named "Bix," which, no, we imagine is not his Christian name. The reel included a 30 second teaser trailer for Max Payne 3, featuring slow-motion bullets, a mysterious masked woman, appropriately crisp sound design and a highly implausible release window of "Winter 2009." Thinking the video was just a fan project made to bolster an artistic portfolio, we thought little of it. However, the clip's recent disappearance from the aforementioned reel (and its sudden circulation) has caused us to think otherwise. We're still not certain whether the teaser was commissioned by Rockstar, but we do know that it's hot as the sun, and waiting just behind the jump.
