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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%
Red Dead Redemption has 'surprising' multiplayer, to be revealed in early April
We just spent some time getting our filthy hands even filthier inside of Red Dead Redemption, where we actually skinned a horse and instantly felt like we'd killed Trigger. But no-good horse killin' aside, the big news here is that multiplayer is coming to Red Dead Redemption. We don't know how just yet, but a Rockstar representative told us that it would incorporate multiplayer in a "surprising" way. Surprising as in it doesn't totally suck like in GTA IV? Aw, snap. Yeah, we went there. Now we'll have to worry about being skinned. More details are coming directly from the horse's mouth (sorry, couldn't resist) the week of April 5th, so stay tuned for more details when Rockstar reveals the secrets of what we like to call Red Dead Redemption: Posse Galore. %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.
Red Dead Redemption videos show off pre-order options
Rockstar sent along videos showcasing each of the Red Dead Redemption pre-orders currently available, and we just can't decide which one to go with -- they all look so good. You can see all three of them over on the game's website. Pre-ordering from Amazon, you'll remember, will get you a Golden Guns pack, pre-ordering the game at GameStop will nab you the fan-selected Deadly Assassin Outfit and ordering the game from Best Buy will get you the War Horse, which you can see in the video above. Wait a minute -- we just decided. We're totally going with the horsie. His name will be Roger and we will hug him and feed him and dodge explosions and shoot bad guys from his back and it will be the awesomest. Roger is the best horse ever. He's tougher than any other horse!
Red Dead Redemption trailer offers taste of life in the old west
Based on all the movies and old shows we've seen, we feel like we know exactly how it was in the old west: people sat around all day, drank whiskey from unmarked bottles, hit up the brothel when they had some spare cash and did their best not to get in Clint Eastwood's way. Pretty cut and dry, right? Well, Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption paints a different picture of the west, one filled with picturesque landscapes and small towns, where clusters of folk tried to earn a living and make a life. A place in the grip of the Industrial Revolution, an uncertain time of transition from the old lawless ways of the west to the modern comforts and progress enjoyed by Americans in the east. This recreation of life back then isn't just for show, however, as players will be able to go all Ted Nugent on it and hunt and skin animals, selling their hides to merchants for valuable goods or services. There's also the job of ranch protector, should you wish to guard the land from potential night-time rustlers. You can even herd cattle and fight a mountain lion or two, if the idea of mowing down countless NPCs puts a hitch in your giddy-up.
Red Dead Redemption date wrangled, pinned to May 18
As part of its latest financial results report today, Take-Two delayed Red Dead Redemption by several weeks. Previously scheduled to arrive on April 27, the game is now slated to release in North America on May 18 and internationally on May 21. The announcement doesn't specify a reason for the move, though it's worth pointing out that the new date moves Red Dead Redemption out of the publisher's fiscal Q2 (February–April) and into its third quarter (beginning May 1). [Update: During an investor call corresponding with the financial report, Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick clarified that the delay was issued to extend the game's pre-release marketing period.] Take-Two also notes that financial guidance for its fiscal 2010 has been adjusted to take the date change into account. While Read Dead Redemption was at the center of a controversy concerning developer Rockstar San Diego, a barrage of recent media assets and confirmation of retail pre-order bonuses seems to indicate that development is on track.
Red Dead Redemption screens introduce the locals
Rockstar has an exclusive -- wait, how can Rockstar have the exclusive on its own game? Anyway, there's a set of screens for Read Dead Redemption over at Rockstar's site. The screens take a noticeable departure from the usual media we've seen coming from the game, trading in the requisite gunplay and horseback riding for brief bios on some of the world's inhabitants. Above, you can see Nigel West Dickens, the kindly old gentleman who promises to cure what ails you through one of his many tonics. Is there anything that drinking didn't fix back in the old west? So mosey on down to Rockstar's site to see all them thar screens if you please, cowpoke.
Red Dead Redemption trailer introduces us to 'The Women'
Now, we know what you're thinking. "Oh, Rockstar's released a trailer featuring the female protagonists in Red Dead Redemption. We're guessing there's a scantily-clad burlesque dancer with a heart of gold, a scantily-clad cowgirl with a heart of gold and a fiery, scantily-clad revolutionista with a heart of gold." Well, you're awfully close -- just replace all three instances of "scantily-clad" with "completely badass," and you're a bit closer to the truth. Check out the trailer above to see Red Dead Redemption's reasonably-dressed femme fatales spit some sass and shoot some dudes.
Red Dead Redemption trailer -- "The Law"
You're going to watch the above trailer (dubbed "The Law") for Rockstar's upcoming Red Dead Redemption regardless of what we say about it here, so we thought we'd try a little experiment: Don't watch it! That's right, don't watch it ... instead, close your eyes and just listen to it. The voice acting oscillates between excellent and simply serviceable and the dialogue sounds historically appropriate; but the music ... the music is where this trailer sets itself apart. It's like Ennio Morricone himself took the gig. So sling your poncho over your shoulder, close your eyes, and pull the trigger on that play button.
Red Dead Redemption pre-order bonuses announced
Red Dead Redemption's many, many pre-order bonuses are now detailed on the game's official website, and we can't imagine anyone will be prepared for the barrage of options listed when you click that link. No less than eight different pre-order bonuses, split between ten different US and UK retailers have been dreamed up by marketing. In typical Rockstar fashion, the practice of "exclusive" bonus content has become excessive bonus content. Among the options listed are the "Golden Guns Weapon Pack" (more "Fame" per kill), from Amazon, which also comes with a $10 Amazon gift card; the "War Horse," a steed that Rockstar claims can't be bested by any other horse in the game, only available from Best Buy and HMV; and the "Deadly Assassin Outfit" from UK retailer Game (and maybe GameStop, if the getup wins the vote -- uh-huh, there's a pre-order vote). So yeah, we're going with the Amazon option, too. %Gallery-43816%
Red Dead Redemption screens go hogtie wild
We've already seen John Marston get himself into a whole mess of different being a cowboy-related situations before Red Dead Redemption's impending April release date, but today's are (as you might imagine) just a bit different. That's right, folks -- this time he's got a lasso. Rather than employing the ubiquitous Old West tool in cow wrangling, though, Marston drops some rope-based justice on fools and horses alike (okay okay -- we suppose it's possible there are also some fool horses). Peep the five new screens below in our hi-res gallery. %Gallery-84843%
Dead to Rights: Retribution dated April 13 in NA, April 16 in Europe
Along with yesterday's news of ninja dog pre-orders and a snazzy "noir style" graphics filter, Dead to Rights: Retribution has been given a release date of April 13 and April 16th for North America and Europe (respectively). That means you've got just under three months to start preparing for the reboot to the Dead to Rights series -- and three-ish months to prepare for some hard choices. In case you'd forgotten, April is the month that brings us the much delayed Splinter Cell: Conviction, Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV and Monster Hunter Tri, as well as Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. And yes, again, this is the busiest Q1 ever. Good luck! %Gallery-45220%
Video: Red Dead Redemption weapons detailed
Rockstar has released the second in its Red Dead Redemption gameplay video series. The new video, titled "Weapons & Death," deals with the various weapons found in the game. The game includes pretty much everything one would expect in a Wild West shooter, ranging from rifles to revolvers to Gatling guns and even dynamite. Unsurprisingly, Red Dead Redemption takes advantage of Rockstar's RAGE engine as well as NaturalMotion's Euphoria physics engine. The end result is unique character reactions to in-game actions like, say, getting shot in the gut. The video also details the Dead Eye targeting system, which allows players to slow down gameplay and paint targets. It behaves similarly to the "mark and execute" system in Splinter Cell: Conviction, which lets players mark several targets and take them down in rapid succession. It all looks very nifty and, thanks to the same classy narrator from the first video, it still feels educational. Remember that when your significant other / mother / teacher chastises you for playing too much. You're not just shooting cowpokes, you're learning about the Wild West.
Latest Red Dead Redemption screens sneak up and take us out
Alright, alright, not really -- they're just screenshots, folks! But these four new screens do most assuredly feature Red Dead Redemption's main hero (and his buddy Marshall Johnson) sneaking up on a variety of old West bad guys to, presumably, take them out -- the folks at Rockstar claim that these shots are about "taking cover," but we can see with our own eyes that they're clearly about clandestinely poppin' fools. We've still got a few more months before the game's scheduled release date of April 27, and as such, we'd be willing to bet this isn't the last we've seen of Mr. Marston and his U.S. Marshall buddies. %Gallery-83751%
Rockstar speaks out regarding San Diego studio accusations
While we've heard from nearly everyone else regarding recent quality of life accusations at Rockstar San Diego (not to mention Rockstar Vancouver and New York), we are just today seeing the first direct response to the claims from Rockstar itself. In a post this afternoon on the company's blog ("Rockstar Newswire"), a representative responds to a fan question on the subject by saying, "As for the stories spreading around the internet, yes we have noticed them ... Unfortunately, this is a case of people taking the opinions of a few anonymous posters on message boards as fact." The Rockstar rep also assured readers that Red Dead Redemption -- the San Diego dev studio's latest game -- is on track for its April 27 release in the US, and Rockstar "could not be more excited with how the game is looking and playing." With regards to actually addressing the accusations leveled at the company, the rep was a bit more dismissive. "We're saddened if any former members of any studio did not find their time here enjoyable or creatively fulfilling and wish them well with finding an environment more suitable to their temperaments and needs, but the vast majority of our company are focused solely on delivering cutting edge interactive entertainment. We've always cared passionately about the people working here, and have always tried to maintain a supportive creative environment." Though the piece admits "no business is ever perfect," it pointedly notes the enormous challenge that comes with "such large scale, high quality games." Unfortunately, there is no mention of the recently released "Eye of Sauron" wallpapers.
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.
