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  • Spec Ops: The Line now arriving in 'Spring 2012'

    After Spec Ops: The Line had its launch window unceremoniously realigned during publisher Take-Two Interactive's quarterly earnings call last May, the only thing we knew for sure about its eventual release was that it'd be some time after March 2012. As it turns out, the game's gearing up for a spring 2012 launch window (so, like, between March and summer of 2012, then), and there's even a new trailer to prove it. If the trailer doesn't quite do it for you, might we suggest checking out our brand new preview of next spring's shooter? It's light on devastating natural disasters, unlike the game.

    Ben Gilbert
    11.22.2011

  • Max Payne 3 gets $100 Special Edition, pre-order only until January 15

    \ If you're absolutely certain you'll want Max Payne 3 in a really bad way, and you're already financially and emotionally prepared to drop a Benjamin on it, has Rockstar got the deal for you! Between now and January 15, roughly two months before the game's March release window, you'll be able to order the Max Payne 3 Special Edition, "while supplies last." What will your $100 pre-buy you, besides the game itself? Ready? Here goes: A 10" tall Max Payne statue; "game-inspired Original Still Life Art Prints," for your art collection; a bullet-shaped keychain with screw-off back (for your drugs!); the obligatory multiplayer character pack, including Max Payne favorites like Mona Sax and Vladimir Lem; the similarly obligatory multiplayer weapons pack; and lastly, the game's original soundtrack. Curiously, this Special Edition really is special, in that it actually is limited ("while supplies last") and won't be available after release. If you want to wait, be warned that eBay scalpers are probably circling the waters already.%Gallery-139989%

    Christopher Grant
    11.21.2011

  • Team Bondi founder McNamara writing game based on a 'great untold story'

    Ever since Team Bondi got shuttered, Brendan McNamara has been all too willing to share his unique insight on L.A. Noire, the studio's final game. Based on comments made to Eurogamer, he's ready to move on now. McNamara claims to be writing a new game based on "one of the great untold stories of the twentieth century." This is a pitch he is making on his own -- one he says has a few publishers interested. But as of right now, he can't say much else. "Hopefully I'll have something to announce on that pretty soon," he concluded. If we were a betting blog, we'd say that great untold story is about the one time we found a $20 bill in the laundry. It won't have a really climactic ending, but the QTE segments are sure to knock your socks off.

    David Hinkle
    11.12.2011

  • Take-Two earns $107m in second fiscal quarter, thanks to L.A. Noire

    Take-Two Interactive recently released its financial figures for the second quarter of the 2012 fiscal year, boasting "better-than-expected" net revenue of $107 million. That figure -- driven largely by L.A. Noire and MLB 2K11 sales -- pales in comparison to the company's $245 million in earnings from the same period last year. Of course, that period last year had Civilization 5, Mafia 2 and Red Dead Redemption on the docket, so there's that. Despite the surprise upswing, Take-Two didn't revise its expectations for the entire fiscal year, during which it hopes to earn around $1 billion in revenue. Though they didn't explicitly say so, we're assuming they've revised expectations for whichever quarter Grand Theft Auto V will launch in to "three bajillionty dollars."

    Griffin McElroy
    11.08.2011

  • XCOM delayed beyond Q1 2012

    A tired but resourceful former cop delays an alien invasion. It sounds like the eventual outcome of the never-ending Die Hard franchise, but for now it's the picture of Take-Two's first quarter of 2012. We didn't think there'd be room for Max Payne 3 and 2K Marin's overhauled XCOM in the same month, and now the latter project has been bumped into the publisher's fiscal year 2013. Originally scheduled to launch on March 6, 2012, the promising tactical shooter is expected sometime between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. XCOM's public invasion has moved ahead in jolts since it was first announced, but has grown quiet in recent months following rumors of layoffs at 2K's Australian studio. At least it's a chance for humans and aliens to agree on something: these things are never easy to plan.

    Ludwig Kietzmann
    11.08.2011

  • Going even deeper into BioShock Infinite's voice acting

    Last week we brought you the first half of a two part feature with Irrational Games head Ken Levine coaching BioShock Infinite's two main voice actors. This week, we've got Booker (Troy Baker) yelling at Elizabeth (Courtnee Draper) to elicit emotion-filled lines. Next week? Tigers.

    Ben Gilbert
    11.04.2011

  • Yes, Grand Theft Auto V is set in Los Santos and will have multiplayer

    You've likely gleaned as much from yesterday's big Grand Theft Auto V debut trailer, but this morning's official announcement of the game from Rockstar confirms a "Los Santos" (Los Angeles-ish) setting, as well as the return of online multiplayer. "Grand Theft Auto V focuses on the pursuit of the almighty dollar in a re-imagined, present-day Southern California," the release reads, specifically pointing to "Los Santos and surrounding hills, countryside, and beaches" as the locales. Predictably, the announcement calls GTAV "the largest and most ambitious game Rockstar has yet created," and company co-head Sam Houser characterizes the project as "another radical reinvention of the Grand Theft Auto universe." From that debut teaser, we're ... awaiting further evidence of that "radical reinvention" Houser promises. But hey, at least it looks like planes are back in the mix! Despite making the game even more official, Rockstar has yet to announce a release window or platforms for the Rockstar North-led project.

    Ben Gilbert
    11.03.2011

  • Grand Theft Auto V trailer is here!

    So there you have it, the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V. Can you believe it actually loaded? We noticed a lot of disparate environments, but all centered around Vinewood, a stand-in for Los Angeles. We're definitely getting back into some of the GTA: San Andreas stomping grounds. Our hero is a dad who says he's trying to be a good guy, but, well, it's a Grand Theft Auto game, so you can guess how well that works out. There are also a lot of images of financial ruin, so we're guessing the current economic crisis is going to play a big role. What'd you notice?

    Justin McElroy
    11.02.2011

  • BioShock Infinite's main voice actors explore the creative process

    What's it like expressing a total lack of remorse for a dying virtual horse in a fantastical city in the clouds? BioShock Infinite voice actor Troy Baker explains just that in this behind-the-scenes look at the voice actors playing Elizabeth and Booker in next year's big Irrational game.

    Ben Gilbert
    10.27.2011

  • Too many chefs: Ken Levine's thoughts on auteurship, editorship, and his work on the BioShock film

    When it comes to the development behind BioShock 1 and BioShock Infinite, Irrational Games studio head Ken Levine described his role as that of "editor of a magazine ... but I'm also a writer for the magazine," putting things into terms that my word-addled brain could understand. "I believe more in editorship. Auteur sounds like you do everything," he began, making a point to preface his following description with a nod to the other 100-ish folks employed at his Massachusetts studio. That aside, Levine was clear that his role on Infinite is absolutely that of creative lead, not just creative oversight. "This is my game. And I love the fact that we sit down and chat with each other [Levine and other game devs outside of Irrational], but at the end of the day ... this thing's gotta be my decision." When it came to the translation of BioShock 1 from game to film, however, Levine's role changed -- even though he had been creative lead (head editor?) during the game's development. "If I were to make a game that was based on somebody else's franchise, you need somebody there who's going to say, 'This is true to the franchise, this isn't true to the franchise.' So that was more my role in the film," he explained.

    Ben Gilbert
    10.26.2011

  • Pre-purchase L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition on Steam or OnLive for 10% off

    Though L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition is set to launch on Steam and OnLive next month, plunking down the cash now will net you a price break. A pre-purchase will save you 10% off the final asking price, bringing it down to $44.99. L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition comes packed with all of the game's DLC. Seems like an open-and-shut case for us, though you may wish to investigate other leads -- up to you, detective!

    David Hinkle
    10.22.2011

  • L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition coming to PS3, 360 this November

    L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 15th in North America (and November 18th elsewhere), just a week after the game debuts on PC. And like the PC game, The Complete Edition comes packed with every piece of DLC released thus far. [Update: We've confirmed with Rockstar that this will retail for $49.99.] The bonus cases stacked atop your desk/disc include "The Nicholson Electroplating," "The Consul's Car," "Reefer Madness," "The Naked City" and "A Slip of the Tongue." They cover the arson, vice and traffic beats, and are offered alongside The Badge Pursuit Challenge and all unlockable outfits and weapons. There's also a new prologue that explains why Cole Phelps transforms into Sergeant Frank Drebin every time he gets behind the wheel of a car. (Or is there? Truth, doubt, lie, etc.)

    Ludwig Kietzmann
    10.20.2011

  • Irrational's Ken Levine on BioShock's final boss and how Infinite's solution is 'more in our wheelhouse'

    "So every game we make, we always say to ourselves -- back on BioShock 1, we had that terrible showdown fight at the end -- we're not good at that, let's not do that again. And then somehow, we end up ... it's like ... 'Baby I'll never hit you again, I'm changed, I'm changed!' And then we did it!" Irrational Games head and BioShock 1 creative lead Ken Levine struggled through that explanation this past weekend, pausing often, sighing a lot, and doubling back to be extra clear. His sentiment was certainly definitive, though: even he wasn't a big fan of the game's final boss fight with Atlas. "I think the boss battle in BioShock 1 -- the real boss battle -- is Andrew Ryan." I had asked about how BioShock Infinite, the studio's next game, would deal with boss fights, as the Atlas battle in the first BioShock title was seen by many as the lowest point in an otherwise spectacular experience. "I think we need to stay in our wheelhouse," he explained. "We're not Shadow of the Colossus. Those guys have a genius for that. We don't have that particular genius." Without getting into anything specific, and recognizing that it would be a "missed opportunity" not to do something with Songbird (Infinite's airborne antagonist), Levine said gamers should expect something more akin to the Andrew Ryan resolution in BioShock 1.

    Ben Gilbert
    10.18.2011

  • Grand Theft Auto 3 coming to iOS, Android for 10th anniversary, oh and $150 GTA3 action figure

    With this October marking the 10-year anniversary of Rockstar's groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto III, the developer is celebrating by releasing the open-world classic on iOS and Android "later this fall," though no price was given. "Grand Theft Auto III showed us the potential of open world games," Rockstar big boss Sam Houser said in a press release. "It helped set the vision for the company, and we have been expanding on those possibilities with every game ever since." You're probably as curious as we are as to how an open-world title like GTA3 controls on a touchscreen, but luckily the game will be playable at this weekend's New York Comic Con. If playing with bits and bytes isn't your thing, then ... well, why are you reading this website? Regardless, you'll probably be interested in the above 1:6 scale action figure of GTA3 antihero Claude, replete with various outfits, guns, and severed hands. At just $150, we clearly don't understand the economics of action figures anymore. For a full list of supported devices, along with a photo gallery of the action figure, head on past the break.

    Christopher Grant
    10.13.2011

  • LA Noire developer Team Bondi shutting down

    Team Bondi, developer of Rockstar hit LA Noire, is kaput. Edge reports that documents were filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, indicating that the studio would close. The studio entered administration in late August, with its assets reportedly sold to Australian production company Kennedy Miller Mitchell. Although LA Noire was an unquestionable hit for publisher Rockstar, becoming the "fastest-selling new video game IP ever in the UK," the game was on a separate narrative track from the internal drama going on at Team Bondi. Seven years of development took its toll on the staff and company. In time, the truth will shake out about what went wrong at Team Bondi, in a year that should have established the studio as a force ending with its demise. For those who only care about the future of LA Noire ... don't you worry, IP holder Take-Two Interactive (parent company of Rockstar) isn't about to let a new series -- that shipped 4 million copies -- just disappear.

    Alexander Sliwinski
    10.05.2011

  • LA Noire hits PC on Nov. 8 in US, Nov. 11 in EU; specs revealed

    Rockstar revealed this morning that its crime drama slash adventure game, L.A. Noire, will become available on PC in North America on November 8, and in Europe on November 11, nearly six months after it debuted on consoles. There's no mention of a Mac port, but it is launching on OnLive the same day, allowing Mac gamers one potential avenue into this gritty city. The "Complete Edition" was handled by Rockstar Leeds (Liberty City Stories), and adds 3D support, includes all the DLC missions, and asks for a lot in terms of recommended specifications. Head past the break for the full rundown.

    Ben Gilbert
    09.28.2011

  • 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.

    David Hinkle
    09.23.2011

  • GTA IV surpasses 22M shipped, franchise at 114M total

    Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick revealed at a recent conference that Grand Theft Auto 4 has shipped over 22 million units. Gamasutra listened in on ThinkEquity's Growth conference, where the executive noted that the latest installment surpassed the 21.5 million shipped by GTA: San Andreas, with the franchise reaching 114 million shipped since 1997. Zelnick also discussed how downloadable content can limit rapid used sales for new titles, a tactic the developer experimented with for GTA IV but got exceedingly good at with Red Dead Redemption. He said that once core development is done, doing the development for DLC in a high-quality way is a lot easier and quicker. "At the time we put out Red Dead Redemption in May, we didn't even have a fantasy that we'd be putting out a zombie title [the Undead Nightmare DLC] for Halloween. But we [did], as it happens." Red Dead Redemption has shipped 12.5 million units in a little over a year.

    Alexander Sliwinski
    09.16.2011

  • Max Payne 1 going mobile in 'full HD'

    Whoa, news about two Max Payne games in one day? Will that ever happen again? Buried within a press release about Max Payne 3, Take-Two announced that the first Max Payne game is coming to mobile devices. You'll be able to see Max's squinty face in "full HD" wherever you go, with Rockstar Games Social Club features and, Take-Two says, support for wired controllers. Maybe now you'll have something new to play in your iCade, or your Xoom. That is, if those are indeed among the devices receiving this port. Take-Two didn't specify, and didn't mention a release date either. It's only appropriate for there to be an air of mystery around the noir-style Max Payne.

    JC Fletcher
    09.08.2011

  • 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%

    Ludwig Kietzmann
    09.08.2011
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