WebProNews

Tag: Max Payne

  • VGX 2013: Remedy Shares More Quantum Break Details, Announces Agents Of Storm

    Remedy Entertainment has made a name for itself with games like Max Payne and Alan Wake. For its next title on the Xbox One, it’s moving beyond games that are titled after their lead character and into the whacky world of time manipulation with Quantum Break.

    On Saturday night, Remedy were at VGX to share more details about Quantum Break. We all know that it involves time manipulation and that it incorporates a live action TV show into its narrative. While the team didn’t really say much about the latter, it did offer a few more details about the game part of Quantum Break.

    In the below gameplay trailer, you’ll get to see the kind of gameplay that Remedy is shooting for in Quantum Break. Like its previous games, there will be a heavy focus on action and gunplay. In fact, the game’s developers say that the game offer the cinematic gunplay of Max Payne alongside the more methodical gameplay found in Alan Wake’s light/dark mechanic. In other words, there will be a lot of shooting combined with requiring players to make clever use of their time powers.

    Check it out:

    If you want to learn more about Quantum Break, check out the below interview with Oskari Hakkinen of Remedy:

    Quantum Break wasn’t the only game that Remedy had at VGX though. The team was also on hand to announce a new game for iOS called Agents of Storm. It’s a reverse tower defense game that has players sending in fleets of ships to destroy a base.

    Here’s the game in action:

    Quantum Break will launch exclusively on the Xbox One at some point in the future. As for Agents of Storm, it will be available on iOS devices in 2014.

    [Image: gametrailers/YouTube]

  • Max Payne Mobile Launching On Android Thursday

    Rockstar has been pretty cool lately about porting their games to mobile devices. The best part is that games like Grand Theft Auto III and Max Payne work just fine with touch screens. While the former is on both Android and iOS, the latter has only been available for iOS until now.

    Rockstar Games announced today that the original Max Payne will be hitting select Android devices on Thursday, June 17. It’s been optimized for Android with HD graphics, hi-res textures, Social Club connectivity, customizable controls and gamepad support.

    The game will cost $2.99 when it launches on Thursday. A game like Max Payne requires the power that’s not afforded by certain makes of devices so the game will only be available on select Android devices:

    Supported Android Phones:

    Motorola Razr, Razr Maxx, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Photon, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Rezound, HTC One X, HTC One S, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, HTC Droid Incredible 2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung S2, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Xperia Play, Sony Xperia S, Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player

    Supported Android Tablets:

    Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Medion Lifetab, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Toshiba Thrive, HTC Flyer, HTC Jetstream

    That’s a pretty wide-spread list of compatible devices. Glad to see that the dreaded Android fragmentation is only going to take a few casualties. Unfortunately, my phone is not listed which means that I will not be enjoying Max Payne Mobile. Good thing I still have the excellent PC version that was released back in 2001.

  • Max Payne 3 Launches Today On The PC

    It’s highly unfortunate that PC gamers too often get the short end of the stick in the gaming industry. A lot of the highly lauded console games end up getting ported to PC months after the original release. The PC port will also sometimes not contain any enhancements that the PC platform brings to gaming like DirectX 11 support and hi-res textures. Rockstar isn’t that lazy.

    Rockstar Games announced today that Max Payne 3 is now available worldwide for PC. The game promises numerous enhancements that take advantage of the PC platform which is why the game was delayed beyond the console launch a few weeks ago. Those features include hi-res textures and character models, DirectX 11 features, LAN support, multi-monitor support and stereoscopic 3D compatibility.

    The game’s story is already well documented, but here’s a brief recap for those who haven’t been paying attention. Max Payne 3 takes place sometime after the events of Max Payne 2 where the noir detective hero from the first two games escapes his past life in New York City to work as a bodyguard in Brazil. From there, the game explodes with the usual flair that Rockstar is well known for.

    To prove that Rockstar isn’t just bluffing about its support for the PC market, the developer has published four recommended specs profiles so that gamers can see the low end of the spectrum all the way up to the high-end performance that the game needs to truly shine. PC Gamer has the full list but here’s the highest required specs to reach maximum performance:

    Windows 7/Vista (64 bit)
    Intel i7 3930K 6 Core x 3.06 GHZ or AMD FX8150 8 Core x 3.6 GHZ
    16GB System RAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 2GB RAM or AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB RAM

    I’m going to have to get some more RAM and a new video card to even match those specs. My GTX 560 Ti is softly crying as it will never truly realize its full potential while playing Max Payne 3. The good news, however, is that the game’s engine is scalable. That means that PC gamers with even pretty low key machines can at least play the game.

    Rockstar also put together a trailer just for the PC version of the game showing off the fantastic visuals you can expect on your gaming rig of choice.

  • Max Payne 3 Gets A Launch Trailer Full Of Bullets

    We’ve been covering Max Payne 3 for a while now. The long-time coming sequel to Remedy’s excellent bullet-time noir action series has fans anticipating what may be the best Max Payne yet. You still might be on the fence though. After all the trailers and all the hype, you’re still not convinced that Rockstar can pull off something as good as Remedy can.

    For the skeptical gamer, Rockstar has finally released the launch trailer for Max Payne 3. It’s the best look you’re going to get of the game before it launches and all the let’s plays creep up on YouTube. To that end, Rockstar has something to prove.

    The trailer gives us a good look at the environments players will be visiting throughout the course of the game. It also gives us a good look at the return of what made Max Payne famous in the first place – bullet time. There are so many bullets and it goes to show that Rockstar is sticking with another feature that made Max Payne famous. The game renders each and every bullet that flies out of every gun – the player’s gun and the enemy’s. It makes firefights much more hectic and unpredictable than just a guy shooting in your direction and a character hit box being the deciding factor in a shootout.

    It also must be mentioned that the song used in the trailer is absolutely fantastic. Rockstar has always been known for getting the absolute best music for their games and Max Payne 3 seems to be no exception. Check out the trailer below and tell us what you think.

    Max Payne 3 launches on May 15 for Xbox 360, PS3 and May 29 for PC.

    If you’re still not convinced, you can go back and play the original Max Payne on iOS right now. Have fun with your imprecise touch screen controls. I’ll take mouse and keyboard powered Max Payne 3 any day.

  • Max Payne 3 “Bullet Time” Trailer Shows Off the Slow-Mo

    News and trailers are flowing out of Rockstar today. The game developer of hits such as Grand Theft Auto IV and L.A. Noire is turning its attention to one of its first franchises, Max Payne. A trailer for a re-release of the original classic for Apple touch devices was released this morning, and now we have a trailer showing off more of the features included in the much-anticipated sequel Max Payne 3.

    The trailer, named “Bullet Time,” covers the feature of the game that allows players to enter a cinematic slow-motion sequence in which they can aim and fire weapons. The feature was innovative when the first Max Payne was released over a decade ago. The concept came from the movie The Matrix and fit in well with Max Payne‘s mature, movie-script style story. In the trailer, the narrator states that “…Max Payne 3 builds upon ‘bullet time’” using “developments in animation and gameplay mechanics.” Ambitions claims, and perhaps part of the reason the game is so highly anticipated by gamers.

    In addition to player-controlled “bullet time” the game will have sections where the slow-mo is triggered automatically. Hopefully this won’t be overused, as it could turn some of the best, most harrowing moments of the game into rail-shooter sections. Also, the game will feature “kill-cams” that highlight the violent gunplay. Players can slow-mo these “kill-cam” sequences to savor the ultra-violence, if they wish.

    The trailer also makes some impressive claims about the game’s A.I. For instance, that enemies will seek cover and call for back-up while others use suppressing fire. If true, and not simply a repetitive script, this could make for a very fun, and very hard, game. Judge for yourself, and leave a comment for me below. If the trailer makes one thing certain, it’s that Rockstar has included one of its trademarks: Max Payne 3 is going to be bloody and violent.

  • Max Payne Released for Apple’s App Store

    Max Payne Released for Apple’s App Store

    With the anticipation building for Max Payne 3, Rockstar has released the original Max Payne for Apple’s touch devices. The game is now available in the App Store for $2.99, a good price for such a classic game.

    When the original Max Payne was released over a decade ago, its dark story and creative gameplay made it an instant favorite among fans and critics. The game was the first to feature a “bullet time” mechanic, allowing players to slow down gameplay and recreate the visual style exhibited in the movie The Matrix. The game’s story was like something out of a Scorsese movie: Max Payne is an undercover cop on the run, trying to avenge his murdered family and clear his name of a crime he was framed for.

    Max Payne for iOS devices is supported on iPhones 3GS and above, the iPod Touch 4, and all generations of iPad. The game does, unfortunately, feature controls that requires players to have their fingers all over the on-screen action, though Rockstar does list “highly customizable controls” in the App Store feature list. Other features of the mobile version include HD quality resolution and textures, multiple aiming modes, and integration with the “Rockstar Social Club,” which allows users to track stats and unlock cheats for the game.

    Take a look at the game in action below. Unfortunately, the game’s graphics probably won’t match up to the way you remember them:

  • Max Payne Goes Mobile On April 12th

    One of the classic third-person shooters from the early 2000s is making its way to your mobile devices. Neo-noir classic Max Payne is coming to your iOS and Android devices this month.

    iOS users will be getting the game a little bit sooner than Android users. The iOS port hits the App Store on April 12th, while the Android version drops on April 26th.

    From the Rockstar blog:

    The full classic Max Payne PC experience, Max Payne Mobile has been optimized for both iOS and Android devices and features HD graphics, high-resolution textures, Social Club connectivity and user-customizable controls.

    Max Payne Mobile on iOS supports the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch 4, iPad 1, iPad 2 and the new iPad. We’ll have a list of supported Android devices in the coming weeks.

    I imagine that the now 11-year-old game will look pretty spiffy on the new iPad’s Retina display.

    max payne mobile

    Max Payne Mobile isn’t the only game in the franchise that’s coming out soon. The long-awaited Max Payne 3 is hitting consoles on May 15th and PCs on Ma 29th. Max Payne 3 will bring a first to the series: multiplayer.

    For old time’s sake, why don’t we check out the original trailer for Max Payne from 2001:

  • iOS Games Get Backing From Major Players

    It looks like iOS devices may be getting some more star power from the games industry.

    The majority of the big hits on portable devices such as smartphones have come from independent or small developers like Rovio with Angry Birds. The number of big developers making games for smartphones, however, has increased over the years especially with the high profile release of Infinity Blade by Epic Games and Chair Entertainment.

    It looks like that recent trend is going to continue. Andriasang is reporting that Hironobu Sakaguchi recently commented on Twitter that he was making three iOS games. While Sakaguchi is a household name among gamers, those who just got into gaming through the iPhone may know him better as the creator of Final Fantasy. Sakaguchi has been involved with every major Final Fantasy release from the original to Final Fantasy X. More recently, he has been working on RPGs with his new company Mistwalker where they have made contemporary hits like Lost Odyssey and The Last Story.

    If ridiculous hair, big swords and soliloquies on the meaning of life are not your thing, Rockstar Games will be bringing the original Max Payne to iOS devices as well. The news was revealed during a Rockstar Q&A posted on their Web site. Rockstar’s conversion of Grand Theft Auto III for the iPad seemed to do well for the developer, so Max Payne should be a solid conversion.

    One final thing that should get mobile gamers excited is that Tim Schafer will be bringing Double Fine’s new adventure game to smart devices. We reported on the developers successful Kickstarter project that aimed to raise $400,000 but has since raised more than $2 million.

    I know that I’ve been unfairly critical of smartphone gaming over the years as the games have generally proven to be not as sophisticated as the games I have been playing over the past 20 years. With these announcements, it may finally get me into playing games on a tablet or smartphone.

    For that to happen though, I’m going to need something better than shoddy touchscreen controls. Maybe somebody will make a tablet with a controller that features physical buttons so games not specifically built for touchscreens don’t control like trash.

  • Max Payne 3 Finally Launching In May

    Max Payne 3 Finally Launching In May

    After almost 10 years of no activity, Max Payne is back and ready for another round of cinematic action and too many bullets to even count.

    Rockstar Games announced today that Max Payne 3 is expected to launch on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms on May 15. The PC version will launch a bit later on May 29.

    “Max Payne 3 brings powerful storytelling back to the action-shooter genre,” Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games, said. “Rockstar Studios are delivering a game that’s both incredibly cinematic and very, very intense to play.”

    The game takes place after the events of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne and features the series trademark dark, cinematic approach to storytelling. Max Payne 3 sees the former New York detective living in São Paulo, Brazil where he works as protection for the wealthy Rodrigo Branco. Like in all good crime/thriller stories, Rodrigo’s wife is soon kidnapped sending Max into a conspiracy that flows through the entire city.

    The game is also offering multiplayer for the first time in the series but promises to retain the series’ cinematic feel by offering fluid movement and gunplay. The multiplayer will build upon the fiction of the Max Payne universe and feature traditional and new multiplayer modes that focus on the themes of paranoia, betrayal and heroism.

    To be honest, I was concerned with the direction that Rockstar was taking Max Payne 3, but all my fears have been laid to rest. The series is in good hands and hopefully we’ll see more stories told of the life of Max Payne. I would not, however, be against Remedy taking the reigns of the Max Payne franchise again. Too bad they are now knee deep in the excellent Alan Wake franchise, which really isn’t a bad thing.

    The addition of multiplayer will also appeal to a larger group of players who might have ignored the first two games for being single-player only affairs. Increasing the exposure of this excellent game franchise and barring the memory of the awful movie should help cement Max Payne back into a central role for Rockstar and the gaming community as a whole.