Nvidia's RTX Remix is already proving popular with modders, as notable games are being given a new, shiny lease on life. As a result, we're getting to see things like GTA, Max Payne, and early Tomb Raider games get something of a spit polish, re??-entering our collective consciousness.

I have DSO Gaming to thank for this. A number of recent posts from them show that RTX Remix is able to put a bit ?of a m??odern spin on some older releases, such as the aforementioned ones.

In one article, we're treated to screenshots from a remixed version of Vice City �complete with Path Tracing �from user PC_Focus. We also have the above footage from turnpike, whose take on the original Max Payne gives the antihero's coat a nice sheen. Then there's skurtyyskirts, with a remixed version of the first Tomb Raider installment, showing La??ra in a new light (literally).

The gaming equivalent of "rewind!"

Given that Nvidia is due to release its RTX Remix toolkit ?into open beta on January 22, we can expect to see more of this s?ort of thing happening. The above examples were done in the current version of the modding software, which means they might be improved upon even more at some point.

We've also seen the effect of it working in games like Half-Life 2, so it's not just suitable for ultra retro titles (although HL2 is turning 20 this year. Yikes, indeed).

Being able to inject modern techniques into classics, including ray tracing, image upscaling through the likes of DLSS, and more doesn't change how these games look or play overall. It gives them a fresh coat of paint and updated visuals, but they aren't remakes or even remasters. What they are, however, is a glance at just how far ga??ming technology has come over the years.

The post Classics like Vice City and Tomb Raid?er are being given the RTX Remi??x treatment appeared first on Destructoid.

Entourage star Kevin Dillon has given us some sad news today. James McCaffrey, known for his role as the voice of the titular character from the Max Payne series has died at 65. TMZ reports that McCaffrey passed away as a result o???f a battle with multiple myeloma.

McCaffrey first made his debut as a video game voice actor in 2001’s Max Payne. While he stayed close with Remedy, voicing roles in the Alan Wake games and Control, he also acted as Edward Carnby in 2006’s Alone in the Dark reboot. Beyond that, he starred in a number of TV ?and film roles going back 35 years.

Remedy has also given their condolences, stating, “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our beloved friend and collaborator James McCaffrey, the iconic voice of Max Payne and Alex Casey. His remarkable talent not only gave life to our characters but also left an enduring impact on our community. Our hearts go out to his family in this time of loss.�/p>

While his list of roles in video game voice acting is somewhat short, his impact was massive. As Max, McCaffrey gave life to the character’s melancholic, neo-noir brooding, even providing motion capture animation in Max Payne 3. In the same way I have trouble hearing Batman without the voice of Kevin Conroy, I can’t imagine Max without McCaffrey behind the vocals. This has been a sad year when it comes to who we’ve lost in the industry, both in terms of their contributions to beloved characters and those behind the scenes who make it happen. 

Sam Lake, who provided the face for Max in the first game, perhaps said it best on Twitter: “He was a key part of the Remedy family. He was a brilliant actor. No one could do what he did better than him.�/p>

Lead image via Remedy.

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Last April, it was announced that Max Payne 1&2 are getting remade with help from Rockstar ??Games. Now, studio Remedy Entertainment has said the p??roject is in the next stage of development.

Hot off the recent success of Alan Wake 2, a recent note to investors outlines a number of titles Remedy is currently busy with. While Control 2 is still in the "proof-of-concept stage," Max Payne has "progressed into the prod?uction rea?diness stage."

Non-developers like me don't fully understand what th??is entails, but it sure sounds like things are moving forward for the remake. The note goes on to say that th?e studio has "gained clarity on the style and scope of the game" and is confident it has an "exceptionally well-organized team working on it."

Bringing the Payne once more

Released in 2001, the first Max Payne entry was notable for its gritty, noir storyline and Matrix-inspired b??ullet time mechanic.? It was also only the second game by Remedy Entertainment, but it certainly put them on the map.

Following the 2003 sequel, the series went on hiatus until Rockstar took over the IP for the third installment, which was?? released in 2012.

We still don't know when the remake of the first two games will see the light of day, but progress is coming along, it seems. We know that both Max Payne titles w?ill be releasing "as a single title" that will launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

With the warm reception Alan Wake 2 has received since launch, a lot of attention is on Sam Lake and the team at Remedy to see where things go from here.? Many reading this will no doubt look forward to a modern retelling of the bleak story about a man whose name basically means "a large amount of agony."

The post Remedy Entertainment: Max Payne remakes now in ‘production readiness stage’ appeared first on Destructoid.

A new look for an evolving studio

Remedy Entertainment is updating its look. After over 20 years of sticking to ??the same logo, Remedy unveiled its new logo ??today.

The old Remedy logo, with a bullet in the letter R, was representative of the era of Max Payne, and a different kind of Remedy. But, as communications director Thomas Puha writes in the announcement, Remedy is evolving. And so its logo is evolving, too, to better r?eflec??t today's Remedy.

"The Remedy logo means a lot to us, but we know it also means a lot to?? you," Puha said. "Like the games we create at Remedy, we approached this process with great care, consideration and a lot of passion! We want to create memorable worlds, stories, and characters for you to experience through our games. We wanted our new logo to reflect how we constantly evolve and continue creating exciting games with the very best people. However, it’s all still one Remedy where courageous creativity thrives. We hope you like the new look."

The new logo, seen above, is an R with a bit of a mirrored, staggered look. It does remind me a bit of some of the visual effects from Control, which suits Remedy's lean?? into sci-fi storytelling over the years.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyJvCq4HvQ4

A question of identity

It might seem like a little shift, but reading about this today did make me reflect on how Remedy has shifted over the years. The studio started out in 1995, with an eye-shaped logo that infamously prompted a standoff with LucasArts and led to the logo that stuck for two decades.

In the time since, Remedy went from May Payne to Alan Wake, then on to Quantum Break. And now, with the success of 2019's Control, the studio is planning several spin-offs, as well as a Max Payne remake compilation. There's even Alan Wake 2 due out this year, a launch target tha?t Remedy reaffirms in today's news. The studio's certainly grown a lot, and now?? it's got a new look to go with it.

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The house of Payne

Max Payne is back. Remedy Entertainment announced today that it's partnering with Rockstar Games to develop remakes of the first two Max Payne games for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Both Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne will get packaged as a single title. Development is being handled by Remedy, using its own Northlight game engine. Rockstar will be handling the development budget, which today's statement says will be line with a "typical" AAA-game production for Remedy. (The statement is also here via Wario64, as the site went down with the announcement.)

The agreement between the two will allow Remedy to start picking up royalties after Rockstar has recouped its costs. The project, according to Remedy, is c??urrently in the concept development stage.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsQVD5ttpog

The agreement mirrors the original deal for Max Payne: developed by Remedy, published by Rockstar. And it's honestly kind of nice to see Remedy, hot off the success of games like Control, getting the keys to Max Payne again.

Back in the saddle again

The original games, Max Payne in 2001 and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne in 2003, were major parts of the '00s era in games. The noir visuals, third-person shooting, and very dark storytelling were all quite memorable. Rockstar took over for Max Payne 3, retai??ning elements like 'bullet tim?e' while adding their own grit to the mix.

With the projects Remedy has been putting out, this news is certainly exciting. The developer has several projects in the pipeline now, ranging from Alan Wake 2 to a multiplayer Control spin-off. Remedy also recently opened a new office space in Sweden, offering more workspace for its developers.

Rockstar's track record with remakes has recently been a little spotty. But with Remedy at the helm and development going towards a big production for next-gen systems and PC, Max Payne could potentially look pretty dang good. Maybe we'll even see some ?hi-def Sam Lake.

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It was a weird day in Houser's house

This week has been a bit of a strange one for Rockstar Games, at least in regards to its PC store. It began on April 19, when the Grand Theft Auto developer's entire catalog vanished from the Steam platform. It was quickly reinstated without explanation, and (for a brief period), complete with Midnight Club 2, which has n??ot been available to purchase in ?three years.

One further oddity, however, concerns the surprise arrival of new updates for 2011's detective title L.A. Noire, and 2012's shooter sequel Max Payne 3, both of which have automatically dished out their entire DLC for free, gifting all those who ??own the titles on Steam a selection of skins, weapons, missions, and other goodies.

Today, things seem to have returned to a sense of normalcy, with Rockstar's Steam catalog all present and correct. L.A. Noire and Max Payne 3 are admittedly getting a little creaky in the bones in their latter years, but they're both pretty good games in ??their own right. The free DLC is a welcome, if slightly bizarre, bonus.

The post New PC updates for Max Payne? 3 a??nd L.A. Noire gift all DLC for free appeared first on Destructoid.

For more than a New York minute

Remedy's upcoming sci-fi shooter Control will feature the talents of Max Payne and Alan Wake's lead actors. Both James McCaffrey (Max) and Matthew Porretta (Alan) will be featured in roles that play alongside that of the main character. The news was confirmed in a new developer diary for Control which features McCaffrey talking extensively about ????his role in the game. Porretta gets a tease at the end, which possibly hints at his nefarious role.

Alan Wake and Max Payne’s voice actors are going to appear in Remedy’s next game, Control [VG 24/7]

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Twenty-something office worker spends spare time as fifty-something washed-up police officer with a submachine gun

Contains mild spoilers for Max Payne 3

Not everyone has a “type” when it comes to games genres, but many people do. Games span a wide range of different skillsets and combine a variety of other ?interests, so it should come as no surprise that a lot of games aren't for everyon?e.

But on occasion, trying out games outside of your pre-established tastes can be a rewarding experience. You might even learn that a genre you thought was completely out of your reach is more promising than you ever expected. Even if you don't become a platformer convert after years of rueing the day Crash Bandicoot was born, you might find the one exception in the genre that isn't actually all that bad.

Let's share our experiences of discovering something new – or being broad-m??inded when it com??es to games – in the comments. For me, my lifelong nervousness around shooters was challenged this week when I decided to tuck into Max Payne 3.

Max Payne – you strap yourself in and feel the Gs

Shooters have never been my personal bag, simply because it's not a genre I grew up with and I had the impression that they were only for the skilled gamer. FPS games are still very intimidating to me, and I feel like third-person cover shooters are something I'm just about beginning to tolerate. While I have dipped my toe in the cover shooter subgenre before, enjoying games that incorporated aspects of this such as Uncharted and Sleeping Dogs, it's always been a characteristic I've expected to bite me in the ??ass.

I decided to give Max Payne 3 a try after adding it to my PS3 collection in August, largely because of the story. Gunfire may not be my jam, but noir and a thoroughly depressing story most certainly is. I'd not played? the game's predecessors but knew the backstory, and expected Max to be in pretty bad shape.

It actually turned out to be not as much of a buzzkill as I expected. Max still wisecracks with the best of them, even if he is usually riffing off how everyone in his life has abandoned him or been taken from him. He likes his booze and his pills, but he has a nice redemption arc in the second half, and appears to build a new life in the sun for himself at the end. And in spite of killing hundreds upon hundreds o?f average Joes who are just pawns in a corrupt system, you feel like Max has earned his Caribbean ??retirement.

What really stood out for me, though, was the shooting – particularly since the story didn't?? develop some key characters, such as Da Silva, as much? as I would have liked. Disclaimer here: as a newbie to the genre, I played on what should have been the easiest setting combination possible, which was Easy mode with hard enemy lock-on. Hard lock-on actually ended up being a bit of a setback, since the reticle had the awkward habit of fixating on the wrong enemy. But I did have more than a helping hand throughout the entire process.

Learning what counted as good cover and when to pop my head above the parapet was a real thrill. Max Payne 3 also gave me good reason to experiment, since the game on Easy mode drip-fed you ammo and painkillers on multiple deaths to make sure that no area was an insurmountable bar to progression. Shootdodge and bullet time took a bit of getting used to, but as prominent features of the Max Payne series, I felt compelled to use them as much as possible, and towards the end I felt like I'd nailed down the basics. The only limits to my shooting were that my TV is far too sma?ll to make headshots more than ?a happy accident.

Overall, my time with Max Payne was a little lacklustre when it came to my initial mot?ivations for playing it – the story. But it actually has more replay value than I anticipated, because I would definitely revisit it for the shoot-outs. Side note: it should be compulsory for all shooters to have a “bomb it all to heck” grenade launcher section right at the end.

A surprise to surpass Metal Gear

Of course, this is not the first time that I've surprised myself with how much I've adapted to a specific genre. I didn't expect Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to be as compelling as it ended up being, in part because I do not do sneaky games very well. But through playing MGSV: TPP and then progressing onto the other games in the series, I learnt that stealth games are something I do get on really well with, as long as there is a little wiggle room as to how you approach situations. I liked that I could be a bit more all-guns-blazing in certain scenarios of TPP, if I was willing to accept a penalty for it. What is not for me is the more rigid requirement of skulking in the shadows that is present in series such as Hitman and Splinter Cell. I'm more of a hybrid-stealth kinda gal.

Likewise, I never knew that hack-and-slash games were something I could get hooked on – and then I played Bayonetta and DmC. On the whole, trying out games I wo??uldn't usually gravitate towards (VNs, platformers and puzzle games) has shown that just because you're not especially good at a type of game, you can still have a blast sucking at it.

A Croc of shit?

Screenshot from the Widescreen Gaming Forum

This can also go in the opposite direction: games that receive a lot of praise in genres you get excited about can leave you feeling unexpectedly cold. My most prominent example of this is the 1997 PS1 platforming classic, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, which quite a few people consider a cult classic and an unforgettable part of t?heir childhoo??d. Or so it seems to me.

I remember starting Croc up as a wee child, straight off the back of the legendary Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and thinking, “what the Hell is this crap?” Jumps felt laggy and awkward, the game just looked ugly to me, and I didn't find Croc as a protagonist enchanting in the slightest. It still sits on my shelf, ??begging me to give it a fair shake many years on, but I haven't been able to motivate myself to put it through the wringer one more time.

In more recent times, I gave Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction a try, after finishing my first Ratchet and Clank game, the PS4 remake. For some reason, moving backwards along the Ratchet and Clank development timeline in this way left me with some real problems with the controls when it came to Tools of Destruction. I was getting my ass handed to me in the opening section, and I couldn't figure out why. Frustration got the better of me and I put it to one side, despite the PS4 version of Ratchet and Clank being one? of my favourite games ??that I played this year.

All of this just goes to show that while genre preferences can create good guidelines when it comes to deciding what games to buy, th??ey are no guarantee of hours of fun. Likewise, venturing outside of your usual boundaries can yield plenty of goodies and memorable moments.

What games have you enjoyed, despite being outside of your usual wheelhouse? Have any surefire hits fallen flat with you, despite others enjoying them? Do you play all kinds of genres, or stick to what you know and love? Let me know in the comments down below!

The post Which games have you enjoyed, even though they’re “not your type”? appeared first on Destructoid.

Hopefully it's Alan Wake 2

It's been a few years since Quantum Break came out, so obviously Remedy has been hard at work on something. We already knew the developer was making the single-player portion of the free-to-play shooter CrossFire 2, but what of its untitled?? seventh project, P7? According to a recent financial statement for 2017, ??Remedy has stated the game is targeting a 2019 release date.

The very dry report states, "Our other game project, project P7 that is being done with 505 Games S.p.A., proceeded from the pre-production phase to the production phase at the beginning of the period under review. The development of the game has progressed according to our plans. P7 is expected to b?e released during 2019."

That doesn't mean this is a guaranteed date, but with this news, I'm sure we'll see something of the title at E3 this year. I'm hoping we can finally get the long awaited Alan Wake 2, but this may end up being an original IP (which wouldn't be bad at all). What is very intriguing is the final paragraph of the statemen?t, which reveals another project is in the works.

"One of the projects is the company’s own game brand codenamed P7," reads the report, "in which the company’s own financing plays a significant role. At the same time, the company will launch a third game project." Maybe that is the Alan Wake continuation we've all been dying for. It could also be Quantum Break 2, though I'm not sure Remedy has the money to create t??hat on its own.

Whatever the case, 2018 is going to be a very productive year for the studio. I've enjoyed all of its games and am always eager to see what Sam Lake comes up with, so I hope everything can go without a? hitch.

Remedy’s ?P7 To Launch in 2019; A New Game Project Will Be Started This Year [WCCFTech]

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Promoted from our Community Blogs

_{[I was still in my twenties the first time I read this blog. At exactly two months into my thirties, this feels more relevant than ever.  In the newest entry for our Who Let The Blogs Out initiative, where we promote older blogs that may have been overlooked the first time around, SpielerDad gives us a good, stern talking to about some of the aging characters in video games. – Kevin]}

Getting older is not as bad as people make it out to be. Take i??t from me, as someone who? has been on this merry-go-round called earth over thirty-six times. Complaining about it is so cliché anyway.

Sure, my muscles ache a bit more than they used to, and my peaches hang down a little lower, and my beard has a touch of grey here and there, but you learn t?o deal. Perhaps the worst part was the thinning of my long beautiful mane of hair, but I just started shaving all that shit off. Now I’m a sexy bald man, like the late, ??great Telly Savalas.

I’m also wiser now.  I know stuff just because I have been alive longer than other people. Want proof? Read my 100 Blog Post Fapstravaganza AMA and be enlightened.

Know what else is great about getting older? I now have more in common with the protagonists in the video games I play. Believe it or not, many of the main characters of games are getting older, and the reason? for this is because, apparently, the people who are creating the games are getti?ng older.

This was brought to my attention awhile back in a promo from Sony for Uncharted 4, where Nathan Drake is no longer a spring chicken destroying future UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but rather a 30-something who destroys future UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the video, whi?ch I embedded below, there is some interesting commentary from the game’s makers on how they grew up designing Nathan Drake ?and, in turn, Nathan has grown up with them.

However, game protagonists have been skewing older for some time now. I first noticed this awhile back when playing Max Payne 3. When I think of Max Payne, I used to picture a young man with a perpetual “who farted face” with q??uestionable style choices.

Boy was I surprised when I first started up Max Payne 3 to se??e a man that looks surprisingly similar to me, with a sh??aved head and beard. It’s eerie, like looking into a mirror.

However, I would ne?ver be caught dead in a Hawaiian print shirt. It’s obvious that Max Payne still suffers f??rom questionable style choices.

Then, towards the end of the last generation of consoles, the amazing and, in my opinion, groundbreaking The Last of Us was released, featuring a protagonist that&rsqu??o;s touched with a bit of g?rey, just like yours truly.

Joel is a little worse for the wear, and has a greying beard, w??hich I can relate to. But, look at that thick head of hair he has. FUCK YOU JOEL! Why do you still have so much hair? What is your secret? I HOPE ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL HAIR FALLS OUT AND YOU BECOME A BALDIE LIKE ME!

Getting back on track -- I especially liked Joel because he&r??squo;s a father figure and, as a dad myself, I empathized with his struggle in this game and can understa??nd the reasons for the actions he takes. That’s a powerful thing for me, and it’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed and remember this game so fondly.

On a side note, The Last of Us was developed by Naughty Dog, the same folks behind the Uncharted series, so they a?re apparently attempting to corner the market on games featuring older, aching, grey haired, male main characters.

Grand Theft Auto 5 also has its fair share of more experienced leads. Matter of fact, two out of three of the main characters can be considered old farts. Trevor Phillips reminds ?me of that crazy uncle that every family has and tolerates during extremely awkward conversations around the dinner table during the holidays.

Michael De Santa (nee Townley) is a well-to-do man who’s married to an attractive woman, that may be porking her tennis instructor, and a father to two pain-in-the-ass kids. It’s obvious that he’s undergoing some sort of midlife ?crisis,? and going back into a life of crime is both a necessity in order to pay off debts, an outlet for his internalized rage, and a longing for his younger days full of excitement.

According to some armchair hack psychotherapist on Wikipedia, individuals experi?encing a midlife crisis may ??feel:

• A deep sense of remorse for goals not accomplished
• Fear of humiliation among more successful colleagues
• Longing to achieve a feeling of youthfulness
• Need to spend more time alone or with certain peers
• Heightened sense of their sexuality or lack thereof
• Ennui, confusion, resentment or anger due to their discontent with their marital, work, health, economic, or social status
• Ambitious to right the missteps they feel they have taken early in life

Now,? tell me tha?t doesn’t essentially sum up Michael De Santa’s story arc.

Speaking of people having ?a midlife crisis, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Bruce Wayne/Batman can be diagnosed with this condition.

It seems that for the past few Batman movies and games, the story has centered around how?? Wayne/Batman is getting old, and his decrepit body can no longer hold up to the stresses of being a winged, vig??ilante detective face-puncher.

One of the main frustrations of getting older is noticing that your body is not able to perform in the same ways as?? it had in the past.  It takes a little longer to get loosened up, after workouts you stay sore a little longer, and when you get banged up, it takes a little longer to heal. This is also my experience as someone that is in relatively good shape.

Also, let us not forget that in Arkham Knight, Batman w?as rolling around in his fancy new Batmobile. This is important, because everyone knows buying a fancy car is the first thing a man does when he’s suffering ??from a midlife crisis.

It’s getting obvious that this is not a coincidence that game characters are getting older. Another recent example is Big Boss from Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

If memory serves, Big Boss was the main character in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, where he’s a relatively young man. The Phantom Pain takes place in 1984, approximately twenty years after the events of Snake Eater takes place, so of course Big Bo??ss is older, wiser, gr??eyer, and worse for the wear.

He still has a thick head of hair, so I hate him. ?No way he still has all that hair after years of stress. I say it’s hair plugs or a really good toupée. Look at the technology that he has at his disposal. They are probably light years ahead of everyone in toupée technology.

And yes, I do realize that Big Boss is an integral character in many Metal Gear games, but in this case, I’m refer?ring to playable old Big Boss.

When I first started writing this blog, my plan was to stop at Big Boss, but recent developments have required me to make one more addition. Thanks to Sony, we are in store for a new God of War game, where an older, ??grumpier, and bearded Kratos batt??les Norse gods.

This time, Kratos will be accompanied by his young son, and if the E3 gameplay trailer is any indication, Kratos is the type of dad who yells at his son during Little League baseball games. I imagine he’s like that dick dad from the original Bad News Bears.

So, as you can see, this trend of older lead characters in games is going to continue, and I think that’s brilliant. Sorry young whippersnappers, but the people who make games are getting older, along with the people? who play games. We like playing as old people, and it’s only going to get worse. Soon, Batman will be in his Batmobile doing 25 mph in the fast lane with his left turn signal on, Kratos will sit on his porch yelling at Norse monsters to get off of his lawn, and Nathan and Elena Drake will settle in a nice condo in Boca Raton, Florida. I can’t wait.

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No Payne, No gain

It's been 16 years since Remedy came out with its bullet-time introducing pulp-noir shooter Max Payne and since then the game has turned into a cult-classic, spawning two sequels. The games always wore their noir cinematic influences on their sleeve with all too boastful references to mythological narratives and the main character spouting Chandleresque dialogue like it was all he knew. So it's not surprising to see fan films come out of the series. Enter the fan film Max Payne Retribution.

In the film, Max Payne is a detective working a case that involves the deadly street drug Valkyr. Get it? Valkyr? Valkyrie? I told you this stuff wasn't subtle. This same drug holds a personal connection to Max because years before his wife and daughter were murdered by crazed junkies on Valkyr. Ever since then the only things that Max has thought of is finding the one responsible for his famil??y's death and the nearest bottle of bourbon. With a steady supply of booze thanks to his local watering hole, he works on the Valkyr case which leads him to the gang leader Jack Lupino.

Retribution does take a little liberty with the story of the first g??ame, introducing a new character and pushing a major character from the second game's influence further ahead in the timeline. But you can tell the filmmakers made this out of love for the series because of the little things like actually printing out the Kong Bourbon labels, lots of horrific dream sequences, and even? making Max sleep in his iconic leather jacket and half-done tie.

There are a few technical issues with sound mixing getting a little wonky in certain scenes but with a budget of around $3,000, it looks mu??ch better than how much it cost. My one biggest gripe with the movie is that Max's actor's British accent slips through a few times and as a New Jersey native, it hurts me deep to my core and I don't know how  many panzarotti's it will take to fill this? void.

The entire fan fi??lm is available on YouTube currently and com??es from Nocturnal Pictures, a small independent studio in the United Kingdom.

The post Fan film Max Payne R??etribution is a love letter to the original game appeared first on Destructoid.

It's always the same

Seated in a Krakow convention center last week to watch Remedy Entertainment's creative director Sam Lake give a presentation on unifying themes, the audience was treated to something it certainly didn't expect: A partial striptease. Lake got down to his undershirt to cosplay as Max Payne while talking about that game; he did the same thing while discussing Alan Wake.

There's a reason Lake does this, more than for sheer entertainment value (although that definitely plays a role too). He's about to dissect each of Remedy's past titles, minus Death Rally, in a way that explains how? they all have character-centric stories; how all these video games take another medium's structure; and how they all blur the in-game realities. These wardrobe changes are a meta play on that last one. Lake's blurring the lines of his presentation by dressing up as the characters he's discussing.

It's a fascinating talk, one that we'll probably post when the Digital Dragons organizers upload it to YouTube. It's particularly interesting because it points out all the ways that Remedy's games have the exact same pillars every single time. Lake starts with the big one: "We want to create iconic characters. Our bar has always been in as high-quality characters and stories as we can make. Because we make action games, the motifs and conflicts of these characters are the springboard for action. Heightened, exaggerated and we always bring a layer of genre elements as we allow to explore different genres -- pulp fiction or supernatural ??elements or science fiction," he says.

Lake continues "The question is 'Within the action game framework, how do you create a character-centric story?' Obviously there are some pro??blems there because, there is a lot of noise and a lot of explosions and a lot of shooting, and the character can get lost very easily in that. It's all about the character in every possible way. Usually we start with the name and the name of the game is the name of the character is the theme of the story."

One way that Remedy excels at keeping the focus on the character is by creating worlds that are seen through the eyes of the protagonist. "It comes down to th?e point of view of the character, and the point of narration is one tool we use for this," Lake says. "It means that when you experience the game and the game world, you are not exactly experiencing the world itself, you are experiencing the version of the world that the character sees. It all goes through the point of view of the main character." So the terrible snowstorm in New York ?City might be exaggerated because it's a manifestation of Max Payne's inner conflict brought out into the external world.

And, most often, these conflicts are recurring through Remedy's works. Lake explains "Now, when it's about character, then obviously the themes need to be?? very personal for the character. For me, it has always been about t?he question of what is the most personal up-close thing about the character. For me, it's about family. And because it's an action game, there needs to be conflict and drama, so it's about a broken family. If you think about life from this perspective, everyone wants to be with their loved ones, but our hero is ultimately on this journey on his own."

Max Payne is saddled with extreme guilt and sadness over the death of his wife. Alan Wake feels the same over a failing marriage. Quantum Break's Jack Joyce goes through the whole "If I could only go back and change things and undo mistakes" mindset while trying to save his brother, the only family he has left. At their cores, these games are all the ??same.

Apart from characters and their motivations, Lake also spent a good amount of time outlining how each video game draws from other entertainment. Max Payne is a comic book with a three-act movie structure. Alan Wake is a novel. Quantum Break leans into this completely and actually is half TV show. "To me, it's been a logical journey in the sense that all these different mediums play a role in our kind of f??ragmented life. With that, it feels like a natural way to bring these into the fictional world that we create. I've a??lways felt with games that you can make your own rules in a way and kind of try different things out," Lake comments.

This presentat??ion was very much focused on Remedy's past, but time is a flat circle. The way Lake spoke about everything, it made you realize that this wasn't an analysis of the studio's works, but rather an identification of the studio's earmarks. These are the things Remedy holds sacred, and then it finds creative wiggle room within that structure.

Lake ended the presentation by saying that he couldn't talk about Remedy's next game which is currently codenamed P7. No one expected him to. Digital Dragons isn't the sort of place where that kind of reveal happens. But, in a way, he let us know the direction it's probably headed. When P7 is formally announced, don't be surprised if it's a character-centric action game, with themes of guilt and broken family, that draws inspiration from other mediums, and that blurs the lines of its own realit?y. It doesn't feel like such a leap when you realize that's all Remedy has been doing since 2001.

The post A look to Remedy’s past is probably a great indicator of what’s in Remedy’s future appeared first on Destructoid.

Gotta love these guys

We're a few days out from Quantum Break, and whether you're looking forward to the time-bending shooter or not, th??is tour of Remedy Entertainm?ent is worth watching. It's pretty darn funny!

I had my suspicions that Shawn Ash??more smells nice, and this video totally confirms it.

[Via NeoGAF]

The post This Remedy studio tour cracked me up appeared first on Destructoid.

ESRB listing hints at another PS2 add

Sony recently announced that PS4 can play PS2 games, so long as you purchase them again from Sony for upwards of $10. They do work pretty well, but I can't imagine buying too many of them, especially when PS2 games aren't all that hard to find. But I did buy Super Mario World on W??ii U?? because my SNES wasn't working with a new TV, so.

Anyways, an ESRB listing for Max Payne on PS4 just showed up, so it might join the current eight available PS2 games (and other confirmed incoming ones, like PaRappa the Rapper 2). I gave up on Max Payne on PS2 when I couldn't see or wal??k over the blood trailer in the dream sequence and kept falling to my death. Still annoyed about that.

The post Max Payne rated for PS4, likely a PS2 emulation appeared first on Destructoid.

Take-Two Talks

Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, has opened up about why it does not annualise the release its biggest titles like Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, and Red Dead Redemption.

Talking at MKM Partners Investor Day in New York City (via Gamespot), Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick stated tha??t annual releases can "[burn] off your intellectual property" and reduce de??mand and quality, reducing their capacity to be "massive consumer events".

"The market asks us, 'Why don't you annualize your titles?' We think with the non-sports titles, we are better served to create anticipation and demand," said Zelnick. "On the one hand to rest the title, and, on t??he other hand, to have the highest quality in the market, which takes time. You can't do that annually."

"What we would like to do is be able to hav?e enough hit intellectual properties in any given year, whether we have Title A or Title B, is not the issue," he said. "We'll have a handful of really great franchises and new intellectual properties that together really have the economic impact of an annualized business without the detriments of an annualized business."

Although there was no news on any upcoming new releases, Zelnick did tell the conference that Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption were considered "permanent franchises" and confirmed that the BioShock series remains "unquestionably" important to the company.&nb?sp;

Do you agree that Take-Two should keep their fo??cus on quality, or would you love to see these series' rele?ased annually (or even once every couple of years)? You know what to do... *points to comments*

The post Why doesn’t Rockstar release a new GTA game every year? appeared first on Destructoid.

To be fair, the port released this year

Update 9/25: GMG's coupon has changed to 23% o??ff making even better deals than before. Prices updated below.

Grand Theft Auto V finally get??s a sizable discount at 36% off to $38.40 on GMG. Note that this is the Rockstar Games Social Club key so if you want an equivalent Steam deal, you're probably going to have t??o wait 'til the Steam Winter Sale (note that Steam will still require Social Club).

The PC port of course was released earlier this year, hence the pricing stubbornness. Many people were disappointed in a lack of deals earlier this summer, and were even more turned off by the faux deal where the only discount was GTA V being bundled in with a Shark Card.

FYI, GMG is not the only retailer with the discount going -- if you prefer other retailers, the Rockstar publisher sale is also popping at: DLGamer, Games Planet, and Games Republic -- all with discounts up to 80% off.

Use Code: 23PERC-AUTUMN-SAVING

GTA

• Grand Theft Auto V — $36.96  (list price $60)
• Grand Theft Auto Complete Package (Steam) — $7.70  (list price $50)
• Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition (Steam) — $4.62  (list price $30)
• Grand Theft Auto Trilogy (Steam) — $4.62  (list price $30)
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Steam) — $2.88  (list price $15
• Grand Theft Auto III (Steam) — $1.92  (list price $10)

Max Payne

• Max Payne Complete (Steam) — $8.47  (list price $55)
• Max Payne 3 Complete (Steam) — $5.39  (list price $35)
• Max Payne 3 (Steam) — $3.85  (list price $20)
• Max Payne 3 Rockstar Pass (Steam) — $2.88  (list price $15)
• Max Payne 2 (Steam) — $1.92  (list price $10)
• Max Payne (Steam) — $1.92  (list price $10)

Others

• Rockstar Bundle (Steam) — $15.70  (list price $120)
• L.A. Noire Complete Edition (Steam) — $4.62  (list price $30)
• L.A. Noire: (Steam) — $3.85  (list price $20)
• Bully: Scholarship Edition (Steam) — $2.88  (list price $15)
• Midnight Club 2 (Steam) — $1.92  (list price $10)
• Manhunt (Steam) — $1.92  (list price $10)

Game deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

The post GTA V on PC drops to $38 during Rockstar sale appeared first on Destructoid.

There are great games, and some not-so-great as well

Looking for a new game to play well into the weekend while I hit up Chicago for the Queens of the Stone Age show? You are? Boy, do I have a sale for you! Hit up the PlayStation Store this weekend early for some sweet deals, including BioShock, Red Dead Redemption, Duke Nukem Forever, GTA IV, and L.A. Noire for just $5 apiece. You could ??buy a cheap McDonald's lunch, or you could start a new game. Priorities, people, and I think we all know where ours lie. 

PlayStation Plus is not required to take advantage of this deal, and there's something for everyone if you look hard enough. The Mark of Kri is a good buy if you haven't picked it up, and Spec Ops: The Line is an interesting romp with a pleasing twi?st. Either way, it's $5! Rack 'e??m up, homie!

Check out the full selection via the webstore here and let us know what you snap up.

NA ?PS Store $5 Flash Sale (RDR, Max Payne 3, GTA 4, Guacamelee!, MK, Spec Ops, more) [NeoGAF]

The post Plenty of grea?t games for $5 during th?e PlayStation Store Flash Sale appeared first on Destructoid.

PS All-Stars cross-buy for $20!

Max Payne is on sale at Amazon this week, with discounts on all three individual games as well as in an overall bundle. Don't miss that PlayStation All-Stars c??ross-buy deal if you don't already have the game!

Remember the PSP? Walmart is trying to get rid of them. Get one in a bundle with three games for $99.

Finally, at Gamefly you'll find that lots of popular used bestsellers are discounted. 

Se?e the rest of what our ??deals corgi found in our list below.

Amazon:

• Max Payne Complete Pack (PC download code) -- $10.99
• Max Payne 3 and Season Pass (PC download code) -- $6.99
• Max Payne (PC download code) -- $3.39
• Max Payne 2 (PC download code) -- $3.39
• PlaySta??tion All-Stars Battle Royale (P?S3 and Vita cross-buy) -- $19.96
• Sly Cooper Thieves in Time (Vita) -- $9.99

TigerDirect:

• Assassin's Creed IV (PS4) -- $40.15
• Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox One) -- $44.99

GameStop:

• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate -- $19.99

The post Deal North: max discounts on Max Payne and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Get 'em while they're cheap!

Newegg is running a sale right now on some older Rockstar games for the PC. All of the games are downloads, and are up to 76 percent off. Titles available include the Max Payne series, Bully, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto IV, L.A. Noire, Manhunter, and Midnight Club 2.

Most of these are only three bucks, so go grab something. All of these are good games, and I'm sure you can skip a cup of coffee today to get yourself a videogame. Max Payne is one of my favorite series of all time, and if you haven't? played it you need to drop everything and spend $10.50 to get all three games. It's totally worth it.

The post Newegg has a crazy sale on old Rockstar games ??for PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Role-playing mayhem

You may have heard that a little game by the name of Grand Theft Auto V released this week. If you're one of the souls that helped contribute to its more than $1B in sales, you may have noticed that Mi??chae??l looks an awful lot like someone.

You wouldn't be alone, as a Redditor realized the same thing. So, they took Michael out on a shopping spree, and decked him out exactly like Max from Max Payne 3. If GTA just isn't crazy enough for you, I gue?ss you can co-mingle your?? signature Rockstar wanton destruction.

Noticed that Michael looked like Max Payne. Went for a shopping session an??d this is the result... [Reddit]

The post Make GTA V’s Michael look just like Max Payne appeared first on Destructoid.

PixelJunk Monsters also discounted

This week's addition to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection is Dokuro, a PlayStation Vita puzzler-platformer from Game Arts. It's got skeletons and an ?art style rem?iniscent of children's books -- and it's regularly $13.99, so "free" sounds terrific to me.

Elsewhere in the store update, PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD is discounted to $11.99 for Plus members, while Max Payne 3 is $7.99 (or $9.99 for everyone else) and the Ultimate Edition is $11.99 (or $14.99 for all users). Thos?e are some mighty fine prices.

PlayStation Plus: Dokuro Marches to PS Vita’s Instant?? Game Collection [PlayStation Blog]

The post PS Plus: Dokuro for free, Max Payne 3 f??or eigh?t bucks appeared first on Destructoid.

A little side by side comparison

YouTube user datarace1 took some of the gameplay footage from the last Grand Theft Auto V video and compared the combat mechanics against Max Payne 3. There's a lot of similarities, which isn't really surprising as there's a lot of elements from past Ro?ckstar games all implemented in different ways here.

Ultimately, this is good news for those that never liked GTA's combat in the past.

The post See how GTA V’s combat is similar to Max Payne 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

'They had their body armor...I had mine'

One of my favorite games of last year was the exceptionally-crafted Max Payne 3. From its dark and moody story to the pulse-pounding action moments, it all combined to create one of th?e most enjoyable gaming expe??riences from Rockstar that I've had in a long time.

Unfortunately, Mac owners were unable to enjoy this great game in their native OS. At least that was case, until today -- Max Payne 3 is now available for purchase on the Mac App Store and Steam. Mac gamers can enjoy all of Max's inner-monologue one-liners as well as the fantastic Advanced Bullet Time and crazy Shootdodge mechanics.

I would still ?recommend bringing a good book along, as the 32.51GB download may take a while. That being said, it i?s well worth the wait.

The post Bringing the Payne! Max Payne 3 now graces Mac appeared first on Destructoid.

Assassin's Creed III, Persona 4: Arena, Metal Gear Rising and more

The PlayStation Store is rolling out a new sales promotion that's packing ten different games with ALL of their downloadable content offerings. The Ultimate Edition bundles are all being offered at 65??% off, with PlayStation Plus members getting 75% off:

• Assassin's Creed III -- $69.99 / $62.99
• Batman: Arkham City -- $28.99 / $23.19
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 -- $69.99 / $62.99
• DmC: Devil May Cry  -- $52.49 / $47.24
• Far Cry 3 -- $55.99 / $50.39
• Max Payne 3 -- $29.99 / $20.99
• Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance -- $63.99 / $44.79
• Persona 4 Arena -- $39.99 / $27.99
• Starhawk -- $23.49 / $16.44
• Transformers: Fall of Cybertron -- $62.99 / $56.69

I want to state again that these prices you're seeing includes ALL of the? downloadable content for each game. You have until May 27 to nab these games? at the discounted prices, after which they'll be discounted to 40% off the normal prices for the game's plus DLC.

The post 10 games bundled with all their DLC di??scounted on PSN appeared first on Destructoid.

Despite a net loss, Take-Two improved over 2012

Take-Two held its quarterly earnings call today to report on the end of its fourth-quarter a?nd fiscal yea?r. The company finished the year at a loss, but there were many bright spots to be optimistic about.

Of particular note, Borderlands 2 has sold more than 6 million copi??es to date. A??ccording to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, the game "remains on track to become the highest selling release in the history of 2K."

BioShock Infinite, the other darling from 2K Games, has also performed well. More than 3.7 million units have been shipped, and Take-Two noted that it has seen significantly higher first-month sales than any other BioShock release. It's also worth mentioning that Infinite came out at the very tail-end of Take-Two's fiscal year, meaning that most o??f its sales will be reflected in 2014.

NBA2K13 sold more than 5 million copies, marking the third consecutive year that it reached that mark. Additionally, Max Payne 3 shipped over 4 million units.

Despite the decent performances of some of its biggest games, Take-Two finished 2013 with a net loss o??f $31.2 million. The silver lining is that the company improved in most areas over 2012. Take-Two reported sales of $1.214 billion -- an increase of more than $388 million -- and, as most companies have expressed thus far, it saw a dramatic increase in digital sales.

The post Take-Two’s year led by Borderlands and NBA sales appeared first on Destructoid.

A bargain on par with Max's angst

Max Payne has hit rock bottom. Now, so has the price for his latest game! Greenmangaming is offering a 48 hour sale on the PC version of Max Payne 3 which ought to turn a few heads. Using a coupon code (GMG20-P4DLK-FKYRS; courtesy of the folks at DealZon) to shave a few extra bucks off, you can grab the ga??me right now for $10.88 or, if you're a baller, pick up the "Complete Collection" including the Rockstar Season Pass and all its associated DLC for a mere $14. You have until Saturday at ?9am Pacific to lay your money down.

As you may have surmised from the review I wrote last year, it's a damn fine game and this is an excellent price for it. I'm not sure that I'd invest in the Season Pass, even for only a few bucks more, but that's more due to an acknowledgment that I don't have time to play Max Payne 3 multiplayer than a reflectio??n of its quality.

Who's in?

The post Greenmangaming offers dirt cheap Max Payne 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

More content is great, but not if people aren't playing

Rockstar has released the newest -- and last -- downloadable content pack for Max Payne 3, Deathmatch Made in Heaven. The DLC contains a new co-op mode, weapons, items, three additional multiplaye?r modes, and a single-player challenge.

I've been playing around with the new c??ontent for a few days now, and in that time I've only managed to get into a few matches. I was playing on the PC, so other platforms might have more people playing, but Max's multiplayer is somewhat of a ghost town these days, sadly.

Max Payne 3: Deathmatch Made in Heaven DLC (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Developer: Rockstar Vancouver
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release: January 22, 2013
MSRP: $9.99 (PC, PS3) / 800 Microsoft Points (Xbox 360)

Let's start off with the co-op mode, Dead Man Walking. In this mode, two players work together as Max and Passos to fight off waves of endless enemies. It's a horde mode?, which just about every shooter has these days, so I don't think too many people will be surprised by anything in here. As ?you kill bad guys, you unlock points that can be used to open new areas of the map, or open containers to find more weapons and ammo.

While it's definitely not anything new, it's actually the best multiplayer experience I've had with Max Payne 3 as it's just simple and fun. It'??s Max and Passos killing crooks and trading one liners. Honestly, this should have been with the game when it shipped.

Since? you only need two players, it wasn't that hard to find a match most of the time. It's not amazing, but it's also not offensive. As a heads up, you do have to beat the game on at least the Detective difficulty setting in order to unlock this mode. If you haven't finished the single-player somehow by now, you might want to hold off.

The three multiplayer modes are Marked Man, Run & Stun, and Time Attack. Time Attack and Marked Man are slight variations of the standard Deathmatch and they aren't all that e??xciting. The rule changes are minimal, and they don't really do a who??le lot to spice things up. Based on my experience, most PC players are staying away from these modes and sticking with standard deathmatches.

The most interesting-looking mode is undoubtedly Run & Stun. One player becomes Captain Baseball Bat Boy's enemy, Saci, and he has to go running around stunning everyone else. Once a player is stunned, they are on Saci's side. Sadly, it's not as fun as it soun??ds. I think it's mostly due to the low player volume. I never managed to get more than four peop??le in a round at once.

The new weapons are all for melee use and include a cattle prod, nightstick, stun gun, and pepper spray. While fun to use, they don't exactly bring a whole lot to the table. There are a handful of new items to add b??oosts and protect you from different types of dama??ge as well.

This isn't a terrible batch of DLC by any means, and I've definitely seen worse. The problem is that it's essentially multiplayer content for a game nobody seems to care about anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love Max Payne 3 -- it's my personal game of the year for 2012, as a matter of fact -- but solely for its single-player e?xpe??rience.

The multiplayer is decent, but Deathmatch Made in Heaven doesn't do much ??for it. If you are interested in a new co-op mode to play with a buddy, it might be worth getting, but I really can't recommend it. If you do get the add-on, you'll be spending a lot of time alone waiting for people to join a ma?tch.

The post Impressions: Max Payne 3’s Deathmatch Made in Heaven DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Max is all out of DLC to give

Deathmatch Made in Heaven, Max Payne 3's final piece of downloadable content, will launch tomorrow in North America -- marking the fulfillment of the DLC schedule that Rockstar laid out several months ago.

As with nearly all previous packs, Deathmatch Made in Heaven will contain new weapons, items, and bursts for players to get their hands on; however, the pack also adds new co-op and competitive modes -- Dead Men Walking, Run & Stun, Marked Man, and Time Attack -- which Rockstar has fully detailed here.

Th??is DLC will cost 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99 on PC and PlayStation Network. The pack won't launch in Europe until Janu??ary 30, 2013.

D?eathmatch Made in Heaven Max Payne 3 DLC Is Coming January? 22nd [Rockstar]

The post Max Payne 3’s ‘Deathmatch Made in Heaven’ out tomorrow appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the best soundtracks of 2012!

The Creators Project sat down with band Health to talk about how they made the woderful score to Max Payne 3. The band details what they did to create the score, including watching early video captures Rockstar wou??ld send them of play testers playing the game.

Check out the blog posting on The Creators Project for a full breakdown of how the score was made, and to listen to some of the stems that were used to keep the music flowing ??in levels.

HEALTH Breaks Down Their Score For Max Payne 3 [The Creators Project]

The post H?ealth details how th??ey made the Max Payne 3 soundtrack appeared first on Destructoid.

Fixes invisible players and cover

Fresh off the announcement of the Painful Memories DLC, Rockstar has just pushed a patch that will fix a number of multiplayer issues with the game; most notably the fact ??that some people would get stuck in cover, or turn invisible (so spooooky!). The patch is available on the 360, PS3, and PC right now.

I never experienced these issues, because I only played multiplayer a week into the game's release, then promptly quit. Did anyone sti??ck with it?

Patch Notes:

• The Kill screen now shows what weapon and burst the enemy used to kill you
• Fixed an issue where players would occasionally get stuck in cover
• Fixed an issue where players would occasionally appear invisible
• Fixed an issue where game modes could appear to be over 100% full
• Fixed an issue where occasionally a Loadout slot could overwrite another Loadout slot at the start of a round of Gang Wars
• Fixed an issue where a party would have trouble loading into a new game after a party member had left

The post Max Payne 3 patch addresses multiplayer issues appeared first on Destructoid.