Rockstar Research: Revisiting the Ghosts, Goons and Graveyards of NJ & NY in Max Payne 3

Aug 16, 2012

Corporate greed, nightclub shootouts, helicopters, vertigo-inducing rooftops, pill-popping, even Captain Baseballbatboy — the more things change for Max in Max Payne 3, the more they stay the same. Our beleaguered NYC cop pursues the promise of a fresh start working in São Paulo, Brazil, but as a couple of turning point flashback sequence levels reveal in the game, this descent into the volatile South American city’s chaos is sparked by a chance encounter that took place back in the snow and darkness of New Jersey — where the butchering of his family many years ago began Payne’s downward spiral — and with death-dealing gangsters again in hot pursuit. In Max Payne 3, we find our protagonist planted on a barstool at Walton’s Bar near his Hoboken hovel, busy drowning eight years of horrific memories in drink. A dispute with a young hothead from the local DeMarco crime family rapidly escalates to pistols drawn, then gunfire and a mob of angry Mafiosi out for Payne’s blood.

In our latest edition of Rockstar Research, we take a look at some of the real life locales that feature in Max Payne 3 from former Prohibition speakeasies to New York’s massive and historic cemeteries.  Thousands of pictures were taken by our Research and Development teams as they visited areas in Hoboken, Newark and New York City to help build an authentic backdrop for the levels set in New York.

Fantastically moody and atmospheric, glimpses of a couple of Hoboken’s bars from our original research scouting trips.
Left: Max visits the gravesite of his slain wife and baby daughter; Right: At the famous Calvary Cemetery in Queens, gravestone of a child murdered by NYC’s infamous Black Hand mob in the 1920s.

Top: A sprawling view of the real-life Calvary Cemetery, one of the largest in the United States. [Wikimedia Commons]; Bottom: Max Payne 3’s fictional Golgotha Cemetery.Nice to see some amazing behind-the-scenes on Max Payne 3. Rockstar spares no expense to faithfully recreate and get inspired by real-world locations.

Max Payne 3 DLC “Local Justice Pack” now available on PC

Aug 09, 2012

The Local Justice Pack, the first downloadable content pack for Max Payne 3, is now available to download for PC.

This pack includes three new maps for Max Payne 3 multiplayer based on areas from the game’s intense final chapters (The Imperial Palace, Departure Lounge and 55th Battalion HQ); the new M4 assault rifle and attachments; the Light Fingers item for faster looting; a new São Paulo Police multiplayer faction; and associated new Social Club accomplishments.

The Local Justice Pack will be available for one week only at a discounted price of $5.99. The pack will then return to its normal price of $7.99. Players who purchased the Max Payne 3 Rockstar Pass will receive the pack free of charge. The Rockstar Pass is currently available for $29.99.

Additionally, all Max Payne 3 pre-order and retail DLC is now available for purchase on PC, including:

• Cemetery Map – Multiplayer map with a wintry New York City skyline, sniping positions amongst the monuments, destructible tombstones, and a looming mausoleum: 1.99;
• Silent Killer Loadout Pack – Includes the Light Anti-Tank Weapon, the Slippery Character Burst to quickly escape a firefight, and the Listening Device Item that amplifies player hearing: 1.99;
• Pill Bottle Item – Allows players to carry more painkillers in multiplayer: 0.99;
• Deadly Force Burst – Grants extra stopping power with higher damage bullets in multiplayer: 0.99;
• Classic Max Payne Character – Multiplayer avatar inspired by the original Max Payne: $0.99.

The Max Payne 3 Special Edition Pack is also available to purchase for PC today for the price of $1.99. The Special Edition Pack includes the Classic Multiplayer Character Pack of eight playable fan favorite multiplayer characters including Mona Sax, Vladimir Lem and Max from Max Payne 2, plus the Disorderly Conduct Multiplayer Weapons Pack (Hammerhead Auto Shotgun, G9 Grenade Launcher and Molotov Cocktail projectile weapon), both of which were previously only available via the Max Payne 3 Special Edition.

Featuring cutting edge shooting mechanics for precision gunplay, advanced new Bullet Time® and Shootdodge™ effects, full integration of Natural Motion’s Euphoria Character Behavior system for lifelike movement and a dark and twisted story, Max Payne 3 is a seamless, highly detailed, cinematic experience from Rockstar Games.

Max Payne 3’s Upcoming DLC consolidated for remaining releases

Jul 31, 2012

After the upcoming free Disorganized Crime pack,  they’ve consolidated the content from the remaining 5 packs into 3 larger packs, with the content from the previously announced New York Minute Co-Op Pack and Trickle Down Economics Map Pack now spread across these upcoming releases. The Co-Op content originally planned for the New York Minute Pack has been integrated into the Deathmatch Made In Heaven Pack. Check out the full release schedule below: 

Max Payne 3 Downloadable Content

• • Disorganized Crime Pack: August [Free]
• • Hostage Negotiation Map Pack: September [800 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE) or $9.99 (PlayStation Network and PC)]
• • Painful Memories Map Pack: October [800 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE) or $9.99 (PlayStation Network and PC)]
• • Deathmatch Made In Heaven Mode Pack: October [800 Microsoft Points (Xbox LIVE) or $9.99 (PlayStation Network and PC)]

The free Disorganized Crime Pack for Max Payne 3 gives players the opportunity to battle above the streets surrounding Max’s old apartment in the new Hoboken Rooftops multiplayer map. This pack also includes several new modifiers for Score Attack in Arcade Mode including Explosive Rounds where all bullets detonate on impact, Lone Wolf AI for much more aggressive enemies and Headshots Only which adds an extra layer of precision to gaining each kill.

Owners of the Rockstar Pass still gain access to all Max Payne 3 DLC at a 35% savings over the cost of purchasing individual packs. The Rockstar Pass is available now for the one-time cost of 2400 MS Points on Xbox LIVE or for $29.99 on PlayStation Network and PC.

The final chapter of the 3 part Max Payne comic series is out and is Free

Jul 14, 2012

Rockstar Games and Marvel Comics bring us the final chapter in the 3-part Max Payne 3 Comic Series, best of all it’s available as a free download. In Issue #3: “Fight and Flight” Max’s story comes full circle, revealing more about his days as a young cadet and aspiring police officer, his early successes on the force, and ultimately to the events that led to his chance meeting with Passos in Walton’s Bar during Chapter 4 of Max Payne 3. “Fight and Flight” is written by Dan Houser of Rockstar and Remedy’s Sam Lake, and features pencils and inks by Fernando Blanco.

The comic can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF (links below):

• “Fight and Flight” Online Viewer: https://marvel.com/digitalcomics/view_white.htm?iid=27323
• “Fight and Flight” Downloadable PDF: http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne3/img/global/maxpayne-fight-and-flight.zip

Max Payne 3 – Launch Trailer

May 10, 2012

Here is the long awaited launch trailer for Max Payne 3, coming out May 15th on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Then June 1st on PC.

Grand Theft Auto V teased and trailer coming in a week

Oct 25, 2011

If you haven’t heard about it already, or visited RockstarGames.com today, you would see this:

My guess: Given the color and the font used, that’s very U.S. paper currency looking – so I’d venture this will take place in a fictional Washington D.C. or something of that nature, but time will tell.

The first trailer will be released November 2nd, 2011 and we’ll get a glimpse at the 5th installment of Grand Theft Auto. Of course Rockstar Games never reveals too much, as was the case with GTA IV’s first trailer – so I expect much speculation once we’re done viewing that trailer. The page’s title encourages you use the Twitter hashtag #GTAV to discuss all things Grand Theft Auto 5.

Max Payne 3 – The First Trailer

Sep 14, 2011

I am a huge fan of the Max Payne games, solid story with unique cut-scenes and wonderful gameplay that utilized the “bullet time” from The Matrix and started almost it’s own genre for videogames. The look, the sound, and the gameplay seems all there. Max can’t seem to catch a break!

Here is the trailer:

L.A. Noire – Launch trailer

May 11, 2011

L.A. Noire releases for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on May 17th, 2011. We here at “The Content” are excited to play this. Looks like we’ll have a mixed bag of players across Xbox and Playstation. That is, if we can stop playing Mortal Kombat – which, I think this will be just the game to do it.

Here is the launch trailer teased at yesterday by Rockstar Games:

Also worth noting, there’s a $15 dollar credit from Amazon for buying it there: Xbox 360 | Playstation 3

Rockstar Releases Pre-Order Bonuses for DLC to the Masses in Red Dead Redemption Next Week

Apr 10, 2011

In a “FINALLY” moment from Rockstar, they will be putting up the Pre-Order bonuses for Red Dead Redemption up on Xbox Live and the Playstation Network next Tuesday, April 12th.  The 3 pieces of content are as follows:

– The War Horse:  He is stronger and faster than any other horse in the game, plus it gives you a pretty bad ass looking horse to ride around on.

-The Deadly Assassin Outfit:  Your Dead Eye meter regenerates at twice the speed and Mr. Marston gets a sweet Eye-patch and trench coat.  You’ll be the Envy of the west.

-The Golden Guns Weapon Pack:  The Golden Guns receives more Fame for each kill you pull off.  That’s probably because the guns themselves are solid gold and catch the attention of eveyone nearby.

The best part about all of this is that they are releasing each of the items for $0.99!  (80 Microsoft points).  Better deal than some iPhone games for sure.