Rockstar Noire
The NYC-based publisher has picked up the Australian-developed game about Los Angeles.
Published: September 25, 2006
For many, this news story will be the first they've heard of L.A. Noire, which is understandable (we didn't even bother to put it into our database until we had an official confirmation that it was coming). But for a game that's laid relatively low, there's been an impressive amount of backstory to something that hasn't even been shown off yet. To anyone.
See, L.A. Noire is the brainchild of Brendan McNamara, who helped develop the first Getaway title for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Team Soho. The incredibly ambitious project had some solid ideas, but the execution was rather flawed. Right around the time production started on the second game, McNamara left Sony.
But it wasn't the end of their partnership. After establishing his own development studio in Sydney, Australia (fittingly named Team Bondi, an Aboriginal word and a suburb in Sydney), McNamara and crew managed to ink a three game PlayStation 3-exclusive deal with Sony for an undisclosed sum. Rumor has it that the money forked over by Sony to help fund Team Bondi's new motion capture and scanning facilities was in the tens of millions of dollars. Everyone rightly assumed that Sony would be publishing the games.
Now comes the twist.
It would appear that Team Bondi has moved away from being PS3-exclusive, and have hopped in bed with Rockstar Games of all publishers. The house that GTA built and one of it's founders, Sam Houser, will now act as Executive Producer while McNamara has taken on the title of Director of Development. How Sony (and their alleged money) fits into all this is unknown, but Houser's pretty happy about the deal.
"Brendan and I have known each other for a long time, and to finally have the opportunity to work together on a game is exciting," Houser squealed
"The longstanding mutual respect and the combined experience between the two of us make this a great partnership," McNamara added.
So what about the game itself? L.A. Noire is, as the title would suggest, a black and white attempt at gaming film noir. It is a tale of murders, of investigations, of seedy music and seedier men and women, and takes place in a meticulously recreated 1940s version of Los Angeles, post-war (but pre-freeways). Though this certainly sounds like Rockstar's bread and butter, you'll be on the other side of the law -- or at least play someone following the trail of a homicidal maniac rather than being given the option to play as one. Noire's city is completely open, free-roaming and teeming with (we hope) activity, atmosphere and plenty of brassy, moody jazz music.
All we've got to go on is a painfully shot little teaser video with the promise of a full trailer coming next week. For now, [ps3media=147]take a look[/ps3media], and check back on the 5th for the full thing; we'll be featuring it prominently on the site.
See, L.A. Noire is the brainchild of Brendan McNamara, who helped develop the first Getaway title for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Team Soho. The incredibly ambitious project had some solid ideas, but the execution was rather flawed. Right around the time production started on the second game, McNamara left Sony.
But it wasn't the end of their partnership. After establishing his own development studio in Sydney, Australia (fittingly named Team Bondi, an Aboriginal word and a suburb in Sydney), McNamara and crew managed to ink a three game PlayStation 3-exclusive deal with Sony for an undisclosed sum. Rumor has it that the money forked over by Sony to help fund Team Bondi's new motion capture and scanning facilities was in the tens of millions of dollars. Everyone rightly assumed that Sony would be publishing the games.
Now comes the twist.
It would appear that Team Bondi has moved away from being PS3-exclusive, and have hopped in bed with Rockstar Games of all publishers. The house that GTA built and one of it's founders, Sam Houser, will now act as Executive Producer while McNamara has taken on the title of Director of Development. How Sony (and their alleged money) fits into all this is unknown, but Houser's pretty happy about the deal.
"Brendan and I have known each other for a long time, and to finally have the opportunity to work together on a game is exciting," Houser squealed
"The longstanding mutual respect and the combined experience between the two of us make this a great partnership," McNamara added.
So what about the game itself? L.A. Noire is, as the title would suggest, a black and white attempt at gaming film noir. It is a tale of murders, of investigations, of seedy music and seedier men and women, and takes place in a meticulously recreated 1940s version of Los Angeles, post-war (but pre-freeways). Though this certainly sounds like Rockstar's bread and butter, you'll be on the other side of the law -- or at least play someone following the trail of a homicidal maniac rather than being given the option to play as one. Noire's city is completely open, free-roaming and teeming with (we hope) activity, atmosphere and plenty of brassy, moody jazz music.
All we've got to go on is a painfully shot little teaser video with the promise of a full trailer coming next week. For now, [ps3media=147]take a look[/ps3media], and check back on the 5th for the full thing; we'll be featuring it prominently on the site.
