dead-to-rights-retribution posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Namco Bandai suffers losses, cuts staff

by Justin McElroy { Feb 2nd 2010 at 10:25AM }

It's a tough economic time the world over, but Namco Bandai appears to really be taking it on the Heihachin according to a report from Edge. During the nine months ending on Dec. 31, 2009, the company posted a $129.05 million loss, compared to a $99.5 million profit during the same period in 2008.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the company has also announced layoffs, or rather a "group restart plan" that translates to 650 staffers (about 10 percent of the company) losing their jobs. We hope Namco finds a way back to profitability, but when some of its biggest titles for 2010 include a new entry in a forgettable series (thus far), a troubled relaunch of a fan favorite and a promising game that disappeared almost as soon as it was announced, we're not convinced the recovery process will be a quick one.

Dead to Rights Retribution pre-order campaigns detailed

by Ben Gilbert { Jan 29th 2010 at 7:00AM }

Were you sitting there reading Joystiq, thinking about how much you want to pre-order upcoming reboot Dead to Rights: Retribution? Namco has announced the pre-order campaign for the third game in two years to offer up a fighting dog, but here's the catch: There are separate pre-order bonuses should you choose to go with GameStop versus Amazon. We know, we know, but life is tough.

GameStop customers will get their hands on the "Jack Pack," which includes "Grant City Anti-Crime armor" for the game's main character and a "guns-blazing action mode," which apparently turns your regular ol' bullets into exploding bullets. Madness! The folks who drop their bucks early at Amazon are granted the "Shadow Pack," which turns the aforementioned dog into a stealth ninja dog with camouflage and also adds a "noir mode" to the game, said to flip the black-and-white switch (in addition to making the blood a more intense red). Now do you have enough reasons to go out and pre-order it? Do ya?

Gallery: Dead to Rights: Retribution

New Dead to Rights: Retribution dev diary heads to Abbey Road

by Ben Gilbert { Jan 24th 2010 at 4:30PM }

So what if the latest Dead to Rights: Retribution dev diary is unbelievably light on actual gameplay? It makes up for that in droves with a smattering of pretty images of the Abbey Road recording studio where the game's soundtrack is being recorded. For all the effort being put into the music, we would hope a bit more attention would be focused on the bits of game footage strewn throughout the clip. Unfortunately, we are instead given the less than thrilling exchange between the game's main character and a police officer around the three minute mark.

Last we heard, Dead to Rights: Retribution was scheduled for a "Q4 2009" release by Namco, so considering that time has come and gone, your guess is as good as any as to when the game will see the light of day. For now, well, we've got this dev diary.

Gallery: Dead to Rights: Retribution

Dead to Rights: Retribution dev diary is loaded with dog fighting

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 24th 2009 at 8:30PM }

Don't let the headline throw you -- we don't mean the bad kind of dog fighting. We're talking about the kind of dog fighting where well-treated, justice-loving canines attack gun-toting criminals who pose a threat to their master, whom they love and remain eternally loyal to. When cast in that light, attack dogs aren't menacing or controversial -- they're just heartwarming companions (with enormous, razor-sharp teeth).

Check out the dev diary above to see Dead to Rights: Retribution's man-eating puppy in action. Oh, also, there's a human hero who uses guns and other traditional methods of justice-serving, but that's not really as noteworthy, now is it?

Gallery: Dead to Rights: Retribution (04-29-09)

As advertised: Dead to Rights targets 17-and-ups

by David Hinkle { Sep 28th 2009 at 2:30PM }

Namco Bandai has tapped in-game ad agency Double Fusion to inject alluring elements into the game world of its upcoming release Dead to Rights: Retribution. It's apparently Namco Bandai's first in-game advertising deal, so we'd like to take a moment to congratulate the publisher on joining us here in 2006 ...

[Dramatic pause.]

... Nothing's gonna make Grant City come alive more than billboards for $5 footlongs and "Are you gellin'?" We repeat: Nothing.

Fist meet face: A look at Dead to Rights: Retribution's combat

by Richard Mitchell { May 22nd 2009 at 2:00AM }

Earlier this year, we got a chance to see Dead to Rights: Retribution and learn how the game's combat system works. Essentially, Jack, the main character, can attack in any direction at all times. Thus, even if you're dealing with an enemy directly in front of you, you can still backfist the sneaky baddie coming from behind. If you're having trouble actually picturing that, then fret no longer. 1UP has posted a video showcasing the game's combat system so you can take in all the bloody, brutal details for yourself. Check it out after the break.

Based purely on the video, we're hoping that the combat feels more engaging than it looks. We'll find out when the game releases this fall.

Continued →

Joystiq impressions: Dead to Rights: Retribution

by Randy Nelson { Apr 29th 2009 at 9:30PM }

As we reported last month, Namco Bandai is "rebooting" (that's cool-talk for "taking another crack at") Dead to Rights, its tale of a cop, his dog and lots of third-person shooting. Dead to Rights: Retribution, as it's known, was shown in non-playable form last night at Namco's preview event -- well, it was being played, just not by us.

We got a look at two levels from Jack Slate and his pooch Shadow's new adventure, one that's full of shotguns in the mouth, ripped-out throats and a glimmer of hope in its melee combat.

Gallery: Dead to Rights: Retribution (04-29-09)

Continued →

'Dead to Rights: Retribution' details, screens revealed

by Ben Gilbert { Feb 16th 2009 at 12:40PM }

It seems 1UP has the first details on Volatile Games' upcoming third-person shooter slash dog-commanding sim, Dead to Rights: Retribution. The game will reportedly be an origin story, setting up the history of longtime Dead to Rights series protagonist Jack Slate and describe how he and Shadow (the game's iconic dog) "first come together as partners against those who would bring the once great city to its knees."

Namco Bandai claims the game will feature a "hybrid combat system," which combines hand-to-hand combat and shooting, but the first screens do little to show off this concept. You also get to push people down stairs!

To keep you in the loop, we've created a handy list of things we know about Dead to Rights: Retribution so far:

The game is named Dead to Rights: Retribution and it's an origin story.
It's coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 in Q4 2009 according to Namco Bandai, the game's publisher.
There's totally a dog in it.

You're welcome!