Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hands-on with LA Noire on a tablet with OnLive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/hands-on-with-la-noire-on-a-tablet-with-onlive/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/hands-on-with-la-noire-on-a-tablet-with-onlive/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/hands-on-with-la-noire-on-a-tablet-with-onlive/#comments Getting a technically complex game like LA Noire running on a tablet is an impressive feat, and one that OnLive has every right to crow about. That Rockstar took the time to implement touch controls so that LA Noire could be played natively is equally laudable. That said, the touch support isn't nearly as well-implemented as it might have been and is, in fact, downright clunky.

In short, it's LA Noire on a tablet with virtual controls, which plays out exactly how you think it does.

Continue reading Hands-on with LA Noire on a tablet with OnLive

JoystiqHands-on with LA Noire on a tablet with OnLive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidhands-onLA-Noiremobileonliverockstar-gamesteam-bondiFri, 23 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More LA Noire a possibility, Rockstar not in a 'rush' for sequel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/more-la-noire-a-possibility-rockstar-not-in-a-rush-for-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/more-la-noire-a-possibility-rockstar-not-in-a-rush-for-sequel/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/more-la-noire-a-possibility-rockstar-not-in-a-rush-for-sequel/#comments Even following the closure of developer Team Bondi, Rockstar isn't necessarily giving up on more LA Noire. In a recent Q&A session, a Rockstar rep noted that while there won't be any more content released for LA Noire, fans shouldn't "count out the possibility of a new game in the LA Noire franchise in the future." The studio added that it is "considering what the future may hold for LA Noire as a series," and that it doesn't "always rush to make sequels, but that does not mean [it] won't get to them eventually." This isn't the first time LA Noire has been referred to as a franchise. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick called it "a powerful new franchise" shortly after LA Noire's release last year, though that was before Team Bondi was shuttered.

That Rockstar is still bullish on LA Noire is particularly noteworthy considering the fate of Team Bondi. In other words, if Rockstar pursues an LA Noire sequel, it will do so without the developer that made it a success. Then again, that's not anything new for Rockstar -- it's currently developing Max Payne 3, part of a series originally created by Alan Wake developer Remedy.

JoystiqMore LA Noire a possibility, Rockstar not in a 'rush' for sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3rockstartake-twoteam-bondixboxTue, 14 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Whore of the Orient' is next game by LA Noire studio head]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/whore-of-the-orient-is-next-game-by-la-noire-studio-head/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/whore-of-the-orient-is-next-game-by-la-noire-studio-head/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/whore-of-the-orient-is-next-game-by-la-noire-studio-head/#comments Team Bondi founder Brendan McNamara's next game will be titled Whore of the Orient, according to Australia's Financial Review. Little to nothing is known beyond the title -- which has already sent FOX News segment producers into a Bengay-rubbing tingly fervor -- with McNamara previously stating it is "one of the great untold stories of the twentieth century."

The game will be produced by KMM Interactive, the studio that picked up the broken pieces of McNamara's Team Bondi after it imploded this summer despite the success of LA Noire.

Joystiq'Whore of the Orient' is next game by LA Noire studio head originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-mcnamaraKMMKMM-Interactivemicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3Team-BondiWhore-of-the-Orientwii-uxboxMon, 28 Nov 2011 14:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Bondi founder McNamara writing game based on a 'great untold story']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/team-bondi-founder-brendan-mcnamara-working-on-new-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/team-bondi-founder-brendan-mcnamara-working-on-new-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/team-bondi-founder-brendan-mcnamara-working-on-new-project/#comments Ever since Team Bondi got shuttered, Brendan McNamara has been all too willing to share his unique insight on L.A. Noire, the studio's final game. Based on comments made to Eurogamer, he's ready to move on now.

McNamara claims to be writing a new game based on "one of the great untold stories of the twentieth century." This is a pitch he is making on his own -- one he says has a few publishers interested. But as of right now, he can't say much else. "Hopefully I'll have something to announce on that pretty soon," he concluded.

If we were a betting blog, we'd say that great untold story is about the one time we found a $20 bill in the laundry. It won't have a really climactic ending, but the QTE segments are sure to knock your socks off.

JoystiqTeam Bondi founder McNamara writing game based on a 'great untold story' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-mcnamaratake-twoteam-bondiSat, 12 Nov 2011 03:45:00 EST<![CDATA[McNamara explains why LA Noire's Cole seemed like a 'psycho']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/mcnamara-explains-why-la-noires-cole-seemed-like-a-psycho/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/mcnamara-explains-why-la-noires-cole-seemed-like-a-psycho/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/mcnamara-explains-why-la-noires-cole-seemed-like-a-psycho/#comments Former Team Bondi head Brendan McNamara recently illuminated why L.A. Noire's Detective Cole Phelps would often ... overreact during interrogations.

"When we originally wrote the game the questions you asked were coax, force and lie. It was actually force because it was a more aggressive answer. That's the way we recorded it," McNamara explained at the Bradford Animation Festival, reports Eurogamer. "But when the game came out it was truth, doubt or lie. Everyone always says Aaron on the second question is a psycho. So that's not his fault."

McNamara also feels the reason some players felt the characters were dead from the neck down was because they were so lively in the face. He believes that players got used to seeing the facial detail and started getting picky about other stuff.

"It's a subtle thing, but once you attune to that level of realism then you start looking for the other things," he said. "And we had some criticism from people saying people were a bit stiff in their clothes and from the way they were done. But they were only stiff in comparison to real life."

JoystiqMcNamara explains why LA Noire's Cole seemed like a 'psycho' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-mcnamaraLA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3RockstarRockstar-GamesTeam-BondixboxThu, 10 Nov 2011 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition coming to PS3, 360 this November]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/l-a-noire-the-complete-edition-coming-to-ps3-360-this-novembe/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/l-a-noire-the-complete-edition-coming-to-ps3-360-this-novembe/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/l-a-noire-the-complete-edition-coming-to-ps3-360-this-novembe/#comments L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 15th in North America (and November 18th elsewhere), just a week after the game debuts on PC. And like the PC game, The Complete Edition comes packed with every piece of DLC released thus far. [Update: We've confirmed with Rockstar that this will retail for $49.99.]

The bonus cases stacked atop your desk/disc include "The Nicholson Electroplating," "The Consul's Car," "Reefer Madness," "The Naked City" and "A Slip of the Tongue." They cover the arson, vice and traffic beats, and are offered alongside The Badge Pursuit Challenge and all unlockable outfits and weapons.

There's also a new prologue that explains why Cole Phelps transforms into Sergeant Frank Drebin every time he gets behind the wheel of a car.

(Or is there? Truth, doubt, lie, etc.)

JoystiqL.A. Noire: The Complete Edition coming to PS3, 360 this November originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>la-noirela-noire-the-complete-editionmicrosoftplaystationps3release-datetake-twoteam-bondixboxThu, 20 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Bondi owed $1.4 million to employees, faces tech company]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/team-bondi-owed-1-4-million-to-employees-faces-tech-company/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/team-bondi-owed-1-4-million-to-employees-faces-tech-company/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/team-bondi-owed-1-4-million-to-employees-faces-tech-company/#comments LA Noire's defunct developer Team Bondi owed AU$1,425,156 ($1.4M USD) to creditors when the decision was made to shutter the studio. Edge reports over a million dollars was owed to the staff, with tens of thousands owed to developers who defended the working conditions at the studio, and nearly $100k apiece owed to the studio's controversial executives.

The real kicker is that nearly $150K is still owed to Depth Analysis, Team Bondi studio boss Brendan McNamara's firm that created the MotionScan facial animation tech, unquestionably a major factor that helped the game stand out.

Hold up, we take it back... the real kicker is that $54,427.01 is still owed to Bondi's accountants.

JoystiqTeam Bondi owed $1.4 million to employees, faces tech company originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3RockstarTeam-BondixboxFri, 07 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire developer Team Bondi shutting down]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/la-noire-developer-team-bondi-shutting-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/la-noire-developer-team-bondi-shutting-down/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/la-noire-developer-team-bondi-shutting-down/#comments Team Bondi, developer of Rockstar hit LA Noire, is kaput. Edge reports that documents were filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, indicating that the studio would close. The studio entered administration in late August, with its assets reportedly sold to Australian production company Kennedy Miller Mitchell.

Although LA Noire was an unquestionable hit for publisher Rockstar, becoming the "fastest-selling new video game IP ever in the UK," the game was on a separate narrative track from the internal drama going on at Team Bondi. Seven years of development took its toll on the staff and company.

In time, the truth will shake out about what went wrong at Team Bondi, in a year that should have established the studio as a force ending with its demise. For those who only care about the future of LA Noire ... don't you worry, IP holder Take-Two Interactive (parent company of Rockstar) isn't about to let a new series -- that shipped 4 million copies -- just disappear.

JoystiqLA Noire developer Team Bondi shutting down originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3Rockstar-GamesTake-TwoTake-Two-InteractiveTeam-BondixboxWed, 05 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: LA Noire dev Team Bondi enters administration]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/report-la-noire-dev-team-bondi-enters-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/report-la-noire-dev-team-bondi-enters-administration/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/report-la-noire-dev-team-bondi-enters-administration/#comments You don't normally expect a company to release a well-reviewed hit in May and then enter administration three months later, but L.A. Noire maker Team Bondi is following a strange, tumultuous timeline. SmartCompany reports that the Sydney-based studio has been placed into administration, with accounting firm de Vries Tayeh handling the ongoing process.

A company in turmoil can be placed into administration to help facilitate payments to creditors, possibly through sale of assets or parts of the company. It's not known how exactly administration will proceed with Team Bondi, but earlier reports suggested that company assets were acquired by Kennedy Miller Mitchell (KMM), an Australian production company thought to be working on a Mad Max game. Staff at Team Bondi were reportedly offered jobs at KMM if they did not take severance pay.

If you're looking for further developments regarding the L.A. Noire franchise, it will be have to be at Rockstar -- the publisher owns the rights to what is likely to be the last game from Team Bondi as we knew it.

JoystiqReport: LA Noire dev Team Bondi enters administration originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationde-vries-tayehkmmLA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3rockstarteam-bondixboxThu, 01 Sep 2011 04:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Team Bondi sells assets to Mad Max studio, KMM; staff offered new jobs or severance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/report-team-bondi-sells-assets-to-mad-max-studio-kmm-staff-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/report-team-bondi-sells-assets-to-mad-max-studio-kmm-staff-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/report-team-bondi-sells-assets-to-mad-max-studio-kmm-staff-of/#comments Following last weekend's rumor that Sydney-based L.A. Noire developer Team Bondi was to be acquired by Kennedy Miller Mitchell, the Australian production company thought to be working on a Mad Max game, comes a report from UK trade site Develop seemingly corroborating the rumor. "Game IP and other remaining assets owned by Sydney studio Team Bondi have been sold off," Develop reports, citing a single anonymous source "who engages with both companies locally." The staff at Team Bondi were reportedly "given choice of new job at Kennedy Miller Mitchell or severance pay." Develop doesn't know if Team Bondi will continue to exist and the developer has declined to comment.

Develop lists several additional, unconfirmed rumors or bits of speculation, including whether or not the studio has "gone bankrupt" or whether Brendan McNamara would join KMM as well, reuniting the Team Bondi leader with the "many staff" that left during L.A. Noire's troubled development. While the sale ostensibly included "game IP," one thing KMM won't be getting is the L.A. Noire IP, which is owned by publisher Rockstar. Depth Analysis, the company whose technology powered L.A. Noire's eye-catching facial animation, "is not thought to be affected" by the sale, Develop reports.

JoystiqReport: Team Bondi sells assets to Mad Max studio, KMM; staff offered new jobs or severance originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AustraliaKennedy-Miller-MitchellKMMLA-NoireTeam-BondiTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Team Bondi to be acquired by Mad Max studio, KMM]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/rumor-team-bondi-to-be-acquired-by-mad-max-studio-kmm/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/rumor-team-bondi-to-be-acquired-by-mad-max-studio-kmm/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/rumor-team-bondi-to-be-acquired-by-mad-max-studio-kmm/#comments Mad Max's George Miller is playing host to the artists behind L.A. Noire, Team Bondi, as the developer faces a tortured reputation, burned bridges with Rockstar and is in need of fresh studio support, according to sources at Kotaku. Team Bondi bossman Brendan McNamara has been spotted touring Miller's KMM Studio in Sydney, including a stop at Dr. D, the animation shop currently finishing Happy Feet 2, one person said.

A few former Team Bondi employees -- the same ones who reported terrible work conditions under McNamara -- work at Dr. D and found it unsettling that McNamara was touring the offices, the source said. Apparently Miller is a fan of Team Bondi's work and is sympathetic to McNamara's reputation as a strict taskmaster, according to one employee at Dr. D: "The word is going 'round that Team Bondi is being folded into KMM studios; Team Bondi is pretty much doomed after the scandal and can't find any new supporters, so by doing this they can hide their name."

JoystiqRumor: Team Bondi to be acquired by Mad Max studio, KMM originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-mcnamaradr.-dgeorge-millerkmmLA-Noiremad-maxmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Team-BondixboxSat, 06 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Alert: L.A. Noire on sale for $37.00]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/amazon-alert-l-a-noire-on-sale-for-37-00/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/amazon-alert-l-a-noire-on-sale-for-37-00/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/17/amazon-alert-l-a-noire-on-sale-for-37-00/#comments Listen up, gum-shoes! Team Bondi's homicide-homage to 1940s Los Angeles is on sale at Amazon for the criminally low sum of $37.00. At a nearly 40-percent markdown from retail, we think this deal warrants some investigation.

JoystiqAmazon Alert: L.A. Noire on sale for $37.00 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmazonLA-NoiremicrosoftNoireplaystationps3RockstarTeam-BondixboxSun, 17 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[L.A. Noire lead programmer defends Team Bondi, admits development hardship]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/l-a-noire-lead-programmer-defends-team-bondi-admits-developmen/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/l-a-noire-lead-programmer-defends-team-bondi-admits-developmen/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/l-a-noire-lead-programmer-defends-team-bondi-admits-developmen/#comments Team Bondi has caught a lot of flack from ex-staffers recently about unfair work hours in the final weeks of L.A. Noire development. Lead gameplay programmer Dave Heironymus recently defended the company to the IGDA in a letter republished by Gamasutra, explaining that he "didn't want to see [Team Bondi] destroyed by anonymous ex-employees."

Taking a similar stance as studio boss Brendan McNamara, Heironymus says that while employees worked long hours, they weren't being asked to do anything that their superiors weren't also doing. Heironymus also downplayed the 100-hour weeks that some staffers have claimed, saying that he would have discouraged any members of his team attempting to work that much.

However, Heironymus isn't claiming innocence for Team Bondi's management. He writes, "no-one at Team Bondi is under the illusion that crunching is a good way to work and we're actively working to learn from our mistakes for our next project."

JoystiqL.A. Noire lead programmer defends Team Bondi, admits development hardship originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-mcnamaradave-heironymusLA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3rockstarteam-bondixboxFri, 15 Jul 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire's 'Reefer Madness' going green next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/la-noires-reefer-madness-going-green-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/la-noires-reefer-madness-going-green-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/la-noires-reefer-madness-going-green-next-week/#comments The debut trailer for LA Noire's next downloadable case, "Reefer Madness," has been released, showing off the illicit substances Cole will tackle when the DLC drops July 12. You know what substance we're talking about, right? Mary Jane. Jazz cigarettes. Um ... lung whiskey.

JoystiqLA Noire's 'Reefer Madness' going green next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3reefer-madnessrockstar-gamesteam-bondixboxThu, 07 Jul 2011 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Emails show Team Bondi/Rockstar schism, long hours for L.A. Noire devs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/report-emails-show-team-bondi-rockstar-schism-long-hours-for-l/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/report-emails-show-team-bondi-rockstar-schism-long-hours-for-l/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/report-emails-show-team-bondi-rockstar-schism-long-hours-for-l/#comments More and more, its seems that L.A. Noire's most perplexing mystery is how the detective game got made without any of its developers sizing each other up for concrete shoes. Late last month, a story in IGN Australia painted a pretty miserable picture of the working conditions at developer Team Bondi. Now, original author Andrew McMillen has returned to GamesIndustry.biz to reveal some of his whistle-blowing emails.

In the story, we see a fracture begin to form in the developer's relationship with publisher Rockstar when the latter pulled out of E3 in 2010. We read why some environments in L.A. Noire seemed lifeless, and about developers scared to quit before the production wrapped, for fear that they wouldn't received accrued overtime pay.

We're familiar enough with crunch time in the industry, but this sounds like a particularly egregious case. We know we should be able to separate art from its artist but, frankly, stories like this make us appreciate the end product just a little bit less.

JoystiqReport: Emails show Team Bondi/Rockstar schism, long hours for L.A. Noire devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crunch-timeLA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3Rockstar-Gamesteam-bondixboxTue, 05 Jul 2011 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[IGDA looking for feedback on L.A. Noire development conditions]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/igda-looking-for-feedback-on-l-a-noire-development-conditions/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/igda-looking-for-feedback-on-l-a-noire-development-conditions/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/igda-looking-for-feedback-on-l-a-noire-development-conditions/#comments The International Game Developers Association, a game industry non-profit organization, is responding to this past weekend's report of continuous "crunch" and dictatorial working conditions at LA Noire development studio Team Bondi by launching a full investigation. According to IGDA chair Brian Robbins, the organization will be soliciting reports, "positive or negative," from "any Team Bondi employee and/or family member."

Robbins told Develop, "Reports of 12-hour a day, lengthy crunch time, if true, are absolutely unacceptable and harmful to the individuals involved, the final product, and the industry as a whole," echoing sentiments made in the past by a variety of game industry leaders. He also encouraged the aforementioned folks tied to Team Bondi to shoot an email to "qol@igda.org," before he added, "But no lolcats please ... okay, maybe a few."

JoystiqIGDA looking for feedback on L.A. Noire development conditions originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-robbinscrunchigdainternational-game-developers-associationLA-Noiremicrosoftpcplaystationps3quality-of-liferockstarrockstar-gamesteam-bondixboxTue, 28 Jun 2011 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Team Bondi employees dish on LA Noire's troubled development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/former-team-bondi-employees-dish-on-l-a-noires-troubled-develo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/former-team-bondi-employees-dish-on-l-a-noires-troubled-develo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/former-team-bondi-employees-dish-on-l-a-noires-troubled-develo/#comments Perfection comes at a price, kid, and payday ain't for weeks. Capisce?

LA Noire spent seven years in fiery development Hell under production by Team Bondi, and now the gritty details about its tumultuous birth are surfacing like a quick glance away on a pretty face. Following dozens of reports of inhumane work conditions, 60-hour weeks and extreme turnover, IGN Australia contacted 11 unnamed former Team Bondi employees and bossman Brendan McNamara for the lowdown on developing LA Noire Down Under.

One recurring point of contention was overtime: "No overtime was officially paid in the three years and three months that I worked at Team Bondi," one of the anonymous former employees said. McNamara responded to this complaint (and many others), saying Team Bondi had overtime pay in place, "but contractually, we don't have to do that."

Another anonymous source described McNamara as a "24/7 corpse grinder with perpetual crunch and weekend overtime." McNamara didn't seem to have a response to that one. Read all of the complaints and McNamara's rebuttals in the full interview.

JoystiqFormer Team Bondi employees dish on LA Noire's troubled development originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-mcnamaraLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3Rockstar-GamesTeam-BondixboxSat, 25 Jun 2011 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire has shipped 4 million copies]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/l-a-noire-has-shipped-4-million-copies/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/l-a-noire-has-shipped-4-million-copies/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/l-a-noire-has-shipped-4-million-copies/#comments Hidden within the announcement of a PC version of L.A. Noire is a clue as to Take-Two's motivation for making the game available on another platform. "Since its release on May 17," Take-Two said, "L.A. Noire has shipped approximately 4 million units worldwide to date."

We don't know exactly how many of those 4 million copies were sold to consumers, except for the 899,000 that were sold in the US last month. In addition, we know that ... a lot of copies have been sold in the UK.

JoystiqLA Noire has shipped 4 million copies originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noirerockstar-gamessalestake-twoteam-bondiThu, 23 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire arriving on PC this fall, with 3D support and improved graphics]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/l-a-noire-arriving-on-pc-this-fall-with-3d-support-and-improve/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/l-a-noire-arriving-on-pc-this-fall-with-3d-support-and-improve/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/l-a-noire-arriving-on-pc-this-fall-with-3d-support-and-improve/#comments After Red Dead Redemption failed to make an appearance on PCs, computerologists may have worried that Rockstar had abandoned the platform entirely, in favor of totally wimpy consoles. But the publisher just announced that Team Bondi's L.A. Noire "will be arriving this fall for the PC" with porting being handled by Grand Theft Auto Stories-developer Rockstar Leeds.

Okay, so Rockstar hasn't abandoned the platform, but what about the performance issues that plagued the initial PC release of Grand Theft Auto IV? The press release promises that not only will the PC release feature 3D support and "improved graphical enhancements" but it will "run on a wide range of PCs" - naturally, we'll wait until its release, when PC gamers will inevitably assault the game with every hardware permutation imaginable while clinically taking frame rate readings every 15 seconds.

L.A. Noire will find its way to PCs this fall, in both retail and digital formats.

JoystiqLA Noire arriving on PC this fall, with 3D support and improved graphics originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-NoirepcRockstarRockstar-GamesTake-TwoTeam-BondiThu, 23 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: LA Noire's 'Nicholson Electroplating' DLC out today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/psa-la-noires-nicholson-electroplating-dlc-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/psa-la-noires-nicholson-electroplating-dlc-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/psa-la-noires-nicholson-electroplating-dlc-out-today/#comments If you're ready to return to the beat as LA Noire's Cole Phelps, heed this friendly reminder that the "Nicholson Electroplating" DLC case will be available today on both Xbox 360 (for 320 Microsoft Points) and PS3 (for $3.99). Or, as we prefer to call it, "The Case of the Totally Huge Explosion."

In this arson case, the titular facility explodes in downtown LA, and Phelps and partner Biggs have to figure out whether this was due to intentional arson or accident. Our first clue: OSHA was established in 1970.

Gallery: LA Noire (Nicholson Electroplating Arson Case DLC)

JoystiqPSA: LA Noire's 'Nicholson Electroplating' DLC out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcLA-Noiremicrosoftnicholson-electroplatingplaystationps3psarockstar-gamesteam-bondixboxTue, 21 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cole Phelps takes a stilted walk around 'Real Life LA Noire']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/cole-phelps-takes-a-stilted-walk-around-real-life-la-noire/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/cole-phelps-takes-a-stilted-walk-around-real-life-la-noire/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/cole-phelps-takes-a-stilted-walk-around-real-life-la-noire/#comments Like any good comedy, Funny or Die's interpretation of LA Noire protagonist Cole Phelps is a bit over the top, but it also does a great job of pointing out some of the game's oddest missteps. For instance: why are there so, so many useless bottles to look at?!

Continue reading Cole Phelps takes a stilted walk around 'Real Life LA Noire'

JoystiqCole Phelps takes a stilted walk around 'Real Life LA Noire' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3real-life-la-noirerockstarrockstar-gamestake-two-interactiveteam-bondixboxFri, 17 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Developers claim to be uncredited for LA Noire work]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/developers-claim-to-be-uncredited-for-la-noire-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/developers-claim-to-be-uncredited-for-la-noire-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/developers-claim-to-be-uncredited-for-la-noire-work/#comments For the past seven years, Team Bondi and Rockstar Games have been toiling away on LA Noire -- an effort that, at least from a critical standpoint so far, has been totally worth it. But some developers who supposedly had a hand in solving the case of how to launch a game have gone uncredited and taken to the internet for justice by ... launching a website and Facebook page.

T.K. Rose, an alias of one such member (why hide your name?) of the group looking for recognition, told Destructoid that unless individuals were involved during "the final month or two of production" were left out of the game's credits, affecting about 100 individuals who apparently worked on the game. "A significant portion of these people did not leave Team Bondi by choice," Rose detailed, "they were made redundant as the art production wound down, and as Quality Assurance was shifted off-shore to Rockstar's studios."

Rockstar has yet to comment on the claims of these individuals. We've reached out for comment and will update accordingly.

JoystiqRumor: Developers claim to be uncredited for LA Noire work originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creditsLA-Noirela-noire-creditsmicrosoftplaystationps3RockStarteam-bondixboxSun, 05 Jun 2011 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A whirlwind tour of LA Noire's Rockstar Pass DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/a-whirlwind-tour-of-la-noires-rockstar-pass-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/a-whirlwind-tour-of-la-noires-rockstar-pass-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/a-whirlwind-tour-of-la-noires-rockstar-pass-dlc/#comments Okay, so you're not convinced whether LA Noire's "Rockstar Pass," which gives you access to all the DLC for a flat $10 ($12 after June 14), is a good deal. Well, what if you were to see a couple of seconds of each DLC case? Would that help you reach a conclusion?

Continue reading A whirlwind tour of LA Noire's Rockstar Pass DLC

JoystiqA whirlwind tour of LA Noire's Rockstar Pass DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstar-gamesrockstar-passteam-bondixboxWed, 01 Jun 2011 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire DLC and Rockstar Pass pre-order scheme revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/la-noire-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/la-noire-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/la-noire-dlc/#comments Detective, thank goodness you're here! We've got a hot case that just came in and we're stumped. Here's what we've got so far:
Rockstar has revealed a steady slate of LA Noire DLC, coming until late July, that includes four new cases for Cole Phelps to bring his seething congeniality to. (Yep, the previously Best Buy-exclusive Nicholson Electroplating arson case is on the list.) You could buy all the content piecemeal for $20, or you could pre-purchase all of it for $10 with the newly announced Rockstar Pass. After June 14, the price of the pass will increase to $12.

In even better news, two of the cases -- The Naked City and A Slip of the Tongue -- are available today, assuming you have the 360 version. Sadly, trying to access the PS Store on the PS3 version still causes the game to crash, but hopefully the store will be working soon.

If this seemingly smart gambit works as planned, it would give players a reason to keep their copies off of the used game shelves until just before August -- after all, they've already paid for the DLC, right? -- so we'll be interested to see if it plays out that way.
... So, the boys in the lab have been going over it and they can't make heads or t-- whaddya mean it's all laid out there in its entirety, rendering your services pointless? What about a list of all the DLC with prices? ... Oh, right after the break? You don't say.

Continue reading LA Noire DLC and Rockstar Pass pre-order scheme revealed

JoystiqLA Noire DLC and Rockstar Pass pre-order scheme revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 May 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstarrockstar-passteam-bondixboxTue, 31 May 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire is 'a powerful new franchise' for Take-Two]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/la-noire-is-a-powerful-new-franchise-for-take-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/la-noire-is-a-powerful-new-franchise-for-take-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/la-noire-is-a-powerful-new-franchise-for-take-two/#comments During this afternoon's Take-Two investor call, CEO Strauss Zelnick said that though he wasn't interested in comparing every new intellectual property to the "extraordinary success of Red Dead Redemption," Rockstar's latest has all the makings of a key franchise.

"We have every reason to believe L.A. Noire is another strong franchise for this company," Zelnick said. "No matter how you slice it, it's a very successful release and to be able to say that again is extraordinary." Of course, Rockstar's many successes colored much of the call, from the announcement that Red Dead Redemption has now sold over 8.5 million units to the news that Rockstar's core creatives have renewed their employment contracts. "And if it needs to be said, this management team is just immensely grateful to Rockstar for delivering another superb title," Zelnick reiterated to investors. "One can never take that for granted. The hit ratio for this group is nothing short of extraordinary."

When asked about downloadable content plans for L.A. Noire, Zelnick predictably side-stepped the question -- "We'll leave it to Rockstar to announce" any plans, he said -- but he again said that L.A. Noire is a "powerful new franchise" for Take-Two.

Earlier in the call, Zelnick defined Take-Two's strategy, saying, "the core of which is to produce and distribute a select number of triple-A titles and support them with add-on content distributed both on disc and digitally." He continued, "Add-on content generally produces incremental revenue and profits and keeps gamers engaged with our titles for longer periods of time, thereby extending the life of the product, increasing the value of the brand, and ultimately converting it into a franchise."

Following this math, L.A. Noire is going to need some more add-on content before it can really claim that "franchise" moniker ... So how about getting on the horn with the good people at Roger Rabbit Licensing, Inc.? No price is too high!

JoystiqLA Noire is 'a powerful new franchise' for Take-Two originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 May 2011 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>franchiseLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3Rockstar-GamesStrauss-ZelnickTake-TwoTeam-BondixboxTue, 24 May 2011 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[First LA Noire patch goes live today, won't take your guilt away]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/21/first-la-noire-patch-goes-live-today-wont-take-your-guilt-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/21/first-la-noire-patch-goes-live-today-wont-take-your-guilt-away/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/21/first-la-noire-patch-goes-live-today-wont-take-your-guilt-away/#comments Rockstar Games' official blog recently announced that the first patch for LA Noire went live earlier today for Xbox 360 and PS3. Title Update 1.00 improves stat tracking for the game's Rockstar Social Club functionality, adds an age verification feature for DLC purchases and includes a few fixes for "minor gameplay bugs and graphical issues," as well as "several minor plot/objective/conversation issues."

We're still trying to figure out exactly what those issues entail, but one thing's for sure: This update won't patch away the guilt we feel for clearly throwing the wrong guy in jail during that one totally botched case. That kind of guilt is forever, you guys.

JoystiqFirst LA Noire patch goes live today, won't take your guilt away originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftpatchplaystationps3rockstar-gamesteam-bondiupdatexboxSat, 21 May 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Be a better L.A. Noire interrogator]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/be-a-better-l-a-noire-interrogator/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/be-a-better-l-a-noire-interrogator/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/be-a-better-l-a-noire-interrogator/#comments We know how it is for a rookie cop on the streets of L.A. Noire. You and alter ego Cole Phelps are doing your best to dig deep to get the real dirt, the straight poop, and all you're getting to aid in your investigation is a bunch of Lying Leos and Dishonest Deborahs.

To help you navigate these mendacious waters, we've put together a little guide to interrogations that we hope you'll find helpful -- and that we know you'll find right after the break.

Gallery: L.A. Noire (1/3/11)

Continue reading Be a better L.A. Noire interrogator

JoystiqBe a better L.A. Noire interrogator originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 May 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>be-a-betterLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstartake-twoteam-bondixboxFri, 20 May 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire's 'Nicholson Electroplating' DLC case opens June 21]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/la-noires-nicholson-electroplating-dlc-case-opens-june-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/la-noires-nicholson-electroplating-dlc-case-opens-june-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/la-noires-nicholson-electroplating-dlc-case-opens-june-21/#comments "Nicholson Electroplating," L.A. Noire's first DLC add-on will be released via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network on Tuesday, June 21. Vouchers for the apparent arson case -- outed earlier this week -- were handed out, sparingly, at Best Buy launch events for the game. Rockstar has posted a redemption page for the vouchers, which notes the release date of the DLC.

We've contacted Rockstar to find out how much the case will cost those of us who got to Best Buy just a little too late.

JoystiqLA Noire's 'Nicholson Electroplating' DLC case opens June 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcLA-NoiremicrosoftNicholson-Electroplatingplaystationps3psnrelease-dateRockstarRockstar-GamesTeam-BondixblmxboxThu, 19 May 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Are you playing L.A. Noire in black and white?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/are-you-playing-l-a-noire-in-black-and-white/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/are-you-playing-l-a-noire-in-black-and-white/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/are-you-playing-l-a-noire-in-black-and-white/#comments You might miss it if you don't know to look for it, but right there in the options for L.A. Noire you can activate a "black and white mode." The resulting look is reminiscent of the classic films the game attempts to emulate.

"We always knew we would create a proper noir mode with the black & white setting for L.A. Noire considering how much inspiration for the game came from classic noir films like The Naked City and The Asphalt Jungle," art director Rob Nelson told us. "Playing in black & white adds a somewhat nostalgic, cinematic feel to the game, and we'd definitely recommend that players experiment with this setting and see what they prefer best."

That got us wondering: Which mode are you using? For our part, we liked the monochrome look, but kept feeling like we were missing something by not playing in color. Fill us in on your preference after the break.

Continue reading Are you playing L.A. Noire in black and white?

JoystiqAre you playing L.A. Noire in black and white? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 May 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstartake-twoteam-bondixboxThu, 19 May 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Read 'Naked Angel' from L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/read-naked-angel-from-l-a-noire-the-collected-stories/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/read-naked-angel-from-l-a-noire-the-collected-stories/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/read-naked-angel-from-l-a-noire-the-collected-stories/#comments Known for his "Hap and Leonard" tales, Joe R. Lansdale is one of the crime novelists lending their skills with prose to the upcoming L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories eBook from Rockstar. Today you can read his contribution, "Naked Angel," in its entirety for the low, low price of free.

Complex has posted Lansdale's short story, which is one of several that will comprise the full collection, due out June 6 as a digital-only release at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the iTunes Store. That timing's just right for investigating more of the L.A. Noire universe after solving finishing the game.

JoystiqRead 'Naked Angel' from L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 May 2011 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookjoe-r-lansdaleLA-NoireLA-Noire-The-Collected-Storiesmicrosoftplaystationps3rockstarshort-storyTeam-BondixboxThu, 19 May 2011 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire film reels and landmarks guide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/la-noire-film-reels-and-landmarks-guide/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/la-noire-film-reels-and-landmarks-guide/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/la-noire-film-reels-and-landmarks-guide/#comments We get it: You're too busy taking down thugs and murderers in LA Noire to bother snooping around for film reels and pointing out landmarks in the City of Angels. But what about later? What will you do when there isn't a single lowlife left to bust?

Then you'll probably want to go sightseeing. Thankfully, GamesRadar has prepared a quick, yet comprehensive guide -- detailing all 30 landmark and 50 film reel locations -- that you can either check out now or bookmark for later -- bookmark as in mark down in a real paper notepad. It's supposed to be the '40s, remember? Play along, you blockhead!

JoystiqLA Noire film reels and landmarks guide originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstar-gamesteam-bondixboxWed, 18 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[See how a 1920s daredevil inspired the L.A. Noire we know today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/see-how-a-1920s-daredevil-inspired-the-l-a-noire-we-know-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/see-how-a-1920s-daredevil-inspired-the-l-a-noire-we-know-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/see-how-a-1920s-daredevil-inspired-the-l-a-noire-we-know-today/#comments The methods -- that is to say, witchcraft -- used to create the eerily accurate faces of L.A. Noire's suspicious characters were previously exposed, but how did Team Bondi create the face of the game's titular city? The story is more thrilling than you might imagine: Much of the gameworld was designed using photographs taken by 1920s daredevil Robert Spence, who snapped photos of Los Angeles using a 46-pound camera while hanging out of the cockpit of his biplane.

You can check out some of the images on PopSci, though really, we think the camera might have been facing the wrong way. Yes, the vintage shots of L.A. are neat, but not nearly as neat as a dude hanging out of his biplane while holding a 46-pound camera!

JoystiqSee how a 1920s daredevil inspired the L.A. Noire we know today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-NoireLos-Angelesmicrosoftplaystationps3Robert-SpenceRockstar-GamesSpence-Collectionteam-bondixboxTue, 17 May 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: L.A. Noire]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/metareview-la-noire/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/metareview-la-noire/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/metareview-la-noire/#comments L.A. Noire is the game we found "too interesting to ignore." As for other folks?
  • Giant Bomb (5/5): "The world already has enough open-world action games, but a game which marries that open world to such a methodical style of gameplay, with a budget this big, is a rare thing indeed."
  • 1UP (A): "Despite the shortcomings of the combat, it still doesn't detract from the overall experience of L.A. Noire. By the end of the game, I felt like a seasoned gumshoe with years of experience under my belt. The evidence-gathering gameplay, and conversation-based puzzles requiring actual logic took me completely by surprise -- not just because of how "real" it seemed, but by how entertained I was just doing it all."
  • Gamespot (90/100): "L.A. Noire is a unique game with a terrific sense of period atmosphere, absorbing investigation mechanics, and a haunting tale with plenty of moments that would be right at home in a classic film noir. Those smoky nights spent listening to jazz at the Blue Room, and the price you paid for them, will stay with you long after you've retired your badge and gun. "
  • Eurogamer (80/100): "But where Ace Attorney carries you through on winning characterization and a swift interface, L.A. Noire's realistic, low-key style gives this process a very different pace and flavor. To begin with, it's disconcertingly slow, but you soon relax into and start to enjoy its steady, methodical tempo."

    Gallery: L.A. Noire (4/1/11)

JoystiqMetareview: L.A. Noire originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-NoiremetacriticMetareviewmetareviewsmicrosoftplaystationps3Rockstar-GamesTake-Two-InteractiveTeam-BondixboxTue, 17 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grab LA Noire at Kmart this week, get $20 credit and a free game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/grab-la-noire-at-kmart-this-week-get-20-credit-and-a-free-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/grab-la-noire-at-kmart-this-week-get-20-credit-and-a-free-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/grab-la-noire-at-kmart-this-week-get-20-credit-and-a-free-game/#comments Most of you early adopters have likely already secured your copy of LA Noire, but if you've been holding back, Kmart's deal might just bring you down off the fence. From today through Saturday, May 21, any purchase of LA Noire will secure you a $20 credit good towards a future gaming purchase, good through July 2, the Kmart blog has announced.

If you head in-store, you also earn a free game (no accessories or points cards), valued at $19.99 or under. A nice little list is available over on CAG, showing off a wide variety of games to choose from including Alpha Protocol, 3D Dot Game Heroes, Mirror's Edge, No More Heroes and a lot more.

There is a catch: you need to be a Shop Your Way Reward member and head in-store in order to get the deal. But, honestly, it's not much of one since signing up is free and you don't need to be a detective to know people always want more for less.

[Thanks, Eric]

JoystiqGrab LA Noire at Kmart this week, get $20 credit and a free game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kmartLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstarteam-bondixboxTue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire DLC 'Nicholson Electroplating Arson Case' outed by Best Buy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/la-noire-dlc-nicholson-electroplating-arson-case-outed-by-best/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/la-noire-dlc-nicholson-electroplating-arson-case-outed-by-best/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/la-noire-dlc-nicholson-electroplating-arson-case-outed-by-best/#comments LA Noire's first downloadable content pack has been announced unceremoniously in Best Buy's latest ad circular. As seen above, the ad promises that the first 16 customers to purchase the game at any Best Buy midnight launch event will receive a code that will unlock "the first DLC pack," known as the 'Nicholson Electroplating' Arson Case, as soon as it becomes available for download.

The fine print notes that every midnight launch location will have a "minimum of 16 Xbox 360 and PS3 codes per store" -- if you're number 17, don't despair. Rockstar has yet to release info on the first DLC pack, and the developer could not be reached for comment as of publishing.

[Thanks, Steven]

Continue reading LA Noire DLC 'Nicholson Electroplating Arson Case' outed by Best Buy

JoystiqLA Noire DLC 'Nicholson Electroplating Arson Case' outed by Best Buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 May 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-buydlcLA-Noiremicrosoftnicholson-electroplatingnicholson-electroplating-arson-caseplaystationps3rockstarrockstar-gamesteam-bondixboxMon, 16 May 2011 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire launch trailer is all good cops and grimaces]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/l-a-noire-launch-trailer-is-all-good-cops-and-grimaces/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/l-a-noire-launch-trailer-is-all-good-cops-and-grimaces/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/l-a-noire-launch-trailer-is-all-good-cops-and-grimaces/#comments Being a good cop in '40s-era Los Angeles isn't as simple as sticking to the book. If LA Noire's launch trailer is any indication, detectives will need to rely and relay a lot on his face. Specifically, that look he gets whenever he bites into a lemon.

Continue reading LA Noire launch trailer is all good cops and grimaces

JoystiqLA Noire launch trailer is all good cops and grimaces originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationps3rockstarteam-bondixboxWed, 11 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order LA Noire and get $15 credit on Amazon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/pre-order-la-noire-and-get-15-credit-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/pre-order-la-noire-and-get-15-credit-on-amazon/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/pre-order-la-noire-and-get-15-credit-on-amazon/#comments As is so frequently the case with big, upcoming blockbusters, Amazon has sweetened the pot for anyone willing to lay down a pre-order on LA Noire. Anyone who pre-purchases Rockstar and Team Bondi's cinematic crime drama will also get their hands on a $15 credit for future purchases.

Continue reading Pre-order LA Noire and get $15 credit on Amazon

JoystiqPre-order LA Noire and get $15 credit on Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationpre-orderps3Rockstar-Gamesteam-bondixboxSat, 07 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First installment of LA Noire: The Collected Stories posted]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/first-installment-of-la-noire-the-collected-stories-posted/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/first-installment-of-la-noire-the-collected-stories-posted/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/first-installment-of-la-noire-the-collected-stories-posted/#commentsLA Noire short storyThe first of eight original short stories in Rockstar's LA Noire: The Collected Stories series has just hit the web. Jonathan Santlofer's What's In a Name? (no relation to our own series, we assure you) tells the story of "a sociopath with high hopes, and a curious knowledge of the Los Angeles underworld. And of a young LAPD detective working to crack the latest murder case to terrify the city." The series, which includes big names like Joyce Carol Oates, revisits some of the "characters and cases in the game." If you'd rather wait until all eight installments are available, "the complete L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories which will be available for download at all major eBook retailers" on June 6th.

For your reading convenience, Rockstar is offering a downloadable PDF or, if you find yourself sans-Kindle or iPad, perhaps the web-based reader is more your speed. At a brisk 4100 words, it shouldn't take you long to read it, so you can get back to doing more important things ... like not playing LA Noire for another ten days.

JoystiqFirst installment of LA Noire: The Collected Stories posted originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jonathan-santloferLA-NoireLA-Noire-The-Collected-Storiesmicrosoftplaystationps3Team-BondixboxSat, 07 May 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire's criminal inspirations compiled on interactive map]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/la-noires-criminal-inspirations-compiled-on-interactive-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/la-noires-criminal-inspirations-compiled-on-interactive-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/la-noires-criminal-inspirations-compiled-on-interactive-map/#comments Rockstar Games and the L.A. Times recently collaborated on a very neat (and yet very upsetting) project -- an interactive map displaying all of the real-life crimes that inspired the plot of Rockstar's upcoming drama, LA Noire. The crimes, all of which took place between January 1 and December 31, 1947, are heavily detailed by the map, with excerpts from news articles about each crime available for your perusal.

If you've got a strong stomach, many of the cases prove to be an interesting read. Like, for instance, the one about the acrobat burglars who robbed a store for $2,500 and a few gulps of milk. Or, the one about the wife who "playfully" stabbed her husband in the neck until he died from it. Keep an eye on the map in the coming weeks as the outlet adds even more quirky murders to the list.

JoystiqLA Noire's criminal inspirations compiled on interactive map originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LA-Noirela-timesmicrosoftplaystationps3rockstar-gamesteam-bondixboxThu, 05 May 2011 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[LA Noire mysteriously marked down to $45 on Buy.com]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/la-noire-mysteriously-marked-down-to-45-on-buy-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/la-noire-mysteriously-marked-down-to-45-on-buy-com/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/la-noire-mysteriously-marked-down-to-45-on-buy-com/#comments Alright, gumshoes, bust out your novelty-sized magnifying glasses and fingerprint dusters -- we've got a heck of a mystery for you today. We've gone ahead and titled this case "The Mystery of How Buy.com Can Afford To Pre-Sell LA Noire For $44.99." Have at it, inspectors!

Continue reading LA Noire mysteriously marked down to $45 on Buy.com

JoystiqLA Noire mysteriously marked down to $45 on Buy.com originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-comLA-Noiremicrosoftplaystationpre-orderps3Rockstar-GamesTeam-BondixboxThu, 05 May 2011 12:15:00 EST