L.A. Noire - Not vapourware after all (apparently)

DarthParametric · 11-11-2010, 10:35 AM

So after being announced back in 2006 and then dropping completely off the radar, Rockstar has apparently resurrected the game:

YouTube Video

Alt source at Rockstar - http://www.rockstargames.com/videos#/video:6251

SW01 · 11-11-2010, 11:16 AM

Rockstar + someone who looks like a gangster is generally enough to get me interested, but any more info on what it's about?

**Astor** · 11-11-2010, 11:19 AM

I was really interested in this when it was first announced for 'all platforms'.

Then it turned out it was going to PS3 only.

Anyone know if that's still the position? Or will we see it on 360 as well?

DarthParametric · 11-11-2010, 11:33 AM

This was the original announcement CG trailer from years ago - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3emH9pjAaqA&hd=1&fmt=22

I suspect things have greatly changed since then though, especially if Rockstar have directly taken over development. The original was meant to be a detective story, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it turned into a GTA-clone shooter.

Platforms should be revealed in the new trailer, but I would think both 360 and PS3 at least would be likely, with the possibility of a PC version emerging eventually.

EDIT: Yes, new trailer (in first post) confirms 360 and PS3. Interestingly, it also shows it as still a Team Bondi production. I thought for sure they'd be dead and buried after all this time, but apparently not.

Mav · 11-11-2010, 07:30 PM

I didn't realize this was ever "vaporware" earlier this year (Feb/March?) it was the cover feature for GameInformer magazine and at the time was slated for release this Fall. Then a couple months ago it was announced that it would be delayed, so I mean while it definitely hasn't been at the forefront of gaming news, I don't think it was ever that close to being "vaporware".

All that being said, I was interested back when it was first announced and I still am, hopefully we'll hear more soon.

Ctrl Alt Del · 11-11-2010, 08:33 PM

I might be excited. If it's not too GTA for my taste I might even like it for the witty dialog that's in almost every Rockstar game. And hours of lenght and stuff to do.

DarthParametric · 11-11-2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

I didn't realize this was ever "vaporware"

Ambitious titles that have been in development 5+ years by tiny studios nobody has ever heard of (especially ones based in Oz) don't often manage to go the distance. I haven't heard anything about it for 3 odd years, but perhaps that's at least in part due to the (temporary) switch to PS3 exclusive, as I pay no attention to that news avenue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctrl Alt Del

I might be excited. If it's not too GTA for my taste I might even like it for the witty dialog that's in almost every Rockstar game. And hours of lenght and stuff to do.

Assuming things remain unchanged, it's not a Rockstar game - they are just publishing it. Given the development period though, they may have taken a more active hand.

Ctrl Alt Del · 11-11-2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthParametric

Assuming things remain unchanged, it's not a Rockstar game - they are just publishing it. Given the development period though, they may have taken a more active hand.

Oh, I have not played anything by them. Is it any good?

DarthParametric · 11-11-2010, 09:31 PM

No idea - this is their first game. The guy that founded the studio in 2005 was writer and director on the PS2 game The Getaway (a GTA clone by the sounds of things).

I suspect that this was originally intended to be out around early- to mid-2007, but they obviously hit some snags along the way. Rockstar must have seen enough promise to keep them afloat all this time, but as I said as a result they may have stepped in to help "guide" it to release.

DarthParametric · 11-19-2010, 07:01 AM

Some previews:

http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/113/1135354p1.html

http://gameinformer.com/games/la_noi...cond-look.aspx

http://www.totalvideogames.com/LA-No...iew-15808.html

http://g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/51451...#ixzz15enUmNNd

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/adventur...=topslot;img;1

http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/la-noi...2588826087/p-2

The open world with linear story thing sounds a lot like Mafia 2.

igyman · 11-19-2010, 09:33 AM

Saw the trailer on gametrailers.com the other day and it definitely looks like it could be a very entertaining game. If it ever comes out on PC, there's a huge chance I'll play it.

As for the similarities with Mafia, well that's a given, considering it's more or less the same time-period, so that "feel" can't really be avoided. However, from what I gathered from the trailer, it looks like you'll be playing as a police detective rather than a criminal, which could offer a different perspective on the game world.

DarthParametric · 11-19-2010, 10:01 AM

The comparison was specifically regarding the use of an "open world" but restricting it to a fairly linear story progression as in Mafia 2, unlike say GTA where there are all sorts of side-missions, mini-games, collectables, etc. scattered around. I wasn't referring to the actual plot or mechanics, which are completely different. LA Noire is probably more closely related to old adventure games than Mafia or GTA in that regard.

Mav · 11-19-2010, 06:38 PM

http://kotaku.com/5691769/the-bold-gamble-of-la-noire

another preview of sorts, I like the comparison they make to the Phoenix Wright series XD

DarthParametric · 12-17-2010, 10:07 AM

Developer Diary: The Technology Behind Performance

YouTube Video

Pretty cool, although I would have liked a more detailed look at the mechanics of the process. Presumably they are generating a super high poly mesh and then using that to produce a normal map for projection onto the low poly game mesh. It's a shame there's so much degradation between the two - the in-game textures look very waxy. It would be nice to see a purpose-built PC game using this tech to really take full advantage of it. Still, the expressions at least seem to transfer across rather nicely.

Drunkside · 12-17-2010, 10:28 AM

They seem ridiculously proud of those visuals that dont really even look that good

And the main character´s actor doesnt impress me, he doesnt seem to know how to act, he looks lame and even sounds whiny

But the game could still be good, we´ll have to wait and see.

PastramiX · 12-17-2010, 11:40 AM

It felt like I was watching a behind-the-scenes documentary for a film rather than a game. Their argument for photorealism was as sturdy as a cardboard tube; even if the animation is fully-choreographed, the facial textures were as ruddy and low-res as wax, creating an almost Deus Ex-esque ratio of animation-to-texture. Although the processing power of consoles might be "next-gen", the memory limitations is what's pushing the futile campaign for photorealism through a 1mm bottleneck.

I'd like to see what PC-exclusive games with similar proportions of photorealism like The Witcher 2 use for default texture resolutions for similar facial features compared to this game. I'd expect at least double the resolution, at least.

DarthParametric · 12-17-2010, 01:01 PM

Textures would likely be at least quadruple the size (512x512 -> 1024x1024), but possibly 16 times bigger (512x512 -> 2048x2048).

DarthParametric · 01-24-2011, 12:57 PM

The 2nd official trailer is now out:

YouTube Video

DarthParametric · 02-09-2011, 10:01 PM

New gameplay video, "Orientation":

YouTube Video

**swphreak** · 02-11-2011, 11:03 PM

I saw that video on GameTrailers earlier this week. The game looks interesting. Like Heavy Rain, but without being entirely quicktime events.

Mav · 02-12-2011, 02:42 AM

Based on these trailers and such, this game has the best facial animations I've seen... it is creepy at points.

DarthParametric · 04-10-2011, 01:32 AM

The third trailer was released the other day:

YouTube Video

**ChAiNz.2da** · 04-10-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

Based on these trailers and such, this game has the best facial animations I've seen... it is creepy at points.

Was about to post the same thing... wow. I'd swear I could mute it and actually read their lips. Pretty sweet.

Color me intrigued.. and I'm not even a big Rockstar Games fan, but this just might be a title to tempt me

DarthParametric · 04-10-2011, 09:58 AM

It's not developed by Rockstar - they are just publishing/distributing it. Team Bondi are the devs. Have a look at the tech trailer in this post above for more info on the facial mocap.

Taak Farst · 04-10-2011, 11:00 AM

Still don't understand it...is there free roam? things to do on free roam etc.

still. amazingly real. will try at some point

DarthParametric · 04-10-2011, 11:23 AM

I don't know if it's free roam to the extent of something on the level of GTA. Maybe it's more akin to something like Mafia 2. There is a set of collectibles in the form of gold film canisters to find and achievements for driving fast and certain distances, which could imply some level of freedom to explore between story missions.

Achilles · 04-10-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChAiNz.2da

Color me intrigued.. and I'm not even a big Rockstar Games fan, but this just might be a title to tempt me

No more interwebz for you until you've played GTA IV. Mimi, tell him!

**mimartin** · 04-10-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achilles

No more interwebz for you until you've played GTA IV. Mimi, tell him!

I didn't want to play it, but Achilles made me play it.

It was a blast.

Play it, play it now.

***Lynk Former*** · 04-10-2011, 02:53 PM

I'm loving what I'm seeing with the cinematic/investigation elements... but what Rockstar really needs to do with this game is release a 12-20 minute walkthrough video.

Mav · 04-10-2011, 08:09 PM

There also needs to be a collector's edition with a sweet fedora.

igyman · 04-11-2011, 03:54 AM

Most importantly, there needs to be a PC version.

**ChAiNz.2da** · 04-11-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achilles

No more interwebz for you until you've played GTA IV. Mimi, tell him!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimartin

I didn't want to play it, but Achilles made me play it.

It was a blast.

Play it, play it now.

Sorry.. I must still be gun-shy.
Got duped by the reviews of Red Dead and thought I was going to get an awesome game. Fool me once...

one of the reasons why I don't fan-rage on Bio/Beth haters. Fanboi that I am, I can at least empathize

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthParametric

It's not developed by Rockstar - they are just publishing/distributing it. Team Bondi are the devs.

That's promising

DarthParametric · 04-11-2011, 09:39 AM

Red Dead was pretty cool. But yeah it was basically GTA on horseback, so if you didn't like that I can't see you liking GTA4. Not sure if the same will apply to LA Noire or not. Like I said, I don't think it's quite as free roam as a GTA game.

Liverandbacon · 04-11-2011, 03:23 PM

Because of the computer I'm on, I'm not able to watch the trailers (so forgive me if I'm pointing out a plot point they've already shown), but reading that it's set in 1947 LA, I can't help but assume the Black Dahlia murder will be included at some point. I could be wrong, but it would almost be wasting the setting to not include one of the most infamous unsolved crimes of the 20th century, that happened in the same year and city the game is set during. If they have a whole 'investigate crime scene for evidence' mechanic, and include Elizabeth Short, that scene's going to be unpleasant to see.

DarthParametric · 04-12-2011, 12:10 AM

Yeah the central plot is based around a series Black Dahlia-style murders from what I understand. It's not the exact case, but heavily influenced by it.

Liverandbacon · 04-12-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthParametric

Yeah the central plot is based around a series Black Dahlia-style murders from what I understand. It's not the exact case, but heavily influenced by it.

To be fair, that might be for the best, considering leaving the crime unsolved wouldn't be an especially satisfying ending, and there's been enough books and films about it to make tying it up with any originality difficult.

Copycat killings, or completely separate ones, could allow for a more satisfying conclusion. Also, if the Dahlia was in the plot as a background element, it could explain why you're jetting around the city doing everything yourself (or with less assistance than in most investigations). After all, most of the department would be tied up in the case that's getting all the media attention.

DarthParametric · 04-22-2011, 12:53 PM

A new gameplay trailer:

YouTube Video

I thought the main chunk of the game was spent as a Homicide detective, but it would appear that's only part of it. Seems like there will be a fair bit of case diversity then.

Achilles · 04-22-2011, 01:03 PM

I think they've mentioned a few times that you have to earn your way up to Homicide.

DarthParametric · 04-22-2011, 01:24 PM

Yeah I knew that, but it seems like Homicide isn't the pinnacle (as I thought it was), but rather just a stop along the way.

***Lynk Former*** · 04-22-2011, 09:33 PM

Looks like you're getting the clues to a much greater mystery all along the way... liked what I saw, though I still don't like the all too familiar GTA parts of the game. After so many years with it, I'm kinda getting a little sick of seeing it.

Hopefully it does feel different when playing though and whatever similarities I see are purely superficial.