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Max Payne gets Steamed!
 As you may recall, back on November 30, 2006 we announced that Prey was available on the popular online distribution service, Steam. We're here to follow up with news that a couple more 3D Realms titles are available on Steam now. Effective immediately, Max Payne and Max Payne 2 are available for purchase on Steam.
This is part of a larger collection of games available on Steam from publisher Rockstar Games. In addition to the two Max Payne games, the following titles are also available: Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt, Midnight Club 2, Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto 2, and Wild Metal.
The games are the same as they were when originally released, except now that you can purchase them online. The Max games are available in a few different packages from Steam. You can get them:
The prices shown here are the "regular" prices on Steam. However, if you buy them during the first week of launch, the prices are discounted to $8.95, $13.95, and $53.95 respectively. If you've never played Max Payne, you should check them out, they were groundbreaking award winning games when released, and are still fun today.
We have more information about the games here on our website here and here.
Please note that the Macintosh versions of Max Payne are not part of this package, this is for the PC originals only.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 4:44 PM
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Get Max Payne 2 for TWO BUCKS
We were just informed of a sale that Gamestop/EB Games is having. They're selling NEW copies of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne for $1.99 each. This is for either the Playstation 2 or Xbox consoles. (Please note that Max 2 for the Xbox 1 does work on the Xbox 360 via their backwards compatibility mode).
If you've never played Max Payne 2, now is the time. We have no idea how long this sale will last, or how many copies they have to sell, so if you're interested, you'd better do it immediately before they run out of stock, or turn off the sale price.
As an added bonus, if you use the coupon code SAVER with your order, you will get free USA Value shipping, which means your order total will be $1.99 (plus tax), and no shipping. Please see their site for further details. Here are the links you will need to use to get to these offers:
One final note about this. Please be aware that you are NOT ordering this from Apogee/3D Realms, you are ordering from the online etailer EBGames.com/Gamestop.com. Please do not call our order line or our customer service departments about this, they will know nothing about it and be unable to help you. You must go through these links above.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 3:12 PM
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3D Realms is in the toilets
At least according to men's magazine Maxim, we are.
They recently ran a story entitled "The 12 Greatest Videogame Toilets of All Time", focusing on, of all things, the best toilet usage in videogames. It's quite silly, and of course, 3D Realms placed pretty well in the list. In fact, we had three entries in the article, a full 1/4 of the entire list! :) Anyway, here's what they had to say about games we were involved in:
Prey: Ranked #12
This toilet looks like Kirstie Alley and Bruce "Hollywood Squares" Vilanch were trying to spell out the words STAR JONES on it with their rectums after a midnight Arby's run. Forget trying to clean this place: Just scatter some jet fuel, light a match, and move to the next-closest state.
Max Payne: Ranked #9
Ask Elvis: There's no shame whatsoever in dying on a toilet. None. But dying while wearing silly underpants? Let's just say that this just-shotgunned guy has brought much shame on his house. Much shame.
Duke Nukem 3D: Ranked #1 Best Toilet!
Duke was the first game to dive headfirst into the murky, log-filled virtual septic tank. We were thrilled when we popped open stalls and found random aliens dropping a load of gravel. Maxim Tip: Pop the alien in the head, bust up his toilet bowl, and then take a big hearty drink of toilet water for a health boost.
Head on over to Maxim's site now and read up on all the greatest toilet action!
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:57 PM
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Happy Birthday Max Payne!
 Today is July 25, 2006. Five years ago was July 25, 2001. On that date, v1.0 of the registered version of Max Payne was released. Happy birthday Max!
It hardly seems like five years have passed, but they have. Since that date,a few incarnations of Max Payne have been released:
- Max Payne 1 (PC, Xbox, PS2, & Mac)
- Max Payne 2 (PC, Xbox, & PS2)
- Max Payne Gameboy Advance
But today we're here to celebrate the orignal Max Payne's release. When it was new, the game caused quite a stir with it's unique look and storyline, not to mention the rather (at the time) new Bullet Time feature in videogames.
Three years back a young NYPD cop, Max Payne, came home one night to find his family senselessly slaughtered by a gang of drug-crazed junkies, high on a previously unknown synthetic drug. Now that same drug, Valkyr, has spread through the whole New York City like a nightmare plague, and Max Payne's on a crusade for revenge, out to get even. To Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, this new drug was evil incarnate, to be stopped at any cost. Max's boss and best friend, the only one who knew his true identity, has been murdered, and Max's been framed for the slaying. Everything ripped apart in a New York minute... Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose in the violent, cold urban night. A fugitive undercover cop framed for murder, and now hunted by cops and the mob. Max is a man with his back against the wall, fighting a battle he cannot hope to win. Prepare for a new breed of deep action game.
Also in honor of this trip down memory lane, here's the E3 2001 video for Max Payne, shortly before the full game was released to the public:
There's plenty to read if you would like to read up on Max Payne. Here's several links which you might find interesting:
We also received this letter from Max Payne fan Ian White today regarding the fifth anniversary of Max Payne:
Thank you very much!
Just a personal note, I can still remember the first time I played Max Payne, probably because I had been salivating over the original screenshots since it was first previewed almost 5 years before it's release. I was in High school when it was previewed, the game represented a new beginning for cinematic games that had not yet fully been explored. No one had ever attempted to bring gunplay to the level remedy was aiming for and I followed it extremely closely, constantly updating my good friends with every nugget that slipped out regarding it's development. The day it was released I picked up my pre-order and I can honestly say I've never stared harder at a game's cover art box before. It was the first game I have ever sat down to play and finished in one setting, the final bullet was appropriately cinematic. Certain moments are unforgettable in my mind, like jumping onto a moving train, the final level's lobby sequence, Max losing his wife, and Max's drug trip continue to be my all time favorite game moments. I'd like to express my appreciation for your dedication to publishing truly ground breaking material, that although often mimicked it's never been replicated. Oddly enough, my first networked game, as well as my first FPS game, was Duke Nukem 3D on a computer network at school in 1995. Duke Nukem 3D sucked me into pc gaming which lead to my interest in max Payne. You fella's have an amazing history, and I look forward to all of your future endeavors! Thank you so much for some of THE most quality entertainment experiences, I've ever had.
Sincerely,
Ian
If you own the game, why not get it out, and give it a spin in honor of it's fifth birthday? If you don't own the game, there's several options available to you. You can download the demo, buy the game, or you could win a free one! That's right, in honor of the 5th anniversary of Max Payne, we are giving away 50 free copies of the full version of Max Payne 1 (for the PC). All the copies have been given away. Thanks to those who wrote in!
Thanks to all of our fans who made the Max Payne games such a success! You'll also want to check out the latest from Remedy, Alan Wake when that's released. You can get more info on Alan Wake here.
In the words of the immortal Baskinator, "Stay Frosty!" ;)
Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:14 PM
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Max Payne Fan Video Updated
 A couple of years back, we were sent a fan video made about Max Payne entitled "Max Payne Hero". At the time we thought this was a fabulous video (and still do). However, recently we got another email from Chris Chen, the video's creator saying he had updated it. Here's what he told us about the update:
I want to let you know, in case you're interested, that I've always wanted to incorporate as much of the Max Payne game as I could into my short film and in my spare time, I revisited Max Payne: Hero and added some dialogue & sound FX straight from the game.
Since my previous webhost had limited bandwidth, numerous downtimes, and lost emails, I just switched to a new webhost and now the movie is available straight from my homepage in the Download section.
You can download the movie in multiple sizes and in various formats such as:
- Quicktime 7
- Quicktime
- Windows Media
- Sony PSP
We thought you'd be interested in this update. If you liked Max Payne, go check out Chris' work at the video's homepage, http://www.maxpaynehero.com. If you'd like to read a little background on the video, check out our news story on the original release back from March of 2003.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:45 PM
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Max Payne Fan Art Contest
Awhile back, we brought you the news of a Max Payne 2 mod contest where folks would send in their best submissions for Max Payne 2, and Remedy & Rockstar would judge them, and the winners would get some really nice prizes.
Rockstar is proud to announce that the winners of the Max Payne 2 Official Mod Contest have been selected. Our panel of judges from Remedy, Rockstar Games and Computer Gaming World have pored over a great many submissions and picked the cream of the crop. In the Best Original Mod category, the winner is Tommi Saalasti's "Battlefield Tactics 2". This creative mod gives the gameplay a turn-based strategy twist, opening up a whole new Max Payne experience. The winning entry for the Best New Dead Man Walking Level is "Bare Island" by Alexander Pippan. In "Bare Island", Max fights his enemies (and the clock) within the explosive and beautifully designed catacombs of Bare Island. Rounding up the winners list is a film called "Payne 2 the Max" by Rajarshi Nag and Amit Shetty which took our Best Real-Time Non-Interactive Movie (Machinima) category.
Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who entered!
Visit http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne2/contest to experience them all for yourself.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:15 PM
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A Silly Max Payne Fan Video
This week we were given a fan made "Max Payne 3" video. The problem is we don't know who authored it, or why or anything like that. Normally when we do a news story about fan materials, we know who did it. This time we don't. If you are one of the people involved, drop us an email about it.
It's quite good, in it, the plotline for Max Payne 3: The Fall of Hobos and Senior Citizens is given. Max realized who was the cause of all his problems - it was the hobos and senior citizens in the games, so he goes off on a vendetta blowing them up. Some of it is laugh out loud funny. If you're a fan of Max Payne 2, you should check out this video.
You can download it here or via one of the links here.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:40 PM
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Max Payne 2 Review
Is Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne the very best in its class? The answer to that is an undeniable �yes�.
That's what the GamingWorldX web site has to say about Max Payne 2 in their review. They really liked the game, here's a bit more of what they had to say:
What makes Max Payne 2 so compelling is how polished it is.
The story itself is one of Max Payne 2�s greater accomplishments, offering up a gritty, sexy, roller coaster ride that twists and turns from start to finish.
The Fall of Max Payne looks excellent, thanks in large part to that Havok physics engine that makes every body, crate, and piece of furniture move with astonishing realism.
Max Payne had style, but Max Payne 2 blows it away.
Go check out the full review here. And if you haven't done so yet, you can pick up your copy of Max Payne 2 for the PC, Xbox, or PS2 right now! Or head to our downloads page to grab a free demo for the PC. You can get further information on Max Payne 2 over at the official site at http://www.maxpayne2.com.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:40 PM
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Official Max Payne 2 Modding Contest Almost Closed
Do you consider yourself a good game modder? Well, now's the time to prove it. Remedy & Rockstar are running an official Mod Contest where you can enter and win prizes! There's three sections to the contest you can enter in - they are:
* Best Original Mod - expand the gameplay of Max Payne 2 with a completely original and imaginative creation.
* Best New Dead Man Walking Level - create a compelling new level for the Dead Man Walking play mode.
* Best Real-Time Non-Interactive Movie - using the MaxED tools, create the best entry in the new art form known as machinima.
The deadline for entry is May 15, 2004. To enter download the Max Payne 2 mod tools and tutorials here, create a kickass new modification and then visit the official mod contest page to submit your creation.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:40 PM
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New Sam Lake Interview
This morning we were told of a new interview with Sam Lake of Remedy, the man behind the writing in the two Max Payne games. To that, this new interview is mostly about the writing of Max Payne, and Sam's work on it. Here's a few tidbits from it:
Q: Writing is an area often underappreciated in videogames. How did you get into it?
A: I was asked, simple as that. Petri J�rvilehto, one of the founding members of Remedy, is a long time friend of mine. They were working on Remedy's first game, Death Rally, and needed someone to write the texts for the game. Petri knew of my writing, and asked me. I was studying at university at the time. I was very excited to get any kind of a writing gig. Now, almost nine years later, I'm still at it, so it turned out to be a long term one.
Q: Do you believe that technological advancement and deepening immersion of players into games will decrease the role writing plays, or bolster it?
A: We are still quite far from portraying subtle human emotions in games. We are taking baby steps to that direction, but its slow going. As we get closer to that, closer to the skin as it were, the need for good writing will increase.
Sam has a lot more to say about videogame writing - make sure and check out the full interview over at Jive Magazine today!
Posted by Joe Siegler at 10:45 AM
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Max Payne 2 Wins G.A.N.G. Awards
Who is the G.A.N.G.? They're the "Game Audio Network Guild". This group of folks has several functions, but the primary ones are to educate people about game music, and to provide a resource for composers, designers, and others who have a genuine interest in interactive audio. You can read more about them here.
But, on to the awards. The GANG handed out their annual awards recently, and Max Payne 2 won two categories. The two categories Max Payne 2 won in were:
*Best Original Instrumental Song - "Max Payne Theme"
*Best Original Vocal Song (Pop) - "Late Goodbye"
You can read a complete list of all the nominees and winners at the GANG site on this page.
Remedy sent us a picture of the trophies that they received in their HQ in Finland, and we'd like to share that with you here. Click on it to see a larger version.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:40 PM
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Max Payne 2 Screenshot Contest Winners
Back at the end of December, we ran a Max Payne 2 screenshot contest. It's taken some time, but we've finally managed to wade through all the submissions, and have picked some winners for y'all to check out. As a reminder, here are the three categories we asked for submissions of.
*Action -- Looking for a shot that shows cool action, maybe a gunfight or an explosion, etc. This shot might show slow motion action, and might include bullets caught in flight (either from Max's weapon, or heading toward Max, or both).
*Cool moves -- This show shows Max and/or other characters involved in a John Woo-style move, evading danger or upholding the law with lead teeth.
*Humor -- This is a shot that is in some way funny or unexpected. We'll leave it at that!
The Remedy staff looked at all the finalists, and they all voted on their favourites. You can check out all the winning screenshots on this page.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:30 PM
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Max Payne 2 Review
Today we bring you a great review of Max Payne 2 from the current issue of Computer Gaming World. In it, they give the game their editor's choice and 4.5 stars out of 5; having these cool things to say about it:
* Max Payne 2 is like a new braided whip - less kink with a sharper sting, and fun right up until you don't want anymore.
* The story is consistent and better executed than the first game.
* Dream levels are also back, but the blood stained tightrope walks are gone - Hurray!
* After finishing the game, I still feel like I'd want to play it again on a harder level.
Hit your newsstand to check out CGW's review of Max Payne 2. Or, you can download a copy of the demo (PC version), and check it out yourself. Or you can simply purchase a copy for yourself through Amazon.com with these links:
* PC Version
* Xbox Version
* Playstation 2 Version
Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:40 PM
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Official Max Payne 2 Screenshot Contest
Folks who were hanging around our website in 2001 when the first Max Payne was released might remember we ran a screenshot contest. Well, with Max Payne 2 out now, we're back with a screenshot that's pretty similar to the one we ran before. We want you to send in your best Max Payne screenshot in the following categories:
1. Action -- Looking for a shot that shows cool action, maybe a gunfight or an explosion, etc. This shot might show slow motion action, and might include bullets caught in flight (either from Max's weapon, or heading toward Max, or both).
2. Cool moves -- This show shows Max and/or other characters involved in a John Woo-style move, evading danger or upholding the law with lead teeth.
3. Humor -- This is a shot that is in some way funny or unexpected. We'll leave it at that!
We'll have three winners in three categories (One winner, and two runners up). The top winner in each category will get an autographed collectible copy of Max Payne 2 (for the PC) from the Remedy team, as well as a Max Payne 2 windbreaker jacket. The first runner up will get a Max Payne 2 T-Shirt, & Max Payne 2 Pin Set. The second runner up will get one of our $35 Gift Certificates for use for 3D Realms games/merchandise.
Every person can submit only one screen shot per category, for a total maximum of three screen shots - Please do not resubmit saying "Please use this one over the other one I sent" - make sure your best shot is sent in first, as multiple submissions will be rejected. Also, do not edit the shots in any way - the point here is to come up with good Max Payne screenshots, not to see how good you are with Photoshop or some other editing tool.
The shots will be judged by Remedy and 3D Realms, who'll pick the winners. Each category will have a unique winner (a single person cannot win in more than one category). You can send in your submissions to maxshots@3drealms.com. If you are sending in more than one at a time, please zip them up to make sorting easier on this end. You can also put them online somewhere, and send in an email link to the screenshot(s). Also, please note that resubmitting the exact picture that won in the previous contest won't count - you can't submit the same shot as the winners of the first contest again, even redone in Max 2 - come up with something more original than that.
The contest is open to anyone, and will close on Monday, January 12th. If you don't happen to have a copy of Max Payne 2 yet, you can pick one up now - versions are now available for the PC, the Xbox, as well as the Playstation 2.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:00 PM
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Official Max Payne 2 Modding Contest
Do you consider yourself a good game modder? Well, now's the time to prove it. Remedy & Rockstar are running an official Mod Contest where you can enter and win prizes! There's three sections to the contest you can enter in - they are:
* Best Original Mod - expand the gameplay of Max Payne 2 with a completely original and imaginative creation.
* Best New Dead Man Walking Level - create a compelling new level for the Dead Man Walking play mode.
* Best Real-Time Non-Interactive Movie - using the MaxED tools, create the best entry in the new art form known as machinima.
The deadline for entry is May 15, 2004. To enter download the Max Payne 2 mod tools and tutorials here, create a kickass new modification and then visit the official mod contest page to submit your creation.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 9:40 AM
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Max Payne 2 Xbox Review
Now that the console versions of Max Payne 2 are out and about, the reviews are starting to come in for them. Here's the first one we received - a review of the Xbox version of Max Payne 2 over at teamxbox.com.. Here's some of what they had to say about the game.
* Max returns in a game that improves upon the original in every way.
* ... The action oriented gameplay makes for one of the best third-person shooters this year.
* The environments are probably the most impressive part of the game in how large and richly detailed they can be.
* The entire game is a heart-pounding experience that will keep you playing from start to finish
If you don't have your copy of the game, you should order it now - versions are now available for the PC, the Xbox, as well as the Playstation 2.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:30 PM
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Max Payne 2 is 5 out of 5
So says gaming website Avault.com. In their review posted on Friday, they had this to say about the game...
* Max Payne 2 is a graphical powerhouse that is a delight to the visual senses.
* [Re: Max Payne 2...] It�s much like reading a good novel in that way.
* The music in the main title screen and the majority of the game is excellent. It�s moody, dark, and lonely, framing off the visual attitude completely.
* Max Payne 2 is easily one of my favorite games this year.
This is a good, lengthy review - make sure and check it out!!
Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:30 PM
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Max Payne 2 Demo Released
The awaited demo for Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne has been released and is now available for download. Those of you who were wondering about how the game will run on your system... well this is your chance! Download the demo and find out!
Below are a few download links (the demo is a 245Mb download):
* Rockstargames server
* 3D Gamers
* Fileplanet
* Fileshack
Posted by Joe Siegler at 6:15 PM
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Max Payne 2 on TV Tonight!
Tonight on US cable channel TechTV, their game programme "X Play" will have a review of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. The show airs at 11PM EST tonight, as well as at 2AM & 4PM tomorrow. There are more airings than that, so scheck TechTV's site for full schedule details.
A text version of this review is online now, and you can check it out if you like. Here's a bit of what they had to say about it:
* Now that the game is in stores, it's just a question of whether or not you can handle all the Mature-rated action.
* ...the level of subtlety and detail that'll have you shouting your expletive of choice.
* All in all, it's an incredibly satisfying follow-up for fans of the original, and its look and feel makes it one of the year's most impressive titles.
But don't forget to check out Max on TV tonight over at TechTV's X Play. You can purchase your copy of Max Payne 2 from Amazon.com here.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 10:00 AM
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Max Payne 2 is a Masterpiece!
..so says gaming news site elited.net in their review of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Here's some of their quotes.
* Max Payne was brilliant, Max Payne 2 is a masterpiece.
* Max Payne 2 is everything Max Payne was and more. It will tantalize your senses, and pulse your veins with a heart pumping adrenaline rush.
* From the moment that you pick up the box you realize this is something special.
You can purchase your copy of Max Payne 2 from Amazon.com here.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:40 PM
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New Max Payne 2 Downloads Available!
Remedy has released two new items for fans of Max Payne 2 today. They are:
* Two new chapters for the game
* Max Payne 2 Theme in mp3 format
The two new chapters are available in the Dead Man Walking format, which is one of the modes that you get unlocked when you've finished the game. The two new map names are "Upper East Side" & "Mona's Playground".
Make sure and check out both downloads today - here's some links for download:
Two new chapters:
* Rockstar Games server
* Fileshack
* Fileplanet
MP3 Theme:
* Rockstar Games server
* Fileplanet
Posted by Joe Siegler at 11:40 AM
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Max Payne 2 Editing Tools Released!
The editing tools for Max Payne 2 have been released. The package is available now from any of the locations below, and is about 21Mb. The editing tools were not on the actual Max Payne 2 disc, so if you buy the game and can't find them on there, that's why. You need to download the tools if you want to edit Max Payne 2.
Download locations:
* Rockstar Games Server (HTTP)
* FileShack (HTTP)
* Fileplanet (HTTP)
Posted by Joe Siegler at 5:00 PM
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Max Payne 2 Patch v1.01 Released
Short and sweet message - a patch for Max Payne 2 has been released. Available now via the links below, here's a detail of what's been fixed in the patch:
* Fixed game crashing to "Exception: Bad Allocation" on Windows 98/Me during loading of certain levels. This may potentially fix other crashes as well.
* Improved loading times on low-end computers.
* Improved Technical Support Tool to include CD-ROM Model.
You can grab the patch right now via these download links. The file itself is about 5.4Mb.
* Take2Games Server (HTTP)
* 3D Realms Server (FTP)
* Fileshack(HTTP)
* Fileplanet (HTTP)
Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:30 AM
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Max Payne 2 is out!
Max Payne 2 for the PC is out now - it started showing up on store shelves on Wednesday. While 3D Realms is not selling the game direct, we can refer you to Amazon.com (see box links below), or you can hit your local Best Buy, EBGames, or any other game seller now to pick up your copy. Really - stop reading this, and go get it!
In addition, there is a strategy guide due out for Max Payne 2 shortly - you can click on the book cover art shown here to pre-order it through Amazon.com.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:10 PM
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Max Payne 2 Reviews
Now that Max is out, some of the gaming news sites are posting their full reviews of the game. As with the previews, some of them are giving away major plot points, so if you don't want the game spoiled for you, it might be best to avoid them. However, we'll bring you some non spoiler excerpts from them here (with no pretentious intro, we'll just get right to the quotes)...
First up is IGN.com's review of Max Payne 2: (they rate it a 9.4 out of 10)
You'll notice some immediate improvements over the original. Close-ups of faces are remarkably realistic. A lot of animation has been motion-captured. You can knock things over like chairs, stools, boxes. Puddles of water give accurate reflections of their surroundings. People have funny conversations.
Their star-crossed love story plays a major part in the game, and pulls Max Payne 2 head and shoulders above the action game style.
The new Havok 2.0 physics engine, which was supposed to make its debut with Half-Life 2, is pretty darn cool. Instead of taking time to record death animation motion capture, you can just plug this thing in and watch the fur fly. Bodies go flying, tumble brutally down stairwells, and go flying off precipices with satisfying realism.
Max Payne 2 is thick with drama and action. And once you've played through the first time, you'll have higher difficulty levels, including all the modes from the previous installment.
Next up is a review from Gamespot.. (they rate it a 9.0 out of 10)
This new Max Payne, billed as "a film noir love story," was certainly worth the wait too.
On its own merits, it's a stunning shooter... ....it's still incredibly intense and, by all means, worth experiencing.
All of the game's between-level loading screens and graphic novel sequences are impressive-looking and often very cool.
As such, the fact that Max Payne 2 essentially provides more of what made the first game so outstanding--but with a fresh, new coat of paint and an intriguing, new storyline--makes it a must for anyone who liked the original.
Third is one from Telefragged. (they rate it 92%)
For those who loved the little details in the first game, MP2 delivers a ton of new stuff that the serious fans will eat up.
The graphic novel-style cutscenes are back, and I'm glad they are; the hand-drawn art adds a unique style that is missing from games nowadays.
Max Payne 2 is all about the action and story, and it delivers an experience that is even more intense and satisfying than the first game.
The new environments in MP2 are a hell of a lot of fun to play through.
Max Payne 2 retains or expands on almost everything great from MP1 while adding new features, an intense story, an insane amount of detail, and even more wonderful gameplay...if you loved the first game, you can't go wrong with this one.
Finally today is one from Games Domain. (they rate it a "Top Game")
It is a mature theme, and Remedy has not shied away from its realities. The game's dialogue is convincingly profane, and the blood is not spared. Max Payne 2 is a mature game in every sense of the word, and is all the better for it.
Kudos to Remedy, because it is an outstanding looking game.
Remedy has brought its already well-loved recipe from the original game to near-perfection.
In doing so, it achieved something that is very rare in gaming - well-developed and believable characters. That, in itself, is no mean feat, but mix it with the game's delightful combat, varied design, and admirable coherence of style and creative vision, and you have something very special. Max Payne 2 is a superb game.
Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:10 PM
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Max Payne 2 Reviews
Max Payne 2 for the PC is due to hit the streets very soon - in fact, it should be in your local store (in the US) any day now. If you haven't already done so, you can pre-order either the PC (or Xbox/PS2 versions, due Dec 5th) by clicking on the box art below.
 
In "related" news , we are also here to announce that Max Payne 2 for the PC has shipped to stores, and should be there any time now. Here's a copy of the press release announcing that..
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2003--Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO - News), announced today that Max Payne 2:The Fall of Max Payne for PC has shipped to retail stores throughout North America. The game will be in stores in Europe on October 24, 2003. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne will be in stores on the PlayStation�2 computer entertainment system and Xbox� video game system from Microsoft on December 3, 2003.
Additional information about Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is available at:
http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne2
Posted by Joe Siegler at 3:45 PM
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Max Payne 2 Hands on Impressions
Now that Max is about released, some gaming sites are posting their "hands on" previews - after having played (some of) the game. There's several of them, and we'll link to them here, but you should be aware that most of them (especially the IGN one) give away a LOT, so if you don't want to have the game ruined for you, then you should probably skip them.
As was mentioned, the the IGN impressions gives away much of the start of the game, including several integral early game plot developments. Here's some non spoiler stuff from it..
on the list of combat improvements is the bulletdodge function. Basically, this works where you move one direction or another, hit the bulletdodge function and Max will dive in whatever direction you're moving, while slowing time down and still being able to shoot.
A new addition is that you'll occasionally run across some NPCs that will help you out, which can be a boon in some of the more difficult rooms.
If you just can't wait, then go ahead and read it,,, but if you don't want it spoiled, I suggest waiting until after you've played the game. Still, it is a good read, and if you don't mind spoilers, I suggest checking it out.
The next hands on preview we have today is from Happy Puppy. Their preview too gives away plot lines in the beginning of the game, so again, you probably shouldn't read this unless you don't care about spoilers. Anyway, here's some non spoiler stuff from HP...
Cooperative NPCs are just as intelligent; act towards them with hostility, and they will shoot back at you. Don't, and maybe they'll help you.
And, of course, there is the new script. Max Payne 2 is a film noir love story with a greater emphasis on more complex core characters. Max is older; his face is more grizzled, and his neck sags. He also has a greater range of facial expression, instead of looking perpetually constipated as he did in the original.
Check out Happy Puppy's preview today too, unless you want to avoid spoilers.
Next up is one from Gamespot. Gamespot's preview is also in the "gives away the early part of the game" genre, so once again, spoiler warnings abound. Here's some of what Gamespot had to say..
In the new game, you can also use the right mouse button to enter bullet time 2.0, which causes Max's surroundings to become slightly washed out as he outruns and outpaces his enemies.
Max Payne 2 seems at least as fast-paced as the original, and it even appears more challenging. The levels we've played through seem to provide sparse cover; just enough to hide behind, for an instant, when you're in serious trouble.
The recently completed third-person action sequel seems at least as gritty and violent as the original game. It stars an older, wiser Max Payne who starts his story from the end, just as in the original game. And like the original game, the sequel has additional gameplay modes that are unlocked after you complete the story-based "detective" mode, including the "New York minute" mode from the original game and a new mode called "dead men walking."
And last, but certainly not least comes the fan site Paynereactor.com's preview of Max 2. Paynereactor.com's preview also includes details of their trip to New York (as they're from Norway) for the event as well. Paynereactor's preview isn't as spoiler laden as the others, but there are a few things here that you might not want to know, but it's mostly spoiler free. Here's some of what they said..
Another huge thing I can't put enough emphasis on is the music. Max Payne 2 would be an amazing game with just the sound, but this music. I kept referring to the music, there's also examples of it in gameplay videos and trailers, and it's just amazing.
I guess another big change in this new game is the amount of action, I haven't seen it mentioned much, but in some areas we saw they were basically piling up enemies to face Max, and they were all either shot through barrels, blown up into the air, or just simply shot down. There's a LOT more action this time around, and let me promise you, the physics add a lot to it.
The PC versions strength is obviously the fact that you can make usermaps for this mode, and here's the nugget, they don't need to be that big, they just need to be creatively made so you can make them challenging. It's perfect for us that are too lazy to make a whole level.
There will be more to come as the game is due to hit the street in a number of hours, so make sure and keep your eyes peeled. And for no good reason at all, here's a laugh. Anyone remember this
Posted by Joe Siegler at 3:45 PM
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Good Max Payne 2 Article
Recently, a great Max Payne 2 article appeared online over at UGO. They had a lot to say about the game, so let's get right to the quotes.
...You'll still be making ample use of the slow-motion bullet effect, diving around corners, guns a-blazing, watching bullets plug your enemies in super-slow-mo.
The stakes have been raised, and this is evident from the first time you get a look at Max Payne 2's graphics. Everything is incredibly detailed, right down to the veins in the characters' necks, and I can only assume that entire civilizations of polygons had to die in order to make this kind of visual excellence possible.
Whether you're into the whole noir-love thing or not, the good news is that you'll get to do plenty of blasting in the process of getting from the beginning to the end.
Unfortunately, try as I might, I wasn't able to squeeze out any more details about what twists we can expect, as the team at Remedy is being very careful about giving too much of their baby away. That's OK, though, because the game is really right around the corner, shipping in October.
There's a lot of great stuff in this article, so head over to UGO and check it out now!
Posted by Joe Siegler at 4:15 PM
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October 3, 2003 |
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