Rockstar Presents L.A. Noire - DLC details added

[JP]

Really surprised by the amount of data but at least it sounds like they've worked around the limitations as well as possible so it doesn't sound like it will effect gameplay at all.

I wonder if the limitations have somehow contributed to the large amount of DLC missions though?

L.A. Noire was always going to be a massive game, from the size and detail of the world to the length of the cases, and of course, the sheer amount of MotionScan data required for the faces of over 400 actors in-game. To tell the story and make the game we wanted to make, we knew that it was going to take an entire single layer Blu-ray disc and three Xbox discs.

Since the game is built around the concept of progressing through individual cases from desk to desk, players on Xbox will find disc-swapping is hassle-free. In fact, players will only need to swap discs twice at natural breaks between cases without interrupting the flow of the game.

Throughout development, we created lots of great cases, the bulk of which were central to the main story of Cole Phelps and his rise through the ranks of the LAPD, alongside other cases that felt more like strong stand-alone episodes. This gave us a powerful main story, and left us with quality extra content that we wanted to put out as DLC, that would slot seamlessly into the existing game.

[Spatial]

Another reason you might want to go PS3 is because apparently the 360 version comes on 3 discs

http://uk.kotaku.com/5798996/rockstar-made-la-noire-so-big-they-could-barely-fit-it-on-one-disc-or-three

Doesn't matter to me but I know some people hate the old mid-game disc shuffle.

edit: or what JP said.

[JP]

I imagine some will complain but there seems to be little genuine reason to worry about it as far as I'm concerned.

It would be different if they had to divide LA into three regions or something along those lines but this seems to be a bit of a non-event really although I'm really surprised at the size of the data.

Look at it this way although I've probably oversimplified it, if the game is twelve hours long then you start with disc 1 at the beginning, four hours later you change it for disc 2 and eight hours in you swap it for the final disc. Simple.

There will be idiots elsewhere who enjoy complaining about but they will more likely be people who were going to buy the PS3 version anyway and just want to complain about the one they didn't buy.

Although it's ever so sliiiiggghhhtlyyy nicer not having to change discs at all but it really didn't do Mass Effect 2 any bloody harm at all and from memory, I could be wrong here though as it was a while ago, I did have to go backwards and forwards between the two discs rather than just switch them over once.

Hopefully we'll start getting reviews in the next although I'm a little concerned that it's all going to go horribly wrong somewhere. There's still no a great deal information out there apart from Team Bondi's videos about how the game plays.

From what I have read about the game it does seem to try and do things a little differently which could be good or bad, the last things I read about them doing things differently was from the event at Tribeca Film Festival where that leaked video was from...

Which brings us to the question, if Rockstar is looking to bring in new or non-gamers for "LA Noire," is there some concern about alienating them with traditional shooter or driving gameplay? What if it's too hard for them? Rockstar has apparently thought of that.

During the Q&A session of the screening, Rockstar's art director, Rob Nelson, discussed the lengths to which they'll help out inexperienced players during the trickier parts. Apparently, after failing a certain action sequence two or three times, a message will pop up, asking the player if they'd like to skip this portion. "You can skip those action elements and still experience the bulk of the narrative," said Nelson.

It's a pretty massive shift for Rockstar, whose games have, at times, been too difficult for even experienced gamers to complete. Certain missions in "GTA 4," for example, were extremely challenging and prevented some from finishing the game. But the company's last game, "Red Dead Redemption," opened the gates a bit by having difficulty settings...something the "GTA" games never had.

But with "LA Noire," they're taking it even further by allowing players to skip action sequences entirely. It's akin to Nintendo's efforts to make their games easier by having the Super Guide, which automatically completed levels for the player in "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" and "Donkey Kong Country Returns."

Perhaps the reason for this is that 80% of "LA Noire" is an absence of action. It's about talking to suspects, finding evidence, uncovering a mystery. The hour-long case demonstrated at the screening had maybe five minutes of typical action. Players looking for the next "GTA" will find that "LA Noire" is even slower and more methodical than "Heavy Rain."

There's no question that "LA Noire" is extremely unique. Nelson even called it "risky" at one point during the Q&A. As I've said before, it's the opposite of a "GTA" game, and Rockstar is hoping to bring an entirely new audience, while convincing the old one that this is still a Rockstar game. The non-gamers in the crowd last night seemed impressed by all the focus on acting and story, and many of them will undoubtedly appreciate the ability to skip harder sequences. It's still a question, though, whether a Rockstar game that's more about talking than it is about killing can succeed. We'll find out next month.

...which may just kill the game off for some people who are wanting something else.

[nonny]

I had completely forgotten ME2 was even on two discs... I think that speaks volumes.

[yesteryeargames]

apart from coming on 3 disc's are there any other differences graphically or content wise on 360 and ps3 ?
Ive just pre orderd a copy for ?33.60 from thehut.com

[JP]

There shouldn't really be any differences between the two formats although they have only shown PS3 footage so far due to it being the lead console. Hopefully they'll start showing some 360 footage this week to give people have the choice to play both can make a more informed decision.

You do also get free pre-order cases but depending on where you order it but The Hut don't appear to be taking part. You will be able to pay for those pre-order missions if you do decide that you want them though.

There is the free exclusive DLC case on the PS3 but they've not yet released details of what that consists of so it may end up being something pretty minor.

[merf]

I loved the last GTA, didn't get on with Red Dead at all and am on the fence about this, can't put my finger on it but something looks 'wrong' with it, not sure if its the Polar Express uncanny valley thing or the fact everybody focuses on the video stuff and I'm not sure how the game actually plays.

Not ordering until the review embargo lifts.

[Daragon]

Not sure which way I'm going with this - steering away from Sony a little after recent events, but the 3 disk bonanza that is the 360 version has me cautious also, I REALLY don't have the room to be installing 3 disks of a potential 6GB each to my hard drive

[jimtendo]

I'll be going with the PS3 version, as it's the lead SKU.
Though with the shinanegins with PSN at the moment, I doubt anyone will get access to the various promotional cases for the short term if this keeps on going on.

My main concern is replayability, as I want to know how diverse are the case options. How many branches can you go from that single lead, if you screw up royally would you get access to a different story arc etc.

[nonny]

I'm guessing they'll be showing a tonne of information on this in the next few weeks. Funny thing on Friday, I was at a works drinks function and this game came up in conversation given Team Bondi worked on it. One of the dev guys on my current project is an ex-employee of theirs and actually worked on this when it was just getting started some 2 years ago.

Small world.

[Synthesthesia]

I've got the 360 version ordered from game for their exclusive case and to get it a day early. I'm not really bothered about swapping discs, I just prefer playing games like this with my 360 controller. RPGs etc I don't mind on PS3 but I can't get on with the sticks for shooters unless it's necessary (killzone, resistance etc).

[Neon Ignition]

I'm gonna play it safe and stick with the PS3 version. I'm looking forward to this which is nice after RDR recovered some of the faith I lost after GTA4

[fahrenheit]

I'm gonna play it safe and stick with the PS3 version. I'm looking forward to this which is nice after RDR recovered some of the faith I lost after GTA4

My impressions are that this is nothing like either of those two games.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is more like CSI: Noire with the odd bit of action here and there. Most of the time you'll be investigating crime scenes and interviewing witnesses. And just like those crime dramas, that prospect really doesn't appeal to me.

[Neon Ignition]

I just meant as in how, for me, GTA4 was an ill judged game in many areas. RDR felt much more cohesive as this seems to be. I'm looking forward to the interviews, see how my deduction skills are

[fahrenheit]

I just meant as in how, for me, GTA4 was an ill judged game in many areas. RDR felt much more cohesive as this seems to be. I'm looking forward to the interviews, see how my deduction skills are

Ahh. Just so long as everyone knows what they are in for.

I hope I've got the wrong impression and that there is a decent balance between action and interrogation room drama, but I'm sure they didn't develop that facial animation system just so that I could enjoy npcs grimmacing as I mow them down in the street.