14 DAY TRIAL // L.A. Noire is set to be released next week, so Team Bondi, its developer, and Rockstar, its publisher, have launched a brand new trailer for it, as well as details about how the game wants to blur the lines between story and gameplay.
L.A. Noire has been in development for about 5 years, suffering delays and periods of media blackout. Now, the game is going to be released next week and both Team Bondi and Rockstar are excited about it.
The main selling point of the title is that it's going to be a true interactive detective simulator, using the new MotionScan technology to give non-playable characters all sorts of facial expressions, crucial in determining if they're lying or telling the truth.
According to Rockstar, via IndustryGamers, this not only allows an immersive experience, but also a seamless integration of story and narrative alongside actual gameplay.
“One of the things we wanted to do was move away from exposition cinematics,” said Rob Nelson, art director at Rockstar Games. “We incorporated the exposition into the gameplay, which blurs the lines between story and game. There’s a lot of dialogue and exposition while you’re playing the game. This was a pivotal focus for us and I think we’ve done it reasonably successfully.”
Brandon McNamara, the game director at Team Bondi, says that his team borrowed heavily from a lot of famous cop shows and movies, ranging from classics like The Naked City, both the 1948 film noir as well as the 1950s TV series, but also recent shows like Law & Order or the Oscar-winning Chinatown.
Still, L.A. Noire isn't all about investigating or talking with NPCs, as it's still a game, at least according to Michael McGrady, the actor who interprets LAPD Homicide Detective Rusty Galloway in the title.
“There are the requisite car chases, shootouts, and things in this game, but even better, there’s some intellectual involvement,” said McGrady. “It really is interactive. You have to solve the crime. You have to follow the clues and avoid the red herrings. There’s a cerebral aspect to it that I really enjoyed. I thought it pretty fascinating in that respect.”
Until May 17, for North America, and May 20, for Europe, when L.A. Noire is released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, check out the launch trailer for it below.