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Rockstar turmoil afflicting Max Payne 3's August launch?

Purported former Vancouver studio employee said alleged San Diego studio conditions are mirrored at Canada outfit; shooter sequel slated for late-summer debut, but delay likely.

Source: Popular gaming blog Joystiq.

What we heard: It appears as if Red Dead Redemption isn't the only title creating a strenuous work environment at Rockstar Games. Joystiq reports today that it has received word that a similar situation is unfolding at Max Payne 3 development house Rockstar Vancouver.

"Virtually everything said in the original 'Rockstar wives' letter and by current and former Rockstar San Diego employees in the comments applies to my experience at Rockstar Vancouver," a purported former employee at the studio told Joystiq. The studio is also reportedly in "enforced crunch mode through to the end of the project," necessitating "14 - 16 hour work days, six or seven days a week."

Max Payne 3 may, or may not, hit shelves in August.

Max Payne 3 may, or may not, hit shelves in August.

The source also noted that Rockstar is targeting an August 2010 release for Max Payne 3, having delayed the game to late 2010 in December. The game was officially announced in March 2009 after having been first mentioned in March 2004.

"The game's story just went through another total re-write earlier this month (the third that I am aware of in the past two years) and that [means] the team would have to have all of the content done by April or May to make that August release date," he said.

The official story: Rockstar had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: Given that the Independent Game Developers Association has offered to mediate in the quality-of-life concerns at Rockstar San Diego, it seems like there is some credence to the purported Vancouver employee's claims.

121 Comments

  • xxBSAxx

    Posted Mar 5, 2011 12:23 pm GMT

    hell,still no MP3 on sight! even DNF wil be out before this baby...

  • Thralll

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 4:01 pm GMT

    @Kaunte I agree totally

  • 3v1LR0n1N

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 2:10 pm GMT

    @scorpion_great
    this game is supposed to take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil...NOT Africa. but yeah I am pretty sure they will have flashbacks of sorts. I am sure they will have a previously on max payne thing like the second game did

  • 3v1LR0n1N

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 2:05 pm GMT

    @method115 Granted the Movie wasn't great by any means, it had a very questionable cast (mila kunis as mona sax......'nuff said), some questionable acting *cough*Kunis*cough*, and an uneven plot, but i still enjoyed it

  • Kaunte

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 6:06 am GMT

    Don't ruin Remedy's great gaming franchise any more than it has already been by that horrible movie, just let Max rest.

  • Kaunte

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 6:06 am GMT

    Don't ruin Remedy's great gaming franchise any more than it has already been by that horrible movie, just let Max rest.

  • scorpion_great

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 12:41 am GMT

    I cant believe none of you thought of the idea that maybe in the game you'll experience flashbacks to how Max got to this point, so maybe some levels you play in NY with original Max, and then cut back to the future in Africa.

  • method115

    Posted Feb 8, 2011 8:09 pm GMT

    @3v1LR0n1N

    I loved the games as well but man I have no clue how you liked that movie. It was so confusing an all over the place. So many character were being introduced without really being established. So you would hear someones name being mentioned later in the movie and wouldn't have a clue who they were talking about. Then it was just way to long.

  • 3v1LR0n1N

    Posted Feb 8, 2011 6:07 pm GMT

    i still look forward to this game, i always loved the first 2 games...and believe it or not i likesd the movie (mostly cause i like mark walberg's movies) just wondering who is gonna do the voice, or even the graphic novel scenes if there are any

  • 3v1LR0n1N

    Posted Feb 8, 2011 5:58 pm GMT

    @vevery one who is wondering: Last I remember hearing Max Payne 3 takes place in south America, he left the US because all the crap he's been through (MP1, MP2, stuff that happened after like him getting addicted to *gasp* pain killers) he moved to Sao Paulo to work as a body gaurd for a rich guy. not sure about what happens during though.....but also it is undergoing rewrites so it is subject to change...except for the setting as far as i can see

  • EXODYS

    Posted Feb 8, 2011 3:05 pm GMT

    Max Payne 3 should follow up directly after Max Payne 2. What's with him being old and bald running around in South America or Africa? Doesn't sound like Max Payne to me.

  • jeeka-mj

    Posted Feb 1, 2010 2:17 pm GMT

    I'm hoping that in the midst of max going gun crazy on africans, we might get some flashbacks about what happened between mp2 and this one. And that they would be told in classic noir style, just like the former games-preferably back in new york.....

  • vanrok

    Posted Jan 28, 2010 1:31 pm GMT

    i know is gonna suck bcs hey BALD,FAT in Africa what the F@#K that can't be good,i mean wtf u do in africa,i mean wtf happend to him he got kidnapped in new york sent to africa and terrorists gave him bannanas till he get fat and he got mad that he got fat and started chasing drug dealers or what )

  • SmallMafia

    Posted Jan 28, 2010 1:51 am GMT

    Their situation just seems to be going from bad to worse!

    14 - 16 hours a day? 7 days a week? Their guys are gonna suffer burn out and the games gonna be pushed back for a 2011 release at this rate and sooner or later Max Payne 3 is gonna be dubbed as Max Payne forever!
    Damn this sucks!

  • taino1128

    Posted Jan 22, 2010 5:36 am GMT

    I'm tired of waiting for this game!

  • Zerosumgame

    Posted Jan 20, 2010 9:00 pm GMT

    Close Vancouver studio already!

  • denicola_a_god

    Posted Jan 20, 2010 4:32 pm GMT

    ooo man come on drop in summer baby

  • Ginnnnnnn

    Posted Jan 20, 2010 12:49 pm GMT

    it doesn't even recall the first ones.
    Like @spOOoOOn said, cancel it... i'd rather have good memories of amazing games and unfortunately a cancelled project, than somewhat good memories of a good saga ended terribly...

  • spOOoOOn

    Posted Jan 19, 2010 3:11 pm GMT

    Myeah.. go ahead and just cancel the project. I'd rather have the insanely beloved series die outright than to see rockstar try to squeeze it into a gears of war game...

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jan 19, 2010 12:35 pm GMT

    As good a developer as R* are, this simply is not Max Payne, it will simply be a yet another generic TPS whereby the main protagonist is called Max.

    The depth, grityness and mood will simply not be the same as the Remedy incarnations.

  • Xtos89

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 10:55 pm GMT

    the point of Max Payne is that it makes u feel that ur living a film noir movie.....I dont recall any film Noir movies when ur a bald fat idiot, shooting it up in Africa....

    morons

  • TrueIori

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 9:23 pm GMT

    A fat bald max payne in Africa...yeah i could care less. *Goes back to playing the Original*

    @plm3d_basic so true , so true Max payne started in New york it should end there as well.

  • GetafixOz

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 6:53 pm GMT

    And DuaneDog you may have heard KRudd come out this morning and say that as a working nation we need to "lift our productivity" to remain competetive. If thats not polly speak for longer hours for the same pay then I dont know what is. We are already one of the hardest working nations in the developed world and our thanks is to be asked to do more. Hooray for a corporate globe.... hooray for being a whipped peasant. Mum never told me about this (

  • DuaneDog

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 5:22 pm GMT

    The work situation in America has become downright unbearable for many people. As unemployment has moved higher corporations have taken advantage of the fear and pushed for longer hours. Instead of 100 people working 40 hours a week they push to get 90 people working 44 hours a week, then then push to get 80 people work 50 hours a week, and so on and so on. At some point something has to give. People were already giving 5 out of 7 days of week over to their company and still that is not enough. I know people who work every single day of the week simply out of fear of losing their jobs. So we have situations of people working 70 hours a week while others can't find jobs and the problem gets worse and worse. I'm not for government intervention but Americans needs to stand up and say WE WANT OUR LIVES BACK! In Italy for example they get 40+ PAID vacation days a year mandatory for every employer. Is it any wonder America has more depression and more of our citizens locked up in prison than any country in the world? Time to start putting our families and children ahead of the almighty dollar and materialistic values. I want more time to game!!!

  • eagles_band

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 4:48 pm GMT

    story rewrites doesn't necessarily mean the narrative will be bad, Bioshock was in the same boat regarding the story.

  • Ladiesman17

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 10:17 am GMT

    I can't wait this game,, This must be extraordinary.. & I like "multi-platform" games!! a lot..

  • Hells_rebelion

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 7:31 am GMT

    Neg me all you want but I'm not looking forward to anything in Max payne 3...Specially not max pain himself.

  • geoff-uk123

    Posted Jan 18, 2010 6:57 am GMT

    I am looking forward to Max Payne 3 despite the changes. I just hope Rockstar gets it right and doesn't screw anything up.

  • plm3d_basic

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 10:36 pm GMT

    Rockstar ruined this great franchise by turning him into a fat bald loser. He looks like Sam Fisher when he's 60. What happened to Noir York City, cool trench coats, and timeless era dripping with atmosphere? They can delay this game as long as they want because nobody is excited about it. They need to trash it and start over just like what Ubisoft did with the Splinter Cell Conviction and made it ten times better than what was originally planned which surprisingly similar, where Fisher was some hobo instead of a Bourne killer.

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 4:58 pm GMT

    @glhx2112

    I know quite a few people that make decent living making money under the table (which isnt a bad thing, because you get no taxes taken out and you know you're money is staying in you're pockets, as opposed to our broken Government that lets people with City Jobs, still get welfare and food stamps and section 8 housing.

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 4:54 pm GMT

    I shall pass on this game. Max Payne isnt a fat, balding down on his luck guy. He's a badass down on his luck guy.

  • nevryn

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 3:35 pm GMT

    2 things with this, 1) if they really are constantly changing the storyline, they need to be slapped upside the head. That sort of thing needs to be finalized at least broadly before you begin programing the actual game. 2) What do the employees/families expect? Taketwo (rockstar's parent company) just got slammed big time for delaying games, and is currently in danger of either being bought up or going under period. The CEO is about to get fired, so of course he's trying to save his arse and get a game out on time. They delay the games again, they'll be lucky to have a company, much less jobs for the employees. On the positive side, several gaming companies just laid off a bunch of people so if RSG needs new programers there are a lot looking for jobs right now.

  • blancobo

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 2:23 pm GMT

    Can this argument get any more ridiculous. These wives should thank their hubbies have work. How many people are out of work these days. From what I have heard, if you want quality of life you should go to Sweden, not the states. Never the less, why would this be such a big issue, considering the critical state of the economy... shouldn't this people be thank ful.

  • redskinStu

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 2:21 pm GMT

    I didn't realize Max Payne was in such high demand.

  • Timstuff

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 10:13 am GMT

    They could delay it till judgment day for all I care, this game looks like a crap and an affront to everything that made the first two games good.

  • biokrysty

    Posted Jan 17, 2010 5:32 am GMT

    nice

  • solidine

    Posted Jan 16, 2010 3:44 pm GMT

    Man! I was really looking forward to Red Dead Redemption, now I have to assume it may not be as great as I'd hoped.

    This game I was hesitant about from the get go, but I was hesitantly optimistic, and now it could end up sucking?

    Damnit! Two games I really wanted this year could blow!
    Well, at least Mass Effect 2 should be a solid title.

  • Shardz7

    Posted Jan 16, 2010 2:38 am GMT

    Well, if they had stuck to the real Max Payne story and universe then they would have had so much trouble. The first two games were a smash hit and fantastic games, then the twisted movie came out and flopped beyond belief. Fans don't want a 45 year old Bruce Willis in the tropics...they want the real Max Payne back in New York where he belongs. This is what happens when you try to reinvent the wheel, folks.

  • KrazzyDJ

    Posted Jan 16, 2010 12:45 am GMT

    As against the story, the game's look undergoing a redevelopment might have been a better piece of news given that (from the screen-shots) Max definitely doesn't look and feel like Max anymore !!! This and Splinter Cell: Conviction are taking like forever to come out - it almost feels like a lifetime since the respective prequels came out.

  • playtimetech posted Jan 15, 2010 5:51 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    playtimetech

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 5:51 pm GMT (hide)

    i do not like the rockstar Games...it is a bit stupid to play the musical games only by pushing the buttons.

  • RadicalToenail

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 3:48 pm GMT

    @romeo615

    So, I Youtubed you and looked around and found some of your stuff. You really suck, dude. Doesn't matter if you've got money. You still suck.

  • lucky326

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 3:19 pm GMT

    They need to get their act together, and they need to get it together soon. It's only a matter of time before other titles are affected. I love the Max Payne series and I'd hate to see it brought down by a rubbish upper management.

  • Slalom4

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 1:41 pm GMT

    @Lateraliss : Try using your judgement and your brains for once instead of writing pre-fabricated an factless opinions like you do.

    Because if you want to play that game it's fairly easy and here's one for you : hammering nails and sawing 2x4 is alot easier than using your analysis and synthesis abilities to achieve something.

  • steven141

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 1:37 pm GMT

    doesn't look like max payne and damn, these companies need some striking to take them down a level and improve working conditions.

  • SadPSPAddict

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 12:39 pm GMT

    errm and....so.....Well bummer for the staff if they are working under those conditions

  • fillup0

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 12:17 pm GMT

    This game is looking awful. The replace Payne with a fat baldy who looks nothing like Payne in the slightest, the enviroments look bland and the story has gone through three rewrites, one of which recently happened, yet they want the game out in august. If it wasn't Rockstar developing this game, I wouldn't pay any whiff of attention to it, neither would anybody else. Also Rockstar, there is no need to work your employees 16 hours a day... I and many other gamers could wait longer for a game... Especially the ruining of the Max Payne series...

  • hillelslovak

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 12:13 pm GMT

    I just wish they wouldn't completely change another franchise like most devs are doing and just bastardizing the series. Take as long as you want Rockstar, just make it a Max Payne game..........

  • Night_dude

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 12:08 pm GMT

    honestly my opinion is if they re-wirte the story guess its gona be bad but not sure for who knows whats comein within the game

  • LeonK54

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    Honestly? I'd like it if the game wasn't delayed again but if it gives more time for development it doesn't bother me. This is what bothers me.... "The game's story just went through another total re-write earlier this month (the third that I am aware of in the past two years) and that [means] the team would have to have all of the content done by April or May to make that August release date,"

    Three TOTAL rewrites... Jesus Christ. Thats not a good sign hopefully the game has a good story.

  • Lateraliss posted Jan 15, 2010 11:26 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Lateraliss

    Posted Jan 15, 2010 11:26 am GMT (hide)

    Are they seriously complaining about working 16 hour days at a desk? Try working 16 hour days in construction, then you can complain... "Oh no, I have to sit on this comfy chair in air conditioning for 16 hours". It's called working for a company that has deadlines. If you can't handle it find a different job, I feel no sympathy for them whatsoever.

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