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E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jun 12th 2009 at 11:45AM }

E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted.

We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.

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Impressions: Mafia II

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 7th 2009 at 8:30PM }

The original Mafia won critics and gamers over with its deep storytelling an intriguing new gameplay conventions -- but for some reason, it never seemed to become a mainstream hit as much as the industry's other huge, crime-riddled sandbox franchise, Grand Theft Auto, did. Perhaps it's because its creators weren't backed by humongous, multi-billion dollar juggernauts. Or maybe the name just wasn't as catchy.

Regardless, developer Illusion Softworks, now operating under the moniker 2K Czech, is hoping to capture more of the gaming public's brainspace with their upcoming organized crime epic, Mafia II -- and from what we recently saw of the game at E3, 2K's well on its way to producing a product that could very well be the heir apparent to the sandbox genre throne.

Gallery: Mafia II

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Mafia II trailer is all snow covered streets, bullet ridden corpses

by David Hinkle { Jun 1st 2009 at 11:59PM }

Wiseguys finish first, and it's usually thanks to gallons of unwillingly donated blood and plenty of expended bullets, as this Mafia II trailer demonstrates. The family always comes first (unless you're Fredo, of course), and never lets anyone get in its way. If they try, well, you need only reference the above trailer to see how such problems are solved.

Essential reading: Joystiq impressions: Mafia II

Mafia II and Red Dead Redemption delayed to fiscal 2010

by Andrew Yoon { May 26th 2009 at 5:05PM }

Take-Two advised its shareholders of two big delays that will impact its earnings for the rest of the financial year. The upcoming Mafia II and Red Dead Redemption have both been delayed "to allow additional development time for the titles and to maximize their full potential in terms of the quality of the player experience and market performance." In other words, the development teams needed a bit more time.

The two titles are now planned for the first half of fiscal 2010, which spans November 2009 to April 2010. This means either of these games can still make the all-important holiday shopping season. However, even without Mafia and Red Dead Redemption, Take-Two still has a relatively strong lineup with BioShock 2, The Ballad of Gay Tony, and Borderlands.

Joystiq impressions: Mafia II

by Randy Nelson { Apr 27th 2009 at 3:01AM }

click to enlarge

It's been almost a year and a half since 2K Games announced Mafia II, and several months since we've seen much related to the game. Nevertheless, it's still very much in development -- in fact, during a brief demo 2K recently held in San Francisco, we got a chance to see it played.

Since the original game released on last-gen platforms and PC in 2002, 2K bought its Czech developer, Illusion Softworks, renaming it ... 2K Czech. The studio has not only been working on the technology behind Mafia II, the Illusion Engine, since then, but also one of the first game's standout elements -- the script. Our demo was a single mission out of about two dozen planned for the final game; a game that may seem like a 1950s era Grand Theft Auto at first blush, but actually tries to be very good at a few things, rather than pretty good at everything.

Gallery: Mafia II (04-20-09)

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First Mafia II gameplay video features gunplay, cursing

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 18th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Norwegian news site Dagbladet recently got its hands on some fresh gameplay footage from 2K Czech's upcoming mobster sim, Mafia II. It's since embarked on a long, tumultuous exodus from its Norwegian homeland, braving arctic chill and aquatic peril to reach it's final destination: Right here -- on this very site, after the jump, anxiously awaiting your viewership.

It looks pretty solid -- the gameplay revolves around a tried-and-true cover mechanic that third-person action fans will be no stranger to, and the cutscenes will likely appeal to that part of your brain that prevents you from turning the television off in the middle of a Godfather marathon. It's worth checking out -- but be warned, it's pretty NSFW. Mobsters have some serious potty mouths.

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VGA 2008: See Dante's Inferno, Watchmen, Terminator Salvation and more

by Justin McElroy { Dec 15th 2008 at 11:15AM }

True to our word, we've returned with the second string of Video Game Award 2008 videos -- the "B" squad, if you will. It's not that these clips aren't exciting, they're just ... less so. Right after the break check out Dante's Inferno, Watchmen, Terminator Salvation, Mafia II and Fight Night Round 4.

So, what's the verdict? Do these clips have you pumped for 2009? Or are you holding out judgment until you can see a little more gameplay and fewer cinematics?

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VGA video wrap-up: Br�tal Legend, Dante's Inferno, Fight Night 4, more

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 15th 2008 at 9:45AM }

So, the Spike Video Game Awards were on last night. Maybe you watched them. Maybe you didn't. This post, is for those who didn't. We suppose this post is also, technically, for the people that watched the VGAs but want to see some trailers again, but now we're just arguing semantics, really. This is the post where we gather up the WORLD PREMIERE game trailers that debuted during the program. These are the trailers that matter to you. We've got Brütal Legend. We've got Fight Night Round 4. We've got Terminator: Salvation and so much more.

Also, on a side note, EA is apparently turning Dante's Inferno into a demon-slaying action game -- replete with muscly-armed hero. Really?

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Joystiq live at E3 2008 Take-Two press conference

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 16th 2008 at 1:50PM }

10:44 am PT: Just chilling as the press-type folk move on in. Linkin Park is playing,

10:46 am: Strauss takes the stage

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Would You Rather ... The Other Guys Edition

by Xav de Matos { Apr 30th 2008 at 3:30PM }

In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?

Now that we got that other game out of our system, we look to the future of sandbox adventures. Two titles stick out in our minds as potential GTA-killers but we're torn on which one to grab. Pretending you'd only get one of the following titles, would you go for the sequel to a pretty solid GTA-clone from look, feel and execution in Saints Row 2 or the sequel of a more original GTA-clone in the form of 1940s based Mafia II?

Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.

Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... steal this info!

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Mafia II: Don't fuggetabout these 5 new screens

by Xav de Matos { Apr 28th 2008 at 1:30PM }

For those of you who are interesting in exploring a world during the days of prohibition (in the prequel to the main story) and the Brooklyn Dodgers, comes the 2K Czech developed sequel; Mafia II. Taking place between the 1940s to 1950s and set in fictional Empire City, Mafia II follows the story of Vito. After returning from World War II, where he enlists to run away from robbery charges, Vito meets up with old friends to join in the ranks of la cosa nostra. The game looks more and more polished every time we see it and we think it could be a refreshing shot in the arm after nearly a year of that other sandbox game when it hits at the end of 2008.

Gallery: Mafia II

Mafia II puts a hit on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

by Xav de Matos { Apr 12th 2008 at 2:15PM }

2K Games has announced gamers will be able to get their classic, prohibition era, mob style action in on the Xbox 360, PC (Games for Windows) and PS3 in Mafia II. The 1950s sandbox-style crime drama is currently in development at the newly formed 2K Czech, and with the announcement they sent our crime boss (Joystiq) a handful of screens. Check them out below, but don't you dare fuggetaboutit.

[via Joystiq]

Gallery: Mafia II

Mafia II whacking Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Apr 11th 2008 at 4:00PM }

2K Games has announced the target platforms for its "beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mob," Mafia II. Surprising no one outside of the most hopeful and delusional Wii fans, it has been confirmed that the depicted 1950s environment is intended for the Xbox 360, PC (Games for Windows), and PlayStation 3. The dev dons at the recently formed 2K Czech also offered up some new screenshots for our gallery below. Obviously, we couldn't refuse.

Gallery: Mafia II

Welcome 2K Czech: Take-Two brings Mafia dev Illusion Softworks into the family

by Jason Dobson { Jan 8th 2008 at 10:30AM }

Take-Two has draped its money hat over Czech Republic developer Illusion Softworks, acquiring the studio best known for its Vietcong, Hidden & Dangerous, and Mafia franchises. The developer, which operates out of both Brno and Prague, will now adopt the less-inspired title of 2K Czech. It's unclear what effect, if any, this will have on the studio's current or future projects, with Take-Two stating only that the developer continues to pound out code for the previously announced Mafia 2, which will ship...someday for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

2K Games announces Mafia 2

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 21st 2007 at 12:25PM }

2K Games has announced that it will be publishing Mafia 2, sequel to 2002's organized crime sim, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. Developed by Illusion Softworks for "next generation consoles" and Games for Windows, the game faces unbelievably steep and varied competition as it vies to be "the industry's most compelling Mafia title to date." It also promises to deliver "high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative," though we're not sure why you'd be driving a giant white hand or getting married in the course of the story. But hey, they had us at the high octane gunplay bit.

As evidenced by the initial batch of screenshots, the 1940s tale of fine suits and illegal activities hopes to be just as cinematic as a Hollywood film -- preferably one involving mobsters and godfathers. If those offer any guidance, however, it may be wise to cancel any plans for Mafia 3.