Rockstar Games has just published the very first edition of Asked & Answered, a series of articles where they will be responding to questions sent by fans via Twitter, Newswire, Facebook, and emails. Below are some selected questions with official responses, and fans can still continue to send questions to Rockstar Games at [email protected].

“Nooooooooooooooo why is [Max Payne 3] getting delayed??????” – MRMARTSON
We understand it’s disappointing to have to wait another couple months for the game, but we hope you know our goal is always to deliver the best games we possibly can. Trust that the delay is all to ensure the game is as epic and highly-polished as possible. Thank you all for your patience and understanding. We believe it will be well worth the wait.

“18th of May is also for Australian release?” – Jortan

Yes, the Australian release of Max Payne 3 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will also be on May 18th.

“Hey @R* can you show us the final cover for Max Payne 3?” – maciej595revan
“When will you guys show us the final cover art of the standard edition?” – emmi18176860

The final cover art will be revealed in the next few  weeks – stay tuned.

“@RockstarGames Why the two week delay for the PC version?” – wazups2x via Twitter

We also would like the Max Payne 3 PC release to happen as close as possible to the console release date. It just wasn’t possible to get the PC version lined up day and date with the console releases, but we’re working to make sure it’s with you just a couple weeks thereafter.

“Any chance there’ll be a feature sometime showing how Rockstar took the fan’s faces from picture to screen?” – Marney-1
“@R* Will you show us this screen of the selected people to be in the game, but with the in-game engine? I want to see how the faces look like with the engine.” –Undertaker13

Absolutely. They’re all being implemented now as we speak, using production photos provided by the fans we chose in the #MaxPayne3 casting event on Twitter. We’re excited ourselves to see the finished results and will be sharing a look with you all when they’re ready.

“What is the deal with giving U.S the game 3 days early? why do you do this?” – x_STREETKING_x
“Why does it get released later for Europe is it because of shipping?” – i-dunn0-o

No, it’s not because of shipping, it’s just the way entertainment gets released between the two different territories at retail – in the US, games, music and DVDs come out on Tuesdays and in Europe, on Fridays – so that is how our releases come out. We did, with GTAIV, try a global release – but it was very complicated and created a lot of problems with retail in Europe. We are old enough to remember when there were often months between American and European releases, and believe three days difference is not a huge deal, but we would also just as well prefer it if everywhere was easily set up for releases to be on the same date.

“It is written that BOPE will appear in the game, right?
But I would like to know how can this happen if the game is set in São Paulo and BOPE is from Rio de Janeiro.
I’m looking forward for an answer.” – LFKS123

No actually, the special police force in the game is the fictionalized UFE (Unidade de Forças Especiais) which are inspired by many of the real-life units mentioned in our first Max Payne 3 Research article – such as the GATE, GARRA, and GOE of São Paulo.

“I wanna know more about the shooting system Rockstar. Will Max Payne 3 have free aim like the PC originals?” – received via Mouthoff

Yes. The Max Payne series was built on its precise and fluid shooting mechanics, and a huge amount of work has been put into ensuring Max’s aiming and weapon balance systems not only live up to the reputation of the original but also try to maximize what is possible with modern third and first-person shooters, enabling us to deliver fluid free-aim mechanics on both PC and console. To go more in-depth and see some of it in action, check out our latest Design and Technology series video focusing on targeting and weapons.
We want lovers of the series to be able to dive right into free aim, but we also want to provide a range of aiming options and difficulty levels for players of all skill levels, so you’ll find a range of aiming options available whether you’re a hardcore shooter player or a newcomer to the series.

“Is James McCaffrey doing the voice again? That would really mean a lot to the game in my opinion! :)” – Faurschou

Yes, make sure to watch our official Max Payne 3 Pop-Up Edition Trailer where we confirm that tidbit along with lots of other facts about the game. He is also the face of Max in Max Payne 3, and provides the majority of his movement, in and out of cutscenes.

“I’m dying to know if we’ll be able to use Bullet Time in the Multiplayer part of Max Payne 3 too, or is it a singleplayer exclusive? Could it be kinda like the Dead-Eye integration we all know from Red Dead’s Multiplayer?” – BorisBlack
“How will Bullet-Time be in Multiplayer? Will it even be there or just for the single player experience? Thanks R*” – emmi18176860

Max Payne’s multiplayer is all about taking the physicality and tech of Max’s movement and shooting abilities and translating that directly into multiplayer in a way that fits with the overall story and the themes of the game, so getting Bullet Time right in the multiplayer experience is a huge priority. Bullet Time in multiplayer works via line of sight rather than applying to the whole level, or to a bubble around the player. While Bullet Time is Max’s special ability, it is just one of a range of special abilities  – called Bursts – that you’ll find in multiplayer. Each Burst plays on an aspect of Max Payne 3’s overall themes such as conspiracy, paranoia, heroism, betrayal – and all come into play in our new narrative-based gameplay mode, Gang Wars. You can read more first details about Max Payne 3 multiplayer here  http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1214745p1.htmland we will be revealing much, much more information very soon.

“Hey Rockstar, can you change outfits in MP3?” – denisiscena
“Love the video, can’t wait until Max Payne 3 comes out – can you change the outfits Max wears in the game and how does the weapons wheel work?” – tombstone14

As you play through the story of Max Payne 3, each outfit is contextual to the narrative of what is happening at that level. For example, in the office level, Max is wearing that grey suit as he has a meeting with his new employer, Rodrigo Branco (apparently a quite eventful meeting at that).
As for the Weapon wheel, Max can carry three weapons at all times – two smaller one-handed weapons (like handguns and small automatics) and one larger two-handed weapon (such as an automatic rifle). The Weapon wheel allows you to quickly select between these three weapons. It also allows you to choose to dual wield the two single-handed weapons.

“I’m a big Grand Theft Auto fan, and have extensively played and loved every game in the series, and upon research I came across screenshots and other information about the beta version of GTA III that was given to game testers, and some of the beta cars and features that were removed. Since it’s been long since GTA III was sold at retail and interest is in the IV / V series now, I thought I’d email asking if there was any way I could obtain a copy (at a cost for inconvenience). I realise some things weren’t put in the games for certain legal reasons for the retail copies, and you may be under legal obligation not to let the beta’s out anymore, but no harm in me trying. Hope to hear from you soon :)” – received via Mouthoff

One important thing we should clarify is that the early work-in-progress version of Grand Theft Auto III you’re referring to was not a proper ‘beta’ but an early pre-alpha build that was far from complete or really functional. While it would be a fun thing in theory to be able to pull up and play it to check it out, unfortunately it’s technically not possible. Thank you though for reaching out, it’s certainly been a lot of fun revisiting the days of GTAIII’s development with our long-time fans recently (make sure to check out our 2-part series of fan questions answered about Grand Theft Auto III here).

“When will we know more about #GTAV” – Fash08 (via Twitter)
“When’s the release date for GTA5” – Akiieran (via Twitter)
“Can we expect a 2nd trailer this year for GTAV?” – mats hoi
“Any more news about GTAV on the way, I can’t wait!!!!” – mattoneill1991 (via Twitter)

First of all, we’d like to again thank you and everyone out there for the amazing response to the debut Grand Theft Auto V trailer. We know that there are a ton of questions you all have about the game, including release date and lots else.
Right now, we are very hard at work on the game and are excited as well to show and tell you more as development progresses – expect that we’ll be talking much more about GTAV starting at some point in a few months’ time.
Please hang tight until then and thank you all for your patience and support!

“Rockstar, I really can’t wait for new information about the new GTA. And is it only in Los Santos or too in SF and LV?” – MatsvanStam

As we revealed in our announcement about the game being officially in full development, Grand Theft Auto V is set in the city of Los Santos and its surrounding hills, countryside and beaches – and it will be the largest and most ambitious open world game we’ve ever created…

“Hello, I just purchased L.A. Noire and the extension for GTA (PS3) that includes The Ballad of Gay Tony. Firstly, I must say both are impressive games. L.A. Noire in particular is a work of art. Frankly I’m shocked that any video game company is producing something of this caliber and depth when it would seem that the market tends to reward video game makers for making fluff. One thing that rubbed me just slightly the wrong way was the manner in which the topic of homosexuality was handled in The Ballad of Gay Tony. Make no mistake here, I was not offended by the portrayal of a stereotype – I would be quite the hypocrite to be playing GTA and offended by a social commentary hitting too close to home. Rather I was shocked by something much more subtle: the fact that the main character was unable to dance with the men in the gay bars. GTA allows the player to sleep with and murder hookers, but disallows dancing between two men. This seems to have been an intentional choice on the part of the creators of the game and begs the question: why not?” – received via Mouthoff

Thanks for the feedback. We are pretty confident that Luis can dance with a guy in Hercules. You have to dance well with a girl first, then a guy will come and challenge you, as a way of seeing who is the better dancer. Luis is a heterosexual character. Tony is a gay character. They are best friends and work together. Luis is a vain, psychotic, deluded and somewhat confused mess, but he is not remotely homophobic, nor is he remotely bi-sexual. So he dances with women, but he is comfortable helping to run a gay night club. With all our open world games, we try to provide a range of experiences that fit the character and help develop the character while providing a good range of things to do. So Niko didn’t dance at all, but Luis did, and Jimmy (from Bully) can kiss people but not shoot them, like a normal school boy. Meanwhile, in Red Dead Redemption, John Marston won’t cheat on his wife, or dance, but is happy slaughtering any number of animals.

“Hey R* is there gonna be something more about L.A. Noire?” – Dezpoztomuz

While there won’t be any more DLC or additional content for the current release of L.A. Noire (we’re all too busy working on Max Payne 3, GTAV and other games to come), don’t count out the possibility of a new game in the L.A. Noire franchise in the future. We simply have not decided anything. We’re all very pleased with how that game turned out and are considering what the future may hold for L.A. Noire as a series. We don’t always rush to make sequels, but that does not mean we won’t get to them eventually – see Max and Red Dead for evidence of that – we have so many games we want to make and the issue is always one of bandwidth and timing.