Red Dead Redemption

[GoblinWhirlwind]

I can't wait for this... it's gonna be one of my top favorites of 2010.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Rather strange article I encountered about the game's development and developers

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/sources-red-dead-redemption-development-in-trouble/

When we recently spoke with our trusted sources from Rockstar San Diego, in addition to yesterday's information regarding the Midnight Club franchise, we were also told about the allegedly troubled state of Red Dead Redemption. One source said that the game "was a complete disaster for most of 2009 and previous ... it has since turned around a little bit, but there are huge problems with it still." Unsurprisingly, the issues with the game are repeatedly claimed to be the result of mismanagement -- along the same lines as what was mentioned in the recent "Rockstar spouse" letter.

"Red Dead [Redemption] has been in production for six years (mainly because of horrible management/lack of direction due to fear of disrespecting Rockstar NY) and it will never get the money back in sales it cost to create for those six years," claimed another source.

We asked Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter to estimate how many copies he thinks Red Dead Redemption needs to sell to make back its development costs and, more importantly for Take-Two, to be profitable. "I'd say realistically, if everybody [at Rockstar San Diego] was working on it this whole time -- so let's assume it's four years to be fair [Red Dead Revolver was released in March 2004], that's $40 million (about $10 million a year to run the studio) -- to make that back and just break even you need at least $80 million in sales; 1.75 million units. For profit: $160 million/3.5 million units."

Pachter added that "it's got a shot" and that, from what he's seen of the game, "it looks phenomenal." Our sources are less hopeful, unfortunately: "The functional team that was Midnight Club was shattered. All the people who didn't quit or get fired were thrown onto Red Dead Redemption, many of them being demoted. The completely disfunctional team that is RDR was put to top priority. The people who had floundered on that project or outright screwed it up were promoted and are now in complete control of the studio, and they're running it into the ground." We'll have to see when the game arrives in stores this April -- if it does.

We contacted Rockstar for comment on this story and have yet to hear back as of publishing.

Update: We were contacted regarding this story by one Rockstar source, who told us: "It will take 5 million sales at full price to recoup the development costs of Red Dead. The good news is they [Rockstar] are not expecting to make money with Red Dead Redemption. At this point, that project is just supposed to prove that the San Diego studio can make a great quality AAA title." If you'd like to contact us regarding this or other stories surrounding the "Rockstar spouse" letter, we'd love to hear from you.

 

[Slick]

I just saw the RDR series introduction video on IGN. My god I need this game now. I can't believe we have so many great games coming out so early in the year. It kinda makes me wonder what games are coming out in the fall.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Rather strange article I encountered about the game's development and developers

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/12/sources-red-dead-redemption-development-in-trouble/

Yeesh, well I hope it does turn out good. It looks fantastic and I'm looking forward to it.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Yeesh, well I hope it does turn out good. It looks fantastic and I'm looking forward to it.

Yea that doesnt sound good at all. Like you, im really looking forward to this so i hope it turns out at least decent.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

New vid in the Gameplay Series: Weapons and Death

http://www.rockstargames.com/reddeadredemption/

 

[XxDelta09xX]

^Everytime I see a new trailer for this game I want to play it more and more.

 

[Storm22]

Looks beautiful! Can't wait.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/106/1063311p1.html


Hands on preview.

 

[nite-owl]

The game reminds me of Sam Peckinpahs westerns.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Hopefully the inevitable Collector's Edition will have some horse manure and a live rattlesnake inside the tin!

John Marston takes Manhattan, corner of Canal and Greene.

 

[XxDelta09xX]

^That's Awesome.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Rockstar loves putting posters on the building.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

From the looks of that thing, it's more like Rockstar loves wrapping buildings in posters. It's f***ing huge!

 

[Kahoot]

I love how it looks like half a building that's been sliced in two to reveal the innards that just so happen to look like the Red Dead Redemption poster. That building is weirdly skinny.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Wow that really cool.

Also, dont know if any of you are aware, but Gamestop is letting you vote on which outfit you'd like for the Gamestop exclusive preorder bonus. Head here to vote:

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/rdrvote/default.aspx

 

[ProjectPat2280]

edit

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Here's the list of preorder incentives:

http://www.rockstargames.com/reddeadredemption/preorder

 

[Whiskey Tango]

New video featuring the lawmen of Red Dead Redemption:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-the-red-dead/61798

 

[XxDelta09xX]

^That trailer was Awesome they are some pretty evil lawmen for being lawmen.

 

[Michael Frost]

In the Old West Lawmen had to be just as though as the criminals or else they wouldn't have a grip on the people who roam free.

This game looks perfect and I'm really sad that they aren't releasing a PC version...

 

[ProjectPat2280]

In the Old West Lawmen had to be just as though as the criminals or else they wouldn't have a grip on the people who roam free.

This game looks perfect and I'm really sad that they aren't releasing a PC version...

Im sure itll get ported to the PC. GTA IV did.

 

[Bad Superman]

Hopefully the inevitable Collector's Edition will have some horse manure and a live rattlesnake inside the tin!

John Marston takes Manhattan, corner of Canal and Greene.

That's awesome. I wish Gun would release their rumored sequel.

Im sure itll get ported to the PC. GTA IV did.

Yeeeeehhh!!!

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Well, the word was they were going to market this game on a GTA-level.

I'd like a CE, but it might be too late to set one up I think.

And yeah, far as I know...the old West was far too harsh a place for having lawmen who were afraid of getting they're hands dirty.

 

[Holiday]

I've heard that just the regular town folks were much tougher in those days, and that it wasn't uncommon for a group of outlaws to be run out of town by them instead of the lawmen.