captain of america

Publisher releases full details on its upcoming multiplatform Mafia game, due in fall 2005.
When Electronic Arts first revealed it was working on a game adaptation of The Godfather, many gamers felt like it was an offer they could refuse. As with VU Games' Scarface, there was a lot of skepticism on how such an iconic film could be turned into a viable game. Would it feature the likenesses and voices of the film's original cast? Could it be surprising, even though the film's ending is well known?



Until today, EA had let questions about the Godfather linger in an information vacuum worthy of Omerta, the Mafia vow of silence. However, following this morning's article in the Hollywood Reporter, which revealed that the game would feature voice acting by original cast members James Caan, Robert Duvall, and (posthumously) Marlon Brando, the publisher opened up the books on its mob sim.

According to a statement issued by EA late today, the Godfather is set for a fall 2005 release on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSP, and PC. While "the book by Mario Puzo and classic film by Paramount Pictures serve as inspiration for the game," it will also offer up an all-new storyline featuring characters from the film. Players will begin by creating their own character, a low-end hood trying to earn on the mean streets of New York City from 1945 to 1955. After working a series of small-time jobs and earning a modicum of respect, the character will join the storied Corleone family, and interact with figures from the film such as family heir Sonny Corleone (Caan), consigliere Tom Hagen (Duvall), and the capo di tutti capi, Don Vito Corleone (Brando).

The Godfather will feature Grand Theft Auto-style non-linear gameplay, which will "offer gamers countless choices for solving the family’s problems with brutal violence, skillful diplomacy, or a cunning mixture of both," according to EA. Mission types will run the entire criminal gamut, including simple shakedowns, bank robberies, drive-by shootings and high-profile hits. The game will also have a branching plotline a la Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, where "decisions made by the player in the game will have lasting consequences."

"We are incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to bring the fiction of The Godfather to life in a video game," said executive producer David DeMartini. "The Godfather movies raised the standard for cinematic achievement with their high level of drama and intense story telling and in fall 2005 gamers will be able to experience that dangerous and living world of The Godfather for themselves."

The Godfather is being developed internally by EA at its central Redwood Shores studio. Though no rating has been officially announced yet, executives have said it will definitely carry an "M" for Mature rating.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/0...ws_6117725.html

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Kuriboo

EGM's preview of it was cool. The graphics were good also. They also mentioned it coming out on X-box 2.

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Mario's Bitch

nenned

All the screens from the EGM artilce were of the XBOX 2 version. I was impressed with the graphins until I realized they were from a next gen. machine. They would be really good graphics for a curent gen. game, but not too impressive for a next gen. game. Don't really see the purpose of updating consoles if thats the difference we can expect to see.

Phlogistic

New plotline? Alarm bells are ringing in my head.

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1day

Are you seriously serious about that because I don't remember hearing about that ('course, I didn't read the EGM but they might be wrong)?

Imp

It's on the first page of it.

nenned

Yes, I'm sure:

"In fact, all the screens in this feature are from what's clled a "gameplay target demo" of the XBOX 2 version...Long story short: the Godfather should look like this on XBOX 2."- EGM #189 p.98

Nin10do

That's basically what Nintendo has been trying to say this generation. If it was up to them the GCN would be the last machine they make but in order to compete they have to release a new console. Nintendo believes that graphics will not get much better and I think they are right. They will surely look better but I don't think the jump will be as dramatic as 8bit -> 16bit -> 32bit -> 128bit was. These Godfather screens look great but are not a great watermark for what to look forward to.

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Pojo

The graphics in the Godfather on the Xbox 2 are nowhere near what that Gears of War game looks like. I guarantee The Godfather will look far better, or at the very least, will end up being the uglies launch game on the Xbox 2.

...either that or the Xbox 2 will have vastly inferior graphics. I hope Microsoft rushes this thing. >: )

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1day

Then it's extremely unimpressive considering the screens I've seen of Elder Scrolls 4 which undoubtably has a much larger world as well.