Just got word from Rockstar that “L.A. Noire,” their much-balleyhooed revival of the Sam Spade procedural, has been made an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival. Apparently, attendees will be treated to a “live interactive screening of a case,” so in other words you’ll play a level from the game. In the history of video games trying to walk, quack, and flap their wings like a movie, this is perhaps the most ambitious identity crisis yet. I think it’s cool that Tribeca is going to acknowledge a game, but I’m a little spooked by how the press release re-jiggers the language, apparently on a mission to keep you from confusing “L.A. Noire” with, you know, a video game. No no no, they seem to say, it’s an “interactive entertainment.” Of course. How could I have been so foolish?
Hit the jump to read the press release for yourselves:
Rockstar Games’ Crime Thriller L.A. Noire Honored as Official Selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival
Groundbreaking title is the first video game ever to be selected at world-renowned film festival
New York, NY – March 29, 2011 – Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), and Team Bondi Pty. Ltd. are excited to announce that L.A. Noire has been honored as an Official Selection at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. The selection marks the first time ever that a video game has been recognized by the festival.
“We’re thrilled that L.A. Noire is being recognized by the Tribeca Film Festival in this way,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “It’s a real honor, and another step forward for interactive entertainment.”
Rockstar Games will also present an exclusive preview of L.A. Noire as part of the Tribeca Talks series, taking place on April 25, 2011. The presentation will feature a live interactive screening of a case from L.A. Noire, followed by a Q&A exploring the crossover between filmmaking and interactive entertainment. The Q&A will focus on the making of L.A. Noire, the technology behind it, and story and action in this medium, and will be moderated by Geoff Gilmore, Tribeca Enterprises’ Chief Creative Officer.
“What Rockstar and Team Bondi have accomplished with L.A. Noire is nothing less than groundbreaking,” added Gilmore. “It’s an invention of a new realm of storytelling that is part cinema, part gaming, and a whole new realm of narrative expression, interactivity, and immersion. We are poised on the edge of a new frontier.”
About L.A. Noire
Produced and developed by Rockstar Games and Team Bondi, L.A. Noire is a violent crime thriller that blends breathtaking action with true detective work to deliver an unprecedented interactive experience. Following the story of a young detective’s rise to prominence in the LAPD, L.A. Noire lets players solve complex, historically-inspired crimes in a beautifully-recreated and fully-interactive rendition of 1947 Los Angeles. Interrogate witnesses, search for clues, and chase down suspects as you struggle to find the truth in a city where everyone has something to hide. L.A. Noire is expected to launch on both the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on May 17, 2011 in North America and May 20, 2011 in Europe.
6 Comments
I just hope the LA traffic is true to life too!
I think that’s what we’re ALL looking forward to.
i think it’s cool and something not to be feared. i feel like in this game a video game is being treated “with respect” by the movie establishment, rather than it being a video game desperately leg-humping the movie industry.
i think this is the most respect ever afforded a video game by the movie biz/critics powers-that-be. im curious to see how it goes over with them. will they all be nose-up-in-the-air lameos like ebert, or will they finally be forced to admit that video games are worthy of “serious” attention?
whoops, “in this case”, not “in this game”. my b.
I am torn on this one, to be honest. It is great that Video Games are getting respect, but are the games misrepresenting themselves to get this respect? I think there’s always some sort of reference to the older, more established medium, but are we going to hear “the movie is better than the game” the same way people say that “the book is better than the movie?”
Games are different, the same way comics are different from movies and books, and they should be respected for what they are. By that token, though, I firmly believe that video games are art. All games aren’t high art, the same way movies aren’t… as Mr. Blart the mall cop will attest, but there are games that are truly great pieces of art that use the tools of the medium to its fullest extent. Whether it be great gameplay, graphics, story, sound, or simply fun factor games kick ass.
What Break said.