2K Games and developer 2K Czech have released some brand new information on Mafia II, their upcoming sequel scheduled to hit the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this Autumn. You play as an Italian American named Vito, the son of a poor immigrant who’s trying to live the American dream. So Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, turn to the life of organized crime, thus entering the Mafia.
They’ve released a new trailer of the game as well which is actually an extended trailer from the video originally shown at the Spike VGAs. 2K Czech has confirmed that everything in the trailer is displayed in real-time, as they’ve received several e-mails asking about that. The trailer’s pretty amazing. Take a look below. We have two new screenshots in our gallery as well.
They’ve also released a letter along with it, addressing the trailer:
Hi my name is Tomas Hrebicek, Lead Animator at 2K Czech, and I’m here to give you an overview of the Mafia II trailer that you are about to experience.
We’ve been receiving a lot of questions about whether or not the trailer was real-time and I’m here to clear the air. It really was. All the scenes were completely created in our editor the same way we create cutscenes for the game. Our cutscene editor is a very powerful tool. Besides, we can see it all real-time which makes our work a lot easier. There was absolutely no need to modify the resulting video in the postproduction.
Because everything was created solely in our editor, only our in-game scenes and models were used. So what you see here is great representation of the quality of work that you will see throughout Mafia II. Of course, this is not the end yet, and frame rate and other technical issues are still being tweaked in order to have the game working smoothly on all the platforms we create it for.
The common theme found in the trailer is the same common theme found throughout the entirety of Mafia II; strong interpersonal relationships. Of course, when playing you will experience all kinds of shootouts, car chases, and fights, but what I think is the most important is to identify yourselves with the main character and those close to him. Every single thing you do in the game causes a corresponding reaction. And it is only up to you what you do.
In the trailer, the relations are hinted at in the church sequence. However, we would not really like to reveal any more important facts; you have to experience it yourself with Vito from the beginning to the end.
I would like to emphasize that the game has a very dark humorous side to it. It definitely is not a superficial comedy. The story as such is quite varied so you could look forward also to a true, mafia atmosphere and strong emotions of all kinds. I can’t wait to see the first players actually play it.
I’m very excited to see the reaction of this trailer. Over the coming months, you will have plenty to look forward to in the way of Mafia II. In the meantime, please enjoy this trailer and look forward to more in-depth behind-the-scenes coverage next week!
And finally, the fact sheet can be seen below.
Mafia® II
Title: Mafia® II
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: 2K Czech
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows®
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: Fall 2009
Web Site: http://www.2kgames.com/mafia2/home.htmlProduct Overview:
From the developers of the award-winning Mafia comes Mafia II, a beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mob. Expanding upon the original hit that captivated more than 2 million gamers around the world, 2K Czech takes players deeper into the Mafia with a mature and exciting experience that will immerse players like never before.
Powered by 2K Czech’s next-generation engine built specifically for Mafia II, players will experience the true evolution of the Mob game that defined a genre. Gunfights, hand-to-hand combat and vehicular exploration feature new depth and dimension that allow players to experience the world of Mafia II in a way that will keep them coming back for more.
Storyline:
Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian American who is trying to secure his piece of the American Dream. Looking to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood, Vito is soon swayed by the lure of power and wealth that a life of Organized Crime can bring.
A petty criminal his whole life, Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, will descend into the world of Organized Crime. Together, they will work to prove themselves to the Mob as they try to make their names on the streets of a cold and unforgiving city.
Features:
â— Gangster-Movie Experience: Through strong, authentic characterization and compelling narrative, the mature storyline will make you understand the pull and impossible escape of life in the Mob
• Action-Packed Gameplay: Take part in heart-stopping car-to-car gunfights, white-knuckled hand-to-hand combat and intense gunplay, all of which come together to form an intense and exciting experience
• All-New Engine Powers the Next Generation of Mob Videogames: 2K Czech’s next-generation engine, allows gamers to travel from beautifully rendered outdoor environments to intricately designed interiors seamlessly without the need for loading times
• Authentic Script From the Writer of Mafia I: The writing team from Mafia I returns to deliver another powerhouse script that portrays a stunning tale of survival, camaraderie and the pitfalls of pursuing the American Dream
• Music as Environment: Players will be immersed in the Golden Era of America as Mafia II features tracks from some of the era’s most influential artists