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advertisement Under the swirl of Francis Ford Coppola’s disapproval, it seems EA’s Godfather The Game launched to retail on the 21st without much of a hitch. According to GameIndustry.biz Coppola stated, "They use the characters everyone knows, and they hire those actors to be there, and only to introduce minor characters. And then for the next hour they shoot and kill each other," he said. "I had absolutely nothing to do with the game and I disapprove. I think it's a misuse of film." - http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7920 As a fan of the movies, I was going into the game with a sort of pissed off attitude worthy of Coppola’s campaign. Regardless of my most biased intentions, I have to admit that, once the game got immersive, albeit less immersive than say, GTA or any other best-selling car/shooter/expansive adventure game, I had a bit of a blast (pardon the pun), playing the old characters and hearing voices I recognized. I think this is one of those games you would want to call a guilty pleasure. It’s not phenomenal in terms of technology or graphics (although everything is pretty smooth with typical glittery E.A. game quality), but it is just plain fun, especially when you’re “manhandling” a character to get them to give up information. This feature is similar to most truly interactive games that give you the chance to have cause and affect world physics of your own design. Having played the game and liked it, I figure I’ll go to Coppola Hell for giving it a big ‘ol thumbs up. Oh well. I treat myself to a bad-good-game every so often and this was one of those times. If you like games like Hitman, GTA, Splinter Cell, etc. where good old-fashioned killing and interaction with characters and objects make the game fun, you’d probably like Godfather The Game, regardless of your loyalties to the movies. JIVE Magazine Rating: 4 out of 5 "contracts" out on me for liking it Release Information: "The Godfather is one of the most exciting, dramatic and memorable works of fiction in the world; for the videogame, we felt it was important to build a complex and responsive open-world that puts you in the heart of the action," said David DeMartini Executive Producer of The Godfather The Game. "The deeper you are into the experience the better the game gets," DeMartini added. The Game will also be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and PSP (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system later in 2006. EA’s The Godfather The Game puts you at the center of one of the world's most revered stories. In the role of a young man just entering the Corleone family, you create your own mob character and work your way to the top. For the first time ever, you will go beyond the films and book to actually step into the living world of The Godfather fiction throughout 1940s New York City. You will work your way up the mob ranks your own way, choosing just how much force to use as you rise to power. More information about the game is available at www.info.ea.com or the game's homepage at www.godfather.ea.com. The game is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. Key Game Details: * The world of The Godfather: Experience a decade of violence in New York City from 1945-55. * Classic Film Moments: Non-linear action adventure gameplay with missions direct from the film and original missions with characters from film provides an experience for all types of gamers. * Put yourself in the Godfather: Players will create their own mobster and put themselves in the action of the game and experience the fiction of The Godfather. * Respect and Consequences: Players will use their powers of loyalty and fear to earn respect throughout New York City. Decisions made by the player in the game will have lasting consequences. * Persistent world: Your character will interact freely with other characters in the world. Depending on your needs in the game and how you choose to play the game, by violent or intimidating means or respectful or negotiating means, the characters in the world will remember your interactions with them and your interactions will affect the outcome of the game. * Compete for New York: The control of New York will be challenged by the five families from the fiction including the Corleone, Tattaglia, Cuneo, Barzini and Stracci families. * Mark Winegardner, author of the novel Godfather Returns, is providing story editing and fiction insight. * Wield the Power of the BlackHand: To rise through the ranks of the Family, you have to know how to get what you want out of people. In The Godfather The Game, you do this through BlackHand Control.The innovative BlackHand control system gives you many ways to interact with characters in the game. If someone has something you want, you can negotiate with them. If they don’t want to do business with you, you have many ways to intimidate them. And, if they still don’t see things your way, you can eliminate them.One of the best features of BlackHand Control is that you have the ability to push only as far as necessary to get what you want. You can talk to people, grab them, shove them, throw them through windows, beat them to a pulp, and even strangle them to within an inch of their life. You always have the option of pushing farther than necessary—but remember what happened to the overzealous Sonny Corleone at the tollbooth. Q & A with the Game Designer 1 – Name, Title, Duties John Calhoun, Game Designer 2 – Please tell us how the New York City police force plays a role in The Godfather The Game. The police are the “third pillar” of power in the Godfather game, alongside the Corleones and the four enemy families. Their role is simple – enforce the law, and keep peace on the streets. If your character starts busting up shops, starting fires, stealing cars, or attacking civilians, expect the cops to react quickly. Violent acts will earn you “heat points,” which slowly steps up the police presence. At low levels, you may notice the occasional beat cop, but eventually you’ll start seeing regular patrols and increased security in front of banks, all the way up to massive police chases and roadblocks. However, the cops will also crack down on your rivals (if they’re acting up), so there’s always a chance that they’ll lend you a hand instead of throw you in prison.
Everyone has a price; the cops are no exception. If you’re looking to buy some cooperation from the law, just keep you eyes and ears open around an officer. If he’s willing to be bribed, he’ll let you know. Of course, a dirty cop won’t do business with you if you’re waving a gun around in public, so it’s a good idea to hit the streets incognito – keep your weapons hidden, and your reputation clean. Once you find a corrupt cop, just talk to him to offer a bribe. If you’re having trouble locating some help, head over to the local precinct; the police chief is always on duty, although he’s the most expensive officer to negotiate with!
The absolute rookies – the ones you’ll be dealing with early in the game – are the beat cops. They put up a good fight, but they shouldn’t be too difficult once you become a made man. (They’re also the cheapest to bribe.) The sergeants are another matter; once these guys show up on the scene, it’s a good idea to lay low and find a safe house. They pack the toughest weapons, and are relentless in pursuits. Finally, each neighborhood is run by a police chief. He never leaves the station, but has influence over all the cops in his jurisdiction. If you find the chief and bribe him, he’ll put the word out to his men to give you a wide berth. As for the FBI, they’re out there, but their role is a little bit more – clandestine…
Obviously, the most important goal was to follow the look established in the Godfather movies. The characters, uniforms, and vehicles that our artists created were fashioned after the ones seen in the first film. We started with Sergeant McCluskey, a cop from the movie who works for Sollozzo and Bruno Tattaglia. When our artists were satisfied with McCluskey’s appearance, we used his look to design other cop models with a similar aesthetic. The cop cars look exactly like the ones from the film, too. As for the “voice” of our NYPD – the things they say were inspired by our team’s favorite crime films and TV shows!
Actually, the G-men (FBI) have an interesting role in the Godfather game. In the movies, the FBI didn’t actively chase down gangsters – that’s a job for the police. Instead, they were involved with spying on the mob, gathering evidence, and building a case to bring down an entire family at once. The good news is that the FBI is working against all families, not just the Corleones. In the game, you can use this to your advantage by finding and bribing a G-man. This causes the FBI to turn up the pressure on your rivals, effectively forcing them into hiding. This can be a good way to manage your vendetta levels, and to resolve a mob war with an enemy family. Also check out The EA Podcast: The Godfather™ The Game at http://www.ea.com/podcast.jsp |
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