Video: Max Payne 3 gameplay trailer, a lecture on Bullet Time from Rockstar Games

Written by Alex Roth on November 18, 2011

Max Payne 3 News: Max Payne 3's release date of March 2012 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC is steadily approaching. Rockstar's latest video is a lesson in game design.

Want a lecture in designing a shooter from Rockstar games? Then check out the Max Payne 3 video embedded below. Not only is it the longest look we've had at this incredibly stylish shooter in action, there's a very thoughtful commentary about the developer's process of bringing Max to a modern, post-Uncharted audience.

The video shows off four aspects of Max Payne 3's design: targeting and shooting, movement and animation, Bullet Time, and artificial intelligence. Take a look:

There hasn't been a Payne game since 2003's Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Since then, there's been something of a third-person shooter renaissance, so Max has a lot of catching up to do. From the looks of this nearly four minute video, Rockstar seems to be relishing the challenge.

In Rockstar games, the protagonist interacts with the world with supreme realism. From the way Nico Bellic steps up onto the curb, or the way John Marston tumbles down a hill, it's exciting to see this sort of detail technology applied to a character who rolls and dives like Max.

The video is billed as as part of a Уdesign and technology series,Ф suggesting that more videos like this are on the way. Max Payne 3's released date is March 2012, so Rockstar has plenty of time to tease us before then. Gaming Target will keep you up to date as these videos and other updates come out.

Interviews with Rockstar games are usually rare, but the respected developer gave two in the last week. Gamasutra interviewed vice-president Dan Houser , and Gamespot grilled Rockstar on Max Payne 3 .

What do you think of the video? Has Max earned himself a place on your Уmust-playФ list?