“Bosses” in Mafia 2?!


July 31, 2008

When we will discuss all the screenshots / scans from Mafia 2, which circulating on the internet, you you can notice, that no gangster onto the screenshot isn´t much differ from other gangsters and not particularly doesn´t stick. By pedestrians, who you can meet on the street, it doesn´t pass. The pedestrians are various and almost never happens, it would have been the scene two as clothing, or even just looking people. But with the gangsters it’s different. All enemy gangsters are similar. You know gangster pursuant to characteristic of clothing (black coat or jacket and hat … Of course is more clothes with some characteristics, but I don´t need to write it out there) and, of course the weapons. Gangsters are something like policemen … also they have their “uniforms”, pursuant to you distinguish them from the other people. However, thei aren´t monotonous … one is thick, the other is thin, one has a hat, the other not, one has black jacket, the second long coat … But if we find gangster on the screenshot, he is substantially differ from the other gangsters on the scene, it means that it is an important person or a so-called “boss”. What is, for example, weapons subdealer or any high positron member from enemy family. In Mafia 1, for example, it was Morello and his brother. Or procurators son and the son of councillor, who Tommy destroy funerál later, I can remember on teh other, but it doesn´t belong there … This is I just try to say, that bosses are an integral part of the each game.

This is the case of several screenshots (1, 2, 3, 4), on which can be seen hairless gangster (further only the boss) in a white suit. At first screenshot we can see boss in back part of the room (firts picture). On the other screenshot, from the same bar, we can see the boss sitting on a chair and on the table in front of him he has deferred a glass of red wine (second picture). The next screenshot is from the car chase, in which slightly hindered itself a Vitos car and a car, from which shoots known boss (third picture). On the last screenshot, that boss shoots at Vito, which is hiding behind the red car (fourth picture). There are only speculation, but according to me at the 80% it´s a no less important figure of game and probably he will act as well as one of game “boss”. So by one because, that the Mafia 2 will have about 10 times more incidents, than any film, as claimed Dan Vávra in some interview. I hope that I don´t interfere and that you share my opinion. :)


No presentation of Mafia 2 on E3


July 28, 2008

Presentation of Mafia 2 at the Los Angeles E3 on Wednesday 16.5. passed over behind closed doors and only for selected journalists. I´m really wondering what happened behind the closed doors of presentation room. Maybe it´s possible, that were presented, for example, the new screenshots and till now unknown informations, or even the in-game shots? We don´t find it out now, so we’ll have to watt, if some information get wind. For an individual patient will be there the end of the month, when the game is part of some magazines, as is the practice reveal many details of the completed E3.

Edit: However, we know that at E3 wasn´t even a small planned presentation behind closed doors … that´s a pity. :(

Analysis of 4 scans


July 28, 2008

The next analysis is related to four svane, which won´t be state in HD version. Scane are from LEVEL magazine and Gamereactor.

1. Joe, who is hiding behind the car and taking aim at panzer. Joe has german tommy gun MP40, which you can known from military games, like Call of Duty or Medal of honor

2. Vito running to the car.

3. Probably Henry Tomasino, like Joe, shooting on the panter too.

4. Policeman felt a victim of three gangsters.

5. There the authors show up the model of damage. The car with smashed roof and hood, looks really good.

6. Driver, after sight a gun battle, he pluck drive for a fear.

7. Navigation schedule.

8. Panzer, which transport ether plenty of money or something very important for mafians.

9. Church – maybe there will be enacted one of the most brutal mission, like in Mafia 1


Interview with LUBOMIR DYKAST- LEAD MISSION DESIGNER


July 23, 2008

After four weeks has appeared an update on the official websites. Elizabeth works up for us not long, but little bit interesting interview with Lubomír Dykast – LEAD MISSION DESIGNER. From the interview we can know what´s precluding production of a mission and further informations, but those you can read in the interview.

As a lead mission designer, what is your mission at 2K Czech? My main responsibility is to ensure that the final look of all the missions of Mafia 2 is as best as possible. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to stick to fixed regulations and, if possible, try to reach all the goals that have been set. In practice this means that I am primarily in charge of assigning tasks to each of the designers from my section, and I also need to make sure the first drafts they create can be used and look as best as possible. Naturally, I take care of what the missions should look like concerning both visual and gameplay aspects. In case any problems emerge, I try to resolve them immediately so that the time spent on production is as effectively used as possible and that the things do not have to be reworked several times. If something is unclear, I immediately go discuss it with my seniors, mainly with Pavel Brzák – the lead designer – and Petr Mikša – the game producer.

When you sit down to create a new mission for Mafia II, what are the first things that run through your head when designing that mission? First, it is very important to create a list of actions and game mechanisms I would like to use in the given mission. It is crucial to count from the very beginning on using an interactive environment and consider the designed level a unique thing which should attract current modern players (create a diverse environment, try to have some dominant thing in each level, have an animated environment etc).

Next, I need to prepare references and materials in order to create game sketches; in this phase, it is necessary to collect as many photos and film clips as possible as references for the designed location. Then, I create a rough sketch, i.e. a very simple game map including only basic geometry; now, it is good to use art workers and their visions. The last thing to do is to produce a game 3D sketch, which is a rough model containing only a few textures, basic lighting, and several simple scripts necessary to test the primary gameplay. Now, from the perspective of design, the mission should be ready for graphic production. If all this passes through the process of approval, then the 3D sketch goes to the graphic team whose members then only deal with creation of graphics and do not have to invent the game, as it usual in other development teams.


Analysis of next 3 screens from cynamite.de


July 17, 2008

Some moment after the last analysis of three older screenshots, which appeared on the server cynamite.de, here I supplied 3 remaining screenshots. I’ve tried to dismantle it in more details. If you find any inaccuracy or any overlooked thing, write the article under comments.

1) Stricken gangster very realistically falls to the ground and his blood dirty billboard behind him, while the already dead gangster lie next to him. 2) Vito lurking (not cover) behind the blue car. 3) Advertising banners supplying the city atmosphere and you can find them at every step. 4) Spooked ladies fleeing from the place of shooting. 5) In the great afar you can see a skyscraper (the distance I average on a few kilometers), from that I presume that in Mafia 2 will be display distance at least 2 to 3 kilometers. 6) A very meticulous detail “dirt” on the streets really amaze everyone.


Take-two conference on E3


July 17, 2008

Yesterday evening around 8:00 pm GMT the company Take-Two had conference at the ongoing E3 game exhibition in Los Angeles. At the conference Take-Two demonstrate titles, which plans presently put on the market. This is the yearly published titles from the 2K Sports such as NHL 2K9, NBA 2K9. 2K Sports plan to complete transposition of NHL 2K9, that the game wasn´t too complicated. Of course it will be a hockey simulation, with an emphasis on detail. For example, when fans will be satisfied with the performance of his team, they begin to throw various objects on the ice. When bottle of beer falls on the ice, the bottle break to pieces and the ice is full of cullet (referee stops the game and carry out the cleaning ice surfaces). Nice also sounds the celebration of winning the Stanley Cup, which you can celebrante with your team until dawn. For you information NBA is the best selling sports game of this company (more than NBA Live). At the conference was also discussed the Civilization: Revolution (X360/PS3), which is tensile strategy with many famous historical personalities from all over the world, it just go to the shops. There were also expected official notification from last year’s event BioShock for Xbox 360 and PC, which should come in the autumn on PS3. Presented was also post apocalyptical action Borderlands with a lot of action in the interiors and exteriors, and especially with very detailed graphics. In addition, journalists were presented Mafia 2, but it was only a minor presentation behind closed doors. Nothing more detailed about the presentation Mafie 2 don´t already know.


Analyses of 3 older screens


July 15, 2008

After long time I decided to do further analysis of screenshots. I´ve choose 3 pictures, what published the server cynamite.de.

1) Two real Empire building and Chrisler skyscrapers. 2) Taxi maybe it will be used to transfer certain place. 3) Notice a realtime shadow. 4) Licence number: AAAAA – in the game will arbitrarily change the signs, so you don´t have to worry about that all cars have the same licence number. 5) Scared womens face is the detail, but overall it will improve the atmosphere of the game.


Mafia 2 on Maxcon 2008


July 15, 2008

Last weekend in Prague was conference about graphics Maxcon 2008, which already sets up the fourth year www.maxarea.com server. At the conference speaks people from the 2K Czech, namely Roman Hladík and Martin Zavřel. Martin Zavřel present the 2K Czech company and left word to Roman Hladík, who analyse used graphic technology of interior and exterior Mafia 2.

Video from conference


2K on Electronic Entertainment Expo


July 4, 2008

Server IGN published a list of games that will appear on the E3.2K Games will introduce only Bioshock for Playstation 3, Borderlans and Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Colonization. Mafia Two unfortunately wasn’t between them. We have to wait for the GC ( Games Convetion ) on which, I hope, will  Mafia 2 appear as well as the last year.

source: ign.com


Again 2 new artworks


July 3, 2008

In the short period 2K Czech issues the other sketches from Mafia 2. On the first sketch you can see some guy, who shoots from the cars window (probably onto hounding car). The second sketch is less action, we can see in it some guys, who off-loads content of a truck. Even now  we are looking forward to further update of the official web site.

PS: Man in the yellow shirt on the second sketch reminds me Joe a little bit.