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Agent (video game)
Encyclopedia
Agent is a video game currently in development by Rockstar North
for the PlayStation 3
. Sony
announced that Rockstar was working on a new franchise for the PlayStation 3 in July 2007, but details of the project, including its title, were not announced until June 2009 during the Sony press conference at E3
.
The game is set during the Cold War
and will take players into "the world of counter-intelligence, espionage and political assassinations", according to a Rockstar press release. Rockstar has yet to reveal any details regarding the setting for the title other than the fact that it will be set in the late 1970s.
we've agreed to the PlayStation exclusive rights of the next great franchise from the Rockstar studios." Nothing whatsoever was revealed about the new franchise except the clarification that it would not be L.A. Noire
. According to Shorrock, "Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3." He also said that the reason Sony locked the IP down as an exclusive deal was because it believed that it would "set the bar for the rest of the industry."
Details of the project, including its title, were not announced until June 2009 during the Sony press conference at E3
. "We have always enjoyed making action games, and with Agent we are making what we believe will be the ultimate action game," said Sam Houser, Rockstar's founder. "Agent is a game we have wanted to make for a long time. The team in Edinburgh is doing an amazing job combining intense action, atmosphere, and story in a great period setting to create something that feels quite unique. We cannot wait for people to experience this game."
Ben Feder, president of Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive, believes the game could achieve the same level of success as the Grand Theft Auto series, given that its development is being overseen by Rockstar Games founders Sam and Dan Houser. Speaking with GameSpot on the E3 2009 show floor, Feder explained the decision to develop the game solely for Sony's console. "The trade-offs a publisher will typically make is, if you're platform-agnostic, you get a larger installed base," he said. "You're platform exclusive when you get the right kind of support from first parties." Take-Two believes Sony will offer the same kind of support that made Grand Theft Auto III
, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
--all initially PlayStation 2 exclusives--three of the top 10 selling games of all time. Feder said, "At this phase in the cycle, when you're trying to launch a new franchise, exclusivity can really help you launch the franchise. It can give you the kind of platform that you need to start exclusive, start in the right kind of way with the right kind of partner. Exclusivity does work."
On 3 March 2010, Take-Two
confirmed that, Agent is still in the development stages. Again, on 24 May 2011, nearly after two years when it was announced at E3 2009, Take-Two confirmed that Agent is still in active development. During a fiscal earnings conference call, Take-Two's chief operating officer Karl Slatoff answered a listener’s question about Agent saying that it is indeed still in development, even though it is never been seen by the public.
When asked about the exclusivity of Agent at E3 2011
, Sony Computer Entertainment of America CEO Jack Tretton said that he was unsure and that it was a decision for Rockstar Games to make, stating that "The guys are great partners of ours. Agent is still in development…but I’m not sure exactly where we’ll land on that, that’s more something for Rockstar to decide, but I’m sure we’ll have a great offering on Agent for PS3".
On 15 August 2011, Leigh Donoghue, a former Rockstar North environmental artist who worked on Grand Theft Auto IV
and Agent posted the first images of Agent in his online CV. The shots show a character as well as various indoor environments from the game. Both of the images clearly mention that they were made in the year 2009.
Rockstar North
Rockstar North is a British video game developer based in Edinburgh, Scotland, best known for creating the Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings franchises in its earlier guise as DMA....
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
announced that Rockstar was working on a new franchise for the PlayStation 3 in July 2007, but details of the project, including its title, were not announced until June 2009 during the Sony press conference at E3
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009, commonly known as the E3 2009, was the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. The event took place on June 2, 3, and 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment...
.
The game is set during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and will take players into "the world of counter-intelligence, espionage and political assassinations", according to a Rockstar press release. Rockstar has yet to reveal any details regarding the setting for the title other than the fact that it will be set in the late 1970s.
Development
Sony announced that Rockstar was working on a new franchise for the PlayStation 3 in July 2007. SCEA's director of third-party relations, Michael Shorrock, wrote on the official US PlayStation blog, "As part of our long standing relationship with Rockstar, and the incredible success for both companies with the cultural icon that is Grand Theft AutoGrand Theft Auto (series)
Grand Theft Auto is a multi-award-winning British video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Edinburgh based Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games...
we've agreed to the PlayStation exclusive rights of the next great franchise from the Rockstar studios." Nothing whatsoever was revealed about the new franchise except the clarification that it would not be L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is a 2011 crime video game developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games. It was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows. It was released as a 3-disc game for the Xbox 360 console, which prompts the player to switch to another disc at certain points in the...
. According to Shorrock, "Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3." He also said that the reason Sony locked the IP down as an exclusive deal was because it believed that it would "set the bar for the rest of the industry."
Details of the project, including its title, were not announced until June 2009 during the Sony press conference at E3
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009, commonly known as the E3 2009, was the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. The event took place on June 2, 3, and 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment...
. "We have always enjoyed making action games, and with Agent we are making what we believe will be the ultimate action game," said Sam Houser, Rockstar's founder. "Agent is a game we have wanted to make for a long time. The team in Edinburgh is doing an amazing job combining intense action, atmosphere, and story in a great period setting to create something that feels quite unique. We cannot wait for people to experience this game."
Ben Feder, president of Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive, believes the game could achieve the same level of success as the Grand Theft Auto series, given that its development is being overseen by Rockstar Games founders Sam and Dan Houser. Speaking with GameSpot on the E3 2009 show floor, Feder explained the decision to develop the game solely for Sony's console. "The trade-offs a publisher will typically make is, if you're platform-agnostic, you get a larger installed base," he said. "You're platform exclusive when you get the right kind of support from first parties." Take-Two believes Sony will offer the same kind of support that made Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 open world action computer and video game developed by DMA Design in the United Kingdom, and published by Rockstar Games. It is the first 3D title in the Grand Theft Auto series. It was released in October 2001 for the PlayStation 2, May 2002 for Microsoft Windows,...
, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 open world action computer and video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the second 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise and sixth original title overall...
, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
--all initially PlayStation 2 exclusives--three of the top 10 selling games of all time. Feder said, "At this phase in the cycle, when you're trying to launch a new franchise, exclusivity can really help you launch the franchise. It can give you the kind of platform that you need to start exclusive, start in the right kind of way with the right kind of partner. Exclusivity does work."
On 3 March 2010, Take-Two
Take-Two Interactive
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a major American publisher, developer, and distributor of video games and video game peripherals. Take-Two wholly owns 2K Games and Rockstar Games. The company's headquarters are in New York City, with international headquarters in Windsor, United Kingdom...
confirmed that, Agent is still in the development stages. Again, on 24 May 2011, nearly after two years when it was announced at E3 2009, Take-Two confirmed that Agent is still in active development. During a fiscal earnings conference call, Take-Two's chief operating officer Karl Slatoff answered a listener’s question about Agent saying that it is indeed still in development, even though it is never been seen by the public.
When asked about the exclusivity of Agent at E3 2011
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011, commonly known as E3 2011, was the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment Software Association . The event took place June 7–9, 2011 at the Los Angeles...
, Sony Computer Entertainment of America CEO Jack Tretton said that he was unsure and that it was a decision for Rockstar Games to make, stating that "The guys are great partners of ours. Agent is still in development…but I’m not sure exactly where we’ll land on that, that’s more something for Rockstar to decide, but I’m sure we’ll have a great offering on Agent for PS3".
On 15 August 2011, Leigh Donoghue, a former Rockstar North environmental artist who worked on Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
and Agent posted the first images of Agent in his online CV. The shots show a character as well as various indoor environments from the game. Both of the images clearly mention that they were made in the year 2009.