Rockstar to release a crime thriller anthology setting the scene for L.A. Noire

By Ryan Fleming Published May 3, 2011

When it comes to cross-promotion, Rockstar Games is on the ball. Although perhaps that is fairly limited in scope, maybe it is more significant than just promotion. Maybe expansion is a better term.

If you are a fan of games, odds are you have heard about L.A. Noire. Set in Los Angeles during 1947, the game draws heavily on the film-noir genre of the time period, which traditionally belonged to crime fiction. It is a mature subject matter that is meant to be totally engrossing, as you attempt to solve cases that range from the suspicious to the gruesome. The gameplay will factor in, of course, but Rockstar wants you to become part of the detective mysteries that you will face, not just grab a gun and go to town as you might in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series.

To further prove the point that L.A. Noire is more than just a typical action game, the title recently became the first game ever to be admitted to the Tribeca film festival. It features a script that is over 2,000 pages long, and you can expect future cases to be made available through download in the future. In what may either be irony or just poetic justice, there is also talk of a possible film (although it is just talk, something Hollywood loves to do).

But to push the game even further, Rockstar is branching out in a new direction, and has partnered with Mulholland Books to bring us an anthology of short crime stories written in the noir style and based on the game. The anthology will feature eight renowned authors: Megan Abbott, Lawrence Block, Joe Lansdale, Joyce Carol Oates, Francine Prose, Jonathan Santlofer, Duane Swierczynski and Andrew Vachss.

The stories will all draw on the L.A. Noire in different ways. Some will feature plots and characters related to the game, while others will add depth and setting to the city and time in which the game takes place. Certain stories will be made available before the launch of the game in two weeks, while the book itself will hit shelves on June 6.

As for the game, L.A. Noire will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on May 17.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works

Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Gaming

Surfaced patent shows what an Xbox streaming console would’ve looked like

An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

There have been a few Xbox devices that have never come to fruition, one of which was Keystone, a prototype for an affordable game streaming device you could hook up to your TV or monitor. Thanks to a surfaced patent, we've gotten an even closer look at what it would've potentially looked like.

The patent, first spotted by Windows Central, gives us a more complete view of the device. We've previously seen the Keystone in the flesh. Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer is known for hiding teases and interesting collectibles on the shelf in his office. In a 2022 X (formerly Twitter) post congratulating Bethesda on Fallout's 25th anniversary, you can see a small white device on the top shelf that's actually a Keystone prototype. Xbox told Digital Trends that it was a version of the device made before it decided to "refocus our efforts on a new approach.”

Gaming

Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28

Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.