Rockstar has released a pack of new screenshots of the upcoming Max Payne 3, showing Max like we’ve never seen him before. Sort of, because we’ve seen the bald Max Payne for a while now. For more on Max Payne 3, check out the latest multiplayer details on the game.

The original Max Payne and Max Payne 2 were some of the best noir-inspired shooters ever made, and practically invented “bullet time”. However, they did lack one thing: multiplayer. That’s something Max Payne 3 will make up for, as it will become the first Max Payne game with a fully fledged multiplayer component, and developer Rockstar just revealed the first details.

The main multiplayer mode in Max Payne 3 is called “Gang War”, which is an objective-based team mode where players get new goals throughout the match, depending on how the match progresses. Max Payne 3 will also support “perks”, called “bursts”, which players can unlock during a match. One of the Max Payne 3 Bursts is called “Paranoia” sounds particularly interesting: it makes enemies “paranoid” and makes them see their teammates as enemies. Of course, the trademark Max Payne bullet time is back as well, and will be available in multiplayer as well.

We’ll keep you updated on the latest Max Payne 3 details here on DigitalBattle!

Remember Max Payne 3? No? It’s the next entry into the series that essentially forged the concept of bullet time as we know it today. It’s also the game that has been in development for several years and still does not have a solid release date. Get the picture?

Due to these constant delays many folks have hypothesized that Rockstar has done away with Max Payne 3. However, it seems that this is not the case as Rockstar has come forth to show off two brand new screen shots of the game alongside the phrase “He’s coming”. Sure, he’s coming, but when?

Check out one of the screen shots above and the other in the gallery below and let us know what you think!

It might not be the first game ever to utilize slow-motion mode, but Max Payne was one of the first to use it in such a way that got it copied ever after. In truth it was the only real hook of the game; the storyline was just your standard renegade cop revenge story. The real joy of it came in going into slow-motion “Bullet Time” dives and blasting away at hordes of thugs before they can barely react.

Both Max Payne and Max Payne 2 have been brought to the Xbox Live Originals page. Each game is available for 1200 Microsoft points, or fifteen dollars. Unfortunately for Microsoft both of these games are on the backwards compatibility list and could probably be purchased for less than $15 for the both of them used.

Xbox 360 gamers are going to go through a lot of payne, as the original Xbox versions of Max Payne and Max Payne 2 are now available through Xbox Live Marketplace as downloads, as reported earlier.

The games cost 1200 Microsoft points ($15) each and offer slow-mo shooting action featuring a police officer who has a constantly constipated face.

Originally developed by Remedy Entertainment, the third entry in the series will be released this year; it is being developed for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 by Rockstar Vancouver.

With the third game on the way, ESRB listings for Max Payne and its sequel for the Xbox 360 have cropped up on ESRB.

This points to the likely release of the games on either Xbox Live Arcade or through the downloadable Xbox Originals program, seeing as how they were both released for the Xbox. Through this, the games can be played on a Xbox 360 using backwards compatibility.

Rockstar and Take-Two are yet to confirm the report. Max Payne 3 arrives this winter on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Backtracking on his initial harsh words, 3D Realms founder and Max Payne producer Scott Miller says he is “proud of this film” and believes that it is one of “the best game-to-film efforts we’ve seen in the industry.”

"Along with the first Tomb Raider, I think it’s hard to argue that Max Payne isn’t one of the best two adaptations yet," he said. "This kind of opening brings us a lot closer to the reality of a sequel."

Miller noted that Rockstar Games, which now owns the property, had attempted to stop the film from happening.

"After they bought the IP, [Rockstar] made serious attempts, including legal, to try to prevent this movie from being made, and were non-cooperative in providing materials that would help with pre-production," he revealed. "It’s a miracle it ever reached the big screen, and a testament to the committed efforts of Scott Faye and Julie Yorn, the two lead producers."

The Max Payne movie may have raked in top bucks, but all those who saw it simply hated it. That includes 3D Realms CEO Scott Miller, who took on a producer-like role in the original Max Payne game.

"There are several fundamental story flaws … in the film that have me shaking my head in bewilderment," he said. Miller also talked about the famous flashback scene.

"A big problem with the film is that we do not really know what is driving Max until we see the flashback scene [in the middle of the film] showing him coming home and finding his family murdered. In the game, we put this scene right at the front of the story for a reason!"

And then there’s the fact that Jack Lupino, one of the film’s major characters was “lamely killed by… non-action characters” instead of Max itself.

"The entire time we’re told that this drug makes 1-in-100 people super-human, yet Lupino doesn’t demonstrate this in the least," Miller said. "It should have taken a hail storm of bullets to bring him down, plus it should have been Max that kills him."

John Moore, director of the upcoming Max Payne film starring Mark Wahlberg, is highly disappointed with the MPAA, the body that rates films, and is equally vocal about it.

“The Motion Picture Association of America gave The Dark Knight a PG-13 rating and basically sucked Warner Bros.’ cock,” he said, referring to the blockbuster superhero movie that was thought to be too dark for a PG-13 rating.

“I have a serious amount of issues with the MPAA,” he continued. “The MPAA changes their rules willy-nilly and it depends on who’s seeing your actual movie at the time. It’s very difficult to get a hold on what’s acceptable.”

Moore also feels that the MPAA has treated him unfairly and that they are subjective when assigning an R rating.

“They said to me, the movie feels R. And I said, ‘What the fuck is that, a group therapy session?’ You can’t do that. They’re meant to judge content, not intent.”

Max Payne is set to open in theaters on October 17.