Max Payne 3 will be released on May 15, 2012 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Developed by Rockstar Games, it is the long-awaited third entry in the popular last-generation Max Payne series of third-person action adventure shooter games.

A dramatic, cinematic series, the original Max Payne made its debut a few years following the infinitely popular first Matrix film (2001, Matrix was released in 1999) and capitalized on that films success by being the first videogame to offer a slow-motion shooting mechanic, wherein the player could slow down time. Literally ripped straight from The Matrix and called the “Bullet Time” mechanic (amazing there wasn’t a lawsuit!), this allowed players to more easily dodge incoming gunfire from enemies or alternatively make it easier to hit them with your own shots.

Naturally “Bullet Time” returns in Max Payne 3, as you can see in this epic Max Payne 3 Bullet Time trailer.

The original Max Payne was also very adult oriented and mature, and played out much like a thriller film, with the sequel taking that even further (Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, released in 2003). Now we finally get a new, modern-day entry in this beloved adrenaline-filled action series. Although the game looks much like most other third-person shooters these days.

Here is a trailer for Max Payne 3.

For the first time, multiplayer will be a big component of Max Payne 3 alongside the single-player, story-driven campaign. And players will be able to play online against each other as well.

Ahead of the games release, Rockstar is offering a discount to future downloadable content if you pre-purchase the “Rockstar Pass”. If you buy the Rockstar Pass before the game comes out, you’ll get all of the future DLC for straight price of $30 (or 2,400 Microsoft Points). You can buy the pass via GameStop, Best Buy or other retailers, or online for the PS3 version through the PlayStation Network. The Rockstar Pass will also be available for the PC version.

Buying the DLC through the Rockstar Pass will save you 35% over the price of downloading each DLC separately upon release, where the price exceeds $45 dollars. DLC content will include the usual: new modes, new multiplayer maps and more.

Here’s a video discussing the Max Payne 3 DLC and Rockstar Pass.

The first downloadable content will be the “Local Justice Map Pack”, that features three maps for use in four multiplayer modes (these include: Gang Wars, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Payne Killer). Additionally the Local Justice Map Pack includes multiplayer challenges and Avatar items, and will be released in June.

Here is how future Max Payne 3 DLC shakes out:

Summer 2012
* Disorganized Crime Map Pack
* Deathmatch Made in Heaven Mode Pack
* Hostage Negotiation Map Pack
* New York Minute Co-Op Pack

Fall 2012
* Painful Memories Map Pack
* Trickle Down Economics Map Pack

Multiplayer will feature the key Bullet Time effect, wherein anyone in your line of sight also enters Bullet Time; which can be an advantage for you but also can be taken advantage of by your opponent. Many people wondered how Bullet Time could possibly be encorporated into an online multiplayer world, and this is how Rockstar compromised to implement it into the online sphere.

Bullet Time isn’t the only feature of multiplayer either, it’s only one of many “Bursts”, which are essentially like “Perks” in other online games. Other Bursts include making guns stronger (Trigger Happy), making your rivals see their allies as foes (Paranoia), increasing you and your teammates energy (Big Dog) and more. These can be activated at any time on-the-fly as they are earned, and you get them for scoring kills. Each has three levels of effectiveness, with the more potent saved as unlocks.

This Max Payne 3 Multiplayer Developer Diary breaks down all of what to expect from Max Payne 3′s multiplayer in an indepth manner.

Mode-wise, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch (everyone out for themselves or out for another team, most kills wins) are offered, as are a few more unique modes.

Among them is “Payne Killer”, where each players starts off as a normal thug but the first to get a kill turns into Max Payne himself (or his partner Passos) with additional abilities. However if you as Max get killed, that player steals your “Payne”. The person or team who was able to stay “Payned Up” the longest with most kills wins.

Then you have “Gang Wars”, a story-based multiplayer mode that is loosely based on the single-player campaign. It offers five objective-based missions wherein players have to cooperate to capture and defend control points, plant or defuse bombs, and prevent or ensure ransom money gets correctly delivered to a certain location. As the story progresses the objectives and how the round flows will dynamically change.

Here is a Max Payne 3 commercial!

Max Payne 3 is the first game in the series not being made by Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment, who went on to make the Xbox 360-exclusive survival horror game Alan Wake after developing the first and second Max Payne games. This time Rockstar Vancouver handled development, along with other Rockstar development houses (New England, London and Toronto).

Additionally, Max Payne 3 marks the first game in the series not written by series scribe and creator Sam Lake, instead the script was provided by Rockstar’s own Dan Houser, who was behind Red Dead Redemption and the Grand Theft Auto series.

As such, Max Payne 3 is in good hands and looks like it will be another huge, AAA Rockstar hit that will light up sales charts and earn much critical acclaim.

Last but not least, here is an awesome developer diary taking us into creating a modern day cutting-edge shooter, and looks at the development and design of Rockstar’s latest darling.

Are you planning on purchasing Max Payne 3? Do you already have your pre-order in?

In addition to the regular edition of Max Payne 3, the game was also offered in a Collector’s Edition package for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC at a cost of $99. It includes the following:

* Copy of the Max Payne 3 videogame.
* 10” inch tall Collectible Max Payne Statue created in a collaboration between TriForce and Rockstar Games.
* Series of game-inspired Original Still Life Art Prints that depict some of Max Payne’s inner demons and vices.
* Copper and brass-plated iron, bullet-shaped Bullet Keychain featuring a screw-off back.
* Classic Multiplayer Character Pack of eight playable multiplayer characters for Max Payne 3 Multiplayer, including fan favorites from the original Max Payne and Max Payne 2 like Max Payne from Max Payne 2, Mona Sax and Vladimir Lem.
* Disorderly Conduct Multiplayer Weapons Pack for Max Payne 3 Multiplayer that includes the Hammerhead Auto Shotgun, G9 Grenade Launcher and Molotov cocktail.
* Max Payne 3 Official Soundtrack featuring the game’s instrumental score.