GameSpot and GameSpy are the first two sites to post a preview of Max Payne 2, offering impressions and screenshots from a recent demonstration of the game at Rockstar. Here's something the guys at GameSpy had to say.

On the visual front, where much of our demo focused, it was apparent that Remedy has really been tweaking the code to create an extremely robust graphics engine for a shooter. The proprietary engine has been completely revamped, with the addition of Havoc physics code to create popular "rag doll" effects for those dozens upon dozens of bad guys that you'll take down, and this results in what we can only say you'll have to see to believe. With improved real-time shadows, dynamic lighting and destructive elements, things really are getting pushed to the max (pun intended)... and maybe beyond.

Max Payne 2 will be released later this year.

Looks like Max Payne 2 info is finally starting to appear in U.S. magazines, close to two months after European magazines first offered their previews of the game. The 3D Realms website mentions that the September issue of Computer Gaming World has Max Payne 2 as their cover story. In the mag you'll find impressions of the build that was shown at E3 along with screenshots from the game.

The 3D Realms website has a news post up mentioning that Max Payne 2 will ship with tools necessary to create modifications for the game. More details will be available later.

Rockstar Games has launched a new Max Payne 2 teaser site, which lacks any kind of info much like the teaser site that opened during E3. You can find some wallpapers, buddy icons and a screensaver though if you find that hip and exciting. According to Rockstar, a full site will launch "soon".

3D Action Planet Max Payne fansite Deep Six has posted some more on Max Payne 2 taken from the recent issue of PC Zone. It mentions bullet time changes, the script, continued lack of multiplayer and several other tidbits.

Max Payne Headquarters has posted some details on The Fall of Max Payne which was found in the new issue of PC Zone. There's a bit about the story (set a year after the first game), and how Remedy is trying to incorporate the story into the game a bit more.

Some Max Payne 2 shots are finally showing up on the Internet; in this case the 3D Realms UBB forums. Though scans from recent magazines, there's some obvious visual improvement to be noted. Max himself also looks quite a bit different, but at least he isn't taking a crap anymore.

I see on VE3D that a Max Payne 2 teaser site has launched. Some info, screenshots? Not yet I'm afraid. Remedy why must you taunt us so.

Pretty much a year after the sale of the Max Payne IP to Take 2 was announced and it was mentioned that Remedy was working on a sequel to the game, Rockstar announces Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (talk about ho-hum) The press release itself has pretty much no information on the game at all, besides the fact that it will be shown at this year's E3, by invitation only, to "an extremely select audience".

HomeLAN Fed has posted an article format interview with 3DR's Scott Miller, talking to him about the sale of the Max Payne IP and the development of Max Payne 2. Remedy is indeed making the game just like they developed the original game, and 3D Realms will be producing again. After that, Remedy can do whatever they want as the sale of the Max Payne IP made them financially independent.

The selling of game IP rights might become more of a trend for game developers, according to Miller. " I really think this will be an eye opening deal for this industry," Miller said, adding that while he was attending E3, he ran into a number of developers who also were interesting in doing the same thing. "A lot of developers think this is ground-breaking," he said. So does that mean we could see future deals like, say, id Software selling its Quake or Wolfenstein IP rights or Epic selling its Unreal rights? Miller seems to think so. "id is a perfect candidate for this," he said.

As for Duke Nukem Forever "Based on what I saw at E3, Duke is not behind the curve technology wise". Of course that can quickly change as most PC titles at E3 are scheduled to ship this holiday season with no date in sight for Duke. As for the game itself "Duke is all about interactivity and it really will be a living breathing world".