Dig the tale, nightingale: Team Bondi's ode to James Ellroy hits the streets this spring. Publisher Rockstar Games announced this morning that 1950s detective thriller L.A. Noire will be released on May 17.

Using advanced motion scan technology to capture actors' performances and put them in a video game like never before, Team Bondi and Rockstar promise L.A. Noire will deliver an unprecedented level of realism, detail, and emotion. See for yourself in the game's latest story trailer:



"L.A. Noire breaks new ground for us," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games. "Its intense blend of action and real detective work defies genre conventions to create a unique and captivating thriller."

A rundown on the game from Rockstar:
Set amid the violence and corruption of post-World War II Los Angeles, L.A. Noire is a crime thriller that seamlessly blends crime-solving, clue-finding, car chases and shoot-outs with revolutionary new interrogation-based gameplay that will allow players to read characters' emotions in order to reveal the truth. Players will take on the role of Cole Phelps, a decorated war veteran, who rises through the ranks of the LAPD by solving a series of gruesome murders and other crimes that bring him face-to-face with the dark heart of Los Angeles during Hollywood's Golden Age.
L.A. Noire is being developed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. After the North American release on May 17, the game will ship in Europe on May 20.


Sharkey says: If you're a noire fan and haven't read it yet, pick up James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia. Amazing book. Can't wait to see how Team Bondi and Rockstar will bring that era in Los Angeles to life in a video game. And if you haven't seen it yet, check the Technology Behind the Performance trailer to see how Team Bondi did it.