Dirty Harry (video game)

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Dirty Harry (working title)
Developer(s)	The Collective
Publisher(s)	Warner Bros. Interactive
Release date(s)	TBA 2006-2007
Genre(s)	Action
Mode(s)
Rating(s)	ESRB: Rating Pending
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Dirty Harry (working title) is an upcoming video game being developed by The Collective and being published by Warner Bros. Interactive. The game is to continue the story of the 1971 motion picture currently under the same name starring Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan, the main protagonist of the film. Reports have been confirmed that Gene Hackman and Laurence Fishburne are also going to provide their voices. Clint Eastwood will reprise his role as the title character, lending his voice and likeness as well as consulting and creative input into the game. While Callahan seeks to clean up the streets as the only way he sees fit, it's believed that the game will follow the same storyline of the film in which the San Francisco detective is tracking down a serial killer called Scorpio. No release date(s) have been announced, but it is scheduled to be released on both the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 sometime either during 2006 or 2007.

Dirty Harry the game takes place between the first and second films. Gene Hackman will portray Police Supervisor Al Bressler and Laurence Fishburne will be Reverend Carlton Clay.

Currently in development by The Collective (The Da Vinci Code, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Dirty Harry is benefiting from consultation by Clint Eastwood on key creative aspects of the game.

Clint Eastwood stated that he was often asked when he would make another Harry Callahan movie. As the actor/director joked, he could imagine scenes where Harry was retired; fly fishing with a .44 Magnum. With videogames, Harry Callahan can live again, with Clint magically restored to his '40s.

The trailer is neither a CG cutscene nor actual gameplay. Instead, Warner Brothers gave its models and engine schematics to an animation house to produce the teaser. It's a simulation of the gameplay, which is promised to equal the game quality already seen in house. The level of detail was impressive. The hills of San Francisco have never looked better and the '1970s vibe was in full effect. Dirty Harry's face is a spitting image of the movie version. Most impressive was how perfect developer The Collective captured Eastwood's steely gaze.

The highlight was when Harry Callahan shoved a crook's head in a vice and was squeezing it, ala an interrogation scene from The Punisher. "The head in the vice gag," Eastwood quipped, "I never thought of that one before."

The trailer, which offered no true sense of the actual gameplay, ended with the classic scene from Dirty Harry. The "Do I feel lucky?" line was pulled straight from the film as Clint Eastwood has not yet recorded voice over for the video game.

Warner Bros was reluctant to release details on the gameplay or the plot, but offered a few hints. The story, while not a 100% connective thread from the first to second Harry Callahan flick, will "explore the character more." While it was never confirmed, it sounded like Dirty Harry the video game would offer a free-roaming San Francisco. "The city of San Francisco can be a character," Warner Bros Jason Hall said. "It can live."

Luckily, one key aspect of gameplay was discussed in slight detail. As in the films, Harry Callahan walks the line between bad cop and psychopath. Players will also walk that line. The game features reactive AI, both for crooks and cops. While there was no further explanation, it appears that if you are soft on crooks, they may not take Harry Callahan seriously. On the other end, going nuts will put you in trouble with the police chief.

"Dirty Harry helped define a genre and introduced the world to a character who has since become a cultural icon, so bringing Clint Eastwood's authentic Dirty Harry character to this next generation of consoles provides exciting promise for game playing audiences everywhere," said Jason Hall, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Our work with The Collective is aimed at culminating in a game with an all-new story that allows players to experience the action and suspense of the legendary franchise firsthand."

"Working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Clint Eastwood to create a compelling, state-of-the-art game that brings Dirty Harry Callahan to life on next generation consoles is very exciting," said Doug Hare, co-founder and Vice President of Production for The Collective. "We are focused on creating genre defining story-telling gameplay, along with next generation graphics depicting action-packed sequences that are consistent with the renowned films."

For the DVD release, all films from the celebrated franchise -- Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool -- will be upgraded to HD DVD with completely revamped sound and, with the help of Clint Eastwood himself, may feature some never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage and many other bonus materials.