All right, gumshoes, let's – you know what, I'm done talking like the chief in "Carmen Sandiego." There's a good chance that you've already finished up your sleuthing through all of the main "L.A. Noire" cases, and you're looking forward to that downloadable-content that Rockstar has promised since the game's launch. The company previously mentioned a "Rockstar Pass," but details on the package's cost and contents were slim. Well, the silence is over, and we can finally let you in on what to expect for plunking down that hard-earned $10.
The "L.A. Noire" Rockstar Pass is essentially a way to pre-order downloadable content. Ten dollars (800 Microsoft points) gives you access to all of the game's downloadable crime cases, weapons, outfits, and collectible-based gameplay. Starting today, you can download the pass, unlocking the currently available content, and have immediate access to future features as they become available.
Depending on your choice of retailer when purchasing "L.A. Noire," you may already have some of the existing downloadable-content. Pre-orders from GameStop, for example, came packaged with the Naked City case and the Badge Pursuit collection mission; Wal-Mart customers snagged the Slip of the Tongue case. Now, regardless of where you opened your wallet, you can own all seven pieces of the game's current downloadable-content for ten bucks. All of that content is available today for Xbox Live – and theoretically PlayStation Network, whenever the PlayStation Store actually comes back online.
Two brand new cases, the previously announced "Nicholson Electroplating Disaster" and "Reefer Madness," will launch on June 21 and July 12, respectively. The press release this morning stated that the downloadable cases offered "unique experiences" that are "independent of the main storyline." I'm still unsure what the Nicholson case is exactly about, but I have to imagine "Reefer Madness" is somehow derivative of the supremely weird 1936 anti-marijuana film of the same name.
If you're interested in picking up the Rockstar Pass, you may want to act within the next two weeks; the price goes up to $12 on June 14. Conversely, all of the downloadable-content is available á la carte, with the two previously mentioned cases priced at four dollars a piece. Honestly, if you're interested in owning all of the four downloadable cases, you can save at least a few bucks by grabbing the pass within the next two weeks.
In terms of free content, Rockstar has previously unlocked the Chicago Lightning Suit for all Social Club members, and today unlocked the Chicago Piano Machine Gun for all players.