Find out what neat things Rockstar Social Club membership will deliver when you get hold of Red Dead Redemption.
Short story: You'll get stuff!
...
Okay, the long story's possibly more interesting: You'll get stuff, and here's what it is, straight from today's release 'cause I'm feeling lazy:
Social Club Challenges - Members who complete a series of special challenges will have the ability to access an exclusive collection of cheats. To unlock Pike's Basin Challenge, the first of many challenges to come, beat the "Justice in Pike's Basin" mission, and complete the Pike's Basin gang hideout by helping rancher Errol Hewitt defeat a gang of bloodthirsty cattle rustlers. Completing the unlocked challenge will post your best time and medals garnered to a special Social Club Challenges leaderboard, and unlock the "Guns Blazing" cheat, allowing you to fire flaming bullets that can set enemies on fire. More challenges will be revealed after the game's release.
Rockstar Challenges - Awaken your team spirit and work with other players to cumulatively complete a challenge and unlock a surprise reward. Available in late May, "The Strike It Rich! Rockstar Challenge" spurs players to grab as much money in the world as possible to reach the grand bank total and unlock the mystery prize. The Social Club site allows you to keep track of the community's progress, as well as access helpful tips and tricks to reach the goal.
The Blackwater Ledger - A dynamic community edition of the in-game newspaper keeps Social Club members updated on all the news that's fit to print. Reporting daily from New Austin, Nuevo Pariaso, and West Elizabeth, the Ledger records who's earned the highest bounties, what the most popular products purchased at local merchants are, how many people have cheated in poker that day, and much, much more.
My Stats - Keep meticulous records of your in-game progress and earn those bragging rights. My Stats allows you keep track of a variety of information, from how well you performed in single-player missions to extensive multiplayer performance statistics. The features also allows you to compare stats with your Social Club friends.
Multiplayer Leaderboards - The leaderboard tracks players across a variety of categories for both competitive and the upcoming co-op multiplayer modes. The easy-to-use global leaderboard allows you to view how your skills stack up against the world, or you can make it more personal by viewing a friends-only leaderboard.
Achievements & Trophies - Keep track of each and every Achievement or Trophy earned and compare with Social Club friends.
The 100% Checklist - Completionists on a quest for 100% in Red Dead Redemption can use a detailed guide to keep track of what's unlocked, as well as what's left. Tips and a map legend will help wrap up any loose ends.
In other release news, you'll be able to log into multiplayer and play with or against Rockstar employees from all over the world. Ever wanted to shoot a developer with a lever-action Winchester? Of course you have. You can register for the social club here.
RDR releases on PS3 and Xbox 360 on May 21.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012