Following earlier reports based on comments made by Microsoft's Don Mattrick that Grand Theft Auto IV would feature "multiplayer support" that was "unique to 360", developer Rockstar Games has confirmed that both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of the game will feature multiplayer content.
"It's always something we've been open about, both versions will support online multiplayer capabilities,"
"There is also a similar preview with similar media assets in the newest issue of Games Master. Both previews appear to be based on the same demonstration. Go to GTAForums for more information. Here is a short summary of the new info from both previews:"
The preview was based on the PlayStation 3 version of the game. This is the first time (as far as we are aware) that the PS3 version has been previewed by the gaming press.
GamesMaster scoops exclusive first play session with Rockstar's big sequel.
"It's during a cab ride that we realise just how good the new GTA is," the mag says. "There's as much traffic as you'd expect. But you can see people actually driving their cars and hear what they're playing on their stereo as you drive past.
"Major changes have been made to the [vehicle] handling," GM continues.
The first headline on Rockstar Games' official RSS feed says " Grand Theft Auto IV official website launching tomorrow" but with no story attached? Is it an error, is it true? Only Rockstar will know but keep your eyes on http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/ just in case :)
The highest selling GTA game on PS2 was Vice City with 13 million sales WW (Sony data), even with PC/Xbox sales, I doubt this achieved more than 15-16 million total sales. San Andreas sold 12 million WW on PS2 (Sony data), though Take-Two say 20 million total sales for it.
Current prices assume very high tie-ratio for this game on both systems, questionable if it can achieve these sales at current rates of hardware adoption.
Which is about what San Andreas did if I recall correctly. However, that was with a dominant PS2 at the peak of it's powers with the GTA series the defining game of the generation.
The situation this time is different, the target install base will be (i.e. 360+PS3 owners - the number of people who have both) than the PS2 was then. It remains to be seen if the Wii will be detrimental to the combined PS360 install base relative to the PS2 going forward but even so, GTA:IV has a lot more competition this time around.
Even if PS360 gets up to a level where it can support 80m potential customers (I'll exclude Japan as it'll never be big there in relative terms) you're looking at 1 in 4 of those picking up the first iteration of GTA in the generation. Sure, it could happen, it might even the only franchise even with a shout of it but I think that's a big ask.
I think some people (or even a lot) overcook the "GTA is synonymous with PlayStation" thing. Yes, GTA3 was massive on the PS2 but that was the PS2. Things this time round are very different. It's the 360 which is the "hardcore" software monster, it's day and date with the PS3 version, it has the exclusive content and you can bet MSFT will be reminding everyone about those two facts twice.
I don't see GTAIV's capability to push PS3 hardware any higher than the 360's. Quite the reverse actually if Microsoft get their marketing right but I think a lot of people are fixated on last gen and aren't taking into consideration the different circumstances.
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haha good job on replying to the article and bubbling it up in the community list =P
anyway yeah what can you do with all these people overvaluing things.