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Losing GTA's Timed Exclusivity |
Listed in: PS3 Tags: Microsoft, playstation 3 updates, Sony, take-two
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On May 9th, at approximately 3:30pm millions of Sony fans the world over let out a gut wrenching scream as the Vice President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, Peter Moore, slowly raised his left sleeve to reveal the big guns, a tattoo proudly proclaiming that Grand Theft Auto IV would be arriving on the same day and date on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.
But does Microsoft getting GTA on the same day really matter all that much? Yes, and No, here's why.
Some would argue that the Grand Theft Auto franchise has been kind of tired for a while now, the formula has changed very little since Grand Theft Auto III first rocked the world five years ago... perhaps it's time for something new. Very few third party franchises are able to sustain such high sales momentum and widespread popularity across a generational hardware leap. GTA III was the darling of the last generation and its popularity was partially due to the fact that it showed the potential of the 128 bit era, it was fresh, new and innovative. It did what Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy VII did for the PlayStation before it, demonstrated the potential and power of the console, it sold systems.
That's why at the beginning of a new hardware cycle we get so many fresh new IP's, everyone's scrambling to hit on that hot new killer app, the next big system seller. Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy were that for the PS1, and while Final Fantasy has been able to keep the momentum going Tomb Raider hasn't had such luck. The shelves are littered with generational has beens, the Streetfighter's, the Mortal Kombat's, the aforementioned Tomb Raider's. Don't misunderstand me, these titles still sell pretty well (otherwise why still make them?) but they're sheen has worn off, they no longer represent the pinnacle of achievement for whatever console they first graced.
It's almost certain that before E3 Microsoft, Sony and Take 2, (publishers of the Grand Theft Auto series of games) were engaged in a complex dance of offer and counter offer. Microsoft likely offered Rockstar a tasty sum for day and date arrival of GTA on the the Xbox 360, and Sony, either unable to raise the stakes or simply realising that GTA had probably had its day in the sun, passed.
It's important to note at this point that Sony gamers haven't really lost anything for all Microsoft's boasting, if anything gamers everywhere have gained from the new arrangement. Not only will Xbox gamers get GTA at the same time, but PlayStation gamers still get Grand Theft Auto 4 right when they were supposed to. The good thing is that this situation forces Sony to come up with another killer app to take the space left void by GTA.
As mentioned earlier it's questionable whether GTA really has anything to offer the next generation. At the time of its arrival Rockstar's formula was ambitious, innovative and fresh, but now every studio is either making a GTA clone or incorporating free roaming GTA style elements in their titles. Not to knock Rockstar's creativity, but they've really got to come up with something truly special (again) to stand out of the pack. This doesn't disregard the fact that GTA will sell copies like hot cakes on name alone, of course it will, but its brand strength might have been diluted by the simple fact that it's more available now. That's why exclusives are so special... because they're exclusive.
I leave you with some telling words from Sony Computer Entertainment's Vice President of Game Development, Phil Harrison:
"GTA has been incredibly important to the PlayStation 2 in the PlayStation 2 era, perhaps in the same way that Tomb Raider had an impact in the PlayStation 1 era and maybe there's something else in the PlayStation 3 era."
So what do you guys think, will going multiplatform dilute GTA's brand strength, and is the loss of such a massive system seller as damaging to the PS3 as it seems at first?
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Comments
But it is bull***** that GTA was PS exclusive. GTA3 was also on PC, same as every other GTA. The PC even has more GTA, part2 was never released on playstation1.
So i do not care wether the xbox gets it the same day or not. The game will still be fun.
But if PS3 is their 'dev' platform, then the xbox360 will look pale in comparison. They will have to leave features.
Also the xbox will have downloadable content, because GTA4 will not fit on a regular dvd.
GTA san andreas used 5 GB: low quality textures, audio, everything. With the GTA4 the 5GB will easily double.
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If GTA IV for PS3 was to be delayed a month or two, after the release of the 360 version, to improve the game for ps3 specs this would be great
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The only reason Rockstar is doing this is because if they develop for 360, it will be easier to port it on PC in the very near time.
Let's see if they downgrade it FROM PS3 or just release a highly similiar detail with same loading times.
What I'm interested in is, Microsoft is digging a grave because this might possibly be the WINGS to shed light to the motion sensor assisted gaming of PS3....
No DOUBT GTA4 will utilise MSTechnology, and damn well.
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" this situation forces Sony to come up with another killer app to take the space left void by GTA" now that is just wishful thinking isn't it? ;)
As for @5 and @6 the BD drive is a joke so far no game will use 50GB of data that is just waaaaaaaay crazy and as for technical specs GTA IV at release will most likely look better on the 360, Sony is known for it's bad dev-kits and Rockstar already made a 360 game...
@8 for the sake of being playable on the 360 the motion sensitive controller will probably only be given as an option(like most first generation ps3 games anyway)
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However, a re-invented engine and next-gen graphics will probably be a new beginning for the GTA game. It's long been known that games like Vice City and San Andreas were just slightly modified versions of GTA3 even though they were fun.
This will hurt Sony a little but I don't see this as the defining factor in the next-gen war. My bet: Microsoft wins online, Sony wins selection, and Nintendo wins innovation. Now it's your choice.
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for the time being, it is PS3 exclusive, and may just end up being a PS3 exclusive in general. i think that this title will do for the PS3 what GTA 3 did for the PS2.
as for GTA 4 releasing on the 360 at the same time as the PS3? i think it's awesome. maybe PS3 and 360 users will be able to compete online and take out their fanboy aggressions.
honestly, it's not a big deal. GTA has always shined on Playstation consoles, but it's time is over, really. the 360 and PS3 will have their fare share of killer exclusive apps (Too Human, Mass Effect for the 360, Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII for the PS3). so what if Rockstar decided to share the wealth on multiple platforms? why shouldn't 360 users who maybe don't want a PS3 be denied a fun gaming experience? we're all gamers, despite our particular choice in platforms (i, for example, am a die hard Playstation guy, though i own Microsoft and Nintendo systems also, the one i play the most is my PS2). the elitist, snobby attitude of gamers need to stop. we have enough of that BS in the real world (especially here in Los Angeles), the last thing i need is my gaming time proliferated with high and mighty asscracks (it's the main reason why i don't really play MMO's).
anyway, i'm not greedy, and my mom taught me to share, so let the 360 owners have a good time with GTA 4. i know i will with my PS3. it's a nonissue.
oh yeah, and while the GTA series isn't as fresh and new as it used to be, i blame the limits of the technology that has hampered Rockstar's ambition thus far. they could do planes and motorcycles in GTA3, they did with GTA: Vice City. they couldn't do a massive, seamless world in Vice City, they did in GTA: San Andreas, and then some. i'm sure they'll blow us away at E3 next year with the first look at GTA4, and what it will offer 360 and PS3 gamers. Rockstar is a very creative and talented developer (The Warriors was a lot of fun), they just can't seem to stay out of trouble due to stupid soccer mom's and dad's suing them every week because of some GTA inspired debacle. i think this new technology will really let them breathe and reach their ambitions.
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With each new major GTA release the game got better.
GTA3 > VC > SA.
GTA4 will take things to the next level.
We can only guess now but I think they are going to do something huge like you can go to cities around the world. The whole of USA etc.
The could make the online so great. Ive been thinking that they could have Gang warfare.
You get like 100 people on each team, MASSIVE GANG WARS. You're free to fight how you want.
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I think it's important to see how many new IPs are coming out for this next generation. Gamers tire quickly. On previous generations fighting games ruled now they are a nice bonus. We need new experiences to keep us entertained. GTA games need a radical change in order to get us raving once again. Game developers need to constantly innovate and create the next big thing.
Another title that might run be running too long is Halo. After this third installment will gamers continue to rave about it? Unlike Final Fantasy games, these games tend to follow the exact same gameplay mechanics with a changed story and some improvements.
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You say why would Moore lie? Well why would he make it sound like they were getting exclusive rights to GTA? Because it makes them sound good even though they are bending the truth (Of course Sony might be quilty of this as well). I think MS is just running out of ideas to get people to stop waiting for the PS3. Meanwhile they can't even compete with the 6 year old PS2, at least they are beating the Cube and Xbox.
I bought 360 and love playing on live but neither the XBOX which I also owned nor the 360 have proven themselves to me unlike the PS1/2. Actually the 360 has been a big disappointment as it really hasn't done anything that my XBOX couldn't do to justify buying it and still provides the same types of games. Hopefully PS3 keeps on that playstation tradition with new gaming experiences and less cheap clones.
In either case, Gears of War and Halo 3 will still kick major ass, but then again so will FF13, Unreal, God of War 3 and anything from the insomniac boys. Let's all just drink to Next Gen of gaming which will push gaming yet again to an even bigger audience as the last generations have.
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Perhaps Microsoft are counting their eggs before they're hatched?
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Oh my dvd players cost soo much but the ps2 plays them and its cheaper than a dvd player ooh geuss what you can get a dvd player at walmart for 20 bucks now and the ps2 still costs almost 200 dollars kiss my ass sony i ain't buying it this proves that the dvd player in the ps2 didn't make up all those development costs and probably still cost 20 bucks to make when the ps2 was realeased
oh yeah back on subject if ms has problems with fitting it on a dvd they can do what nintendo did in the 80s for the famicom and release a bluray drive when the development costs drop it makes more sense that way it worked for nintendo in japan they would have done it in america but cart prices dropped and they didn't need to
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the PS3 is expensive not only because of the Blu Ray player, but because that Cell processor isn't a Texas Instrument's calculator. it's an expensive piece of technology in it's own right, and it cost Sony $400 million to create. honestly, the cost of gaming consoles were bound to rise, it's just unfortunate (for Sony fans), that they had to be the ones to do it. Microsoft took the cowards way out and removed the HD DVD drive from the 360 (mainly because of fear that that format would lose the war with Blu Ray, and financially, they'd stand to lose quite bit of money if that happened, but 360's were commited to HD DVD drives. it definitely wasn't because they cared about the consumer; they were just protecting their bottom line), thus lowering it's cost. imagine if Microsoft had waited until 2006 to release the X Box 360, or even waited until after Sony released the PS3, and Blu Ray became the standard. the 360 would have been equipped with a Blu Ray drive, just to keep up. and guess what? the cost of that Blu Ray equiped 360 would have been what? about $500 to $600.
judging by Sony's record with their last two consoles, i'm guaranteed to at least get software support for 7 to 10 years *after* my purchase of the unit. i bought my PS2 in 2001, and i'm *still* getting a return on that investment well into next year, and probably beyond. i bought my X Box about 2 years ago, and it's getting *nothing* in regard to new content. basically, i wasted $200 that i could have used on a 360. of course, there really is nothing worth playing on the 360 that i can't play on my computer (i have Oblivion, F.E.A.R. and Condemned on my PC, and they look and play *great*).
if Microsoft is willing to abandon the unprofitable X Box after, oh, four or five years on the market, what do you think they'll do with the 360? we're talking about a computer company, really. a company that is used to upgrading and moving on to the newer and better technology, with nary a look back to previous incarnations. i guarantee in about four to five years, the X Box 1080 will be out, and for about $600, while those gamers that put down a $600 investment in a PS3 won't have to pay an addtional $600 for the PS4. and it's not like there's going to be a steady stream of 360 titles once MS has it's sights on their new platform. you better believe they'll abandon the 360 just like they've done with the X Box, and the 24 million users left in the cold with very little new (or even exclusive) titles to enjoy. Microsoft forced it's gamers to upgrade to the $400 360 if they wanted anything new from the company. at least Sony still has God of War, Okami, Final Fantasy XII, Rogue Galaxy, to name a few, so those not ready to make the jump to the PS3 don't have to, and they don't have to worry about being left behind either.
it all boils down to the games, of course, but the smart money is on the Playstation. as it's been for 10 years now.
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btw sony's plan this time is that the ps3 is a computer and that you cant buy a computer with the ps3's specs for the same price. People think wow i can get a 4000 dollar computer for 600 bucks and play great games and watch hd movies wow!!. Thats sony's plan for sure. Last gen was dvd player for cheap this gen its a computer.
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so thanks to microsofts poor choice in hardware they will need the downloads to get the same game us ps3ers will. they will prob have around half the map and none of the extra missions whereas the ps3 will get it all on 1 disc
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For next generation games, compression and procedural techniques can be improved for the much faster processors. And duplicate files are not needed when we have faster drives (12x DVD) and a hard disk drive for caching.
Current Generation
- Duplicate Files
- Minimal Compression
- Minimal or No Procedural Synthesis
- Wasteful FMV
Next Generation
- No Duplicate Files
- Advanced Compression
- Advanced Procedural Synthesis
- Real Time Cutscenes
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Games like Dead or Alive, are much better off with real time rendering and show the real graphic capability of a system, than say FFX, which 60% was prerendered FMV.
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Procedural synthesis can be used for just about any type of texture as well - grass, concrete, bricks, skin, hair/fur, etc.
Of course, better processing and better programming leads to higher compression as well. 9GB is more than enough for next-gen games.
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worst comes to worst it takes up 2 discs for they 360. and i dont think forking out an extra 200 just so i dont have to change discs is worht it
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the 360 will get extra content that PS3 wount ever see and thats not because the 360 have a smaler media.
so the game will be just as big to the 360 as for the PS3, just that all with the 360 will get some extra FUN
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Dont be *****ing stupid...Yeah sony has got blu ray but i dont see it doing anything for GTA....They aint gonna waste their time making 2 different versions of the same games when they can release both games on each console without the extra stuff.
At the end of the day why would they bother?? They are getting paid from both companies...they aint gonna do extra favours for sony.
Face it sony fanboys....
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I'd say they played the same till about FFX...
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