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Microsoft on GTA IV delay: good for business? |
Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: Microsoft, New York, Sony, Take-Two Interactive
First we have to go through a quick history. It's been reported that Take-Two acquired US$ 50 million for 2 exclusive episodic content to GTA IV, a move that would have gone well for Microsoft when the game should have gone out on October. However, due to "certain elements of development prov[ing] to be more time-intensive than expected," GTA IV got bumped to early 2008, past the holiday season when the market is at its peak.
The argument stands that the money was dished out so that Microsoft would gain the upper hand over Sony, a move most effective during the holiday season. The point that the New York Post's journalist wanted to make clear is how Microsoft could be happy with GTA IV being delayed, past the holiday peak season, when it had shelled out US$ 50 million.
Microsoft being "giddy" about the delay doesn't quite fit. The delay would seriously cut profits because it missed the holiday deadline, making their investment of US$ 50 million less effective than it should have been. Plus, the rumor that the delay was caused by programming issues with Sony's PS3 certainly wouldn't have helped since the "investment" was intended to funnel fans away from the PS3 and towards the 360. The discussion between the New York Post and a Microsoft representative, formatted for your convenience, flowed as follows:
New York Post: Excuse me, but - the money Microsoft paid to Rockstar was quite a hefty chunk. Now I'm not saying this was a bad business move, but it was clearly designed to pull GTA-Sony loyalists to your side. So are you saying that the millions you guys paid out of pocket to get gamers into Microsoft hands for the holiday rush wasn't wasted in any way?
Microsoft Rep: I never said we gave Rockstar money. I don't think we ever...
NYP: I'm not asking if you said it, I'm suggesting that your plan was blown out of the water a bit because now there isn't as much of a draw for "converts."
Afterwards, there was "a brief, awkward silence." The New York Post correspondent also claimed that there were "more assurances that ... Microsoft is totally happy about GTA IV being delayed."
So is Microsoft really happy about the delay? Maybe, but they're probably having second thoughts about timing of their "investment." Nevertheless, the exclusives will still ultimately benefit Microsoft, if not as effectively as it would have if GTA IV wasn't delayed.
Via New York Post
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Also This move ultimately is better to Sony no MS since Sony has great games coming out to help the sales and now with GTA4 and KGS4 coming in 08 i smell dominance coming starting in the holiday season.
MS screwed up on there timing which will back fire soon.
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And where will this content come from Stealth!? I hope you're not suggesting better content for GTA4 may appear on the PS3, because that is just laughable. Right now, it is exclusive to the 360 whether you like it or not, and if there is content for the PS3 much later, it's highly unlikely to be of the scale offered for the 360 (unless Sony choose to pay too :P).
Anyway, MT Mind posted a comment on that article that I agree with totally, so I'm going to post it here (plus spelling corrected);
Quote MT Mind: "I fail to see the issue over GTA4's delay. Games are delayed ALL THE TIME, and GTA is a series whose sales would be huge at any time of year, not just the holiday season.
Microsoft have already 'won' half the battle by ensuring GTA4 will not be a timed exclusive for the PS3 (now THAT would have been a problem). So whether or not it lures "GTA loyalists away from Sony consoles" is not the issue, they have succeeded in preventing it from being a system seller for the PS3 (as it was for the PS2 last gen), because gamers now have a choice of playing it at the same time on the PS3 and 360 (with extra content later).
Whether MS were right to pay for episodic content will be determined by the quality of the game itself and the quality of the episodic content, not when the game is released. And since we don't know the real reasons behind the delay, any delay to improve the quality of the game and therefore bring it closer to meeting gamers expectations, is actually a good thing."
Well said imo. He shows a level of common sense that you lack Stealth!
Stealth! wrote: "MS screwed up on there timing which will back fire soon."
Sure fanboy, keep telling yourself that.
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Sony has 3 games to pound in the sales, which are
1.Lair
2. Heavenly sword
3.Little Big planet
not to mention the 80 downloadble content coming soon.
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Im saying Sony could just get more this way, this will benefit Sony more than MS since sony gets there's for free.
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The demo for Heavenly Sword was pretty weak as well. For those who haven't played it, all it is is a button masher hack and slash with little button sequenced cutscenes thrown in every now and again. I really dont see this game scoring any higher than a 6.
Little Big Planet, I cant judge it because I dont follow anything about it. Chances are it will suck though.
PS3 really has nothing to offer this holiday season aside from the usual handful of mediocre below average games. MS is gonna bury Sony with all these great games coming out like Bioshock (9.8 average), Halo 3 (dunno its average, but its halo so of course it will do well), and other great titles that have been held in high praises lately.
Oh and Stealth, sony isnt going to get any extra content for GTA, that was the whole idea of buying the extra content exclusiveness. So you can either get the PS3 version and get less, or the 360 version and get more. As for sony dominating in 08 because of GTA and MGS, thats laughable. Considering both of those games are going to be multiplatform I really dont see how you can draw the conclusion that people will pay $200 more for the same games (any more content).
Now I usually skip over your posts Stealth, but since I read mr. lair's post I figured I would go ahead and see what you were babbling on about. Word of advice, if youre going to try to diss on MS at least have the brains to back it up with something that at least makes half sense. I learned early on that 99% of what you post is either wrong or just plain stupid. Work on your material and try to improve.
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Rockstar: 'Complete' GTA IV Experience on 360
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId+3161552
(change the plus to equals to get that link to work)
Where according to Rockstar, the games are identical EXCEPT for the episodic content which is exclusive to the 360, and therefore the 360 will provide what he calls the "complete experience ".
So tell me, where does your PS3 exclusive content for GTA4 fit it. ;)
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Well, I couldn't agree with you on that one, since it does seem to have the potential to be something great, especially since all the feedback we've had so far regarding this game has been excellent.
I agree on Lair though, and HS could be good but I think it will be an above average game (with superb presentation).
Regarding Stealth!, you said "I learned early on that 99% of what you post is either wrong or just plain stupid". Now that I do agree with, 100% :)
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delaying GTA4 just to get the upperhand on sales for halo 3.
you su(ked so low, shame on you.
i will never support mirosoft xbox 360 games ever.
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* Pushing back GTA4 into the Spring also insures that Sony won't get a boost in sales in its Second Xmas (which usually kicks ass). Sony's Second X will kick but it would have been better.
* I also think that 50M would control how R*/T2 use their resources. My guess it isn't a problem with PS3 dev. as much is R* has to shift most of their resources over to developing the additional content which is lengthening all projects. I'm sure they were counting on Manhunt 2 revenue too.
I don't work for MS, so I really can careless.
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And later on charge it's consumers for 2! extra episodes???
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they will be fun to play, but, still, you will have already given $60US for the game, plus whatever MS decides to charge for these 2 extra eps.
And everyone, really, tell me, do you really wanna be stuck on the same game for months on end, yea, GTA is fun and yea I have enjoyed it, but, still, with so much great stuff coming out for both consoles, it's kinda seems silly to pay for extra stuff for a game that you already beat.
Just my two cents:-D
No Fanboyism allowed beyond this point.
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Second, A MCS, how does the ps3 have lackluster holiday games? I guess u have a point, if ur talking about FPS's but for people who dont really like FPS's (like me) it's gonna be a great season.
Here is my list of games I'm planning to buy (if i can scrape enough money together):
1. Assassin's Creed
2.Heavenly Sword
3.Warhawk (the bundle with headset)
4.R+C Future: Tools of Destruction
5.Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
6.Orange Box
7.COD 4
And my maybe list:
Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition
Army of 2
Lair
So my point is that apart from FPS's like Halo 3 and Bioshock, the 360 doesn't really have much to offer. In fact, the only exclusive games that look interesting to me are Eternal Sonata and Lost Odyssey...
Finally, to Axo. I make it a habit to try not to respond to u, but u crossed the line when u dissed LittleBigPlanne t! GO F*CK URSELF! :)
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Iis leik so pew pew pwn
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M$ had to go as far as to bribe R* to add content. ROFL, what makes you think it's going to be exclusive. For all we know, the content will only be time-exclusive. It will sell better on the PS3 and the demand will sure come. Knowing R* $h!tty history and selling out to other companies, I'm sure R* will offer the ultimate content for free on PSN since they're going PS3 exclusive anyways.
And no, MGS4 will not go on the XBlowx711 since MGS2:S sold under 100 copies on the first XBlowx. M$ noobs still think Sam Fisher *who has gone multiplat* is "cooler" than Solid Snake. ROFL!
NO ONE READ THE ARTICLE. The NYP guy was patronizing the M$ guy. ROFL! How sad...M$ was trying to deny the money paid to R*. Why pay for the "episodic content" on XBL when you can wait it out for six months and get it for free on PSN? PWNT
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is better than PS3 and 360? are you kidding us? Nintendo is making ancient consoles for 5 year old's!!! people is buying it
because i'ts cheap,not because it's better!!! ok then,you start playing 3d pokemon, while i'm playing killzone 2...
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First your comment about Halo 3 not hitting $155 million, which it will quite handily, and now this. It's apparent to anyone reading your comments that you haven't got a clue, so why bother trying to make it look like you do?
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the gta game was already done......and if rockstar wasnt in such a tight spot, getting sued here and there.and parents complaining
hell they should sue microsoft for making their kids dirty mouthed' F@ggots........playing with a bunch of men in suits alone in between some rock's in a canyon........hell ....if i was out in space doing all that shizznit.id be tried to air phu-ck the halogram ,
thats a really low move' thank goodness on october sum'in will hear a world wide moan and cussing when all those pieces of shyt over heat and die.....the sad thing is microsoft wont change anything in their production to fix it and they keep denying the fact that the heat sink cooling off the main chip was the problem' cause it was built stuupid........
i cant wait till the graphics finally reach their peak...and the ps3 will be the only thing showing off the next "WOw!!!!!!" amazing graphics'...........then the'll anounce the xbox 720 or 5000...................they admitted they chose 360 cause they wanted a 3 in thier name to keep up with the ps"3", sad.......
and nintendo didnt chooose revolution cause it sounded too violent'.. and they needed something to scream GGGGGGGAAAAAAAA AYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! ohh yeah Wii sounds bout it, any gayer ideas...umm
pink f@ggot twinkle sparkly shiny old graphics eye toy like fun-fun toy' naw wii ill do
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And who are you, the games detective? GTA4 is clearly not done, and if you had even a 1% understanding of game developement, you would be intelligent enough to accept that.
So far, it has only been shown running on the 360 (therefore we can assume the PS3 is further behind in developement), and even then, it was clear that the game still had a LONG way to go in terms of optimization and performance.
So cut the cr@p and stop acting like a little kid. Oh wait, you probably are a little kid.
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But I don't think Microsoft is that stupid to delay a Take Two Interactive game just for Hell No 3 even though this time it looks worth buying.
I know that rockstar games will use this time wisley to bring the best content to the next up and coming GTAIV. I'm not really that upset as much as I was when I first logged on to gamespot and saw that bull.
I have alot of games coming out to keep me busy Neverwinter nights 2's expansion Sega's Expansion for Total War. Hopefully this time EA gets it right and makes NBA Live 08 worth playing. Call of duty 4 another title i can wait to grab a hold to and purpose to .
I think that's it with my selection so far then Next year sins of a solar empire.
I'm not going to diss Microsoft however while im in there stock lol.
Theres things to be said but i'll leave them alone untill gates isn't playing with my money.
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