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BREAKING: GTA 4 delayed till April 2008

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S

Sean*O

Member
Amused_To_Death said:
Enough with the nonsense and the childish console wars, does it ever get old?

This delay had nothing to do with technological challenges...It's not the PS3 programming environment nor is it the lack of a 360 HDD, it's about certain content in the game that certain powers deemed will not be acceptable for release in its current form after what happened with Manhunt 2...I can't say much more
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Interesting, thanks.
 
S

Sean*O

Member
Re: Manhunt 2,

The BBFC has refused to certify the PlayStation 2 and Wii editions of Manhunt 2, meaning that it will be illegal to sell the game in the United Kingdom[8] in its current state.

The Irish Film Censor's Office announced that the game would also not be available for sale in the Republic of Ireland.[10] This is the first time a video game has been refused certification by the IFCO (although games do not normally require certification, if they do require it, they must receive a certificate to be released).

Italian Communications Minister Paolo Gentiloni described Manhunt 2 as, "cruel and sadistic, with a squalid environment and a continuous, insistent encouragement to violence and murder."

Manhunt 2 would have been released uncut in Scandinavia with an 18+ PEGI certificate if not for Take-Two's suspension.

In the United States the game has received an Adults Only rating from the ESRB. AO is the most restrictive rating given by the ratings body; many American retailers will not carry AO rated titles[15] and both Nintendo and Sony have policies prohibiting third-party AO rated titles from appearing on their consoles.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhunt_2
 
R

Rody

Member
Amused_To_Death said:
Enough with the nonsense and the childish console wars, does it ever get old?

This delay had nothing to do with technological challenges...It's not the PS3 programming environment nor is it the lack of a 360 HDD, it's about certain content in the game that certain powers deemed will not be acceptable for release in its current form after what happened with Manhunt 2...I can't say much more
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LOL?
 
I

InterMoniker

Member
http://www.dailygame.net/news/archives/006459.php

For as much flak as Peter Moore got while leading the Xbox 360 team, it's hard to deny that his penchant for adorning his arms gave gamers a couple of very memorable moments. I mean, before Peter Moore's E3 2005 stunt, had you ever seen another executive get a (fake) tattoo for a key franchise (Halo)? And then, not to be outdone, walk into a second E3 with another (fake) tattoo for another franchise (GTA IV)? Seriously, Moore was Microsoft's biggest publicity whore, and he did a dang fine job of it.

But beneath all his excitement lay a few key lessons about Microsoft. For one, the company understood that without a killer exclusive like Halo, the Xbox brand simply wasn't strong enough to justify its R&D expense. That understanding is a key reason that before Knights of the Old Republic came along, the Xbox was playfully known as "a Halo adaptor for your TV." With Xbox 360, Microsoft needed to march onto its next achievement: stealing the "exclusiveness" of the Grand Theft Auto series from Sony. So when Moore strode on stage at E3 2006 with a GTA IV tattoo and announced that Rockstar's game would release "day and date" with the PlayStation 3 version, he was basically bragging like Bush when he said "mission accomplished."

But not so fast, Microsoft. Last week Rockstar delayed GTA IV until at least February 2008, a move that quite literally could have stolen every single ounce of leverage you hoped to have. In fact, that announcement could have single-handedly put your very-real competitors, Sony and the PlayStation 3, in the driver's seat in the GTA IV race, for three reasons.

First off, Microsoft paid $50 million for exclusive downloadable episodes for GTA IV, an unprecedented amount for content that the company presumably hoped would release during the holidays and drive Xbox 360 sales. Well, now Microsoft has not only dropped $50 million for yet-to-be-determined content, but the company has lost all hope of that content boosting holiday sales, because GTA IV won't even be in stores until late Q1 or early Q2 next year.

Secondly, with the delay of GTA IV until after the holidays, Sony has more time to boost its PS3 install base, which, depending on sales, could entice Rockstar to create exclusive downloadable content for that system as well. So, not only does the lack of holiday-released episodes mean Microsoft could fail to widen its install-base gap, but the company could actually see Sony close that gap once GTA IV comes out, because after the holidays Sony could have the critical mass to justify special episodes for the PS3.

Third (and most speculative), Sony could see a PS3 sales boost because Microsoft is shooting its first-party wad early. Rumors earlier this year said Microsoft strategically chose to release Halo 3 in September to appease Rockstar and not give GTA IV any direct competition on the Xbox 360's sales charts. November has been Bungie's sweet spot for Halo release dates, so September always seemed early; with this GTA IV rumor as context, the Halo 3 release date made much more sense. But with GTA IV now delayed, Halo 3 (if it doesn't end up being delayed) will release two months before the holiday shopping season really kicks off, thereby enabling Sony to come out of the Turkey-Day gates with a stellar first-party lineup.

To say GTA IV drives console sales is akin to saying B.B. King can play the guitar. So with Microsoft banking so much on those exclusive episodes, not to mention GTA IV releasing at a time when the Xbox 360 holds an install-base lead over the PlayStation 3, Rockstar's announcement couldn't have been any worse. Does the delay favor Sony and its PlayStation 3? Not necessarily. But it surely doesn't do anything but harm to Microsoft's holiday-release strategy.

If Peter Moore were still at Microsoft, I have a sneaking suspicion he'd be seeking out a tattoo-removal specialist. Because today, that enthusiastic showing two E3s ago that his "mission" was "accomplished" now looks like a 20-something inking the name of a one-night-stand on his bicep.
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^^ :lol These speculation articles are funny. This guy thinks Halo 3 will be delayed now...
 
O

Obturator

Banned
Router said:
What do you expect from an article titlled "GTA IV: Killing the Xbox 360, Boosting the PlayStation 3"


:lol
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I found that whole article to be a joke. Someone obviously has rose colored glasses to see it as a negative only to the 360.
 
D

Darji

Banned
. Rumors earlier this year said Microsoft strategically chose to release Halo 3 in September to appease Rockstar and not give GTA IV any direct competition on the Xbox 360's sales charts. November has been Bungie's sweet spot for Halo release dates, so September always seemed early; with this GTA IV rumor as context, the Halo 3 release date made much more sense
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That statement makes much sense. But Halo 3 will not be delayed it was only released early because of GTA.
 
B

Beer Monkey

Member
If GTA drives console sales, wouldn't one think that it may best drive sales for whichever console is at the most consumer-friendly price point? We're in a whole new territory with having compatible consoles at $500, $350, $280 (and possibly less than that by April).
 
T

TheJollyCorner

Member
beermonkey@tehbias said:
If GTA drives console sales, wouldn't one think that it may best drive sales for whichever console is at the most consumer-friendly price point? We're in a whole new territory with having compatible consoles at $500, $350, $280 (and possibly less than that by April).
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well... yes.


BUT what if the consumer is more interested in the Uncharted/Ratchet and Clank/GTAIV combo than the Halo3/Lost Odyssey/GTAIV combo? That would be a case where the more expensive price point can still sell.


This is also what people have been talking about regarding March/April '08:

MGS4/GTAIV might be a very compelling combo for people to save their Christmas money and look towards April. Not to mention the release of Little Big Planet and the possibility of Killzone 2 around that time as well.

This is why MS needs to get on the ball and unleash some Q1 and 2 2008 announcements.
 
J

justjohn

Member
TheJollyCorner said:
well... yes.


BUT what if the consumer is more interested in the Uncharted/Ratchet and Clank/GTAIV combo than the Halo3/Lost Odyssey/GTAIV combo? That would be a case where the more expensive price point can still sell.


This is also what people have been talking about regarding March/April '08:

MGS4/GTAIV might be a very compelling combo for people to save their Christmas money and look towards April. Not to mention the release of Little Big Planet and the possibility of Killzone 2 around that time as well.

This is why MS needs to get on the ball and unleash some Q1 and 2 2008 announcements.
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halo 3 downloadable maps
 
Angelcurio

Angelcurio

Member
Sorry to bump a week old thread, but Rumor Reporter has a new article regarding the delay of GTA4:

The Real Reason For The GTAIV Delay

Here’s the real scoop as to why GTAIV was “delayed”. It was never going to be released this year to begin with. Take 2 is in big financial trouble, and has been for quite some time. Isn’t it obvious this was the case? Come on, man. If either version of the game were actually causing Rockstar that much difficulty, that version of the game would have been delayed so that at least one version could have been released during the holiday season. Citing “difficulties during development” and not elaborating during a shareholder’s conference is the most obvious and painfully transparent deception of all. Take 2 told their shareholders that they’d have GTAIV out in 2007 so that they’d get more money from said shareholders. No investor wants to hear that the big money-maker is coming out in 2008 – especially when it’s obvious that the company is in financial trouble in 2007. The plan was always to release the game in 2008, not 2007. In fact, I would not be surprised if the game actually ships next fall.

If there are any developmental problems, they would stem from the Xbox 360 version of the game. The PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV has been in development longer than the 360 version has been, despite Rockstar showing off the “360” version every chance they get to show off the game. GTA IV’s technological “problems” on 360 stem from a couple of things. Unlike last generation where the PS2 did not have a standard hard drive, Rockstar is utilizing hard drive-caching and disc streaming for GTAIV. Assuming that they can actually fit all the content onto a DVD, the disc-streaming isn’t a problem for 360 – it’s the lack of a hard drive being standard. Microsoft is quite adamant about a game like GTAIV being able to be played by every single 360 owner. It gives them a marketing bulletin point to note that next-gen GTA can be played on a system that retails for $279.
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I just quoted the two most interesting paragraphs.

Link: http://www.rumorreporter.com/?p=308
 
J

jordan0386

Member
Whenever it comes out, the first 6 months, it will sell 5 million copies at least...so the quicker they get it out...the faster they can get out the pay stubs

Its not coming next fall, imo
 
P

PleoMax

Banned
So never going to get released this year anyway, no version is ready in the 1st place, but if there is a version that is having problems then that version is probably the 360 one despite the fact that they've only shown footage of the 360 version.

Right.
 
K

KachoMakura

Banned
Angelcurio said:
Sorry to bump a week old thread, but Rumor Reporter has a new article regarding the delay of GTA4:

The Real Reason For The GTAIV Delay



I just quoted the two most interesting paragraphs.

Link: http://www.rumorreporter.com/?p=308
Click to expand...


All of that is ridiculous. Especially the portion where it's been in development for PS3 longer, yet they've only used the 360 version for the trailers and previewing to press.
 
D

Defuser

Member
KachoMakura said:
All of that is ridiculous. Especially the portion where it's been in development for PS3 longer, yet they've only used the 360 version for the trailers and previewing to press.
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It's called rumor reporter for a reason.
 
G

GenericPseudonym

Banned
Defuser said:
It's called rumor reporter for a reason.
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Just because its a rumour doesn't mean the reporter has to be full of shit. The PS3 version is obviously further behind, or else they would have shown something. Now the cause of the delay could be anything, but the PS3 version is undeniably behind the 360 one.
 
R

rs7k

Member
That rumor still doesn't explain why they're not showing the PS3 version. Do you really believe Rockstar forgot to design their game for the Core 360 SKU, and now they're working hard to make it work?

They greenlighted the game on 360 as a simultaneous release, they know the limitations of the hardware as well as any developer. I'm pretty sure the PS3 scenario is much more likely if one version is delaying the other. You just have to look outside of Sony's own studios.

I'm pretty sure Rockstar started development on the next-gen GTA on 360, since 360 devkits were the first to be available. Makes no sense otherwise.
 
Z

ZeoVGM

Banned
Angelcurio said:
Sorry to bump a week old thread, but Rumor Reporter has a new article regarding the delay of GTA4:

The Real Reason For The GTAIV Delay



I just quoted the two most interesting paragraphs.

Link: http://www.rumorreporter.com/?p=308
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me?

Just look at the site. I can't believe that was even posted here like it had a slight chance of being true.
 
T

tribal24

Banned
hmm thats a odd rumour

mj_popcorn.gif
 
M

Mefisutoferesu

Member
Not trying to fan the flames, but there's potentially a very valid reason rockstar hasn't shown the ps3 version despite "being farther ahead in development," and it's worth 50 million USD. Simply put, it's was part of the contract they drew up with MS. BUT, it's just a silly rumor anyway, so who cares? (probably, the majority of GAF...)
 
Angelcurio

Angelcurio

Member
rs7k said:
That rumor still doesn't explain why they're not showing the PS3 version. Do you really believe Rockstar forgot to design their game for the Core 360 SKU, and now they're working hard to make it work?

They greenlighted the game on 360 as a simultaneous release, they know the limitations of the hardware as well as any developer. I'm pretty sure the PS3 scenario is much more likely if one version is delaying the other. You just have to look outside of Sony's own studios.

I'm pretty sure Rockstar started development on the next-gen GTA on 360, since 360 devkits were the first to be available. Makes no sense otherwise.
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Probably a marketing deal?
 
L

Littleberu

Banned
Couldn't it be only because Rockstar and Take Two want to split the profit evenly between their 2007 and 2008 fiscal year so that Investor will still want to invest in 2008?
 
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