Microsoft in GTA IV Panic ?

[ZeroTolerance]

Will Rockstar’s big gun decide the console war?

Microsoft is shitting itself. The console war has been raging hard for over two years, and it is all set to come to a head on April 29th. The day GTA IV releases. At that moment Microsoft could lose the fight… and they know it!

You’ve heard of console shifters before: games that go so supernova that their very existence is reason enough for many users to invest in an entire console. The Grand Theft Auto series is a genuine console shifter. And it also happens to be a PlayStation brand.

Yes the series has gradually become multi-format, almost begrudgingly, over the years, but the truth of the matter is that the brands PlayStation and GTA are snugly intertwined. Each game in the GTA III trilogy (the original, plus Vice City and San Andreas) debuted on the PlayStation 2 well before it saw the light of day on the competing Xbox. GTA and Sony helped each other become the biggest game series and biggest console in the world.

Here’s a telling statistic - it is estimated that San Andreas sold just under 14 million units across the two formats: 12 million of those were on the PS2. But this time it’s different; the slate is clean, right? Same day release across both formats in a new generation of gaming changes things, surely?

It’s not that simple: it’s not even a question of which is the better console as it certainly looks like the Xbox 360 version will be the superior buy. It’s because a large proportion of GTA’s fans aren’t traditional gamers. They’re casual gamers who couldn’t resist the style, flair and gameplay offered by Rockstar and added a GTA to their library of Need for Speed, SingStar and FIFA. And as such, millions of GTA fans are not up to speed on the console war thing. They don’t care which format has the best games, offers the superior online service, or has the more proficient hardware. They see GTA, and they think PlayStation.

We heard something the other day, a line of dialogue that must scare Microsoft to death. It came from the mouth of a twenty something electrician as he installed a car stereo for a mate. He said “I bought my PS3 to play GTA IV”.

That wasn’t the comment of a fanboy, or an educated decision by a gaming enthusiast who had weighed up all the pros and cons of the two systems: it was simply all he knew. There was a GTA coming out, so he went and bought a PlayStation. Microsoft is desperate to change that mentality, but what started as a broad plan has seemingly deteriorated into panic. Here’s how…

Phase 1: The first knowing nod from the ‘Soft that GTA IV was going to be a pivotal point in this generation’s console war came a long time ago, when they brokered a deal for exclusive content. 50 million dollars they paid, US that is, to provide the legions of GTA fans with a reason to buy an Xbox 360 instead of a PS3. That is a shit-load of cash! It reveals just how important Microsoft see GTA IV’s release because they’ll need to ship a lot of consoles, a lot of software and a lot of Microsoft Points to come out a winner on that one.

Phase 2: The we’ll-pay-you-to-opt-for-the-Xbox 360 option. You would have heard over the last few days that if you pre-order the Xbox 360 version of GTA IV from selected retailers across the country, Microsoft will hand you 500 Microsoft Points. They’ll give you $8.25.

Phase 3: After paying for episodic content, and then offering to pay you, Microsoft has more cash to sacrifice in waving the GTA IV flag as vigorously as possible over their console. A price-drop. Not in Oz, not yet anyway, but elsewhere, including Europe.

At least with this step, Microsoft has a fighting chance of attracting the casuals away from the PlayStation brand. In fact, since the price-drop the console has been selling quite well we are told, with reports of a 40% increase in sales. There’s nothing like an opportunity to save a bit of cash to lure those in the cheap seats.

FULL ARTICLE

Not trying to start nothing, i just thought the author made some good points and some shitty ones as well..so what you guys think ?

 

[strikeselect]

:lol

 

[Kosma]

People will buy the console they wanted all along when GTA IV comes out, be it 360 or PS3, that measly price difference won't mean anything in that pricerange, especially in Europe.

 

[bj00rn]

What??

 

[SMZC]

This is not going to end well :lol

But some of his points are true.

 

[badcrumble]

Some good points made, but it really comes down to marketing. I'm surprised there hasn't been heavy TV marketing already, to be honest.

 

[DubloSeven]

What the hell?

 

[Kuroyume]

Why did you post this garbage?

 

[probune]

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[Hammer24]

This reads like a topic made by MikeB... :lol :lol :lol

 

[oldergamer]

Lol, that's some article you got there :lol

 

[Mindlog]

oh jesus christ

From here on out I am in full support of anal branding. I'm lighting the fires now. As soon as they're ready we'll be giving out free ass brandings so everyone knows what your favorite console is.

 

[jacobs34]

Wow, it's too early for this...

In other news, I get my repaired 360 back today, I'll let you know if its panicicking.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

We heard something the other day, a line of dialogue that must scare Microsoft to death. It came from the mouth of a twenty something electrician as he installed a car stereo for a mate. He said “I bought my PS3 to play GTA IV”.

Microsoft am doomed!

:lol

 

[The Faceless Master]

it made sense on paper i swear, then i saw what dmc4 did, at least in the usa.

 

[Keyser Soze]

 

[pswii60]

Not trying to start nothing

Of course not, I believe you. And this article comes from an extremely well-known and reputable site, too.

Spoiler

 

[AndyIsTheMoran]

based on install base in NA, and combined with a price drop if they have one, and if past multi platform game sales show any indication...then GTA IV should sell better on 360

 

[Issun23]

We heard something the other day, a line of dialogue that must scare Microsoft to death. It came from the mouth of a twenty something electrician as he installed a car stereo for a mate.

:lol

 

[FrankT]

Time for you to hit permajunior status like the rest.

We heard something the other day, a line of dialogue that must scare Microsoft to death. It came from the mouth of a twenty something electrician as he installed a car stereo for a mate.

:lol

 

[hauton]

He has good points, but labeling it GTA4 panic is pretty excessive.

 

[inner-G]

beaker.gif

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Rapping Granny]

 

[Cardon]

:lol. So is this thread going to hit 5 pages of nonsense or 10?

 

[Lostconfused]

I assume by console war he means the struggle for the 2nd place.

 

[bj00rn]

We heard something the other day, a line of dialogue that must scare Microsoft to death. It came from the mouth of a twenty something electrician as he installed a car stereo for a mate. He said “I bought my PS3 to play DMC4”.

:lol

 

[Captain Glanton]

Poor Beaker. He could never catch a break.

 

[Kafel]

stop linking to shitty blogs or alike

 

[webrunner]

It sounds stupid. But really, it's true. Because people are stupid.

 

[Psychotext]

This reads like a topic made by MikeB... :lol :lol :lol

:lol

 

[DangerStepp]

This looks like some garbage from N4G.

Edit: It's the second top story on N4G... imagine that. I'm beginning to think this is all a big joke. It is, isn't it?

 

[neptunes]

there will be plenty more threads like thus come april

 

[ZeroTolerance]

Of course not, I believe you. And this article comes from an extremely well-known and reputable site, too.

Spoiler

To be fair, they do get some exclusive news content every now and then you know. I remember reading an interview by them with Splinter Cell: Conviction developer who said the game would not be possible on the pstripple.

 

[Minsc]

The fate of the universe... decided by 20-something-year-old electricians. You heard it first on neoGAF.

:lol

 

[gkryhewy]

Absolute, Snah level garbage.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Microsoft is shitting itself.

Klosterman?

 

[evilromero]

Microsoft already lost the fight- to Wii (see the latest sales-age). GTAIV will be a fun diversion though.

 

[Hammer24]

 

[keyrat]

I think the article dismisses the 360 install base just a bit, but they do have a bit of a point. I have two friends who will be buying PS3s when GTA4 comes out. They don't know or care if there's a 360 version. To them GTA and Playstation means time to buy.

 

[pswii60]

To be fair, they do get some exclusive news content every now and then you know. I remember reading an interview by them with Splinter Cell: Conviction developer who said the game would not be possible on the pstripple.

Ah well, that makes this article completely orgasmic then. After all, they must have written the responses to that interview themselves.

EDIT: It's not like MS only just realised that GTA IV is coming out on both consoles at the same time. MS, as with Sony, both knew about this 3 years ago, and have both had all this time to panic about it. In reality though, Sony are the overall losers, as they don't have the time exclusivity that they did last gen, and this gen they've lost considerable market share to MS and Nintendo.

 

[Mojovonio]

He's 100% right.

 

[Hammer24]

I remember reading an interview by them with Splinter Cell: Conviction developer who said the game would not be possible on the pstripple.

So basically they are making shit up to generate hits? What a novel concept...

 

[nofi]

So many laughing faces in one thread. It's like we're all watching a comedy show, or something.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

To be fair, they do get some exclusive news content every now and then you know. I remember reading an interview by them with Splinter Cell: Conviction developer who said the game would not be possible on the pstripple.

Sorry but it bears repeating:

Microsoft is shitting itself.

That's about as reputable as a Cannibal Nutritionist opening a "Weight Loss Clinic" in the back of a Taco Bell.

 

[ZeoVGM]

I think the article dismisses the 360 install base just a bit, but they do have a bit of a point. I have two friends who will be buying PS3s when GTA4 comes out. They don't know or care if there's a 360 version. To them GTA and Playstation means time to buy.

Most people aren't stupid and know there is a 360 version.

And Microsoft will make it very known as well.

 

[-tetsuo-]

 

[dionysus]

Is the only outside source quoted in the article the electrician? I am not wasting my time reading it to verify.

 

[acm2000]

what a read, thread of the year, someone get this guy a medal

 

[AlexMogil]

"The 'Soft?"

Really?

 

[derder]

I think MS needs to start marketing GTA4 NOW. Make simple commercials that end with the Xbox logo. If they can drop $50 million on DLC, I'd imagine marketing would be a bigger deal.