GTA IV Episodic Content Exclusive to Xbox 360

[Adrien C]

The PS3 is not selling in France, stores still have the first boxes from release day.

 

[Gargantou]

Thing is Blu-Ray is still far from necessary, the only games I know that've made use of more than a DVD9 has been games that have been smacked full of uncompressed CGI VIDEOs, ala some JRPGs.

 

[knut]

Hell no, you could make 2 AAA titles for 50 mil.
I would much rather see MS fund a whole new IP then pay that much money for some shitty extra content.

They still can, it's not like them handing over this wad of cash to Rockstar has made them in debt or anything. This is MS we're talking about.

 

[Combine Hybrid]

Who asked for Blu Ray to be attached to ps3 from first place? If Sony wanted to release it that badly, they could have released it on the seperate blue ray player, not add on PS3 just to boost up the price.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Ugh, but even the elite is ~$580 with wireless functionality...and that is without a next-gen dvd player. The difference is price is a worthless point to try to use against Sony. The PS3 is quite clearly the best bang for your tech buck. Whether or not you want it is your business.

$50 mil for two episodes? They'd better be real friggin good if they want to get the most out of that investment....

 

[VirusType2]

Who asked for Blu Ray to be attached to ps3 from first place? If Sony wanted to release it that badly, they could have released it on the seperate blue ray player, not add on PS3 just to boost up the price.

I'm pretty sure Sony was quite content with selling PS2's for the rest of your life, or until people stop buying them - whichever comes first. They had already spent the money to develop the PS2, and they were making nothing but profit from it. The PS3 comes from competition from the Xbox 360, PC, and Wii, and is anything but profitable at this point.

Come on, everyone knows that half the reason they made the PS3 was to introduce the Blu-Ray, there is no chance they would have made it optional had they had any hope of it being a success.

Ugh, but even the elite is ~$580 with wireless functionality...and that is without a next-gen dvd player. The difference is price is a worthless point to try to use against Sony. The PS3 is quite clearly the best bang for your tech buck. Whether or not you want it is your business.

Some corrections:


The elite is $480, not $580.

Also, the premium package for $399 (seen for about $315 or under at some online stores) includes wireless functionality as well.

The difference between the premium and elite - the elite has an HDMI port, an HDMI cable with separate sound connectors built in, in case your configuration demands it, a larger hard drive, and is now black. It also is already updated to use 1080p, so if you don't have internet access, you won't have to worry about downloading updates.



Also, whether the PS3 is the best bang for the buck is certainly debatable. It all depends on what you want from it. Regardless how you argue it, the core 360 can't do this or that, You still can still play any 360 game with a console that costs $300 or less, where the cheapest PS3 is $600

It was initially available in two configurations, the 20 GB Basic model and the 60 GB Premium model. The 20 GB model is still on sale in Japan, however it was discontinued in the US and Canada on April 11, 2007, due to lack of consumer demand.[5] The 20 GB model is still on sale in Japan, but has yet to be released in PAL territories.[6] On May 21, 2007 Sony announced that it would be releasing the PS3 in Korea in only one configuration, featuring an 80 GB hard drive and IPTV compatibility.[7] Sony has stated that a release of the 20 GB model in PAL territories is "highly unlikely".[8]

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

I'm glad PS3 includes Blu-Ray, by the time I'm interested in purchasing one the capacity will surely be used. For me the question really isn't if I'll buy a PS3, but when - hopefully when they have a solid lineup of games and have their marketplace and online play built into something great.

 

[StardogChampion]

Fingers crossed I'll be a tester for this game. I'm going to apply tomorrow. COME ON SON!!!

 

[DeusExMachina]

How become testa

 

[VictimOfScience]

The elite is $480, not $580.

Yeah, but with the cost of the wireless adapter for internet connectivity, it adds ~$100 to the price of the Elite (480+100=580). PS3 has wireless/bluetooth functionality built-right in.

Also, the premium package for $399 (seen for about $315 or under at some online stores) includes wireless functionality as well.

For the controller maybe, not for communication with a wifi hotspot--even the Wii has it. A big mark against the 360 imho.

The difference between the premium and elite - The elite has an HDMI port, an HDMI cable with separate sound connectors built in, in case your configuration demands it, a larger hard drive, and is now black. It also is already updated to use 1080p, so if you don't have internet access, you won't have to worry about downloading updates.

But still no next-gen dvd option unless you pay an extra $200. That makes an elite with the wireless adapter and the HD-DVD add-on ~$780! The 360 seems like a good deal because even the premium is a bit bare-bones, but the PS3 has all the functionality you could want at what is actually a pretty reasonable cost.

I am not just being a prat here, I may get a 360 too when the price drops and/or Bioshock and Mass Effect release. I just can't have a long-ass ethernet cable trailing all over my house because my 360 is connected to the HDTV in my living room. I will take wireless connectivity over 2 new GTA IV episodes any day.

 

[smwScott]

The 360 really is more expensive than the PS3 in the long run, at least for me. At $400 I would have to spend another $100 for wi-fi. Then there's XB Live (which I probably wouldn't subscribe to, meaning that I would have almost no online functionality from my console) which would cost $70 for the first year and then another $50 every year after that. Assuming I keep it for 5 years then that would cost me $770 and I still wouldn't have a Blu-Ray player or an HDMI port - and if I ever wanted to upgrade the hard disk I would have to pay MS a ridiculous amount for their proprietary drives.

But that's beside the point. As far as the GTA IV episodic content goes ... I highly doubt MS paid that much for it. And if they did ... then wow, I guess they ****ing earned it. There's no way they will EVER recoup that in hardware sales, chances are most people won't know or care about it before deciding which console/version of the game to buy. And I would also like to remind people that this is Rockstar. To my knowledge they have only ever done timed exclusives barring the circumstances where it was prohibitive to release on another console. I wouldn't be surprised if these episodes surface later for PS3/PC.

 

[No Limit]

Wow, a site with a .biz domain extension said that? It must be true.

 

[VirusType2]

Yeah, but with the cost of the wireless adapter for internet connectivity, it adds ~$100 to the price of the Elite (480+100=580). PS3 has wireless/bluetooth functionality built-right in.


For the controller maybe, not for communication with a wifi hotspot--even the Wii has it. A big mark against the 360 imho.


But still no next-gen dvd option unless you pay an extra $200. That makes an elite with the wireless adapter and the HD-DVD add-on ~$780! The 360 seems like a good deal because even the premium is a bit bare-bones, but the PS3 has all the functionality you could want at what is actually a pretty reasonable cost.

I am not just being a prat here, I may get a 360 too when the price drops and/or Bioshock and Mass Effect release. I just can't have a long-ass ethernet cable trailing all over my house because my 360 is connected to the HDTV in my living room. I will take wireless connectivity over 2 new GTA IV episodes any day.

I see what you are talking about now.

All my electronics are in one room, so I don't have to worry about it.

I wouldn't want to use wireless. Sorry for yah. It has to transmit back. I don't even know why anyone would use Wi Fi in their house, except for to play their gameboy DS. I think for a permanent solution, people should have a wire installed in each room that they want service. - like power outlets, and phone jacks.

See that's one more example of paying for something I don't need and won't use, so I'm glad it doesn't come with it!


I think everybody pretty much made up their mind about what system they wanted when the first details surfaced. Everyone has their reasons for whichever system they like best. I think I'm just going to stick with my PC. All the good games are coming soon. I might pick up a 360 when I can get it for about $200. then I'll go and get all the games for $20-$30 each. lol

Then there's XB Live (which I probably wouldn't subscribe to, meaning that I would have almost no online functionality from my console)

Xbox Live Silver

Xbox Live Silver will be free for all Xbox 360 owners with broadband and a hard drive or memory unit. Silver subscribers will be able to:

* Browse the Xbox Live Marketplace
* Access Xbox Live Marketplace downloads and Xbox Live Arcade games (premium content will still require payment to be downloaded)
* Create Gamertags and Gamer Profiles
* Use voice and text messaging
* Download new levels for games
* Watch (but not participate in) multiplayer online gaming

See I don't really mind the free service.

I've got free multiplayer for my PC and I've never used it, other than for about a half hour with Call of Duty.

Playing multiplayer on the PC, you never no what to expect with regard to everything. Cheating, hacking, crappy servers, dial-up users who are lagging so bad they appear to stutter across the screen, etc.

With Xbox Live, everyone seems to be pretty much 'on the same page' (everyone had a good connection speed) when I played Phantasy Star Online, and that was alot of fun, especially now that the game had voice chat, and everyone had a mic. So in that regard, Xbox live rules.


But, beyond MMORPG's I just don't like online multiplayer games. The other players are either way too good, making it impossible to live for more than 3 seconds, then I wait 3 minutes to respawn or something...

or the other players suck, and they hold me back if they are on my team or offer no challenge.


Plus, I prefer participating in a story or teaming up to fight against the computer enemies, rather than being confined to a box (a map) and shooting people.

Basically why I'm not buying Quake Wars, although I may make an exception for this game because it has huge vehicles to take down and stuff, and .. it's an iD game. Dodging rockets FTW.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

I wish playing games online with other folks was free, I could do without the fancy menus and downloads and stuff - but at least give me the basic online MP for free, that's the only reason to connect in my opinion.

 

[Stigmata]

I wish playing games online with other folks was free, I could do without the fancy menus and downloads and stuff - but at least give me the basic online MP for free, that's the only reason to connect in my opinion.

I feel kind of the same way, though I do like the menus an awful lot

The only reason I have XBL Gold right now is because Best Buy gave away a year's subscription with a purchase of Splinter Cell Double Agent when it came out.

 

[dream431ca]

Ya. Episodic content for X360.

On an off-topic note about this blu-ray stuff, I predict in 3 years, Microsoft will be near to releasing a new console, with more power, a bigger hard drive and a BUILT IN BLU-RAY DRIVE!!!

Since HD-DVD is not doing so hot.


I win.

 

[VirusType2]

Ya. Episodic content for X360.

On an off-topic note about this blu-ray stuff, I predict in 3 years, Microsoft will be near to releasing a new console, with more power, a bigger hard drive and a BUILT IN BLU-RAY DRIVE!!!

lol


I predict Apple entering here using your ipod for the hard drive and your iphone for the controller.

Since HD-DVD is not doing so hot.

don't get carried away.

The video stores around here don't carry blu ray or PS3, but have several isles for the 360.

It's even. If anything, Blu ray is losing right now. Unless they lower prices, in which case, HD DVD will just lower prices back. ..see the pattern?

I win.

Consumers win. HD DVD and blu ray will be priced to sell in no time baby. Couple years...


I just picked up a couple of recent VHS movies for $1 each. going to put them on my PC and use them for fire wood or something.

 

[VictimOfScience]

If anything, Blu ray is losing right now. Unless they lower prices, in which case, HD DVD will just lower prices back. ..see the pattern?

No. :cheese:

Blockbuster just chose Blu-ray exclusively as the hi-def dvd format of choice which is a HUGE win for that camp. Plus, HD-DVD player manufacutrers have had to scale back expectations this year because of demand (or lack thereof). The movement seems to be heading down one path more and more...but time will tell.

Time will also tell if the extra GTA episodes are worth a damn. I can't imagine them being all that exciting, but it really depends on how much cool new content will be included.

 

[Warbie]

For that much cash i'm expecting an expansion of some size. 10-20 hours gameplay, relatively large new areas and new weapons, cars etc.

Oh, it does seem that Blu-ray is stretching away into the lead - although it has no right to! *looks at tiny Blu-ray collection and compares it to awesome HDDVD collection*

 

[VirusType2]

For that much cash i'm expecting an expansion of some size. 10-20 hours gameplay, relatively large new areas and new weapons, cars etc.

Oh, it does seem that Blu-ray is stretching away into the lead - although it has no right to! *looks at tiny Blu-ray collection and compares it to awesome HDDVD collection*

Here is a report from Sony of all places. It has them about even.

If you weren't born yesterday, you know Sony wouldn't publish this if it was bad news for them, so take this with a grain of salt.


Here is a report from Sony. Sales are almost even.

This report is from almost exactly 3 months ago. I have read that as of this month (June) HD DVD is winning the sales in both movies and players.

Movies Sold according to VideoScan:

844k Blu-Ray
708K HD DVD

Pretty close. This doesn't include sales from Wal Mart or some online merchants.

Sony Report Reveals First Look at Absolute Blu-ray and HD DVD Disc Sales Figures


Among the numbers revealed: as of March 18, VideoScan put the cumulative number of Blu-ray titles sold since the format's inception at 844,000 units, versus HD DVD at 708,600.


While we should note that the VideoScan numbers are not all-inclusive (for example, they don't include discs sold at Wal-Mart or some online merchants), the lower sales numbers at the bottom end of weekly list and on display elsewhere in the report (where some titles are listed as selling fewer than 200 units since inception) are certainly still a sobering reminder that both formats still have a long way to go in their shared quest to supplant standard-def DVD.


And there have been many rumors floating around that Walmart will be making their decision about which format to support this winter, and it will be based on which one ships with the cheaper unit. As much as I am NOT a fan of Walmart. They will have a serious impact on who wins and loses the format war.

If Wal mart only chooses one, and they choose the cheaper one, I can't see how Blu-Ray will end up cheaper, meaning they will only stock HD DVD.

Especially when the HD DVD player for the 360 is only $200... Means to me they can get a stand alone player in stores for $200 in stores before the end of the year. Of course this is just speculation.

I can tell you with almost certainty, that if Wal Mart only stocks only Blu Ray or only HD DVD, it's over for the other, at least in the US. Wal Mart is pretty much the final word at least over here, as most Americans shop there over anywhere else.

 

[Warbie]

Both formats are hardly selling, it's in general awareness Sony seem to be dominating. My mum asked about Blu-ray the other day, people are talking about them in Blockbuster (I heard one employee telling a customer how much better quality Blu-rays were and that HDDVD has no decent movies :flame, Blu-ray adverts are on the tv.

Toshiba, Microsoft and Universal need to start bombaring the public with info, adverts, special deals and start shifting players/movies.

 

[VirusType2]

Both formats are hardly selling, it's in general awareness Sony seem to be dominating. My mum asked about Blu-ray the other day, people are talking about them in Blockbuster (I heard one employee telling a customer how much better quality Blu-rays were and that HDDVD has no decent movies :flame, Blu-ray adverts are on the tv.

Toshiba, Microsoft and Universal need to start bombaring the public with info, adverts, special deals and start shifting players/movies.

Toshiba, Microsoft and Universal need to start bombaring the public with info, adverts, special deals and start shifting players/movies.

They already have, and the results were conclusive. Pretty much concludes that the cheaper unit will be the one to be the market share holder, as history has shown in the past.

Due to the price cutting and rebate program on the HD-DVD players, sales of the stand alone players have soared up to %60 of all HD players sold

HD-DVD Sales Take Off
posted by: jmet, 05:38, June 13, 2007

Due to the price cutting and rebate program on the HD-DVD players, sales of the stand alone players have soared up to %60 of all HD players sold

True, this month Toshiba got a lift after lowering the price on its entry-level HD DVD player to $299.

HD-DVD Sales Take Off
Posted by: jmet, 05:38, June 13, 2007



In total, there have been around 150,000 HD-DVD players sold, in which 50,000 of them are sales just from the month of May. Now this doesn't include the HD-DVD drive add on for the XBOX 360.

Never the less, these low prices seem to be bringing out customers who at first were timid on either format. The rebate program will end on June 16th, for those of you who might be interested.

If they put stand alone HD DVD players in stores for $200 by the end of the year...

The cheapest stand alone Blu Ray player might be only $500 ($500 forcasted new price lowering by Sony on one of their models)by contrast.


I think the answer is obvious. Why pay $500 to do the same thing as something that costs $200, especially when movies are cheaper on the cheap er HD DVD format. This is forcasting though. Lets wait and see.


Thinking about getting one at the end of the year personally. Would be great to get some movies to play on my new HD TV.

Course I might just wait and get a 360 when the price gets in the $230 range, and pick up the HD DVD add-on.

 

[dream431ca]

Looks like Microsoft is turning to bribing companies. While Microsoft has to have "episodes" and charge extra money for these episodes, another console can fit GTA4 and all these episodes on to one disk. This is total bullshit. Microsoft loves to screw people when it comes to games. Stop this extra shit and make a whole ****ing game for once.

 

[StardogChampion]

Looks like Microsoft is turning to bribing companies.

Turning? That suggests they've just started. Why do you think Gears of War was a 360 exclusive? MS MONEH. That's why.

 

[dream431ca]

Turning? That suggests they've just started. Why do you think Gears of War was a 360 exclusive? MS MONEH. That's why.

Leave it to Microsoft to turn the gaming industry into a monopoly. "YAY! Now I can pay more money to continue to play the same ****ing game. Oh look. Microsoft just bought Square enix! Now we can play a watered down version of FFXIII! Oh LOOK! Microsoft just paid square enix to make 3 episodes of FFXIII! I love Microsoft!"

I guess money is more powerful than good hardware. Oh well.

 

[Warbie]

I think the answer is obvious. Why pay $500 to do the same thing as something that costs $200, especially when movies are cheaper on the cheap er HD DVD format. This is forcasting though. Lets wait and see.

Interesting read, Virus. I hope it does pan out as you suggest.

Hot Fuzz and Shaun are coming out on HDDVD soonish, along with Pan's Labyrinth. The lineup keeps getting better - come on everyone, spread the word

 

[dream431ca]

I think the answer is obvious. Why pay $500 to do the same thing as something that costs $200, especially when movies are cheaper on the cheap er HD DVD format. This is forcasting though. Lets wait and see.

The wait is almost over. Blu-ray is getting "exclusive" (if you wanna put it that way), rights to huge movies (Pirates of the Caribbean, basically all of Disney, the Harry Potter movie franchise, the star trek franchise, the batman movies, kill bill...Do I really have to go on?)

The real reason why Blu-ray is winning over HD-DVD, is because of marketing and not who has the better sound or resolution. Plus, Sony is the world leader in hardware manufacturing of home electronic products. If you were a movie director and your movie was a very successful one and If you had two companies to choose from Toshiba or Sony, and you researched the companies history, which company would you choose to release your movie on?

 

[Warbie]

Both formats have Harry Potter and Batman, afaik, is with Universal. You can't get Batman Begins on Blu-ray. Even with the movies you named I find the Blu-ray lineup to be struggling. Having said that, I love my Blu-ray copies of Kung Fu Hustle and Donni Brasco

 

[smwScott]

See I don't really mind the free service.

I've got free multiplayer for my PC and I've never used it, other than for about a half hour with Call of Duty.

Playing multiplayer on the PC, you never no what to expect with regard to everything. Cheating, hacking, crappy servers, dial-up users who are lagging so bad they appear to stutter across the screen, etc.

With Xbox Live, everyone seems to be pretty much 'on the same page' (everyone had a good connection speed) when I played Phantasy Star Online, and that was alot of fun, especially now that the game had voice chat, and everyone had a mic. So in that regard, Xbox live rules.


But, beyond MMORPG's I just don't like online multiplayer games. The other players are either way too good, making it impossible to live for more than 3 seconds, then I wait 3 minutes to respawn or something...

or the other players suck, and they hold me back if they are on my team or offer no challenge.


Plus, I prefer participating in a story or teaming up to fight against the computer enemies, rather than being confined to a box (a map) and shooting people.

Basically why I'm not buying Quake Wars, although I may make an exception for this game because it has huge vehicles to take down and stuff, and .. it's an iD game. Dodging rockets FTW.

Well, the PS Network allows you to do all the stuff that the Silver membership does too, also for free. And oh yeah, you can actually play the games you paid $60 for online without having to give a kickback to Sony. Though I get where you're coming from, online really isn't a big issue for me either.

But in your example of Quake Wars ... let's say that game was console exclusive and you didn't have a Gold membership. Unless you bought the PS3 version then you're ****ed. The majority of the people who own 360's aren't able to play games online ... people skip that point when they talk about how much better Live is than the PSN.

 

[VirusType2]

Well, the PS Network allows you to do all the stuff that the Silver membership does too, also for free. And oh yeah, you can actually play the games you paid $60 for online without having to give a kickback to Sony. Though I get where you're coming from, online really isn't a big issue for me either.

But in your example of Quake Wars ... let's say that game was console exclusive and you didn't have a Gold membership. Unless you bought the PS3 version then you're ****ed. The majority of the people who own 360's aren't able to play games online ... people skip that point when they talk about how much better Live is than the PSN.

I don't really know much about the Sony online service, but if it's free, remember that you usually get what you pay for. when I played my PS2 online for free, it was a horribly broken experience.

Playing multiplayer FPS games, there were only a couple lobbies available, if you could even connect at all, and someone (a player) had to host it, and they were always AFK. so that meant that someone on one team or the other was just standing there. You frag him, and he respawns. Over the course of a game, the final score didn't really reflect each teams skills because there was always a freebie somewhere on the map that could be killed on sight to boost the team score .

Also, like PC games, there will be a time when the game has aged a bit, and they will have probably closed down the servers for that game on the PS3.

I'm only going by past experience with Sony. Like I said, I don't know much about the PS3 service.


When it comes to live, the servers will most likely be up much longer in the games life, and fully thriving, and there is cheat protection and permanent bans for cheating.

My little brother has always just played to cheat. IDK what kind of satisfaction he gets from it; to piss people off and ruin their fun perhaps? With that said, in SOCOM on the PS2, the cheating was rampant. He used to play online in god mode, with a hack that keeps him from being booted or banned, and hid his username. So all they could do was beg him to leave or leave themselves. You can say he's an asshole that just likes to ruin the servers, but if not him, it's someone else; it's irrelevant.

That is just one game for example. In my best guess, the PS3 will become a repeat of that for their online games.


I don't think $50 or $70 is really that much money over the course of a year to pretty much guarantee a great online experience. Works out to $4.16 a month @ $50 a year, and $5.83 a month at $70 a year.


I'm not sure if the Sony service has matchmaking and things like that. Voice chat, voice mail, text messaging, text mail, friends features, and all of that good stuff like the Xbox Live service has. Those features are part of the free service on the Xbox Live.

 

[Gargantou]

Looks like Microsoft is turning to bribing companies. While Microsoft has to have "episodes" and charge extra money for these episodes, another console can fit GTA4 and all these episodes on to one disk. This is total bullshit. Microsoft loves to screw people when it comes to games. Stop this extra shit and make a whole ****ing game for once.

Erm.. Bribing? Grow up, this isn't bribing, heck the ****ing entire commercial game industry is dependent on MONEY, according to Take-Two, Microsoft isnt merely paying to get them EXCLUSIVE, they are PAYING for the actual content, i.e. they are paying the company the money so they can pay their employees salaries for the time they work on doing episodic content.

I bet if this was Sony you wouldn't ever use the word bribe.

Oh, and you are aware there's atleast one title that was originally multiplatform but went PS3 exclusive, do you think that just happend outa nowhere? I'd reckon Sony paid them some money for exclusive for a limited time.

OH BY THE WAY, are you aware during the PS2 generation, Sony paid Rockstars a shitload of money via a contract to guarantee that a certain amount of GTA games were PS2 exclusive for a certain amount of time? How is that any less 'worse' than what Microsoft did now? In a certain aspect it's almost worst, because they paid them to keep the GAME on one console for a limited amount of time, whereas MS is merely paying them to keep ADDITIONAL CONTENT for a certain amount of time...

It's obvious you're just pissed off because you(I'm assuming) owns a PS3 and are pissed because you are missing out.

 

[smwScott]

I'm not sure if the Sony service has matchmaking and things like that. Voice chat, voice mail, text messaging, text mail, friends features, and all of that good stuff like the Xbox Live service has. Those features are part of the free service on the Xbox Live.

It has all those things, and none of the problems you mentioned from the PS2 era. You can quickly find and join lobbies, quick match, etc. Sony even runs servers for its' first party titles, which is nice. There's also no cheating that I've seen, at least not yet. I have played with Live, mainly on Gears of War, and I've played a lot on the PSN primarily with Resistance. I can't see ANYTHING that Live is doing that PSN isn't in regards to the actual gameplay. In Resistance you get full matchmaking, voice chat, quick match ... all that stuff and 40 players at once lag free with high quality graphics.

Why should I be paying MS for this? If it was my 360 I probably wouldn't even be able to play games online at all, because I don't do it enough to justify the cost. But hey, MS gives you choice right? The choice of whether to never play any online games or pay them for the privilege. And if you do choose to pay them ... well, you can't make the "360 is cheaper" argument anymore, because it won't be when all is said and done.