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Microsoft on GTA DLC for PS3
Author: Joe MartinPublished: 16th May 2008
Will the PlayStation 3 be getting some extra GTA 4 sweetness too? Microsoft aren't too sure.
That doesn't mean that the PlayStation 3 won't also be getting some downloadable content though - just that the Xbox 360 will get some stuff the PS3 won't. Or does it? Eager to clean the whole confusion up, Gamasutra came right out and asked Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg the situation for Grand Theft Auto IV and DLC. Will Sony be getting any downloadable content from Rockstar?
"It's not possible as far as I'm aware, but that would be a good question to ask Rockstar," said Greenberg. "Rockstar and Xbox have only said there are exclusive episodes coming this fall to Xbox 360. I might put that up for a bit of wishful thinking on their [Sony's] end."
...which seems almost like a long-winded way of saying 'Dunno' to us, but nevermind. Either way it looks like Microsoft isn't entirely sure on the situation either and the PlayStation 3 owners may yet bag themselves a little bit of extra of the Niko-factor.
Are you still ploughing through GTA IV, or were you thoroughly unimpressed with the whole thing? Let us know what you think in the forums.
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... and yeah I'm still ploughing through it. Still plenty of things to do :)
How and why would Microsoft know if Sony is getting DLC? Rockstar has already said they aren't working on any DLC for PS3, but are interested in the idea of it.
Because Microsoft allegedly drove a dumper-truck full of cash to Rockstar, then (probably) held a gun to their head and made them an offer they couldn't refuse (DLC only on Xbox360, kapiche?). Rumours were around the $50 million mark, not sure if that's confirmed. Either way, if that's true then you can be damn sure Microsoft know what was written on the contract.
GTAIV is selling a lot, which means there is a lot of money to be made in DLC. I'd wager it's too much money to get Rockstar to completely ignore the PS3. I wouldn't be surprised if the $50million deal is not nearly as "exclusive" as we think. It is a bit obnoxious of a sum though, as entire triple-A games can be made for that amount.
MS paid $50M for the exclusive content
so one would assume that $50M would be more than enough to keep the DLC 100% exclusive
not that i think its fair on ps3 owners
Still doesn't explain why Microsoft would have any knowledge of Sony getting DLC. Of course they know what's written on their contract with Rockstar, but I doubt they know what would be written on any contract Sony may have made with Rockstar (not saying there is one).
here's the link
Not really, Sony has no contractual exclusive to MGS4, it's just Kojima is developing it for the PS3 only right now.
What I heard is that MS got an exclusive deal for the episodes, I don't see why the PS3 can't have other DLC like new cars or whatever.
Why are PS3 fans more real than xbox/PC fans?
It's not like PS3 owners are asking/expecting what MS is wanting for their 360, but atleast give PS3 owners some kind of something if you know what I mean....something that says "Yes, we know MS wants to pay us off, but we still love you and know you've been with us from the start, so we're gonna still give you something"......
So because even though I owned all the GTA games on the PS1 and PS2 I'm not a real fan because I decided that the 360 was a better system overall and I'm sure there are many other 360 owners who are the same as me.
Playstation didn't make GTA at all, the fans made GTA, and it doesn't matter what platform they bought it on, it also didn't matter if they were a fan from GTA1 or GTA3 or a new fan, they're still a fan and one is no better than another because they happened to buy it/be alive at the time.
When I said Playstation made GTA, what I meant was Playstation (not just the console in terms of HW, but the owners/fans as well) is what allowed the GTA series to thrive, versus it being released on PC or another less-worthy console at the time. Without PS, there would've been much less of a community and all I'm saying is that GTA really started off on the PS and for Rockstar to "forget" about that and to only give DLC to 360 and take the money, to me, (if I was a PS3 owner) would be an insult.
I didn't mean to say that no 360 owners are "loyal/true" fans, just that PS3 (based on the #'s) shows to have more which to me merits some sort of "worthy" DLC to give to the fans (and not just give it to 360 only) again that's my opinion on it.
Errr what the hell are you talking about? I had a PS1 and a PS2 and got all the GTA games on those systems. Did I have an Xbox? Nope. Do I have a PS3? Nope. Do I have a 360 and did I get GTA4 on release day, yep. Would I get GTA4 on the PS3 over the 360 if I had both systems? Nope. I like Xbox Live and achievements so it was no contest.. I would have purchased a 360 (it's cheaper) for GTA4 if I didn't have one already; not a PS3. Will I get the DLC content? Probably.
How could a PS3 owner be any more "loyal" than me? And do you realise now the irrelevance of the term "loyal" in this situation?
People who love microsoft need to wake up
Microsoft are a bad company who only care about 1 thing
PROFIT
Take vista or windows server as prime examples both buggy peaces of crap that if you have to work with on a daily basis ( i do ) then you would hate microsoft for all it stands for.
I own a 360 its been sent back 4 times ( imba ) Quality control and not a rushed release would of solved 90% of all issues.
i own a ps3 never broke
i own a good pc ( i built it myself no issues)
I dont like sony much either.
Rockstar will do what is right if they have any ideas of selling future products.
Gta4 was a huge disapointment for me. Expected alot bigger things. Instead all you get is mass pop up and other issues. (freezing been one of them) ( waits for release of gta 4 vice city or whatever they call it. )
hardware sales wise are like
800 units for (50 million dollars well done microsoft) (62500 dollars per unit sold loss)
PSP DS WII all still outselling both supposed next gen consoles.
And uh, what is Microsoft supposed to care about? Selling products as cheaply as possible? Weaving trees out of happy puppies? Wake up, welcome to business.
What's "Right" means nothing here. I'll support R* taking a "moral position" when Gran Turismo and Metal Gear come to my 360.
I love it when people accuse companies of only loving profit. It's like saying people only breathe so they can live :p
That's a real revelation to me: imagine a private company wanting profit? Goddamn it I was going to donate to the charity that is Nintendo then, until I realised that they too, are also a private company
To quote Team America: "jeesus titty f***ing christ" :(
Anyway: rant over. It would be nice to see some DLC for the PS3, but the game is so huge I doubt I'll be wanting any more :) If it's really cool stuff I'll go and grab a 2nd hand Xbox 360 copy....damn does that make me a fanboy?
It makes sense for R* to sign a contract for the current most popular next gen system as well, this isn't a case of them abandoning the Sony ship imo. All Sony offered them was a system to make their game on, if they hadn't existed, they would have made the exact same game on xbox, and it would have sold just as well, because it was a Good game, not because of particular fans.
its kinda like complaining that someone else won a race - "He got there first!!"
You made me cry :(
Hey, that's Sega's fault not mine. Considering that the damn thing had the capability for 1.2GB games, decent graphics, a small formfactor, reliability, and the gusto to run EVERYTHING, it should have done a lot better. But nope, let's release it sans hype, hot off the heels of the Saturn, into a market against the big kids. Epic failure awaits.
WAIT what? your saying that PS3 sales have been higher all year compared to 360 sales? are you talking about the game or the game console? and are you talking about 2008?
I'd like to see some proof on that.
Not that it really matters, as the 360 has a larger base most likely given its lead in the market.
DLC is going to be HUGE. It IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE. Look at HL2 and the episodes they do...
You are also underestimating all the people that will either re-subscribe or purchase a new live account, which is just money in MS's pocket.
(if they can get 75% or higher of all GTA4 purchases on live, thats HUGE. Huge for advertising on live, huge for future sales via live, etc etc etc...)
You really are underestimating the entire marketing / advertising / customer base aspect of live.
happily all xbox360 exclusives come to pc. So we dont need to worry about broken hardware.
I also never said that what MS did was bad, unless they take away a gaming experience for other loyal fans all because of sheer money, but like I said in my last post, "Rockstar is the one who signed the contract", so it's really Rockstar's choice. I believe that exclusive content is fine or hell even timed, but to take away a better experience altogether for fans on the other side that are more than willing to shell out the money and make their experience with the game that much more enjoyable is just a mistake.
...Have you ever seen Yahzee's console roundup, and his rather simple explanation that console fanboys seem the product of a simple fact, that Mum only buys you one console, and if you make the -wrong- choice you're ****ed? I think that's about the case for you. HOW have PS3 owners "Proven" they love the game more? By purchasing a console? That seems ridiculous. Now, if you've already had a 360, and went ahead and bought a PS3 JUST FOR THIS GAME AND NOTHING ELSE, then well... maybe you're an idiot? I just don't see how a PS3 owner is more loyal. Were I R*, I think that a $60 revenue for a 360 disk is just as good as a $60 revenue for a PS3 disk. Plus, I think the sales are either equal, or skewed in the favor of the 360 - since unless PS3 owners are buying MULTIPLE copies (see the idiot clause), there's simply no way that the maximum sales there can be in excess of the 360's. Finally... Hardware wise? What, did you buy a special branded faceplate for your cons.... oh wait it doesn't support that. What about a custom GTA IV Sixaxi... wait nope, that doesn't exist. So does that mean your "loyalty" argument comes down to the fact that you paid MORE for your console? That hardly seems to be a valid reason for you to love a game more.
Any anyway, R* don't really owe anyone anything, you give R* money, they give you a game, doesn't really matter whether that person has bought every R* game to date or just that one. You're paying for the game, not some wishy washy loyalty to a fanbase. There also isn't really much to complain about if you don't get any DLC, it was made clear way before the release of the game that if you wanted the full experience you get the 360 version.
Like Microsoft and Sony, Rockstar care about only one thing...
Collect undepants
...
PROFIT
not loyalty, of course you have to be seen to be good to the fans, it doesn't come first
The idea of one lot of console owners being more loyal to the game is ridiculous. A vast amount of PS3 owners aren't even games players to start with.
I've just picked up a PS3 and GTA4, having never owned a Sony console in the past (or an MS console) but a huge GTA fan having played most of the previous titles on the PC.
I can't say I'm particularly bothered about DLC either, by the time it comes around the game is generally past it, the content is merely mediocre and the next big thing is taking all of the headlines.
Ctrl + Q? Mission Accomplished.
Also, Tad - if the vast majority aren't games players... then why buy it? I'm assuming they could be using it as a BR player, or home theare hub, which the entry level model does a smashing job of for the cost.
And if it has been undercut by set-top players in the states, its only happened relatively recently.
When you factor in that plus having a modern console, media centre capabilities and massive scope for expandability, its an absolute bargain.
Yep that's totally it, plus it's buiding up a nice games library, albeit not exclusives
I could care less about the DLC (the game itself offers enough as it is); it's just the moral of it to me. I don't own either console to prove my point further.
You are right in saying that the game is enough without DLC...for me it is, but others will want it
Hardware sales have been higher on PS3 all year when you combine worldwide sales. And in North America there have been a few weeks where 360 outsold by a few thousand. Otherwise its been PS3 with more sales. for proof you can go to www.vgchartz.com and see all the weekly sales of the consoles.
Software wise the 360 has sold more copies of GTA4 in North America (3.12M > 1.75M) by alot yet the attach rate is lower than PS3. In Others (Europe, UK) PS3 sold more copies of GTA4 ( 1.54M > 1.25M ) and again has a higher attach rate.
In Others 28% of the people that own a PS3 bought GTA4.
In North America 35% of the people that own a PS3 bought GTA4.
In Others 19% of the people that own a 360 bought GTA4.
In North America 26% of the people that own a 360 bought GTA4.
Thats quite a bit of a difference there.
Also, I dont have the numbers exactly, but I found them on the same site I said above, and it showed that the percentage of sales increase for each console was alot higher on PS3 in both NA and Others.
Doesnt look like MS got their moneys worth from that $50M. Looks like people still think of Playstation when they hear GTA.
Can't see what that has to do with it tbh, the xbox currently has the most sales (the ps3 may be catching up but that doesn't matter just now) they were offered a truckload of cash to develop exclusive stuff for the console with the highest sales seems like a easy one for me and any one else whos ever sold any thing. PC gamers feel they get a rough deal from devs like epic because if it weren't for pc gamers they're products would not have sold (ut put them on the map) thus feel a bit of perturbed by abandonment.
The PS3 hasn't been abandoned the game has been released at the same time as the x360 its missing some dlc but then don't get mad a R* they made a business decision get mad at Sony, they let the dlc go for a mere $50m.
That's a bit different, R* didn't come out saying "Yeah we love the PS3, we've joined the we love the PS3 club" and then turn around and not give DLC for the PS3. Epic have joined the PC gaming alliance, but so far have done nothing but slate the PC.
So far ive not seen much DLC worth buying on xbox live apart from new map packs and race tracks or songs. Other crap like skins are a waste of time.
If the release a new island with a new story and missions then i might be interested. I guess we will have to wait and see.
When was anything orginal made for either console that was actually any good? ( Gears of war is overrated nonesence, The pc version just doesnt cut the mustard in the world of fps games)
Mass effect now been ported to pc is only thing i can think off. And even then its buggy,
Its all follow ups of follow ups. Wii still destroying both consoles in sales makes me laugh at all ps3 and 360 fan boys. The wii has sold more in a week than both sold in 3 weeks in some cases. nearly 800k sales compared to 400k total between them ( rounded up).
If rockstar cares about money they should make a game on Wii would sell well going on assumptions here.
Pc gaming is home of mmpogs , FPS . Strategy games. And some RPGs. Everything else has gone to console, Were it sells well.
Look at age of conan now. Funcom have already said if you can run it on medium it will look better than the 360 version will. You will need a hard drive also on your 360. Rules out all arcane and core consoles straight away. Pitty ms wont split the sales and say what is selling the most. Cause it would be intresting to see if the arcade tops sales.
If online gaming is the future havent MS already ruled out the biggest online game since World of warcraft from there list of games since most consoles have no hard drive that have sold. ( and how many people who own a 360 will pay another £11 a month to play it.)
MS keep saying online gaming with DLC is future but there 2 main sellers, Arcade and core consoles both have no hard disk. Cost of one is £60 extra on top of price. that puts it into elite pricing for the ability to go online and play these games. Most wont do it.
People paying for stuff thats availible for free always makes me wonder why they do it. Wasnt mass effect said to be 360 exclusive as of only september last year ? Now its comming to pc in less than a month, 6-8 months timed exclusives. Id prefer to wait for the better game
IIRC a surprising amount of Wii owners don't actually buy games, they just play Wii Sports.
The Wii has a large audience, but not a large % would be interested in GTA.
Wii games do sell, but aren't predictable. Just because GTA sells on PS3 and 360 doesn't mean it'll sell on the Wii. The audience just doesn't match. Casual gamers don't care much for GTA Wii, hardcore gamers know it'll be more fun and better on 360/PS3/PC and Rockstar know it'd be a challenge to make that game for that system.
Hell, I wouldn't buy GTA Wii. My Wii only comes out for parties now.
Anyways its owning PS3 and 360 in sales, but once the price of PS3 comes down and more casual games come out ( Little Big Planet type games ) you will see sales pick up like crazy. Look at PS2. Its sales started off very similar to what PS3 is now and once price went down its sales skyrocketed.
What about 360? Honestly I dont think sales will really improve at all. I hear about people who said PS3 was the worst thing ever and got a 360 but now are wanting a PS3. But I dont ever hear about it the other way.
Oh ya... DLC. as others said once it comes out hardly anyone will care. So MS just wasted $50M. I would have accepted $25M from them to tell them this would happen. :) Theyd be better off.
DLC is actually hugely profitable for Microsoft and Sony. People don't make a big deal out of having it, but they sell like hotcakes. Look at Bethesda - think they'd have made all those DLCs for Oblivion if they weren't getting cash? Even after Horse Armour was slated they still pushed on with it even though they had no contractual obligation - and this is a game very much aimed at the hardcore. DLC offers developers a chance to make decent money with relatively little effort. It's hugely attractive.
As for the PS3 - yes, when the price comes down it will get bought more. But I'm not sure it'll change much. It isn't going to get a price reduction for too long (and don't forget, Sony still loses $260 on every one they sell) and even then the 360 and Wii will still be cheaper. Casual games like Littlebigplanet are attractive to hardcore players like us, but I'm honestly not sure any actual casual gamers know about it. Especially when compared to something like Wii Sports or Wii Fit.
Will the PS3 shift more units as the price falls? Undoubtedly. But considering that it launched late and that the Wii has grossly outsold everything else, I don't think it'll be a huge seller. Most households will already have a 360 if they are hardcore, a Wii if they are casual or midcore. The PS3 is more attractive as a media unit, which is what Sony is pushing it as now. I think that last fact belies the fact that Sony knows it is losing this generation.
You can point back at the success of the PS2 and say that bodes well for the PS3, but you can take that logic and apply it elsewhere. Next gen we'll be pointing back at the success of the Wii as an indicator of future successes. All we end up proving though is that the future is uncertain and past brilliance doesn't make the future certain. The PS2 didn't have any real competition last gen anyway - the GC was underpowered and the Xbox was new on the field. This time round the Wii has leapt forward in terms of innovation and the Xbox is a more visible brand.
The loses sony and microsoft make on consoles is well known. The orginal xbox was making a loss of $150 + on release(never did make a profit)
Little big planet is kinda hyped up for casual market. as a hardcore gamer it has no intrest to me at all.
June onwards could become the year of the ps3. nearly everyone at work that i know will buy it for mgs 4. Same way alot of people brought orginal xbox for halo ( myself included)
Id expect dlc to sell. Wether ms will make back the 50million is questionable. say its $7 thats an awful lot of games to make back your cash ( about 715k people to make a profit)
its about what 3million total sales on 360 same ish on ps3
1 in 3 people have to buy dlc for it to break even. Unless its a new island with tons of new missions
not just cars or new skins
Then they wont do it.
By the time next gen is out the costs will be astrominical if they intend to keep up with pcs.
Id be suprised if next gen upgrades the graphics alot more than we are seeing now. Crysis is about as good as it can get. Next step is total realisim graphics wise.
I'm sure a lot of people will be buying a console for GTAIV (I did) - and the only real differences between the PS3 version and the xbox360 version are DLC and price - both of which the xbox wins.
supposedly the $50M was a loan. And Microsoft gets all the money from sales of the DLC up to $50m and then it goes 100% to rockstar.
The 360 may have DLC and lower price but the sales showed that PS3 hardware sales increased alot more than 360 hardware sales in all regions. I guess DLC and price made no difference?
Ah, I stand corrected if that's the case.
we'll see how much it dropped off for last week in North America. The sales should be up later today or tomorrow. ( www.vgchartz.com )