Only GTAIV on 360 is complete experience, says Rockstar

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 26th 2007 at 3:00PM }

Speaking to Games Radar, Rockstar spokesperson Hosi Simon had some interesting comments regarding the Xbox 360 version of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. When asked about the Xbox 360 exclusive episodes and whether or not the PS3 version would receive any similar perks, Simon replied, "not that I can think of." Simon elaborates that the games are identical, and that Rockstar does its best to make games that can be enjoyed on any console. "We're not like a pawn between these [hardware] companies," said Simon. That said, Simon admitted, "But I guess if you want the complete experience with the episodes, then yeah, you should buy the 360, I suppose."

We must mention -- along with Joystiq -- that the term "exclusive" has become more and more loosely defined over the years. We have to wonder if the Playstation 3 will ever pick up the episodes as well. Whether or not this comes to pass, it will be interesting to see if the initial promise of exclusive downloadable content will make GTA fans pick one version over the other.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: grandtheftauto, grandtheftautoiv, gta, gtaiv, rockstargames, taketwo, taketwointeractive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Anticrawl @ Jul 26th 2007 3:10PM

Heh is it just me or does the man seem upset and maybe feeling a little dirty when he says that. I think rockstar feel's a bit whorish for making the 360 version the only one that's the complete experience and taking that 50million dollar "gift". In any case I'm glad this is true, the 360 rocks.

Anticrawl @ Jul 26th 2007 3:12PM

"We're not a pawn.." *Simon sniffs loudly and pulls his tattered shirt up to cover his chest*

Damn, that guy is in denial.

xenocidic @ Jul 26th 2007 3:13PM

rockstar sold out to microsoft and i couldn't be happier !

Anticrawl @ Jul 26th 2007 3:19PM

Agreed xenocidic, but you can tell they feel so dirty because of it.

TORO @ Jul 26th 2007 3:28PM

It's like when you did, but you know you shouldn't have...know what I mean?

eric.james @ Jul 26th 2007 3:33PM

The cost involved in developing the next gen games (both in dollars and learning curve) have caused most new games (which aren't developed specifically for one system or the other) to be written in such a way that they are easily ported from one system to another. Thus the bar has been lowered in some respects for the graphics and sound. The common denominator is now the translation layer that they write their code for and not the capabilities of the specific hardware platform. I have no doubt that the games that could be written for the Playstation 3 might be better than the XBOX 360 but as a developer you can't afford to waste time on an exclusive contract with one machine over the other; you have to go for volume. You can't come out with a game that looks incredible on the PS3 and only mediocre on the XBox 360 because if some plays the XBox version and is not happy they will blog that review and taint the games reputation. You must make the game look good on both without the benefit of writing to the hardware.

Trogdor @ Jul 26th 2007 3:35PM

I wonder how many fence-sitters who haven't gotten a next-gen console yet and who are GTA fans will be convinced to pick up a 360 instead of a PS3 because of this? My guess is quite a few.

Xbox 360 is set to do very well this holiday with the upcoming lineup. I can't remember a time when there were so many games coming out that I wanted.

TORO @ Jul 26th 2007 3:36PM

I get what your saying eric james, that's why Gears War couldn't be developed for PS3 :(

Anticrawl @ Jul 26th 2007 3:40PM

No TORO that's not why Gears of War couldn't be developed for the PS3. It's because Microsoft owns the rights to Gears of War.. it wouldn't even get to be an issue of writing it because simply Microsoft owns and published the game. Epic developed it.

T Ghost @ Jul 26th 2007 3:43PM

Learn to spin grasshopers:

"Rockstar oficcialy annouces Xbox 360 as the best choice for real Grand Theft Auto fans".

Now flood the forums...

lol

T Ghost @ Jul 26th 2007 3:43PM

Learn to spin grasshopers:

"Rockstar oficcialy annouces Xbox 360 as the best choice for real Grand Theft Auto fans".

Now flood the forums...

lol

dunnypop @ Jul 26th 2007 3:59PM

right now the 360 is still the system to get.
I can't wait to see what multiplayer features this game is going to have.

golano @ Jul 26th 2007 4:03PM

grasshopers what do you mean

TORO @ Jul 26th 2007 4:12PM

Lol Anticrawl, I know I was being sarcastic ;)

He said:

"I have no doubt that the games that could be written for the Playstation 3 might be better than the XBOX 360"

3rd 360 @ Jul 26th 2007 5:56PM

Too bad my 360 blew up, time to buy a PS3.

Knight Marquise @ Jul 26th 2007 6:29PM

Too bad you didn't get one of the five 360's I've purchased. All running smoothly, including one launch console.

eric.james the troll @ Jul 26th 2007 6:37PM

Hey eric.james, Keep telling yourself that, so you feel beeter about your purchase & Maybe 1/2 way through the life of your system about 5yrs your POS3 Might get a Good Game!
Sorry but YOU FAIL!!

Luigi @ Jul 26th 2007 6:52PM

Obviously this is a punch at the Playstation 3 format of the game but GTAIV is going to be the complete experience on the 360 because many developers, along with R*, are not at the level where they can produce games to their level best on the Playstation. Another point is that the Playstation, being the higher end and expensive platform as it is, hasn't gotten the install base as the 360 does. So what is a well-to-do developer to do - cave in and make as much money as they can - even if it means to dumb down their offering on the 360.

I'm not at all trying to bring out the inner fanboy in me, all I'm trying to do is put things in perspective. I know the fanboy bashing is coming but how about you wait till summer 2008 and compare the quality on games on both the PS3 and the 360. What do you think Microsoft will be doing then? Most probably showing signs of the new Xbox to hit the shelves within a year.

Eitherway, I don't care which system its better on, I love the game and I'll get it for my 360.

Peace
@-_-@

MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Jul 26th 2007 7:34PM

what do they meen full experience? what? are they gonnn take the ending off the PS3 and give it to the 360 exclusively. After RS said this it sound like there gonna give the PS3 an incomplete game. The sales for this game might dip because of this statement not because 360 owners will buy there verision they just killed my love for this game. first they put less content because of the 360 now i feel like im being threatend into buying the 360 verision. 50 million is not worth the exclusive content but i see it as just a loan and i guess 360 owners will be paying it back.

clavian @ Jul 26th 2007 7:40PM

I have both a 360 and a PS3, so I guess I don't really care, but I'm just going to mention that I think the notion of paying for a bunch of content to be added after the fact, when it should have just been added from the get-go, is a disturbing trend. I guess the 360 guys can gloat all they want, personally I'm happy to play the main game without paying a bunch for extra "content".

Any bets that by the time all this extra content comes out it'll end up pushing the 360 version of the game to around $100? Yeah, M$ sold out, what else is new? This time around, they're going to expect you to help pick up the tab.

ccc @ Jul 26th 2007 8:09PM

This is a victory for 360 owners. Anyway U look at it. If ur not happy about this and U have a 360,then I bet U also have a ps3. Which means your just an upset lonley ps3 owner.

Anticrawl @ Jul 26th 2007 8:34PM

Uhh clavian, Microsoft didn't sell out, are you retarded? Rockstar sold out to Microsoft. Rockstar didn't pay Microsoft it was the other way around you jackass.

Titty Pink @ Jul 30th 2007 12:04PM

So much BS here, where to begin...well I guess first up, I've "finished" all of the GTAs, and never got one even CLOSE to 100%, so I wonder what type of content is exclusive. Probably a few missions that may add to the main story, but not affect the ending at all. Hopefully the "content" is easily found and not a bunch of side missions that GTA is pretty popular for. You know, some real story driving stuff. Next, I just don't see how the PS3 doesn't have games arguement is still alive. In the first year they will have Heavenly Sword, Drake's Fortune, Motorstorm, Resistance, GTA, Haze, KZ2, Ninja Gaiden, Warhawk...the list goes on (maybe not much further), but for my 360 I was playing Halo 2 and COD until I beat Gears in 4.5 hours. I guess there was GRAW, FEAR, Fight Night, maybe a few others...but dude, the PS3 list is seriously strong considering it IS a first year effort. Halo 3. Lets get this out there, IT WILL NOT DESTROY EVERY SALES RECORD IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY. It MAY beat GTA on the 360, and may outsell everything this year, but I don't see it beating out Mario for the all time record. Maybe, but we'll see. Good on MS for getting this content for their customers, but PS3s are flying off the shelves as we speak, and the 4th qtr line up for Sony IS to be reckoned with. Halo is kind of a double edged sword for MS. Its sells like hell, but so many gamers who haven't bought a 360 and plan to are only doing so for Halo. So many cool games are not going to be touched by 360 owners because Halo has them by the balls. I dunno man, dudes keep comparing the stats of the Madden 360 version (which will probably suck either way...AGAIN) and shitty ports to the PS3 to get a warm fuzzy that they made the right choice in not getting a PS3. Many of these cats have never even touched one. All I'm saying is that the gap is closing. There ARE things to celebrate about being a 360 owner, especially if yours has already died and been ressurected, but don't count out Sony. It's kick ass hardware, and the software is surely catching up...try one, you may like it...

clavian @ Jul 26th 2007 10:27PM

Anticrawl: Thanks for the personal jab. No, really, thanks. I was actually starting to stray to the retarded side and your comment brought me back from the brink. Nothing like being called a name to wake you up! So, for that, I thank you.

Now, to my point. In the strict sense of the word, R* is the sellout, since they took the payout. You are right. And I'm a jackass for it. BUT, you have to ask which came first: Did M$ offer the $, or did R* offer the content? Personally, I don't care what took place, all I know is that it is going to cost gamers more $ for this content as a result--unless M$ shocks me and everyone else by releasing it for free. You seem to have missed that point. In the old days of exclusivity, the customer wasn't asked to pay more as the result of some massive financial payout. I can't deny that more content is GOOD, but when it begins to push the cost towards $100, which I can almost guarantee you it will, you have to start asking questions.

rockeranimefreak @ Jul 27th 2007 1:49PM

what the hell does the "O" stand for in "POS3"?
neways it's ps3. So yeah i don't have one but wanted to make that clear... this game is gonna rock on my 360! after bluedragon...

xenocidic @ Jul 27th 2007 10:13AM

@24 , i've only even ever heard of 2 of those games.

x360 forever baby !

LV426 @ Jul 27th 2007 6:57PM

Wiindows for the win... especially if more games start following the trend of cross platform multiplayer...

Shadow2K8 @ Jul 27th 2007 5:08PM

@ 26

POS3 is a fanboy term which means Piece of sh*t 3. Before PS3 was out fanboys use to call PS2, POS2.

Fanboys are taking what rockstar to literally. They said "But I guess if you want the complete experience with the episodes, then yeah, you should buy the 360, I suppose.". Meaning the only reason the 360 version would be the better buy is because of the episodic content that comes months later (and will probably cost you knowing Microsoft). Don't let fanboys try and spin this, if you don;t count the episodic content in the mix both versions will be identical.