Update: According to some of our readers not all copies of Grand Theft Auto IV include the one-month free trial card. This does not seem to be based on which version you purchase (regular or special edition) or which region you live in. We're awaiting a comment from Microsoft.
Aside from securing exclusive downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV and being the primary promoter of the game in ongoing advertisements is there anything else Microsoft can do to make GTA IV standout? How about give away a month of Xbox Live service to everyone who purchases the game? According to THEBBPS, and verified when we all cracked open our retail copies, GTA IV includes a one-month free trail for Xbox Live Gold service which allows players to take their experience online.
Ordinarily Microsoft packages 48-hour trial cards with select titles to entice gamers to go online but with the popularity of GTA IV and the potential increase of membership activations this looks like a smart strategic move on their part. Maybe this is what they meant by future growth of the service the last time they did system maintenance?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-29-2008 @ 12:38PM
Paulypies said...
Zavvi (previously Virgin Megastores) in the UK gave away 3 months of xbox live with pre-orders of the 360 version too, so i got 4 months altogether. very happy about that:D
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4-29-2008 @ 12:40PM
Tony said...
Are these actually gold trials or just online play trials?
For example, the previous trial cards let you play online for 48 hours... but you'd not be counted as a gold user. You'd not get access to the early demos, etc. I always found that kind of annoying.
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4-29-2008 @ 12:42PM
Paulypies said...
they're full whack gold trials.
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4-29-2008 @ 12:46PM
Ample Salty said...
On the back of the card in the T&C it says 'only availible for new Xbox LIVE Gold subscriptions'. I was hoping to tack on a free month to my existing subscription but I guess not.
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4-29-2008 @ 1:30PM
Coffinfeeder said...
It will add it on to your existing account, trust me I've used these before. If your console breaks down microsoft will give you 1 month live cards that are basically the same thing- you put the redeem code in and it adds 1 month to your service.
4-29-2008 @ 3:20PM
DjDATZ said...
Yea, too bad on the front it says "If you have an existing Xbox Live membership, skip to step 4."
4-30-2008 @ 8:40AM
xenocidic said...
It worked for me. Tacked on an extra month.
4-29-2008 @ 12:56PM
vidGuy said...
Really? Is this only the special edition or whatever, cause my $60 copy didn't come with the card. No bother, since I already have two years of LIVE paid for, but unless it went flying behind the couch when I opened up the map for the first time I didn't get one.
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4-29-2008 @ 1:00PM
Dadidito said...
Came out to be a good deal for me.. bought my GTAIV at circuit city.. got a 10 gift card with it.. plus this..its a good discount
4-29-2008 @ 1:48PM
vidGuy said...
Maybe they put them in a limited number of copies? Looks YMMV.
Got my copy at a Gamestop in Davenport, IA, no Live trial.
4-29-2008 @ 2:06PM
dylan said...
Gamestop opens all their game packages, most likely the employee took out the cards to use for him/her self. This is one of many reasons I don't shop there.
4-29-2008 @ 2:44PM
Jim Halpert DM said...
Me and my roommate went and bought our copies today. He got a free month, and I didn't. :( I should have let him get in line before me. Karma.
4-29-2008 @ 2:53PM
vidGuy said...
Doubt my copy was opened, it had the original MS seal stickers and wrap.
4-30-2008 @ 2:32AM
John said...
Yeah, it seems to be random, or at least weighted. I got one with my copy purchased at Best Buy, but my friend didn't get one with the copy he got from GameStop. Don't know why; either way it blows.
4-29-2008 @ 1:22PM
Perno said...
Xav, you might want to mark this YMMV. I just bought my copy at Best Buy here in Tampa, FL and there's no free LIVE card in it.
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4-29-2008 @ 2:04PM
Perno said...
I did notice my copy had something like "Disc Manufactured in Mexico" stamped on the shrink wrap, so maybe that's why mine didn't have it?
4-29-2008 @ 1:31PM
Raheem said...
Can I activate this and will it just continue after my 12months into this free 13month?
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4-29-2008 @ 1:47PM
Jared Brown said...
I bought a special edition and earned a free regular edition in a door prize and both had the free 1 month trials.
Location: Gamestop in Pueblo, CO
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4-29-2008 @ 2:02PM
D Boy Flex said...
Got mine at GS, had the card. Added the code and it extended my existing account by a month. Sweet, a get to post pone paying BGates his yearly stipend for an extra month. Sucka!!!
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4-29-2008 @ 2:04PM
blank964 said...
Sucks that when I get this I'm still going to be at school and I'm leaving soon. I'll just use the two day one that I have from Halo 3.
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