Posts tagged GTA at Xbox 360 Fanboy

Posts with tag GTA

Rumor: EA purchases GTA community site for $3.4m [Update]

Posted Mar 24th 2008 5:30PM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: Rumors

Update: Forum MODs have just confirmed for us that this was an April Fool's joke. That's strange though because we could have sworn it was still March. Thanks for wasting every body's time!

Confident they'll soon be the owners of all things Take Two Interactive, Electronic Arts has made a push to acquire GTANet.com, one of the largest Grand Theft Auto communities online (which is comprised of 11 different GTA based websites). According to reports, EA has acquired the site, including all domains associated and all statistical information about its members (as listed in the above email scan from EA to GTANet owners found by WhatIfGaming), for $3.4 million as of March 22.

If true, Electronic Arts would have one of the largest databases of information of any Grand Theft Auto community available. Speculation aside, we wonder how important this information is to EA if they were to acquire Take Two.

While the owners of the GTANet have not posted an official confirmation on the matter, the GTAForums.com logo has been changed to incorporate the EA insignia adding fuel to the fire. With this supposed acquisition we wonder Take Two acquisition press release is being edited as we speak.

[Thanks, Chris]
[Read, full email scan]
[Read, GTAForums New Logo]

Pachter: GTAIV to sell 9 million overall, 6 million on 360

Posted Mar 12th 2008 7:30PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News

In other news, the sky is blue. But seriously folks, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan has gone on record to say that Grand Theft Auto IV could sell as many as 9 million copies by Halloween 2009 (it just so happens that Take Two's fiscal year ends on October 31). Furthermore, he expects the first 6 million to be sold within the first week of the game's availability. Using arcane mathematical wizardry, Pachter also believes that the game could generate an operating profit of $135 million, thus making it responsible for 103% of Take Two's high end predicted operating profit of $130 million. Yeah, we're confused too.

Anywho, buried in this prediction is another prediction that the Xbox 360 version of GTAIV will sell 6 million copies, leaving 3 million for the PS3. The 6 million estimate is raised concerning the 360 exclusive downloadable content. Pachter doesn't see the DLC as something that's likely to succeed, as it would require a download by 50% of GTAIV owners who are also Live members. Not impossible, but not a sure thing either. Pachter concludes by noting that GTAIV looks like the only bright spot in Take Two's 2008 lineup, saying, "This is clearly a company that is losing market share, and as we review the lineup for the balance of 2008 and 2009, we see more of the same type of games we have seen over the last three years." We guess releasing the same games repeatedly doesn't work for everyone.

[Via Joystiq]

GTA IV Pre-Order content unveiled & underwheling

Posted Feb 15th 2008 6:45PM by Terrence Stasse
Filed under: News

It's been rumored that Microsoft had something up their sleeves for baiting gamers into pre-ordering GTA IV on 360, and now it 's been revealed what the proverbial dangling carrot really is. For a while it was speculated that because of the games delay we would be seeing one of the exclusive DLC packs free for folks who pre-order. Sadly, the reality is nowhere near the fantasy, and the real pre-order content is rather pedestrian. Everyone who pre-orders the game (online and off) will get 4 exclusive GTA Gamerpics. Those who pre-order in brick-and-mortar stores will recieve a Limited Edition game case (it remains to be seen whether or not this is the tin, or just a regular plastic box.) As a small bonus, that Limited Edition game case includes an entry form for a contest to begin on xbox.com by mid-March.

New GTAIV scans found in the wild [Update]

Posted Feb 7th 2008 11:15AM by Xav de Matos
Filed under: News

Update: Some details in the original Games Aktuell article are reprinted from prior releases, no new information was made available in the article from what we know. We need to learn how to read in German.

Xboxygen got their hands on the latest issue of the German gaming magazine, Games Aktuell, which is loaded with ~~fresh details and~~ screens of Grand Theft Auto IV. Among the ten new images scanned from the issue, ~~a slew of new info~~ some existing details were reprinted. NeoGAF forum members posted some details last year, including:

Missions are denoted on the map with a symbol and a suggested route (like in Saint's Row)
The woman with the lollipop in the promotional posters is named Lola, and it's hinted that she is a prostitute
Ammunation shops no longer exist
The default driving camera is lower and to the left, in order to be more realistic, but other options are available
You can have a taxi drop you off anywhere in Liberty City, even at special locations such as restaurants and hospitals
In one mission Niko is tasked with killing Mr. Goldberg, a pesky lawyer. During the cutscene leading to his death, Goldberg says, "I don't fear guns. You know, guns don't kill people. Video games kill people."
Niko will wear a helmet every time he jumps on a motorcycle

Also there are unconfirmed reports that one button lets you get into a car, a second button starts the engine. Sounds like an interesting mechanic. As more details pour out closing in on GTAIV's April 29 release, we get more and more excited to live the American dream along with Nico. If we sound bitter it's because we're upset our issue of Games Aktuell got lost in the mail.

GTAIV viral marketing: wanted posters

Posted Jan 31st 2008 12:45PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: Fan stuff

Now that Grand Theft Auto IV has an official release date, it's time to let the viral marketing begin. Enter this scarily realistic wanted poster uploaded by Flickr user freshyill. Honestly, is that the kind of face you'd want to see at your car window late at night? The answer to that question is an emphatic no. Actually, we're a little curious to see if these posters raise any stink, because they could be mistaken as real posters by those who aren't in the know. Let's just hope the folks behind the viral marketing don't take it too far and actually rob a bank.

Halo 3 UK sales high, but fall short of GTA record

Posted Oct 2nd 2007 11:45AM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News

Last week's UK game sales numbers were released today and surprise, surprise, Halo 3 sits high atop the pile. According to calculations from UK media sales group Chart Track, Halo 3 topped the UK game charts and in the process doubled Xbox 360 console sales to their highest levels of the year. But records weren't smashed, because Halo 3 wasn't able to dethrone the behemoth that was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' record setting sell through from its PS2 glory days. Though, we don't think Bungie will have have a hard time accepting a second place UK all-time sales record, because they still have their $170 million record setting Halo 3 launch in the US and nobody can take that away from them. Ha!

GTAIV delayed until 2008's second quarter

Posted Aug 2nd 2007 5:45PM by David Dreger
Filed under: News

Take 2 Interactive just announced that Grand Theft Auto IV will be delayed until 2008's second fiscal quarter, to compensate for some development processes that have taken longer than anticipated. The release confirms that this is taking place for both consoles, so it should be expected than when a new firm date is announced, that the 360's will mirror the PS3's.

There has been no word of what this means for the episodic content under development for the 360 version of the game, as it was initially scheduled for a second quarter release in 2008. While we are saddened that we won't be experiencing Rockstar North's grand opus this holiday, our wallets definitely feel the pressure being lifted, if only slightly. We'll have to wait and see how this affects Microsoft's projected game sales this holiday, as 2004 may still remain top dog with the absence of GTAIV in October.

[Via Joystiq]

Only GTAIV on 360 is complete experience, says Rockstar

Posted Jul 26th 2007 3:00PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News

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]

GTA IV news from a Turkish Xbox mag?

Posted Jun 20th 2007 8:30AM by David Dreger
Filed under: Rumors

We got some potential tantalizing tidbits of Grand Theft Auto IV from a Turkish Xbox magazine. Since this is posted in the Team Xbox forum, we're going to classify this as rumors until further confirmation. That being said, some of the stuff has been alluded to before, so it's not out of the question. Simple stuff like slight vibrations for your strides when running, or a lack of a HUD, with visual cues ingame instead sound reasonable. Getting something more than a lousy t-shirt for completing the game 100% is almost a given. Liberty City will be larger than Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas combined has been heard before. Some RPG elements from San Andreas will be included, expanded upon as well as removed, for example the love interests, working out and eating have been cut, but skill development is still in. For more details, and potential features, click the "Read" link.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Rockstar: 360 hindering GTAIV development

Posted May 2nd 2007 12:30PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News

Speaking to the Official Playstation Magazine, Rockstar's creative vice president, Dan Houser, noted that the Xbox 360's lack of a guaranteed hard drive poses a challenge for the development of Grand Theft Auto IV. When asked directly about the issue, Houser agreed that the hard drive issue presented limitations. It should be noted, however, that Houser elaborated that both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have their share of challenges. As Houser put it, "both have their own particular pleasures and pains." What exactly these pleasures and pains are is anyone's guess.

For what it's worth, the version of Grand Theft Auto IV being shown to the press is running on an Xbox 360. Do with that what you will.

[Via Digg]

Staten Island slighted by GTAIV

Posted Apr 12th 2007 11:30AM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News

Many will recall yesterday's big Grand Theft Auto IV news including plenty of new details about the game. One of those details is causing a bit of a stir in Staten Island. It was revealed yesterday that only four of New York's five boroughs would be represented in GTAIV, with Staten Island being left out. It seems that Staten Island (or at least one of its newspapers) is miffed at its exclusion from the game. As John Annese writes in the Staten Island Advance "When did Staten Island get run off the road as a borough of New York City?" A gamer at a local gaming center stated, "If you're gonna base a game on the five boroughs and you leave out one of the boroughs, it's kind of unsettling" (he added that he would still probably buy the game though).

Of course, not everyone is displeased with the news. Linda Baran, the president of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce noted, "That's something I appreciate being left out of." A mother at the gaming center shared similar sentiments, noting that GTA is "not a great game" and that her son wasn't allowed to play it.

Naturally, as game journalists, we're disappointed that so many people remain unaware that games have grown up over the years. Still, the response is expected at this point. Considering the flack companies have been getting lately for basing their games on real world locations, it's interesting to see things turned the other way around.

[Via Game Stooge]

Loads of new GTAIV details rounded up

Posted Apr 11th 2007 1:30PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News

With scans of the latest Game Informer hitting the net earlier today, our paymasters at Joystiq have uncovered lots of juicy details about Grand Theft Auto IV. There are so many details, in fact, that it would be impossible to enumerate them without the aid of a bulleted list. Lucky for everyone, we have such a function handy for just this kind of situation. Many of these bits were copied directly from Joystiq ~~because we're lazy~~ to preserve clarity. So, here we go.

Continue reading Loads of new GTAIV details rounded up

GTA IV scans hit the internet (and run)

Posted Apr 11th 2007 11:15AM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: News

Our buddies at Xboxygen nabbed over a dozen scans of Grand Theft Auto IV (GTAIV to the kids) from the latest Game Informer. The screens give a nice idea of the level of detail in the game, as touched upon by the recently released trailer. The shot above in particular is a great example of how alive the game seems to be. In this shot, you can see reflections on the car, realistic shadows, and of course, lots of pedestrians. It's unfortunate that this shot shows off two identical NPCs (the women in white shirts and jeans), but the level of detail is still very impressive. There are also some nice shots of GTAIV's locations, cars, and characters (including some character art). Hit the "read" link to check 'em out. Be sure to head back here and tell us what you think.

GTAIV trailer reimagined in real life

Posted Apr 6th 2007 5:00PM by Richard Mitchell
Filed under: Fan stuff

Video games have a way of creating dedicated fans. With the advent of YouTube and viral videos, many video game fans are turning to user created movies. Some films, like the ones produced by Mega64, poke fun at video game conventions. Other films take existing game engines to create new stories, something that has become very popular with Halo and Halo 2. This video, however, brings something different to the table. The video is a recreation of the recently released trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV. The entire video is done in live action. That in itself is worth a look, but what makes it even more interesting is that the video is composed entirely of clips found on YouTube. Has society come so far that we now make YouTube videos from pieces of other YouTube videos? Simply astounding. Give it a watch, check out the original, and tell us what you think.

[Via GamePolitics. Thanks, Pedro Monscooch ]

It's time for Super Bowl commercials!

Posted Feb 4th 2007 5:15PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: Fan stuff

In roughly an hour the world's most watched television broadcast will begin. Super Bowl XLI will kick off in Florida tonight with the Colts pitted against the Bears (that's American football for those of you who don't know). But why do we bring up a sports event on an Xbox 360 fansite? Well, there is a very good reason for that ... commercials! Tonight, during the game, watch for any video game related commercials. Rumor has it that Coke will be airing their GTA inspired commercial during the football game. And although not video game related, the guys over at Digg just might be in GoDaddy's commercial. Just keep your eyes peeled and feel free to discuss your favorite commercials ... let the pizza eating begin!

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