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GTA IV multiplayer to be 360 only

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GTA IV multiplayer to be 360 only

Microsoft’s Don Mattrick says that downloadable content will not be the only 360-only GTA IV extra

With the April release of Grand Theft Auto IV rapidly approaching, Microsoft has stepped up the format battle by re-stating that the online multiplayer component of the game will be Xbox 360 only.

The fresh news comes in a podcast on the blog of Microsoft’s Major Nelson, where Mattrick states: "GTA IV is an amazing piece of software and I'm really excited with its downloadable content and online multiplayer support. Again, that's something that's unique to 360.

"We think consumers are going to love that and it's going to create, what I would describe again as the premium experience on our platform."

It has already been announced that a host of post-release downloadble content for the game will be available only on Xbox Live.

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Oh boy

posted by Chuck Norris Feb 13, 2008 at 11:47 am
1
Chuck Norris

Online multiplayer 360 only? Emmm perhaps Rockstar need to confirm this...I can see many PS3 owners getting outraged if this is true.

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Oh snap!

posted by Ray Feb 13, 2008 at 11:56 am
2
Ray

Thats excellent news for MS, will be interesting to see exactly how many people will switch to the 360 version if they have both consoles

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Re: Oh boy

posted by Brett Stocks Feb 13, 2008 at 11:58 am
3
Brett Stocks

It would be benefitial to Rockstar/Take Two though. I can imagine the costs of running servers for PS3 owners wouldn't be cheap.

With Microsoft taking all of the costs and headaches on board, it probably wouldn't have taken much to convince Rockstar/Take Two to go 360 online only.

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Re: Oh boy

posted by _-MrT-_ Feb 13, 2008 at 12:09 pm
4

I should also imagine Microsoft have paid them a fat cheque for the priviledge.

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Re: Oh boy

posted by John Feb 13, 2008 at 12:22 pm
5
John

Nice to see my Xbox live sub. going toward something useful, be nice if they keep up stuff like this.

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Re: Oh boy

posted by Mike Feb 13, 2008 at 12:34 pm
6
Mike

I'm not all that bothered. Sure, online is important in this day and age. But, it's not for everybody and certainly not for every game. If online-enabled GTA is a 360 exclusive it won't take anything away from my own experience. GTA has always been a single player experience. Even with the multiplayer aspects of SA or the Stories games on the PSP couldn't convince me to deter from the single player campaign

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Re: Oh boy

posted by Fingolfin Feb 13, 2008 at 1:27 pm
7
Fingolfin

This is to do solely with the well documented difficulties faced developing for the playstation 3 console, coupled with Sony's achilles heal that is it's online service. Whatever argument you believe in terms of which console is better/sells better, Xbox do lead the console market in terms of online gaming. Why? Because it works...

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Re: Oh boy

posted by Feb 13, 2008 at 1:39 pm
8

Most likely a play on words. Most likely the 2 downloads will be online playable , therefore exclusive as PS3 won't ever be getting them. The main game content should really be same on both formats.

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Re: Oh boy

posted by Feb 13, 2008 at 2:18 pm
9

I really think the extra content of the 360 version that is downloadable isn't going to affect your average player of this game. For starters, only really net savvy individuals know about it, many average gamers on all consoles don't go trolling around forums for news and product details. How I see it is that when this arrives, a large number of PS2 owners of GTA III, VC, SA etc. will upgrade to the PS3 and not the 360. Sure there'll be extra content on the 360 if you download it, but most people aren't going to know that. I think this was a desperate attempt by MS to boost sales but I don't think you can under estimate the (pulling) power of PlayStation.

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Re: Oh boy

posted by WTF?!?! Feb 13, 2008 at 2:49 pm
10
WTF?!?!

MS running their mouth again!?!?!?

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=33065" onclick="window.open ( this.href ); return false;" class="comment_url" >http://www.gamesin...33065

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Re: Re: Oh boy

posted by Blahstick Jan 26, 2009 at 6:09 pm
11
Blahstick

aaaaah my head hurts, duhhh,
OBVIOUSLY NOT.
rockstar would not do that, gta started on the playstation.
and they have not done that,
sorry ima bit late

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