When Grand Theft Auto IV was announced a couple years ago, it was proceeded by the shocking news how the Xbox 360 version would get dibs on the downloadable content, which saw two different episodes in a span of a year. Today, Rockstar Games has just revealed that the same content, both called The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, will be available for the PlayStation 3 starting March 30th. Each game will be sold separately for $19.99 on the PlayStation Network or gamers can buy a Blu-ray disc which includes both titles and can be purchased for $39.99.
PC owners can also get on the action and buy the two expansions for the same price, but also get some extra goodies. According to the company, not only can players use the exclusive “advanced video editor,” but also have multiplayer matches with 32-online players.
While it sounds cool, I’m not sure how great this is. Grand Theft Auto is a two-year old game, and if you head to your local GamStop and check out the used section, you find stacks of Grand Theft Auto IV games, meaning gamers didn’t keep the title. At the same time, you have to wonder if Microsoft paying $50 million to make sure Rockstar would make the content exclusive, was worth it. Apparently, it was just a time-exclusive deal, and as of now, I have a hard time believing enough Xbox 360s were moved to warrant the price paid.
Eidos has announced that gamers who buy the PlayStation 3 version of Just Cause 2, will be able to record a 30-second clip from their own game and upload it onto Youtube. If you’re unsure why this could be a neat feature for the game, than chances are, you have no clue what the sequel to the 2006 sandbox game is about.
The story follows Rico Rodriguez, a CIA black ops agent, whose main purpose in the first game was to overthrow a evil dictator who controls a fictional island inspired by Panama. While the landscape inside “San Esperito” is realistic looking, the action is way over-the-top; however, that is not necessarily a horrible thing either.
Rodriguez is once again sent out to another island, this time it’s geographically inspired by both New Zealand and Hawaii. From some of the footage we’ve seen, Rodriguez was see doing crazy acrobatic stuff like, jumping onto a flying plane or skydiving off a mountain. Sure, it’s totally unreal, but you can see how it could be fun in a videogame. And having the ability to upload some of your more crazy stunts onto Youtube — you can easily see how that could be a fun feature.
To be honest, I don’t know why more videogame companies haven’t taken an initiative to allow a similar feature. It also doesn’t make a lot of sense why they haven’t done this, especially considering many of the home consoles out there are hooked up to the Internet one way or another. Hopefully this is the beginning of more to come.
I’ve said it a million times, Crackdown is one of the most underrated games to come out this generation for any system. While it wasn’t an incredibly deep game and the story, quite frankly, sucked — it didn’t need to rely on those aspects. Its main focus was to make a simple, yet fun addictive game, told in an open-world. It was also one of the first games where I felt like a real super hero inside a living breathing city. Where it failed in some parts, it excelled whatever it did right.
When I heard that Microsoft greenlit a sequel for Crackdown, I was ecstatic; however, I’ve forced those feelings to be shelved until I saw a full trailer. I think a sequel has great potential and so much more can be done with the Crackdown universe, however, I’m a tad hesitant if this next installment will match the gameplay. The original developer, Realtime Worlds, is not working on the title because they’re busy coding on the ambitious massively-multiplayer-online game APB. So, Microsoft gave the responsibilities to the newly formed studio, Ruffian Games. While that sounds like horrible news, the team members actually consists of former employees who worked on the first Crackdown — so this just might work in the end.
GT has just released a teaser trailer for Crackdown 2, and they promise to show the full clip at the Video Game Awards on December 12th. So my hopes and fears could be answered that night. As soon as they premiere the video, we should have it on /gamer soon after. Stay tuned.
I’ve mentioned several times on this site that the first Just Cause was an underrated game; that just needed some development time polish it. Luckily, the team behind the first one, Avalanche Studios, was greenlit to release the sequel and hopefully they have been given enough time to fix the issues that plagued the first game. Up top is a trailer, which features some of the members from Avalanche talking about Just Cause 2 and so far, it’s looking like they learned from some of their mistakes, BUT somethings haven’t changed.
The part that looks great is the exploration and also the over-the-top mechanics to defeat the enemy. However, the ground action of the main character looks rather clunky. The basic firefights looks generic and the animations are questionable. I hope the team wasn’t trying to make something so innovative with the grappling hook, that they forgot to perfect the basic parts of gameplay.
Rockstar games has just released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV’s next downloadable content, The Ballad of Gay Tony. When the first DLC, The Lost and Damned, was released back in October of last year, it was overall met with good review. Although some people were disappointed with the content because it didn’t make the city ‘more interactive’ besides some new weapons and vehicles.
This time around, it looks as though Rockstar wants to make this next DLC a tad more fun to explore the city, which should help tell the next story of the GTA IV’s universe. During the trailer, you’ll notice a new helicopter; which seems like it’s easier to use its weapons and from the looks of it, the main character can use a parachute to glide around Liberty City.
The main reason why people love the GTA series isn’t because of the violence, it’s mostly because the city feels like a real breathing world. It’s looking like Rockstar is focusing more on the city this time around and what the player can do inside the landscape.
We already know that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS was met with fantastic reviews, but the majority of DS owners didn’t purchase the game. Later, the publisher, Rockstar Games, announced it was headed to the PSP. Although I don’t think the dismal sales initially forced Rockstar to port the title over to Sony’s handheld, but it certainly didn’t discourage them either.
If you thought the decision to port the game over to the PSP was big, then you’re gonna surprised by the company’s new revelation. Rockstar Games has announced that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is going to be ported over to
Apple’s iPhone/iPod Touch. The game is expected to be available in the App Store starting this fall which is around the same time the PSP version ships, but an exact date has yet to be revealed.
This is huge for Apple because they have been trying to convince gamers that their platform can be a real gaming system. We already know how big of a franchise GTA is and having it available for a device that so far, isn’t perceived as a serious gaming machine — is a win situation for Apple. Not only that, considering Rockstar doesn’t have to box and ship actual software for the iPhone; they just have to throw up a digital copy in the App Store, which means its not very costly to port and definitely worth the risk.
Update: Warner Bros. has sent out an email, saying the action title is still coming to stores. “This is Vegas has not been cancelled.” “The game is currently in production.” If more info breaks about this new gaming gossip, we’ll bring it to you
According to the website Actiontrip, Midway’s long awaited Grand Theft Auto style Las Vegas game, “This is Vegas” has been canned. About a week ago, Midway was acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and after the deal was done, This is Vegas did not make it when the deal was done.
Videogame retail giant GameStop is reportedly telling their customers who pre-ordered the title, that its no longer being released and they should pick up their reserve money. If head over to the company’s website, the game is notably absent for pre-order.
During development of the Las Vegas sandbox title, Midway spent anywhere from $40 to $50 million on the game. The company was hoping this one title was going to end up being a flagship franchise, and possibly the face of Midway. Apparently, Warner Bros. didn’t feel the same. (more…)
“Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night? Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic? Have you or a member of your family seen a spook, specter or ghost? If the answer is yes, then don’t wait another minute. Just pick up the phone and call the professional. Niko Bellic! His courteous and efficient staff are on call 24 hours a day to serve all your supernatural elimination needs.”
The only thing I wish the video used, was this song instead of the Ghostbusters ‘theme.’ If you’re a true fan of the film, I’m pretty sure you would agree.
Rockstar Games has just announced that Grand Theft Auto’s next downloadable content, Ballad of Gay Tony, will be available on Xbox Live starting October 29th. This will mark the second time Rockstar is releasing DLC for the sandbox game. Once again it’ll be exclusive to the Xbox 360, thanks to a contract between Microsoft and Rockstar.
The newest episode is going to follow a sketchy assistant named Luis Lopez, who works for Tony Prince, aka Gay Tony. Prince is a big time night club owner, who has been in trouble for allowing illegal actively, especially drug use, inside his own clubs. Towards the end of the story of Grand Theft Auto IV, it was revealed that some of his clubs were shutting down because of their low standards of complying with city ordinance.
The content will be sold for 1600 Microsoft Points, and will be sold as a retail bundle which will include GTA IV and the first DLC; The Lost and Damned.
When Alan Wakewas first announced by Remedy Entertainment, the game was supposed to be available for both the Xbox 360 and PC. Remedy at the time was no stranger to the PC, in fact many people figured that was their ’system’ of choice. They did remember, release their Max Payne series first on the PC and later ported them over to the consoles.
Sadly for PC owners, it looks like Alan Wake will be only for the Xbox 360 while the PC version has been shelved — for the time being. Although the decision was not made solely by Remedy. The game is being published by Microsoft, meaning it’s their choice what platform the game play on. The fansite Brightfalls was issued a statement from Remedy and they went into detail about why a PC version is unlikely to happen when the game launches.
“Thank you for your continued interest in Alan Wake. It is accurate that we are currently working exclusively on the Xbox 360 version of Alan Wake. PC plans are currently open, and therefore it’s safe to say that at least a simultaneous launch with the Xbox version will not happen at this late stage. Remedy has a deep heritage in PC gaming and would love to see a PC version available to its PC followers, ultimately however this decision lies with our publisher.”
It sounding like Microsoft is looking into any avenue that would help them sell a Xbox 360 system. There are quite a few hardcore gamers out there who are looking forward to Alan Wake, and wanted the PC version. By having the game only come out for the Xbox, that could force some gamers purchasing the 360 console, where if was available for the PC they probably wouldn’t have.
My guess is Alan Wake will eventually come out for the PC when MS feels it has peaked on the 360. Of course, that could easily be a year or more down the line.
Videogame analyst Michael Patcher has spoke with sources inside Take-Two and they have revealed that the publisher plans on releasing a new Grand Theft Auto sometime in 2010. The alleged game is once again being headed by Rockstar North and it’s believed the studio is working with the same engine used in ‘Grand Theft Auto IV.’
The sources from inside Take-Two have confirmed that if Rockstar North does release the game by the end of next year, the New York based studio would be entitled to a large sum of money. “When we do the simple math, we conclude that the next installment is likely to be completed by some time in 2010, although given the frequency of game delays, it is not clear that it will necessarily come before October 31, 2010,” said Patcher.
If this is indeed the case, it would be about two full years between GTA IV and this new one, which seems reasonable. When Grand Theft Auto first took the step into the 3D world with Grand Theft Auto III, it was about one year later we had Vice City and about two years after that for San Andreas. So it’s definitely feasible that we could see a brand new installment of Grand Theft Auto in 2010.
The bigger question however is, where will this next one take place? I’m hoping for a Washington DC type city, where the main character works with politicians ‘closely.’
When Crackdown 2 was first revealed, we were told that the developers behind the first one, RealtimeWorlds, would not be working on the sequel. Before Microsoft decided to green light the second installment, the studio was already well underway working on their next game APB. So when Microsoft thought a sequel for Crackdown could make them some extra money, they no choice but to hand over the duties to another developer. Much like the movie industry, when a particular director skips the sequel, the next film feels different — and not in a good way. The same can be said when a new team is on-board working on the next installment of a previous hit.
Newly formed Ruffian Games have assumed the role to develop Crackdown 2, however, they still might get that feeling of the first right — despite being a different studio. We already new some former employees of Realtime Worlds were hired at Ruffian, we just didn’t know how many. Now, the creative director for Crackdown 2 Billy Thomson, has confirmed how many ex-Realtime Worlds are working on the project. “Close to half of our team worked on the original game. We’ve got core members from every discipline who worked on it, the majority of the design team, and, depending on whom you speak to, some of the best coders and most talented artists,” he said while speaking to Edge. “But there are still guys at Realtime we want to be friends with, so we don’t want to get dragged into a slanging match,” he added.
It’s good to know that if done right, there is a high-chance that Crackdown 2 might outdo the first title, which I believe was highly-underrated.
Rockstar Games has just announced that the Sony PSP will be receiving the highly-praised Nintendo DS game ‘Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.’ The publisher confirmed the once exclusive DS title will be a port of the original game, when it heads to Sony’s portable system.
Chinatown Wars will be available to PSP owners starting this fall. When it is released, not only will there be a UMD version shipped into stores, but it is going to be available as a digital download for PSP Go customers the same day.
The reason for Rockstar to port the sandbox game is probably attributed to the less-than-expected sales of the DS version. When Chinatown Wars was released on the DS, many people, including Rockstar, were thinking the title was going to make huge numbers because of the brand name and the lack of ‘mature’ games on the system. Although, when it was finally released in March for the portable system, which sold roughly 30 million units, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars only moved 89,000.
Rockstar is hoping they can bank on Chinatown Wars on the PSP because of the systems history of mature content being successful.
If you played Crackdown for the Xbox 360, than you know playing with a friend over Live was a much better way to enjoy the title. It was the first sandbox game to feature another person to explore a virtual city with, and also beat it using a co-op mode.
If you were one of those people who did play it with a buddy and if you plan on buying the sequel Crackdown 2, then you might want to find two more friends. According to Xbox.com, Crackdown 2 will feature up to four player online co-op and the developers, Ruffian Games, will be adding 16 player multiplayer modes.
Sadly, the info on the website makes no mention of what exactly these new modes are, but we’re guessing revolve around things similar to Grand Theft Auto, along with more original ones. However unlike GTA, the characters you’ll be playing as will attain super-power abilities — which should make for some fun online battles.
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the trailer above.
When the original Just Causegame came out in 2006, I liked it. I didn’t love it, and I never even finished the title, but I did see a lot of potential.
By far, the strongest part of the sandbox game was having the ability to go anywhere. If you saw a mountain top in the far distance, you could get there, you would just have to figure out how. The world was also huge, which was estimated at 391 sq. miles. It had villages, cities, lushes jungles and everything else a country/state would have in a tropical area.
I really think the title was rushed out, and ultimately hurt the chances of it being a stellar game. When it was finally released, it was met with average scores. And the biggest complaint people had with the game was the controls — especially the handing of the vehicles, which could kill a sandbox game.
Edios is given the title a second chance, and we have the trailer for Just Cause 2. The game revolves around the same premise — go anywhere and access anything, inside a large country.
Graphically, I’m actually really impressed. When you see the main character, Rico Rodriguez, on top of the mountain looking at the land below him, is quite amazing.
