Sony Blase in Face of GTA IV 360-Exclusive Content
Marketing VP says gamers don't care
31 Mar 2008
Link to this: http://news.spong.com/article/15112
Sony has dismissed the importance of the exclusive GTA IV heading to the Xbox 360. Its message? Gamers don't care.
Speaking in an interview, Scott Steinberg, VP of Product Marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), said:
"[Microsoft] spent the GNP of several small Latin American countries to get that [content], and if you've ever played San Andreas...there's a lot of game to Grand Theft Auto and there's going to be a lot of game to Grand Theft Auto IV to the point where I think most people will have that Grand Theft Auto experience on the PS3, day and date, same core game shipping on the 360. Perhaps they'll be shipping some episodic content in the fall, but there is a whole lot of product shipping on the PS3 in April and I personally don't think there's going to be a huge percentage of folks who jump into downloadable content for another price when they're still playing through the core product."
So... Steinberg doesn't think anyone will put in enough hours to GTA IV in the four months between release and Autumn to want more? SPOnG's dubious. It looks to us suspiciously like Sony has woken up and smelled the (hot) coffee and is scrabbling around for an excuse for losing out. Do you expect to not care about additional content for GTA IV by Autumn? Let us know in the Forum.
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Steinberg went on to explain why he thought paying for the extra content was a necessary move for Microsoft but not Sony.
"So while I do think having that brand on their system was a move for them which they felt they needed to make because they cut a big check for it, I think PlayStation fans know the Grand Theft Auto experience on the PS2 is how they grew up playing Grand Theft Auto, and when you combine GTA IV with MGS 4 and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, all the exclusive content that we've got going forward, I think that goes from tipping point to shoving point for consumers who are on the fence, wondering what platform should I buy. I think the clear exclusive message that we have is that the PS3 is where, not only do you get Grand Theft Auto, but you'll get MGS, you'll get Gran Turismo and these are also brands that have moved hardware units. It's the elite of the elite products that actually enable hardware to be sold with software and we'll have three of them."
OK, Sony does still have some exclusive content that packs a punch. But... the Halo series, anyone? Project Gotham? Granted, the developers for both games have moved on, but Microsoft is still sat on the rights...
To read up on the 'core game' Steinberg talks about, check out SPOnG's latest GTA IV hands on.
Source: GameDaily
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14 comments on-line.
Ive had one which was repaired and sent back, i bought it Xmas 06 (with Gears), but if i was to get another i would get an Elite for obvious reasons but i havent heard of any of them going down the RRoD maybe thats your answer?
First comment
Posted by The Absinthe Review Network
After saying this, he could be heard punching the wall for the next hour, followed by muffled sobs...
Latest comment
Posted by haritori
ELOHIMFETUS wrote:
Scratch that....Fable 2 would be why I will buy MY THIRD 360 ! Sadly, The others died well before their time. The PS3 is still going strong, I may even buy another just for Yellow Dog.
Ive had one which was repaired and sent back, i bought it Xmas 06 (with Gears), but if i was to get another i would get an Elite for obvious reasons but i havent heard of any of them going down the RRoD maybe thats your answer?
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