Microsoft in GTA IV panic

[rbbdrooger]

Originally Posted by PirateThom

I don't think the 360 is dead or anything, it's not that, but I really question what Microsoft are trying to do with GTAIV. I really don't think it's healthy for manufactuerers to put their eggs in one basket (especially in a multiplatform case).

What do you question exactely? MS overhyping a game that's releasing on their system? Worked just fine for Halo and Gears.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by rbbdrooger

What do you question exactely? MS overhyping a game that's releasing on their system? Worked just fine for Halo and Gears.

There's a key difference here, though.

Halo and Gears are 360 exclusives.

Hyping GTA4 could backfire on them if people associate their memory of GTA3 with the PlayStation brand.

[Darth Daver]

Originally Posted by Icemage

There's a key difference here, though.

Halo and Gears are 360 exclusives.

Hyping GTA4 could backfire on them if people associate their memory of GTA3 with the PlayStation brand.

I agree, they need to advertise a bundle and only a bundle. GTA 4 with Xbox 360 only £$€ moneys (and better than the PS£ version)

That's the only thing Microsoft can do

[chedabob]

I've got an idea:

Put free money in the 360 bundles. Like 4x £5 notes. I'm not sure why it'll work, but it seems like a really good idea.

[Junkie13]

Pirate, don't forget MS have Gears 2, Fable 2, Ninja Gaiden 2, Halo Wars, Too Human.
Might not all be big sellers/system sellers. But they will all get over a million. Gears will get over 5 mill.

[rounds1]

Originally Posted by rounds1

It's also possible that the GTA series isn't seen "as much" of a Sony franchise given the fact that the xbox did eventually get all of them from last gen. and I'm sure it sold well.

Let's also remember that the 360 doesn't have any real heavy hitting games until later this year, so this is the one huge game they know can sell consoles in the meantime, no less probably the largest game of the year. I mean, we're talking about a game that'll probably outsell 2 of the 3 biggest titles that either Sony or MS are releasing this year combined. MS wants the larger slice of pie from that, so, yeah, maybe in that sense they are a little desperate. I doubt even they believe this one game will change the war, though. It'll change a few months of the war, but that's about it.

Should MS just roll over and let Sony have a huge slice of the GTA pie, simply because people have the impression that GTA appears on Sony's console only? I think they're playing their cards right for this point in time: a price cut was due in Europe and also in the US (which I expect before the release). But for this time of year, with the release dates for their biggies set as they are, this is what MS needs to do. And if they do sell more consoles and copies of GTA, it'll be yet another piece of market they've stolen from Sony this gen, so when GTAV comes out, maybe more people will associate GTA with the xbox than have this gen.

I think the price difference is going to be pretty big in this particular battle. There will be no mistaking which console GTAIV is appearing on when people walk into a Gamestop or Game or wherever because MS is going to have advertising all over the place. Maybe those PS faithful who go to the store to pick up GTA and a shiny new PS3, might change their minds when they see a much less expensive console sitting there that is offering the same thing, plus rebates, plus whatever other deals they have going on.

I mean, there's no mistaking that the article is laden with fanboyish drivel, but it brings about an interesting topic.

I'm just going to quote myself because it addresses Pirate's and Icemage's points, and nobody probably read it the 1st time...

[rounds1]

Originally Posted by boffo

GTA IV is a large reason why I ended up with a PS3 as well. Prior to launch I had been paying more attention to the Wii, but the inability to find it gave me the time to realize that I'd miss out on stuff like GTA IV if I just had a Wii. Of course that was well over a year ago, so I doubt that sale could realistically be attributed to GTA IV.

I'm not saying he's lying, but to say "this article is so true" based on him knowing ONE person, is a bit presumptuous.

That's all...

[boffo]

Originally Posted by rounds1

I'm not saying he's lying, but to say "this article is so true" based on him knowing ONE person, is a bit presumptuous.

That's all...

Well now we have documented evidence of TWO people, so we now know that it wasn't an isolated incident.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by rounds1

I'm just going to quote myself because it addresses Pirate's and Icemage's points, and nobody probably read it the 1st time...

Well, we don't have much longer to wait to see which way the sales tilt.

I've no doubt Microsoft will do better than the 1:7 sales ratio that they managed on GTA3.

I think it's a bit unrealistic to think new hardware buyers are going to sway to the 360 heavily over the PS3 at this point in time though. A year ago, I'd say they might have had a chance to sell more hardware, but the features on both consoles are roughly equal, even factoring the price. The 360 has an edge in gaming library, the promise of downloadable GTA4 DLC, a somewhat lower price tag, and a better online service (but one you have to pay for if you're going to play online). The PS3 has Blu-ray, better hardware reliability, and a free online service, plus stronger brand recognition.

Still slightly in the 360's favor, but it really depends how informed the buyers are on these issues, as well as how much weight they places on any/all of those features.

We'll see in a month or so after hardware/software results come in.

Originally Posted by Icemage

Well, we don't have much longer to wait to see which way the sales tilt.

I've no doubt Microsoft will do better than the 1:7 sales ratio that they managed on GTA3.

I think it's a bit unrealistic to think new hardware buyers are going to sway to the 360 heavily over the PS3 at this point in time though. A year ago, I'd say they might have had a chance to sell more hardware, but the features on both consoles are roughly equal, even factoring the price. The 360 has an edge in gaming library, the promise of downloadable GTA4 DLC, a somewhat lower price tag, and a better online service (but one you have to pay for if you're going to play online). The PS3 has Blu-ray, better hardware reliability, and a free online service, plus stronger brand recognition.

Still slightly in the 360's favor, but it really depends how informed the buyers are on these issues, as well as how much weight they places on any/all of those features.

We'll see in a month or so after hardware/software results come in.

Big bonus on the Playstations side here.