GTA IV: Xbox 360 and PS3 versions to look different, 360/PS3 sales ratio estimation

[admin]

The difference is the way they look. Apparently, according to Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser, the Xbox 360 version looks "more clinical" while the PS3 one has a "softness" to it.

http://xboxer.tv/2008/04/there_is_a_slight_difference_between_gta_iv_on_xbox_360_and_ps3_says_rockstar_boss.html

If there is a correlation between the GamerMetrics data and the U.S. NPD data (and there somewhat is), I estimate that we are going to see a GTA IV sales ratio of anywhere between 2.2 to 2.7 in favor of the Xbox 360 - which is also in the same ballpark of the current Xbox 360 to PS3 lifetime-to-date hardware sales ratio of 2.4.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18288

[damanisjon]

LOL I doubt that sales ratio will be anywhere close due to the following:

http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/04/23/grand-theft-auto-iv-leaked-online/

If I was an analyst I would start taking large numbers out of that prediction, specially looking at download numbers for past "worse rated" downloaded games.

[BR7]

They must be just referring to the states.I just read an article that said

Neither gamers nor retailers can agree, as MCV-UK reports conflicting beliefs from various retailers in Europe. "Both titles have generated great interest on the Asda website, with strong pre-orders, and the PS3 version is selling three times that of 360, which is surprising and not in line with what we'd expect," said Asda's head of games Duncan Cross.Link

[admin]

The figures are for US. There was also a poll commissioned by IGN a couple of weeks ago, with similar results. Don't know what's going on in Europe, but certainly lots of Australian/New Zealand users are buying from European retailers to get their uncensored copies of the game (me included). I've read reports where the Xbox 360 UK version is selling better than the PS3 version too, and another report which used pre-order stats from just one store to claim one format wins over the other.

One thing to note that if you pre-order the 360 UK version from selected retailers, you get 500 gamerpoints and 4 exclusive gamerpics ... pretty sure Asda aren't getting this deal, so don't think many people will pre-order it from them. I think only GAME and gamestation.co.uk (which is owned by GAME) are getting this official deal. In fact, the official Xbox GTA IV page even has a pre-order link to gamestation.co.uk.

HMV is also offering 1000 gamerpoints but isn't an official Microsoft deal I don't think. So people would be crazy not to pre-order the 360 version from GAME/gamestation or HMV, IMO (1000 points can get you a Live Arcade game or two, or at least go towards buying the exclusive 360 content to be released later on). Of course, most people will just rock up to the store and buy it on release day, so pre-orders stats aren't very conclusive.

This is a huge game and I think a very very large percentage of existing 360/PS3 owners will buy the game, so total worldwide hardware sales will probably determine which console sells more copies (if so, then it's most likely the 360).

[BR7]

GTA IV gives us characters and a world with a level of depth previously unseen in gaming and elevates its story from a mere shoot-em-up to an Oscar-caliber drama. Every facet of Rockstar's new masterpiece is worthy of applause. Without question, Grand Theft Auto IV is the best game since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Here is the entire review from IGN LINK. I can not wait to get this

[admin]

10/10 on everything is a pretty amazing score. The review also said both versions are great, the PS3 has less pop-ins and looks slightly sharper, while the Xbox 360 has richer colours. There are framerate issues on both versions, but it only happens very very rarely (I know someone who already has the PS3 version and he says that framerates sometime drop to very low, less than 10 FPS, but has only happened once). I think the most amazing things about the game are the small details like the new physics engine, pedestrian interactions and so on, and I'm very excited to try and find them all.

Hopefully my UK uncensored copy will get here next week sometime via UPS. I actually have an Australian special edition on order too and it will be here on Tuesday (release date) via express post, but I think I might sell that version on eBay since I ordered it before I found out about the censorship (and didn't want to cancel because the SE is very hard to get here in Australia now).

[BR7]

There are framerate issues on both versions

When are the 100GB discs coming out?I think this would be better for future games and movies.The last articles about this was dated back in 06-07.Have you or anybody here come across anything new?

[admin]

I think the framerate issues has to do with the 360's slower processor (as compared to the PS3) and the PS3's memory bottleneck problems (hence the need to pre-install content on the HDD). If anything, if games get so big that they require 100 GB discs, then the install time would be even worse, unless the extra space is used for pre-rendered movies and such (just like the early days of CDs, when the only games that required the 650 MB were FMV games). If 100 GB is textures and stuff, then I don't think even the PS3 can handle this much information unless there's like 300 levels that need to be loaded separately or something (which is good for longevity, but it will get boring real quickly if you need to spend 300 hours to finish the game). The best games don't need a lot of space, but it can certainly help make a great game even better.

The reviews I've read are all pretty surprised that this game manages to run at all, considering the complexity (AI, physics, open game world), so framerate issues will be there but I don't think it will affect the GTA IV experience at all, not if these reviews are accurate.

There's too much that seems to be "right" with GTA IV, that finding problems and comparing which version is the most awesome feels more like nitpicking than anything else.

[admin]

Just did a quick browse through the various online stores to check on GTA IV pre-order stats, and here's the results (video games sale rank):

Amazon.com: Xbox 360 @ #4, PS3 @ #6
Amazon.co.uk (UK) : Xbox 360 #1, PS3 #2
Amazon.ca (Canada): Xbox 360 #2, PS3 #3

DVDCrave.com.au (Australia): PS3 SE #1 (almost none left), Xbox 360 #3, PS3 #4, PS3 US Ver. #5 (note that Xbox 360 SE was sold out weeks ago)

Ebgames.com: Xbox 360 #1, PS3 #2

EzyGames.com.au (Australia): Xbox 360 SE #1, PS3 SE #2, PS3 #3, Xbox 360 #4

GPStore.com.au (New Zealand): Xbox 360 #1, PS3 #2

HMV.co.uk (UK): PS3 SE #1, Xbox 360 #4, PS3 #5 (note that the Xbox 360 SE is already sold out)

woolworths.co.uk (UK): Xbox 360 SE #1, PS3 SE #2, Xbox 360 #3, PS3 #4 (all versions are out of stock!)

[BR7]

I just went and got it for my PS3 today I am SO impressed with this game.It's not the best graphics(not saying it's has horrible graphics) I ever seen, but the detail they put in to it is simply amazing.The peoples reaction in the cars,sidewalks and what happens when you step on certain things.Not to mention all the hidden stuff that's in this game like clubs,pool halls,bowling and Broadway type shows.I have only been at this for 3-4 hours and this all I have seen so far and I can about imagine whats coming.This Grand theft auto series is like HBOs The Wire on how it gives you a glimpse of the different criminal elements.This is DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE KIDDIES,but if your an adult that likes crime games you will have a BLAST.I give this game a 9 out of 10 (So far)

[admin]

Gametrailer's "eagerly awaited" PS3/Xbox 360 comparison video:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33469.html

Finally received the game today. Just had a quick play, can't say too much about it yet ...

[dazuk1972]

Whatever is what, I bought the XBox 360 version and I think GTA 4 is the best. The good thing about it being better than GTA: SA, this means Rockstar will make GTA 5 sometime. Well, they might be thinking about it by now after hearing and reading about us GTA fans going insane to buy GTA 4. Rockstar must know we are all proud to own a copy of GTA 4.

Near me, I heard all the shops sold all their shelf copies by the end of the morning on the 29th April. Not one copy remained by noon.

[admin]

I've played about half an hour. So far so good, but it's making me a bit nauseous - I think I'm sitting too close to the TV, plus the control system doesn't help (the left stick controls movement but also moves the camera which can be annoying).

Having gotten used to GTA on PCs, I guess I'm also getting used to the controller (although I've played other similar titles such as Crackdown and Dead Rising). Not really playing the storyline yet, but will just slowly explore the city and all that it has to offer (plus the odd random act of violence).

[BR7]

I really love the way points it makes getting places so much easier.I also like the Sixaxis controller for this game, it is an excellent addition to reload your guns rather then pushing the button.I don't like to use the Sixaxis feature to drive with though.It's nice that it gives you the option to use it or the joysticks