Rockstar: Getting GTA IV running on PS3 was "challenging"
- Posted April 23rd, 2008 at 08:40 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 39 Comments
Rockstar Games has admitted that the company experienced initial challenges when getting Grand Theft Auto IV up and running on the PlayStation 3.
Speaking to 1up.com, Rockstar Games Founder, Sam Houser, commented, "Getting things running on the PS3 initially was challenging.”
"I think it was challenging for a lot of companies, but it's also a machine where, now that we've got comfortable with it - I don't want to say we've cracked it, but we've got comfortable with it - we know we can make our games,” he added.
Elsewhere, Houser also touched on the differences between the PS3 and Xbox 360 version of the game from a visual standpoint, stating, "We're at a point now where the games pretty much look identical side by side.”
"There's a slight difference in the way they look. I think that's to do with really low-level technical stuff that I'm not the guy to explain. The 360 games have a certain look to them; PS3 games have a certain look to them. I like the way [the PS3] renders. There's a certain kind of softness without being blurry - some warmth to it - and then there's a certain more clinical element to how the 360 looks."
"Both have plusses and minuses. As far as I'm concerned, they're neck and neck now,” he said.
Grand Theft Auto IV is due out worldwide on April 29.
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princevegeta1980
- 3:57pm BST - April 23rd, 2008
- 4
At least these guy's aren't making cr@ppy ports like others, they make the games using the pro's and con's on each machine so that we all get to enjoy the game to the fullest, whatever machine you plan to get gta4 on, for me that would be my ps3!
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Triple Dk |
TripleDk- 4:00pm BST - April 23rd, 2008
- 5
I've read on the forums that the 360 has a more cartoonistic feel to it (minus for a GTA game if you ask me) and the PS3 got more pedestrians at a time.
Also, at split-screen the number of NPC's of course decreases, but the 360 version don't have split-screen probably because then the numbers of pedestrians would be far too low.
If all that is true, then Rockstar may have gotten on a rough start developing for the PS3, but sure have did it well :D
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chubacca
- 5:05pm BST - April 23rd, 2008
- 6
This is a bit rich for my liking. They should have given the PS3 version some advantage considering the situation. If they still cant make it better then drop the price.
Everywhere I go the 360 games tend to be selling for less money - I mean there are more games and a better price range. So I think its a bit rich for developers to offer simular graphics on both when I'm paying more money for the PS3 version as well as more money for my console.
It's made worst by the fact that GTA 4 episodes and other add-ons are only going to appear on the 360 version. I paid more so I should expect more - not less! Either make it better, or offer the same expansions or drop the price Rockstar.
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richkaos |
richkaos- 4:16am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 7
Considering Rockstar wouldnt be where they are now without the playstation, I think its a bit off that they didnt try harder in making the game better for the PS3 and utilizing its SUPERIOR performance, but hey this game has been nearly 3 years in the making so hopefully the next edition will be modeled around the PS3 and ported to the 360
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MephistoSoze
- 5:58am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 8
Chubacca, let's take for a moment that you're going to play the Xbox 360 version, and play online also. And let's say that you bought the episodic content on the 360 when it comes out, we'll say a year from now.
I check Amazon.Com and both versions are the same price, but let's say the Xbox 360 is $10 cheaper, it's typically true, anyway. So it's 59.99 to 49.99. Sound fair?
You play online though, for a year, before episodic content comes out. For a full year of Xbox live Gold subscription (to play multiplayer) it's 49.99. So, already to enjoy just everything GTA IV has to offer "Right out of the gate", it's twice as much as the PS3. Then you get the episodic content that you pay for, also.
Frankly, I don't care much about episodic content, once I beat a GTA game, I usually just load it up from after the end of the game to drive around and go mad for a couple of hours. Episodic content just isn't right for a game like GTA. And, in my humble opinion, I think we, the PS3 owners, have a better deal with the game, considering we don't have to "re-buy" the game (or other games we play) every year, just to play them online.
To your point, though, I agree that we should get something better than neck-and-neck. The PS3 is the superior hardware, that's not into question, so its versions of any game should be superior to the Xbox 360 version. But I don't believe in "If they still cant make it better then drop the price", that's just nitpicking. As for now, we'll have to settle for "equal" performance. Besides, who's to say that the PS3 won't get extra content of its own? Microsoft's deal only covers 50-million-dollars worth of content. For all the Xbox 360 owners out there, if even half of their 10 million install base buys a single DLC for 9.99, Microsoft will have gotten their money's worth.
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French |
French- 8:31am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 13
@chubacca
The PS3 version will be getting downloadable content, not the same as 360, but we will be getting some extra content. Rockstar has a close relationship with Sony, in fact, if Sony had wanted they could have had it timed-exclusive. They opted for a full-exclusive of TWO new franchises. Along with that Sam also said the 360 will NOT be getting the next GTA game, unless somehow they can convince the 17+ million 360 owners to buy HD-DVD add-ons.
Sony is making a long-term investment into the PS3... while this GTA will be multi-platform, most following Rockstar titles will only be on the PS3. -
Zippie151 |
Sanguineous- 8:47am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 14
Any one think/know if the slight graphical differences on the ps3 are down to it having the the CELL able to render low level graphics by itself without the gfx card? This game is gonna be so awesome only 4/5 days til release!!! IM SO EXCITED!!! ;-)
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fkPS3
- 8:53am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 15
Here we go again. More of the 'it's too hard' nonesense that we've all come to adore developers for. I'm not sure if it was Sony's fault for not getting better development kits out or that their support just wasn't there to help. It is somewhat nice to hear that they're comparable, but I want to hear that a game is above and beyond the xbox. How long will that take? It's been a year and a half since it's release, but how long have developers had their hands on the kits.
I will be getting this game, as GTA is a staple for any console, but like all developers, they need to put in more time and effort to develop for the PS3 to get the most out of it. But with that being said, we know that the xbox is tapped for performance and graphics, and if the ps3 is close to it and it's still got a lot of room to get better, the next version of all ps3 games should look WAAAAY better than the M$ box
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DantheMan_69
- 9:10am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 16
I've heard alot that this game looks better on the PS3 will have to find out lol. Really can't wait now just a few days to go. Also i might be getting it on the 28th of April i live in the UK and my GAME store said if u preorder it online you should get it the day bfor. PS3 RULES
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benstevens
- 9:14am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 17
This will be great but cant help thinking it may have been held back due to the XBOX capabilities and lack of storage!
Playstation & GTA come as a pair !!!!! i couldnt have it any other way!
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 9:47am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 18
This apparently will dog the PS3 for its entire life span. If you remember, the PS2 was supposed to be "hard to program for", but you didn't hear about it anymore 1 1/2 years into it's release. The Japanese studios don't seem to have a problem (or at least, complain as much), with it, but between the MGO beta, Home, Haze, and a host of others, this is the elephant in the room. Apparently, the PS3 is a programmer's nightmare and this is not good. Listen, armed with 3 PSPs, a tastes for ALL GENRES (from Sports to COD4 to Eye of Judement) and a 60GB PS3, I'm Sony #1 fan. But this WILL catch up to Sony (if not already). Even I was affected when the Home delay story broke and I still don't have a good RPG or RTS game for my PS3 and I've had one since launch. For God's sake, Rockstar had to delay GTA4 because of the PS3's tech issues (by contract) and they almost got bought out in a hostile takeover by EA! That would have been on Sony's head when you think about it. It might be time for me to get another 360...
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NL_Buddha |
NL_Buddha- 11:15am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 20
This is what happens when people start programing for the 360 first. All multiplatform games suffer tha same fate, cross programming that ends up with problems that lead to more work on the PS3 version just to get it to work but not taking advantage of the power of the PS3. This is why any comparisons in graphics is completely a waste of time. Until the games a separately programmed for each system and not from the same programming core, then we can compare.
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D3v1lwqer23 |
NL_Buddha- 11:18am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 21
YEah but there will still be the fanboys out there thats gotta nit pick and make his system look better.
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Dmanishigh
- 11:34am BST - April 24th, 2008
- 22
Looks like to me PS3 version is going to be better the guy in the article say's the ps3 renders better,and softness with out being blurry and warmth. I always think the 360 HDR lighting is to intense in alot of the games, sometimes ruining the game.
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I95SOUTH |
I95SOUTH- 1:21pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 24
"There's a slight difference in the way they look. I think that's to do with really low-level technical stuff that I'm not the guy to explain. The 360 games have a certain look to them; PS3 games have a certain look to them. I like the way [the PS3] renders. There's a certain kind of softness without being blurry - some warmth to it - and then there's a certain more clinical element to how the 360 looks."
I dont know about you but that sounds damn good to me. He said it for himself that its smooth and sexy.....ok maybe not the sexy part but it looks better.
psn id: I95SOUTH<--- Follow the LEADER
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AclayPS3
- 1:27pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 25
I read this article elsewhere yesterday, but I think that I speak for everyone when I say that this isn't surprising to hear. PS3 development has always been challenging for Multiplatform game titles.
I wish that 3rd party developing companies could get to the point where 1st party Sony game titles are, and I wish that they could get to the point where Sony's game developing studios are at now, because they are ahead when it comes to being able to use the PS3's hardware and develop for the PS3 without as much difficulty.
It's pretty much obvious that PS3 development for GTA4 was the cause for the delay, but in my opinion, the delay was for the greater good because the longer they delayed the game, the longer they could work on the PS3 version and perfect it even more.
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Maxkiller |
Maxkiller0- 3:00pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 26
GTA has never been about the looks anyway its been about the game play and how fun it is nothing else but i guess this new one for the next gen consoles looks alot more then most games out already well done rockstar :) im buying it on the ps3 cause i just like the controller better ^_^
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zombieking36
- 3:21pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 27
Everyone realizes these kind of developers know its suicide to say if one system is supperior to the other, right?
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MephistoSoze
- 3:45pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 28
@XB2B1
True, it's 49.99 for a year, not exclusively for GTA IV. But think about it, it's an extra game every year. So every year, it's the same as one of your games being bought twice. Also, what's the logic in paying extra just to play features already built into the original feature? The Online multi-player is built in, it's not like you have to buy it separately, so why does it seem logical to pay just to get to that?
Take EA's old idea for that Battlefield game, with its microtransactions. I mean the original installations would have all the guns installed on the computer, or on the disk (depending on what system you're playing), and yet you could not access those guns unless you pay extra, despite them being already on the disk. Is it logical? It is if you like microtransactions like that.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'd gladly pay for multi-player, even if it's already built in, but if and ONLY IF there are extras to it that can't be found on its free counter-part.
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XB2B1
- 5:19pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 29
@MephistoSoze... The online is built into the game yes, but that's always been local in the past. To play anyone else in the world you would need to play using someone's server, this is what you pay for! 49.99 is a bargain for the always available Live service with no lag. If I wanted to play an older classic which no one else plays anymore, it would still be available if only just one other person wanted to play. Sony needs to do the same with the PS3... it's a better way to play, and they owe it to the fans.
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yoboyrob9041226 |
BIGROB904- 6:42pm BST - April 24th, 2008
- 30
im am ready to give the rest of my life playing this game
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Drazden
- 12:05am BST - April 25th, 2008
- 33
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EFFORTLESS7
- 12:49pm BST - April 27th, 2008
- 37
WTF Silencer?!1?! why the heck are you all gay for gingo!?
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PS3-The Ultimate Machine
- 5:29am BST - April 28th, 2008
- 38
This game is going to be BEYOND AMAZING!!!!
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