View Full Version : GTA IV PS3 Exclusivity Would Have Strengthened All Versions
I mean think about.
If GTA IV was a timed PS3 exclusive like all other 3D GTA's it would have made the PS3, 360 and PC versions better. R* would have been able to develop and optimize the engine specifically for the PS3, taking into account Blu-Ray and such.
Then 6 months later they release a 360 and PC version which look better due to more development time. Both completely optimized to the specific system.
So in the end we have PS3 owners happy with their timed exclusivity. 360 owners are happy because their version looks a bit better due to more development time. And PC owners are happy because their version looks the best and has mods. Everyones happy and nobody gets shafted.
But instead, console owners have an inferior version with fluctuating framerates and broken online, while PC owners who waited patiently (like Microsoft should have done) are getting the superior version in 2 months. Thanks Microsoft.
PS: I still love the game but it could have been more stable and with better online.
GuitarrassDeAmor
08-22-2008, 01:28
The PC version is going to be better than the console versions anyways.
If they optimized it for the PS3, they would have probably had to dumb it down just a bit for 360 in terms of size, so that wouldn't have been good.
Their version doesn't look any different. In fact, the PS3 version was looking better in a lot of pictures and videos, but it was mostly the same.
It would have looked the same no matter what. If it was a timed exclusive it would have looked the same and if it was exclusive it would have looked the same. GTA was never about graphics anyways.
I honestly dont think PS3 is far enough along that they would need to dumb it down to get it on 360. And yes the PS3 version does look slightly better than 360. But both versions could have been much better if not developed together.
Dorian_D
08-22-2008, 01:36
That's exactly right! When GTA san andreas came out, it was a timed exclusive but it game rockstar the chance to maximize the ps2 capabillties. Too bad it wasn't at least like that with GTA IV.
It would have looked the same no matter what. If it was a timed exclusive it would have looked the same and if it was exclusive it would have looked the same. GTA was never about graphics anyways.
I never said it was. You guys are talking this the wrong way. Just think if San Andreas was developed multiplatform from the start. It would have suffered because of it. Thats what happened to GTA IV. Both console versions suffered due to multiplatform development.
The Sith
08-22-2008, 01:45
I mean think about.
If GTA IV was a timed PS3 exclusive like all other 3D GTA's it would have made the PS3, 360 and PC versions better. R* would have been able to develop and optimize the engine specifically for the PS3, taking into account Blu-Ray and such.
Then 6 months later they release a 360 and PC version which look better due to more development time. Both completely optimized to the specific system.
So in the end we have PS3 owners happy with their timed exclusivity. 360 owners are happy because their version looks a bit better due to more development time. And PC owners are happy because their version looks the best and has mods. Everyones happy and nobody gets shafted.
But instead, console owners have an inferior version with fluctuating framerates and broken online, while PC owners who waited patiently (like Microsoft should have done) are getting the superior version in 2 months. Thanks Microsoft.
PS: I still love the game but it could have been more stable and with better online.
Why are you blaming all this on MS, it's not there fault.
FlipBwoy
08-22-2008, 01:45
I never said it was. You guys are talking this the wrong way. Just think if San Andreas was developed multiplatform from the start. It would have suffered because of it. Thats what happened to GTA IV. Both console versions suffered due to multiplatform development.
Yeah, thats why most games that are multiplatform (on ps3, xbox, ps2, psp) are usually lacking gameplay on the superior console out of the list as the game had been specifically designed for all platforms so the better consoles would probably be equally the same as the other consoles.
Why are you blaming all this on MS, it's not there fault.
Well who should I blame? (25)
Genesis-
08-22-2008, 01:48
Anybody ever wonder why GTA4 lacked the scale and content of San Andreas???
R* sacrificing quality for more revenue and profits. Why else wasn't the game on two discs for the 360? (ie MS royalty fees) Too bad the game won't sell a third of what San Andreas sold-- poor..rich greedy b@stards.
R* seems to have lost their touch anyway-- what with all the other cr@p games they make. Manhunt?? wtf!
Anybody ever wonder why GTA4 lacked the scale and content of San Andreas???
R* sacrificing quality for more revenue and profits. Why else wasn't the game on two discs for the 360? Too bad the game won't sell a third of what San Andreas sold-- poor..rich greedy b@stards.
R* seems to have lost their touch anyway-- what with all the other cr@p games they make. Manhunt?? wtf!
I agree with your first paragraph and beginning of second. No comment on the end of the second. And disagree with the third.
I still think for the most part, gameplay and story were top notch.
FlipBwoy
08-22-2008, 01:53
Anybody ever wonder why GTA4 lacked the scale and content of San Andreas???
R* sacrificing quality for more revenue and profits. Why else wasn't the game on two discs for the 360? Too bad the game won't sell a third of what San Andreas sold-- poor..rich greedy b@stards.
R* seems to have lost their touch anyway-- what with all the other cr@p games they make. Manhunt?? wtf!
Lol, Manhunt is kinda good, and Rockstar look like its getting back its touch. Waiting for games like Midnight Club LA, LA Noire and probably a new GTA in a couple of years...
Soldier 95B
08-22-2008, 01:54
Well who should I blame? (25)
Blame the makers of the game, Rockstar.
Genesis-
08-22-2008, 02:04
I agree with your first paragraph and beginning of second. No comment on the end of the second. And disagree with the third.
I still think for the most part, gameplay and story were top notch.
Gameplay was classic GTA. So, no faults there. The story, on the other hand was very much so lacking.
Characters, plot, and missions were pretty weak for a GTA game. I mean how many characters pertinent to the plot are you going to kill(not literally) off till I say I just don't give a $%*$?
Missions were very repetitive. No variety whatsoever. Which is not normal for a GTA game.
Plot was very very weak. Niko is out for revenge...The End. Revenge stories are so cliched, it's not even funny.
disposableheroV
08-22-2008, 02:09
i honestly think this game should be if not a timed exclusisve then just exclusive to us on ps3. i mean remember when gta first announced it going to the original xbox? it was so friggin wierd. sure better visuals but thats it. in my eyes, i think it would have done better as jsut an exclusive. better development overall and wouldve been a good supporter of ps3 sales
The Sith
08-22-2008, 02:18
Well who should I blame? (25)rockstar for making it multiplat not time exclusive.
rockstar for making it multiplat not time exclusive.
Rockstar were just doing what anyone would have done: take the money
But yes, you right, Rockstar should take the blame aswell.
dondidit
08-22-2008, 02:42
I honestly dont think PS3 is far enough along that they would need to dumb it down to get it on 360. And yes the PS3 version does look slightly better than 360. But both versions could have been much better if not developed together.
Just the fact that you said that. Rockstar probrably did dumbed it down. and since when is the pc version of a game always superior than consoles assassin creed and devil may cry says hello!
Well who should I blame? (25)
Here, I compiled a list for you
Jesus
Matt Le Blanc
Father Christmas
Benjamin Franklin
Niko Bellic
Sackboy
your mum
Hitler
Ghandi
Linda Mc Cartney
streetracer67856
08-22-2008, 02:59
Well, all our problems may be over as some Rockstar execs were claiming that GTA will go PS3-exclusive, just do a Google search "Rockstar Games goes PS3-Exclusive" and you'll get a bunch of sites that are claiming that Rockstar is PS3 only now. I don't necessarily believe this is better for Rockstar however, maybe as a developer, yes, but I'm sure the shareholders won't be happy about that since they will loose ALL the 360's sales they would have gotten. It's better for the developers because, lets face it, the PS3 is more powerful and has more juice than the 360 (not trying to start a war here), and Blu-Ray makes everything a lot easier as well. The rumor makes sense, but I doubt it will be true, for awhile at least. Some sites are claiming all in-development games, i.e Midnight Club LA, will be mult-plat, but everything that Rockstar Games has yet to begin development for will be PS3-exclusive.
Just the fact that you said that. Rockstar probrably did dumbed it down. and since when is the pc version of a game always superior than consoles assassin creed and devil may cry says hello!Graphically they are always superior.
Sony didn't pay for timed exclusiveness this time, like they did with the last 3 GTAs.Imagine if the last GTAs would've been xbox timed exclusive? The game was great for me anyways, a lot better than past GTAs, but it wasn't perfect.
danman227460
08-22-2008, 03:15
Some people forget about one simple thing. The GTA numbers were NEVER the strongest titles of the series, it was always about the spin offs. What was the best GTA of last generation? It wasn't GTA3 but the spin off, San Andres. GTA 4 was just a teaser game to see how people will react to their direction and they will build the next game to take that into account. I could be wrong but if GTA4 was just the beginning, I think the spin offs should be vastly improved.
Like some people said, it probably wouldn't have made the game any different if it was timed or not. R* wanted to go this direction and it wouldn't have mattered which was the lead platform. Sure it might look even nicer on the PS3 but overall game play wise, it would be the same structure I would think.
Why? at the moment the PS3 version does look better then the 360.
Bitbydeath
08-22-2008, 03:26
The story/gameplay was much worse than the graphics/sound.
There was no saving it everything was just too rushed.
Here, I compiled a list for you
Jesus
Matt Le Blanc
Father Christmas
Benjamin Franklin
Niko Bellic
Sackboy
your mum
Hitler
Ghandi
Linda Mc Cartney
Well thanks. How thoughful of you.
Next time, please dont post bulls**t just for the sake of post bulls**ting bulls**t
The story/gameplay was much worse than the graphics/sound.
There was no saving it everything was just too rushed.
I disagree. I thought it was a great game for what it accomplished but in many ways was a step back in the seried, though still worthy of a 9/10.
I'm really looking forward to LA Noire, if it stays PS3 exclusive.
It wouldn't have cuz it is their first game for the PS3 and they were just learning the kit.
Lord Arklon
08-22-2008, 03:38
If it was just about any other game, I'd believe this, but Rockstar has never been very adept with visuals if you ask me.
GTA3, although a great game, didn't look very good and had a truckload of glitches despite how stellar the game was.
Some companies can do it, others can't. Look at Codemasters. They manage to make multiplat games whose graphics rival those of exclusives.
Then of course there are those exclusives that look and play bad, such as Untold Legends.
Being exclusive doesn't automatically mean the game will be golden you know, it ultimately rests upon the skill of the human beings making the game.
We forget about that all too often around here.
Genesis-
08-22-2008, 03:42
Some people forget about one simple thing. The GTA numbers were NEVER the strongest titles of the series, it was always about the spin offs. What was the best GTA of last generation? It wasn't GTA3 but the spin off, San Andres. GTA 4 was just a teaser game to see how people will react to their direction and they will build the next game to take that into account. I could be wrong but if GTA4 was just the beginning, I think the spin offs should be vastly improved.
Like some people said, it probably wouldn't have made the game any different if it was timed or not. R* wanted to go this direction and it wouldn't have mattered which was the lead platform. Sure it might look even nicer on the PS3 but overall game play wise, it would be the same structure I would think. Your assertion is unproven. If anything, GTA games have subsequently improved over the last few years after each successive installment, GTA:San Andreas>> GTA: Vice City > GTA: III. GTAIV was a step back because R* opted for a more realistic, movie-esque, cinematic approach to the storytelling, and IMO were forced to slap together a game within their limitations(X360).
CodenameD
08-22-2008, 03:44
It would have looked the same no matter what. If it was a timed exclusive it would have looked the same and if it was exclusive it would have looked the same. GTA was never about graphics anyways.
But graphics arent the only thing, maybe we get a different Liberty city if its PS3 only. Larger, more features(like the return of body changes with eating habits), more vehicles(i.e. airplanes and jets). Might have got a New York state replica rather than nyc replica.
Guys, when was GTA about graphics? Itr isn't the graphics that make it good, its the gameplay. Blowing stuff up, going on kill sprees and getting a 6 star level. In this game it was boring to even do that.
Bitbydeath
08-22-2008, 03:48
I disagree. I thought it was a great game for what it accomplished but in many ways was a step back in the seried, though still worthy of a 9/10.
I'm really looking forward to LA Noire, if it stays PS3 exclusive.
It had it's moments, the bank robbery mission was my favourite.
I didn't even get that into San Andreas much the (Motorcycle/Plane/Bomb on Plane) mission was my favourite there.
Vice City i enjoyed all of. The story was awesome. They need to put in more sense of accomplishment and moving up the chain like VC had.
Lord Arklon
08-22-2008, 03:49
Guys, when was GTA about graphics? Itr isn't the graphics that make it good, its the gameplay. Blowing stuff up, going on kill sprees and getting a 6 star level. In this game it was boring to even do that.
There is no such thing as a game that is "about graphics".
If there was, it wouldn't be called a game.
A game supposedly focusing on gameplay is no excuse for subpar visuals. That's just the popular excuse that the GTA crowd has been latching onto for years.
radgamer420
08-22-2008, 04:17
The PC version is going to be better than the console versions anyways..
QFT PC will always beat console because it is scalable hardware. That goes for both PS3 and 360.
danman227460
08-22-2008, 04:30
Your assertion is unproven. If anything, GTA games have subsequently improved over the last few years after each successive installment, GTA:San Andreas>> GTA: Vice City > GTA: III. GTAIV was a step back because R* opted for a more realistic, movie-esque, cinematic approach to the storytelling, and IMO were forced to slap together a game within their limitations(X360).
Is it? I have read up on the progression of the GTA series and each number series has always brought something new.
They have always progressed and shown something new in each number series. They went from a top view to a 3rd person view game since the original was out. Number 4 was just another step in providing another outlook at the game. Sure we would have loved all the mayhem they had in SA but that wasn't a direction they wanted to go with. They wanted to try something new and 4 was the outcome.
You also proved my point in saying that SA was greater than the other spinoff and the number series. GTA4 is the number and their spinoffs should vastly improve on what was provided.
It might be hard for some to agree to the idea of having more realism but that was what spin offs are for. To improve and maybe add more things in.
When you think about though, it seems R* is kinda of smart. SA was the top of its class and the best GTA I've played. Where do you go from there? How would you improve on SA? They want to keep making these games and if one game equals perfection then there wouldn't be any point in making any more because they would only be messing with the proven formula. Look at Madden, it is far from perfect but it's formula is what keeps people coming back. Would you like to see the same GTA game each year or so using the same formula?
So what I am trying to say is that once you have reached a point in the series where the game is considered near perfect, you have two choices. Reuse the formula and release a game that is pretty much identical but more polished or try a completely different look.
I do agree that having the game on the 360 might have limited the creativity of the game but that is all speculation.
Plazaskater
08-22-2008, 04:33
i don't think it would have strengthed anything. rockstars motive was to increase graphics, make the game more realistic, and see how the fans reacted to it. the game was delayed in the first place partially because of the ps3 "difficulties". IV was exactly like III in a way..besides the redesigned city, graphics, and added realism. It was back to the basics. simple weapons, limited buildings you can enter, no planes, etc. the reason III was so successful was because the series took a huge leap. but IV didn't take a huge leap. everyone was expecting so much more in this game that most were left extremely disappointed or angry. but like III it was a sample of things to come. like someone said above the "spin offs" of IV are gonna be the real hits..rockstar is going to expand IV for the better with "vice city, san andreas, london...or whatever their going to be called" idk maybe i'm crazy???? anyways thats my rant for the day. goodnight
Vulgotha
08-22-2008, 04:33
@OP:
I don't think so. This game essentially maxed out the DVD9- so even if they sat down and "Focused" will all of their psychic willpower over there at Rockstar, there is just no way more content would magically pop onto the 360 side of things.
Unless they went with a second disc. I mean sure they could have maxed out Cell and focused purely on the PS3 etc etc and what have you, and the PS3 version may have looked a bit better for it- but the PC version will probably still oust it comparatively speaking, annnnd we'd see little to no change for the 360.
Especially in terms of content.
UCONN for life
08-22-2008, 05:02
I've given up on GTA, I'll be playing Saint's Row from now on. At least Volition is trying to make their game fun. GTA4 is kinda dull and vanilla.
But graphics arent the only thing, maybe we get a different Liberty city if its PS3 only. Larger, more features(like the return of body changes with eating habits), more vehicles(i.e. airplanes and jets). Might have got a New York state replica rather than nyc replica.
Exactly. I wasnt strictly talking graphics and better anti-aliasing, If it was timed exclusive many things could have been added/tweaked.
I just hope GTA4 was a test on what they can do with the hardware and the next GTA will be great like San Andreas. GTA4 is a good and fun game but not great like San Andreas. They need to put all those extra features that were in San Andreas back into the GTA series.
swordfish64
08-22-2008, 05:38
GTA IV would have been better if it had been designed around blu ray's larger canvas and then ported to the 36O on 5 discs.
@OP:
I don't think so. This game essentially maxed out the DVD9- so even if they sat down and "Focused" will all of their psychic willpower over there at Rockstar, there is just no way more content would magically pop onto the 360 side of things.
Unless they went with a second disc. I mean sure they could have maxed out Cell and focused purely on the PS3 etc etc and what have you, and the PS3 version may have looked a bit better for it- but the PC version will probably still oust it comparatively speaking, annnnd we'd see little to no change for the 360.
Especially in terms of content.
Well GTA IV takes up 6.8GB and a DVD9 has 8.5GB. Thats not maxed out.
Anyway like I said before, if San Andreas was developed multiplatform from the start I'm sure it would have suffered. All Im trying to get across is that Rockstar could have made a 'better' console game if they stuck with timed exclusivity like with III, VC and SA.
GTA IV would have been better if it had been designed around blu ray's larger canvas and then ported to the 36O on 5 discs.
lol. of course. and when 360 owners wanna travel from Dukes to Broker they just swap the discs. genuis
- do not double post - Cuguy
gamecrazy
08-22-2008, 05:43
I think that they got to certain point and were so behind schedule due to multiplatform release that they just gave up and released it half-baked. The hype train then proceeded to carry it through the stratosphere. A decent game to be sure but nowhere near the perfect scores it got.
Insanehead
08-22-2008, 11:12
But instead, console owners have an inferior version with fluctuating framerates and broken online, while PC owners who waited patiently (like Microsoft should have done) are getting the superior version in 2 months. Thanks Microsoft.
This is an absolute BS.
There is no way you can prove that GTA IV would have been better had it remained a PS3 exclusive.
The PC version will be better because of its powerhouse performance.
This thread is silliness. It is a tired excuse to dredge up old arguments. In a way, this is trolling. We all know it is pure conjecture as to what if it had been exclusive. We don't know for sure if R* released it how they felt it should be, or if it was broken from the start to get out the door. We don't know, never will, and is pointless to bring up again for debate.
Thread closed.