Archive for the ‘GTA’ Category
- In: Grand Theft Auto | GTA | GTA IV | purchasing | simplifies | song
- Leave a Comment
(Billboard) – The emerging effort to use videogames as a channel for selling music is entering its next phase with the recent release of “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
Phase I has proved a phenomenal success, with “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero III” selling millions of songs through their respective platforms. But it has been a limited victory.
Both are music-based rhythm games that use master recordings and cover songs to let gamers “play” along to the tunes using special controllers shaped like musical instruments. Purchased songs can be used only as elements of the game itself. They can’t be transferred to an MP3 player or stored in users’ digital music libraries.
But “Grand Theft Auto IV” includes a feature that lets players tag any song in the soundtrack in order to receive more information about the title and artist, as well as store tagged tracks in a custom playlist on the Amazon digital music store for later purchase.
“GTA IV” is not a rhythm game. It’s a story-driven interactive “film” with plenty of side missions that add up to 100 hours of gameplay and features a soundtrack of more than 200 songs — the largest in videogame history.
PRESS “BUY”
- In: Announced | Australia | Bundle | Europe | Grand Theft Auto | GTA | GTA IV | PlayStation 3 | Sony
- Leave a Comment
The GTA IV bundle box art (Source: SCEE)
Sony announces PlayStation 3 packed with Grand Theft Auto IV
Along with Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the biggest titles yet for PlayStation 3 – the only difference with MGS4, of course, is that GTA IV isn’t a platform exclusive. But that’s not going to stop Sony from treating GTA IV as one of its very own, and creating a new system bundle around the highly-anticipated title.
Announced today by both Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Australia is an official Grand Theft Auto IV bundle that will pack the game in along with the 40GB PlayStation 3 model. “We are delighted to offer the millions of PS3 and GTA fans the ultimate gaming package,” said David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
Unfortunately for those hoping to get the latest DualShock 3 controller model with the new bundle, Sony indicated that the GTA IV bundle will include the outgoing SIXAXIS controller only. Such news may be the most disappointing for Australian gamers, who will have to purchase the DualShock 3 controller separately for a mindboggling AUD$99 (USD$92) when it releases this week. Gamers in Europe have yet to hear of an official launch date for their rumbling controllers.
The Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 bundle will retail in Europe at €439 (USD$696) and in Australia for AUD$749.95 (USD$715).
- In: ESRB | games | Grand Theft Auto IV | Green-Lit | GTA | Ratings Boards | Release | Rockstar | VideoGamer
- Leave a Comment
GTA IV classified to contain “masturbation, fellatio and intercourse”
The roads leading to censorship are a funny thing. It goes without saying that Rockstar will push the boundaries of what is consider an “M” rated game with the release of Grand Theft Auto IV.
In fact, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) seemingly has created new descriptors to define the content of the game. There is only so much room on the game packaging for ESRB info, so the board had to compress and combine the various descriptors it uses in its rating scheme.
Along with the “M” rating will be the description, “Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Blood, and Intense Violence.” Such concepts surely enrapture a 12-year old, but hopefully parents will be responsible for their children’s activities.
Taking a look back on Rockstar’s past high-profile game, one may wonder if GTA IV would be able to get past the BBFC, Britain’s classification board for media. The BBFC recently established a reputation for being strict on such content, denying the sale of Manhunt 2.
Pleasantly surprising GTA fans and Rockstar, the BBFC has cleared Grand Theft Auto IV for release, uncut. Perhaps even more surprising is Germany and Australia’s approval of the game. It almost appears as though Niko slipped the ratings boards’ bouncers a c-note to waltz right in.
On the topic of ratings, the BBFC’s classification offers a small preview of what mature gamers will be playing in GTA IV.
“Sex references also occur during cut scenes, including references to strong sexual behaviour,” states the BBFC classification, reported by VideoGamer. “During gameplay the character can pick up prostitutes… What follows is an un-detailed portrayal of masturbation, fellatio and intercourse. The character can also visit lap dancing clubs and request a private dance. While the game contains sexualised dancing and the portrayal of sex, there is no sexualised nudity.”
Sounds just like the GTA that fans have been long waiting for.
Valleywag - valleywag.wordpress.com 
Recent Comments