Captain Obvious says GTA IV to have exclusive content on 360

Didn't you hear? This is how the dreaded Microsoft Wars start.

I can see how this will play out.

Sony Exec: "Exclusive episodic content on the 360 version? WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKEENG EPISODIC CONTENT! It's all going to be a bunch of crap anyway, because only pantywaists use that crap."

6 MONTHS LATER...

Same Sony Exec: "So, we got this completely ground-breaking feature in the PS3 version of GTA IV called Periodic Content. It's totally the shiz, and it's totally nothing like that gimmicky episodic crap. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some minorities to offend, because everyone knows the only way to get more customers is to insult them."

"Strategic Alliance" is a pretty common business term.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_alliance

I'm sure Sony will have some sort of exclusive content as well. But how exactly does that benefit gamers?

Now, rather than playing the same game on multiple systems, you will have to buy both versions if you want to get everything.

Let's say there's a really fun mission in the Xbox 360 version. Is Rockstar not allowed to release it on PS3, because the content is supposed to be "exclusive?"

And since 360 has an avenue to make money off of extra content, wouldn't it be likely for Rockstar to favor that platform, rather than giving content away for free on PS3. (However, there are very few details about online PS3 plans, so this may not be the case.)

ps3 sucks 360 is better 360 FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking it involves coffee.

They've been talking about the episodic content since e3...seriously, old news.

Free,new missions through Starbucks sponsorship = Hot Coffee FTW!

Im no ps3 fanboy, but I am 99 percent sure that the ps3 will get the same "special treatment". I really hope there is a charachter creation mode and multiplayer finally... How rad would it be for you and your friends to have a gang that would reak havoc around the city... Then you have the option to revive your friends through home medicine.

they need to make then the same and ms and sony need to open up and support cross platform online play

"Exclusive content" can lose its flavour very quickly though, if it happens to involve "micropayments".

"As if the console wars really are serious, life-losing conflicts."

Nope, save that drama for the WoW/MMORPG fanboys.

~HotShotX

All the console wars do for gamers is make us waste money. Sure, lets say the Ps3 Gta IV has prettier graphics, but the 360 version has some sort of online "Wreak havoc all over the city together" mode. Lets say you already spent 1,100 dollars for both Ps3 and 360, do you really want to spend 120 bucks for both games. You really wanna show off killer graphics to your friends, but what about online play with your friends? You either lose out and save 60 or lose out and waste 60. Maybe developers should stop choosing sides and just focus on providing entertainment,for everyone, period.

4. I'm thinking it involves coffee.

9. "Exclusive content" can lose its flavour very quickly though, if it happens to involve "micropayments".

An imaginary +1 Gold Star to the both of yas :)

Not that ever really had an interest in the GTA games, but...

"Exclusive content" might be end up being "limited" exclusivity...especially since the launch of game is a bit of a ways off.

As for you people whining about micropayments? Get over it already and stop your complaining. I got news for you...micropayments aren't going away so deal with it. Plus they aren't madatory in the first place...NO ONE is holding a gun to your head and making you buy them. They're OPTIONAL!

To all of you saying "Oh, it'll be on the PS3 too" - you're deluding yourselves. There's specific meanings when it comes to business deals like these, and "Exclusive Xbox Live content" when used in a press release means exactly that - you get it from Xbox Live and nowhere else. It's beyond gaming - the word "exclusive" in press releases is regulated by the SEC when it involves publicly traded companies.

The only thing anti-Xbox zealots can hope for is that the "Exclusive" content is just boilerplate - new outfits, one or two new missions for an outrageous price, or buggy content releases. But when it comes to the word "Exclusive" it's very clearcut.

Looks like I'm gonna have to pickup an X360 afterall...

baberg, you can do exclusive content for 2 different systems. Maybe you get a bmw in the xbox version, and you get a hummer in the PS3 version. Or they can do different extra missions. The point I come to is who cares about getting more average gameplay? Technically, the PC version could always get more exclusive content due to modders. Thats how the whole hot coffee thing started anyways.

Rockstar can probably see that the 360 will garner more support in the US where GTA is probably the most popular. I doubt it sold that many copies in Japan. They can also see that a good game can sell really well on the MS line: aka Halo. GTA could probably get the same sells on the 360, but I think Halo is also releasing around the same time. Seems like 2 system sellers hitting the same system at once. And I would think that they both target the same audience. I like neither, so I wouldn't know.

Halo is coming out the same time as PS3, GTA IV is coming out next year... and how does 360 get more support in the US when the competition isn't even out yet... and who says GTA doesn't sell that many copies in Japan... any statistics or are you just talking out of your ass?

Yeah, you're right Spiza, the Xbox version could get Car X while PS3/Wii get Car Y and Car Z - the same general gaming but each car would be exclusive to that system.

THBHOUSE: Speaking of talking out of your butt crack- If you really think that Halo 3 is coming out at the same time as the PS3 you either haven't been paying attention to gaming news since around this time last year or you don't think the PS3 will make it's November 11 debut. Halo is due out in '07.

I personally think that both consoles will receive "exclusive" content. The word "exclusive" could mean that the 360 gets the red Porsche and the PS3 gets the blue one, or it could be a larger difference, but I doubt they would completely ignore one set of fans no matter how much payola they get from Microsoft.

It will be interesting to see which console sells the most copies of this title. Xbox and 360 have both held very high attach rates compared to the PS2. And also by then the 360 is projected to still be in the lead in number of consoles. It looks like for the next 2 years at least...the 360 is the console to release a title on if you want to sell more copies.

"I personally think that both consoles will receive "exclusive" content. " yeah with the only exception that the Xbox 360 already have an established delivery method (XBox Live) that allows people to download new content, achievements system, centralize multiplayer capabilities. I'm not saying that the PS3 will not have one. But we don't know anything about it, and probably not many developers (i.e like they did with the tilt functionality not telling developers). Also, don't expect Sony to copy every functionality from Microsoft’s xbox live (i.e Achievements); patents do exists, and I'm sure Microsoft would be more than happy to flash them. I'm sure that Sony is going to have Multiplayer ala PS2 but what many people think Sony are waiting from Sony is a copy of Xbox live with better features; which it is not going to happen.

lol joystiq at it again. this news is way old. they announced it back at E3.

the first time joystiq posted it was back on May 9. see the 3.26pm update:
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/09/engadget-and-joystiqs-live-coverage-of-microsofts-xbox-360-e3-ev/

then it was posted again in june

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/12/rockstar-vets-enlisted-for-gta-iv/

http://img159.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=01766_petermoore_579lo.jpg

why the bashing?! what did MS do wrong this time, shouldn't they announce this?

I feel like if a kid got hit by lightening in Tanzanya, people will blame Microsoft fot it.

(yet kuturagi roaming free with "PS3 will instill discipline into gamers" type of comments)

to author: Grow up

Microsoft is wrong about everything all the time. Case in point: Windows. All of them.

coming next thursday, EXCLUSIVE DLC Blue Police Car!! WoW!! its Blue instead of Black, arent we great?!

5400 MS Points please.

Sniff, ah, smells like rampant anti-microsoft rants abound. Seriously, why the hate? What did MS ever do to you? And, don't say Win ME. It was crap, we all know it, but what else were you going to use? I'm by not means an MS fanboy, but to hate a corporation because of some concieved wrong they did you smacks of idiocy. Hating one corporation while touting the deific nature of another is INSANE. The corps exist to make money. To that end, they will employ whatever tactics they can to MAKE said money, and to keep their competition from cutting into their profits. One good way to do this is to line up exclusive content...that's what moves game systems. (Almost) No one buys a system to play Madden 20XX, they buy it for Halo, or Final Fantasy.

Does is suck that there will be 360 GTA content you can't get on your PS3? Yeah, I guess. There will likely be some PS3 content you can't get on your 360, if not for this game, than for others. And yeah, that sucks. And the corps are the ones who make the money. Arguing with that is like yelling at the sun. That's just the way our world works. If you don't like it, GTFO.

The 1up podcast from a few months back said that it was likely both the 360 and PS3 would have exclusive content in some form or another (whilst simultaneously debunking Peter Moore's "xbox360 users will get episodic content" comment- Rockstar had not decided at that time what they were going to do and told this to the 1up journalist who asked them right after in no uncertain terms).

In all likelihood the PS3 version will probably exploit Blu-ray or the controller in some form, whilst the 360 version will exploit Live usage.

If you guys think me saying:

"Exclusive content" might be end up being "limited" exclusivity...especially since the launch of game is a bit of a ways off."

...is MS bashing, then you guys have your head up your butt. PLENTY of times in the past have companies said "X" product/feature will be exclusive but it ends being that it was only for a limited amount of time. Example? Resident Evil 4.

> What's funny though, is that in the press release, Microsoft calls this deal a "strategic alliance." As if the console wars really are serious, life-losing conflicts.

Watch 20 minutes of American TV and you realise that they're over-dramatic about basically everything - even the most mundane news/events get sensationalised beyond all recognition.

I therefore don't think the fact that Microsoft has done just this is very newsworthy.

The PC version will also have exclusive content: it's called keyboard and mouse. No 360 or PS3 feature can beat that.

"one has to wonder if the PS3 will get the same sort of exclusive treatment through their own snazzy online service."

You mean through Sony's exclusive "two cans and a string" online service? So far that's all I've heard about it. Oh, and it's called HUB and will look like Xbox Live.

I'm guessing this article is nothing more than Joystiq trying to go against the "You guys are biased against Sony" rumblings.

Wow you all are idiots. No wonder the article stated Surely this will come as no shock to Joystiq's highly-intelligent gaming readership, at the begining. Don't you all understand that the article isn't about the news that there will be episodic content, it is an article stating that Microsoft posted 'news' on it on the site!!! READING COMPREHENSION 101, welcome class!

Am I the only one worrying about that fact that we'll never have a complete game to come out ever again? Instead we get 2/3's of the game and the other third we have to pay for if we want to get it.

So this post was made just to point out that news we all know has been posted on Microsoft's site? Wow, thanks so much. Someone trying to get their post count up?

Also, if a blogger that makes posts about companies doesn't know that the term "strategic alliance" is used pretty often in business, it's pretty pitiful.

Who cares? The only reason the 360 is getting downloadable content is because Rockstar can't fit everything on one dvd-9. The PS3 will have the same content...only it will be on one disc, aside from the few micro-transaction type stuff.

@ AVA
I don't know where you get your info but it's more likely that you're just spreading some PS3 BS.
Nice try but I'm still not convinced that buying a PS3 is worthwhile.
The PS3 is limited by it's memory so having Bluray is a waste of time and space.If anything needed Blueray,it would be a top end PC with 2 Gig main memory with 1 gig graphics memory.Then it would have reason for that extra space.
It's like needing a bus to take two kids to school,there's just no need.