UK's suave GTA IV ad hits tellies

46 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Apr 16th 2008 11:28PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, Business

The UK is currently under assault from a Grand Theft Auto IV ad promoting the title on Xbox 360. Microsoft is doing its best to own this launch in consumer's minds, or at least get people thinking GTA doesn't equal Sony anymore. Have no fear PlayStation army, the game is still releasing on the PS3 in spite of what this nasty advertisement tells the masses.

That being said, it certainly gets bonus points in our book for showing what the game actually looks like (unlike some ads). GTA IV releases April 29 ... yeah, 'cause you didn't know that already.

[Thanks, Cyborgmatt]

Tags: ad, commercial, grand-theft-auto, grand-theft-auto-4, grand-theft-auto-iv, gta-iv, gtaiv, uk

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Arno: Apr 16th 2008; 11:33PM

Awesomeness: defined.

xFenixKnightx: Apr 17th 2008; 8:46AM

Fuck Yes! Ck it, GTAIV gameplay with HUD!! =D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV-4kxATHD0&feature=related

Farseer (GDI): Apr 17th 2008; 9:56AM

Damnit! one of these days, I'm going to open my front door at home and get fucking rickrolled. Dude will be waiting in my living room.

Actually... Rick Astley, take note - you need to start hiring yourself out for rickrolls in person...

vidGuy: Apr 17th 2008; 11:12AM

There's an inordinate amount of "REAL" GTAIV game footage on Youtube. Pretty hilarious that people would do it just to piss other people off.

Jonah Falcon: Apr 16th 2008; 11:38PM

Ok, this "Niko walking" shot is beginning to remind me of the opening of the Naked Gun movies.

theturtle363: Apr 16th 2008; 11:41PM

huh, the TV add i saw one was the uhh, Zach one? The one where he like invites you to visit Liberty City

theturtle363: Apr 16th 2008; 11:44PM

but then i realize these are the UK ads, i still imagine that they'd eventually come to US

driven2sin: Apr 16th 2008; 11:44PM

anyone else notice this stab of humor at the end of this from the evil empire site of Gamestop???? i think they are getting warm a fuzzy now that they have all our money...

"Pre-order Grand Theft Auto IV by April 28th at 11am CST with overnight shipping and get guaranteed delivery on the street date of April 29th! If your product does not arrive on the street date, we will credit your order for the full shipping amount! Continental United States only. Must have Overnight Service available in your area. Offer void if you are unable to accept a delivery that was attempted. Not responsible for orders delayed due to incorrect address, credit card information, inclement weather or the delivery driver's truck getting stolen."

thebigwhif25: Apr 16th 2008; 11:52PM

i think it is kind of nice gamestop is showing some personality now. the world of warcraft: WOTLK comment was funny.
Most places dont even try and show some personality. But again most of you will bash them for anything ( i remember bashing for their make a wish program christmas store shopping sprees)

I play all types of games but I just dont see anything in GTA4 that would really interest me. *shrug*

vidGuy: Apr 16th 2008; 11:45PM

I'd prefer to have Niko in the commercials here, but the walking could have been about half as long. I do like that the US ad shows the Euphoria concept; although now that a game allows you to drink and drive while killing policemen and nailing prostitutes, some armageddon is sure to happen, right?

mccomber: Apr 16th 2008; 11:47PM

I half expected Niko to say "can you hear me now?" when his phone rang...

Jonah Falcon: Apr 17th 2008; 9:24AM

"Good!"

Ninjakamster: Apr 16th 2008; 11:55PM

Yeah, all ads I have currently seen only advertise the 360 version.

I am wondering why Microsoft is spending so much money on advertising this for their console and the DLC. Are they fearing the PS3?

If the PS3 is so crappy compared to the 360, Microsoft should have no fear am I right? Unless they are scared of the PS3 and have to spend a crapload of money to assure a win.

jake: Apr 17th 2008; 12:36AM

The are doing it because GTA for the console started as Playstation only, and Playstation always got the first release with the title being ported for PC and xbox only later on (this happened in the most recent gta: san andreas) and they are trying to get it out there that the xbox360, like the ps3, will have gta4 during first release this time.

IcedOmega13: Apr 17th 2008; 2:01AM

yes most people uneducated in the ways of gaming still want to play gta, and more than you would think don't know its also on 360.

also M$ have a cannon filled with money and like to shoot it at tv spots.

tylersmyler: Apr 17th 2008; 2:11AM

I'm starting to agree with you on this one.

Jonah Falcon: Apr 17th 2008; 9:25AM

Huh? Obviously you haven't been bombarded by that PS3 series of commercials with the HR Giger-like PS3 with its tentacles.

Farseer (GDI): Apr 17th 2008; 10:33AM

I suppose we could read a lot into this, but seriously, Microsoft and Sony are the only two competitors in the hardcore console gamer market. It's called competition. I'm frankly surprised that Sony hasn't poured more money into advertising this. GTA III was the sole reason I bought a PS2 back in the day.

Ninjakamster: Apr 17th 2008; 10:59AM

I wonder what was SO bad about my comment? Not like I was blatantly trolling, I was being serious.

na2ru1: Apr 17th 2008; 12:58PM

@ Ninjakamster

lol

There's nothing wrong with your comment. Its the obvious truth. THis is almost a pure 360 fanclub site. And when there's nothing to reply about to state otherwise, the last resort is the click of dislove.

Its MS's typical sign of desperation.

MarkHawk: Apr 17th 2008; 12:01AM

w000t we did it Xbox 360 Wins the console wars!!!! (throws confetti) Yeah Alright!!! (High fives all around).

:p

In Direct response to the IGN Beyond podcast were they celebrated their victory in the format war.

MarkHawk: Apr 17th 2008; 12:01AM

where*

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Apr 17th 2008; 12:04AM

I forgot how imaginable it must had been to create every single damned object in the game.

"159.99" sounded like an extremely appealing 360 price, but then I remembered that it was in British pounds.

Benny: Apr 17th 2008; 10:43AM

It's cheaper than the Wii, anyhow.

na2ru1: Apr 17th 2008; 1:03PM

Who buys the useless Core/Arcade anyway?

Still gna need a memory unit(more money MS?)

Benny: Apr 17th 2008; 6:26PM

You get a memory unit with the Arcade.

Ryan P.: Apr 17th 2008; 12:09AM

what song is that? Is it in the game or is that from MS
ad department?

Anyone?

west: Apr 17th 2008; 10:10AM

Get Innocuous by LCD Soundsystem.

GreyFox: Apr 17th 2008; 12:12AM

That, my friends, is a damn fine commercial. HD version please!

Kenny: Apr 17th 2008; 12:37AM

that was a really cool commercial. the song was lcd soundsystem - get innocuous!.

Eric: Apr 17th 2008; 10:10AM

I hope that means that its on the soundtrack.

As You Were: Apr 17th 2008; 12:40AM

Song is LCD Soundsystem 'Get Innocuous'

Swifty: Apr 17th 2008; 5:42AM

The 30 second version of the spot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEq5-of7R-8

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Apr 17th 2008; 6:47AM

Stupid, sexy Niko.

Jamie: Apr 17th 2008; 7:35AM

I hope LCD Soundsystem are on the soundtrack.

Danny: Apr 17th 2008; 8:28AM

They are. It was confirmed in the OXM review.

Jamie: Apr 17th 2008; 8:31AM

Well.. Awesome!

Pardon my ignorance.

alu: Apr 17th 2008; 3:49PM

LCD Soundsystem FTMFW

xFenixKnightx: Apr 17th 2008; 8:17AM

2 words!! Teh...Hawtness!

Maverick Saturn: Apr 17th 2008; 8:52AM

GTA4 is doing a strip tease.

dee_lucky: Apr 17th 2008; 10:28AM

song???

vidGuy: Apr 17th 2008; 11:18AM

read???

na2ru1: Apr 17th 2008; 1:05PM

Well at least it wasnt Bungie who made this "next gen" title for us.

GTA IV deserves the attention infact more

Orionsaint: Apr 17th 2008; 3:29PM

I love it! Why can't this ad run in America?

Roland: Apr 17th 2008; 5:11PM

Isn't odd that the game will be released in 2 weeks time and there is no gameplay footage?

Robert Maynard: Apr 19th 2008; 12:38AM

I don't remember there being any game footage for San Andreas before it was released either. I remember trying to imagine what it would be like going strictly by hands-on previews because they simply didn't release any gameplay footage.

In any case, we can assume that minus the HUD, we've already seen a lot of in-game footage right here. :P
We have no reason to suspect that that is not his walking animation, that the simple facial animation when he hung up the phone was not an in-game animation, that storms don't look that awesome, or that his window smashing and hotwiring isn't how it happens in the game itself. It's pretty likely they didn't go to the trouble of making special animations for these actions when they've finished making a game that features all these things regularly. :P

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