Rockstar announces GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony, coming to Xbox Live and retail compilation
by Griffin McElroy 
{ May 26th 2009 at 4:35PM } 
While we're sure to hear more about the particulars of Gay Tony during E3, the method of the game's release should prove to be interesting as well. Not only will the expansion hit Xbox Live this fall for $19.99, it'll also appear on a retail disc with The Lost and Damned. This retail disc, titled Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, won't contain the core GTA IV game -- nor will it require GTA IV to play. It'll hit store shelves in the fall, selling for $39.99. We'll let you know more when we know more!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Storm Eagle @ May 26th 2009 4:35PM
What....
neal @ May 26th 2009 4:41PM
its "Fanny-Tastic".... =D
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ May 26th 2009 5:06PM
I wonder if the fact that it will also be released on disc means it'll be multi-plat. I mean, technically, that's not DLC, so doesn't break the "exclusive dlc" promise. Any word?
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ May 26th 2009 5:07PM
Which would also explain why the disc version has TLAD with it.
Look At This Suit @ May 26th 2009 5:12PM
Well MS paid for two exclusive DLC packs, as is my understanding. The disk might just be for the people who didn't buy L&D. Griffin also says up there that it is going to be downloadable via Xbox LIve, with no mention of PSN, so at this point I think you could assume this will be exclusive.
Snowblind @ May 26th 2009 5:20PM
I think it depends if Microsoft is publishing this retail pack.
Either way, if it does come to the PS3 I doubt it'll be at the same time as the 360 version. I doubt Microsoft are stupid enough to get caught out by silly loopholes like that.
Night Elve @ May 26th 2009 5:23PM
Wait ... what? Really?
MarkHawk @ May 26th 2009 5:27PM
Wait, since this is a going to be a stand alone game does this mean 1000 Achievement points?
Snowblind @ May 26th 2009 5:28PM
I would assume so.
Tomb Raider Anniversary could be downloaded as an expansion for Legend or bought as a retail game and it had 1000 points. As a proper retail game, I don't see why this wouldn't.
offday @ May 26th 2009 5:33PM
What...is right, but who cares. It's GTA. I'll play it. :D
Also, I'm loving the liberty city stories retail disc thing, since I didn't get to play the first DLC and I already traded my GTA IV away.
Swagman @ May 26th 2009 8:26PM
Jesus Christ people. What part of, 'Microsoft paid over $50 million for complete exclusivity of this content,' do people not understand?
By way of comparison, Microsoft only paid $10 million for the first Gears of War.
Also by way of comparison, most full video games only cost between $10 million to $20 million, by themselves.
At those prices, I guarantee you, if Microsoft coughed up $50 million for the two DLC paks, they are not going anywhere that Microsoft does not sign off on.
So for example, they may go to PC, or next-gen if Rockstar decided to release a GTA Greatest Hits collection, these may go multiplatform. Other than that, these are staying exclusive to the Xbox 360 and Xbox branded consoles . . . just like Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories stayed exclusive to Playstation branded consoles last gen.
If you even call yourself a GTA fan and are all so fired up to get these expansion packs, then buy an Xbox 360; God knows that at $200, the console is cheap enough. On the other hand, if you are just a Sony fan and do not believe that anyone else other than Sony should be allowed to have exclusive content, no one in the world can help you except maybe therapy.
In the mean time, I suspect the only reason these packs are coming to disc later this year, is to reach all the people who did/do not buy DLC. It is a very smart move on Microsoft's part, as the same content on disc, branded as an entirely new GTA experience, is always likely to sell better than the DLC which would only appeal to a limited audience this gen anyway. GTA IV sold around 7 million copies on Xbox 360 alone, while The Lost & Damned is only expected to sell around 2 million copies. Considering the rabidness that GTA fans buy new games, plus the $40 sticker price for what ostensibly looks like 20 to 40 hours of game (plus multiplayer), it is safe to expect the disc version of the DLC, Episodes From Liberty City, to sell closer to 5 million copies on the 360, which is really more in line to what Microsoft was hoping these packs would sell to make up for the $50 million they spent on getting them.
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ May 27th 2009 8:30AM
Jeez, kiddies. Don't get your panties in a bunch here. Just some speculation here. Personally, I'm not in the market for any GTA DLC, as I never finished the main story anyway. So, everybody calm down. Take a breath. You've still got your precious exclusive GTA content.
I'm going back to playing inFamous now.
Gonzo @ May 27th 2009 11:49AM
What are you thinking Troy.
Swagman just lost the Fallout 3 dlc exclusivity and he needs something to rub in the faces of pc & ps3 owners.
It's okay Swagman he's only trying to scare you. And even if the rumors that the GTA dlc exclusivity is timed or this next mission pack is as crappy and overpriced as the last, just remind yourself that you still have Gears... You still have gears. Now wipe the tears off your keyboard and wrap another towel around your 360.
MrB @ May 27th 2009 12:57PM
Good. The Lost and Damned, while pretty short, was better than the original story, and hopefully this will be too.
mikeout @ May 26th 2009 4:35PM
That's gotta set off some people... TITLE=(GTA+GAY)+USA= Oh-oh.
Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ May 26th 2009 4:49PM
EDIT: Once again, really off-topic.
The Dark Wayne @ May 26th 2009 4:53PM
i dont understand how protesting gets you money?
Erluti @ May 26th 2009 4:55PM
@kill
wow, you have a lot of hate.
Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ May 26th 2009 4:58PM
Ever notice when the far right protests something as bad or damaging and viola...we see the product everywhere, on the news, in print...you know FREE advertising.
The Dark Wayne @ May 26th 2009 5:03PM
yeah sure, but I dont see how youd make money off that unless you own the product being protested, but you said protest me so unless you're thinking of paid interviews i cant really see where you're going with this
Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ May 26th 2009 5:12PM
EDIT: Also off-topic. No dice.
Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ May 26th 2009 5:14PM
I was referring to the mindset of Rockstar when I said come protest me.
It is actually a lyric from a song by ICP.
Duke @ May 26th 2009 5:29PM
EDIT: Off-topic.
Killjebus...PSN Killjebus @ May 26th 2009 6:08PM
How is it off-topic to state that certain groups protest specific lifestyles in games? And to give examples of they hypocritical nature of these same groups?
Duke @ May 27th 2009 2:03PM
I think I was on topic of answering his inquiry but okie dokie. People seemed to agree with me on the effect of his political rants.
Yatcho @ May 26th 2009 4:36PM
So it's a musical?
Derek W. @ May 26th 2009 7:48PM
All I know is that it's going to be fabulous.
ArchiGamer @ May 26th 2009 7:59PM
As someone already said once before: It's Gaybulous!
Macedonia Mafia @ May 26th 2009 4:36PM
Where is the "IV" in the logo? TLAD had it (I think).
Mr Khan @ May 26th 2009 4:36PM
Huh. Microsoft should have held this back for E3.
Or maybe not, depending on how this title is going to be received....
MarkHawk @ May 26th 2009 4:50PM
Rockstar controls everything, Microsoft is basically their funding for these to DLC projects. Rockstar has always had control of the PR for the most part. Rockstar also doesn't normally get involved with E3.
joeybeast @ May 26th 2009 4:37PM
I'm not sure how I'll feel when in-game friends want to go to a strip club now.
Cesaria (seh-sare-ee-ah) @ May 26th 2009 4:37PM
Wow, they were just talking about something like this on Rebel FM. They can predict the future and stuff.
MarkHawk @ May 26th 2009 4:55PM
I was saying the same thing. It's a big prediction though. Wonder if they had any inside information. Most people assumed it was the character who ruins the diamond operation...
Look At This Suit @ May 26th 2009 4:38PM
Not waiting until E3 to reveal this means it's PROBABLY a joke. I don't see why they couldn't wait until June 1st and MS's press conference to reveal the DLC, whether it be this or something more...Serious.
The Dark Wayne @ May 26th 2009 4:45PM
well, they did say they were gonna focus on all the characters present at the diamond deal, at least I remember hearing someone say that. And Luis Lopez was the guy who shot the Jewish guy who inspected the diamonds. I hope it's not true, because Luis wasn't even as important as a character as Johnny was and he didn't seem very interesting from the small pieces we've seen of him, contrary to Johnny who I found myself wanting to play as immediately. I do hope it is a joke though, I was very much hoping for a McReary or Irish related DLC pack. It really could be a joke, especially considering most Americans attitudes toward gays, but God knows Rockstar loves to step outside the boundaries
MarkHawk @ May 26th 2009 4:53PM
Like I said above. And a joke? You really think they'd joke on such a topic? I know it's Rockstar but...
Rockstar controls everything, Microsoft is basically their funding for these to DLC projects. Rockstar has always had control of the PR for the most part. Rockstar also doesn't normally get involved with E3.
On a side note... if their was one company that could break the wall on having a gay character at the focus (or around the focus) it's Rockstar. I applaud them for diving head first for the past +decade.
Look At This Suit @ May 26th 2009 4:54PM
Hot Coffee: This Time, With Extra Cream.
uncle jesse @ May 26th 2009 4:55PM
Wayne,
an Irish GTA. So much potential with that. I'm already excited just thinking about it.
Look At This Suit @ May 26th 2009 5:00PM
I have no problem with a gay character at all. I'm just saying that based on what I see as Rockstar's sense of humor, this is just the kind of joke they'd go for. GTA IV, to me, was a darker and grittier GTA. L&D got even grittier, literally. Why would Rockstar go in a completely different direction with this DLC pack? I just don't see how they could make a story based on Gay Tony and Luis dark. If they were going in a dark direction, I don't think they would have titled this pack "The Ballad of Gay Tony". Like one of our fellow commenters pointed out, it sounds like a musical.
But let's have a branching discussion, here. How do you generate more hype? Announcement and some reveals at E3, or announcement beforehand and then some goodies once the show rolls around?
uncle jesse @ May 26th 2009 5:03PM
Look at what they have already done. They haven't shown us anything at all for this. Nothing. Just the title with the word 'Gay' in it and some lights and it's already got everyone talking.
Mission accomplished.
MarkHawk @ May 26th 2009 5:04PM
IDK, I can see the story of trying to live a gay life style in modern day America to be very upsetting and difficult. Maybe not dark but more upsetting. It's really up to Rockstar but I hope it doesn't... I just hope it handles it better then it's most likely going to.
The Dark Wayne @ May 26th 2009 5:06PM
judging from the way they had Florian Cravic act, I really doubt this would be a tasteful depiction about the cruelties of life as a homosexual. Just lots of penis and buttsex jokes
Look At This Suit @ May 26th 2009 5:09PM
Maybe Rockstar is just looking for a way to get two penises on screen at the same time in this pack. Gotta one-up L&D in more departments than gameplay.
Renan @ May 26th 2009 4:39PM
what.
Cj @ May 26th 2009 4:39PM
Glad Rockstar is pushing some homophobic buttons with this. People need to grow up. Im just hoping Gay Tony isnt some mystical stereotypical fairy gay.
The Dark Wayne @ May 26th 2009 4:46PM
oh yeah he totally was, you met him and his partner as well as Luis in one of the missions in TLAD, specifically where you robbed their diamonds. You also encountered Luis in the bank robbery mission, he was the guy next to the guy who shot St. Micheal, and was also the guy who shot the Jewish diamond guys in the museum mission
Cj @ May 26th 2009 4:52PM
I dont recall. Dammit. I was hoping a tough gay character like William Dafoe in The Boondock Saints.
MarkHawk @ May 26th 2009 4:57PM
I'd settle for a Neil Patrick Harris like character.
The Dark Wayne @ May 26th 2009 4:58PM
i doubt we'll be playing as Gay Tony as previous rumors had suggested we'd play as Luis, who wasn't flamboyant at all, and looked like your typical OG, i dont even know if he's gay