Joystiq

Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Take-Two fiscal Q3 sales led by (GASP!) Grand Theft Auto IVhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/take-two-q3-sales-led-by-gasp-grand-theft-auto-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/take-two-q3-sales-led-by-gasp-grand-theft-auto-iv/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/take-two-q3-sales-led-by-gasp-grand-theft-auto-iv/#commentsFiled under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Take-Two Interactive's third-quarter fiscal results have proven that crime really does pay, with law-breaking blockbuster Grand Theft Auto IV leading sales, alongside Top Spin 3 and Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution. The three-month financial period, ended July 31, 2008, saw the publisher rake in net revenues of $433.8 million, nearly double the $206.4 million it earned during the same, GTA-less quarter of 2007.

If you're reading this paragraph, we can only assume that you're keen on seeing even more numbers. Like $51.8 million, Take-Two's net income for the quarter and a considerable improvement on last year's net loss of $58.5 million. In terms of notable expenses, Take-Two burned through $12.6 million in "stock-based compensation," $1.8 million for "business reorganization" and $5.4 million for "professional fees and legal expenses," primarily aimed at warding off the advances of EA. Finally, net revenues for Take-Two's first three quarters in total were just over $1.2 billion, versus $689.2 million for the same period a year ago.

In summary: Grand Theft Auto IV = money.

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]]>BreakingNewsFinancialGrand-Theft-AutoGrand-Theft-Auto-IVGTA-IVRockstarTake-TwoLudwig Kietzmann2008-09-04T16:37:00+00:00Rumor: GTA IV DLC actually, really coming this Novemberhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/rumor-gta-iv-dlc-actually-really-coming-this-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/rumor-gta-iv-dlc-actually-really-coming-this-november/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/rumor-gta-iv-dlc-actually-really-coming-this-november/#commentsFiled under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

When our parents split up, both of them tried to convince us that the other would just be "devastated" if they didn't get to have custody of us. (Puzzlingly, each insisted that the other had just bought a pony and ice cream farm, which doesn't even make sense.) Why are we choosing this Thursday morning to flashback to that awkward moment? Once again, we don't know who to believe.

Last month, VG247 had a super secret Rockstar source telling them that the Grand Theft Auto IV DLC wouldn't be available until January. Now, Eurogamer has a different super secret source saying that things are still on track for a November release. We don't know which one is telling the truth, and we don't care ... we just want one of them to love us.

For more timeless tales in carjacking and homicide, check out all our Grand Theft Auto IV coverage.

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]]>dlcgrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivrockstarJustin McElroy2008-09-04T11:00:00+00:00Rumor: 360's GTA IV DLC to hit in Jan/Feb '09http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/rumor-360s-gta-iv-dlc-to-hit-in-jan-feb-09/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/rumor-360s-gta-iv-dlc-to-hit-in-jan-feb-09/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/rumor-360s-gta-iv-dlc-to-hit-in-jan-feb-09/#commentsFiled under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Although Microsoft has hinted at an autumn arrival for the 360's long-awaited, exclusive GTA IV downloadable content, a "source close to Rockstar" has told VG247 "nuh-uh." The quote the site actually got was, "It'll be in January or February."

For those keeping record, the GTA DLC was originally supposed to hit in Q4 2008 (so, before this November), but was delayed due to some corporate numbers mumbo jumbo that we couldn't care less about ... except that it resulted in having to wait longer for more frolicking fun in Liberty City.

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]]>dlcgrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivrockstarrumorRandy Nelson2008-08-28T15:00:00+00:00GC 2008: GTA IV adds replay editor, polish on PChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-gta-iv-adds-replay-editor-polish-on-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-gta-iv-adds-replay-editor-polish-on-pc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/gc-2008-gta-iv-adds-replay-editor-polish-on-pc/#commentsFiled under: PC, Action

Rockstar has laid out details on some of the additions and improvements in store for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV. Eurogamer reports that the version it was shown at Leipzig featured more realistic lighting, animation, and "a much higher level of detail on both characters and environments."

More intriguing is a replay editor. According to Rockstar, the PC version of GTA IV is always recording the previous 30 seconds worth of gameplay, so you can pause at any time and really soak up the calamity that's just transpired. It will also be possible to tweak the footage by means of filters, cuts, and repositioning of the camera. The completed clip can be combined with other 30 second snippets into one long, personal crime epic to share with friends via the Rockstar Social Club website.

The PC version will also expand on the consoles' 16-player online component, although the extent of what's planned is largely unknown beyond there being more filters for finding specific match types.

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]]>grand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivgta-iv-pcleipzig-08rockstarRandy Nelson2008-08-21T21:30:00+00:00Law of the Game on Joystiq: Let the punishment fit the crimehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-let-the-punishment-fit-the-crime/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-let-the-punishment-fit-the-crime/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/law-of-the-game-on-joystiq-let-the-punishment-fit-the-crime/#commentsFiled under: Features

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

We've be hearing a lot about the Thai cabbie killing lately and how it was (or wasn't) caused by Grand Theft Auto. In the wake of that tragic murder, there have been two major groups of outcries. The first has been the call to regulate games; one we have heard all too often. The other has been a call to revise criminal penalties; one which is not only new, but speaks to the core theory behind criminal law: the theory of punishment. Criminal law theory is something that is universal in all of our criminal codes, but isn't often discussed. It's this "theoretical" approach that we'll look at today. You may agree or disagree with my particular thoughts on the theory of criminal law, but it's more important for everyone to understand a theoretical approach to criminal law so that we can come to our own conclusions about true "justice."

The concept of criminal law starts with some basic political philosophy. In order to have a society, there has to be a set of rules by which that society operates. Whether you want to view this as the social contract in a Locke/Hobbes/Rousseau manner or through some other philosophical lens, the basic need for rules and order in a society is more or less the same. This need for rules gives rise to the concept of the law, and one of those concepts is the boundaries of behavior that stray into what we, as a society, feel need to be punished. This is the basis for all criminal law, be it a crime against a person or a crime against property.

Once you've placed theoretical constraints on acceptable behavior, you have to decide what are acceptable punishments. There have been, over time, many theories on which punishment is based. One of the oldest is athe classic "eye for an eye," but more modern interpretations have attempted to balance the idea of actual punishment with the idea of deterrence, the concept that the threat of punishment will keep many from committing crimes altogether.

There is also the question of whom to punish and to what degree should all involved parties be punished. Remember, the actual criminal actor is not always the only one punished. This is the basis behind accomplice charges, among other criminal penalties that involve far more complex issues of mitigating and aggravating circumstances, or particular factors that make the punishment more or less severe. Which brings us back to Thailand and two particular thoughts I've seen presented with respect to game-related violence: games as a mitigating or aggravating factor; and liability for game manufacturers for crimes that copy games.

"Both of these ideas border on lunacy."

Both of these ideas border on lunacy. First, games as an aggravating or mitigating factor in deciding punishment seems to be a loss. Does it make sense to punish a gamer more because he or she killed someone in a way based on a game? Of course not. The fact that the perpetrator is a gamer doesn't make the victim any less dead, nor does it make the crime any different from any other murder. So there's no benefit to giving the perpetrator an extra 40 years because they acted out a game. From the opposite approach, should a gamer be able to claim that the game made them do it? I say this is equally pointless unless it is tied to some concrete mental illness that would otherwise give rise to a potential insanity defense. If you can tell right from wrong (generally the standard for insanity), exposure to a particular game doesn't make right any less right or wrong any less wrong; it's just an excuse to attempt to reduce punishment.

The secondary thought, applying liability to game manufacturers for "copycat" crimes committed by those who play their games is a blatant contradiction to free speech in the US. That's not to say it can't happen in other countries, but the law is relatively clear in the US. In fact, the Supreme Court specifically invalidated hate crime laws that were in conflict with free speech in R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul. More importantly, speech has traditionally only been limited in the case where the speech itself presents imminent lawless action, such as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater, or consists of "fighting words," or words likely to instigate a fight. To think about this from another perspective, if game makers are allowed to be held accountable for the actions of players, then why not movie makers? Or authors? Catcher in the Rye has been tied to several people who have committed criminal acts, and yet not only is it still sold freely, to my knowledge no one has ever brought suit against J. D. Salinger, the publisher, or the book seller.

More importantly, these two ideas tie together. If you don't believe that the perpetrator should be able to claim the "game made him do it," then why should the game's maker be liable? On the contrary, if the game maker isn't responsible for what people do with their game, then does it really matter if the game motivated the crime in someone who can tell right from wrong? Doesn't the idea of free speech in and of itself demand some personal responsibility from those who are in their right mind?

These finer points of criminal theory are ones you have to resolve within your own mind, not just with respect to these proposed game laws but with respect to all criminal laws. It's a legal area that few people analyze thoroughly, but everyone should have thought about as it should shape your personal and political actions. After all, if you disagree with a candidate's particular theory of criminal punishment, shouldn't that be a factor in deciding whether to vote for that person, just as you would likely consider the candidate's stance on video games in making an educated decision on whom to vote for? Hopefully much of the fervor will die down as more time passes from the tragic murder in Thailand, and as that dies down so will the hasty calls to revise the criminal system based on games.

Mark Methenitis is the Editor in Chief of the Law of the Game blog, which discusses legal issues in video games. Mr. Methenitis is also a licensed attorney in the state of Texas with The Vernon Law Group, PLLC and a member of the Texas Bar Assoc., American Bar Assoc., and the International Game Developers Assoc. Opinions expressed in this column are his own. Reach him at: lawofthegame [AAT] gmail [DAWT] com.

The content of this blog article is not legal advice. It only constitutes commentary on legal issues, and is for educational and informational purposes only. Reading this blog, replying to its posts, or any other interaction on this site does not create an attorney-client privilege between you and the author. The opinions expressed on this site are not the opinions of AOL LLC., Weblogs, Inc., Joystiq.com, or The Vernon Law Group, PLLC. As with any legal issue that may confront you in a particular situation, you should always consult a qualified attorney familiar with the laws in your state.

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]]>cabbiecolumnscrimecriminalcriminal-mindsgrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivlawlaw-of-the-gamethailandMark Methenitis2008-08-14T20:00:00+00:00Study: Parents corrupting unsullied children with killer gamehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/study-parents-corrupting-unsullied-children-with-killer-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/study-parents-corrupting-unsullied-children-with-killer-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/study-parents-corrupting-unsullied-children-with-killer-game/#commentsFiled under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

A recent study conducted by Nielsen Games has uncovered an unsavory and alarming new link in the video game industry's ever-tightening chain around our nation's youth. It was found that 17% of respondents in the survey who had purchased a copy of the popular role-model pummeling game, "Grand Theft Auto IV," were between the ages of seven and sixteen. The crime glorification simulation, which imparts "gamer points" for beating innocent police officers to death with decapitated prostitute bodies, was rated "M" for "Mature."

The most distressing news lies not in the fact that 61% of impressionable youths had been tricked into purchasing the games themselves by slick marketing and peer pressure, but the shocking revelation that 39% had been aided by someone else -- in 80% of these cases, parents themselves had thrust their child's ripe brain beneath the industry's oppressive mallet.

Speaking exclusively to Joystiq, renowned child psychologist Dr. Alphred Larmist described this turn of events as "the ultimate betrayal." According to him, parents could be the most dangerous conduit of pixelated poison. "Parents getting involved is the last thing we need," Larmist said. "If they take an active role in what entertainment their children partake in, this is the sort of disaster that could happen. Next thing you know, they're determining what's appropriate for the kids and going out and buying Grand Theft Auto. They're supposed to be on our side."

Dr. Larmist vowed he would take up the campaign to keep parents and their influence away from children. "If nothing is done, these video gamers will reduce our society to naught but chainsaws having bloody sex with each other."

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]]>ESRBGrand-Theft-AutoGrand-Theft-Auto-IVGTA-IVNielsenRockstarSatireLudwig Kietzmann2008-08-13T15:40:00+00:00Grand Theft Auto IV hitting PC on Nov. 18http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/grand-theft-auto-iv-hitting-pc-on-nov-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/grand-theft-auto-iv-hitting-pc-on-nov-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/grand-theft-auto-iv-hitting-pc-on-nov-18/#commentsFiled under: PC, Action

So, who's very excited (or surprised) by confirmation that Rockstar's go-anywhere, shoot-anyone crime caper is coming to the PC? Well, the folks at Rockstar, obviously. "We are very excited to be releasing the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV," said Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser. "The whole team is dedicated to bringing an amazing gaming experience to the PC. The game looks and plays beautifully on PC and we can't wait for people to play it."

People can expect to start playing Grand Theft Auto IV, along with its "newly expanded multiplayer" modes, on November 18th if they live in North America, and November 21st if they live in Europe.

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]]>BreakingNewsGrand-Theft-AutoGrand-Theft-Auto-IVGTA-IVGTA-IV-PCRockstarTake-TwoLudwig Kietzmann2008-08-06T11:21:00+00:00Thailand's GTA IV distributor pulls game following murderhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/thailands-gta-iv-distributor-pulls-game-following-murder/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/thailands-gta-iv-distributor-pulls-game-following-murder/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/thailands-gta-iv-distributor-pulls-game-following-murder/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

Grand Theft Auto IV's Thailand distributor, New Era Interactive Media, is asking retailers to pull the title after an 18-year-old said he was inspired by the game to rob and murder a 54-year-old cab driver. According to police investigator Veeravit Pipattanasak (via Reuters), the young man wanted to find out if it was as easy to rob a taxi in real life as it was in the game. After the cab driver fought back, the young man stabbed him to death.

Thailand's Culture Ministry plans to use the incident as an opportunity to try and regulate violent video games. As for the 18-year-old, if found guilty, he faces the possibility of lethal injection as punishment for the murder.

[Via GI.biz]

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]]>bannedbbcgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivthailandAlexander Sliwinski2008-08-04T11:15:00+00:00Rockstar and GTA IV honored at Develop Awards 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/rockstar-and-gta-iv-honored-at-develop-awards-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/rockstar-and-gta-iv-honored-at-develop-awards-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/rockstar-and-gta-iv-honored-at-develop-awards-2008/#commentsFiled under: Culture, PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

As if those billions upon billions of sold copies weren't reward enough, Rockstar has now had its efforts in Grand Theft Auto IV recognized by the Develop Industry Excellence Awards, the UK's annual ceremony which doles out awards for ... excellence. In the industry.

Rockstar's excellence was acknowledged with four awards -- Rockstar North received gongs for "Visual Arts," "Audio Accomplishment" and "Best In-House Developer", while Rockstar Games walked away with the special Grand Prix prize, "not only the commercial and creative powerhouse Grand Theft Auto IV, but also Rockstar's much-envied studio network which regularly pushes the creative boundaries of gaming."

Award recipients which didn't bully said boundaries include Lost Winds for "Best ~~Sedative~~ New IP," LEGO Indiana Jones for "Best Use of a License" (to make money!) and Nintendo for "Publishing Hero." Check out the complete list of winners after the break, and the complete list of whiners in the comments.

Best New IP:

Lost Winds (Frontier Developments)

Best Use of a License:

Lego Indiana Jones (Traveller's Tales)

Visual Arts:

Rockstar North (Grand Theft Auto IV)

Audio Accomplishment:

Rockstar North (Grand Theft Auto IV)

Publishing Hero:

Nintendo

Tools Provider

Epic Games

Technical Innovation

NaturalMotion / Image Metrics (Grand Theft Auto IV)

Creative Outsourcing

Richard Jacques Studios

Services

Babel Media

Recruitment Company

OPM

Games:Edu New Talent Award

University of Abertay & Dare to be Digital

Business Development

Realtime Worlds

Best Mobile Studio

Ideaworks3D

Best In-House Developer

Rockstar North

Best New UK/European Studio

Doublesix

Best Independent Developer

Splash Damage

Grand Prix

Rockstar Games

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]]>AwardsDevelopDevelop-AwardsGrand-Theft-Auto-IVGTA-IVRockstarLudwig Kietzmann2008-07-31T14:50:00+00:00ASA dismisses GTA IV telly ad complaintshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/30/asa-dismisses-gta-iv-telly-ad-complaints/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/30/asa-dismisses-gta-iv-telly-ad-complaints/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/30/asa-dismisses-gta-iv-telly-ad-complaints/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

The Advertising Standards Authority of the Ü-K said it ain't seein' nothing wrong with Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV ads across its domain. GI.biz reports the organization received complaints from ten viewers about the violence in the ad, while seven others objected to the time the commercial aired. The ASA stated the ad was slotted in appropriate times and it saw no "direct harmful influence on children or young people" in the commercial.

The UK advert for GTA IV was very similar to the US version ... just with a British voice over at the end and some squiggly mark in front of the price tag that looks like this: £. We've been told it means lbs., but that seems silly, because pounds are a measure of weight. Anyway, the commercial can be found after the break for a refresher.

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]]>asagrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-4grand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivAlexander Sliwinski2008-07-30T09:45:00+00:00Pulitzer Prize winning author says GTA IV ain't arthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/pulitzer-prize-winning-author-says-gta-iv-aint-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/pulitzer-prize-winning-author-says-gta-iv-aint-art/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/pulitzer-prize-winning-author-says-gta-iv-aint-art/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Action, Fighting

Who knew that Pulitzer Prize winning authors were taking their hard-earned awards and combining it with writing skill to... play Grand Theft Auto IV? It's not like they can be accused of slacking, having won a Pulitzer and all. Junot Diaz who won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao spent some quality time ripping off cars and robbing his fellow Liberty City denizens, but in the end he says the game isn't worthy of the praise that's being spoon-fed to the masses.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Diaz points out the sugary coated love the game has been receiving -- GTA IV is better than "The Godfather," better than "The Sopranos," better than say, a novel! He admits to loving the game, but doesn't think it deserves to be compared to classic cinema, or a timeless television show about chubby mafia dons.

The piece is very well written, and if it wasn't we'd have to call Diaz on the carpet and demand he fork his award over. There's also a nice sidebar on the history of the different GTA games over the years. In fact, Diaz said the best thing you can compare GTA to is itself, "Before you start measuring a game to The Brothers Karamazov maybe you should measure it up to its earlier iterations. You might actually see something."

We agree on some levels that anyone comparing this to The Godfather needs to have some serious cinematic appreciation classes, but who's to say Nico's story isn't high art? We can think of a few classic novels we had to read in school that we'd love to skip in lieu of some carjacking. Do you think that 2007 Pulitzer winnner Cormac McCarthy spends much time gaming? Maybe he's more of a Wii dude.

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]]>criticismGrand-Theft-AutoGTAGTA-IVJunot-DiazPulitzer-PrizeKevin Kelly2008-07-01T07:00:00+00:00Conn. State Sen. Slossberg wants confirmation of GTA IV rape scenehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/conn-state-sen-slossberg-wants-confirmation-of-gta-iv-rape-sce/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/conn-state-sen-slossberg-wants-confirmation-of-gta-iv-rape-sce/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/conn-state-sen-slossberg-wants-confirmation-of-gta-iv-rape-sce/#commentsFiled under: Culture

Go ahead and Google: "Connecticut State Senator Gayle Slossberg." Now, just imagine how different that page is going to look once news spreads that Sen. Slossberg (D) wants confirmation of the rape scene in Grand Theft Auto IV. The New Haven Advocate reports that Slossberg admits she's never played GTA IV and still needs to confirm the "rumored" rape scene. Apparently, that's not going to stop her from being afraid of the game corrupting children, thus prompting her to introduce legislation requiring better warning labels.

We're not going out on a limb and saying there isn't a rape scene buried under all that code -- remember what happened last time? But Slossberg does have a serious problem. She seems a bit confused as to what to put on these warning labels, telling the newspaper: "I mean what would it say? 'This game will make you a sociopath'?"

Best of luck, Sen. Slossberg! A Google search of your name will never be the same again.

[Via GamePolitics]

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]]>connecticutgayle-slossberggrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivslossbergAlexander Sliwinski2008-06-25T21:30:00+00:00Pixeloo returns with the Real Niko Bellichttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/pixeloo-returns-with-the-real-niko-bellic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/pixeloo-returns-with-the-real-niko-bellic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/pixeloo-returns-with-the-real-niko-bellic/#commentsFiled under: Culture

The artist known as Pixeloo delivers once again with his "real" rendition of Grand Theft Auto IV antihero Niko Bellic. Thankfully, Niko's character design is that of a standard human, so we don't get the abomination of Pixeloo's not-safe-for-sanity "Real Mario."

The artist says he did the piece for Official Playstation Magazine UK's latest issue. Another impressive piece by Pixeloo, and unlike Real Mario, the Real Niko won't cause us to wake up screaming for two weeks and shudder every time we even think about the portly plumber.

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]]>artgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-4grand-theft-auto-ivgtagta-ivnikoniko-bellicpixelooAlexander Sliwinski2008-06-20T10:30:00+00:00Saint's Row 2 'a very differentiated product'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/saints-row-2-a-very-differentiated-product/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/saints-row-2-a-very-differentiated-product/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/saints-row-2-a-very-differentiated-product/#commentsFiled under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

This is precisely why we're not in video game marketing. If we were trying to get our open-ended gangster romp into the hands of millions, we'd be sure to have "Just like Grand Theft Auto IV!" emblazoned across not only the game's cover, but all of its magazine ads, television commercials and special edition lunch boxes. Of course, the major failure in our marketing strategy would be in its honesty -- our game, "Radical Car Nicking," really would just be Grand Theft Auto with slightly murkier textures.

That's why we're not in game design either, but we sure are good at copying and pasting quotes from THQ CEO, Brian Farrell! Like this one (via Next-Gen), from an investor meeting held on Wednesday in Chicago, where he said, "We think that we have a very differentiated product with Saints Row 2." Farrell acknowledged Rockstar's opus as "the leader in the genre," but noted that Volition's bandanna-wearing blockbuster would go in a different creative direction with "silly, over-the-top gameplay."

We've certainly seen shades of that in the most recent Saint's Row 2 trailer, what with the encouragement of public streaking and outrageous misuse of sewage. It's out -- and very differentiated -- this October.

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]]>Brain-FarrellGTA-IVRadical-Car-NickingSaints-Row-2THQVolitionLudwig Kietzmann2008-06-20T01:00:00+00:00The Onion investigates Liberty City cops' incompetencehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/the-onion-investigates-liberty-city-cops-incompetence/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/the-onion-investigates-liberty-city-cops-incompetence/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/the-onion-investigates-liberty-city-cops-incompetence/#commentsFiled under: Culture

We've been railing against the LCPD for years, so it's nice to see a more mainstream publication like The Onion finally notice what we've been saying all along: Liberty City's cops are the absolute worst. Just look at this statistic: "Since the surge in crime, which began on April 28 at midnight, more than 830,000 civilians have been murdered-nearly one-tenth of Liberty City's total population." Unacceptable.

It's even threatening to drive some people out of town! "Sure, we have excellent radio stations and an incredible range of things to see and do here," public defender Kiki Jenkins says. "But if I were younger, I'd move to Mario World in a second." We hear you Kiki, we hear you.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

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]]>grand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivgtaivthe-onionJustin McElroy2008-06-09T10:30:00+00:00Take-Two: 'Portfolio balancing' drove GTA IV DLC delay, partnerships possiblehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/take-two-portfolio-balancing-drove-gta-iv-dlc-delay-partners/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/take-two-portfolio-balancing-drove-gta-iv-dlc-delay-partners/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/take-two-portfolio-balancing-drove-gta-iv-dlc-delay-partners/#commentsFiled under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

In the same conference call that gave us this head scratcher, Take-Two reps tap danced over a number of other issues, including their official reason for delaying GTA IV's hotly anticipated DLC, as well as any potential partnerships that may be lurking on the horizon.

Regarding the company's resolution to keep the GTA IV downloadable content out of players' hands until sometime between November 1 of this year and January 31, 2009, Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick calmly stated that the decision was based on "portfolio balancing," and that the delay was "not based on development issues." Even as our hearts ached for additional Liberty City shenanigans, Take-Two reps on the call remained enthusiastic, and for good reason, given that during the last quarter the GTA brand made up an impressive 78% of the firm's total publishing revenue.

Switching grears, and looking to the ongoing drama between Take-Two and EA, Zelnick expressed pride in his company, stating that "despite distractions, everyone had their heads down and a smile on their faces and were getting the job done." The exec added, however, that Take-Two is on the lookout for any potential fits for the company in terms of partnerships, adding that "we have our eyes open to anything to maximize stockholder value, including remaining independent."

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]]>breakingnewsdlceagrand-theft-auto-ivgrandtheftautoivgta-ivgtaivpartnershipstake-twotakeovertaketwoJason Dobson2008-06-05T18:50:00+00:00Age of Conan dethrones GTA IV in Europehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/age-of-conan-dethrones-gta-iv-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/age-of-conan-dethrones-gta-iv-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/31/age-of-conan-dethrones-gta-iv-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: PC, MMO

With the amount of hype, advertising, positive reviews and media attention Grand Theft Auto IV has received over the past few months, we wholly expected it to remain on top of the software sales charts until our video game consoles grew sentient and attempted to purge humanity from the planet. Strangely enough, a dark horse recently overtook Rockstar's well-received crime drama in many European territories -- a horse mounted by a brawny, rippling Cimmerian.

Yes, Funcom's decapitation-rich MMORPG Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures recently outsold GTA IV in a number of European locations, including Germany and Sweden. Since Rockstar's latest opus is still selling like freshly baked hotcakes in North America, we can't help but wonder if GTA's themes of living the American dream and hooker brutalization got lost in translation as the title crossed the Atlantic -- or whether Age of Conan's musclebound mascot reminds German gamers of a certain pop culture icon who is quite revered in their country.

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]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-hyborian-adventuresageofconanconaneuropefuncomgermanygrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivgtaivmmommorpgrockstarswedenGriffin McElroy2008-05-31T19:00:00+00:00Grand Theft Auto IV featured on Will It Blendhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/grand-theft-auto-iv-featured-on-will-it-blend/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/grand-theft-auto-iv-featured-on-will-it-blend/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/grand-theft-auto-iv-featured-on-will-it-blend/#commentsFiled under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Update: Apparently, this particular blending mystery was solved a while ago -- however, Tom Dickson promised us a free Blendtec blender if we brought it up again. We apologize for our unquenchable thirst for outrageously overpowered kitchen appliances.

Considering that Blendtec's doomsday device has already proved its ability to obliterate bricks, fake diamonds, small buildings and many large breeds of dogs, it should come as no surprise that (spoiler alert) it can chew through a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV with ease. What is surprising is host Tom Dickson's incredibly short fuse -- apparently, when something provides him with the smallest amount of displeasure, it finds itself on the business end of the appliance's screaming blades. For the sake of Tom's children (who likely have perfect grades and manners out of fear of a liquefying punishment), we remind the charismatic host that with great blending power comes great blending responsibility.

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]]>blendtecgrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivgtaivrockstarrockstar-gamesrockstargamestom-dicksonwill-it-blendwillitblendGriffin McElroy2008-05-25T15:30:00+00:00Niko's voice earned about $100,000 from GTA IVhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/nikos-voice-got-about-100-000-for-gta-iv-and-not-a-penny-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/nikos-voice-got-about-100-000-for-gta-iv-and-not-a-penny-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/nikos-voice-got-about-100-000-for-gta-iv-and-not-a-penny-more/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

The New York Times has an interesting piece this morning about how actor Michael Hollick earned about $100,000 for playing GTA IV protagonist Niko Bellic. Had the actor done the role for almost any other medium than video games, he would have received very generous residuals and royalties off the title, which made $500 million in its first week. The piece basically explores how all the actors in GTA IV would be rolling in dough had the work not been in video games.

Of course, if the actor gets residuals, does the artist who "made" Niko get a cut? Although the actors provided voices, and apparently motion-capture, what about all the other people that worked on the creation of these characters? People aren't buying these games because of the actors, they're getting it because of the title and its associated gameplay. In time, this issue will probably come to a head (especially as the industry grows), but for now it comes off like actors whining while everyone else is getting a similarly bum deal. Maybe it's time the video game writers, artists and developers started complaining too? Union, union, union!

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]]>equalityequitygrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivmichael-hollicknytnytimespayresidualroyaltiesAlexander Sliwinski2008-05-21T11:00:00+00:00Niko Bellic has second career as folk singerhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/niko-bellic-has-second-career-as-folk-singer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/niko-bellic-has-second-career-as-folk-singer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/niko-bellic-has-second-career-as-folk-singer/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Action

We imagine many of you are probably suffering Grand Theft Auto IV withdrawal, having rushed through the main campaign only to learn that Niko Bellic is, in fact, the great-grandfather of both Tommy Vercetti and Lance Vance. Luckily for you, we've got a great way to comfort yourself: Letting the music of the notorious hooker beater Niko soothe your savage craving.

You can hear it right now on the MySpace page of voice actor Michael Hollick, the man who lent his larynx to Rockstar for GTA IV's lead. We'd suggest "Out of the Blue" to really complete the Niko crooning vibe. Just don't blame us when you can't take him quite as seriously when he's mowing down pedestrians.

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]]>grand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivgtaivmichael-hollickniko-bellicrockstarJustin McElroy2008-05-20T16:00:00+00:00