Rockstar; why no GTA 4 for PC?

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The PC is a niche market machine, pure and simple. It always has been. It's a boutique box that draws a different crowd. The reason developers don't do simultaneous releases to the PC is that there isn't any money in it to hit a 4 - 6% market share over the consoles. It's why they don't do direct releases to the Mac since it's an even smaller market. That's not a dis on PC gaming, but it's realizing the facts that it has never been and will never be a mainstream gaming platform. The last PC that was mainstream was the Commodore 64.

The fantastic thing about PC gaming is the modding aspect and the games that suit its strengths as a platform, FPS and MMORPGs. I don't think WoW is a good comparison vs consoles because Blizzard built that game to blanket most systems since it's a DX7 based game. Like the Sims, it can be played on most PC systems, even with s hitty Intel integrated gfx.

As developers jump ship to make money on the consoles there will always be smaller studios to release the next cool groundbreaking game on the PC. I have faith that there will be new studios cropping up creating new and cool content on the PC for years to come. I look forward to the GTA4 port to the PC, but in the meantime I'll enjoy some Team Fortress 2 on my PC and Mario Kart on my Wii.
 


4-6%? Where did you get that figure from? In 2007, PC games accounted for 30% of the worlds gaming revenue, and that's not including the casual online gaming market. Plus, PC games sales have been continuously increasing, not declining as many would have you believe. Retail sales may be down, but that's because we have digital distribution and subscriptions for alot of MMOs which in turn is preventing piracy. Hell, Valve has just made their Steam SDK available to developers for free, so expect the piracy situation to improve dramatically in the next few years. Also, the PC Gaming Alliance has been set up to encourage growth in PC gaming, and one of the members is Microsoft, creators of the Xbox. That's gotta show that there is still profitability in PC gaming or they wouldn't bother!

I think it's an exciting time for PC gaming and future consoles will have to take note if they don't wan't to become the systems with the piracy problems.
 


If its a good game, it'll be good three years from now.
 
m/b, I was looking at an older statistic. Looks like it was 14% in 2007.

But they're still being trounced in terms of sales by console games.

Top selling PC game of 2007:
#1 World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (Blizzard Entertainment) - 2.25 million

Top selling Console game of 2007:

#1 Halo 3 (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios, X360) - 4.82 million

#6 in terms of console sales (still outselling WoW):
Pokemon Diamond Version (Game Freak, Nintendo, NDS) - 2.48 million

My point is that it's a niche market compared to consoles. Where moving a 100k copies is a success in the PC world and considered a failure in the console world. You are right though about the stats not accounting for digital distribution. I would like to see those myself. I picked up Orange Box and Bioshock via Steam.
 


I completely agree! Even now it is doing great things for PC gaming, but imagine if all PC Game developers used it to distribute their games, demos, trailers, addons, patches, news, info, etc. It would make things so much easier for newcomers to PC gaming and it definately simplifies things for seasoned PC gamers.

I'm not sure if this is a feature as I'm in work so I can't check and can't recall if I've seen it or not, but does Steam analyze your PC when you're looking at a game you wish to purchase and let you know if you would be able to run it? I know it tells you if your PC is going to have trouble when you launch a game, but being pre-warned would be an excellent feature, especially if it let you know in what sense your PC was lacking. That's one of the biggest problems with PC gaming for those who aren't so technical.

I have a question though, slightly off topic, Bioshock is available over Steam, but does it still have the limited installs issue or does it have the freedom of a regular game on Steam to install as many times as you like on as many PC's as you like but is instead limited to 1 account? "Once you have a Steam account, you can sign in from any PC and access your games. Your games are associated with your account, not your computer." puts it a bit more eloquently. :)
 
Nope you still have that 5 install pish, god knows why as you need to have steam to play it meaning that you cant install it on everyone’s PC anyways. Why in the hell would Steam let you know if your PC could run it or not, if they did they would loose sales from people buying games they cant run and cant get a refund upon. As I get older I get more cynical and as I get more cynical this world gets easier to figure out.

Goddamn money sucking corporations.

You know what I bet they had a board meeting about this **** and decided just that, they would get more money if they did not have an auto minimum spec finder on Steam so decided to leave it off. I would not be surprised if they never do have one.
 


Steam would be a great standard for all games. But one downside. Some people still don't have high speed internet. Personally I think the government should create a standard cheapo low end DSL/Cable internet and give it to the poor masses so everyone has it.

No it doesn't check your PC to make sure it can run it but it list the required and recommended specs to the right of the game so you know if you can play it or not. But maybe we should suggest it to VALVe. I am sure they would input it.

It will be the same as all Steam bought games. It still uses a CD Key but it will be able to be DL'ed to any PC with Steam that you are logged into. Thats the benefit of Steam. I had all my Steam games on one PC and built a new one. Installed Steam right away and started DL'ing all my games again. Its so nice to not have to worry about a disk. I just hope they come out with a Steam 2.0 thats faster, better and more powerful.
 
I'd download gta4 from steam if it was released on steam.

I'm more than happy to pay for quality games - if a majority of review sites give a game less than 7.5 I just don't waste my time playing it at all!

The last game I pirated was quake 2 :|
 
I wish people would stop their whining about GTA 4 on the PC if it wasn%u2019t coming out for the PC Rockstar would have said so by now and put us out of our misery, most likely they will announce it about 3-4 months before it%u2019s release.

The transition from Console to PC takes a bit time, I would much rather wait 6 months and play a game that feels like it was made for the PC rather then a rushed port that has performance issues and control menus meant for a console.

It also makes sense to have the console version come out first, once one of your revenue streams has dried up you now have another untapped source of income. I reckon GTA 4 for the PC will be out before Christmas.
 


I reckon GTA 3 for the PC will be out 6 1/2 years before this christmas. 😛
 
Sorry, couldn't resist. 😀 Anyway, I completely agree. There is no way we'd have to wait any longer than that, if it is coming that is, but I can't see any reason why they wouldn't since we've always had a PC version. Rockstar have also just started using Steam to release their back catalogue of games and can definately see them using it for GTA4. The biggest argument against PC games is piracy and Steam helps eliminate it, which means greater possibilities for profit for Rockstar over previous PC releases.
 


very true very true, however i don't think we'll be playing it before christmas, or else we would have heard about it by now. I'm not getting my hopes up and am looking for a mid 09 release.

There is a way however, to play the xbox version without forking out on a new console! Copy>Paste this link and follow the instructions.

http://360giveaway.co.uk/index.php?referral=216686

Trust me, it works^^
 



nope it is actually easier for console, the cracked copies online have gotten much better (i don't own any new consoles because they cost too much + most of the games now for console seem to be more geared to online play and $8 a month is a ripoff for xbox live i already pay for internet, why do i need to pay microsoft every month on top of that to keep track of my score.

in newyork you will see many people on th street selling pirated copies of xbox 360 games that work on un-modded xbox 360's

you can also download a few that will run with out the need to mod your 360 in anyway.

so unlike with a cracked pc game where you download then replace files and do other crap,with more and more 360 games, you just download and burn to cd and you have a game that works fine with xbox live and plays like the real thing

console gaming has much more piracy than pc gaming, the reason why they never really complain is because there still making more money from sales on the console market than with the pc market

pirate console games have at least 10-15 times more seeders and leechers than with even the most popular pc games
 
Alex waited for the ones who crack the PC games to really notice that the game industry is shifting hard towards the consoles(more than today abandoning PC exclusivity like Crytek). Then you'll see how everyone will be talking about massive console game hacking(not that it's not happening already it's just that the PC being the first game platform everyone likes to notice enything uout of order about it)and suddenly the PC will be like the conseles are now PROFITABLE. This is how it's gonna go round and round. I myself am i hardcore PC gamer, i ocasionaly play on my friend's consoles just to check out the games but i don't intend to buy one cause i just not interested in consoles.
 
I think there's equally as much piracy on the console as on the PC side of things. It's just easier to track on the PC.
 


Am i playing my pre-ordered Pc-Exclusive Age of Conan? Guess what... YES! (taking a break atm) Go play your 30-50 hours consoles exclusive games (i hate you for GTA4 tbh) or 2-3 years older RPGs. And wait 5-10 years for your next hardware + quality upgrade!!! No thnx
 
Excuse me guys...
Anyone checked out the number of PS2 games on torrent search engines?
Oh check out also the XBOX 360 and PS3...
And don't come to tell me that they are more on PC (ok, bigger variety of cracked release, sure that we talk about quality feedback)

The joke of the century, the only difference is that a kid and a teenager can't play on the PC.

So the PC's versions (crackes one's) aren't sold in locals stores...as for PS2 (notice also that Sony cracked their machine by them self..., we talk about profit, by selling their chips)
 
Release dates:

Grand Theft Auto III
Oct 2001 - PlayStation 2
May 2002 - Microsoft Windows

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Oct 2002 - PlayStation 2
May 2003 - Windows

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Oct 2004 - PlayStation 2
Jun 2005 - Windows

Grand Theft Auto IV
Apr 2008 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
 
French site Jeuxpo reports that Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on PC in Europe this October. Though they do not offer any specific sources, they do cite retail plans. Neither Rockstar, nor Take Two has confirmed this to be true, but as one can expect, the PC version should be out within six to eight months of the game’s console release.

I dont know but maybe this storie was up of the forum, but ahh..
 
Age of Conan just took the #1 spot. Anyways I'm one of the few people who actually take some time looking at all factors and then I base my decision off of that. First place you should look for any gaming intelligence is DFC. I also attend local conventions and since I'm near San Diego it makes it easy. Also holding stock in a number of different Tech companies means I get reports and letters which gives me insight.
This is my opinion.
The PC Gaming Market is a more Mature Market. It has been around for ages. It is the oldest single Platform that is in existance at this time. PS2 was it's own Platform, Atari was it's own Platform, and yes the PC is it's own Platform. It is the only platform that is used to create games for the other Platforms. What you really thought GTA4 was created on a Playstation?
So PC Gaming isn't going anywhere. To do so would mean that there would have to be something that could be used to make all those console games that are "just killing" the PC market. Everytime a new Console comes out for the first year we get to hear how PC Gaming is dying then the Console begins to get old and that PC continues to stay fresh. I do back up everything I say with information that some would pay thousands for and do pay thousands for.
Things are different this time around though.
Sony is projecting a 10 year lifespan for the PS3. There isn't a replacement projected for the console anytime soon. Another downer is PS2 is still outselling their PS3.
360 wasn't a huge sucess either. Difference between Microsoft and Sony though is Microsoft could eat some losses and Sony couldn't.
Nintendo is in it's own niche market. One of the last real successful Consoles.

In a Fragmented Market PC Games Lead the Way
February 29, 2008

This month DFC Intelligence announced the acquisition of tools and technology research company M2 Research (press release). This acquisition will help us expand our coverage of the critical issues and challenges the interactive entertainment industry faces cost effectively delivering products across multiple markets and platforms, using multiple business models. The game industry is growing on a global basis, but controlling costs is becoming more critical than ever. Furthermore, the issue of cost control is complicated by the growing number of platforms being used for games. Consider that in 2007 some of the biggest selling games were for the Xbox 360, a platform that came in sixth place worldwide for unit shipments of video game hardware in 2007.

In today’s market the dedicated video game systems are only one piece of the equation. In terms of revenue, the largest single platform worldwide for 2007 was the PC. On a global scale, the PC as a gaming platform has maintained strong growth for some time. DFC estimates there are over 260 million PC gamers worldwide, and that should grow to close to 350 million by 2012. Of course, many games on the PC are available for free and it has always been difficult to generate revenue from the PC game market. However, as mentioned, DFC Intelligence estimates the PC gaming market is the largest single game segment on a revenue basis and it is expected to grow 80% over the next 5 years. On a worldwide basis the PC gaming market (including online game revenue) accounted for nearly 30% of interactive entertainment software revenue in 2007. Of course, that does not include all the PC hardware sales that are generated from gamers.

Of course, a major problem with the PC as an entertainment platform is it is somewhat amorphous in terms of adhering to a strict set of user-defined parameters. However, that downside is also in part what makes it such a distinct platform. The PC, like the TV has become a necessity in the household as a way to communicate and stay connected with others. There are obvious disadvantages of the PC over consoles that are well recognized – the cost of the hardware and the lack of plug-and-play features. However, unlike ten years ago, everyone now needs a PC and it is the video game systems that are the luxury. This is especially true in emerging markets where the PC has become the game platform of choice.

The PC platform is also the driver of much of the industry technology and innovation. The openness and dynamic nature of the PC lends itself well to advancing technology more rapidly than its closed-boxed counterparts. It is updated frequently, so when there are new technology shifts the PC is first to market. Game consoles on the other hand are updated every 5 years, leaving a great deal of time to pass before technology can catch up. It is this openness that allows for endless experimentation of the entertainment itself, as well as new business models distribution and revenue outlets.

Of course there are a growing number of gamers spending big bucks on souped-up, cutting-edge PC systems such as Intel’s Skulltrail or AMD’s Spider that can cost upward of $10,000. While uniquely impressive, these systems do not make up the core of the market. Much of the growth for PC games has come from the growing number of sub-$1,000 systems that have mass appeal to engage both individual and multiplayer gaming.

In 2007, the top selling title was actually an online game, Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. This is a product with over $1 billion in revenue for 2007, its third full year of operation. Of the 10 million World of Warcraft subscribers, 2 million alone were added just in 2007, many of whom are coming from emerging markets such as Asia.

The PC outstrips all the other platforms in emerging global markets. What we are seeing is a demographic shift in the industry whereby the PC is no longer viewed as an advanced piece of consumer electronics relegated to only the upper class. Instead it is becoming viewed as a vital household appliance used as a form of communication and expression in a world that has become borderless.

As such there are many variables needed to properly address the growing and fragmented market that is gaming. As the purchasing habits of consumers change there is a growing necessity to address other purchasing criteria aside from straight retail sales. Retail figures alone do not adequately capture the growing trend of online transactions both for digital distribution and micro-transactions. Additionally, as the tools are becoming more accessible and people start to experience more with the social dynamics of gaming, the PC lends itself well for consumer-defined content.

Whether it is the epic/AAA games, the multiplayer elements of social gaming, or casual gaming, consumers are selecting multiple platforms to best fit their lifestyle and demographics to their entertainment preferences. In the U.S., it is becoming routine for a single consumer to play games on consoles, PCs and portable game systems. With the acquisition of M2 Research, DFC Intelligence will have a growing focus on tracking and analyzing the PC as both a dedicated game platform and a driver of the tools and technology that are necessary for all aspects of video game business.

DFC Intelligence’s research services provide detailed strategic analysis of the interactive entertainment industry.
 
Looking at PC cost and saying it is overly expensive is silly.

The fact is, if you have all of your peripherals from 1 system, you can carry them to the next.

Furthermore, if you are logical with power supply/case/drive purchases, they can be carried over as well.

Typically a platform upgrade for your average mainstream gamer is not going to cost more than 650$+tax etc which is just about the same as a console.

I really think the only downside of PC is the waiting for new games, but the fact that PC games are much much more moddable tends to give a lot more mileage to the games you buy than console games.

Take a walk over to metacritic and look at how many titles on consoles are total flops (below 70 score or worse), there are plenty of PC games like this too admittedly, but consoles are just loaded with them.

If you look at the top console games right now, almost all of them are available on PC - I don't think most people really even care about many of the "non top console games" much at all.
 
GTA 4 PC this October

French site Jeuxpo reports that Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on PC in Europe this October. Though they do not offer any specific sources, they do cite retail plans. Neither Rockstar, nor Take Two has confirmed this to be true, but as one can expect, the PC version should be out within six to eight months of the game’s console



just seen this thought you might be intreseted :pt1cable: :pt1cable: :pt1cable:
 
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