New GTA IV Details

[Jordan]

Today, Take-Two Interactive Software had a conference at the 34th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference and sent out a press release regarding a few company developments, but it was the conference itself that had the details, and I have them right here transcribed from the script Paul Eibler (Take-Two exec) read:

 

 

"To extend the life cycle [of Grand Theft Auto IV]...to take that product to the next level, we also have exclusive episodic content that will be available.

 

In-game advertising is just another area that we think is very, very exciting to take advantage of the type of content that people own...and microtransactions...I'll talk a little about this...

 

It's not just about shipping one box and then waiting for a sequel, but keeping that product alive in the marketplace. There is a tremendous amount of research that shows that anything in terms of downloadable content increases the box sales. So we will take our biggest brand (GTA) and have episodic content available in the marketplace. It's a way we are approaching games to maximize our revenue as we look into the next cycle.

 

In-game advertising...we have a tremendous experience base from our sports business where it is a natural part of the gaming experience. Today, we announced a partnership with Double Fusion. Double Fusion brings to us added context with the agencies...with giving us scale with Madison Avenue. So, we think that this is a growing area...one that we will walk before we run...one that we have a lot of experience in the sports side, and then we will move that now to all of our other types of content."

If GTA IV gets in-game ads, then they will be ads for real companies, meaning that the series will take a step out of its traditional fictionalized style. Will it still stay partly fictionalized? We shall see.

 

So, to summarize what he just said, some future games made by the publisher will include in-game advertising...not just the sports titles. This seems to mean GTA. Did he say that the franchise will have it? No, but he hinted at it a few times. What will this mean? What do you think?

 

However, in-game ads for GTA IV are not confirmed...but I sure do believe it will happen. Take-Two's biggest upcoming title...imagine the revenue from ads sold...

Edited December 4, 2006 by Jordan

[TonyZimmzy]

I was hoping for a Place, Time, and Character Info Oh well. I don't really know what I think about in-game advertising

[TheDude5000]

Yeah, it must mean GTA, the series which is well known for it's hilarious parody adverts.

 

Yeah, they couldn't be talking about any of the other dozens of titles they have in development that aren't in the GTA series.

 

No sir.

[-/TNT\-]

I like the idea of advertising, for no other reason than for the fact that is makes the game resemble real life more.

 

 

 

This seems to mean GTA.

 

 

[PyroHazard]

I don't mind it actually. However, I think it being in GTA will compromise the abundance of satricial ads that were in the last game. However, I am more concerned about the mention of microtransactions as they are easy to abuse. Knowing Take-Two, I wouldn't be surprised if they nickeled and dimed us to death just to actually finish the game legitimately.

 

[edit] Jordan, can you post the whole transcript? It looks like it was edited down and (possibly) taken out of context...

Edited December 4, 2006 by PyroHazard

[Jordan]

Just added this:

 

"If GTA IV gets in-game ads, then they will be ads for real companies, meaning that the series will take a step out of its traditional fictionalized style. Will it still stay partly fictionalized? We shall see."

[norniron]

it will make a bit more realisem to the game but does that mean it might be set in london new york or hong kong or any big city with adversting areas

[TheDude5000]

 

"If GTA IV gets in-game ads, then they will be ads for real companies, meaning that the series will take a step out of its traditional fictionalized style. Will it still stay partly fictionalized? We shall see."

They have plenty of big franchises now. I can think of a few that would allow for that kind of advertising right off the top of my head:

 

Bully, and The Warriors.

 

 

I don't think they'd want to risk pissing off the fans with that kind of advertising in a GTA. But hey, we'll see.

[Lioshenka]

aaaaaaah the are killing gta!! i mean we will not see Get rid of old trash and Hippy shopers??? no!

 

there will be merc and bimmer in gta?? and we will not be allowed touch them? screw advertising!

[TonyZimmzy]

 

Also, If there is advertising, does this mean it will definatly be set in the current (2007) because If they're advertising something that was made in 2006 and the game is set in maybe 1970 then that wouldn't make much sense

[TheDude5000]

If they did this with GTA, they'd also have to change the vehicles into licensed vehicles.

 

I don't think they'd do this though, but they would lose a great deal of fans if they sold out like that.

[tuareg]

"If GTA IV gets in-game ads, then they will be ads for real companies, meaning that the series will take a step out of its traditional fictionalized style. Will it still stay partly fictionalized? We shall see."

Is everyone on to the fact that this whole new Gta will be totally different? Yeah, it will sure be much different from vc, and sa, and every Gta titles, but it will mean something extremely different. For example sa, and vc where placed in different time eras, but they had something of a similarity to its gameplay (lets not bring up the small features in sa). Gta4 means a whole new maybe a Gta3 themed game to me. Its the only way i get to picture it.

[Jordan]

Jordan, can you post the whole transcript? It looks like it was edited down and (possibly) taken out of context...

None of it is out of context. I'm getting the audio file now.

[Mike0]

Well if it gets ads then it will probably be in 2007. I wouldn't mind that. It would be modern. Imagine Times Square with all the ads

 

Maybe that Coca Cola - GTA comercial is a hint at something? Maybe.

[Jordan]

I can't seem to play the wma file. You can hear it streaming over at http://www.take2games.com though.

[TheDude5000]

I'm not gonna get nervous about this. They have several other franchises that would suit in-game advertising perfectly, and they wouldn't want to ruin the awesome parody advert thing they had going on. One of the things the GTA imitators have never accomplished is to replicate the trademark R* humor, and to lose that would be a devastating blow to the series.

[redboyslim]

this makes me cry gta4 will be very comercialized, i like the way the other gta games took the michael out of real companies lol

 

DONT DISSAPOINT US

[.:Alex:.]

Oh. Good. God.

 

In game advertising? Ugh. Now Rockstar (New York, not North) are getting greedy too... how sad. Real brands and companies will destroy the tongue in cheek humor GTA is all about. Ripping off brands, and having a completely fictional world (in that area at least). The more info I hear about GTAIV (I know we haven't had much, but still) the less I like it. This could be a good game, but R* are making all these financially positive (to them) decisions and hove these things into the game which don't appeal to me at all (that includes the bonus downloadable "Islands" too).

 

I hope I'm wrong.

[redboyslim]

alex took the words right out of my mouth... well done

[warthog 15]

Who here is gonna miss those ads dont you remeber "cokadoodle do were pysicotic crazies"

 

 

I for one will miss them fakes.

Edited December 4, 2006 by warthog 15

[Helsinki]

Will it still stay partly fictionalized? We shall see.

Sure it will. No car company, for instance, would like their vehicles to be associated with car thefts, hit-and-runs, etc. Also, the series has loads of fictional brands like Sprunk and Maibatsu, and I bet we will see them again in GTA4.

 

BTW, in-game advertising doesn't mean that the game must be set in 2007 or so. Brands such as Adidas and Pepsi have been around for ages, so there's no reason they couldn't be advertised in, say, 1974.

[DexX]

 

Also, If there is advertising, does this mean it will definatly be set in the current (2007) because If they're advertising something that was made in 2006 and the game is set in maybe 1970 then that wouldn't make much sense

You would think that, but it doesn't seem to bother other games, or companies, namely Battlefield 2142, which while set 100 years in the future still has present-day IGAs.

 

 

In-game advertising is just another area that we think is very, very exciting to take advantage of the type of content that people own...and microtransactions...I'll talk a little about this...

Its difficult to put in words, how that line made me feel. But, well, i'll try:

 

FUCK!

 

I'm paying for the game, that is it. "microtransactions" my ass. If i have to go online, and actually give them real-life, hard earned cash, any amount, for any item in the game, i won't do it.

And IGAs? Don't get me started. i already "discussed" that for BF2142.

 

Oh yea, lets hope they don't get so engrossed in online-sh*t, that they end up forcing the user to connect to the net, just to play the game. None of my consoles have now, or ever will, 'net access.

 

@ Take 2: Whores.

[Old School Hustla]

This is hardly new. "Product Placement" is everywhere in entertainment. From sit-coms to sports we've been hit with it so it was a matter of time in gaming. However, if you want to push Pepsi or Ford on me in GTA 4 you better release the game at a more reasonable price!

[palaric8]

Oh. Good. God.

 

In game advertising? Ugh. Now Rockstar (New York, not North) are getting greedy too... how sad. Real brands and companies will destroy the tongue in cheek humor GTA is all about. Ripping off brands, and having a completely fictional world (in that area at least). The more info I hear about GTAIV (I know we haven't had much, but still) the less I like it. This could be a good game, but R* are making all these financially positive (to them) decisions and hove these things into the game which don't appeal to me at all (that includes the bonus downloadable "Islands" too).

 

I hope I'm wrong.

what he say and f*ck take-two is looking like EA!..

[Vanilla Shake]

I honestly don't think that in game advertising should be in any GTA. I just feel that it would take away from the humorous ads that Rockstar come up with themselves, making a parody out of real life products, not trying to get us to buy them.

 

That's not to say that R* can't include both their fictionalized products along with some real ads, but I just hope that R* keeps up with their creativity in coming up with fake brands.

[Mark]

IGAs? It's like BF2142 all over again. Noes!

 

Downloadable content? Possibly means the game will work on a modular basis so that mods are easily integrated? Might be a saving grace for modders!

[palaric8]

For the "download content" I think gta IV wont be moddable...even If they release the game for the PC.

[theflatulentpanda]

does this mean i cant go to "vank hoff in the park" ???

 

i really dont see how it would work.

 

one of my favourite parts of gta is the radio, and while the music is great, its the dialogue that i love.

 

 

5 years on and i still laugh when i hear "my freind joey sewed his hands together." how the flying f*ck can rockstar make an advert taking the piss out of nike (eris) when they are being paid to promote nike.

 

who would let maurice chavez take the piss out of his "3 step program"

 

would you rather hear an advert for "my 5 uncles" or "freinds"

 

and what fast food company would let them say "is it chicken, i cant tell" about their food

 

 

if all the comedy ads were taken out and replaced with genuine ones, i wouldnt listen to the radio, id just whack on a cd.

 

 

 

This is hardly new. "Product Placement" is everywhere in entertainment

 

that may be true but gta is essentialy a parody, a social satire.

 

not only do they rip of movies for plot lines, but rockstar play on stereotypes, mock social values, and make up their own brands to basicaly take the piss out of every aspect of western culture

 

and as for episodic f*cking content, or downf*ckingloadable crap, or what ever the f*ck its called. they can f*ck the f*ck off. whos with me?

[Jordan]

That's a good point about the present day thing. Remember though, this is not 100% confirmed.

Edited December 5, 2006 by Jordan

[GTA3Freak-2001]

Is no game sacred any more? This is just plain bullsh*t, if this happens then GTA just lost its soul, the premise of GTA is satire of the real world not the actual real world. Half the fun of GTA is picking out the companies, people, products that are parodied, it complements the fictional locations that Rockstar create. For a start lets say they just stick static ads into the game, that will looks strange in a fictional location or city. But wait what if Take 2 go the route of EA with BF2142 in that the game will connect to the net to download ads specific to your location? Driving along Liberty City and I see a billboard with Hungry Jack's on it, for those that don't know Hungry Jack's is what Burger King is called here in Australia. How stupid would that look?