Sony's Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 bundle spotted in Belgium store

Yeah, that fancy press shot has a certain beauty to it, but there's just nothing like spotting a highly coveted console in the wild. Thanks to our cameraphone toting tipster in Belgium, we're presented with the first image of the GTA IV bundle sitting on a shelf just waiting for someone to trade their €450 in and take it home. Oh, and if you're wondering what type of shop places a sweet PS3 beside an assortment of blank media, a coffee mug and what appears to be a CRT television circa 1990, it's Free Record Shop in Antwerp, sucka.

[Thanks, Yannick]

[Dario @ May 2nd 2008 8:44AM]

In switzerland too...

[Vince @ May 2nd 2008 8:46AM]

That's not just a coffee mug, that's a Simpsons coffee mug.

[Bizam! @ May 2nd 2008 11:42AM]

Good call Vince! That's definitely some Marge hair!

[Richard Lai @ May 2nd 2008 8:50AM]

Weird shop, I tell ya.

[fifi @ May 2nd 2008 8:54AM]

Available in greece too, for 499eur... which to our fellow americans means
750 USD, for a ps3, 1 sixaxis (not dualshock) controler, 1 game, and the smallest available HD

nice huh?

[zargon @ May 2nd 2008 9:06AM]

Is GTA IV really a good game to bundle with, especially since it isn't exclusive to the PS3?

[Joe @ May 2nd 2008 9:19AM]

I'd say it is. New games drive new console purchases particularly early in a console's life (and I mean early based on the general population, not this demographic).

It doesn't matter that the game is out on other platforms - if you want it for the 360, you buy that version. But if you want a new console for this game, then a budle like this could win a few more sales for the PS3, which is obviously what Sony would like to see.

[zargon @ May 2nd 2008 9:22AM]

Yeah, but the game is yet another rehash of an old game.

You would think they would dig a little deeper to get a game that is actually going to drive sales for a console, especially the PS3.

[pigfister @ May 2nd 2008 9:33AM]

not really considering the price is almost double that of the 360, and that the ps3 version of the game only has a 640 resolution where as the 360 has 720p HD resolution.


http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=181308

FTA: PlayStation 3 version only: Resolution, online issues hamper GTA IV experience

Maybe there IS a difference after all: Reports confirm online issues and less-than-HD 640p resolution for the PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV.
When it isn't locking up your system with inexcusable game-ending glitches, Grand Theft Auto IV, for all intents and purposes, has delivered as advertised.

That is, if you're playing the Xbox 360 version.

Confirmed reports today have laid two additional issues at the feet of the PS3 version of GTA IV. These issues include inaccessible online play and a less-than-true-HD 640p resolution.

Sony is aware of the online problems, read a post over at Kotaku, but Rockstar so far has not responded to their inquiries. The GTA IV servers are hosted by Gamespy.

As for the resolution issue, several outlets have confirmed the PS3 version runs at 640p, compared to the Xbox 360's HD 720p. Before you go stringing up Sony and Rockstar for the gaff, however, remember that Halo 3 experienced the same un-HD treatment when it launched in 2007.

[Geir E @ May 2nd 2008 10:37AM]

http://www.rockstarwatch.net/news/469/IGN-Compares-GTAIV-for-the-PS3-and-360/

Doesn't seem the 80 lines really do anything particular good for the xbox.

[rv @ May 2nd 2008 1:02PM]

Gier, if you are referring to color, that can be changed manually.

[iPriest @ May 2nd 2008 2:23PM]

Yes it is a very good title to bundle! It made me buy a bundle today. As I must confess I actually planned to buy the Gran Turismo bundle for €399 but as the separate copy of GTA4 wasn't available anymore i decided to buy the GTA4 bundle for €435 (also Belgium).

I own a Wii and this title made me really buy a next gen console and as the Xbox360 is already an old machine compared to the PS3 it was clearly I had to go PS3 to play GTA4.

I compared games on both Xbox360 and PS3 and as most popular games seem to be out on both platforms so to my opinion the moxt next gen console to buy was the PS3

[Vidikron (FU) @ May 2nd 2008 2:37PM]

Several reviews that have compared the two have said that the the PS3 version looks better. It may be subtle, but that appears to be the concensus. So the resolution difference obviously hasn't benefitted the 360 version in any way. Of course, Rockstar wasn't prepared to handle the online load so the PS3 version's online mode stuff has been spotty at best thus far. For the record, I own both systems and bought the 360 version... mostly because of the gauranteed episodic DLC.

[raz-dwa-trzy @ May 2nd 2008 9:15AM]

http://polygamia.pl/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/20080429084.jpg

~492€ :f

[PatD. @ May 2nd 2008 9:20AM]

They've also been on sale in Ireland since Tuesday.

[me @ May 2nd 2008 9:24AM]

I've seen these in my local BlockBuster (near Pittsburgh).

[Jakob Henner @ May 2nd 2008 3:21PM]

I stole one today in a Game store (near Copenhagen) :D

[MaHe @ May 2nd 2008 9:31AM]

They've been available for almost a week in Slovenia ... ;)

[Rynth @ May 2nd 2008 9:37AM]

Uhhm, I spotted one of these in the Texco's down the road from me the other day, I'm sure..

[Adrian @ May 2nd 2008 9:41AM]

we got these in when the game launched i didn't know it was a big deal ???

especially when there are stores doing 360 pros and gta for A$499 when this costs A$720ish

[luuk @ May 2nd 2008 10:03AM]

399 netherlands...

toysrus PS3+gta4+gt5 399

[donyannickova @ May 2nd 2008 10:15AM]

hey dat is wel spotgoedkoop hé!
welke winkel juist?
misschien kan ik dat dan eens vragen hier bij ons in belgie

[Eddie @ May 2nd 2008 10:58AM]

I'd like to know where that is as well, cause whole amsterdam doesnt sell it that cheap anywhere... are you sure you're not pulling strings?

[Stinkinmushroom @ May 2nd 2008 10:42AM]

Euh i work in Belgium Brussels in a Mediamarkt and that pack was launched with the game.. Here it's at 439€

[techFTW @ May 2nd 2008 10:45AM]

I don't get why this is a big deal lol I've seen this bundle online lads of times on UK shops like GAME, HMV, Zavvi, Play.com etc.

:)

[Cliff @ May 4th 2008 9:15AM]

Yeah, this has been in the sony centre i work at for a while now at £319.99 in the UK.

[Eddie @ May 2nd 2008 10:56AM]

469,- (euros...) overhere in Holland. Every local toystore sells it like fireworks... Since the normal xbox and playstation releases are sold out everywhere!

[Crayola @ May 2nd 2008 11:14AM]

Wow! Have to admit Mr BurryCam is a well-traveled guy

[wlp @ May 2nd 2008 11:19AM]

been available in australia for a while also... i sold 4 of them tonight

[Loon Carter @ May 2nd 2008 11:26AM]

Are all stores that messy in Belgium?

[iPriest @ May 2nd 2008 2:28PM]

It looks more like a "behind a counter" as the monitor next to the PS3 looks like an old security monitor. Otherwise it's a second hand shop.

[Dazza @ May 2nd 2008 12:12PM]

The Gta 4 bundle has been in England since the 29th at 12am/pm (release day).

[Dude @ May 2nd 2008 12:29PM]

In the wild? I've had it since Tuesday! C'mon Engadget! and it's nothing special. It's just a sleeve over the original box with GTA4 chucked in. Quick unbox pics:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6nsbro&s=3

[Chris @ May 2nd 2008 12:30PM]

This hit New Zealand on May 2 - NZ$860
http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/YG2490

[phanbouy @ May 2nd 2008 12:57PM]

That's how we drink it in Belgium. It's called a Belgian Dip.

[gR @ May 2nd 2008 1:08PM]

Available in the FNAC stores in Barcelona, Spain since Monday

[Korneel @ May 2nd 2008 1:08PM]

BELGIUM ;-)

[Youngnastyman @ May 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

The price in Ireland for the GTAIV and burnout paradise is €439.99 and just GTA and the console is €400 so we're getting a way better deal than most of europe it seems!

[iPriest @ May 2nd 2008 2:12PM]

Is this news? I just bought one today and there were plenty available. Yes I live in Belgium.

[baetensmatthias @ May 2nd 2008 2:15PM]

lol im from belgium, could be cool if we are also first with a launch xD... like were also waiting for the iphone and i mean not the 3g one, just the normal one :s

[Vic20 @ May 2nd 2008 2:32PM]

I'll take the pissed-off looking guy in the upper middle, for the block.

[ianzhere @ May 2nd 2008 2:35PM]

http://www.konsolinet.fi/tuotekortti.php?path=35/37/6188
This game store in Finland has sold out its PS3 GTA4 bundle... The release date was the 30th of May...

[Okko @ May 2nd 2008 5:25PM]

If you're in Finland try Citymarket, they had a big pile of these packages.

[paul @ May 2nd 2008 4:08PM]

I still don't understand why it's $700 for a $400 PS3 and a $60 game.

[luuk @ May 2nd 2008 4:51PM]

its not 700$....

399 euro (well at least at a lot of stores....)
for ps3 + !!!! gta4 = 625 $ incl tax.

usa....

400$ ps3

60? $ gta4

=
460 $ + tax 8%* = 500...$


so......


and there are even deals with ps3+gta4+gt5
or Ps3+gta4+burnout sometimes.... at some places :P

[Mauricio Cuenca @ May 2nd 2008 5:42PM]

This is old news... the bundle is being sold all over Europe since GTAIV launch day.

[bobbymelbourne @ May 2nd 2008 6:15PM]

The bundle has been out in Australia since the 1st.

[Aguiluz @ May 2nd 2008 6:15PM]

I DON'T CARE.

I don't really like GTA.

[Matias @ May 2nd 2008 11:22PM]

Oh, it's Marge Simpson in the mug!

[Deoki @ May 2nd 2008 11:30PM]

I saw a "Grand Theft Auto IV Collector's Edition PS3" bundle for €119.99 today at FNAC here in Portugal, and next to it there was a PS3+GTA IV.

The bundle seems to have the game, an Art book, a OST CD, a metal box that seems to be a safe of some kind, and a handbag to carry all that shwag (bad engrish when it comes to slang).

I tried to take a picture of it, but the security guy was right next to it. Well, here is the link to the product page (I think it will help if you understand Portuguese):

http://www.fnac.pt/pt/Catalog/Detail.aspx?cIndex=3&catalog=jogos&categoryN=Jogos&category=jogosPlaystation3&product=5026555401043

Greetings from sunny Portugal! :)