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Steam Savings: 30% off all Rockstar Games [update]
This weekend Steam is offering 30% off the entire Rockstar Games library, including the recently released Grand Theft Auto IV. Looking to erase the memory of being subjected to the recent Max Payne big screen adaptation? Max Payne and its sequel are among the titles reduced in the sale. Bulk buyers will also be happy to know the Rockstar Collection is now priced at $69.99, which includes everything in the catalog except GTAIV (which has been reduced to $34.99) including Grand Theft Auto IV. If you're looking to add a little chaos to your PC game library, this could be worth your time.Update: Grand Theft Auto IV is included in the complete Rockstar Collection, however Bully: Scholarship Edition is not (on sale for $20.99). The Rockstar Collection is on sale for $69.99.
Analyst: Chinatown Wars a test for both Take-Two, Nintendo
Analyst Dough Creutz of Cowen Group believes GTA: Chinatown Wars is as much a test for Take-Two as it is for Nintendo. Gamasutra reports on Creutz's bullish investor note, where he expresses that the title will reveal Take-Two's "ability to make inroads" on Nintendo's platforms.On the flip side, he expresses that Nintendo wants Chinatown Wars to succeed because it appeals to core gamers, whom Creutz apparently thinks Nintendo still gives a Yoshi's turd about.
Midnight Club: LA DLC mistakenly released, could cause issues
Early yesterday morning a few eager Midnight Club: LA fans were excited to find a bouquet of free DLC on the Xbox Live Marketplace, ripe for the virtual picking. However, Microsoft warns the content was accidentally released during a test and keeping the DLC on your system could cause numerous issues with achievements and saved game files. "You may have had the chance to download it while it was up there. If you did and if it's sitting on your hard drive you should delete it," Xbox EMEA community manager Graeme Boyd wrote on his blog. "It was being tested when it was mistakenly put live and therefore it may not work properly, the Achievements won't register and could cause you problems with your Midnight Club: LA game saves." Before you cry, "Microsoft is trying to swindle me out of getting free DLC," remember, the planned Midnight Club: LA DLC is supposed to be free when it launches. Unless you're brave enough to hinder your progress through the streets of Los Angeles, you may want to wait until the content is officially released; which should be soon enough. [Thanks, Firecatman. Via Wired]
Midnight Club: LA DLC released early by accident
Early risers were treated to an accident on Rockstar's virtual 405. According to multiple sources, someone left Midnight Club: LA's upcoming South Central DLC in neutral earlier today and it inadvertently rolled out to the Xbox Live Marketplace a bit ahead of schedule. The content has since been removed, though UGO Gamesblog reports via NeoGAF that those who downloaded the content found nothing changed, save for a partial listing of cars queued up for the DLC's eventual release. Among those sweet rides are the '09 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X and '64 Chevy Impala.Microsoft Europe's Xbox community manager Graeme Boyd acknowledged the snafu, writing in a statement that those who managed to snag the content should delete it as it was still being tested and "may not work properly," possibly causing problems with game saves. For now it seems eager racers will just have to wait for the content's official release sometime in early 2009 ... just sometime later than right now.Source – Rockstar Fakeout: Midnight Club DLC Arrives, Is PulledSource – Midnight Club LA DLC warning
Video: A Grand Theft Auto IV music montage
X3F fanboy Da Crazy Basta sent us his first Grand Theft Auto IV music montage and, well ... we liked it enough to share. Embedded above is the NSFW musical montage-o-death that's done GTAIV-style and set to a few familiar tunes. Really, we couldn't think of a better way to "waste" over eight minutes of our lives this afternoon. Best part of the GTAIV musical fun? It wasn't created by Soulja Boy.
Rockstar vets cement long-term deal with Take-Two
For brothers who've become popular creating games starring characters who seek out freedom from society's corporate machine this is a strange move but not unexpected. Take-Two Interactive have announced a new long-term agreement with "key members of the creative team" behind Grand Theft Auto IV, including Sam (pictured) and Dan Houser. Terms of the agreement would see the team locked into an publishing deal with Take-Two until January 31, 2012. The arrangement also includes a new incentive compensation program for the Rockstar Games label and an agreement from Take-Two "to fund the future development of certain new intellectual property to be owned by a newly formed company controlled by key Rockstar Games team members." Our guess? Lemmings Kart Racing. Believe.
Take-Two cements long-term agreement with Rockstar 'senior creative talent'
The Houser brothers aren't going anywhere -- at least not anywhere that's out of the reach of Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two. The company has announced a new long-term employment agreement with "key members of the creative team" behind Grand Theft Auto IV, including Rockstar rockstars, Sam and Dan Houser. The initial term of the agreement runs out on January 31, 2012 -- and by then the world will be close to ending for everyone, not just Take-Two.Also noted in the agreement is a new incentive compensation program for the Rockstar Games label, as well as Take-Two's intention to fund a new intellectual property "to be owned by a newly formed company controlled by key Rockstar Games team members." Whatever this mystery property entails, it will be published exclusively by Take-Two. Do we detect shades of Bungie and Microsoft?
Spike VGA Winners: GTAIV snags game of the year
Here you go, a recap of all of last night's Spike TV Video Game Award winners that is viewable (in its entirety) after the break. And if you weren't already aware thanks to this blog's title, Grand Theft Auto IV beat out all other contenders for Game of the Year honors. It's a bit controversial to say the least, but then again, it is the Spike VGAs. Right? Gears of War 2 came away with a pair of the colorful monkey awards, one for best shooter and another for best Xbox 360 game. Fallout 3 also did well and Valve's Left 4 Dead had nothing to be ashamed of either. Clicky the linky below to view it all.
Video: First look at GTAIV's Lost and Damned
Not only did last evening's Spike Video Game Awards bring Gears of War 2 DLC news, it also brought us our first look at Grand Theft Auto IV's upcoming Lost and Damned episodic expansion. Just as promised. You can view the exclusive Lost and Damned trailer after the break and begin pondering whether 1600 Microsoft points is worth admission into a biker gang. Truth be told, you'll get some fashionable leather apparel, but the motorcycle speeds wreak havoc on the health of your hair. We're talking split ends.
Midnight Club: LA races into South Central in early '09
Rockstar construction crews are hard at work laying down pavement for those already bored with Midnight Club's LA streets. The developer confirmed that it will release a "South Central Upgrade Map" for free next year, adding numerous LA landmarks and a new area equivalent to about a third of what's already on the disc. Those looking to burn a little of their leftover holiday cash can also pick up the "South Central Content Pack," which will trick out the racing game with new character competitions, races, music and that all-important element of the LA landscape: The SUV. No release date for either download has been announced, though Rockstar notes that Xbox 360 and PS3 racers can look forward to rolling down the 105 Freeway sometime in early 2009.
Midnight Club: LA South Central DLC in early '09
Today, Rockstar Games announced that fresh Midnight Club: Los Angeles downloadable content will be released early next year, giving fans an entirely new part of the city to explore. The South Central Upgrade Map DLC will be a free download and encompass about a third of what Los Angeles offers. Nestled inside the new map will be additional competitions, races, music and new cars (including an SUV) to cruise around new locations like the Shrine Auditorium and Crenshaw Plaza. Free DLC rocks ... get it? Rockstar ... rocks, yeah ...%Gallery-39194%
Midnight Club: LA patch makes life easier
Thought Midnight Club: Los Angeles was a wee bit too difficult for you? Well, normally, we'd just tell you to man up and force you into a non-stop 16 hour Midnight Club gaming marathon to improve your skills.But you lucked out and won't have to go through such verbal and physical torture, because Rockstar just released a Midnight Club: LA title update that improves the AI so that it dynamically adjusts to your skill level. The patch also adds additional leaderboards and quickens the multiplayer match searching process. Kids these days ... man up.
GTA IV, LBP and Home amongst TIME's top picks of the year
Time, the renowned weekly newsmagazine, has named its picks for top 10 games of year. Grand Theft Auto IV takes the top spot, while the only PS3 exclusive to make the list is LittleBigPlanet, which sits at third place. Other PS3 multiplatform titles on the list include Rock Band 2, Dead Space and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (really?). Want to know where those games are ranked and what else made the list? Check them out after the jump.On a related note, the PS3's community-based service Home is number 10 on Time's list of top 10 gadgets of the year. That's this year, 2008. Do the guys at Time know something we don't? Is this an indication that Home will definitely be released this year?Source -- Time's top 10 games of the yearSource -- Time's top 10 gadgets of the year
GTAIV 'Lost and Damned' DLC available at retail
When Microsoft and Rockstar Games initially announced their partnership to release the Grand Theft Auto IV Lost and Damned DLC to the 360, we were under the impression that it'd be exclusive to the Xbox Live Marketplace. We were wrong. There's a Gamestop.com product listing for "Grand Theft Auto IV: Lost & Damned" and the product is a redemption code card that requires Xbox Live to redeem. We're guessing that retailers will be selling Lost and Damned redemption cards in place of a retail disc to sell the DLC at a retail level. Oh, also note that Gamestop has the DLC listed to release on February 17th for $19.99.[Via Gamesindustry.biz]
GTAIV 'Lost and Damned' DLC dated for Feb '09
After a delay or two and nothing but silence from Rockstar, we finally have specific information regarding the release of the Xbox 360 exclusive (and highly anticipated) Grand Theft Auto IV episodic DLC. According to USA Today, the GTAIV "Lost and Damned" episodic DLC will release on February 17th, 2009 and feature main character Johnny Klebitz who's a member of the Liberty City biker gang "The Lost". Rockstar VP Dan Houser describes Johnny as "a very different character than Niko, with a very different background" and promises that "the story will show you a different side of Liberty City." No other story information was revealed and pricing is still up in the air. Just be happy we have a release date.[Via Joystiq]
Rockstar 'not sure' about GTAIV DLC release
Talking to Variety, Rockstar's own Dan Houser acknowledged he is "not sure" if the 360 exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content will release this year. "It's going well. But we don't know a date," Houser admitted, adding that "we hope to be announcing that [the DLC release date] in the next few weeks." Quite interesting, seeing that last we heard, the DLC was on track to release in November. Then again, there has always been some confusion regarding the DLC's release and a surprising lack of hype from Microsoft regarding the content's release later this year.All said, we wonder if the GTAIV content is as big of a draw as it was back in the day or if the 360 gaming community has just, well ... moved on.
Industry Jobs: Rockstar Games wants you
A banner flying proudly on the Edge Online main page displays what could be a dream come true for gaming fans. Rockstar Games, developer of such hits as Grand Theft Auto IV and Midnight Club: Los Angeles is looking for fresh blood. Of course you'll need more than just a desire to land a gig there, experience is paramount as the developer is looking for everything from programmers to designers. Kicking the dirt because you don't have the required schoolin'? Well, don't fret because game testers are required at some of the studios including Rockstar Toronto, makers of The Warriors.It's a shame that Rockstar isn't looking for a new lawyer because we know of one guy who is in the market for a ticket out of Florida and a decent paying job. Got the skill? Apply today! Don't? Then don't make yo' self look a foo!
Get ready for a GTAIV Cause Chaos Live Weekend
Kicking off this Friday, September 26th is a weekend full of guns, cars, destruction and mature related themes better known as the Grand Theft Auto IV Cause Chaos Live Weekend. The GTAIV Cause Chaos weekend fun will include a chance to play with the Rockstar developers as well as a mountain of prizes. No joke, they're giving away everything from Microsoft points and t-shirts to full sized GTAIV dart boards, license plates and replicas of the Statue of Happiness. Head on over to Xbox.com to register, download the free gamer picture off the Marketplace and mark your calendar. Erasing previous weekend plans is acceptable and completely encouraged.
Rumor: Rockstar's L.A. Noire headed to the 360
Last week, the CEO of Tantalus and el presidente of the Game Developers' Association of Australia, Tom Crago made a few rumor waves in regards to Rockstar's long awaited, mysterious and PS3 exclusive L.A. Noire, saying that it'll also be making its way to the Xbox 360.While chatting with Crago at GC Asia 2008, IGN reports that Crago mentioned that L.A. Noire was currently in development on both the PS3 and 360. Something that'd be very surprising seeing that Rockstar has said all along that L.A. Noire will be a PS3 exclusive and was partially being funded by Sony. But maybe the game's costs caught up with them?And unless Rockstar directly addresses the game's rumored 360 release, we probably won't know the answer for quite the long time, because Crago suggested that L.A. Noire still has another year to cook in the development oven. Bum to that.
Rumor: L.A. Noire no longer PS3 exclusive, still a year away
The long-in-development L.A. Noire, a collaboration between Rockstar and ex-Getaway alumni at Australia's Team Bondi, may no longer be exclusive to PlayStation 3. The title – which has been shrouded in mystery befitting of its film noire trappings – was originally rumored to be bankrolled by Sony itself for release solely on its platform. Speaking at GC Asia '08, Game Developers' Association of Australia president Tom Crago said that, from what he surmises, development on the game has "another year or so to go." He also revealed that it "could be the biggest budget video game in development anywhere in the world," calling it a "massive, massive project." Crago also indicated that the game is in development for both PS3 and 360, which, if true, would rule it out as the PS3-exclusive Rockstar project Sony has been touting once and for all. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
