ScottishGames.biz

Houser Bros - Like Mario Bros Only Edgier

Rockstar, NYC: The contracts between Take 2 and Sam n' Dan Houser "the driving force behind the Grand Theft Auto series" expire in February 2009, prompting speculation of a bidding war for their services.  At least from Analysts, who were worried that they might have to stop speculating now that EA's given up talking to T2.

Develop and GamesIndustry both mention the potential brouhaha and the fact that the loss of the Housers could lead to lower sales of the GTA series in the future, or possibly even a competing product from another Developer.

Sensibly neither publication engages in idle speculation about where the Houser Bros may end up, but a short examination of possible companies which are cash-rich, located in exotic, cosmopolitan locations and focusing on gritty, realistic urban, possibly massively multiplayer gaming, for the new generation of consoles, throws up at least one exciting possibility...

[Surely not!  Unless it does, in which case we claimed it first.]

Houser Honoured - MCV Marvels At Mysterious Mogul's Motivations

Rockstar boss profiled in MCV interview; states sky is limit.

Sun Spotlights GTA Paedo Site Spoof Shock

MCV reports that The Sun, the UK's leading champion of reasoned debate and rational discourse has revealed that some of the content within GTA IV could be even more shocking than originally thought.

One of the pretend websites within the game points towards a pretend site for child beauty pageants which has been closed down by the pretend authorities.

Clicking on the site increases the player's wanted rating.  The implication being that it's a dodgy site for paedophiles or 'pervs' according to the article.

The increase in wanted rating leads to "thrilling car chases and shootouts", but has "outraged [a] fan[s]", who "won't play it again."

So far, so hysterical.  The paper does point out that "There is no suggestion that any missions in the game allow players to act out the role of a paedophile."

Which is nice.

There's no information on whether these online predators can make Xbox/PS3 controllers release toxic vapours.  Probably best to check and see if they smell of hammers however.

GTAIV - 6M Sales and counting...

We started this week fairly slowly.  Well, it was a bank holiday, but over the last several days we've been noting stories, articles and interesting snippets about the launch of GTA IV. 

We had quite a mix.  A US News network anchor who seriously loathed the game, retailers breaking street dates, controversy over the review scores, impact on share prices, the collapse of civilisation, debate on whether it's a 'perfect' game, PS3 versus Xbox sales, the cost of development, multiplayer gaming, jack thomson's considered opinion and our favourite, market analysts wading in and telling everyone they're wrong.

Looking back over it, there were over 60 links with varying opinion, valuable insight and - to be fair - a huge amount of ill-informed opinion and hype.

So to hell with it.  Rather than regurgitate the headlines, analysis and argument, you can google it and find out what everyone else thinks.

Here's the bottom line.  GTA IV is online to become the best selling game yet released.  Beating not just games like Halo 3 (the previous record holder), but movie releases like Harry Potter and Pirate of the Caribbean.

From MCV:

GTA IV has become the most lucrative entertainment launch of all time – dwarfing best-ever releases in music, video and literature.

Take Two has confirmed that GTA IV sold six million units globally in its first week – with an estimated retail value of more than $500 million.

The title sold approximately 3.6 million units on its opening day with a retail value of approximately $310 million globally.

The previous biggest entertainment launch week was that of cinema blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End (2007), which took $404 million at the Box Office.

"We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two.

More importantly, based on the feedback and comments we're hearing, Rockstar North has done it again. Every single person we've spoken to so far, is loving the game.

While we're STILL waiting for someone to send us a copy, we've played it and the same dark (dark) humour, irreverent approach and fluid gameplay mean that it's just going to keep on going.

Hurrah!  Scotland rocks.  Again.

GTA Sunday Afternoon

As the world gears up for the GTAIV launch, two of the quality Sunday papers ran pieces on the game.

The Scotland On Sunday did a retrospective on the series as a whole (quoting your editor being jolly positive).

The Times however, had an interview with Les Benzies, the Rockstar North studio head!

Both well worth a read.

Now Les has broken his duck press-wise, we'll be redoubling our efforts to get him in SG.biz at some point soon.

EA Edinburgh?

Reports over the weekend reveal that EA would quite like to merge (buy?) Take 2.  Take 2 are reported to be 'flattered' but they 'don't feel the same way' about EA.  They'd like to be just friends for now - at least until after GTA IV comes out.

This is causing concern on several fronts.  Sports fans are unhappy that this would effectively give EA control over the vast majority of sports games on the market today.

It would of course, also make GTA an EA franchise.  Despite EA boss John Riccitiello's recent confessions about the company's over-reliance on sequels and lacklustre franchises, there are many people who would worry about the world's edgiest game becoming an EA title.

As you can imagine, every single games-related news site on the planet has been reporting on this and the journalists have been putting in the overtime to keep us updated.

Analysts have started commenting on the proposed deal, with one pointing out that GTA may not be the key title behind the offer.  "I would really be surprised if the Rockstar North guys all go to work for EA," he said, suggesting that it may not be their style.

One upside is that the story breaking on a Sunday has allowed many of the sites to exercise their imagination and come up with all manner of hilarious images to accompany the story.  From an EA PAC-MAN chomping T2 pills, to branded Borg cubes and jigsaw puzzle pieces, it's given the story a whimsical edge you don't normally get in the knock-down-and-drag-out world of M&A.

The Scottish press, of course, remain blissfully unaware...

Viacom <3 Rockstar?

Yes it's speculation, yes, we shun unfounded rumours, but when it could affect one of the country's leading developers, we'll print it.  Hell YES we'll print it...

GamesIndustry is putting in the overtime to report that Viacom MAY be conptemplating a bid for Take 2.

Hmmm...

More information (or speculation) as we get it.

GTA IV Delayed Until 2008

Develop and the rest of the online news sources are reporting that GTA IV, due for an October release, has been pushed back until 2008.

Sam Houser (founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games you know), is quoted as saying "The game is huge and is pushing the hardware platforms to their absolute limits. The top engineers from Sony and Microsoft are working closely with the team in Edinburgh right now, helping us to fully leverage the power of both platforms. As always, our goal is to surpass even the wildest expectations of the game's fans, and to create the ultimate high definition video game experience."

Sadly, this news is expected to stop the Rockstar North team from taking part in the promotional video being shot in Scotland next week, showcasing the games industry in Scotland.

Manhunt Launch Delayed

After the ban in the UK and Ireland and the Adults Only rating in the US market, Rockstar has 'suspended' the launch of Manhunt.

On that note, The Sunday Herald is putting together a piece on the recent controversy as well as looking at the cultural phenomenon which is Rockstar (North and as a whole) Featuring several SG.biz stalwarts, it promises to be worth a read.

Note: PLEASE be careful when searching for information on the videogame 'Manhunt'.  SG did a quick Google search for the image accompanying this piece.  The first link Google throws up is possibly more NSFW than the game.

Manhunt Banned In UK

Multiple news sources are now reporting that the BBFC has denied a rating to Rockstar's Manhunt 2.  This means the game cannot be sold in the UK. 

This is only the second time a game has been refused a rating.  The first was Carmageddon, but that was overturned on appeal.  However it looks doubtful that Manhunt 2 might achieve the same result.  The language quoted by MCV reveals a very serious tone from the board:

“Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly,” BBFC director David Cooke stated. “Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board’s published Guidelines.

“In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing.

“There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game.

“Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game’s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game.

“That work was classified ‘18’ in 2003, before the BBFC’s recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.

“Against this background, the Board’s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.”

Rockstar/Take 2 does have the right to appeal the decision, but there's been no word as yet on whether the company intends to do so.

The same news sources are also reporting that ELSPA has has praised the BBFC's decision, saying that it proves the UK's rating system is effective.  Spong quotes ELSPA Director General Paul Jackson as saying:

"A decision from the BBFC such as this demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective. It shows it works and works well. Any decision the BBFC takes, it takes on the basis of its remit to rate on screen entertainment,”

"The games industry is a creative phenomenon that produces all kinds of games across all kinds of genres that appeal to all kinds of people across the country, young and old, male and female. The important thing to know is that all games are rated according to age suitability, with over 70 per cent of games being available to all ages over three years."

Finally, the Future Publishing magazine Ngamer has already reviewed the Wii version of the game, prior to it's release.  Computer & Videogames has posted the review in full.  It points out the grim violence and adult content and notes that the use of the Wiimote lends a whole new angle to the game.  They eventually award Manhunt 2 92%

A pretty impressive score for a game you're unlikely to play.

Update: Ireland's IFCO has banned it too.