GTA Chinatown Wars coming to PSP

CVG

New York, NY - June 22, 2009 - Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is pleased to announce that one of the highest-rated handheld games of all time, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, will be making its way to the PSP (PlayStationPortable) handheld entertainment system. Developed by the award-winning studio Rockstar Leeds, in conjunction with series creator Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be available at retail on UMD and digitally from the PlayStationNetwork in North America and Europe this fall.

"We're proud to extend this truly unique handheld Grand Theft Auto experience to PSP and offer a downloadable version of Chinatown Wars for PSPgo," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "Rockstar Leeds has shown incredible talent in creating games that raise the bar in terms of depth and innovation on portables, and with Chinatown Wars we have a rich, fast-paced, and incredibly addictive entry into the series."

Rockstar's work with the GTA series has been an enormous part of the success of PlayStation platforms," said Jack Tretton, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We're excited to welcome the critically acclaimed Chinatown Wars to the outstanding line-up of great games headed to the PSP platform this fall."

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars follows the story of Huang Lee, a young Triad who travels to Liberty City after the mysterious death of his father. Within the game, players will navigate their way through the streets as they uncover the truth behind an epic tale of crime and corruption within the Triad crime syndicate, delivering the unprecedented amount of depth that has become a true trademark of the franchise. Specifically built for the PSP platform with upscaled widescreen graphics, enhanced lighting and animation; and including all-new story missions; this version of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will take full advantage of the power of the PSP system.

CVG

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. It is too bad the DS version didn't sell.

I have a better question?

How many of the GGD regulars actually have this game or have played it? My thoughts are either it doesn't play very much like the true 3D GTA games and from what I understand, much more like GTA 1 and 2 with the isometric top down approach. That's the first problem. Second, if it's not some cutesy Petz type thing, or some new fad from Japan or doesn't start with Super and end with Mario Bros or Wii + "insert random name" it's not going to be a good Nintendo franchise.

If it is indeed the first case that is true, then this most likely will not sell well on the PSP either mind you.

Very interesting; didn't see this coming. I'm sure it'll do better on the PSP.

I have a better question?

How many of the GGD regulars actually have this game or have played it? My thoughts are either it doesn't play very much like the true 3D GTA games and from what I understand, much more like GTA 1 and 2 with the isometric top down approach. That's the first problem. Second, if it's not some cutesy Petz type thing, or some new fad from Japan or doesn't start with Super and end with Mario Bros or Wii + "insert random name" it's not going to be a good Nintendo franchise.

If it is indeed the first case that is true, then this most likely will not sell well on the PSP either mind you.

SemiMaster

[QUOTE="SemiMaster"]

I have a better question?

How many of the GGD regulars actually have this game or have played it? My thoughts are either it doesn't play very much like the true 3D GTA games and from what I understand, much more like GTA 1 and 2 with the isometric top down approach. That's the first problem. Second, if it's not some cutesy Petz type thing, or some new fad from Japan or doesn't start with Super and end with Mario Bros or Wii + "insert random name" it's not going to be a good Nintendo franchise.

If it is indeed the first case that is true, then this most likely will not sell well on the PSP either mind you.

rragnaar

Doubt it'll score as high without the intuitive touch features, but this is awesome for those who either don't have a DS, or those who just prefer PSP. Best handheld GTA yet coming to PSP!

it will be ........ urrrr.......... intresting

[QUOTE="kbkb221"] whose vader? darth vader?? @_@rragnaar

Good news all around. I never played the game, despite owning a DS, but I'm intrigued to see how well it could translate to a more conventional control scheme, and how would Rockstar take advantage of the increase in horsepower.

still dont know him. :D hahakbkb221

which was partially why they ended up just being ported to the PS2 in time.Skylock00

I have the game, and technically it's fantastic on the DS, and despite being top down, that's really the only similarity I felt it had to GTA 1+2. Storywise and such, it feels more like GTA3 and onward.

As for doing better on the PSP...eh, I've been told that none of the PSP GTA games did fantastic either, though, which was partially why they ended up just being ported to the PS2 in time.

We'll see how it goes, but I was one of the few that simply bought the game near launch to support the efforts of the developer.Skylock00

The sales numbers I saw at GAFwere pretty solid:

GTA:CW

US

1st month (two weeks) 88k (NDS TOP TEN - 5th)
2nd month - 74k (NDS TOP TEN - 7th)
3rd month - Out of NDS TOP TEN

UK

1rst month - Between 0 and 50k
2nd month - 34k
3rd month - Out of TOP 40 (Between 0 and ~2.5k sold per week)

GTA:CW is out of the PAL Charts

GTA:CW is 10 pounds in some UK stores

GTA:CW had a temporal price drop in US

GTA:LCS and VCS were in the UK TOP 10/20 for many months.

GTA:LCS and VCS were in the PAL charts for many months.

GTA:LCS and VCS showed stronger legs in USA

LTDs

Liberty City Stories -> UK - 820k+ // US - 2 million+ // TOTAL ~ 5 million
Vice City Stories -> UK - 580k+ // US - 1 million+ // TOTAL ~ 3 million

Spiegel

I have this on the DS already, and am quite curious to see how some of the features are going to port into the PSP (Like the PDA, GPS, 'dealing', hot-wiring, etc). I also have GTA Vice City Stories on the PSP and I like the way the GTA CTW plays on the DS much better.carlosjuero

It will be great if Chinatown Wars PSP is shown from the over the shoulder perspective of the modern GTAs rather than overhead perspective of the DS original. The overhead perspective made sense given the limited 3D capabilities of the DS, but makes no sense at all on the PSP. 2D has its place, but in the context of the GTAs it partially blinds the players (it creates a difference between the character's line of sight and what players see onscreen).

The AI/mission structure would have to be tweaked, but that would have to be done anyway since the PSP uses traditional controls rather than 'touch'.

Also, I don't think the PSP port owes its existence to the abysmal sales of the DS game (the PS2 GTAs put up massive numbers and they were all ported).

It will be great if Chinatown Wars PSP is shown from the over the shoulder perspective of the modern GTAs rather than overhead perspective of the DS original. The overhead perspective made sense given the limited 3D capabilities of the DS, but makes no sense at all on the PSP. 2D has its place, but in the context of the GTAs it partially blinds the players (it creates a difference between the character's line of sight and what players see onscreen).

The AI/mission structure would have to be tweaked, but that would have to be done anyway since the PSP uses traditional controls rather than 'touch'.

Also, I don't think the PSP port owes its existence to the abysmal sales of the DS game (the PS2 GTAs put up massive numbers and they were all ported).

CarnageHeart

Welcome back, BTW. Good to see you around again.

Here's hoping it flops on PSP also so that they have no choice but to put it on PSN/XBLA

Here's hoping it flops on PSP also so that they have no choice but to put it on PSN/XBLA

smerlus

and here i thought Bethesda acquiring ID software was the only Megaton revealed today...