Did Microsoft's gamble with GTA IV fail to pay off?

http://gamer.blorge.com/2009/03/12/did-microsoft-gamble-with-gta-iv-and-fail/

Very good article showing that exclusive GTA IV DLC didn't really affect sales much for the 360.

Peter Moore [former VP of M$ and creator of Xbox] was so adamant that GTA IV was the key to Xbox 360's success that he even put a fake tattoo on his arm to gloat at E3.

This all came to an impasse today as Take-Two revealed in a meeting that GTA IV in fact sold 50/50 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 of the 13 million units. It was further clarified that GTA IV sold 50/50 not only everywhere, but in the US as well. This was a bit confusing as the Xbox 360's user base is literally twice the size of the PS3 base in the US.

Honestly, I had a difficult time believing this myself despite the fact it was coming from Take-Two. Microsoft put a great deal of marketing budget behind GTA IV with exclusive commercial deals and enticement of exclusive DLC. This proved two things to me today - DLC does not sway gamers into buying a game on a specific platform and franchise platform loyalty does indeed exist.

From what I remember if a certain amount of the DLC did not sell, TakeTwo would have to pay back the 50 million.

Maybe MS should've spent that money on some good first/second party exclusives rather than DLC for a game everyone stopped caring about 5 minutes after finishing it.

I don't care. L&D looks like a lot of fun ^_^IronBass

How many people even knew that DLC was coming exclusively to the 360 when they purchased it last April? I know i did, but i'm talking about the casuals.AAllxxjjnn

That's the other thing. The article points out that most people who bought GTA IV had already owned a 360 or PS3, so it wasn't much of a system seller. I know I bought my PS3 in December of 2008 and had no interest in the game.

Maybe MS should've spent that money on some good first/second party exclusives rather than DLC for a game everyone stopped caring about 5 minutes after finishing it.

-BOX-

Harsh, but there is definitely a lot of truth to this statement. To be fair to GTA, I loved it the second time through, when I wasn't expecting anything from it.

And what the hell is a second-party exclusive? I've been awake for about 36 hours, but I am pretty sure that makes about as much sense as a Second Person Shooter.

[QUOTE="AAllxxjjnn"]How many people even knew that DLC was coming exclusively to the 360 when they purchased it last April? I know i did, but i'm talking about the casuals.lolfaqs

That's the other thing. The article points out that most people who bought GTA IV had already owned a 360 or PS3, so it wasn't much of a system seller. I know I bought my PS3 in December of 2008 and had no interest in the game.

NPD research has shown that 75% of gamers prefer retail over DD:

http://www.edge-online.com/news/npds-frazier-consumers-prefer-retail

In a recent poll topic on Gamespot's System Wars forum, hard copy is the clear winner as well with 75% of voters preferring a hard copy over DD.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26804834&page=0

So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.

The DLC sold a reported 1 million already and an expected 2 million by Oct. 2009. 20 bucks a pop - you do the math. :P

The DLC sold a reported 1 million already and an expected 2 million by Oct. 2009. 20 bucks a pop - you do the math. :P

SecretPolice

Oh, I'm sure DLC itself sold well, but it didn't affect sales of the 360 or the GTA IV game itself as Take Two confirmed.

So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.lolfaqs

[QUOTE="lolfaqs"]So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.IronBass

I do. The research shows that gamers prefer hard copies, and Take Two confirmed that exclusive DLC for GTA IV didn't affect sales of the game or move 360s either.

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="lolfaqs"]So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.lolfaqs

I do. The research shows that gamers prefer hard copies, and Take Two confirmed that exclusive DLC for GTA IV didn't affect sales of the game or move 360s either.

[QUOTE="SecretPolice"]

The DLC sold a reported 1 million already and an expected 2 million by Oct. 2009. 20 bucks a pop - you do the math. :P

lolfaqs

Oh, I'm sure DLC itself sold well, but it didn't affect sales of the 360 or the GTA IV game itself as Take Two confirmed.

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

lolfaqs

From what I remember if a certain amount of the DLC did not sell, TakeTwo would have to pay back the 50 million.

MBP_King

That was the author's speculation actually. :P

[QUOTE="lolfaqs"]

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

IronBass

XD @ vgchartz

[QUOTE="lolfaqs"]

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

IronBass

Peter Moore [former VP of M$ and creator of Xbox] was so adamant that GTA IV was the key to Xbox 360's success that he even put a fake tattoo on his arm to gloat at E3.

This all came to an impasse today as Take-Two revealed in a meeting that GTA IV in fact sold 50/50 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 of the 13 million units. It was further clarified that GTA IV sold 50/50 not only everywhere, but in the US as well. This was a bit confusing as the Xbox 360's user base is literally twice the size of the PS3 base in the US.

Honestly, I had a difficult time believing this myself despite the fact it was coming from Take-Two. Microsoft put a great deal of marketing budget behind GTA IV with exclusive commercial deals and enticement of exclusive DLC. This proved two things to me today - DLC does not sway gamers into buying a game on a specific platform and franchise platform loyalty does indeed exist.

lolfaqs

this is a good thing, now they will spend more time and money on getting us games instead of DLC

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="lolfaqs"]

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

CubanBlunt

That's pretty much how it goes. :(

To bad...

Still a AAA product on matacritic and its only on 360 ;)

For now. Rumors are hinting at it being a timed exclusive. Also, Rockstar is working on a PS3 exclusive and/or a heavily hinted at PS3 exclusive GTA 5.

For now. Rumors are hinting at it being a timed exclusive. Also, Rockstar is working on a PS3 exclusive and/or a heavily hinted at PS3 exclusive GTA 5.

lolfaqs

It's hard to see GTA V going exclusive considering, if the GTA IV sales are true, Rockstar would be losing roughly half a fanbase (and profit).

Well tbh anyone who really wanted the DLC would have gotten GTA4 on the 360 anyway.

And whilst Im sure its brilliant, its DLC, and why anyone thought that DLC would shift consoles, even if it is as good as a full game, I will never know.

Fact is its DLC, if the same game were realeased on disk, things might have been different, but to normal consumers DLC is just an add on...

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

lolfaqs

NPD research has shown that 75% of gamers prefer retail over DD:

http://www.edge-online.com/news/npds-frazier-consumers-prefer-retail

In a recent poll topic on Gamespot's System Wars forum, hard copy is the clear winner as well with 75% of voters preferring a hard copy over DD.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26804834&page=0

So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.

lolfaqs

NPD research has shown that 75% of gamers prefer retail over DD:

http://www.edge-online.com/news/npds-frazier-consumers-prefer-retail

In a recent poll topic on Gamespot's System Wars forum, hard copy is the clear winner as well with 75% of voters preferring a hard copy over DD.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26804834&page=0

So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.

lolfaqs

When the numbers don't go their way, Xbots resort to personal attacks and making up imaginary numbers like 8 million. Desperate times for desperate measures, I suppose.

lolfaqs

http://gamer.blorge.com/2009/03/12/did-microsoft-gamble-with-gta-iv-and-fail/

Very good article showing that exclusive GTA IV DLC didn't really affect sales much for the 360.

lolfaqs

For some reason I think Rockstar knew this right from the beginning. Knowing as in the DLC isn't going to be a system seller, and all their intent was was just to make a tad bit more money out of it.

Maybe MS should've spent that money on some good first/second party exclusives rather than DLC for a game everyone stopped caring about 5 minutes after finishing it.

-BOX-

For now. Rumors are hinting at it being a timed exclusive. Also, Rockstar is working on a PS3 exclusive and/or a heavily hinted at PS3 exclusive GTA 5.

lolfaqs

1. GTA has NEVER been an exclusive game

2. The 360's userbase is still larger than the PS3's, and even if by the time GTA 5 comes out and the PS3 has surpassed the 360 in sales the margin won't be that large, so just dismissing a large part of the people that bought the last game in favor of releasing an exclusive GTA would be the most bonehead manuver in the history of videogame business decisions EVER. We are talking millions of people. Rockstar isn't walking away from that kind of money. Especially when GTA is such an expensive game to make.

[QUOTE="lolfaqs"]

For now. Rumors are hinting at it being a timed exclusive. Also, Rockstar is working on a PS3 exclusive and/or a heavily hinted at PS3 exclusive GTA 5.

1. GTA has NEVER been an exclusive game

2. The 360's userbase is still larger than the PS3's, and even if by the time GTA 5 comes out and the PS3 has surpassed the 360 in sales the margin won't be that large, so just dismissing a large part of the people that bought the last game in favor of releasing an exclusive GTA would be the most bonehead manuver in the history of videogame business decisions EVER. We are talking millions of people. Rockstar isn't walking away from that kind of money. Especially when GTA is such an expensive game to make.

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="lolfaqs"]So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.lolfaqs

I do. The research shows that gamers prefer hard copies, and Take Two confirmed that exclusive DLC for GTA IV didn't affect sales of the game or move 360s either.

[QUOTE="lolfaqs"]

NPD research has shown that 75% of gamers prefer retail over DD:

http://www.edge-online.com/news/npds-frazier-consumers-prefer-retail

In a recent poll topic on Gamespot's System Wars forum, hard copy is the clear winner as well with 75% of voters preferring a hard copy over DD.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26804834&page=0

So it looks like M$' plan to hype DD has backfired.

delta3074

From what I remember if a certain amount of the DLC did not sell, TakeTwo would have to pay back the 50 million.

MBP_King

The DLC sold a reported 1 million already and an expected 2 million by Oct. 2009. 20 bucks a pop - you do the math. :P

SecretPolice

[QUOTE="MBP_King"]

From what I remember if a certain amount of the DLC did not sell, TakeTwo would have to pay back the 50 million.

PoppaGamer

The DLC sold a reported 1 million already and an expected 2 million by Oct. 2009. 20 bucks a pop - you do the math. :P

SecretPolice

[QUOTE="PoppaGamer"][QUOTE="SecretPolice"]

The DLC sold a reported 1 million already and an expected 2 million by Oct. 2009. 20 bucks a pop - you do the math. :P

navyguy21