GTA: CW...disappoints

Macawmoses · April 17, 2009, 02:39:33 AM

Quote"Despite a strong critical reception, Take-Two's GTA: Chinatown Wars sold a very disappointing 89,000 units in March, well below our more recent 200-250,000 estimate and far below the 400-450,000 we thought the title might sell upon its release. Take-Two exported their most valuable IP onto the most widely distributed gaming platform, and created the most highly-rated title in the history of that platform. We knew there were some uphill challenges due to the demographics of the platform, but believed there were enough core gamers/adults owning a DS that the title could still perform very well. However, either the demographics are more challenging than we thought, or core gamers did not view the title as an essential purchase due to the nature of the platform. We believe the experiment was a worthwhile one for Take-Two, and still expect the title to be profitable (though likely marginally so). However, the disappointing first month sales reinforce our view that achieving meaningful success on Nintendo platforms remains a very difficult proposition for third party publishers.

Sad. CW is simply fantastic...yet as gamers, we ignored it. Okay, I didn't. But look at it ths way- a valiant effort was made by a 3rd party, highest scored title, and 90K is the best we can do for sales?

Sad.

I don't blame anyone but us for the lack of "core" titles. We, the core, wreck our own chances. Then we ninny and moan. So for the love of god, buy the title.

It's great. It's among my favorites. Want to see good titles on Wii or DS? Then this is a defining purchase. The ads. The name. All of it is hardcore. And we failed.

So NSF, explain yourself.

Nayrman · April 17, 2009, 06:25:58 AM

played a demo of it, hated the top down display, missions (IMHO) were pathetic, and felt like a half assed attempt on an underpowered platform. Also, like all other big named titles on Nintendo systems, fun for a while but poor gimmick controls destroy the fun.
Frankly, I predicted this would not be a good game once we found out it was top down (DOES ANYONE AT ROCKSTAR REMEMBER WHY THEY WENT 3D IN THE FIRST PLACE!?)

I ninny and moan because we don't get any quality titles for the darn things. Sure, MadWorld and NMH are fantastic, but where is the rest? Don't get me started on the DS, I've had so little to play on the thing it's pathetic X_X;;

I'm glad they "tried" (although whether any effort was really put in imo is up for debate, like all things DS/Wii), but come out with something actually good and then I'll get it.

Silverhawk79 · April 17, 2009, 10:43:29 AM

I'm planning to buy it, whenever I get some extra cash.
But I agree, it is rather disappointing. Rockstar took a big risk putting GTA on a DS, and we're letting them down. Now they'll probably never consider making a game for a Nintendo platform again. =/

Macawmoses · April 17, 2009, 02:05:08 PM

Quote from: Nayrman on April 17, 2009, 06:25:58 AM
played a demo of it, hated the top down display, missions (IMHO) were pathetic, and felt like a half assed attempt on an underpowered platform. Also, like all other big named titles on Nintendo systems, fun for a while but poor gimmick controls destroy the fun.
Frankly, I predicted this would not be a good game once we found out it was top down (DOES ANYONE AT ROCKSTAR REMEMBER WHY THEY WENT 3D IN THE FIRST PLACE!?)

I b**** and moan because we don't get any quality titles for the dang things. Sure, MadWorld and NMH are fantastic, but where is the rest? Don't get me started on the DS, I've had so little to play on the thing it's pathetic X_X;;

I'm glad they "tried" (although whether any effort was really put in imo is up for debate, like all things DS/Wii), but come out with something actually good and then I'll get it.

You obviously haven't played the demo then. The game was sensational at worst. You're looking at it from at best a PC gamers perspective, expecting everything to be like it would be there. That's lame. I don't agree with you at all - none of it is gimmicky, etc. The fact it's the highest rated DS game to date should be testament to that.

Nayrman · April 17, 2009, 02:07:19 PM

Quote from: Macbeth on April 17, 2009, 02:05:08 PM
Quote from: Nayrman on April 17, 2009, 06:25:58 AM
played a demo of it, hated the top down display, missions (IMHO) were pathetic, and felt like a half assed attempt on an underpowered platform. Also, like all other big named titles on Nintendo systems, fun for a while but poor gimmick controls destroy the fun.
Frankly, I predicted this would not be a good game once we found out it was top down (DOES ANYONE AT ROCKSTAR REMEMBER WHY THEY WENT 3D IN THE FIRST PLACE!?)

I b**** and moan because we don't get any quality titles for the dang things. Sure, MadWorld and NMH are fantastic, but where is the rest? Don't get me started on the DS, I've had so little to play on the thing it's pathetic X_X;;

I'm glad they "tried" (although whether any effort was really put in imo is up for debate, like all things DS/Wii), but come out with something actually good and then I'll get it.
You obviously haven't played the demo then. The game was sensational at worst. You're looking at it from at best a PC gamers perspective, expecting everything to be like it would be there. That's lame. I don't agree with you at all - none of it is gimmicky, etc. The fact it's the highest rated DS game to date should be testament to that.

You know how I feel about "ratings". And I did hate the demo. I just hate the top down display. It's completely wonky and it makes it difficult to do much of anything imho. Hated the demo so I didn't buy the game. For once the PSP game is better than the DS game X_X:;

Macawmoses · April 17, 2009, 02:20:59 PM

I feel the same way about ratings, but you can't deny when virtually every reviewer, prepubescent teen, adult, etc. that's played the game agrees on.

The td display works well. The demo was brilliant. You're just being fickle, and you're going to be your own nightmare when it comes to hardcore games and nintendo. This is exactly why we don't get games like that. No one's fault but our own, some 89 K of us excluded.

Nayrman · April 17, 2009, 02:27:46 PM

Quote from: Macbeth on April 17, 2009, 02:20:59 PM
I feel the same way about ratings, but you can't deny when virtually every reviewer, prepubescent teen, adult, etc. that's played the game agrees on.

The td display works well. The demo was brilliant. You're just being fickle, and you're going to be your own nightmare when it comes to hardcore games and nintendo. This is exactly why we don't get games like that. No one's fault but our own, some 89 K of us excluded.

I just hate top down displays, and at least I played the demo, more than I'm sure quite a few people will say. It's not like I wrote it off without playing it, I just hated the demo and thus assumed I'd hate the game as well. *You can't say that I"m not getting the core stuff, as a guy who has MP:H, NMH, MadWorld, and House of the Dead Overkill)

Doodle · April 21, 2009, 12:49:06 PM

I've actually never played a Grand Theft Auto game. :-\
If I have some extra cash and need a good DS game, I'll probably pick it up, though.

Zero · May 30, 2009, 03:11:55 PM

Yeah its pretty decent.

I had the originals and didn't mind them back in the day. Still adjusting though.

Macawmoses · May 30, 2009, 03:38:44 PM

Quote from: Zero on May 30, 2009, 03:11:55 PM
Yeah its pretty decent.

I had the originals and didn't mind them back in the day. Still adjusting though.

The insane amount of content is one reason that CW is a great title. It is odd feeling though.

Java · June 05, 2009, 09:18:57 AM

I've never really been a fan of Grand Theft Auto, so there's no reason for me to buy this.