As expected, GTA4 has been a massive hit. Even more so on the Xbox 360 if the latest NPD figures are to be believed. A bone-crushing 1,850,000 copies of the game have sold on Microsoft’s console. The PS3 version wasn’t too far behind (considering it has a smaller user base at the moment) with a 1,000,000 copies.

The biggest winner however, were gamers. At least according to the NPD:

“It’s unusual for three games to exceed the 1-million mark in a non-holiday month which just goes to prove that great content can succeed regardless of when it is launched,” noted NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

And while Europe and North America rejoice in Rockstar’s instant classic, India still gets the short-end of the stick with the game slated to be out on Monday. Knowing the irresponsibility and unreliability of Take Two and it’s local partners, most of us are skeptical it’ll happen.

For the rest of you interested in knowing what other games made the Top 10 list:

1. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar, X360) - 1,850,000
2. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo, Wii) - 1,120,000
3. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar, PS3) - 1,000,000
4. Wii Play (Nintendo, Wii) - 360,000
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo, Wii) - 326,000
6. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (Polyphony Digital, PS3) - 224,000
7. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (Chunsoft, NDS) - 202,000
8. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (Chunsoft, NDS) - 202,000
9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Vicarious Visions, Wii) - 152,000
10. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Infinity Ward, X360) - 141,000

Source: Shacknews

A forum member of Gaming Indians, Darth Ali Akbar, pissed off with the fact that we’re getting GTA4 late, decided to shoot off a complaint to the fine purveyors of mowing over pedestrians. Take2 in all their glory have blamed it on the Indian government.

I posted a complaint on the GTA 4 release on the Take 2 official website ….and this is what they replied:

Hello,

 

the game will be released accordingly to the government. It is not our choice to create release dates.

 

I had posted:

 

Dear Sir,
I live in India. I was eagerly waiting for GTA 4 to release here on April 29… But it was delayed. I as many other India Gamers was dissappointed….Please release the game asap…there are many people who want this game …check out 360indians.com ,http://www.xbox.com/hi-IN….please tell me a contact here in India also for the game….. I am highly dissapointed

It’s bad enough that Take2 totally underestimated the number of copies required for Europe and the US that they’ve decided to be arrogant and ignorant with Indian gamers which is kind of sad considering the rabid fan following the game has here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8p9xojLh6w

The guys at Epic have managed to inject a dose of, if you could excuse the pun, epic-ness ( into the solid gameplay seen in the original Gears of War. Think a mix LOTR and the Matrix combined with the guns, gibs and gore of Gears of War and you get the idea.

Awhile back we posted the news about developers BioWare using copy protection methods on the PC version of Mass Effect that were the virtual equivalent of telling users they were damned criminals. Luckily PC gamers are the vociferous type and BioWare has heard their voice (and perhaps the sound of money they’d miss out on).

According to BioWare’s FAQ:

Q: What is the difference between the old PC disc authentication solution and the new online model?

A: Two things have changed:

• First, authentication of discs has now gone from the physical format to the online format, freeing the need for consumers to have a disc in the drive at all times.

• Second, with online authentication consumers now connect to the Internet the first time the game is launched and are required only to reconnect if they are downloading new game content.

While it’s great to see the consumers come up on top this time, we wonder if Will Wright’s highly anticipated Spore will follow suit.

Atindriya Bose, country manager (Playstation), SCE, said game developers such as Indiagames, Trine, DQ Entertainment, Dhruva will be working with the company to produce games that could be marketed both in local and international markets.

The company will also introduce the use of motion-sensing technology, made popular by Nintendo Wii, to PS2 game developers this year.

Using Eye Toy technology, a colour digital camera device similar to a webcam, Sony hopes to extrapolate eye movement, gesture recognition, and more complicated finger movements used in game-playing.

What’s interesting is that they claim that the PS2 install base to be around 3.25 lacs and that there are 1200 PS3s . I wonder if they’ve taken into account the grey market as well?

Would you continue to buy games based on last-gen tech at a phenomenally lower price-point (they plan to launch 150 PS2 titles) or are you happy with your next-gen games?

Source: Rediff News.

If you’re one of the many Indians who paid more than necessary for a Wii, it seems that Nintendo plans to repay your loyalty in a way that is, quite perverse.

The Nintendo Channel lets you download DS demos and watch trailers for a small price. All your personal information related to your TV settings, daily play habits, net connection speed, WiiConnect24 settings and even how many Miis you have are sent to Nintendo via the Nintendo Channel. This is done in order to give gamers ” game recommendations and improved future services”. And if you opt out, you can say good-bye to free content.

A pretty scary proposition this, almost Big Brother-like if you think about it.

Source: Kotaku.

Id have announced Doom 4. In the most subtle way possible.

While most studios would scream on the top of their voices and set fire to most of the internet with a rousing press conference, the confirmation of a fourth Doom game has been made via a help-wanted ad, with the company looking to hire some talent to make that fourth jaunt into the bowels of Hell possible.

Though the formats have not been divulged, you can bet your very last paise for a PC release.

Source: IGN.

Mass Effect was buggy but stunning game on the Xbox 360, it’s one of those titles that would feel right at home on the PC given BioWare’s undoubted expertise. However no one counted on them and EA (BioWare’s publisher) to mess things up this bad.

The PC version will require you to authenticate it every 10 days as long as you want to play it. Yes you read right. This is what they had to say:

According to Derek French, Mass Effect, scheduled to arrive on the PC this 28th, will employ the same SecuROM online activation system that was initially put into Bioshock, allowing the buyer to activate his copy of Mass Effect for 3 times before politely asking to him / her to go to hell, that is, contact the customer service “helpline” to get it reactivated. And while the game itself wouldn’t require the DVD to be physically present in the drive, it goes one step further and phones home every 10 days and re-authenticates just to make sure legit customers are not the worst form of criminal scum publishers swear we are.

BioShock had a similar copy protection system and buying an original copy turned out being a pain for most. Is this the beginning of the end for PC gaming? Or would you prefer your games playing you instead of vice-versa?

Via: The Angry Pixel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oARm3NM9LD8

While most of us were asleep, watching the IPL or just surfing the net for pr0n, the fine folk at Sony held a ginormous press-only event in London called PlayStation Day 2008.

If you’re not interested in numbers and stats or random bits of information about the crowd laughing because of someone falling off backstage, you’ve come to the right place.

Above is a trailer (click here if not viewable) for what seems to be EA DICE’s formula for awesome known as Mirror’s Edge. This free running game is set in a modern city and the trailer features the protagonist, Faith jumping and running around the city. So far, it looks impressive and according to the video it’s all in-game footage (none of that pre-rendered CGI stuff). Definitely worth a watch and it seems to be a game to look forward to (even though no release date has been mentioned).

Though this was an obvious highlight, the rest of the show wasn’t so inspiring. Other tidbits of information include everyone’s much awaited platformer/world creator hybrid, Little Big Planet being delayed by a month to October. If that wasn’t enough, another high profile title, Killzone 2, has been shifted to February 2009. Two downers from the house of Sony right there.

Also featured was Resistance 2 whose multiplayer component will support upto 60 players (upped from 40 players). Plus the game will feature a sort of “hatred” system where there will be 5-6 players you’d have a strong dislike for and would end up spawning close to you, interesting tweaks in a game that’s bound to be one of Sony’s biggest releases this year.

Speaking of big releases, Sony will be offering an MGS4 bundle which would include a 40GB PS3 and the game, following their GT5: Prologue and Grand Theft Auto 4 bundle.

In spite of the major announcements at PlayStation Day 2008 seem like a mixed bag, what with major game delays, PS3 owners would be glad to note that the PS3 is outselling the Xbox 360 since October 2007. Quite impressive considering Microsoft have had a 15 month headstart.

Head on over to: PS3 Fanboy and Destructoid for more details.