Posted Apr 18, 2009 at 06:31PM by Mabie A.
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News,
Games,
Grand Theft Auto: China Town Wars
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Nintendo,
Take-Two Interactive
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A lesson learned the hard way: not because it's got the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise sealed on it, it's gonna sell like hot pancakes. Take Two had to swallow this bitter pill with the DS GTA title, Chinatown Wars. The results are in, and the analysts' prognosis is not looking good. Bluntly, it's "dying on the shelves".
Conservative estimates already had pretty low expectations for the game's sales, but the actual numbers released were even worse. 88,704 is the grand number that Chinatown Wars was able to ring up in sales.
It is a surprise, yes, especially since not only does it have the GTA franchise seal, it was also very well received by critics, even scoring a stellar 94-points on Metacritic. So what happened? The DS children market happened. It's obviously a predominantly children market, and content as adult as GTA's obviously will not sit well with parents -- which will then translate to sales not being well. And to think that this could have been that game to break the DS' innocent, wholesome glass ceiling. We're guessing devs won't be developing any adult-themed titles for Nintendo's handheld anytime soon, then. Related Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Articles:
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[Via Business Insider]
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20 Comments
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by ratch3ty - 2009-04-18 |
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» good
glad they learned the hard way. what a waste of time to make a game like this on that system. dummies.
glad they learned the hard way. what a waste of time to make a game like this on that system. dummies.
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Re: gamepro1 - 2009-04-19 |
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» Yep
The reason why it dident sell good is because
nintendo+little kids, trust me
Grand theft auto+little kid's parents+FAIL.
Ever seen a 7 year old with a PSP? NO! Ever seen a 7 year old with a DS? Yes! Ever seen a 7 year old parents buy Grand theft auto for him? NO!
It all goes together!
The reason why it dident sell good is because
nintendo+little kids, trust me
Grand theft auto+little kid's parents+FAIL.
Ever seen a 7 year old with a PSP? NO! Ever seen a 7 year old with a DS? Yes! Ever seen a 7 year old parents buy Grand theft auto for him? NO!
It all goes together!
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by crait - 2009-04-18 |
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» Jack Thomson and Nintendo
Take that! Babies aren't buying Grand Theft Auto!
Take that! Babies aren't buying Grand Theft Auto!
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by failtorespond - 2009-04-18 |
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» ..
That sucks it was actually a really good game.
That sucks it was actually a really good game.
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by SaintHobson - 2009-04-18 |
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» Eh
Eh, it was an alright game, but I did have a hard time getting into it like the 3D games GTA III and later... The PSP games were alot of fun too... I just couldn't stand the screen blurring.
Eh, it was an alright game, but I did have a hard time getting into it like the 3D games GTA III and later... The PSP games were alot of fun too... I just couldn't stand the screen blurring.
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by Metal Jody - 2009-04-18 |
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» lol
nice photo. thats definitely gonna make the kids fly out of the pool.
nice photo. thats definitely gonna make the kids fly out of the pool.
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by jrsmaster411 - 2009-04-18 |
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» oh my
Didn't see this coming, the game is really good actually, better than gta IV IMO, but I guess this proves who all those ds owners are, kids and moms
Didn't see this coming, the game is really good actually, better than gta IV IMO, but I guess this proves who all those ds owners are, kids and moms
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by Shazman1984 - 2009-04-19 |
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» Honestly
I love the DS, love nintendo, im big on GTAs, this was a great game..... unfortunately.... i just coulnt get over the top down view. im pretty sure its the reason a lot of folks passed on it...... plus everyone who considered buying it, fall into the "ill just download it to my flashcart" category.
I love the DS, love nintendo, im big on GTAs, this was a great game..... unfortunately.... i just coulnt get over the top down view. im pretty sure its the reason a lot of folks passed on it...... plus everyone who considered buying it, fall into the "ill just download it to my flashcart" category.
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Re: astaroth001 - 2009-04-19 |
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» ...
maybe a lot of people didn't liked the game, the PSP has a bigger piracy issue and both GTA have sold over 1million, maybe is not as good as eveyone says, but you make a great point on the top down view...kudos
maybe a lot of people didn't liked the game, the PSP has a bigger piracy issue and both GTA have sold over 1million, maybe is not as good as eveyone says, but you make a great point on the top down view...kudos
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by Digitus - 2009-04-19 |
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» Its Not Selling Because
Nobody wants a watered down spin off. It looked like crap even if it was well received by critics a lot of fans wont waste their time with this one, not even me. Just because this not so great looking game didn't sell well doesn't mean "Adult themed games" wont sell on the DS. It just means that adult themes for the sake of adult themes =/= success with adults. The DS is so widespread that everybody and their grandmother has one in addition to whatever else they have, because its relatively cheap and has a broad library. I play my DS mostly for RPGs and action titles, I'm not gonna play a GTA on my DS just because its adult themed. Same thing goes for any other attempt, if they made a Dead Space on DS, a Manhunt on DS, a Godfather on DS, I wouldn't buy them. I'd buy something that looks fun. It doesn't have anything to do with whatever audience the system has even if it was/is a lot of young teens, kids grow older.
Nobody wants a watered down spin off. It looked like crap even if it was well received by critics a lot of fans wont waste their time with this one, not even me. Just because this not so great looking game didn't sell well doesn't mean "Adult themed games" wont sell on the DS. It just means that adult themes for the sake of adult themes =/= success with adults. The DS is so widespread that everybody and their grandmother has one in addition to whatever else they have, because its relatively cheap and has a broad library. I play my DS mostly for RPGs and action titles, I'm not gonna play a GTA on my DS just because its adult themed. Same thing goes for any other attempt, if they made a Dead Space on DS, a Manhunt on DS, a Godfather on DS, I wouldn't buy them. I'd buy something that looks fun. It doesn't have anything to do with whatever audience the system has even if it was/is a lot of young teens, kids grow older.
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Re: jrsmaster411 - 2009-04-19 |
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» opinion doesn't equal fact
Since when is Digitus the voice of the people, are you telling me all developers should ask you if their games fun beore releaseing it to make sure it's a success on the sales chart. Adult games can't sell on the DS is exactly what this means. If GTA, one of the best sellig series and most popular adult games, can't sell on the DS than nothing else has a chance. It's just a shame they made such a great game for a handheld where nobody wants it.
Since when is Digitus the voice of the people, are you telling me all developers should ask you if their games fun beore releaseing it to make sure it's a success on the sales chart. Adult games can't sell on the DS is exactly what this means. If GTA, one of the best sellig series and most popular adult games, can't sell on the DS than nothing else has a chance. It's just a shame they made such a great game for a handheld where nobody wants it.
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by dilstar - 2009-04-19 |
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» SHAME....
thats a shame coz yesterday i got my dsi and gta chinatown wars with it and i thought it was really good
i think its better then gta IV :)
thats a shame coz yesterday i got my dsi and gta chinatown wars with it and i thought it was really good
i think its better then gta IV :)
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by hush404 - 2009-04-19 |
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» Hmm.
I like China Town Wars. Not near as much as the PSP itterations or it's console bigger brothers, but it is a well built and fun game.
That said, I downloaded it instead of buying it.
I like China Town Wars. Not near as much as the PSP itterations or it's console bigger brothers, but it is a well built and fun game.
That said, I downloaded it instead of buying it.
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Re: STFU_Blackthorn - 2009-04-20 |
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» Which is...
Exactly why its flopped, the ds is way too easy to pirate. Games like GTA will appeal to an older audience and obviously take advantage of the fact that that can get free games.
Kids playing Mario don't have a clue about pirating and therefore the sales will be good.
Exactly why its flopped, the ds is way too easy to pirate. Games like GTA will appeal to an older audience and obviously take advantage of the fact that that can get free games.
Kids playing Mario don't have a clue about pirating and therefore the sales will be good.
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by xCraftx - 2009-04-19 |
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» Yeah...
There are 4 DS systems in my house.
I have one (which I use solely as an alarm clock)
My little brother (16) has one which sits on his desk collecting dust.
My Older Brother (21) has one which he left here when he left the house.
and...
My Mom has one, which she uses rarely to play big brain academy or whatever it is...
Moral of the story is I have a hard time taking anything created for the DS seriously, because it is just... lame compared to my psp?
There are 4 DS systems in my house.
I have one (which I use solely as an alarm clock)
My little brother (16) has one which sits on his desk collecting dust.
My Older Brother (21) has one which he left here when he left the house.
and...
My Mom has one, which she uses rarely to play big brain academy or whatever it is...
Moral of the story is I have a hard time taking anything created for the DS seriously, because it is just... lame compared to my psp?
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by Specht - 2009-04-19 |
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» Damn...
This was a good game. If you don't like it, you either first got into GTA 3 or later or just don't like the PC/PSX/DC versions.
My theory is that anyone who cared about the game most likely downloaded it. Seeing that sites like gbatemp and flashcart related forums crashed within hours of the game's release in torrent form to find out how to get the game to work.
Honestly though, I find that the higher up you look, the less PSPs you see around. Back in high school I used to see people with PSPs who bashed the DS just like you see in posts here and stuff. Now in University, everybody has a DS. Even some of the profs carry them around and play them during free periods. I think it's because of the immature feel in society that the PSP eventually gets and the DS (most popular of which is the Black Lite), with it's casual titles and nostalgic games such as Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger doesn't scream "Omfg I'm so kewwwl!!! L00k @ mah gaem!".
But really, the main reason why I play my DS more than my PSP is because if I wanted to play a watered down console game, I'd fire up my PS3 or 360 and play the real thing. When I'm on the road, I never have the time to load up VCS or Resistence: Retribution, but I do have the time for a quick mission in GTA:CC or to get further in Chrono Trigger.
This was a good game. If you don't like it, you either first got into GTA 3 or later or just don't like the PC/PSX/DC versions.
My theory is that anyone who cared about the game most likely downloaded it. Seeing that sites like gbatemp and flashcart related forums crashed within hours of the game's release in torrent form to find out how to get the game to work.
Honestly though, I find that the higher up you look, the less PSPs you see around. Back in high school I used to see people with PSPs who bashed the DS just like you see in posts here and stuff. Now in University, everybody has a DS. Even some of the profs carry them around and play them during free periods. I think it's because of the immature feel in society that the PSP eventually gets and the DS (most popular of which is the Black Lite), with it's casual titles and nostalgic games such as Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger doesn't scream "Omfg I'm so kewwwl!!! L00k @ mah gaem!".
But really, the main reason why I play my DS more than my PSP is because if I wanted to play a watered down console game, I'd fire up my PS3 or 360 and play the real thing. When I'm on the road, I never have the time to load up VCS or Resistence: Retribution, but I do have the time for a quick mission in GTA:CC or to get further in Chrono Trigger.
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by ShadeyProphet - 2009-04-19 |
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» Meh.
I think it's sad that people are huge retro gaming fans , and even huge backwards compatibility fans . and they believe Grand theft auto began at part three.
The original Gta, and part two where both very very much like china town wars with the top down view.
I honestly believe in this case, China town wars failed only because a hard core fan base couldnt identify with a soft core console, it's sad really.
I think it's sad that people are huge retro gaming fans , and even huge backwards compatibility fans . and they believe Grand theft auto began at part three.
The original Gta, and part two where both very very much like china town wars with the top down view.
I honestly believe in this case, China town wars failed only because a hard core fan base couldnt identify with a soft core console, it's sad really.
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by InTheZoneAC - 2009-04-19 |
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» this article is stupid
all ds games, like wii games, require no time to make. It's like making an old-school game and putting a ds stamp on it.
even with a small sales number, that's still $3 million it took in
and r* didn't even put much work into making it. So what if they couldn't sell 10 million, that's what gta on consoles is for.
all ds games, like wii games, require no time to make. It's like making an old-school game and putting a ds stamp on it.
even with a small sales number, that's still $3 million it took in
and r* didn't even put much work into making it. So what if they couldn't sell 10 million, that's what gta on consoles is for.
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Re: xCraftx - 2009-04-19 |
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» o_o
wasn't there an article about how chinatown wars had more code than any GTA on the psp? that doesn't sound easy...
wasn't there an article about how chinatown wars had more code than any GTA on the psp? that doesn't sound easy...
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Re: Specht - 2009-04-20 |
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» "making an old-school game and putting a ds stamp on it"
If only it really was that easy...
Yes, some developers spend no time whatsoever debugging their handheld and Wii titles. That's both PSP and DS included. But a game like GTA:CC is far from a rehashing of GTA 1 and 2 ported to the DS. This engine was developed from scratch and the game has many new features I fully expect to appear in future console titles. Just getting a game like this to work on the DS is no easy feat.
If only it really was that easy...
Yes, some developers spend no time whatsoever debugging their handheld and Wii titles. That's both PSP and DS included. But a game like GTA:CC is far from a rehashing of GTA 1 and 2 ported to the DS. This engine was developed from scratch and the game has many new features I fully expect to appear in future console titles. Just getting a game like this to work on the DS is no easy feat.
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