Fri, Apr 18, 2008 | 09:32 BST
Microsoft is preparing Halo 3-sized marketing campaign for GTA IV
Microsoft Europe is preparing a giant marketing push for GTA IV, the company confirmed this morning, with a spend on a par to Halo 3′s advertising budget last year.
“We can’t wait for the game on Xbox 360, and with recent reports stating consumers should go for the 360 version over the PS3 and talk of the GTA launch being ‘the biggest entertainment launch of all time’, we’re complimenting it with a launch campaign along the same lines as Halo 3 last year,” Steve McGill, head of gaming and entertainment, Xbox UK said in a statement.
“Microsoft sees GTA IV as a fantastic title to showcase how great Xbox 360 is, what with it’s amazing graphics and gaming experience, coupled with playing with your friends on Xbox Live, Achievements and of course the exclusive extra episodic content for GTA IV that will be downloadable this autumn and will only be available on Xbox 360.”
Media overload starts this Friday this week so batten down the hatches, close the curtains and lock the front door – the MS hype train is coming to an orifice near you.
By Mike Bowden
31 
Posted in: Action, Microsoft, Retail, Rockstar, Trade, Xbox 360
Tags: grand theft auto iv, gta, gta iv, steve mcgill
31 comments
#1
Chinster
17/04/08, 2:56 pm
GTFUCKINARRRGGHHHH!
#2
Blerk
17/04/08, 3:02 pm
“We can’t wait for the game on Xbox 360, and with recent reports stating consumers should go for the 360 version over the PS3″
What? What reports? The ones that *you* did, you mean?
#3
Chinster
17/04/08, 3:03 pm
/STAMPS ON KITTEN
#4
patlike
17/04/08, 3:05 pm
heh
#5
Blerk
17/04/08, 3:06 pm
Can you stamp on kittens in GTA4?
#6
morriss
17/04/08, 3:08 pm
“All those reports” indeed!
#7
Blerk
17/04/08, 3:09 pm
They seem to be taking a leaf out of Sony’s “say it enough times and it must be true” rule-book.
#8
Tonka
17/04/08, 3:11 pm
Weel, the Xbox IS GTAs new home and all.
#9
Chinster
17/04/08, 3:13 pm
Welcome to GTAIV247
This is the motherfucking news.
#10
patlike
17/04/08, 3:14 pm
Shall I write some more GTA IV news? Morriss, you got any GTA IV news?
#11
Blerk
17/04/08, 3:14 pm
Did you all see the Saints Row 2 trailer that just got released? It’s laughably bad.
http://www.gamersyde.com/stream_6872_en.html
#12
Chinster
17/04/08, 3:15 pm
Infamy, infamy! They’ve all got it infamy!
#13
patlike
17/04/08, 3:16 pm
blerk: I couldn’t bring myself to write about it. I might do it later.
#14
patlike
17/04/08, 3:17 pm
chin: Best thing ever
#15
Blerk
17/04/08, 3:18 pm
Make morriss write about it, Pat! That’s what underlings are for.
#16
patlike
17/04/08, 3:19 pm
I’m not that cruel!
#17
Chinster
17/04/08, 3:20 pm
Blerk the running animations in that Saints Row 2 trailer are hilarious. The trailer is funny for all the wrong reasons, but I do love the sound affect when the guy runs up and ‘shocks’ the lady by the side of the road.
#18
Chinster
17/04/08, 3:21 pm
pat: Dare you to change the logo and tagline, just for launch day!
#19
patlike
17/04/08, 3:24 pm
haha
I’d be shamed forever. But yeah, maybe
#20
morriss
17/04/08, 4:05 pm
I’ll dig out some more GTA IV tit-bits for all.
In the meantime, just for Blerk, I’ll do the Saints Row 2 video thingamajig.
/is a happy underling!
#21
Blerk
17/04/08, 4:33 pm
Seems that PS3 GTA4 bundle is real, btw. Although Sony managed to spoil it for themselves by not bundling it for “free”:
http://www.game.co.uk/PS3/Hardware/HardwareBundle/~r334572/Sony-PlayStation%20-3-with-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV/
#22
morriss
17/04/08, 5:27 pm
Saw that yesterday whilst doing the Retailer story. Didn’t realise there was a doubt as to it being real or not.
#23
Psychotext
17/04/08, 6:12 pm
The only doubt that there was to the bundle was if it was going to release with the game. Amazed Sony haven’t announced it yet, but maybe they have an ad campaign ready to go.
#24
XDamage
18/04/08, 12:13 am
Rockstar Social Club has opened.
https://socialclub.rockstargames.com/
#25
Zumi
18/04/08, 12:36 am
It’s really bizarre that Microsoft are spending all this money on promoting a multiformat game. Seems they’re trying to steal it for the 360, it’s ever so slightly pathetic. Makes me want to buy it on the PS3 just to piss in their cornflakes.
#26
Psychotext
18/04/08, 1:30 am
Zumi: You’re a little odd. :p
MS basically have to advertise the hell out of it because people naturally associate it with the Playstation.
#27
Zumi
18/04/08, 1:33 am
Yeah I know, but it just seems a little scummy. I watch the adverts and I’m thinking “hey, it’s on PS3 too, you cunts! stop trying to trick people!” Sony did a similar thing with Burnout Paradise, and I hope this isn’t a trend that’ll continue. All machines should get credit.
#28
XDamage
18/04/08, 1:47 am
They try to get people to connect GTA with the 360 in our collective minds… good luck with that.
Then MS would basically have to erase the great memories
I have of when I got a PS2 and GTA III for Christmas 2001, or maybe a good old brainwashing would do it.
#29
Psychotext
18/04/08, 2:32 am
…and some of us previously played the real versions on the PC. :p
#30
Zumi
18/04/08, 3:05 am
Pfft.. PC versions sucked. I could never get to grips with the free aiming, when I could just close my eyes and autolock on the PS2.
#31
Psychotext
18/04/08, 3:13 am
Sounds like the problem lies between the chair and the keyboard.