Microsoft Shells Out $50 Million For GTA IV Content [Slashdot]

[DP ServBot]

Ars Technica is reporting on the highly-anticipated downloadable content for GTA IV mentioned by Microsoft at last year's E3. It appears that, first off, that content is only coming to the Xbox 360. Secondly, Microsoft paid some $50 Million for the privilege. This is from a financials conference call held by Take Two, and a question about a deferred payment from Microsoft reveals the general release schedule for the content. "The first 25 [million] is for the first episodic content package that's supposed to go out and that is in March of '08. That's why it moved into current because it's in the next 12 months. The second 25 [million] will be for the second episodic, the episode, and that will be later in fiscal '08."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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[Anthony1]

Wow. That's pretty suprising that it got revealed like that. I always thought such deals required non disclosure. All in all, if this is actually true, I think it's 50 million well spent.

[chicnstu]

Wow. That's pretty suprising that it got revealed like that. I always thought such deals required non disclosure. All in all, if this is actually true, I think it's 50 million well spent.

If it's a good amount of content then it was a good decision by Microsoft.

[Buyatari]

If it's a good amount of content then it was a good decision by Microsoft.

It could be a VERY good move if GTAIV lives up to the hype, but Rockstar has failed to do this on every game made after GTAIII.

[chicnstu]

It could be a VERY good move if GTAIV lives up to the hype, but Rockstar has failed to do this on every game made after GTAIII.

I agree. I didn't enjoy VC and SA even close to as much as I enjoyed III, and I only usually play the games to drive around.

[CreamSoda]

My God, that is insane. I only hope the content is worth it in the end.

[ProgrammingAce]

Generally, quid pro quo like that is frowned upon in the industry (if not outright illegal, i've never been sure). Most "exclusive" games aren't paid dirrectly, but the manufacturer pays for the advertising. Nintendo coined the process back in the N64 era, but all three use it these days.

If you sign a contract to develop a game exclusively for our console, we'll pay for a $15,000,000 advertising campaign. That's what i assume happened in this case.

The end result is the same, microsoft pays $50,000,000 for exclusivity, but in reality they're really just paying the advertising budget. Tends to work out pretty well for both parties.

[PS2Hawk]

WOW 50 million is alot. Thanks okay I will stil get the PS3 version.

[Nintendo Gamer]

.....

[PS2Hawk]

I hope that RockStar are utilizing the PS3's Standard HDD. I am actually more excied about BlockBuster renting out blu-ray movies...lol

[AMG]

It could be a VERY good move if GTAIV lives up to the hype

I agree.