well, it`s not that free, you must buy x360 for that.

GTA fans will buy GTA4 in first 4-6 weeks.
while casual gamers which haven`t bought ps3/x360 yet easy can go for ps3, because of BRAND.

GTA4 x360 version will outsell ps3 version in usa, but sell hardware probably more on ps3. =)

@ Crazzyman

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you also have to buy a PS3 to play GTA IV also, right?

@madskillz,

yes of`course. There is almost NOTHING free in this world.
even to use FREE PSN, you need to buy ps3 first. =)

This would be a very good move on the part of Microsoft, and more to the point could be a radiological disaster for Sony. Most especially if Microsoft gets around to producing a price cut to coincide with the launch, or providing a more competent selection of pack ins with their console. Looks like this game could be the flash point they are going to build this years campaign around. Especially if the rumor is true that Too Human will follow a week later. The 360 could end up looking like a incredible machine if they give Grand Theft Auto an ensemble cast at about the time of its launch.

The debate is an old debate which console will consumers buy for this game if this game is what motivates them to jump into the current generation. Honestly up until this point Microsoft has made a pretty strong value based argument. Their console is fifty dollars cheaper, and it comes with two games packed in on top of that. So when your average consumer compares the products its easy to see how one seems like a far greater value.

Think of it like this for just over four hundred dollars you can get a 360 with Grand Theft Auto with the free content, and two other games. You can get a PS3 with Grand Theft Auto with no free content, no free games, and one free movie. For over four hundred and fifty dollars. Factor in sales tax of a mere 5% and it boils down to this. Thats being extremely low mind you, and most sales taxes are probably higher. My local sales tax is 7.5 percent.

360+game= $430
PS3+game= $483

That is a difference of over fifty dollars. With the 360 giving away three more game related items with the purchase. So the consumer walks away with three games plus free content when they purchase a 360, or they walk away with just the base game with the PS3.

Obviously I suspect that if Microsoft is going to make this game a flash point for their console they are probably going to choose this time to make it that much harder for consumers to justify picking up a PS3. They can either provide two better games packed in, or they could once again offer a price cut. The result would be in a side by side comparison the PS3 looking extremely overpriced while the 360 would seem to be a great value.

Wouldn't casuals just buy the cheaper console to play GTA IV?

>Wouldn't casuals just buy the cheaper console to play GTA IV?

But the thing is. Casual gamers don't buy a console to play 1 game.

Unless it's bundled in like Wiisport.

and for that matter, GTAIV isn't a casual gamer's dream game to say the least.

I also believe casual prefer Nintendo/Sony brandname over MS

@Dodece, PLAYSTATION BRAND worth more then 50$.

People try to get cheape things, but when the difference like 50-100$ fot a phone, tv pr pther stuff cotsing over 300$ they ussually chose BRAND.

GTA - is game which appeal to hardcore and casual gamers, that`s why it sold over 10 mln.

p.s. why casual consumer should ignore blu-ray player feauture in ps3 just for 50$? =)

Crazzy - and games matter more than the brand.

I can only imagine the Gamestop, Wal-Mart and 50 other stores having those huge stand-up displays saying "pre-order the Xbox 360 version and get FREE content" and have in smaller letters "offer not available for Playstation 3 version".

This will KILL GTAIV on PS3 in the US. Will alot of PS3 owners buy GTAIV? Sure. But the rate of those that buy a PS3 for GTAIV is much less.

Crazzy - many will ignore the uselessness that is Blu-Ray for a better game. The PS3 is getting butchered with many games getting delayed, some might rather prefer the definitive game as opposed to the inferior game - regardless of the Blu-Ray or Cell.

for several side missions? =))
who know, time will show. =)

but, that GTA4 probably will sell 2:1 in first month IN USA, is pretty expectable.

still i believe, that GTA4 will move more PS3 HW then x360. =]

p.s. yeah, Halo3 is best fps game eva! =))