GTA: Chinatown Wars should be a PSP game

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an extremely fun game. The developers at Rockstar have done a mighty fine job in translating the latest iteration in the famous franchise to the Nintendo DS. However, despite the high expectations the sales have been lackluster. Rockstar may have made a mistake switching from the PSP to the DS

[Snatcher]

PSP has already plenty of GTA games. Let the DS have one :D

[Seferoth75]

Yeah... NO way.. Game wouldnt even work on PSP. It wasnt designed with a gimped control scheme in mind, not to mention all the stylus based stuff in the game couldnt be done on PSP...

Seems fanboys just need to stfu and deal with GTA having a new home. I seriously doubt Rockstar is depressed over the half a million in sales they have already.

They just made the best GTA in years and they had to move to the DS to do it, I dont see them moving back top inferior versions now.

[News4fanboys]

^^^ looks like someone needs a diper change.

[crck]

And where did you get half a million from? According to the March NPD it sold 89k units. So unless it sold 4 times as much in the pal regions then it did in the US your number is bull.

http://superblipsbros.daily...

Compared to 8 million for Liberty City Stores and 4.5 million for Vice City stories. Take Two's own numbers.

[STK026]

Not that I don't believe you, but I doubt your numbers. Over half a million? wasn't there an article on n4g about 2-3 days ago saying that the game sold under 100k as of now? Or maybe it was only NA sales?

Well, I hope it wells well because it's a really good game, but after seeing the sales on the two titles on the PSP, and the ones on the DS and taking in consideration the install base of each console (DS having over 100 milion, while the PSP had a very small one at the time), Rockstar might want to put the next one on the PSP.

But there's no doubt that chinatown wars was made for the DS and should stay there.

[SpoonyRedMage]

The PSP sales numbers are wrong because they've included PS2 sales. LCS on the PSP is the best selling game for the PSP at 2.7 million.

And that <100k figure was for NA only and in the PAL region it's doing much better, in most shops it's the number 1 or 2 best seller.

[InfectedDK]

I would have bought it for my PSP.

[SpoonyRedMage]

Why not buy it for the DS then? Same to Hellsvacancy.

Oooh, it's because the DS is evil isn't it?

[STK026]

yeah, i can see it sell well in pal regions, but 400k in PAL and 100k in NA? that sounds a bit hard to believe.

Also, anyone knows if it was released in Japan? As far as I remember, most GTA games aren't released in Japan at the same time, and are published by another publisher.

[njr]

I think what the person meant to say was that this installment of GTA should have been what GTA was like on PSP. To be honest, I would have preferred a San Andreas Stories game.

[SullyDrake]

i love bogans

[xabmol]

Maybe because they don't have a DS?

Shocking, I know... >_>

[SpoonyRedMage]

Well then my suggestion is:

Get a DS.

EDIT: It all comes down to this weird sense of entitlement people have where they think games should be put on the systems they own instead of them getting the systems for the games.

[raztad]

@sepher

You need to calm down dude, you are overreacting :D. Game is fun, that should be enough for you and few others that got it. Rockstar and Sony probably are in talks about a new interation on the PSP, I hope it come to fruition, VCS was the funnest GTA game Id ever played. GTA4, on the other hand, is just NOT fun. I think the change that KILLED GTA4 fun was the new combat system, too slow, too much gears-like, over the top action is the way to go. I'm considering to get Saints Row 2 for some open world fun fix.

BTW, there is not denying that even if sepher numbers are right, those are still way too low, considering the install base and previous iterations on the PSP. DS isnt the new GTA home.

@Spoony
I cant justify to get a DS only for a game, Ds is too kiddy for my taste. However, DQIX is coming, and GTA:CW is awesome, if more mature titles continue piling up then a DS could be a must have.

EDIT:

@Spoony below

I know the Ds got a lot of rpg, but I was talking about DQIX, that is not a regular jrpg. When I said mature you can look at the PSP library for a reference. And yes you are right, if an awesome title as GTA:CW is failing to sell I dont see a very bright future for mature games on the DS.

[SpoonyRedMage]

Well if you like JRPGs the DS is already full of them(including other DQ games). There's no shortage of Core titles.

Also it's a self-fulfilling prophecy because they surely won't make any more Mature titles once they see they don't sell well and they won't sell well because people won't get them for one mature game.

[Hydrolex]

nowdays rockstar is kinda being Sony's enemy ! or maybe the manager has changed and one stupid guy is ruling the company

[UltimateIdiot911]

I have to disagree on that. One of my favorite game is on the DS. Professor Layton.

[sinncross]

Control scheme arguments are pointless. Do you seriously think the developer is useless enough to not be able to change the control scheme for a different platform?

[Homicide]

@crck, I would like to see where you got those figures for Liberty City stories and Vice City stories. Please don't use VGChartz.

@Spoony, Sony is God in this land.

[Cheeseknight28]

And you are a blind fanboy that can't even do research. I own more Wii and DS games than 360 and PS3 combined, because at least on the Wii and DS I can find games that are almost always unique. Whereas if I'm looking at PS3 games, why bother getting Resistance 1/2 and Killzone 2 when they are practically the same game? At least Uncharted, VC, and MGS4 were worth the purchase...

[Parapraxis]

"gimped control scheme "
"GTA having a new home"
"half a million in sales"
"I dont see them moving back to inferior versions now"
LOL! oh wow.
Open Zone is thatta way kiddo. -> -> -> ->

[dragunrising]

I think everyone is jumping the gun a little bit, including the article. The NPD is not the end all of game sales. Add Europe/Middle East into the mix and you have a healthy number. Also, the game isn't out yet in Japan...the DS's home town. I guarantee there are plenty of gamers over there whom will buy this game; maybe even more so than NA and Europe combined. Also, the audience for GTA:CW is there, its just a matter of time. We are still in a recession and many people have to justify every game purchase they make. Word of mouth will make the value argument a better one. I think mainstream is scared that GTA couldn't be done on the DS...and many n4g's, judging from the comments above and below. Don't doubt this is a good game; it is. If GTA:CW came to PSP, it wouldn't be the same game, have the same charm and would have loading times (and frame rate drops). I actually play my handheld on the go and would rather play for 20 whole minutes rather than wait 2 minutes for the UMD to load (sorry, but true). Everyone that wants GTA on PSP should wait for San Andreas stories.

[Qdog]

Flow((doesnt have a genre), Flower(Doesnt have a genre), Everyday Shooter(Top-Down color and music based Shooter), Savage Moon(RTS), Blast Factor( 3-D Top down shooter with motion controls), Super Stardust HD(One of Europe's own best selling top down, weapon based shooters), Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection( HD revamp of the PSP fighter), PAIN( physics-based sand-box game),Rag-Doll Kung-Fu:Fists of Plastic(Platformer/beat-em-up with pure nods to kung-fu comedy).....There are plenty of exclusive originals on the PSN, that I did not mention. Let's talk about exclusives that use the PS3 EYE. Trials of Topoq, which is a tower-based platformer that has you shifting and lifting tiles to make the ball move through all manner of obstacles and brain-burners, towards the goal. Creature Feature, has you grabbing and relocating cute helpless creatures into the safe zone using your hands, while negotiating obstacles like lava pits, timed-released water caves, etc. Tori-Emaki, which is a fine example(rather simplistic) of art in motion, you would have to play it to understand it. These are mostly earlier games, that are PSN exclusive, meaning that all are on the PS3, and some are on PS3/PSP. There were about nine other games that I left out, but just understand that there is no shortage of creativity, ingenuity, or indie support on the Playstation Network/Platforms.

As for UMD Loading times, as of the PSP-2000 series, they have been lowered and shortened by a viable margin, in that Sony saw fit to add another 32mb to the 2000+ specifically to reduce loading times with the web-browser and in games on UMD. I have the PSP-3000 series, which has the added ram for UMD cache, and a screen with the expanded color gamut/ response time.

Why is it that when someone has a different opinion about a platform, they are immediately referred to as a fanboy?

[HolyOrangeCows]

The GTA games on PsP top nine million sold.

Considering the power and audiences, they could make a great PsP version. I don't think anyone cares about the two seconds of touch screen use of cutting car doors for drugs.

[News4fanboys]

yeah and no.

no becouse im sure the DS one is alot of fun having awesome reviews and praised by critics in all,so there was no mistake there as the game was a success in a way on that handheld.

yeah becouse the fandemographic is ALOT different with the DS then the PSP,as pspis catered more toawrds the hardcore group were DS is more toawrds the casual crowd.
So its kinda hard to expect crazy sales from the DS.

[Cheeseknight28]

I would respond with something constructive, however I cannot even read what you are trying to say.

[Hellsvacancy]

Could they not make it 4 the Psn/XBL id buy it

[n4f]

well i dont think so i like this one pretty much.it would work for psp trust me anybody that play itknow what im talking about. if you want to buy it so much well buy yourself a ds

[Baka-akaB]

Well i own both the ds and psp ..First of all i'm not even that much of a gta fan anyway

And i just "couldnt go back" in graphics .It might be suicidal to say here , but quite frankly why would i play it on DS when i had a superior version elsewhere , even on psp ?

Besides the different controls , which parts of the game werent possible on Psp ? Ok it's bigger than past psp versions , well i'm sure any new psp gta would be bigger in size as well , as usual every new gta .

It's a shallow reason but as good as any .. if you're not a fanatic of the franchise and could play a better looking version why would you go play chinatown ?
Wich is probably what many people , for good or bad reasons think .

Anywya i'm not worried about the game , rockstar is probably disappointed unlike what many says , since their income is mostly gta , but it's still selling well , and on the long haul will attain one or two millions .

[dragunrising]

Neither of the psp GTA's are great looking games. The psp remember is a portable ps2. Now that we're used to playing PS3 (and 360) games, graphics of a hand held don't look so hot. They don't wow me in any way. With that said, creating a unique look for a game, with good interface and spot on controls are what make any hand held game worth while. GTACW is not a quick cash in and couldn't be done on the PSP because of the interface/controls. The visuals are top down 3D (like GTA 1 & 2) however the game looks great, runs at a smooth frame rate and never has any loading. I could go on and on about the PSP and loading times...main reason I sold mine. If it takes 2 minutes from power on to get into a game, the portability factor of a handheld is null. Therefore this vesion is excellent if you actually use your handheld for gaming on the go. I've had much more fun with this game than GTAIV.

[Baka-akaB]

Uh they still looks better period .

Again from a superficial looks that's all that will matter .
GTA has never been the most impressive graphic powerhouse , however it's not tetris . it"s graphics and design are still part of the mood's and appeal .

If someone just glance at the DS gta and say oh well it's just better elsewhere , what can you say ? His loss sure , but he isnt necessarily wrong . Mostly people passionate enough would go the extra mile and wonder if the clear downgrade in graphics , is mitigated or overcome by other stuff .

In my case , i tried it a bit , it's cool ... I just dont care enough .. nor did i with the psp version mind you .

[Qdog]

So your telling me, that a third-person fully three-dimensional open-ended sandbox game on a portable platform isnt impressive? Sorry, but what Rockstar did with GTA on the PSP graphically is amazing. I dont compare a portable platform with a home-console, because the resources are different, as much as the engines themselves are. Honestly though Chains of Olympus wowed me more with its dynamic realtime shading, but that is not to say that the PSP GTAs werent very impressive graphically. Come on, give credit where credit is due.

[dragunrising]

Baka- perhaps I appreciate games for more than polygons. No wonder I'm one of the few people that purchased a niche game such as Okami. Graphics don't matter to me so much as the game play. A good looking game doesn't equal good game. The appeal of GTA in 3D is obvious. GTA 3 was a run away success and hence why Liberty Stories and Vice remakes were successful.

Q-dog- I give the PSP plenty of credit. The size and scope of the games are great. Its fun...if you haven't played the originals. Yet, I will never agree that GTA on PSP looks good or plays as well as the PS2 counterparts. GTA CW on the other hand is arguably better than GTA4. It isn't a simple remake but an evolution of GTA in general. Also, I strongly dislike loading times. Both GTA's on the PSP took too long to load and play. I will not buy a handheld game that I can't start up and play in less than a minute. Otherwise, why buy a handheld? Many (not all) PSP games are big offenders. Gems such as Chains of Olympus however not only look great but have minimal loading times.

[Baka-akaB]

Oh come on , i'm no longer even on GTA ds there , but i'm tired of that kind of crap ...
Just for the record i bought Okami too mind you and its graphics mattered a huge deal ...
There are various ways to shine in graphics besides the power of a 3d engine . Okami was beautiful period .

But anyway i'm tired of that "graphics isnt everything" rebuttal .
It's not EITHER graphics OR gameplay . For starters power does help make better gameplay , such as a city bigger or with more contents and better AI than say the older 2d gta on PSX . GTA Ds wouldnt be like that neither if power didnt matter , but probably closer to gta 1 or 2 .

Anyway the point is being a graphics powerhouse is never an antithesis to gameplay , it's a sometimes true , but far too abused and convenient excuse for cheap game to justify their existence .
Is Yakuza 3's gameplay crap ? Was Killzone 2 , halo 1.. 2 ...3 , call of duty , final fantasy or anything of late mostly hyped for it's graphics crap to play ? No they were very well done in their own genre , weither we like them or not .

I've yet to see major proofs of some axiom that ugly = better gameplay , just like there is no pretty = better one either ...

[SpoonyRedMage]

The DS isn't too shabby in the 3D department.

EDIT: Just thought I'd add it and it's a shameless plug for one of my favourite games.

[Qdog]

I thought Okami was gorgeous, with a solid story, and characters that I could care about. I respect your opinion, but your arguments about load times has been nullified since UMD cache became available with the Slim(PSP-2000) series. Two minutes, turned into 15-30 seconds, I am playing GTA VCS on PSP right now, for the sake of argument and it only loads between cities, and certain missions, just like it's console counterpart. Loading times are relative to the difference in size between the 8 gigabit DS cartidges and the 1.8 gigabyte UMDs...There is a huge difference in size, as the UMD is way larger in storage capacity. As far as graphically, it is very impressive, every NPC in the game has an individual quality, in regards to the artistic direction, the cut-scenes are in-game engine, so that tells me that Rockstar felt confident enough to use in-game shots close up, and the details dont get shabby close-up. If artistic direction alone is your bag, then I have trouble understanding why you arent playing everyday shooter, echochrome, Super Stardust Portable, or Phantasy Star Portable for the PSP. I have included shots from a first generation PSP game(Dead to Rights: Reckoning), Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, and an up-scaled God of War:Chains of Olympus picture, from IGN, for your enjoyment and scrutiny. As you can see, the PSP has never suffered when it comes to 3-D graphics, on a portable platform, and yes those are reflections on the car in the GTA:VCS shot. No stylus vs. The defacto portable 3D standard.... I enjoyed Okami all the way through on PS2 as well as the Wii.

[n4gn4gn4gn4g]

R* is bringing a fuller GTA to PSP @ E3...It is one of 3 PS exclusives in the pipeline...Just wait.

[Milky Joe]

I think they were being pretty brave developing a GTA game for the DS (home of baby simulators and Sudoku) when they've already seen great success on PSP.

I applaud the fact that they did something different, just like GTA IV, I just don't think it payed off for them.

[Gun_Senshi]

GTA on Nintendo Consoles = phail

[Baka-akaB]

How so ? did it cost them money ? they are just earning less than they dreamt .

Of course they were right to try a gta on the most popular console , hoping it could generate sales equals or bigger to psp versions .
It just didnt worked as planned , but still do

[QQcrybaby]

Lot's of people seem confused and don't understand why this game actually cost R* a ton of money. There is a concept called opportunity cost. By making CTW, R* passed up on the opportunity to make a GTA game for another console or the PSP that potentially (and probably) would have sold more units. Hence the opportunity cost.

Also, I hear people often speak of how DS games take a long time to reach 1 million units sold. Well that's fine, but time is money. 1 million units sold during the first few months is much more profitable than one million units sold over the course of a year or two. Why? Because of the time value of money (going to have to look that concept up if you haven't heard of it).

Anyway you look at it CTW wasn't a good idea for R*. I own CTW and think it's a decent game btw.

[vox]

i don't like gta iv or the psp editions , i actually like CTW because it's fun
if you think the ds lacks core titles you're smoking plastic

[Ninjamonkey]

I was thinking about getting this game for the DS but whilst it looks good, I much rather the proper 3D view on the psp versions.

I dont get it, buissness wise it was a horrible decision based on the average age of DS users. And it sounded like they carried over loads of ideas from GTA4 which would have been really nice on the psp.

Hopefully theyve got a psp GTA in the works. The psp ones were brilliant.

[Baka-akaB]

Again it will only be a bad decision if they ends up loosing money . Wich by accounts of worldwide sales is unlikely

[raztad]

@Ninja

Im sure Nintendo did a good job promoting the DS as a platform with widespread userbase :D, appealing from little kids to mature guys. As you said it was a bad business decision, but it's pretty nice that DS owners can enjoy this kind of mature titles.

Now Rockstar, move your a$$ on, and bring a new GTA to the PSP, and please make it similar to VCS, fun, over the top. Trash the gears-like combat or fine tune it to be faster and enjoyable.

[BlackIceJoe]

There are rumors that there will be another GTA on PSP. If so I hope the next GTA on the PSP will use the look and feel of Chinatown Wars. I really enjoyed the new look and I would love to play another game that uses these colors.

I think it is sad GTA on the DS did not sell that well. I really like the game. I may get some hate on this but that is ok but I even liked it more then GTAIV on the 360 and PS3. It may not be as big or as long but I just really enjoy the style. Because it reminded me of the old school gaming days.

Even though the game did not sell well I am happy to see R* take a chance. Because if they never did I would never have been able to play Chinatown Wars.

So would I have liked to have seen Chinatown Wars on the PSP no because it would be a different game. But I would love to see a new PSP GTA soon though and I really think R* will say they are working on one soon. May be even at E3.

[Cajun Chicken]

Jeez, its fully understandable that this version was built with the DS in mind, it wouldn't work on PSP and even if it was somehow worked out without the touchscreen, people would complain about the fact that it wasn't 3D.
This game is doing the job if you ask me, except for Point Blank DS, this is another great reason for me for deeply consider getting a DS, right now its just cost and I don't see the point of getting a DSi, so I'll wait until I see a cheap 'DS Phat'. I'm sure a lot of other people are in the same state.

Still, I ask. Where the heck is my PSN version of the classic GTA2? I want that on my PSP and I want it now.

[Hisiru]

lol, stop posting this kind of crap in this very good website PLEASE. The gta chinatown wars is a great game and only works on the DS. Is not selling good? for all of you, because the Take-Two already said "this game will sell good with the time", THERE IS NO WAY to put chinatown wars in the psp, because dont will have the touch screen with the PDA, GPS, etc and etc. In the psp will be only a game with new style without differencial in the gameplay and a lot of things that made the game interactive, fun and intuitive.

buy a DS and GTA, if you think that sales are not high, or give time to this game.

[C_Dub]

And I will buy it. As much as I'd like to play it, I'm not going out of my way and buying a DS for it.

[Vicophine]

This game will have no legs now =/

[Kain81]

the reason that GTA:CTW sold less than expected is the R4.

[Baka-akaB]

BS ....

R6 , R4 wahtever , piracy was always easy and rampant on DS . It didnt magically appears just for GTA .

[Hisiru]

unfortunately, have some other flashcards in the market, R4 is a crap now, and makes the DS break now, in the world have more than 20 charts differtents from R4

i wish that the piracy go to hell

[panasonic23]

GTA China wars is only possible on DS.

[cryymoar]

lol try hot wiring a car on the PSP, you'll be touching the screen indefinitely.

[Da One]

Uh the psp verion of GTA:LCS sold over 5 mil and the PS2 version did over 3............GTA:VCS over 3 and the PS2 version under a million(around 800k)

Those numbers for PSP version aren't combined with the PS2 cause if they were it would be around 14 million

also GTA:LCS at 2.7 would make Monster Hunter 2G the best selling psp game...........

Also anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, THX

----EDIT----

I used vgchartz if your wondering were i got those numbers, so TAKE THEM WITH A GRAIN OF SALT

[SpoonyRedMage]

You may be right, I was using the sourced found via Wikipedia which said 2.7 Mil(however they are a year old). And for Monster Huner it has 2.68 Mil or some such.

I don't who would be less reliable to be honest.

[Da One]

Monster Hunter Freedom 2G at 3+ million
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is at 2.68

[Snatcher]

Bubbles up. I can see my Homies(PS3 fanboys), bubbled you down. I will have a word with them.

[peeps]

it's pretty simple.

gta sold well on psp because it appealed more to of the psp fanbase

it's sold badly on the ds (despite still being a good game) because it doesn't appeal to the ds fanbase

[MasterOne]

Nuff said...

[CDbiggen]

Why all the hate for the DS? It's full of core games and it doesn't deserve the hate it's getting . OMG its graphics suck and it has loads of kiddie games = phail. I'm not saying PSP is crap, its just that i think the DS has a lot going for it. GTA:CW is a great game and makes full use of the DSs potential. Enough with the stats already, who cares? And Spoony, just give up.

[Iceman100]

Because they already made 2 inferior version on the psp, and it's days are numbered.

[lizard81288]

just get this game for the PC then? if you don't have a DS, but everybody should atleast have a PC. yes, gameSMS has this for the PC.

anyways i think the GTA series sucks. i just don't like it, not my cup of tea.

[soren]

um stfu lol geting all upset becouse psp is yet to get a exsclusive gta lol i can care less about gta but we all no gta on psp r just dumbed down verstions of the ps2 games if there were to make a new psp gta it wud most likely be dumbed down verstion of 4 lol ang change the citys name/ps why are they makeing a dumbed down verstion of little big planet? if the game wasent already full of glitchs just imagin the amount now lol

[Mr_Potato_]

It would have sold ten times more on PSP, so yeah, that was a blunder to put it on DS. It flopped so hard in sales (40k sold worldwide until now).

I think this failure makes it sure we'll see GTA back as an exclusive on PSP (and maybe GTA5 exclusive to PS3 too, since there are too many things like disk space and lack of CPU power limiting the franchise on the 360, but it's still too early to know).

[fatstarr]

when u consider that 1/3 of the owners of ds are over 17
and then consider that r4 is dominant on the ds. i have ten friends with ds's at univ. and we all have the game. but guess how many actually bought it.

but i think that around xmas. this game should hit 500,000. and thats good for uncharted terratory and a M game on a system. if they coulda got it to t rating by removing like 30 curse words and like 1 scene. could be a million seller. we should all go to gamestop and buy it for minors =].

and last i checked it was 88k or something world wide or north america.

did research Rockstar Games 0.34m = 340k world wide in less than a month

not to mention it didnt hit japan. but even there you could get 100k in sales just because pppl need a game to play. the should release it there.

[starvinbull]

It seems developers are hesitant to look too cozy to Sony this time round. Nintendo are deemed neutral to the extent that even M$ owned Rare have released games for Nintendo consoles.
Rockstar will likely not release a single game for the PS3 that will not go to the 360 this generation, the status of GTA5 will either prove or disprove me on that point.
Square have been very cozy with M$ despite the fact that every single game released for the 360 by them would have sold significantly better on the PS3.
Rockstar have made their fortune on the back of Sony consoles yet with sales of plus 10m for PSP games Rockstar have hedged their bets. They have made little effort for Sony consoles so far yet were prepared to create from scratch a new entry into the GTA franchise for a games console that is most famous for a puppy petting simulator and a brain "training" tool.
I'm not saying that Rockstar should never make a game for a Nintendo console, I'm just saying that if they do they aren't doing it for their customers.
It seems there has been a shift in policy for this generation of consoles. Rockstar made GTA3, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas for the xbox yet all three (inferior versions on PS2) sold massively more (several times more) on the PS2.
Perhaps Rockstar just are a multiplatform developer and are happy working like that regardless of loyalties or sentiment but making M rated games for PG12 consoles just doesn't make sense unless you are hoping to take your fans with you. Did Rockstar hope to shift mobile GTA games to the cheaper to develop for DS?

36m+ sales on Sony consoles.

7.8m+ sales on M$ consoles. 2 episodes GTAIV eclusive DLC.

1m< sales on Nintendo consoles.