пятница, 2 марта 2012 г.

GTA 5 listed for Nov. 23, 2012 release on UK retail site

Popular UK retail website, Zavvi, has listed Grand Theft Auto 5 with a November 23, 2012 release date for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

November 23rd is the traditional day for new releases in the UK and, given the recent actions and statements from Rockstar Games, does make logical sense.

GTA 5 previously held a July 2012 release window on Zavvi, but with the delay of Max Payne 3 into mid-May and Rockstar recently saying it will be talking more of Grand Theft Auto 5 in the "coming months", a November release is looking more likely.

In fact, as I previously wrote, a November release for GTA 5 would make a pretty potent game lineup for Rockstar. With Max Payne 3 releasing in May, it could set Rockstar up for a huge announcement on or around E3 June, followed by the game's blockbuster release dead in the middle of the industry's prime time release window.

Of course, if the November release is an accurate estimate, it means GTA 5 would be releasing in the same time frame as a little series called Call of Duty, which usually releases in mid-to-late November. It was recently leaked that Black Ops 2 would be this year's Call of Duty title. But despite the success of the Call of Duty franchise, some believe Grand Theft Auto 5 will having nothing to worry about. Back in January, EEDAR's Jesse Divnich predicted "GTA V will be huge" and possibly be 2012's "biggest release".

During Take-Two's Q3 2012 earnings call, the company confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 5 was "making great progress" in development. If what Rockstar said is true, then we should be hearing more about the highly anticipated sandbox game soon - or at least in the "coming months".

Of course, Zavvi could just be taking a stab in the dark with their release date and it could just be an estimate. While I don't think November 23rd is the exact date, I do think the November time frame will be when GTA 5 launches.

четверг, 1 марта 2012 г.

'GTA TV' And 'Rockstar TV' Trademarked By Take-Two

Grand Theft Auto video series set to accompany GTA 5?

GTA 5 could be accompanied by some sort of GTA-themed TV programming if recent tademark registrations are anything to go by.

Rockstar parent Take-Two publishing registered trademarks for 'GTA TV' and 'Rockstar TV' in the US earlier this month - both fall under the description: "Computer game programs and software; animated motion picture films featuring entertainment, namely, action, adventure, dramatic, comedic, children's and documentary themes; pre-recorded video discs and other pre-recorded digital and electronic media in the field of live action programs, motion pictures, or animation featuring entertainment, namely, action, adventure, dramatic, comedic, children's and documentary themes."

It wouldn't be the first game to feature a trans-media tie-in with such IPs as Dragon-Age and Assassin's Creed releasing games propped up by promo web series' in recent years.

Is Rockstar planning to ramp up the video for its key IP, or is this a case of simple tactical trademarking?