Grand Theft Social Network?
Here’s a small sign of larger changes in the game industry: I got word today from Rockstar Games that April’s Grand Theft Auto 4, the latest installment in their huge (if controversial) thugs-in-the-sandbox franchise, will launch with a “Social Club” (open April 15), a site where gamers can track their game scores and achievements against other players.
Anyone with an Xbox Gamertag or PlayStation Network ID can sign up, which means the site will incorporate data from both Xbox 360 and Sony PS3 players; most interestingly, it’ll come with an “LCPD Police Blotter,” which will dynamically display “aggregated data of millions of connected players — showing the most dangerous areas of town, most commonly used weapons and more.”
The announcement and branding hints at more functionality down the road — perhaps a full-fledged social network, or even early preparation for a GTA-based MMO, a spinoff that’s long been rumored but never confirmed. In any case, it leverages the web and aggregated player data in a way we don’t often see with hardcore games, especially cross-platform console titles. And since GTA is the big daddy of console franchises, expect others to follow.
Image credit: www.rockstargames.com/socialclub
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With regard to the multiplayer version — at the bottom of the official page at http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/ there’s a multiplayer link… when you float over it you see “coming soon”. I’d say it’s definitely in the works.
Very interesting…I would like to get your Communities thought on a new financial social network that we just launched that pays it users/members for consuming content.
Below is a short video
http://my.wallst.net/referral/AlbertAimers/JoinForm
Hey Albert, here’s my thought: try to stay on topic! Spam sucks.
As to the Rockstar Social Club / MMO, this is the big innovation in GTA IV. I admit that having pre-ordered the game, I’m kind of an interested party… but I reckon that this will make GTA the trend setter yet again. The idea of being able to play against friends in Rome, Spain, the UK etc on the PlayStation Network is really exciting.
If they can get this implemented well, it could be a huge draw. Rockstar has a steady history of some amazing implementations, so I’m computing that they’ll get it right, or update until they can.
See you in that virtual parlor. Drinks are on my avatar.
“Hey Albert, here’s my thought: try to stay on topic! Spam sucks.”
that cracked me up, nice work tom!
Its not really that big of a deal..Most big games nowadays have some sort of social element…
why don’t u remake all the gta games over again just like gta 4