Grand Theft Auto IV for PC?

[jpd1977uk]

Will Grand Theft Auto IV be released on the PC?

Just seen the trailer and it looks great!

 

[FerociouS]

It will most likely be released on the PC about 6Months after its released on the Consoles.

 

[Tee Hee Johnson]

It will most likely be released on the PC about 6Months after its released on the Consoles.

Heard it could even be a year after the console release!

 

[Slogan]

Heard it could even be a year after the console release!

Possibly longer.

6 months after console release would be something of a success.

 

[dbmzk1]

If I remember correctly it goes something like this:

3 = 7 months
VC = 7 months
SA = 8 months

So I think 6 months is rather optimistic. It has still not even been officially announced!

 

[Darg]

To be honest as soon as they have an xbox 360 version it's a matter of simplicity to port it to windows. With the new XNA development tools for 360 it should just a matter of compiling it for Windows instead of 360.

Of course they would need to increase the options, include the higher resolution textures, increase particle counts etc.. but it really shouldn't take that long. The difficulty lies in porting from PS3 to Xbox360.

I suppose you have to add in multi-threading support to really get the benefits of PCs and there are other things you can do to make sure it's better then most console ports but 6 months is plenty for that.

 

[-iceblade^]

it will take a while, but it will come...

and it will pwn

 

[marscay]

I suppose you have to add in multi-threading support to really get the benefits of PCs

that's never going to happen, it'll be a straight port like just about everything else.

 

[steve258]

Of course they would need to increase the options, include the higher resolution textures, increase particle counts etc.. but it really shouldn't take that long. The difficulty lies in porting from PS3 to Xbox360.

So the PC version will be a ported version of the ported PS3 -> X360 :/

 

[dbmzk1]

To be honest as soon as they have an xbox 360 version it's a matter of simplicity to port it to windows. With the new XNA development tools for 360 it should just a matter of compiling it for Windows instead of 360.

Of course they would need to increase the options, include the higher resolution textures, increase particle counts etc.. but it really shouldn't take that long. The difficulty lies in porting from PS3 to Xbox360.

I suppose you have to add in multi-threading support to really get the benefits of PCs and there are other things you can do to make sure it's better then most console ports but 6 months is plenty for that.

Everything you just said it exactly why it takes 6 months+ to do this. Even more so with the size of something like GTA4. It is NOT just as simply of clicking compile then going on Windows instead of Xbox. Developers who do the bare minimum required end up with a crappy port that nobody buys, but even that is not as simple as you suggest!

Both the PS3 and 360 version are multi-threaded by the way, so you would think the PC version would be too!

You will actually see that some developers (including Lucas Arts, Criterion, EA...) are actually starting to develop on the PS3 and then porting it to the 360 and PC as it is easier that way.

So the PC version will be a ported version of the ported PS3 -> X360 :/

Yes, 360 is the lead platform - which is why it has been delayed as they have found its bloody hard to port from 360 > PS3! The PC version will be a port of the 360 version.

 

[davecarter]

I dont mind waiting a year as it will be worth it if previous installments have been anything to go by

 

[NightSt@lk3r]

I dont mind waiting a year as it will be worth it if previous installments have been anything to go by

i cant hold out, so ive decided its time to pickup a 360

 

[Darg]

I don't see why developing for the PS3 is easier. If you develop for the 360 then it should be easier to get it on 360 & PC at the start and then PS3 after a while. Instead of PS3 and then 360 & PC after a while.

 

[Frapple]

It isn't easier, it's much harder, hence the delay, the 360 version has been gold for months, but due to contracts, it wasn't allowed to be released.

If EA get Take Two, you can expect it 3 weeks after the console release...

...and not to work.

 

[L33]

With the new XNA development tools for 360 it should just a matter of compiling it for Windows instead of 360.

GTA would not have been developed using the XNA framework, and in either case it is not that simple

 

[Margaret]

I doubt it will hit PC this year, can't see it happening really.

 

[Priapus]

I just hope they do decide to put it on the PC> I love the series!

 

[dbmzk1]

I don't see why developing for the PS3 is easier. If you develop for the 360 then it should be easier to get it on 360 & PC at the start and then PS3 after a while. Instead of PS3 and then 360 & PC after a while.

Developing for the 360 by itself is easy. So is developing for the PS3 now people have the hang of it.

The thing is, porting a 360 game to the PS3 is very difficult. This is why GTA4 has been delayed, as well as a fair amount of other games too. However, porting a PS3 game to the 360 is much easier - getting it working on the PS3, port it over, then fine tune it for the platform in question is a much more simple process, due to the tools available and the hardware itself.

 

[AdamHall]

I've always thought the PC versions of GTA games (3 and beyond) have been pretty awesome. I'd say this is down to Rockstar taking time and effort to ensure the greatest transition possible.

If it takes several months before GTAIV is released on PC, I'm confident it's for a worthy reason.

 

[Darg]

dbm I'm interested in why it's easier to port from PS3 to Xbox360 rather then vice versa. To be honest I've only ever designed games on PC so I'm not experienced in the console field. Can you shed some light for me?