DS Daily: How about GTA, then?
by Phil Larsen 
{ Jul 16th 2008 at 8:00AM }
Nintendo themselves would be the first to praise DS populairty with children and kindly elderly folk -- the polar opposite target markets for anything related to Grand Theft Auto. However, Cammie smiled that big smile of hers on stage at E3, spoke about Animal Crossing, Pokemon and Wii Music -- then casually slipped in the announcement of GTA: Chinatown Wars.Does the DS have a place for GTA? Or, more accurately, should the DS have a place for GTA? With such a family-friendly system, are you at all surprised that Nintendo has opted to include such adult material?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Demotruk @ Jul 16th 2008 8:26AM
I don't see how this is an issue at all. If there's any concern, it should be about wether the rating system will keep kids from playing it or not. But as to wether the DS 'should' have GTA, it's no different to wether PS2 should have GTA. Both are played by kids and adults alike.
TheIlluminatic @ Jul 16th 2008 3:19PM
A little surprised, yes. It is the responsibility of the parent to regulate what their children play, and the responsibility of stores to not sell games to people to young to legally buy them, so I have no problems with what games are released for any system.
Kiltman67 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:53AM
I'm surprised, but glad. The whole thing for the DS seems to be that Nintendo have managed to put a handheld (in a way the most kiddy-like of gaming) into the hands of adults. Makes sense to actually supply some adult games.
Just because you're an adult doesn't mean all you want to do is brain training and cooking.
Nigeria: SSBB: 0731-6347-2110 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:15AM
WHAT'S NEXT NINTENDO? HEROIN TRAINING?
No, really, to be honest it doesn't bother me. But I probably won't be getting this game as I've already had my dose of GTA on the XBOX1. GTA4 really wasn't that interesting to me.
aj @ Jul 16th 2008 9:38AM
As an adult, I'm quite happy to see "adult" content on the DS. Sometimes I want to take a break from cute platformers and anime epics and want to club people in the head with a shovel. Now I can do that with my DS!
I actually do hope that the DS is taken more seriously, and has a place for every sort of gamer. Anime nerds to casual gamers to young children alike.
toneynola22 @ Jul 16th 2008 9:50AM
touch of the dead, Ultimate Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil Deadly Silence and Dementium: The Ward were all "M" rated and sold well and didn't bring down the DS. Get over it and be happy we are getting GTA or more over mature game on a nintendo platform and better yet on the DS
s.mario @ Jul 16th 2008 9:51AM
when San Andreas came out with the "Hot Coffee" contraversy, Nintendo, in a press conference, stated that GTA would never "be allowed" to appear on a Nintendo console...guess 10 bazillion dollars changed their mind...
spyker @ Jul 16th 2008 10:00AM
Well I'm happy. I liked the GBA GTA and hopefully this won't be crappy and watered down to a T rating or something :\.
Ray @ Jul 16th 2008 10:01AM
Hmm...
The question is, will it be top down like the first few GTA's?
Pie Pants @ Jul 16th 2008 11:59PM
I hope so. GTA1 and GTA2 were probably my favourite games in the series. Especially when multiplayer was thrown in!
Kimiko @ Jul 16th 2008 11:02AM
Meh. I don't care about GTA or that sort of 'be nasty and mean to everyone' games.
As for Nintendo proudly showing it off, well, that goes to show that they care more about money than their image.
Gonzo @ Jul 22nd 2008 3:15PM
This is probably the only GTA I can't get excited over. Not after seeing Burnout and Resident Evil on the DS.
If it was the wii, that could be amazing: driveby with the wiimote would be the best.
I'll still keep my fingers crossed but I just can't be too optimistic.
Zealot @ Jul 16th 2008 1:05PM
Mature games on a Nintendo console have never been an issue with me. If their policy was stringent, I would have never been able to play a game like No More Heroes, nor would I have the chance to play an upcoming game like Moon should it get an M rating. I have zero interest in GTA, but I still welcome it to the DS. My only problem is that I see this as somewhat of a misguided tactic on Nintendo's part if they're using it as a flagship title to get the stereotypical GTA fan (only plays violent games, hyper-masculine, et cetera) to accept the DS in hopes that they can shove loads of training games upon them like they've done with other newly-targeted non-traditional demographics. Odds are this is going to move many systems but few games beyond the initial purchase of GTA, as those who do, in reality, fit the stereotype will find little else in line with their interests on the system.
bones3d @ Jul 16th 2008 2:36PM
Not sure what the fuss is about. There's so many great non-M rated titled on the system, how many kids are really gonna go out of their way to find a copy to play. It's unlikely this is going to be one of those "download play" titles and I doubt anyone who has it will simply hand over a postage-stamp sized game card to someone else on the off chance it might "disappear".
Besides, has their even been any truly "good" M-rated titles here in the U.S.? It's kind of hard to create a quality and engaging M-rated gaming experience within the confines of the DS without it being a novelty. (Ooh... touch the girl in her naughty places to briefly embarrass her, slash across the same zombie's chest with the stylus over and over to reveal the same exact animation before moving on to the next identical zombie, etc...)
Of course there's always the 2D route, but really... outside of Mortal Kombat or Custer's Revenge, what's really left... looking really close at still images of nasty stuff?
I'd really love to see GTA on the DS actually break this pattern of sub-par M-rated gaming experiences, but until I see otherwise, my expectations are going to remain understandably low for now.
Kieran @ Jul 16th 2008 4:44PM
Have to echo what others have posted already, having a mature title on the DS is only an issue for parents - if their kids are playing 'inappropriate' games it's something for them to sort out, not the games companies.
That said, I'm really looking forwards to this. I only hope that it isn't rushed through for it's current estimated release date - presumably the only reason there are no screens to show at E3 and hardly any details are due to it not being ready yet - in which case 6 months seems a pretty quick turnaround. Might be wrong though, I guess they could be trying to build a bit of hype?
NetOperator Wibby @ Jul 16th 2008 8:45PM
i for one have been waiting for GTA on the DS since i played the GBA version. im the only one i know that still enjoys playing GTAII [y'know, the one with the top-down perspective]. i welcome this with open arms. i know Rockstar will do a great job with this. i already signed up for GTA updates! [starts dancing].
citizen @ Jul 17th 2008 2:02AM
'Bout freakin time. :)
This is great news. The real question for me is will this game live up to the same standards, or perhaps new/different standards, that we've come to expect from Rockstar on mobile platforms (PSP) in recent years.
While I have my problems with LCS and VCS they each provide the general GTA experience on a mobile platform... will the DS version be comparable to those on the PSP? I would hope so, and I'd hope it would really exploit the features of the DS to work in its favor.
The name of the title is a bit bothersome, however. "Chinatown Wars" somehow implies to me that it will be a limited game in a limited area. If the overall map is somehow compromised I'd be really unhappy with the game, especially if its limited to one neighborhood. So much of GTA is exploring the maps and finding new areas that if we were limited to one neighborhood we'd essentially be talking about a different game. GTAIV's Chinatown is like 4 square blocks. :|
The thought of an Asian protagonist is cool, however. :)
As for M gaming on the DS.... In recent years I think its been clear Nintendo is willing to make steps into attracting people of all ages and interests to its platforms and this is no different. I wouldn't class this as an "adult" game as much as I'd class it as a vulgar game/franchise. And as we all know plenty of kids play GTA games. :)
So yes, a tirade of violence, sex, drugs and curse words is just what the DS could use this "Winter" (AKA spring/summer XD)