Vice City Stories (PSP) Price Confirmed - $50

[fitbabits]

GameSpot (http://www.gamespot.com) has the rather disappointing news that the next game in the GTA 'Stories' series for PSP will be sold at the premium price of $50.

You can read about the price, plus some potential plot elements here (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154573.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6154573).

To date, the best-selling game for the PSP platform has been Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Developed by Rockstar Leeds, the game has sold more than a million copies on the platform in the US since it was released in October 2005, generating more than $51.3 million in revenue. The game's runaway success caused it to become the first game ever ported from the PSP to the PlayStation 2. The budget-priced console version has also been a best-seller since it went on sale last month.

Given Liberty City Stories' success, few were surprised when Rockstar Games revealed that a second GTA game was in development for the PSP. At E3 in May, the publisher announced Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories would ship in the US on October 17 and in Europe on October 20. Today, the publisher reconfirmed the ship date, and announced the game would carry a full price of $49.99.
Youch!

[Returner]

I'll just wait for the ps2 version. The PSP GTA Liberty Stories was a pain in the ass to play with the PSP's controls.

[Lord Nerdious]

I Pinch?

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[Hugenex]

Greedy Bastards! Oh well...it's understandable they have got to recoup the losses over Hot Coffee scandal.

[Adam Blue]

....or Sony needs something to keep the PSP going.

[JazGalaxy]

I'll just wait for the ps2 version. The PSP GTA Liberty Stories was a pain in the ass to play with the PSP's controls.

I wonder if ANYONE is going to buy it. I'm completely convinced that the game would have sold half the number of units if people had realized that they could get the game on PS2 a short while later.

[MajSheppard]

hahahaha, yeah Sony is brillant in their strategy. First we make no games for the system to let Nintendo kick our asses in system sales. Then the few games we do release that our target market will want, we will price really high so they lose more sales. Frickin halarious.

I just want them to end up having to sell all of the movie and tv studios they bought and ruined.

[Dag-Sabot]

I agree liberty city stories was a bitch to play.. im so totally skipping on this one.... dude.

[Animated X]

Yeah, I have a feeling the sales will be much lower, because people will assume that it will inevitably come to Ps2. But then again, the installed base of the PsP is probably larger now than when GTA LCS was released, so who knows.

[sickfallout]

So glad I sold off my PSP like 4 months ago.

[laggerific]

Liberty City Stories was so neutered from San Andreas, I really hope they rethink which engine to use for the next installment...no swimming or climbing was a real bummer for Liberty City Stories.

[Moatman]

I had a much better time playing LCS on the psp when I bought some analog nub replacement things, they were I think 5 bucks for 3 of them and they have much better traction, are larger, and just control a lot closer to the analog sticks on ps2 controllers.

I think my main problem with the psp is the battery life, I understand the load times and they frustrate me, but the key reason I don't play my psp more would be the battery life(or lack thereof)

I don't know how feasible it is to put out a battery with 2-3 times the duration for current system owners, but it would cause me to play quite a bit more. Otherwise, I feel I can't take the system with me anywhere unless I have a power outlet/car adaptor handy.

I need to see how far in lcs I can get before getting stuck to see if I'm going to bother getting this one, if I can get to the third island at least, I'll definitely get it, otherwise I'll just wait for the price to come down or get the ps2 version later. In gta3 it was shortly after the third island, in vice city it was an annoying cigarette boat race that I sucked at about 60% of the way in, and san andreas I'm not exactly stuck, but I burnt myself out(though I definitely intend to go back and try play more eventually, love that game...)

[bone_matrix]

I think you guys are all glazing over the fact that it is going to be $50!!! Fifty freakin dollars!!! For a hand held game, with controls that work only ok at best! Man, I need to win the lottery.

[Talanvor]

But will you be able to do the Lance Vance Dance?

[Moatman]

With the price...I guess it starts back to when I got my first actual handheld system, the gameboy. Tetris, to me, was the only game on that system that was worth playing at home or somewhere where I had other distractions. I did like the zelda games and a couple others for the system, but they were very crappy and disappointing mostly. Those were about $25 or $30 if memory serves.

Cut to the gba, where really good games started coming out that were nearly on par with ps1 and snes games(or better in some cases) To me, this is where handheld games became actual games worth playing anywhere.

I agree that some handheld games are simply fun because they are handheld, but I think a lot of them coming out today are as good or better than most of the crap coming out on regular consoles.

When I look at the price, I think about how much time and fun I'd get out of it versus buying a console or pc game for a comparable price and also think about whether I'd want to actually just sit down and play it at home instead of something else. Like Tekken for the psp coming out this week. I bought tekken 5 on the ps2 at full price at launch, so I will just wait for the price to come down probably or a sale, it's hard to justify full price again for it.

Out of the 9 psp games I own, only LCS, Lumines, and Xmen legends 2 have gotten enough playtime to be worth full price, whereas I'd say at least half of my ds and gba purchase have gotten enough playtime to warrant it, rpg's just tend to have more longevity and value though.

[Kelegacy]

Liberty City Stories wasn't bad, and I don't think 50 is too much to ask. But that's as high as I'd go for a handheld right now...even if it's GTA. I spent 60 bucks on Oblivion, and I like GTA as much, if not more. So, if GTA is your thing (and you have to admit, for most people it is) 50 is fine.

I'm still not buying a PSP, though. PS2 version will be dandy by me.

[Heretic Machine]

I'll just buy Saint's Row for $10 more, thanks anyway.

[GrinR]

I was the biggest PSP supporter in the world. Bought it launch day. Bought 3 1gig cards. Bought about 5 games.

I said the DS was too "gay" looking, and got flamed to a crisp for it. Last week I bought a DS Lite. I've played that 10 times more than the PSP.

Nuff said.

[mkelehan]

How is this remotely surprising to anyone? LCS is the best selling PSP game of all time, even if you only count before it dropped to $40. Over 2 million sold. And the sequel's on the way, and people expect it to have a budget pricetag? I suppose you're also hoping Halo 3 will be $40?

[Deadend]

How is this remotely surprising to anyone? LCS is the best selling PSP game of all time, even if you only count before it dropped to $40. Over 2 million sold. And the sequel's on the way, and people expect it to have a budget pricetag? I suppose you're also hoping Halo 3 will be $40?

Well, considering that this is basically a spin-off little brother game to Vice City, yes, I do expect it to be cheaper.

[31 Flavas]

I was the biggest PSP supporter in the world. Bought it launch day. Bought 3 1gig cards. Bought about 5 games.

I said the DS was too "gay" looking, and got flamed to a crisp for it. Last week I bought a DS Lite. I've played that 10 times more than the PSP.

Nuff said.GrinR, well, at least you've seen the light of day. And can admit the error of your ways, unlike a certain someone around here... :p :cool:

I respect you for that :thumbs up:

[bone_matrix]

How is this remotely surprising to anyone? LCS is the best selling PSP game of all time, even if you only count before it dropped to $40. Over 2 million sold. And the sequel's on the way, and people expect it to have a budget pricetag? I suppose you're also hoping Halo 3 will be $40?


I expect Halo 3 to be $50 or $60, depending on if you buy the special edition. I'm not going to pay full price for a hand-held game that lacks the content, controls, and graphics of other games for the same price. A DS game brand new for $30? I don't expect all of that, for $50 I would though.

[Bumbuliuz]

I'll just wait for the ps2 version. The PSP GTA Liberty Stories was a pain in the ass to play with the PSP's controls.

My thoughts also. So mabye if I wait for the eventual port I will pay less than the 50$ it´s going to be on the psp.

[vivafletcher]

I hope they make a lot of money on it so it will be nice and cheap for the PS2. For the money, LCS was a great value, even if it was an obvious step backward.

[oldjadedgamer]

How much are Blu-Ray PS3 games going to cost that cost close to 20 million to make if Sony's handheld games are $50?

Does the game come with a sample packet of lube that is applied at the register?

[t3g]

...and Sony still wonders why the DS continues to outsell the PSP. Why is it that a handheld game is the same price as its PS2 counterpart? Clearly the PSP games have inferior graphics to the PS2, yet the price is the same. Plus, you can get every GTA game on the PS2 or Xbox for $20 or less each.

[MoJoBehaumat]

Who will take the bullet for the failed PSP then?

[Kelegacy]

I'll just buy Saint's Row for $10 more, thanks anyway.
Thing is, GTA is an established franchise, and more importantly, we know the series delivers installment after installment (well, the haters don't--LCS was probably the worst of the lot, but still very worthy). Saint's Row is something none of us really know much about, but I'll reserve judgement until I see some reviews or other people have great things to say about it. I really like Volition so I hope they do a good job with the game, but no GTA clone has come close to delivering on the GTA formula the same way Rockstar has (duh). Saint's Row could be a pile of crap, so I won't drop 10 bucks more just yet...but I COULD, if it turns out amazing.

Fingers crossed, but mildly skeptical.

[Kamalot]

So glad I sold off my PSP like 4 months ago.
How much do you miss it?

[Kamalot]

I was the biggest PSP supporter in the world. Bought it launch day. Bought 3 1gig cards. Bought about 5 games.

I said the DS was too "gay" looking, and got flamed to a crisp for it. Last week I bought a DS Lite. I've played that 10 times more than the PSP.

Nuff said.
I too have tons of respect for you! Bravo. :)

[EvilBob46]

The problem with this pricing strategy is that GTA3 for the PS2 cost $50...because it was a completely new game. Vice City and San Andreas cost $50 and they both were almost entirely new games too, with new environments and what not. Here, however, they reuse a lot of the content (if LCS is an indication, 90% of the art assets with minor changes), which drastically cuts down on development costs, yet still keep the price tag of an all new game. If a game as expansive and redesigned as San Andreas cost $50, there is no reason why this game should too. Heck, if they're just repackaging an existing game while adding new missions and a new storyline, it's ridiculous that this should be available for anything less than a bargain price.

The reason why they're making this game $50 is pretty obvious: it's Grand Theft Auto, and it's going to sell one way or another. The fact that it is overpriced, however, and that a later PS2 port for less money will most likely be available eventually, makes this deal sting even more.

[Kelegacy]

The problem with this pricing strategy is that GTA3 for the PS2 cost $50...because it was a completely new game. Vice City and San Andreas cost $50 and they both were almost entirely new games too, with new environments and what not. Here, however, they reuse a lot of the content (if LCS is an indication, 90% of the art assets with minor changes), which drastically cuts down on development costs, yet still keep the price tag of an all new game. If a game as expansive and redesigned as San Andreas cost $50, there is no reason why this game should too. Heck, if they're just repackaging an existing game while adding new missions and a new storyline, it's ridiculous that this should be available for anything less than a bargain price.

The reason why they're making this game $50 is pretty obvious: it's Grand Theft Auto, and it's going to sell one way or another. The fact that it is overpriced, however, and that a later PS2 port for less money will most likely be available eventually, makes this deal sting even more.

Very true. I'm a GTA fanboy, but I'm not blinded by my fanboyism. So I'll agree with you. :)

[smashism]

I was the biggest PSP supporter in the world. Bought it launch day. Bought 3 1gig cards. Bought about 5 games.

I said the DS was too "gay" looking, and got flamed to a crisp for it. Last week I bought a DS Lite. I've played that 10 times more than the PSP.

Nuff said.
exact same story here. I played dark mirror last month. Other than playing lumines like forever ago that thing just collects dust.
how much dust does my psp collect? Well when i got dark mirror i had to upgrade my firmware from 1.0

[SexualChoc]

I have LCS, but hardly, if ever, play it. Do I really want the same game twice on the PSP? Though Vice City was always my favourite GTA.

[ArchVile]

Though Vice City was always my favourite GTA.

Same here, San Andreas was awesome while it lasted, but VC had me playing for months after finishing the final mission. I like to think of these PSP GTA games as an Expansion Pack for the existing games, however considering i dont have a PSP and dont intend to get one, i'll just be waiting for the PS2 port sometime next year (we all know its going to happen). $50 for a PSP game is a rip off, when it comes out for the PS2 it'll be the same price as LCS was (in the UK it cost £14.99 on Play.com), then it'll be worth the asking price.

I just hope we see Lance again, and maybe even a cameo from Mr Vercetti :cool:

[Demize99]

Reports of my death are grossly exagerated.

There's PSP people, and there's DS people. I'm not fond DS/Nintendo style games, but I have 6 games for the PSP that are excellent: GTA, Burnout Legends, Xmen Legends 2, Tactics Commander, Need for Speed MW, and Syphon Filter. I can name a few DS games I would like, but not enough to buy the system to play them.

Honestly, bashing the system you don't (or used to, or wish you didn't) own just because you bought early and don't like the content for it, doesn't make it crap. It makes you a fanboi.

*edit*Added 6th game, also have Lumines, but I don't like that one.

[Morangie]

I have 6 games for the PSP that are excellent: GTA, Burnout Legends, Xmen Legends 2, Tactics Commander, and Syphon Filter.

When you learn to count, then you can stand up for a crappy system.

[Dag-Sabot]

oscar whiskey november echo delta.

[EGO]

They're recouping costs from their failures and the price of Table Tennis (another failure?).

Luckily for Rockstar, the buying public are still sheep and will pay anything for any crap with the name GTA on it.

Rockstar should be able to milk the public with this regurgitated bull for a good couple of years, until the "next generation" actually takes hold (when all 3 players are on the field and other new GTA-a-likes come along).

[Salesmunn]

$50 for any game nowadays hurts but for a portable title, it's even worse.

Unless they pulled off online play. Now THAT would be worth $50.

[Kamalot]

Unless they pulled off online play. Now THAT would be worth $50.
Nope. It should have online play and be $35. You can't charge $15 extra for online play.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I won't pay $50 for a new PC or console game, so there's no way I'm going to pay that much for a handheld title. I think the $35 DS games are pushing it sometimes - the PSP titles are just over the top.

[rival81]

There is always the argument that development costs for PSP games equal that of home console titles. But that doesn't alter the fact that for most people, portable games are not the biggest part of their gaming budget.

[Royal Fool]

Sorry, but GTA:LCS was pretty much just a glorified port of GTA3 with new missions. I guess it's your call if you wanted to spend money on a ported 2001 game with new missions/voiceovers and some extra content at the full retail price... they'll be churning out the next two (GTA:VCS and GTA:SAS) until late 2007 I guess.