'Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars' Coming to iPhone
posted August 31st, 2009 12:54 PM EDT by arn in Upcoming Games, iPhone games, iPod touch games
Rockstar games announced today that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be coming to iPhone and iPod Touch later this fall.
"Chinatown Wars is a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod touch," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "We are very excited to bring this incredibly ambitious version of Liberty City, with this level of detail and immersive gameplay on Apple's new gaming platforms."
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is presently available for the Nintendo DS and follows the story of Huang Lee, a young Triad who travels to Liberty City after the mysterious death of his father.
The Nintendo DS version of the game has received universally positive reviews. From IGN's review:
What I won't forget to mention: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars continues GTA's legacy as the premiere "sandbox" game design. Though it might look like a lot has changed in the move to the handheld platform, more has been added than taken away – there's so much to do in this Liberty City, and it's hard not to be impressed and amazed at some of the things the developer's managed to pull off on the hardware. GTA: Chinatown Wars is easily one of the best Nintendo DS games on the platform.
Here is the trailer for the DS version:
2.5D sellout
What you call selling out, I'd call going back to their roots. Remember, GTA started top-down. It was fun then, it'll still be fun now.
I remember those days with 2.5D on GTA 1/2. The Limo and getting those gang members in the limo was fun on GTA 2
The DS version is awesome – IGN's right, it's an authentic GTA experience.
It was only a matter of time! (and a little motivation from the wildly successful Gang$tar)
Indeed. Soon as I saw clips of it on the DS, I said to myself, "how long before this ends up on the iPhone 3GS?"
Bat and I will now rejoice!
HOLY CRAP YES!!!
Wondering if the announced PSP version will also be in 2.5D. They should offer more since the release of Gang$tar.
It will be 2.5 D. With improved graphics too. I'm hoping that's the same case with our port.
As for your comment there, GTA CW is actually an amazing game that's packed with tons of content. Sure, Gangstar is a great game, but this one tops it with it's Environment, gameplay, and even available side missions. Another thing I should add, is that the one on the DS and PSP will have wifi multiplayer coming shortly. I believe they might do the same thing with this one.
Cant wait to get it ^^^'
http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/PSP/GTA%3A+Chinatown+Wars/news.asp?c=15220
Screens from the PSP version still shows 2.5D. At least we'll finally get a direct PSP vs. iPhone comparison in terms of their graphical prowess. Hopefully Rockstar will invest in a optimized iPhone 3G S version as well.
It'll definitely be interesting to see how it'll be priced compared to the PSP and DS versions.
Whoahooo! Now it gets interesting!!!
This is a pretty interesting development as it could signal the start of pro developers taking the platform seriously. Were that to happen, the likes of Gameloft and co, who trade on ripping off other (far more talented) developers will really be in trouble. Perhaps they'll flee to Android.
Damn YEAH! I just waited for it. Finally a 2D GTA Game with GTA Quality (I always miss something in Payback and Car Jack Streets).
What a great news !!! I dont care wether it's in 2D or 2.5D. Knowing Rockstar we're in for a great game. Things are getting more interresting for the iDevice. Can't wait to see the difference with the PsP version. Touch screen VS Regular control.
This is so great. I hope it won't be too choppy though.
Gamelofts "Gangstar" game was okay, sure it has nice graphics but there isn't much depth to the gameplay. With Rockstar, you are pretty much guaranteed quality, the DS version go great reviews, who cares if its 2.5D, the only the matters is the quality of the game. Its nice to see a "proper" game for the iPhone, most of the games that I've played on my 3GS are decent casual games but lack what the console games have to offer.
Nice, was going to pick this up for my DS Lite soon…
But it looks like I will be saving some money!
Love the ds version, hate how you have to take out the stylus so much though. This version should fix it. Hopefully they get the other controls right. DS was already annoying driving fast because of the limitation of the top down view. With sloppy controls make that even worse =/
i won't be picking this one up,i mean.psp has full 3D games and this is the frist thing they come up with?for me,they need to put up a port of san andreas.my 3GS is defenately capable of running 5 times bether graphics then the psp.
Well, the DS GTA is perhaps the most FUN GTA-title that has come out the last few years. Certainly it i not the most technical adept, but as long as the playability is top notch I really don't see the problem…
"my 3GS is defenately capable of running 5 times bether graphics then the psp."
Don't make a statement if you don't know what you're talking about!
mine has more shaders,more memory,better processer and graphics card.
the graphics from the psp are loaded from the disk.and the disk contains several gigabytes.thats why,with the iphone 3GS,if we would have a game with like 2GB the graphics would be dam better.also psp=400*272 iphone 480*320 much igher resolution.
so yes.my statement hasn't been tested yet.but i believe we could get damn better improvements with the iphone 3GS
First off, the game will be developed for the lowest common platform – the iPhone 3G. That will be the target.
That aside, dedicated consoles such as the PSP have very streamlined operating systems which intrude on the game code as little as possible. That's why most DS games (which is a very dated piece of hardware) run at 30fps or 60fps. The iPhone has quite the opposite of that situation.
Wow. That has to be the most retarded comment ever. Graphics does not make games. I had more fun with this title than I had with GTA:IV.
This game is the only reason i kept my DS and no that i can get it on my iphone i can finally sell it, gonna be sick
Mind blown.
I think I might still grab the PSP version; for some reason I think GTA games work better with physical inputs (plus it looks damn good). Need to sell off my DS version that hasn't gotten any love since mid Feb though, put that towards the PSP which is more comfortable for me.
I'll be interested to see the price on each though.
Instant Buy! I love everything about this version of GTA. It's very solid and I'm sure will be well worth whatever asking price is listed. Just the announcement makes Payback and Car Jack Streets obsolete in my book. Can't wait!!! ^_^
Awesome!!
AND HAHAHAHAHAHA AT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAID THIS WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO RUN ON THE IPHONE!!!
Yes! I can ditch my DS now. The second best GTA of all time is coming to iPhone!
ARRRRRGGGHGHGHG!!!! DUDE!! EPIC AWESOME! MUST HAVE IT!!
Yawn. The iPhone is better than this. I want to see them port GTA IV over. That would be acceptable.
Yes, I'm joking.
I hope Gameloft doesn't sue Rockstar
LOL! xD This is great news! Can't wait to pick this up, I was gonna get a DS just for that game, but no need for that now! So I guess we can look for this sometime from October to November.
Great game.I have played the ds version via emulator on my pc,and it's incredible.Great story,great gameplay,and if i can have it on iphone,wow.This one is much better than these other copies,car jack streets,payback,and gangstar.benjamin,you know what,you are not real gamer.If you want full 3d play gangstar.
And if a developer like Rockstar,see the potential of the iphone,the iphone could really become gaming platform.Also other great developers might start developing for the iphone.
Yes i Want !
Looks like it's got some kind of comic-graphic style … reminds me of the very first GTA, where I used to hunt hare krishnas and build heaps of cars to blow them all up and get extra boni … very interesting!
omg, awesome, i hope it will work, probably a $10+ game tho, but from what i hear it is totally worth the money! cant wait!
Great news!!
This is great news. But for me, the best news is that Rockstar will be developing a game for the iPhone/iPod Touch for the very first time. Hopefully, when they realise the potential of the device, it could lead to more game from the mighty R*.
Great idea but my iphone battery life can't keep up with my needs so I'm going to pass on this one. I think I'm only going to stick to "bite sized" games until apple comes out with an iphone that can last a whole day of medium to heavy use with the iphone.
An alternative is to buy one of a wide selection of iPhone/iPod Touch cases with extended batteries built-in.
Turn off Wi-fi, push notifications and turn down the brightness (if indoors) and the battery does great.
I agree with Kita. I'm a battery fanatic and have all unnecessary items turned off, but I can foresee that players will get like 45 minutes playing this game off a fully-charged battery. That being said, though, the game looks fantastic and I might just get it and play while plugged into a wall
I got a Mophie Juice Pack battery for my iPhone last time I was flying through Asia (and stuck 17 hours in transit) ..best damn accessory I ever bought. Loaned it to a friend when he flew to Australia for work – he says it rocks too.
With that battery I can let my daughter use the iPhone all day when we're driving around places, and there's no problem at all with running out of juice. I can't recommend it highly enough.
I'm kinda glad the first GTA on the iPhone is 2.5D. That's where GTA started, and it was a whole lot of fun in that form. I certainly wouldn't use GTA: San An as an example of what they should do ..that game went too big, and wasn't so fun. If they do a 3D one one day, I want them to do something of the scope of Vice City. Nice compact city full of fun, jumps, and hookers.
i hope they wont make the way EA did on the Sims 3, where they cripple the game by disabling some important features….
Stop saying "2.5D". There's no such thing as a half dimension.
How do you know that? We just can't perceive them because it's sealed off from the whole dimensions.
Cool stuff! Wow I hope it's mostly the same as the DS version…
Is it going to have the Wi-Fi feature? It would be a definite buy if it goes bluetooth.
http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/grandtheftautochinatownwars/video/6208304/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars-wi-fi-mayhem-trailer?hd=0
Crossed fingers…
Hahaahah top down GTAs are the only GTAs I like!!! I know everyone hates someone saying that, but I never cared for the 3rd Person ones. Never picked this up cause I was too lazy to get it. Now I can get it ^.^
I reckon the iPhone version will look something like the announced PSP version (that is due to be relased on October 20th):
http://www.rockstargames.com/chinatownwars/view/article:psp_screens
Wow! This is so great! I am already excited about this can't wait..
Why would they target it for the 3G and not the 3GS?
When a developer is making a new game, do they make it for the PS2, knowing that the new PS3 can play it… and why alienate owners who haven't upgraded yet?
No. They make games for the latest and greatest.
If Rockstar is smart, they will port Chinatown Wars to fully use the 3GS graphics capabilities.
umm… PS2 and PS3? You're honestly comparing THAT big jump with the jump apple made between 3G and 3GS? :S
Anyway… I think the 'smart' thing to do is to support as many generations of iPods/iPhones as possible, in case of GTA.. because not everyone owns a 3GS.. and by 'not everyone' i mean a really really small number.
If they can spare a lot of development resources, I suggest providing tweakable settings to 'enhance' the experience for the 3GS owners.. but i doubt they'll invest their time on this.
This is great! I already completed the game on DS, and I can say it is indeed a full GTA experience… Or at least a pocket sized one. Anyways!
Only bad thing is that games like Car Jack Street and Gangster is going down now : (
oh snap! this is gonna be huge. rockstar makes only quality games, nothing is going to be able to touch gta once it hits the app store
Grand Theft Auto ForEVER!!!