Rockstar Blames PS3 (In Part) For GTA IV Delays

Mark Wilson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:20:34 MST

When GTA IV was delayed last year, neither investors nor gamers were happy. And many of us pointed the finger at the PS3 for the reported "technical" problems during Rockstar's joint PS3/Xbox 360 development process. According to Rockstar's VP of Product Development Jeronimo Barrera, we weren't so crazy.

It's really no surprise to anybody that the PS3 was definitely a contributing factor to [the delay].

He continues:

Now, we're neck and neck. That's not an issue anymore. But back then that was something we were taking into account. That's not to say there's anything wrong with the PS3 version. It's awesome. They're both identical.

Oh, I'm sure that the internet will find something wrong with the PS3 version and something wrong with the 360 version. But it's good to hear that both versions of the game are on track now.

Grand Theft Auto IV' Developer Announces Release Date, Says Whether There Will Be Another 'Hot Coffee' [mtv]

Manhunt 2 US Wasn't "Neutered" (So Buy Our Game)

Mark Wilson — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:20:23 MDT

Rockstar may have had some spats with the ESRB (and everyone else) over Manhunt 2 and censorship, but now they are singing a happier tune...one with lyrics remarkably similar to "please, please still buy our game because it's not ruined." From Rockstar product development VP Jeronimo Barrera:

...we feel we kept the original vision and the content and we didn't neuter the game as people say we have...

So what actual changes were made to the game to ditch the AO rating again?

As mentioned before, cut scenes have been blurred in the goriest of places. But the bigger change was the deletion of a kill score meter that was included in the original Manhunt, rewarding players for the most brutal of executions. Barrera feels the score meter helped the flow of the game and that the deletion of this feature was an "opportunity" generated by the ESRB edits, but we're left wondering if that's the entire story, and if not, why the ESRB would allow a feature one time around or not the other—and if "package deal" game editing is part of negotiations.

'Manhunt 2' Developer Finally Talks About Game, Ratings Controversy — Much As It Pains Him [mtv]

Kotaku: Jeronimo Barrera

Rockstar Blames PS3 (In Part) For GTA IV Delays

Manhunt 2 US Wasn't "Neutered" (So Buy Our Game)