iRate: DLC Exclusivity and Me… A Hate/Hate relationship
Ah the joy of gaming… You finally sit down with the latest multiplatform release and let the gaming goodness wash over you, fully enjoying everything there is on offer. But hang on a second…There are bits missing aren’t there? It’s seems you can’t enjoy the same game as your rival console owners, not because of shoddy porting issues (we’ll save that for another iRate article), but because the developer has decided to sell off their reputation to the highest bidder and screw over around half of us gamers in the process. Oh well, at least they make a bit of extra cash…
The epic war of the consoles between Sony and Microsoft (the Wii isn’t made for gamers; see ‘iRate: Wii never play it really’) seems to have descended into a tit-for-tat squabble; each company sinking to new lows by securing the exclusivity of relatively minute amounts of individual titles. Sure, the Joker maps from Batman: Arkham Asylum are only available to PS3 customers, but does Sony really think that this pathetic half-step is going to incense XBox owners into purchasing the rival console?
Review: Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad Of Gay Tony
Game: Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad Of Gay Tony
Format: XBox 360
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
The final Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable add on the for sensation that was Grand Theft Auto 4 has arrived, some 18 months after the launch of GTA4. Rather than bringing with it the grim and gritty 'realism' of GTA4, The Ballad Of Gay Tony (BOGT from now on) takes a more campy light hearted tone over all. There is none of the serious naval gazing and self pitying that was found in Niko Bellic's adventure, or the quiet despair of Johnny Klebitz from the previously released add on The Lost and Damned. While Gay Tony often laments his fall from grace he comes across as being pathetic rather than someone that deserves our sympathy, and even in some cases his rants become humorous. This tonal shift will be greeted positively by some, but those who loved GTA4 and The Lost and Damned for their more serious stories may not be so happy.








