The DLC exclusivity deal signed between Rockstar Games and Microsoft was indeed a timed commitment and is coming to an end as the studio revealed that Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, the single disc collection of both GTA IV episodes: The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, is scheduled to hit the PS3 and PC on March 30.

As an owner of the PS3 version myself, I would have liked to been able to get in on the action at the same time as my 360 owning friends; however, I may still dust off my copy to see how these episodes add to the experience.

"It’s been a long time coming, but we are proud to finally deliver Episodes From Liberty City for the PC and PlayStation 3," said Sam Houser. "We appreciate the patience of our PlayStation 3 and PC fans worldwide, and we look forward to putting the games in your hands this March."

The episodes will also be made available through the PlayStation Store and Games for Windows Live services for those who prefer digital purchasing.

While Nintendo VP Cammie Dunaway recently suggested that Rockstar should pour more resources into marketing to perk up sales of DS effort Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, analyst Michael Pacher believes the root cause of the game's relatively dismal retail performance lies elsewhere. Speaking to Industry Gamers in a recent column, Pachter voiced the opinion that Chinatown Wars missed its mark for a simple reason: the platform audience. Releasing an M rated title on a platform where a vast majority of its owners are below the age of 17 is a recipe for disaster, says Pachter:

I don't think that Chinatown Wars failed because of poor marketing. I think that an M-rated game will have difficulty selling on the DS, since the majority of DS owners are under 17 and can't buy it.  Those who are over 17 typically have a 360 or PS3 (if they are interested in M-rated content), and have already had ample opportunity to buy GTA IV on their home consoles.

Makes perfect sense and we're inclined to agree, but you have to remember that sales of the PSP port weren't exactly chart-topping either. Perhaps the top-down gameplay style turned all but the most hardcore of fans off from picking it up after all.

Pachter Says Marketing Not To Blame For Less Than Stellar GTA DS Sales [eXophase.com]

Ramping up the media machine for the latest DLC being made available for GTA IV, Rockstar Games has released the first trailer depicting what we can expect from 'The Ballad of Gay Tony.'  Included in the above trailer are cars driving on an elevated train track, night clubs, flying a helicopter and not using it with good intentions, underground fight clubs, golf cart stunts, parachuting off a sky scraper, and lots of mayhem.  Enjoy!

The Ballad of Gay Tony will be available for download on October 29th for 1600 Microsoft Points.

Rockstar has released a fabulous batch of screenshots from its second round of Grand Theft Auto IV DLC, entitled The Ballad of Gay Tony. Looks like plenty of high-octane action awaits. See the rest of the screens past the break.

Priced at $20, the content is set for a October 29 release date. A bundle pack entitled Episodes from Liberty City will debut the same day, containing both DLC offerings on a single retail disc at $40.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony Screens

First Grand Theft Auto IV: Gay Tony Screens Surface - [eXophase.com]

We’ve been anxiously awaiting to take a look at Rockstar’s widescreen re-imaging of DS title Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. Well, wait no longer, today is the day.

Judging from the latest batch of screenshots, the PSP take mimics the DS original in the department, retaining the top-down, isometric view. Looks quite nice, considering the jump in platform. Those who were holding out a full-on 3D experience in the vein of Liberty City Stories might be in for disappointment but if your expectations weren’t set that high, this will do just fine.

Graphics aside, a question still looming is how the stylus-driven gameplay experience will transfer over to PSP. See the rest of the shots past the break.

GTA: Chinatown Wars Screenshots

Rockstar Gives First Glimpse At GTA: Chinatown Wars On PSP - [eXophase.com]

Rockstar Games dropped a line on its Twitter account today, announcing that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will hit the PSP on October 20. That date accounts for retail and digital availability, a now-mandated trend of distribution with PSP titles these days with the PSPgo right around the corner.

A Nintendo DS port, little is known regarding the PSP iteration of Chinatown Wars, other than the fact it will feature enhanced visuals and an expanded story component. Actual screenshots have yet to be released, but Rockstar is promising more on that front “soon.” We sure hope so, as we’re eager to see how a title built from the ground up for DS is re-imaged on PSP.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Hits PSP October 20 - [eXophase.com]

Rockstar Games announced today that Beaterator, its Timbaland co-produced mixing suite, will hit the PSP on September 29 and October 2 in North America and Europe, respectively. Both release dates will coincide with a PSN debut, just in time for the arrival of the PSPgo.

“Beaterator is a very natural progression for us,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Music is incredibly important to us here at Rockstar, and we believe that there are many people out there who share that passion and will be excited about creating music of their own.”

Originally distributed as a web-based Flash game in its infancy, Beaterator evolved into a full-fledged product with thousands of loops and sounds made by both Timbaland and Rockstar. Offering a production suite capable of handling professional-grade sound, the title allows players to mix tracks with ease in an accessible fashion.

Beaterator Dated - [eXophase.com]

Rockstar Games has lifted the veil on Max Payne 3, releasing a selection of six screenshots. See them after the break.

Developed by Rockstar Vancouver, Max Payne 3 is due out later this year on Xbox 360, PC, and PS3.

Max Payne 3 Screenshots

First Max Payne 3 Screenshots - [eXophase.com]

In an ever so slightly surprising move, Rockstar Games today announced that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is heading to PSP this fall. Not a straight port, the PSP iteration is said to pack “an added graphical punch.” In addition to an expansion of story missions, featured are upscaled widescreen graphics, as well as enhanced lighting and animation to create an experience that will take “full advantage of the power of the PSP system.”

We’re proud to extend this truly unique handheld Grand Theft Auto experience to PSP and offer a downloadable version of Chinatown Wars for PSP®go,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Rockstar Leeds has shown incredible talent in creating games that raise the bar in terms of depth and innovation on portables, and with Chinatown Wars we have a rich, fast-paced, and incredibly addictive entry into the series.

We say slightly surprising as Chinatown Wars did not sell as well as it could have on the DS. At 89,000 units shifted in its first month, sales were respectable but by no means stellar, especially not for a title of its caliber. Thus, it makes perfect sense for Rockstar to try its hand at a PSP version. Despite rampant piracy on the platform, coupled with a significantly smaller install base in comparison, the last two Grand Theft Auto titles sold rather well.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Getting A Makeover, Heading To PSP - [eXophase.com]

Speaking at E3, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder explained that the decision to announce Agent as a platform exclusive on PS3, the latest original IP from Rockstar Games, was made in an strategic effort to receive full backing from Sony.

Feder likened the move to releasing past Grand Theft Auto entries as timed exclusives. In other words, Agent might not always remain as a PlayStation-centric franchise, but it will be from the start.

At this phase in the cycle, when you’re trying to launch a new franchise, exclusivity can really help you launch the franchise. It can give you the kind of platform that you need to start exclusive, start in the right kind of way with the right kind of partner. Exclusivity does work.

With a new IP in hands, risk is higher and as such it does make sense to head down the exclusive path, especially if you’re receiving funding and support from a company like Sony.

Take-Two grooming Agent to be the next GTA [GameSpot]